SEC Football: Best Performances from Week 5
Week 5 in the SEC is in the books, and raise your hand if you pegged Florida as the best team in the SEC five games in?
Put your hand down. No you didn't.
A case could be made, though, that the 5-0 Gators are the SEC's best after they dismantled No. 3 Ole Miss 38-10 on Saturday night in "The Swamp" thanks to superstar freshman quarterback Will Grier.
Was Grier's performance one of the SEC's best this week? Our picks for the best individual performances of Week 5 based on production and importance to the result of the game are in this slideshow.
LSU RB Leonard Fournette
1 of 10
LSU running back Leonard Fournette has become the talk of the college football world over the first month-plus of the season, and that didn't change on Saturday.
The super sophomore for the LSU Tigers notched 26 carries for 233 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the 44-22 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday night in Death Valley.
No, Eastern Michigan didn't exactly bring a defense capable of stopping Fournette consistently. But Fournette did something that nobody else in conference history has done, according to LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette during the game.
"#LSU RB Leonard Fournette just became 1st player in @SEC history to rush for 200+ yards in 3 straight games. He's at 216 yards tonight.
— Michael Bonnette (@LSUBonnette) October 4, 2015"
Think about that for a second.
Bo Jackson, Herschel Walker, Shaun Alexander...none of them had three consecutive 200-yard rushing games. Not one.
In the storied history of SEC football, Fournette is certainly elbowing out room to be considered one of the all-time greats.
Alabama WR Calvin Ridley
2 of 10
While Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk has made the biggest push for SEC freshman of the year honors, don't count out Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
The 6'1", 188-pounder from Coconut Creek, Florida was the offensive star of the afternoon between the hedges, catching five passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the Crimson Tide's 38-10 win over Georgia.
As Zac Ellis of Sports Illustrated noted on Twitter, Ridley looks like the perfect replacement for former Tide star Amari Cooper.
"Amari who? Alabama WR Calvin Ridley in less than two quarters of work: 4 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD.
— Zac Ellis (@ZacEllis) October 3, 2015"
Alabama doesn't need to air it out deep all day, every day. It just needs the threat to be there. Ridley proved on Saturday that he's the one who's going to provide that threat for the foreseeable future in Tuscaloosa.
Florida QB Will Grier
3 of 10
Those last two drives last week vs. Tennessee when Will Grier completed 11 of his 18 passes, tossed two touchdowns and orchestrated a miraculous comeback in Florida's 28-27 win over Tennessee?
Not a fluke.
With the flu, Grier absolutely lit up No. 3 Ole Miss to the tune of 279 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Gators' 38-10 win over the Rebels on Saturday night in Gainesville. As Scott Carter of GatorZone.com noted on Twitter, head coach Jim McElwain is impressed with his young quarterback and team.
"“He did a good job. He played the position. Let’s give credit to the guys around him, now.” — McElwain on Grier’s play
— Scott Carter (@GatorsScott) October 4, 2015"
Grier was on his game all night long. He made tough throw after tough throw, including a 36-yarder off his back foot to Demarcus Robinson to open the scoring in the first quarter.
The last time Florida had stability at quarterback was during Tim Tebow's final year in 2009, but Grier has changed the culture of the position in McElwain's first season at the helm.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett
4 of 10
Ho hum, just another typical Myles Garrett performance.
And by "typical," I mean "awesome."
All Garrett did on Saturday afternoon against Mississippi State was notch a team-high seven tackles, two for loss, sack quarterback Dak Prescott once, break up a pass and force a fumble.
As GigEm247 noted on Twitter, it was a performance reminiscent of another defensive end playing football in the Lone Star State: J.J. Watt of the NFL's Houston Texans.
"Myles Garrett doing his JJ Watt impersonation with the batted pass at the line
— Gigem247 (@GigEm247) October 4, 2015"
Texas A&M's defense isn't a joke anymore, and Garrett's imposing presence off the edge is a big reason why. When it comes to game-changing defensive ends, he's the best in the business in college football.
Auburn RB Peyton Barber
5 of 10
Auburn running back Peyton Barber beat San Jose State on Saturday.
No really, it was pretty much all Barber.
