SEC Football: Predicting Conference's Top 2015 Stat Leaders
We are a few short months away from the start of the college football season, and this year, the SEC is sure to be filled with stars—both known and unknown—lighting up stat sheets with stellar play.
Last season, we saw Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott burst onto the scene and jump into the race for the Heisman Trophy with his dual-threat capabilities, freshmen defensive ends Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) and Derek Barnett (Tennessee) both surpass the conference's freshman sack record once held by Jadeveon Clowney and Ole Miss' Senquez Golson surprise everyone to lead the SEC and finish second in the nation with 10 interceptions.
Who will be the leaders in major stat categories in 2015? Our picks, based on talent, scheme and opportunity, are in this slideshow.
Passing Yards Per Game and Touchdowns: Texas A&M QB Kyle Allen
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Dak Prescott established himself as the SEC's best quarterback last year, riding his dual-threat capabilities and Mississippi State's meteoric rise to No. 1 to land firmly in the Heisman Trophy discussion. In 2015, though, there will be plenty of talented quarterbacks in the SEC nipping at the heels of the most prolific passer returning in the conference.
Texas A&M's Kyle Allen, Auburn's Jeremy Johnson and Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs are just a few of the contenders to become the SEC's top passer.
Give me Allen as the man to lead the conference in passing.
He's in a system that's ready-made to put up video game numbers, has six of his seven top receivers returning, has an incoming star in Christian Kirk and will get pressure taken off of him thanks to the newfound dedication to north/south running by head coach Kevin Sumlin and running game coordinator Dave Christensen.
Allen will go north of 3,500 passing yards on the season, without the benefit of a championship game to boost his overall yardage number, and finish the season with most yards per game and most passing touchdowns in the SEC.
Rushing Yards Per Game: Alabama RB Derrick Henry
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I know Georgia running back Nick Chubb rushed for 1,547 yards in essentially a half-season as the starting running back in Athens last year, and LSU's Leonard Fournette is going to be the focal point of a decidedly one-dimensional offense in Baton Rouge.
I don't care.
Alabama's Derrick Henry will lead the conference in rushing.
Unlike Chubb and Fournette, Henry is going to have to be "the man" in the backfield, thanks to massive roster attrition over the offseason at running back in Tuscaloosa and Kenyan Drake's dual role as a running back and wide receiver. On top of that, Alabama—which always relies on the run anyway—will undoubtedly do it again with a new quarterback and a new crop of wide receivers.
Henry has spent the last two seasons as T.J. Yeldon's primary backup and established himself as a star in the process. Now that he's the unquestioned No. 1, he'll shine even brighter.
Rushing Touchdowns: Georgia RB Nick Chubb
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While Derrick Henry might get the bulk of the rushing yards, it'll be Georgia's Nick Chubb who gets a slight edge in rushing touchdowns in 2015.
The reason is simple: Georgia offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and head coach Mark Richt won't be as creative as Alabama's Lane Kiffin when the offense gets into the red zone.
While the committee of Sony Michel and Keith Marshall will take some carries away from Chubb to keep him fresh for a full 13-game (and perhaps more) schedule, they won't be a factor in the red zone. At 5'10", 220 with track-star speed and leaping ability, Chubb will get plenty of work down near the goal line and find the end zone early and often.
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Receiving Yards Per Game: South Carolina WR Pharoh Cooper
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Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell and Auburn's D'haquille "Duke" Williams are the stars of the SEC, but in a perfect world for the Rebels and Tigers, the talented wide receiving corps will take some catches and yards away from their superstars.
South Carolina's Pharoh Cooper doesn't have that luxury.
The 5'11", 208-pound do-it-all junior for the Gamecocks is the leading returning receiver in the country, after he hauled in 69 passes for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago in an offense in which he was clearly the go-to guy from day one.
That responsibility will only increase in 2015, now that South Carolina is breaking in a new quarterback and has to replace the production of running back Mike Davis. Cooper will provide the stability, experience and explosiveness to not only lead the Gamecocks, but lead the conference in receiving.
Receiving Touchdowns: Mississippi State WR De'Runnya Wilson
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While Pharoh Cooper will be the most prolific receiver in the conference, it'll be Mississippi State's De'Runnya Wilson who finishes with the most receiving touchdowns in the conference.
At 6'5", 215 pounds with deceptive speed, Wilson was Mississippi State's best receiver last year and finished fourth in the SEC with nine receiving touchdowns—tied with Cooper.
With running back/bowling ball Josh Robinson gone, head coach Dan Mullen is going to have to find new ways to score. Looking in Wilson's direction in the red zone isn't a bad idea. He presents matchup nightmares against opposing defensive backs, and quarterback Dak Prescott will undoubtedly demand plenty of attention down near the goal line.
Look for Wilson to make even more noise than he did last year, when he quietly put together a stellar season.
Total Offense: Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
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Mississippi State Dak Prescott made a mockery of the chase to lead the SEC in total offense last year, accounting for a total of 341.2 yards per game—67.1 yards per game more than second place Blake Sims.
