SEC: 2010 postseason player countdown
Even in the SEC, where nobody agrees on anything, something tells me that just about everybody would have picked this next guy as the top player in the league from the 2010 season. All he did was put together the kind of season we might never see again in the SEC:
No. 1: Cam Newton, QB, Jr., Auburn
2010 numbers/honors: Led the SEC with 1,473 rushing yards and was No. 2 nationally in passing efficiency with a 182.05 rating. Accounted for 51 touchdowns – 30 passing, 20 rushing and one receiving. Completed 66.1 percent of his passes. Newton became the third Auburn player to win the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding player in college football. Also won the Manning and Davey O’Brien awards as the top quarterback in the country, and the Maxwell Award as the top player in the country. A consensus first-team All-America selection and consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Newton: There were so many milestones for Newton that it’s impossible to know where to start. He became the first player in SEC history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. He’s one of only three players in NCAA FBS history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in the same season. His 1,473 rushing yards set a single-season SEC record for quarterbacks, and the 51 touchdowns he accounted for led the country. In his first season as a starter in the SEC, Newton took an Auburn team picked by most to finish third or fourth in the Western Division to a team that went 14-0 and captured the school’s first national championship since 1957. He was unstoppable at quarterback, and that’s whether he was weaving his way for a 49-yard touchdown run against LSU or burning South Carolina on a 54-yard bomb for a touchdown to Darvin Adams. Former SEC great Archie Manning said we might never see a player put up numbers again like Newton did last season. For that matter, we might never see another player, period, like Newton again -- a 6-foot-6, 250-pound quarterback who could run the way he could, pass with the efficiency that he did and transform a good team into an unbeaten national championship team. Newton was the essence of resiliency, too. When the NCAA investigation heated up and all the allegations began to fly in November, he dialed in that much more and played some of his best football down the stretch.
The rundown
No. 2: Auburn DT Nick Fairley
No. 3: LSU CB Patrick Peterson
No. 4: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 1: Cam Newton, QB, Jr., Auburn
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Paul Abell/US PresswireQuarterback Cam Newton turned into Superman when Auburn needed a big play this season.
Paul Abell/US PresswireQuarterback Cam Newton turned into Superman when Auburn needed a big play this season.Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Newton: There were so many milestones for Newton that it’s impossible to know where to start. He became the first player in SEC history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. He’s one of only three players in NCAA FBS history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in the same season. His 1,473 rushing yards set a single-season SEC record for quarterbacks, and the 51 touchdowns he accounted for led the country. In his first season as a starter in the SEC, Newton took an Auburn team picked by most to finish third or fourth in the Western Division to a team that went 14-0 and captured the school’s first national championship since 1957. He was unstoppable at quarterback, and that’s whether he was weaving his way for a 49-yard touchdown run against LSU or burning South Carolina on a 54-yard bomb for a touchdown to Darvin Adams. Former SEC great Archie Manning said we might never see a player put up numbers again like Newton did last season. For that matter, we might never see another player, period, like Newton again -- a 6-foot-6, 250-pound quarterback who could run the way he could, pass with the efficiency that he did and transform a good team into an unbeaten national championship team. Newton was the essence of resiliency, too. When the NCAA investigation heated up and all the allegations began to fly in November, he dialed in that much more and played some of his best football down the stretch.
The rundown
No. 2: Auburn DT Nick Fairley
No. 3: LSU CB Patrick Peterson
No. 4: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
The No. 2 guy in our countdown wasn’t even on any All-SEC lists this time a year ago. But, then, he only started in two games during the 2009 season:
No. 2: Nick Fairley, DT, Jr., Auburn
2010 numbers/honors: Led the SEC with 24 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Fifth on Auburn’s team with 60 total tackles and also had a team-leading 21 quarterback hurries. Won the Lombardi Award, which is presented annually to the best lineman or linebacker in college football. Named as the SEC defensive player of the year by the Associated Press. A consensus first-team All-American and consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Fairley: After playing a reserve role in his first season at Auburn, the 6-5, 298-pound Fairley developed into the most dominant interior defensive lineman in college football last season. He was virtually unblockable and combined power and an explosive burst off the ball to wreck entire offensive game plans. And talk about being at your best in the big games, Fairley dominated the BCS National Championship Game in Auburn’s 22-19 win over Oregon. Afterward, Oregon coach Chip Kelly said the difference in the game was the Ducks’ inability to block Fairley, who had three tackles for loss and forced a fumble. In the 28-27 comeback win at Alabama, it was Fairley who helped turn that game around with his memorable play right before halftime. With Alabama driving deep in Auburn territory, Fairley sacked quarterback Greg McElroy, stripped him of the ball and recovered the fumble to give the Tigers hope going into halftime. It was the kind of play Fairley made over and over again last season. Georgia coach Mark Richt called Fairley the closest thing he’d seen to Warren Sapp in all his years of coaching. The Tigers weren’t a dominant defense last season, but Fairley’s dominance made up for some deficiencies.
