SEC Football: Best Performances from Week 9
Week 9 is in the books, and there were several huge performances from SEC stars both new and old on Halloween weekend.
Texas A&M quarterback Kyler Murray got his first start and shined in front of the home crowd in College Station, Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell went "full Megaquon," and Florida embarrassed Georgia in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Who had the best performances of Week 9?
Our picks based on statistical output and importance to their teams are in this slideshow.
Texas A&M QB Kyler Murray
1 of 11
Texas A&M freshman quarterback Kyler Murray is already a legend in the Lone Star state after leading Allen High School to three straight state titles without losing a game as a starter.
He picked up right where he left off in his first collegiate start—a 35-28 win over South Carolina.
Murray completed 20 of his 28 passes for 223 passing yards and one touchdown, ran for 156 yards and another score and joined prestigious SEC company.
"Texas A&M freshman QB Kyler Murray accomplished something only Cam Newton did in recent history. pic.twitter.com/TACORMdUDV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 31, 2015"
Murray had looked rough around the edges in his passing game when he saw action over the first two months of the season, but on Saturday he looked poised, in control and fully capable of providing the true dual threat that head coach Kevin Sumlin wants out of his quarterback.
Arkansas RB Alex Collins
2 of 11
Arkansas lighting up the stat sheet against UT-Martin is not the most surprising development in the world, but running back Alex Collins took a blowtorch to it.
The junior notched 173 yards on just 16 carries and five rushing touchdowns in the 63-28 win over the Skyhawks on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
"Based on the announcers, we are on the cusp of Alex Collins starring in a redux of the classic Mars Blackmon ad "It's gotta be the shoes!".
— Blake Eddins (@_BlakeEddins) October 31, 2015"
Whatever it is, it's working for the Hogs.
After getting off to a slow start, the running game is picking up steam as the Hogs look to play spoiler in the SEC West.
Tennessee WR Josh Malone
3 of 11
Tennessee has been looking for consistency from its wide receivers, and Saturday night in Lexington was sophomore Josh Malone's time to shine.
The 6'3", 197-pounder caught four passes for 103 yards and a 75-yard touchdown that swung momentum back into Tennessee's favor after Kentucky took a brief three-point lead in the second quarter.
"Dobbs can't throw it deep, they said. pic.twitter.com/lfoQPluFOf
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) November 1, 2015"
"With that, Malone reaches 103 yards receiving and becomes the third WR of the Jones Era to have 100 yards receiving in a game.
— Football Time in TN (@FootballTimeMag) November 1, 2015"
Ever since digging out of that 21-point, second-quarter hole against Georgia in mid-November, Tennessee has been gaining confidence in its passing attack. That should continue through the month of November and carry over to an offseason in which many of the playmakers should return.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Ole Miss DL Marquis Haynes
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While Robert Nkemdiche gets all of the publicity along the Ole Miss defensive line, Marquis Haynes was the monster the Rebels needed on Halloween afternoon on the Plains.
The 6'3", 220-pound pass-rushing specialist had six tackles, three for loss, two sacks and one quarterback hurry in the Rebels' 27-19 victory over Auburn in a game Ole Miss desperately needed to win to maintain its hold of the SEC West.
"Marquis Haynes with 2 more sacks today. Give him 15.0 for his career, tied with Dewayne Dotson for 6th on the @OleMissFB all-time list
— Adam Kuffner (@ARebelKuffner) October 31, 2015"
It helps that Nkemdiche demands attention in the middle of the line, and Haynes routinely takes advantage of the one-on-one situations he finds himself in. He did on Saturday in a sizzling performance.
Florida RB Kelvin Taylor
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Florida's running game entered the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party stuck in neutral. In Jacksonville, Kelvin Taylor kicked it into high gear.
The junior rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns, provided the consistent threat head coach Jim McElwain was looking for and flashed the tremendous talent that made him one of the top running back prospects in the class of 2013.
"Kelvin Taylor's performance today won't be for as many yards or YPC as last year, but I'd call it more impressive.
— David Wunderlich (@Year2) October 31, 2015"
Florida is dangerous. The defense can keep the Gators in any game, they're led by a brilliant offensive mind in McElwain, and Taylor is hitting his stride at the exact right time.
Don't sleep on Florida.
Tennessee QB Joshua Dobbs
6 of 11
For the better half of the season, Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs was simply a running threat who could throw a little bit.
Boy, has that changed.
Dobbs completed 16 of his 26 passes for 233 yards and two passing touchdowns, rushed for 51 yards and two more scores and generally made life miserable for the homestanding Kentucky Wildcats.
