SEC: Janzen Jackson
The postseason top 25 countdown is done and it's time for us to discuss our reasons for how we sorted our list and why we left some players off.
Anytime you do this sort of thing you always second-guess yourself. There are always players you wish you had put higher, slid down lower, left off or put on the list. The only thing that's for sure is that you'll never be perfect and you'll never please everyone, but that's the way it goes.
Alabama running back Trent Richardson was the obvious choice to be first on our list. He was named the nation's top running back and was a unanimous first team All-American and All-SEC member. He accounted for more than 36 percent of Alabama's offense last year and became just the third player in SEC history to rush for 20 or more touchdowns.
Richardson is a track star built like a tank.
While Richardson was spot on, there was another player who we felt should have been higher. At second glance, Chris and I felt that Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones was too low. He ended up sixth, but we now feel like we should have had him above both Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw.
When you finish the year with an SEC-best 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks after a a year away from the field you deserve to be higher.
Our bad.
We took some heat from the College GameDay crew during the season for having only one LSU player — cornerback Morris Claiborne — on our preseason list. (We didn't even have Tyrann Mathieu on the preseason list! We sure look boneheaded now.) Well, we certainly deserved that and had four Tigers on the postseason list, including No. 2 (Claiborne) and No. 3 (Mathieu). Defensive end Sam Montgomery and guard Will Blackwell just missed the cut, too.
We've also received word from some readers that we missed on Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers, who was passed by LSU's Rueben Randle and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.
When we created this list we took into consideration stats and total impact on a team — good and bad. Yes, Rogers led the SEC in receiving, but his impact wasn't as positive as the others. Randle was LSU's top receiving target all season, was a true leader and finished the year third in the SEC in receiving. Jeffery was South Carolina's only real dependable receiver all season and of his eight touchdowns, five came in conference games. Jeffery also spent the first eight games on a team that didn't have much of a passing game and was still sixth in the league in receiving.
Also, Jeffery had a monster outing in South Carolina's bowl win, while when Tennessee needed a win over Kentucky to become bowl eligible, Rogers caught just two passes in the loss and was openly complaining and being divisive on the sideline.
Rogers had a solid season, but more was taken into consideration than just his play.
Five players — Richardson, Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower, Barrett Jones and Mark Barron — from our preseason top 10 remained there in our postseason countdown, so that made us look good.
We missed on two South Carolina players in the preseason in Devin Taylor (No. 6) and Stephon Gilmore (No. 12) and didn't see Ingram (postseason No. 5) coming. But we did have 14 of 25 from our preseason list back on our postseason list. It probably would have been more if not for injuries to South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Arkansas running back Knile Davis and defensive end Jake Bequette, or the dismissal of former Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson.
Here's a breakdown of the list by team, position, side of the field, year and division:
TEAM
Check in tomorrow to see players who just missed the cut for the postseason top 25.
Anytime you do this sort of thing you always second-guess yourself. There are always players you wish you had put higher, slid down lower, left off or put on the list. The only thing that's for sure is that you'll never be perfect and you'll never please everyone, but that's the way it goes.
Alabama running back Trent Richardson was the obvious choice to be first on our list. He was named the nation's top running back and was a unanimous first team All-American and All-SEC member. He accounted for more than 36 percent of Alabama's offense last year and became just the third player in SEC history to rush for 20 or more touchdowns.
Richardson is a track star built like a tank.
While Richardson was spot on, there was another player who we felt should have been higher. At second glance, Chris and I felt that Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones was too low. He ended up sixth, but we now feel like we should have had him above both Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw.
When you finish the year with an SEC-best 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks after a a year away from the field you deserve to be higher.
Our bad.
We took some heat from the College GameDay crew during the season for having only one LSU player — cornerback Morris Claiborne — on our preseason list. (We didn't even have Tyrann Mathieu on the preseason list! We sure look boneheaded now.) Well, we certainly deserved that and had four Tigers on the postseason list, including No. 2 (Claiborne) and No. 3 (Mathieu). Defensive end Sam Montgomery and guard Will Blackwell just missed the cut, too.
We've also received word from some readers that we missed on Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers, who was passed by LSU's Rueben Randle and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.