The rundown
No. 3: LSU CB Patrick Peterson
No. 4: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 2: Nick Fairley, DT, Jr., Auburn
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Mark J. Rebilas/US PRESSWIRENick Fairley played at his best in Auburn's most important games.
Mark J. Rebilas/US PRESSWIRENick Fairley played at his best in Auburn's most important games.Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Fairley: After playing a reserve role in his first season at Auburn, the 6-5, 298-pound Fairley developed into the most dominant interior defensive lineman in college football last season. He was virtually unblockable and combined power and an explosive burst off the ball to wreck entire offensive game plans. And talk about being at your best in the big games, Fairley dominated the BCS National Championship Game in Auburn’s 22-19 win over Oregon. Afterward, Oregon coach Chip Kelly said the difference in the game was the Ducks’ inability to block Fairley, who had three tackles for loss and forced a fumble. In the 28-27 comeback win at Alabama, it was Fairley who helped turn that game around with his memorable play right before halftime. With Alabama driving deep in Auburn territory, Fairley sacked quarterback Greg McElroy, stripped him of the ball and recovered the fumble to give the Tigers hope going into halftime. It was the kind of play Fairley made over and over again last season. Georgia coach Mark Richt called Fairley the closest thing he’d seen to Warren Sapp in all his years of coaching. The Tigers weren’t a dominant defense last season, but Fairley’s dominance made up for some deficiencies.
The rundown
No. 3: LSU CB Patrick Peterson
No. 4: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
You get the feeling that the No. 3 guy in our countdown could line up just about anywhere on the field and be a star:
No. 3: Patrick Peterson, CB, Jr., LSU
2010 numbers/honors: Second on LSU’s team with four interceptions and 11 passes defended. Led the SEC in kickoff return average (29.1 yards per game) and punt return average (16.1 yards per game) and returned two punts for touchdowns. Peterson won the Bednarik Award as the top defensive player in college football and the Jim Thorpe Award as the top defensive back in college football. He was a consensus first-team All-American and a consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 4 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Peterson: Try identifying a more explosive athlete in college football last season than Peterson. For that matter, try indentifying one the last several years. The 6-1 Peterson is pushing 220 pounds, runs in the low 4.3’s in the 40-yard dash and plays the cornerback position the way Eric Clapton plays the guitar. There simply aren’t many guys like that anywhere on the planet, and Peterson is one of the most complete cornerbacks to come through the SEC in years. Not only does he take away one side of the field in coverage, but he’s one of the better tacklers on the field and finished with 42 total tackles last season. He’s a guy that could easily play safety. Peterson added return responsibilities to his repertoire last season and quickly became the most feared return man in the SEC. He took two punts back for touchdowns and averaged nearly 30 yards on kickoff returns. Even though he didn’t play on offense, Peterson was fourth in the SEC with an average of 114.2 all-purpose yards per game. He also blocked a kick. LSU’s tradition is rich with great players, but Peterson will go down as one of the best (and most talented) to ever play on the Bayou.
The rundown
No. 4: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 3: Patrick Peterson, CB, Jr., LSU
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Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireCoverage skills and the ability to return kicks make Patrick Peterson a valuable commodity.
Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireCoverage skills and the ability to return kicks make Patrick Peterson a valuable commodity.Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 4 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Peterson: Try identifying a more explosive athlete in college football last season than Peterson. For that matter, try indentifying one the last several years. The 6-1 Peterson is pushing 220 pounds, runs in the low 4.3’s in the 40-yard dash and plays the cornerback position the way Eric Clapton plays the guitar. There simply aren’t many guys like that anywhere on the planet, and Peterson is one of the most complete cornerbacks to come through the SEC in years. Not only does he take away one side of the field in coverage, but he’s one of the better tacklers on the field and finished with 42 total tackles last season. He’s a guy that could easily play safety. Peterson added return responsibilities to his repertoire last season and quickly became the most feared return man in the SEC. He took two punts back for touchdowns and averaged nearly 30 yards on kickoff returns. Even though he didn’t play on offense, Peterson was fourth in the SEC with an average of 114.2 all-purpose yards per game. He also blocked a kick. LSU’s tradition is rich with great players, but Peterson will go down as one of the best (and most talented) to ever play on the Bayou.