One of his touchdown passes was a 75-yarder to Josh Malone to give the Vols the lead in the second quarter.
Dobbs said, according to Tennessee's official site:
"It was a shot play. We got pressure to the boundary and Jalen (Hurd) did a great job picking it up and Malone went over the top, and I was able to put the ball in the right location and that really helped. It was a big spark play. Kentucky had just gone down and scored a touchdown so having an answer and being able to do it in that fashion was good.
"
Tennessee is getting right down the stretch. It might not matter in the race to win the SEC East, but it will certainly help the team carry momentum into the offseason.
Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell
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Another week, another masterful performance from Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
The junior star for the Ole Miss Rebels had seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in the 27-19 win over Auburn, and he even went 1-of-1 in the passing game after going through his progressions on a trick play and finding running back Jaylen Walton for 21 yards.
His touchdown catch was a thing of beauty, as he hauled in a pretty pass from quarterback Chad Kelly over his shoulder behind Tiger cornerback Carlton Davis for the 21-yard score in the fourth quarter.
"Of Laquon Treadwell’s 61 catches in 2015, 43 (70.49 percent) have gone for 1st downs or touchdowns.
— Jeffrey Wright (@Lord_JWright) October 31, 2015"
He's the kind of player who demands attention from opposing secondaries. Even when he gets it, it's still nearly impossible to defend him.
Kentucky DT Cory Johnson
8 of 11
Tennessee blew Kentucky out on Saturday night, but don't blame defensive tackle Cory Johnson.
He did all he could to keep the Wildcats in the game as long as possible.
He scored the game's first touchdown on a 77-yard fumble return in the first quarter, forced a fumble and did all he could to get quarterback Joshua Dobbs off his point and on the move.
"Kentucky's 300-pound Cory "Poop" Johnson scored a TD on a 66-yard fumble return: https://t.co/qH1tTTcTsz pic.twitter.com/pmnxDHseKZ
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) November 1, 2015"
In a year that has had its ups and downs in Lexington, Johnson has been one of the stars of a Kentucky defense that needed some help up front.
Florida WR Antonio Callaway
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Florida needed a spark in the first half against Georgia, and it was wide receiver Antonio Callaway who turned out to be the life of the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Callaway reeled in a 66-yard touchdown pass from Treon Harris with just over five minutes to go in the first half to give the Gators a 13-0 lead and spark some life into an offense that was struggling at the time.
He wasn't done.
Callaway finished the day with three catches for 110 yards—the third time this season he has topped the century mark through the air and second in as many games.
"#Gators WR Antonio Callaway is the first UF WR since Andre Caldwell (2007) to have back-to-back SEC games with at least 100 receiving yards.
— Cody Jones (@CJonesScout) November 1, 2015"
The true freshman from Miami has emerged as one of the Gators' go-to receivers regardless of quarterback and is rapidly becoming one of the SEC's most electric playmakers.
Tennessee KR/S Evan Berry
10 of 11
If you're looking for your favorite for first-team All-SEC all-purpose player, Tennessee's Evan Berry is turning that race into a blowout.
The sophomore from Fairburn, Georgia, returned a third-quarter kick 100 yards to put Tennessee up 45-21 in what eventually became a 52-21 win for the Vols.
"#VolFact: Evan Berry tied #Vols record with 3 KOR TDs in season - W. Gault in 1980. Berry is 5th Vol with 100-yd KOR (Last L. Scott in 1999)
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 1, 2015"
Berry has established himself as one of the most dangerous kick returners in the country and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Pretty soon, teams are just going to stop kicking to him and take their field-position chances with shorter kickoffs.
Auburn RB Jovon Robinson
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Auburn didn't get in the win column on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't due to lack of effort from running back Jovon Robinson.
The junior spent the majority of the 2015 season as an afterthought as he battled a crowded depth chart and injuries, but he had a breakout game in the 27-19 loss to Ole Miss.
He rushed for 91 yards on 18 carries, and the only thing that was able to stop him was the play-calling of head coach Gus Malzahn—which was strangely pass-happy even after Robinson got things going on the ground.
"It was his opportunity, and he is back to getting healthy," Malzahn said, according to Auburn's official site. "He did a good job for us. He protected the football, he ran hard and I thought he had some good runs."
Auburn already knew that redshirt sophomore Peyton Barber could handle the load, and now it knows that Robinson can do the same in a pinch with Barber a bit banged up. That'll help as Auburn gets into the stretch run in November in the hopes of making a bowl.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. 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")