When we created this list we took into consideration stats and total impact on a team — good and bad. Yes, Rogers led the SEC in receiving, but his impact wasn't as positive as the others. Randle was LSU's top receiving target all season, was a true leader and finished the year third in the SEC in receiving. Jeffery was South Carolina's only real dependable receiver all season and of his eight touchdowns, five came in conference games. Jeffery also spent the first eight games on a team that didn't have much of a passing game and was still sixth in the league in receiving.
Also, Jeffery had a monster outing in South Carolina's bowl win, while when Tennessee needed a win over Kentucky to become bowl eligible, Rogers caught just two passes in the loss and was openly complaining and being divisive on the sideline.
Rogers had a solid season, but more was taken into consideration than just his play.
Five players — Richardson, Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower, Barrett Jones and Mark Barron — from our preseason top 10 remained there in our postseason countdown, so that made us look good.
We missed on two South Carolina players in the preseason in Devin Taylor (No. 6) and Stephon Gilmore (No. 12) and didn't see Ingram (postseason No. 5) coming. But we did have 14 of 25 from our preseason list back on our postseason list. It probably would have been more if not for injuries to South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Arkansas running back Knile Davis and defensive end Jake Bequette, or the dismissal of former Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson.
Here's a breakdown of the list by team, position, side of the field, year and division:
TEAM
- Alabama (7)
- Georgia (5)
- LSU (4)
- Arkansas (3)
- South Carolina (2)
- Auburn (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Mississippi State (1)
- Vanderbilt (1)
- DB (7)
- LB (4)
- WR/TE (4)
- DL (3)
- QB (2)
- RB (2)
- OL (3)
- Defense (14)
- Offense (11)
- Senior (11)
- Junior (9)
- Sophomore (5)
- West (16)
- East (9)
Check in tomorrow to see players who just missed the cut for the postseason top 25.
TENNESSEE
Record: 5-7, 1-7 SEC
The second year of the Derek Dooley era wasn’t exactly pretty to look at. There was promise at the beginning of the season with playmakers returning on offense, but struggles were expected with the youth and inexperience on defense. To make matters worse, the Vols dismissed troubled star safety Janzen Jackson before the season. But getting back to a bowl seemed in reach with players like quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receivers Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers.
Tennessee outscored its first two opponents 87-39, with Bray averaging 349 yards and throwing for seven touchdowns. Hunter and Rogers also combined for 504 yards and four touchdowns on 31 catches in those games. However, Tennessee was dealt another crushing blow in Week 3 against Florida when Hunter tore the ACL in his left knee. The Vols lost the game — and Hunter for the season.
Tennessee then suffered arguably its biggest blow when Bray went down with a thumb injury in the loss to Georgia in Week 6. Tennessee lost four of the five games Bray missed, scoring double digits just once, as it went from Matt Simms to true freshman Justin Worley at quarterback.
Defensively, there was improvement and freshmen linebackers A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt appear to be stars in the making, but the Vols just couldn’t overcome their offensive woes. Tennessee hit rock bottom with a 10-7 loss to Kentucky that ended a 26-year winning streak over the Wildcats and eliminated the Vols from the postseason.
Offensive MVP: Rogers. Because Rogers played the entire year, he gets the nod over Bray. Without Rogers, Tennessee’s offensive numbers would have been a lot worse. He finished the year first in the SEC in receptions (67) and second in yards (1,040) and touchdowns (9).
Defensive MVP: Defensive tackle Malik Jackson. Jackson was one of Tennessee’s best overall players and maybe the Vols' best leader. He was the heart of Tennessee’s defense and was extremely productive, recording 56 tackles, including 11 for loss, and had 10 quarterback hurries.
Turning point: When Bray went down in the Georgia game, it seemed like Tennessee’s spirit was crushed. Cycling among quarterbacks didn’t help and some wondered if this team quit or not. Tennessee lost five of its final seven games after Bray’s injury.
What’s next: Tennessee isn’t headed to a bowl game, so Dooley and his staff will have more time to hit the road and recruit. Tennessee is in desperate need of depth, especially on defense. It’s also time for Dooley to take his team back and find a way to motivate players before spring practice.