The rundown
No. 4: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
Once told by former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin that he’d be pumping gas the rest of his life if he went to South Carolina, this next guy on our countdown gassed just about everybody he lined up against last season:
No. 4: Alshon Jeffery, WR, So., South Carolina
2010 numbers/honors: Led the SEC in catches (88) and receiving yards (1,517) and tied for the league lead with nine touchdown catches. Jeffery ranked fourth nationally in receiving yards, and he also averaged 17.2 yards per catch, which was No. 1 nationally among those players catching 70 or more passes. A first-team All-America selection by ESPN.com, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), and a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press, Walter Camp and Sports Illustrated. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 18 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Jeffery: It’s not every day that you see 6-foot-4, 233-pound receivers slicing through SEC defenses the way Jeffery did last season. Nobody was strong enough to handle him one-on-one, and even at his size, he had the speed to run away from most people. A standout basketball player in high school, Jeffery also has exceptional leaping ability, allowing him to go up and get the football in crowds. Jeffery had eight games last season with 100 yards or more receiving and has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games. He was at his best against SEC competition, pulling in a league-high seven touchdowns in eight games. He also averaged 110.5 receiving yards in SEC games, which was nearly 17 yards more than the next closest guy – Alabama’s Julio Jones. For those questioning his speed, he had three touchdown catches of 69 yards or longer. And in the big games? Well, Jeffery had eight catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the first game against Auburn. He caught seven passes for 127 yards in the win against Alabama, including a one-handed gem on the sideline with a defender hanging onto his jersey. Even in the Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to Florida State, Jeffery matched his career high with nine catches for 130 yards. He’s on his way to re-writing the South Carolina record books and heads into his junior season as one of the premier receivers in college football.
The rundown
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
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Mark Zerof/US PresswireAlshon Jeffery led the SEC in receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,517) last season.
Mark Zerof/US PresswireAlshon Jeffery led the SEC in receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,517) last season.2010 numbers/honors: Led the SEC in catches (88) and receiving yards (1,517) and tied for the league lead with nine touchdown catches. Jeffery ranked fourth nationally in receiving yards, and he also averaged 17.2 yards per catch, which was No. 1 nationally among those players catching 70 or more passes. A first-team All-America selection by ESPN.com, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), and a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press, Walter Camp and Sports Illustrated. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 18 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Jeffery: It’s not every day that you see 6-foot-4, 233-pound receivers slicing through SEC defenses the way Jeffery did last season. Nobody was strong enough to handle him one-on-one, and even at his size, he had the speed to run away from most people. A standout basketball player in high school, Jeffery also has exceptional leaping ability, allowing him to go up and get the football in crowds. Jeffery had eight games last season with 100 yards or more receiving and has caught at least one pass in 22 straight games. He was at his best against SEC competition, pulling in a league-high seven touchdowns in eight games. He also averaged 110.5 receiving yards in SEC games, which was nearly 17 yards more than the next closest guy – Alabama’s Julio Jones. For those questioning his speed, he had three touchdown catches of 69 yards or longer. And in the big games? Well, Jeffery had eight catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns in the first game against Auburn. He caught seven passes for 127 yards in the win against Alabama, including a one-handed gem on the sideline with a defender hanging onto his jersey. Even in the Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to Florida State, Jeffery matched his career high with nine catches for 130 yards. He’s on his way to re-writing the South Carolina record books and heads into his junior season as one of the premier receivers in college football.
The rundown
No. 5: Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
We’re at No. 5 in our countdown of the SEC’s best players from the 2010 season, and this next guy is the first quarterback to crack the list:
No. 5: Ryan Mallett, QB, Jr., Arkansas
2010 numbers/honors: Led the SEC with 3,869 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. Mallett completed 64.7 percent of his passes and threw 12 interceptions. He averaged 14.6 yards per completion, which led the top 30 passers nationally. A second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and coaches.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 3 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Mallett: He ended his record-setting career at Arkansas by becoming only the fourth quarterback in SEC history to pass for 3,000 yards and throw 30 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. The other three were Florida’s Danny Wuerffel, Kentucky’s Tim Couch and Kentucky’s Andre Woodson. The 6-6, 238-pound Mallett set the standard when it came to being able to throw the ball any distance or fit the ball in any window. Very few players, if any, have come through this league with a stronger throwing arm. Mallett was widely criticized last season for the two second-half interceptions against Alabama and the late interception against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl -- both Arkansas losses. But he was also instrumental in the Hogs’ six-game winning streak to close the regular season and was one of the driving forces in the Hogs’ 10-win season and their first appearance in a BCS bowl in school history. Mallett carved apart South Carolina during Arkansas’ winning streak and also came up big against LSU in the regular-season finale. Against SEC defenses, Mallett led the league in pass efficiency and also set the pace with 2,366 passing yards and 16 touchdown passes.
