SEC Football: Best Performances from Week 12
Offense ruled the day around the SEC in Week 12, as nine schools scored at least 35 points during a weekend that featured plenty of blowouts against non-conference opponents.
However, the week's most significant battle came at Death Valley, where Florida used a last-minute goal line stand to knock out LSU 16-10 in an absolute slugfest. It may not have been the prettiest game of football, but the win was enough to give the Gators the SEC East and land them in Atlanta for the second straight season.
Florida's opponent in the SEC title game, Alabama, did not put fourth a quality showing. The Crimson Tide were down 3-0 late in the first quarter against Chattanooga, but they eventually won 31-3. However, the 28-point win was a slimmer margin than wins over teams like Tennessee and USC this season, so head coach Nick Saban cannot be too pleased with his squad ahead of its massive game against Auburn next weekend.
The results throughout the rest of the league pretty much went according to plan, although Vanderbilt knocking off Mississippi 38-17 was Saturday's biggest SEC upset. Texas A&M's struggles were also surprising, as the Aggies only beat University of Texas at San Antonio 23-10.
Let us take a look then at which players turned in outstanding performances in Week 12, which featured extraordinary play from the league's running backs. As always, this list is compiled based on statistical output and the impact of that player's performance on his team moving forward.
Honorable Mentions
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- S Micah Abernathy, Tennessee
- RB Nick Chubb, Georgia
- WR Tyrie Cleveland, Florida
- S Kivon Coman, Mississippi State
- QB Jeremy Johnson, Auburn
- WR J'Mon Moore, Missouri
The players above were great in Week 12, but they just missed out on this list for various reasons.
Tennessee had a tough task in shutting down a talented Missouri offense, and safety Micah Abernathy led the way in the Volunteers' 63-37 win. The sophomore led the team with 12 total tackles, and he added a critical interception he returned 26 yards to set up a score. Abernathy's numbers were not enough to land him more than a mention, and he was not helped by the fact Tennessee allowed 37 points.
In most weeks, Nick Chubb's performance certainly would have put him on this list, but the SEC running back crop in Week 12 was the best it has been all season. Chubb gained 108 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while also adding a 49-yard scoring reception. Yet, the star Bulldog was slightly outshined by others on Saturday.
In a game that lacked any significant offense, it was a freshman receiver that made the game's decisive play. With Florida down 7-3 in the third quarter, Tyrie Cleveland sparked the Gators with a massive 98-yard touchdown catch. He finished with three catches for 124 yards on the afternoon, and he certainly showed his big-play ability that made him arguably Florida's top recruit in the offseason, as the Gators flipped him late from Houston.
Another safety was all over the field on Saturday as well. Kivon Coman led all SEC players in Week 12 with 15 total tackles, but his play was not enough as the Mississippi State's bowl hopes died in a 58-42 loss to Arkansas.
With starter Sean White nursing an injury ahead of the Iron Bowl, Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson received another chance to shine on Saturday. The senior was solid, completing 14-of-19 throws for 147 yards and a touchdown to go with 42 yards and two scores rushing. These numbers are not enough to land Johnson on this list, but his performance gives Auburn a little hope moving forward if White cannot get fully healthy.
Lastly, one of the league's top wide outs was at it again on Saturday. J'Mon Moore led the Missouri passing attack, reeling in nine balls for 134 yards. Moore is second in the SEC in receiving, but he has had far better outings this year.
Defensive statistics are courtesy of Mississippi State and Tennessee athletics.
RB Damarea Crockett, Missouri
2 of 14
For the second straight week, Missouri's emerging freshman star lands on this list with an explosive performance.
Damarea Crockett gashed Tennessee for 225 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. This puts him over 1,000 yards on the season, as Crockett joins an impressive group of freshman rushers that are sure to take over the league in the coming years.
QB Joshua Dobbs, Tennessee
3 of 14
Tennessee's SEC East dreams ended on Saturday, but its senior quarterback was still able to put together one of the best games of his career.
Joshua Dobbs showed why he is arguably the league's top dual-threat signal-caller. He was unstoppable against Missouri, throwing for 223 yards and three touchdowns to go with 190 yards and two scores rushing.
Volunteers head coach Butch Jones heaped serious praise on Dobbs, who played in his final game in Knoxville, per SEC Country's Mike Griffith.
“Whatever he puts his mind to, he accomplishes,” Jones said, growing emotional as he talked about Dobbs’ final home appearance.
“Joshua Dobbs, he could be the president of the United States if he wanted to.”
Whether Dobbs eventually becomes the commander-in-chief remains to be seen, but he could settle for All-SEC honors at the end of the season thanks to performances like this one.
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RB Rico Dowdle, South Carolina
4 of 14
South Carolina has found several young stars this season, and running back Rico Dowdle could be the best of the bunch.
The freshman once again paced the Gamecocks offense on Saturday, carrying the ball 21 times for 226 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-31 win over Western Carolina.
The youth movement is in full force at South Carolina, as the team is now bowl eligible behind the play of Dowdle and freshman quarterback Jake Bentley. Look out for the Gamecocks to become possible SEC East contenders in the next few seasons.