Record: 5-7, 1-7 SEC
The second year of the Derek Dooley era wasn’t exactly pretty to look at. There was promise at the beginning of the season with playmakers returning on offense, but struggles were expected with the youth and inexperience on defense. To make matters worse, the Vols dismissed troubled star safety Janzen Jackson before the season. But getting back to a bowl seemed in reach with players like quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receivers Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers.
Tennessee outscored its first two opponents 87-39, with Bray averaging 349 yards and throwing for seven touchdowns. Hunter and Rogers also combined for 504 yards and four touchdowns on 31 catches in those games. However, Tennessee was dealt another crushing blow in Week 3 against Florida when Hunter tore the ACL in his left knee. The Vols lost the game — and Hunter for the season.
Tennessee then suffered arguably its biggest blow when Bray went down with a thumb injury in the loss to Georgia in Week 6. Tennessee lost four of the five games Bray missed, scoring double digits just once, as it went from Matt Simms to true freshman Justin Worley at quarterback.
Defensively, there was improvement and freshmen linebackers A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt appear to be stars in the making, but the Vols just couldn’t overcome their offensive woes. Tennessee hit rock bottom with a 10-7 loss to Kentucky that ended a 26-year winning streak over the Wildcats and eliminated the Vols from the postseason.
Offensive MVP: Rogers. Because Rogers played the entire year, he gets the nod over Bray. Without Rogers, Tennessee’s offensive numbers would have been a lot worse. He finished the year first in the SEC in receptions (67) and second in yards (1,040) and touchdowns (9).
Defensive MVP: Defensive tackle Malik Jackson. Jackson was one of Tennessee’s best overall players and maybe the Vols' best leader. He was the heart of Tennessee’s defense and was extremely productive, recording 56 tackles, including 11 for loss, and had 10 quarterback hurries.
Turning point: When Bray went down in the Georgia game, it seemed like Tennessee’s spirit was crushed. Cycling among quarterbacks didn’t help and some wondered if this team quit or not. Tennessee lost five of its final seven games after Bray’s injury.
What’s next: Tennessee isn’t headed to a bowl game, so Dooley and his staff will have more time to hit the road and recruit. Tennessee is in desperate need of depth, especially on defense. It’s also time for Dooley to take his team back and find a way to motivate players before spring practice.
SEC power rankings: Week 9
October, 24, 2011
10/24/11
9:05
AM ET
By
Edward Aschoff and
Chris Low | ESPN.com
» Power Rankings: ACC | Big 12 | Big East | Big Ten | Pac-12 | SEC
We are closer and closer to the historic clash between Alabama and LSU. Both are off this weekend, so we'll have to wait two weeks before our top teams return to the playing field.
It should be well worth the wait.
Let's check out the rankings for Week 9:
1. LSU (8-0, 5-0): The Tigers just keep getting stronger each week. Even when you take key guys out of the lineup, LSU just bounces back even better. LSU might have played its best game of the season when it ran Auburn out of the bayou before the third quarter was even over. Some have doubted LSU because of the distractions and some inconsistency on offense, but the Tigers haven't missed a beat this season. They are at the top of the BCS standings for a reason and that is just adding even more hype to the Tigers' showdown with Alabama.
2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0): For 30 minutes Saturday, we realized that Alabama was human. The Crimson Tide had just six points at halftime against a battered Tennessee team and we quickly realized that even one of Nick Saban's best teams can be susceptible to looking ahead or having a lack of focus. But the Alabama team we've seen consistently run over and through opponents showed up in the second half and pummeled the Vols by scoring 31 straight points in the last two quarters. Now, the Tide can rest before their epic battle with LSU. Some Alabama players tried to downplay their excitement for this game, while others seemed relived that it was finally time to focus on LSU.
3. Arkansas (6-1, 2-1): The Razorbacks were lackadaisical coming out against Ole Miss and it almost resulted in their second loss of the season. That exciting passing game was nonexistent and the running game continued to struggle. But like Alabama, the Hogs rallied at halftime and blew past Ole Miss in the third on their way to a closer-than-expected victory. This isn't the first time Arkansas has gotten off to a slow start, and with a few tough games remaining, that is a concern going forward. Still, the Razorbacks have the best passing game in the league, so Tyler Wilson's arm will keep the Hogs in any game. We still need to see more out of the running game and more consistency on defense.