The rundown
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 5: Ryan Mallett, QB, Jr., Arkansas
2010 numbers/honors: Led the SEC with 3,869 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. Mallett completed 64.7 percent of his passes and threw 12 interceptions. He averaged 14.6 yards per completion, which led the top 30 passers nationally. A second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and coaches.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 3 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
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AP Photo/April L. BrownArkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is only the fourth quarterback in SEC history to pass for 3,000 yards and throw 30 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons
AP Photo/April L. BrownArkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is only the fourth quarterback in SEC history to pass for 3,000 yards and throw 30 touchdowns in back-to-back seasonsThe rundown
No. 6: Alabama WR Julio Jones
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
In yet another reminder of how stacked the SEC was at receiver last season, the No. 6 guy on our countdown set a number of records at Alabama:
No. 6: Julio Jones, WR, Jr., Alabama
2010 numbers/honors: Second in the SEC with 1,133 receiving yards, which was an Alabama single-season record. Jones’ 78 receptions were also a school record. He caught seven touchdown passes and averaged 14.5 yards per catch. A second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and a consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 6 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Jones: One of the few knocks against Jones was that he couldn’t stay healthy, and it’s true that he endured his share of injuries at Alabama. But you’re also talking about a guy who missed very few games. His tolerance for pain is off the charts. He broke his hand against South Carolina last season, and not only did he not miss a single game, but he played some of his best football the rest of the way. Two weeks after surgery to insert screws and a plate into his hand, Jones exploded for 12 catches and 221 receiving yards in a 41-10 win against Tennessee. The only player in the league to catch more passes against SEC defenses last season was Randall Cobb, and Jones finished second to Alshon Jeffery with 750 receiving yards against SEC competition. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, Jones is one of those rare athletes who has the strength to shed would-be tacklers and the speed to run by them. When’s the last time you saw anybody catch him from behind? In a season that saw Alabama’s running game sputter at times, Jones was the constant for the Crimson Tide in that offense.
The rundown
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireJulio Jones set Alabama records with 78 catches and 1,133 receiving yards this past season.
Marvin Gentry/US PresswireJulio Jones set Alabama records with 78 catches and 1,133 receiving yards this past season.2010 numbers/honors: Second in the SEC with 1,133 receiving yards, which was an Alabama single-season record. Jones’ 78 receptions were also a school record. He caught seven touchdown passes and averaged 14.5 yards per catch. A second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and a consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 6 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Jones: One of the few knocks against Jones was that he couldn’t stay healthy, and it’s true that he endured his share of injuries at Alabama. But you’re also talking about a guy who missed very few games. His tolerance for pain is off the charts. He broke his hand against South Carolina last season, and not only did he not miss a single game, but he played some of his best football the rest of the way. Two weeks after surgery to insert screws and a plate into his hand, Jones exploded for 12 catches and 221 receiving yards in a 41-10 win against Tennessee. The only player in the league to catch more passes against SEC defenses last season was Randall Cobb, and Jones finished second to Alshon Jeffery with 750 receiving yards against SEC competition. At 6-4 and 220 pounds, Jones is one of those rare athletes who has the strength to shed would-be tacklers and the speed to run by them. When’s the last time you saw anybody catch him from behind? In a season that saw Alabama’s running game sputter at times, Jones was the constant for the Crimson Tide in that offense.
The rundown
No. 7: Kentucky WR Randall Cobb
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
If you’re looking for versatility, the next guy on our countdown defined it this past season:
No. 7: Randall Cobb, WR, Jr., Kentucky
2010 numbers/honors: Second nationally with 2,396 all-purpose yards and also finished second in the SEC with 84 catches. Cobb accounted for 16 touchdowns -- seven receiving, five rushing, three passing and one on a punt return. A first-team All-America selection by the Associated Press, ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 14 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Cobb: One of the more versatile performers in recent SEC history, Cobb was a little bit of everything last season for the Wildcats on his way to breaking Darren McFadden’s SEC single-season record for all-purpose yards. The 5-11, 186-pound Cobb lined up at receiver and quarterback. He returned kickoffs and punts and was also Kentucky’s holder on placement kicks. With 424 rushing yards and 1,017 receiving yards, Cobb just missed becoming the first player in SEC history to rush for 500 yards and have 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. And even though Kentucky won just two SEC games, Cobb was at his best against league competition. He topped all receivers with 63 catches against SEC defenses and was third with 694 receiving yards. He had the game-winning touchdown catch against South Carolina, which was Kentucky’s biggest win of the season, and accounted for some type of score in 11 of the Wildcats’ 13 contests. Few players have come through this league and impacted games as many different ways as Cobb did last season.
The rundown
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 7: Randall Cobb, WR, Jr., Kentucky
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Marvin Gentry/US PRESSWIRERandall Cobb did just about everything for Kentucky and was rewarded with several first-team All-America selections.
Marvin Gentry/US PRESSWIRERandall Cobb did just about everything for Kentucky and was rewarded with several first-team All-America selections.Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 14 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Cobb: One of the more versatile performers in recent SEC history, Cobb was a little bit of everything last season for the Wildcats on his way to breaking Darren McFadden’s SEC single-season record for all-purpose yards. The 5-11, 186-pound Cobb lined up at receiver and quarterback. He returned kickoffs and punts and was also Kentucky’s holder on placement kicks. With 424 rushing yards and 1,017 receiving yards, Cobb just missed becoming the first player in SEC history to rush for 500 yards and have 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. And even though Kentucky won just two SEC games, Cobb was at his best against league competition. He topped all receivers with 63 catches against SEC defenses and was third with 694 receiving yards. He had the game-winning touchdown catch against South Carolina, which was Kentucky’s biggest win of the season, and accounted for some type of score in 11 of the Wildcats’ 13 contests. Few players have come through this league and impacted games as many different ways as Cobb did last season.
