SEC Football 2011: 7 SEC Players With Most to Prove This Season

This year the SEC is truly like no other.

Multiple top teams in the conference went through a quarterback competition in the offseason, and with each team having a quarterback emerge, everyone will be waiting to see if they can prove themselves to the college football world.

Here are the top seven players with something to prove in the SEC this year.

7. Isaiah Crowell

According to ESPN.com, Isaiah Crowell was the No. 1 overall running back in the country coming out of high school in the 2011 recruiting class.

He has essentially already been crowned as the new savior to the UGA football program, and Georgia needs him to be that and more if they want to have a magical season.

He has to show that he has what it takes to perform his freshman year, rivaling the type of years of Marcus Lattimore and Michael Dyer posted last season.

6. Tyler Wilson

The Arkansas Razorbacks were one of the popular choices to be the dark horse in the SEC West and sneak pass Alabama and LSU and win that side of the SEC.

Now with star running back Knile Davis out for the season with a lower leg injury, more pressure is on the new starting quarterback Tyler Wilson to lead the team in the tough West.

Wilson has to prove that he has what it takes to win in the toughest division in all of college football.

5. Stephen Garcia

Outside of the quarterback position, the South Carolina Gamecocks are arguably the most complete team in the SEC. They have some of the top skill players in the whole SEC in Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, but they have one big question mark at quarterback.

It seems like Stephen Garcia has been the quarterback for South Carolina forever now and has yet to really show any promise at the position. Garcia has a lot to prove to not only the fans but also his teammates that he can lead the team to an SEC title.

4. John Brantley

The Florida Gators have yet to recover from losing their poster boy Tim Tebow to the NFL two years back. John Brantley was expected to inherit the starting quarterback role and excel in it.

He did inherit the role, but he has yet to show that he deserves to have the reigns to the offense down in Gainesville.

Now with a brand new coaching staff, Brantley will have to prove himself this year or else. Don’t be surprised if true freshman Jeff Driskel gets some snaps at quarterback.

3. Jarrett Lee

With the recent arrest of Jordan Jefferson, the LSU Tigers’ season now has an eerie feel to it. Jefferson is suspended indefinitely, and now fifth-year senior Jarrett Lee has been named the starting quarterback for the Tigers.

Last season he shared the duties with Jefferson, as he would come in, alternating series with Jefferson. This is Lee’s last go round for his collegiate career. It’s now or never my friend.

2. AJ McCarron

Alabama is the popular pick to win not only the SEC championship, but also the national championship. Their defense is looked at as the clear-cut best defense in the SEC led by linebacker Dont’a Hightower.

McCarron beat out Phillip Sims this offseason and will start for the Tide come week one, but his short stint against South Carolina last season showed many that Alabama may have to worry more than they think about that quarterback position of theirs.

1. Barrett Trotter

How does Auburn replace Heisman Trophy winner and first overall draft pick Cam Newton? His name is Barrett Trotter, and he has much to prove.

He is about to be thrown into the fire with little to no experience in a conference with some of the best defenses in all of America. Sorry Barrett, but you have a lot of pressure on you. Good luck.