The redshirt sophomore from suburban Atlanta scored all five of Auburn's touchdowns on Saturday afternoon in the Tigers' 35-21 win over San Jose State. His phenomenal performance was capped off by his 117-yard performance with a 36-yard scamper with 4:43 to play to ice the game.
As David Wunderlich of TeamSpeedKills.com noted on Twitter, he's Auburn's lone offensive bright spot this year.
"Peyton Barber is having a Tre Mason in 2012 kind of year. Great player on a not great team.
— David Wunderlich (@Year2) October 3, 2015"
Auburn will now have a bye week before a trip to Kentucky a week from Thursday. At least Barber will be hot going into the weeknight matchup in the Bluegrass state.
Kentucky DL Cory Johnson
6 of 10
Kentucky defensive lineman Cory Johnson was named SEC defensive lineman of the week last week. If it's possible, he one-upped himself on Saturday night in Lexington in Kentucky's 34-27 overtime victory over Eastern Kentucky.
The 6'3", 300-pound senior tackle notched 19 tackles, 2.5 for loss, had one sack and one quarterback hurry and walked off as a winner on homecoming.
"Dorian Baker scores on a 3 yard TD pass in overtime and Cory Johnson with the sack on 4th down in overtime to end the game. UK 34 EKU 27.
— alan cutler (@cutler18) October 4, 2015"
"Cory been playing well for us," head coach Mark Stoops said in quotes emailed by Kentucky. "I have to see the film, but he's done, played very well the last couple weeks."
It was shocking that Kentucky went to overtime with a lesser foe, but Johnson came up big all night—including when it mattered most.
Missouri QB Drew Lock
7 of 10
Missouri quarterback Drew Lock made his first career start on Saturday, filling in for suspended junior Maty Mauk.
It won't be his last.
Lock—a true freshman pro-style passer from Lee's Summit, Missouri—kicked off "Locktober" with a sizzling performance in the 24-10 win over South Carolina on Saturday afternoon. He completed 21 of his 28 passes for 136 yards, two touchdowns and no picks.
He also stated his case to be Missouri's permanent starting quarterback no matter when Mauk comes back, as former Tiger wide receiver T.J. Moe noted on Twitter.
"You’re seeing the future of Mizzou football with Drew Lock. And boy is it bright.
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) October 3, 2015"
No, South Carolina's defense isn't anything to write home about. But Lock looked poised and in control from the second drive of the game on, which is something head coach Gary Pinkel should build on.
Vanderbilt RB Ralph Webb
8 of 10
Vanderbilt had a tricky road trip down the road to Murfreesboro, Tennessee on Saturday night to take on Middle Tennessee, and stud running back Ralph Webb was there to save the day.
The 5'10", 202-pound sophomore from Gainesville, Florida rushed 25 times for 155 yards and one touchdown in the Commodores' 17-13 win over the Blue Raiders.
As Adam Sparks of The Tennessean noted, his lone touchdown was quite important.
"Ralph Webb 39 yards to the house. Vandy takes lead w/ 1:12 left
— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) October 4, 2015"
Vandy's defense isn't half-bad and Webb is a stud. If they can add another dimension to that offense, Vandy is going to be a tough out during the stretch run.
Arkansas DL Tevin Beanum
9 of 10
Arkansas got a big road win on Saturday night in Knoxville, as it held on to notch a huge 24-20 win over Tennessee in Neyland Stadium.
Tevin Beanum was a big reason why.
The 6'4", 280-pound defensive lineman finished the night with five tackles, two for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery. As Vernon Tarver of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette noted, he dominated on Rocky Top.
"Beanum has been a beast
— Vernon Tarver (@NWAVernon) October 4, 2015"
It was a performance that Arkansas desperately needed. Arkansas needs some stability up front, and Beanum was the man to provide it on Saturday night. If that continues, perhaps the rumors of Arkansas' demise were greatly exaggerated.
Florida and Chief Warrant Officer Christian Denkins
10 of 10For the final slide in our best performances of Week 5, we aren't giving you a player. We give you a hero and a school for making a family's night.
Chief Warrant Officer Christian Denkins' family thought they were on the field on Saturday night in Gainesville to see Denkins on the big screen from Afghanistan. Instead, Denkins came rushing out of the tunnel to greet his family in person in front of the sold out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Thank you, Mr. Denkins. And well done, Florida.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Statistics are courtesy of CFBStats.com. Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