4. South Carolina (6-1, 4-1): The Gamecocks were off over the weekend, giving them time to regroup and find some more weapons to help soften the blow of losing running back Marcus Lattimore. South Carolina will have to heavily lean on its defense from here on out and that might not be such a bad thing. The Gamecocks rank fourth in the SEC in total defense (278 yards per game) and have forced a league-high 24 turnovers. This group went from flaky to fierce, which has to be comforting for South Carolina's staff. The Gamecocks will have to rely on Brandon Wilds at running back from here on out. Remember, he was fifth on the depth chart coming into the season. He'd better stay healthy because the depth isn't great at all and there are former walk-ons waiting in the wings.
5. Georgia (5-2, 4-1): The Bulldogs were off as well before they take on Florida in what should still be referred to as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia will come out of the bye feeling a little healthier as well with linebacker Alec Ogletree coming back and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell probably returning as well. Georgia has the least taxing schedule remaining in the East, and if the Bulldogs win out, there's a strong chance they will represent the East in the SEC championship game. South Carolina still needs to lose at least one game, but with Arkansas and Florida remaining, that's a definite possibility. Georgia needs to focus on itself, and it's done a great job of that since starting off 0-2. The Bulldogs can thank their tenacious defense for this turnaround.
6. Auburn (5-3, 3-2): The Tigers have been fun to watch all season because of the heart and resiliency they have played with. However, we quickly realized just how young this team was against LSU. This group of Tigers was blasted over the weekend, and not even making a change at the quarterback spot could save it. Clint Moseley was abused against LSU's defense and Auburn totaled just 248 yards and the defense let LSU move up and down the field with relative ease. We know this team has some nice talent, but the youth is starting to catch up with it.
7. Florida (4-3, 2-3): The Gators had to be thrilled that they were off over the weekend. Florida stumbled into its bye week with three straight losses and an offense that seems to have regressed to what last year's looked like. The hope in Gainesville is that quarterback John Brantley (lower leg) will be back for the Georgia game, but that isn't a given. With an extra week to prepare for the Bulldogs, you'd think that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis could cook up a decent game plan for his two freshmen quarterbacks. A week hasn't been enough for him or his youngsters since Brantley went down. Florida has the mental edge over Georgia after winning 17 of the past 20 meetings, but not getting a win this weekend against the Bulldogs will send Florida into a deeper downward spiral.
8. Vanderbilt (4-3, 1-3): Coach James Franklin made the right decision when he started Jordan Rodgers at quarterback against Army. Sure, Army isn't the most imposing team, but the Commodores totally clicked on offense for the first time in a while. Rodgers can sling the ball around the field and he can also make plays with his legs. He got nearly 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing over the weekend, and the more snaps he takes out there, the more comfortable he'll be. This defense continues to impress as it forced three more turnovers Saturday. This isn't the Vanderbilt opposing teams have come to know and love.
9. Tennessee (3-4, 0-4): The Vols kept up with Alabama for the first half Saturday, but after the half it became painfully obvious that Tennessee just doesn't have the manpower to sustain such life against bigger, better teams. The Vols have a lot of young talent, but it is all starting and the depth issues are very much a concern right now. Sure, Tennessee is out of the SEC East hunt, but you can tell that the wheels are moving in the right direction for this team. Coach Derek Dooley has instilled the right mindset into his players, but it's just tough that there aren't able bodies to consistently come in and help out on both sides of the ball. Not having four of your best players -- Tyler Bray, Justin Hunter, Herman Lathers and Janzen Jackson -- doesn't help, and it has showed in the past few weeks.
10. Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4): The Bulldogs have had a ton of offensive problems since Week 2, and the hope is that a lot of those execution issues were cleared up during the bye week. Coach Dan Mullen can't be happy with how his spread offense has looked of late and making personnel changes, starting with the quarterback spot, wouldn't surprise anyone. Chris Relf was benched for Tyler Russell against South Carolina, but nothing really changed for the offense, meaning that he quarterback battle should continue until someone runs away with the position. This team was supposed to make noise in the SEC West this year, but it has yet to get a conference win. A trip to Lexington, Ky., could help deliver that first win, but even the Wildcats' offense looked better Saturday than Mississippi State's has since September.