The rundown
No. 8: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
The only freshman in our countdown checks in at No. 8, and his impact last season was immediate:
No. 8: Marcus Lattimore, RB, Fr., South Carolina
2010 numbers/honors: Finished third in the SEC in rushing with 1,197 yards and also caught 29 passes for 412 yards. Lattimore scored 19 touchdowns, which was one shy of tying the SEC record for a freshman. A unanimous pick for National Freshman of the Year honors and a second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Lattimore: When it comes to impact on a team, Lattimore was right there at the top nationally when you look at what he did for the Gamecocks. They went from having no running game the year before to running the ball much more efficiently with the 6-foot, 218-pound Lattimore pounding his way to 249 carries, which tied LSU’s Stevan Ridley for the most carries by a running back in the SEC last season. More importantly, Lattimore opened up things for everybody else on South Carolina’s offense and was the ultimate chain-mover. And when the Gamecocks needed the tough yards, he was there to get them. In their three biggest wins – Alabama, Florida and Georgia – Lattimore was brilliant. He rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass against the Crimson Tide, while rushing for 182 yards against Georgia in his SEC debut and then 212 yards and three touchdowns (on 40 bruising carries) in the Eastern Division-clinching win at Florida. Lattimore became the first South Carolina player in history to rush for 180 yards or more three times in the same season. He led all SEC running backs with an average of 116.1 rushing yards in league games and was second among all players against SEC competition with an average of 153.3 all-purpose yards per game. Something says we've only seen a glimpse of how good this guy can be.
The rundown
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 8: Marcus Lattimore, RB, Fr., South Carolina
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Frankie Creel/US PresswireFreshman Marcus Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards and scored 19 TDs last season.
Frankie Creel/US PresswireFreshman Marcus Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards and scored 19 TDs last season.Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Lattimore: When it comes to impact on a team, Lattimore was right there at the top nationally when you look at what he did for the Gamecocks. They went from having no running game the year before to running the ball much more efficiently with the 6-foot, 218-pound Lattimore pounding his way to 249 carries, which tied LSU’s Stevan Ridley for the most carries by a running back in the SEC last season. More importantly, Lattimore opened up things for everybody else on South Carolina’s offense and was the ultimate chain-mover. And when the Gamecocks needed the tough yards, he was there to get them. In their three biggest wins – Alabama, Florida and Georgia – Lattimore was brilliant. He rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass against the Crimson Tide, while rushing for 182 yards against Georgia in his SEC debut and then 212 yards and three touchdowns (on 40 bruising carries) in the Eastern Division-clinching win at Florida. Lattimore became the first South Carolina player in history to rush for 180 yards or more three times in the same season. He led all SEC running backs with an average of 116.1 rushing yards in league games and was second among all players against SEC competition with an average of 153.3 all-purpose yards per game. Something says we've only seen a glimpse of how good this guy can be.
The rundown
No. 9: Georgia OLB Justin Houston
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
The No. 9 guy on our countdown emerged as the SEC’s pre-eminent pass-rusher last season:
No. 9: Justin Houston, OLB, Jr., Georgia
2010 numbers/honors: Second in the SEC in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (18.5). Led Georgia with 44 quarterback hurries and was third on the team with 67 total tackles. A first-team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and Walter Camp. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection:
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Houston: He followed up his breakout sophomore season with an even better junior season and heads to the NFL a year early with 17.5 sacks over his past two seasons. The 6-3, 260-pound Houston was a natural as an outside linebacker coming off the edge in the Bulldogs’ 3-4 defense last season and made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. But he also became much more than just a pass-rusher, as evidenced by the fact that he was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football. Teams did their best to slow down Houston, whether it was putting an extra man on his side or double-teaming him, but he was a fixture in the opposing backfield all season long. He did his best work in SEC games, leading all league players with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. And against arch-rival Georgia Tech in the regular-season finale, Houston had an interception and also returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown.
The rundown
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 9: Justin Houston, OLB, Jr., Georgia
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AP Photo/Mike StewartGeorgia linebacker Justin Houston was second in the SEC in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (18.5).