With players like Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs and Auburn's Jeremy Johnson becoming full-time starters in 2015, it won't be that much of a landslide. Still, when all is said and done, you can refer to this category as "The Dak."
With running back Josh Robinson and three offensive linemen gone, the responsibility to move the football in a variety of ways will be on Prescott even more than it was last year, when he elevated himself into the Heisman Trophy discussion with his dual-threat capabilities.
As mentioned before, wide receiver De'Runnya Wilson will be even more of a threat in the red zone, but getting there will be on Prescott, which should result in another total-offense title for the senior.
Tackles: Missouri LB Kentrell Brothers
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You could probably make a case for a dozen or so players to lead the SEC in tackles this season, but let's not get fancy. Let's go with one of the most decorated linebackers you've never heard of.
Missouri linebacker Kentrell Brothers.
All Brothers did last year was finish second in the conference with 122 tackles behind Missouri's athletic defensive line, and he will take it one step further in 2015. At 6'1", 235 pounds, Brothers has a nose for the football, is always in the right place to make a tackle and will be playing behind a defensive line that, while well-coached, is still relatively inexperienced compared to previous Missouri front fours.
That means more players at the second level and more chances for Brothers to confirm his status as one of the SEC's best—even if he doesn't get the pub of other top-tier defenders.
Tackles for Loss: Tennessee DE Derek Barnett
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All Derek Barnett did during his first season on Rocky Top was establish himself as a true three-down defensive end for a Tennessee defensive line that was in desperate need of a leader to step to the forefront.
He finished last season with 20.5 tackles for loss—second-most in the conference behind Missouri's Shane Ray (22.5).
That was with the target on his back as the season progressed. While it will still be there in 2015, seven of the eight members of the final two-deep along the defensive line return, and the Vols will get even more help thanks to incoming freshmen tackles Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie.
Barnett is going to be one year better with a better cast around him. Offensive lines simply can't devote too much attention to him, because if they do, his teammates will cruise into the backfield.
Barnett was a monster last year, and the best is yet to come.
Sacks: Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett
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Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett came to College Station with enough hype to fill the Lone Star State. He not only met it, he exceeded it.
Garrett set the SEC freshman sack record with 11.5, and that was on a defense that lacked consistency and allowed opposing offensive coordinators to devote plenty of attention the freshman's way.
In 2015, things have changed. John Chavis—a coach who's known for bringing pressure with defensive ends—came to Texas A&M from LSU to jump-start the Aggies defense. So far, the duo of Garrett and fellow defensive end Daeshon Hall seem pleased with the way things are working out with "The Chief."
"Those two guys probably have gotten the biggest impact of John being here," head coach Kevin Sumlin said on the coaches' teleconference in May. "Without a doubt, Daeshon and Myles have big smiles on their faces because they like to rush the passer."
Myles already proved that he can get his sack number up regardless, but if he gets help from Hall, he could escalate into "video game number" territory.
Interceptions: Florida CB Jalen Tabor
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If I told you a Florida cornerback would lead the SEC in interceptions, the first name that would likely pop into your mind is Vernon Hargreaves III.
And that's for good reason. Hargreaves is an All-American, established stud and one of the best cornerbacks in the country. Opposing offensive coordinators know that and will shy away from him when possible.
Sophomore corner Jalen Tabor will be the beneficiary of that. The freshman All-SEC corner from a year ago had only one pick last year, but now that's he's in a more stable role in Gainesville, it should allow him to explode in 2015.
At 6'1", 195 pounds with dynamic athleticism, Tabor will get plenty of chances to shine either as a true No. 2 or as a nickel for new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins. That's important, because Collins' former program, Mississippi State, has finished in the top five in the conference in interceptions in each of the last three seasons.
Tabor has the opportunity, coach and supporting cast to become a star in 2015.
Punt Return Yards: Texas A&M PR Speedy Noil
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Speedy Noil was phenomenal in his first season with the Texas A&M Aggies, and his work on special teams had something to do with that.
The 5'11", 185-pounder returned 15 punts for 180 yards and finished fourth in the SEC with 12 yards per return. He will have more chances in 2015 to make an impact on punt returns, and if his freshman campaign was any indication, he will be just fine.
It's not a question of "if," but "when" he will return one to the house. Once he adds that to his repertoire, he will solidify himself as the best punt returner in the SEC.
Kickoff Yards Per Return: LSU RB Leonard Fournette
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NFL.com's Mike Huguenin recently ranked LSU running back Leonard Fournette as one of the scariest players in college football due in part to his accolades as a kick returner for the 2014 Tigers.
As a true freshman last year, Fournette returned 24 kickoffs for 625 yards and one touchdown—a 100-yard scamper against Notre Dame in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
Could a repeat performance be in order?
Fournette is incredibly valuable as a running back, but if he's going to be a difference-maker and average 26.04 yards per return, his importance on special teams can't be ignored. It's hard to imagine a scenario in which he's back to return every kickoff, but when he does trot back to the goal line, he's one of college football's most dangerous weapons.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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