11. Kentucky (3-4, 2-5): After a strong offensive showing against Jacksonville State on Saturday, the Wildcats are out of our SEC cellar. No, Jacksonville State isn't SEC competition, but coming off the bye, Kentucky had the performance it needed to get out of its rut and stop its four-game slide. Kentucky put up a season-high 445 yards. The passing game wasn't great, but quarterback Morgan Newton was as efficient as ever and took a step in the right direction against the Gamecocks. But Kentucky still has a long way to go. Mississippi State is the next opponent and it has its own struggles to work out. Can the Wildcats squeak by at home to get its first conference win of the year?
12. Ole Miss (2-5, 0-4): The Rebels fought for four quarters against Arkansas, but just couldn't hold up with depth issues plaguing them on both sides of the ball. The offense was clicking early, but got nothing going in the third quarter and trudged along in the fourth. If not for a badly thrown pass from Randall Mackey that was intercepted to seal the game for the Hogs, Ole Miss might be grinning from ear to ear after a major upset. But that didn't happen and the Rebels remain winless in the SEC. Ole Miss is having to use a plethora of youngsters, especially from its freshman class, and that means tons and tons of growing pains. Houston Nutt's seat in Oxford is only getting hotter and hotter with each week that passes by.
We are closer and closer to the historic clash between Alabama and LSU. Both are off this weekend, so we'll have to wait two weeks before our top teams return to the playing field.
It should be well worth the wait.
Let's check out the rankings for Week 9:
1. LSU (8-0, 5-0): The Tigers just keep getting stronger each week. Even when you take key guys out of the lineup, LSU just bounces back even better. LSU might have played its best game of the season when it ran Auburn out of the bayou before the third quarter was even over. Some have doubted LSU because of the distractions and some inconsistency on offense, but the Tigers haven't missed a beat this season. They are at the top of the BCS standings for a reason and that is just adding even more hype to the Tigers' showdown with Alabama.
2. Alabama (8-0, 5-0): For 30 minutes Saturday, we realized that Alabama was human. The Crimson Tide had just six points at halftime against a battered Tennessee team and we quickly realized that even one of Nick Saban's best teams can be susceptible to looking ahead or having a lack of focus. But the Alabama team we've seen consistently run over and through opponents showed up in the second half and pummeled the Vols by scoring 31 straight points in the last two quarters. Now, the Tide can rest before their epic battle with LSU. Some Alabama players tried to downplay their excitement for this game, while others seemed relived that it was finally time to focus on LSU.
3. Arkansas (6-1, 2-1): The Razorbacks were lackadaisical coming out against Ole Miss and it almost resulted in their second loss of the season. That exciting passing game was nonexistent and the running game continued to struggle. But like Alabama, the Hogs rallied at halftime and blew past Ole Miss in the third on their way to a closer-than-expected victory. This isn't the first time Arkansas has gotten off to a slow start, and with a few tough games remaining, that is a concern going forward. Still, the Razorbacks have the best passing game in the league, so Tyler Wilson's arm will keep the Hogs in any game. We still need to see more out of the running game and more consistency on defense.
4. South Carolina (6-1, 4-1): The Gamecocks were off over the weekend, giving them time to regroup and find some more weapons to help soften the blow of losing running back Marcus Lattimore. South Carolina will have to heavily lean on its defense from here on out and that might not be such a bad thing. The Gamecocks rank fourth in the SEC in total defense (278 yards per game) and have forced a league-high 24 turnovers. This group went from flaky to fierce, which has to be comforting for South Carolina's staff. The Gamecocks will have to rely on Brandon Wilds at running back from here on out. Remember, he was fifth on the depth chart coming into the season. He'd better stay healthy because the depth isn't great at all and there are former walk-ons waiting in the wings.
5. Georgia (5-2, 4-1): The Bulldogs were off as well before they take on Florida in what should still be referred to as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia will come out of the bye feeling a little healthier as well with linebacker Alec Ogletree coming back and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell probably returning as well. Georgia has the least taxing schedule remaining in the East, and if the Bulldogs win out, there's a strong chance they will represent the East in the SEC championship game. South Carolina still needs to lose at least one game, but with Arkansas and Florida remaining, that's a definite possibility. Georgia needs to focus on itself, and it's done a great job of that since starting off 0-2. The Bulldogs can thank their tenacious defense for this turnaround.