AP Photo/Mike StewartGeorgia linebacker Justin Houston was second in the SEC in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (18.5).Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Houston: He followed up his breakout sophomore season with an even better junior season and heads to the NFL a year early with 17.5 sacks over his past two seasons. The 6-3, 260-pound Houston was a natural as an outside linebacker coming off the edge in the Bulldogs’ 3-4 defense last season and made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. But he also became much more than just a pass-rusher, as evidenced by the fact that he was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is presented annually to the top defensive player in college football. Teams did their best to slow down Houston, whether it was putting an extra man on his side or double-teaming him, but he was a fixture in the opposing backfield all season long. He did his best work in SEC games, leading all league players with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. And against arch-rival Georgia Tech in the regular-season finale, Houston had an interception and also returned a fumble 18 yards for a touchdown.
The rundown
No. 10: Arkansas RB Knile Davis
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
We’re down to our 10 best players from the 2010 season, and this is where it really gets difficult. The No. 10 guy on our countdown emerged from the shadows to rush for more yards than any other running back in the SEC:
No. 10: Knile Davis, RB, So., Arkansas
2010 numbers/honors: Second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 101.7 yards per game and piling up 1,322 yards for the season. Davis scored 14 touchdowns -- 13 rushing and one receiving. A first-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and a second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Davis: When the 2010 season began, Davis was simply trying to separate himself from everybody else in a crowded Arkansas running back stable. Mission accomplished and then some. The 6-foot, 220-pound sophomore ended the season as the SEC’s top rusher among running backs. Only Auburn quarterback Cam Newton rushed for more yards. Davis averaged 6.5 yards per carry, which led all running backs nationally who carried the ball at least 200 times last season. He racked up his big numbers despite carrying the ball only 20 times in the Hogs’ first four games. It wasn’t until midway through the season that he became Arkansas’ go-to running back, and when he got going, he took the Hogs’ offense to another level. Davis rushed for 833 yards against SEC teams, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He showed off the kind of speed to break long touchdown runs and yet was also able to get the tough yards. Arkansas’ offense became much more difficult to defend once the Hogs turned Davis loose, and you can’t help but wonder if Arkansas would have beaten Alabama in September had Davis been playing a more prominent role at that point in the season.
The rundown
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 10: Knile Davis, RB, So., Arkansas
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AP Photo/Rogelio V. SolisKnile Davis, an All-SEC selection, scored 14 TDs during the 2010 season.
AP Photo/Rogelio V. SolisKnile Davis, an All-SEC selection, scored 14 TDs during the 2010 season.Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Davis: When the 2010 season began, Davis was simply trying to separate himself from everybody else in a crowded Arkansas running back stable. Mission accomplished and then some. The 6-foot, 220-pound sophomore ended the season as the SEC’s top rusher among running backs. Only Auburn quarterback Cam Newton rushed for more yards. Davis averaged 6.5 yards per carry, which led all running backs nationally who carried the ball at least 200 times last season. He racked up his big numbers despite carrying the ball only 20 times in the Hogs’ first four games. It wasn’t until midway through the season that he became Arkansas’ go-to running back, and when he got going, he took the Hogs’ offense to another level. Davis rushed for 833 yards against SEC teams, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He showed off the kind of speed to break long touchdown runs and yet was also able to get the tough yards. Arkansas’ offense became much more difficult to defend once the Hogs turned Davis loose, and you can’t help but wonder if Arkansas would have beaten Alabama in September had Davis been playing a more prominent role at that point in the season.
The rundown
No. 11: Georgia WR A.J. Green
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
If only this next guy would have played the entire 2010 season, he would have easily been in the top 5:
No. 11: A.J. Green, WR, Jr., Georgia
2010 numbers/honors: Led Georgia with 54 receptions, 848 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. A second-team All-America selection by Walter Camp. A second-team All-SEC selection by both the Associated Press and coaches.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 2 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Green: Let the debate begin on whether the 6-4, 212-pound Green is too high, too low or about where he should be in this countdown. Granted, he only played in nine games after being suspended by the NCAA for the first four games of the season, but he tied for the SEC lead in those nine games with nine touchdown catches. Five of those touchdowns came in the five SEC games he played in, and they averaged 31.2 yards per catch. Simply, Green was the essence of a big-play performer and changed the way defenses had to play the Bulldogs once he returned to the lineup. He averaged 94.2 receiving yards per game, which would have placed him second in the SEC behind only Alshon Jeffery. His ability to go up and get the football, combined with a great pair of hands, made him the ultimate weapon any time the Bulldogs got near the red zone. Green was easily one of the best three or four players in the SEC this season. But being suspended for four games was what kept him from being ranked any higher.
The rundown
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 11: A.J. Green, WR, Jr., Georgia
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Brett Davis/US PresswireReceiver A.J. Green had nine touchdown catches in nine games for Georgia last season.