QB Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
5 of 14
Mississippi State may be in the midst of a disappointing season, but the Bulldogs have certainly found their quarterback of the future.
Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald was a force again on Saturday, throwing for 328 yards and two scores in addition to 131 yards and four scores on the ground. This marked the second time Fitzgerald totaled at least five touchdowns in a game, and the sixth time he eclipsed the 100-yard mark rushing in a contest.
Fitzgerald now has 18 passing touchdowns on the year, and he is at 985 yards and 12 scores rushing. If not for a porous Mississippi State defense, this team has certainly made a bowl this season behind this explosive play of its star quarterback.
DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
6 of 14
With the Texas A&M offense sputtering, the Aggies turned to their defense on Saturday, and Myles Garrett absolutely delivered.
The star defensive end and possible No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft pretty much personified the term unstoppable. He totaled eight tackles to go with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble, as he consistently derailed the UTSA offense.
Texas A&M fans better savor these types of performances, since Garrett likely only has a few games left for this team before he is off terrorizing NFL quarterbacks.
Defensive statistics are courtesy of Texas A&M athletics.
RB Kam Martin, Auburn
7 of 14
Auburn found out last week how much different this offense is without Kamryn Pettway, and the Tigers found a new source for explosive plays this week in the form of freshman running back Kam Martin.
In his first significant action of his career, Martin ran 21 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Even though his two scores came with the game already in hand in Auburn's 55-0 win over Alabama A&M, Martin's play still showed that Auburn as plenty of legitimate options in the backfield moving forward.
Martin almost ended up elsewhere, as he flipped from Baylor to Auburn in the midst of Art Briles' firing. Now, he looks like another promising freshman rusher in the SEC.
WR Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia
8 of 14
Georgia's offense has lacked much explosion in recent weeks, but the Bulldogs finally got some big-time contributions from its top playmaker on Saturday.
In his team's 35-21 win over Louisiana-Lafayette, Isaiah McKenzie was a force all day. He caught two passes for 32 yards, scored on a 55-yard rush in the game's opening possession and he returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown.
Good things happen when Georgia puts the ball in McKenzie's hands, and Saturday was a prime example of why it needs to do that more often.
WR Fred Ross, Mississippi State
9 of 14
While Fitzgerald is stealing the headlines for Mississippi State's offense, its senior receiver is putting together another tremendous season.
Fred Ross found space in Arkansas' secondary all day long. The star wideout caught 10 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, acting as a security blanket for Fitzgerald while still being able to take the top off of the defense with a 40-yard score.
Ross now has 835 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season, which is far more than his previous career-high of five scores. Expect some postseason honors for Ross in the coming weeks.
WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
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Deebo Samuel showed a ton of promise with an excellent spring prior to this season, and that came to fruition on Saturday.
The sophomore put fourth his best game of the season. He caught four passes for 56 yards, ran five times for 27 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score.
Samuel is part of South Carolina's core moving forward, as he and freshman receiver Bryan Edwards could eventually form the top tandem in the SEC East.
RB Benjamin Snell Jr., Kentucky
11 of 14
The freshman running back trend continues here, as the SEC's second-leading frosh rusher was great again on Saturday.
Benjamin Snell, Jr. ran 14 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns in Kentucky's 49-3 win over Austin Peay, putting him over 1,000 yards on the year. Snell trails only Crockett for the SEC lead in freshman rushing yards, as those two, along with Dowdle, look to have the makings of a special running back group in the SEC East moving forward.
RB Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt
12 of 14
Now at 5-6, Vanderbilt has a chance to earn a bowl berth this season, and its star running back is a major reason why.
Ralph Webb paced the Commodores to their upset win on Saturday, toting the rock 20 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns. His play in the third quarter was excellent, as he scored twice to push Vanderbilt's lead to 30-10.
Webb often goes overlooked due to Vanderbilt's typical futility, but the senior is one of the SEC's best. The Commodores will host in-state rival Tennessee next weekend looking for their sixth win.
RB Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas
13 of 14
The running back trend lives on, as the SEC's leading rusher put on arguably the best outing of any player this week.
On the road in Starkville, Rawleigh Williams III completely shredded the Bulldogs defense. He carried the ball 20 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns to go with a one-yard passing score, as Mississippi State just could not figure out a way to stop him.
Williams is another in a long line of great running backs under head coach Bret Bielema, and the sophomore has a chance to finish as the SEC's most prolific rusher when this season ends.
RB Ish Witter, Missouri
14 of 14
The last of an unprecedented eight running backs on this week's list is Missouri's Ish Witter, who combined with Crockett to give the Tigers their best rushing performance of the season.
Witter received more carries than Crockett, rushing 31 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Crockett may have emerged as the top option in Missouri's backfield, but Witter gives the team another quality back to add an already strong offense.
He also returns next season, as the Tigers could lead the conference in scoring with quarterback Drew Lock, Crockett and Moore all set to play again in 2017.
All offensive statistics are courtesy of NCAA.com.
All conference statistics are courtesy of SECSports.com.
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