6. Auburn (5-3, 3-2): The Tigers have been fun to watch all season because of the heart and resiliency they have played with. However, we quickly realized just how young this team was against LSU. This group of Tigers was blasted over the weekend, and not even making a change at the quarterback spot could save it. Clint Moseley was abused against LSU's defense and Auburn totaled just 248 yards and the defense let LSU move up and down the field with relative ease. We know this team has some nice talent, but the youth is starting to catch up with it.
7. Florida (4-3, 2-3): The Gators had to be thrilled that they were off over the weekend. Florida stumbled into its bye week with three straight losses and an offense that seems to have regressed to what last year's looked like. The hope in Gainesville is that quarterback John Brantley (lower leg) will be back for the Georgia game, but that isn't a given. With an extra week to prepare for the Bulldogs, you'd think that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis could cook up a decent game plan for his two freshmen quarterbacks. A week hasn't been enough for him or his youngsters since Brantley went down. Florida has the mental edge over Georgia after winning 17 of the past 20 meetings, but not getting a win this weekend against the Bulldogs will send Florida into a deeper downward spiral.
8. Vanderbilt (4-3, 1-3): Coach James Franklin made the right decision when he started Jordan Rodgers at quarterback against Army. Sure, Army isn't the most imposing team, but the Commodores totally clicked on offense for the first time in a while. Rodgers can sling the ball around the field and he can also make plays with his legs. He got nearly 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing over the weekend, and the more snaps he takes out there, the more comfortable he'll be. This defense continues to impress as it forced three more turnovers Saturday. This isn't the Vanderbilt opposing teams have come to know and love.
9. Tennessee (3-4, 0-4): The Vols kept up with Alabama for the first half Saturday, but after the half it became painfully obvious that Tennessee just doesn't have the manpower to sustain such life against bigger, better teams. The Vols have a lot of young talent, but it is all starting and the depth issues are very much a concern right now. Sure, Tennessee is out of the SEC East hunt, but you can tell that the wheels are moving in the right direction for this team. Coach Derek Dooley has instilled the right mindset into his players, but it's just tough that there aren't able bodies to consistently come in and help out on both sides of the ball. Not having four of your best players -- Tyler Bray, Justin Hunter, Herman Lathers and Janzen Jackson -- doesn't help, and it has showed in the past few weeks.
10. Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4): The Bulldogs have had a ton of offensive problems since Week 2, and the hope is that a lot of those execution issues were cleared up during the bye week. Coach Dan Mullen can't be happy with how his spread offense has looked of late and making personnel changes, starting with the quarterback spot, wouldn't surprise anyone. Chris Relf was benched for Tyler Russell against South Carolina, but nothing really changed for the offense, meaning that he quarterback battle should continue until someone runs away with the position. This team was supposed to make noise in the SEC West this year, but it has yet to get a conference win. A trip to Lexington, Ky., could help deliver that first win, but even the Wildcats' offense looked better Saturday than Mississippi State's has since September.
11. Kentucky (3-4, 2-5): After a strong offensive showing against Jacksonville State on Saturday, the Wildcats are out of our SEC cellar. No, Jacksonville State isn't SEC competition, but coming off the bye, Kentucky had the performance it needed to get out of its rut and stop its four-game slide. Kentucky put up a season-high 445 yards. The passing game wasn't great, but quarterback Morgan Newton was as efficient as ever and took a step in the right direction against the Gamecocks. But Kentucky still has a long way to go. Mississippi State is the next opponent and it has its own struggles to work out. Can the Wildcats squeak by at home to get its first conference win of the year?
12. Ole Miss (2-5, 0-4): The Rebels fought for four quarters against Arkansas, but just couldn't hold up with depth issues plaguing them on both sides of the ball. The offense was clicking early, but got nothing going in the third quarter and trudged along in the fourth. If not for a badly thrown pass from Randall Mackey that was intercepted to seal the game for the Hogs, Ole Miss might be grinning from ear to ear after a major upset. But that didn't happen and the Rebels remain winless in the SEC. Ole Miss is having to use a plethora of youngsters, especially from its freshman class, and that means tons and tons of growing pains. Houston Nutt's seat in Oxford is only getting hotter and hotter with each week that passes by.