Brett Davis/US PresswireReceiver A.J. Green had nine touchdown catches in nine games for Georgia last season.Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 2 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Green: Let the debate begin on whether the 6-4, 212-pound Green is too high, too low or about where he should be in this countdown. Granted, he only played in nine games after being suspended by the NCAA for the first four games of the season, but he tied for the SEC lead in those nine games with nine touchdown catches. Five of those touchdowns came in the five SEC games he played in, and they averaged 31.2 yards per catch. Simply, Green was the essence of a big-play performer and changed the way defenses had to play the Bulldogs once he returned to the lineup. He averaged 94.2 receiving yards per game, which would have placed him second in the SEC behind only Alshon Jeffery. His ability to go up and get the football, combined with a great pair of hands, made him the ultimate weapon any time the Bulldogs got near the red zone. Green was easily one of the best three or four players in the SEC this season. But being suspended for four games was what kept him from being ranked any higher.
The rundown
No. 12: LSU DT Drake Nevis
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
He was overshadowed at times by Auburn’s Nick Fairley, but the No. 12 guy in our countdown was dominant in his own right last season in the middle of that LSU defensive line:
No. 12: Drake Nevis, DT, Sr., LSU
2010 numbers/honors: Led LSU with 13 tackles for loss and was second on the team with six sacks and three forced fumbles. A second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press and Walter Camp. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Nevis: The 6-2, 285-pound Nevis was the Tigers’ one-man wrecking ball in the middle of their defensive line last season. Defensive tackles don’t usually rack up big numbers. They’re there to stuff the run and take up blockers for other guys to make plays, but Nevis was one of the most active defensive tackles in the country. He finished with 56 total tackles, which was second only to Fairley’s 60 total tackles among interior defensive linemen in the SEC. Nevis was at his best in some of the Tigers’ biggest wins, and he also did most of his damage against SEC teams. He had 10 of his 13 tackles for loss in league play, including five of his six sacks. He had several key plays in the 24-21 win over Alabama and was dominant in the 33-29 win at Florida with 4.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis has coached a number of defensive tackles who’ve gone on to have stellar NFL careers, and he said Nevis compares favorably with any of them.
The rundown
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 12: Drake Nevis, DT, Sr., LSU
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AP Photo/Gerald HerbertDefensive tackle Drake Nevis (92) was a force for LSU last season.
AP Photo/Gerald HerbertDefensive tackle Drake Nevis (92) was a force for LSU last season.Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Nevis: The 6-2, 285-pound Nevis was the Tigers’ one-man wrecking ball in the middle of their defensive line last season. Defensive tackles don’t usually rack up big numbers. They’re there to stuff the run and take up blockers for other guys to make plays, but Nevis was one of the most active defensive tackles in the country. He finished with 56 total tackles, which was second only to Fairley’s 60 total tackles among interior defensive linemen in the SEC. Nevis was at his best in some of the Tigers’ biggest wins, and he also did most of his damage against SEC teams. He had 10 of his 13 tackles for loss in league play, including five of his six sacks. He had several key plays in the 24-21 win over Alabama and was dominant in the 33-29 win at Florida with 4.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis has coached a number of defensive tackles who’ve gone on to have stellar NFL careers, and he said Nevis compares favorably with any of them.
The rundown
No. 13: Auburn OT Lee Ziemba
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
You win up front in this league, and the next guy in our countdown anchored the best offensive line in the SEC last season.
No. 13: Lee Ziemba, OT, Sr., Auburn
2010 numbers/honors: Part of an Auburn offensive line that gave up just 23 sacks in 14 games and cleared the way for the Tigers to finish fifth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 284.8 yards per game. Ziemba was a first-team All-America selection by the AFCA, FWAA and Walter Camp and a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press. He was a consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the preseason countdown.
Making the case for Ziemba: The 6-foot-8, 319-pound Ziemba ended his college career with 52 consecutive starts, an Auburn record. He started every game since 2007 and saved his best season for his last. One of the central figures in Auburn’s run to the 2010 BCS national championship, Ziemba won the Jacobs Trophy, which is voted on by the coaches and goes to the best blocker in the SEC. Both as a pass-protector and a run-blocker, Ziemba excelled last season from his left tackle position. He was one of four senior starters up front for the Tigers, and having played so much football together, they operated as one in making Auburn’s offense one of the most balanced in the country. The Tigers rushed for 300 or more yards in six straight SEC games, becoming the first Auburn team to do that. And going into the BCS National Championship Game, Auburn had allowed just 21 sacks in 261 pass attempts. Cam Newton might have been the face of Auburn’s national championship team, but Ziemba’s production, leadership and overall toughness were major factors in the Tigers winning their first title since 1957.
The rundown
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 13: Lee Ziemba, OT, Sr., Auburn
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Matthew Emmons/US PresswireLee Ziemba has been the anchor of the Auburn offensive line.
Matthew Emmons/US PresswireLee Ziemba has been the anchor of the Auburn offensive line.Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the preseason countdown.
Making the case for Ziemba: The 6-foot-8, 319-pound Ziemba ended his college career with 52 consecutive starts, an Auburn record. He started every game since 2007 and saved his best season for his last. One of the central figures in Auburn’s run to the 2010 BCS national championship, Ziemba won the Jacobs Trophy, which is voted on by the coaches and goes to the best blocker in the SEC. Both as a pass-protector and a run-blocker, Ziemba excelled last season from his left tackle position. He was one of four senior starters up front for the Tigers, and having played so much football together, they operated as one in making Auburn’s offense one of the most balanced in the country. The Tigers rushed for 300 or more yards in six straight SEC games, becoming the first Auburn team to do that. And going into the BCS National Championship Game, Auburn had allowed just 21 sacks in 261 pass attempts. Cam Newton might have been the face of Auburn’s national championship team, but Ziemba’s production, leadership and overall toughness were major factors in the Tigers winning their first title since 1957.
The rundown
No. 14: LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
As middle linebackers go, this next guy in our countdown was pretty much the prototype:
No. 14: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, Sr., LSU
2010 numbers/honors: Led LSU with 116 total tackles, tying for second on the team with 11 tackles for loss. Included were four sacks. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 13 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Sheppard: For the second year in a row, Sheppard collected 110-plus tackles and wound up third in the SEC last season in total tackles. He’s been a tackling machine for the Tigers from the time he entered the starting lineup and is versatile enough to chase the ball from sideline to sideline and also drop back into coverage when needed. But to truly appreciate what the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Sheppard meant to the LSU defense last season, you have to look beyond the numbers. He was the Tigers’ emotional leader, the guy who made sure the right tone was set every day on the practice field and the guy who made sure everybody was ready on game day. He was also the brains of that defense, knowing exactly what defensive coordinator John Chavis wanted and able to make checks and get everybody in the right places. Sheppard didn’t pile up a bunch of his numbers against teams that didn’t matter, either. All four of his sacks came against SEC competition as did eight of his 11 tackles for loss. In the win over Alabama, he had his only interception of the season and recovered a fumble. In the win at Florida, he had two of his four sacks. Every great defense needs a rock at middle linebacker, and Sheppard was that rock for the Tigers.
The rundown
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 14: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, Sr., LSU
2010 numbers/honors: Led LSU with 116 total tackles, tying for second on the team with 11 tackles for loss. Included were four sacks. A consensus first-team All-SEC selection.
Preseason ranking: Ranked No. 13 on the 2010 preseason countdown.
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AP Photo/Gerald HerbertKelvin Sheppard has been the rock of the LSU defense.
AP Photo/Gerald HerbertKelvin Sheppard has been the rock of the LSU defense.The rundown
No. 15: South Carolina DE Devin Taylor
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
One of the more improved players in the SEC, this next guy had a breakout season in 2010 and checks in at No. 15 on our countdown:
No. 15: Devin Taylor, DE, So., South Carolina
2010 numbers/honors: Led South Carolina with 13 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hurries and was second on the team with 7.5 sacks. His 7.5 sacks ranked him fourth in the SEC. A first-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
Making the case for Taylor: South Carolina’s defensive front was the best in the SEC last season when it came to rushing the passer and making life miserable for the opposing quarterback, and the 6-7, 245-pound Taylor was a big reason why. The Gamecocks led the league with 41 sacks, and Taylor had 7.5 of those sacks. Even more telling, all 7.5 came against SEC competition, which ranked Taylor second in the league only to Georgia’s Justin Houston, who had eight sacks against SEC foes. Also, Taylor had 12 of his tackles for loss against SEC competition, and only Auburn’s Nick Fairley and Houston had more. Taylor will return in 2011 as one of the best pass-rushers in the league, but he also has a knack for being around the ball in all situations. In the win over Tennessee last season, Taylor intercepted a pass and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown and also recovered two fumbles. And with his quickness coming off the edge, combined with his height and ridiculous wingspan, he’s one of those defensive ends that can wreck an entire offensive game plan.
The rundown
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
No. 15: Devin Taylor, DE, So., South Carolina
2010 numbers/honors: Led South Carolina with 13 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hurries and was second on the team with 7.5 sacks. His 7.5 sacks ranked him fourth in the SEC. A first-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and second-team All-SEC selection by the coaches.
Preseason ranking: Not ranked in the 2010 preseason countdown.
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Frankie Creel/US PresswireSouth Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Devin Taylor harassed opposing quarterbacks in 2010.
Frankie Creel/US PresswireSouth Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Devin Taylor harassed opposing quarterbacks in 2010.The rundown
No. 16: Florida S Ahmad Black
No. 17: Arkansas TE D.J. Williams
No. 18: Alabama S Mark Barron
No. 19: Florida CB Janoris Jenkins
No. 20: Mississippi State LB Chris White
No. 21: LSU RB Stevan Ridley
No. 22: Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod
No. 23: Alabama DE Marcell Dareus
No. 24: Kentucky LB Danny Trevathan
No. 25: Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
Edward Aschoff
Aschoff joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years covering the University of Florida for The Gainesville Sun. He grew up in Oxford, Miss., before attending UF, graduating with a B.S. in journalism.
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