The countdown of the SEC's top 25 players for the 2011 season is in the books, and I'm sure nobody has any beefs with our list.
Actually, I have a few myself, and I put the list together along with my SEC blogging mate Edward Aschoff.
When you have to keep it to 25 players in a league like the SEC, you're always going to second-guess yourself.
We certainly wouldn't have included Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson at No. 25 had we known he would squander his last chance and get booted for continuing substance abuse issues.
And who knew Arkansas' Knile Davis would go down with a fractured ankle in the preseason? But I absolutely stand by our decision to pick him in the top 5, and I'm just as convinced that he deserved to remain on the list even though he's not going to be playing this season. Davis is a class act in every sense of the word and a terrific football player.
As I survey the list, I admit to wincing a bit at not seeing more LSU players included. The Tigers are loaded with talent, but much of it is concentrated in the freshman and sophomore classes. If we did a top 50, LSU would probably be right there at the top.
The other thing is that we genuinely tried to pick the 25 players we felt would have the best seasons in 2011 without trying to make sure every team was accounted for or that a team had more players on the list simply because it was picked high in the preseason polls.
The No. 1 choice was tough, but we went with Alshon Jeffery for a number of reasons.
First, there's no denying his production. The bigger the game, the better he played last season, and he's only going to be more polished as a receiver. You're talking about a guy who's 6-4 and weighs 230 pounds and has the leaping ability to go up and get passes, the hands to catch passes with people hanging onto him, and the strength to out-wrestle defenders for passes you simply don't see many receivers catching.
He's not going to wow anybody with his speed (or his physique), but how many times do you see him being run down when he breaks into the clear?
Simply, Jeffery's a football player, and he's poised for a monster junior season.
Before getting into the 10 players who just missed the cut, here's a breakdown of the list:
BY TEAM
Alabama: 5
Arkansas: 5
South Carolina: 4
Georgia: 3
Tennessee: 2
Auburn: 1
Florida: 1
Kentucky: 1
LSU: 1
Mississippi State: 1
Vanderbilt: 1
BY POSITION
RB: 4
LB: 4
WR: 3
DT: 3
CB: 3
OL: 2
DE: 2
S: 2
QB: 1
TE: 1
Here are the 10 players (could have been 20) who just missed the cut. They're listed alphabetically:
LSU LB Ryan Baker: The Tigers are oozing with talent on defense, and Baker will be one of their leaders. He had seven sacks last season and played the first month with his mouth wired shut due to a broken jaw.
Ole Miss RB Brandon Bolden: He's got a chance to rush for 1,000 yards and also catch 30 passes. He just missed joining the 1,000-yard/30-catch club last season by 24 rushing yards.
Georgia CB Brandon Boykin: One of the SEC's top cover cornerbacks, Boykin is also one of the most dangerous return specialists in the league. Maybe we see him on offense this season, too.
Florida DE Sharrif Floyd: The Gators are going to play him at end because of his ability to both rush the passer and stop the run.
Georgia C Ben Jones: A stalwart in the middle of that Georgia offensive line, Jones ranks among the best centers in college football.
Vanderbilt LB Chris Marve: Everywhere you look in the SEC, there are great linebackers. Marve will be gunning for his fourth straight season of 80 or more tackles.
Ole Miss OT Bradley Sowell: The Rebels have two future NFL offensive tackles on their roster, and the 6-7, 315-pound Sowell is primed for a big senior season.
LSU RB Spencer Ware: The Tigers didn't really unveil Ware until the Cotton Bowl last season. He'll be the centerpiece of their offense in 2011.
Kentucky OG Larry Warford: Not many guys the size of the 6-3, 336-pound Warford can move the way he can. He's exactly what you're looking for at guard.
Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson: He gained a lot of mileage by the way he played against Auburn in relief a year ago. Don't be surprised if he leads the SEC in touchdown passes this season.
Actually, I have a few myself, and I put the list together along with my SEC blogging mate Edward Aschoff.
When you have to keep it to 25 players in a league like the SEC, you're always going to second-guess yourself.
We certainly wouldn't have included Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson at No. 25 had we known he would squander his last chance and get booted for continuing substance abuse issues.
And who knew Arkansas' Knile Davis would go down with a fractured ankle in the preseason? But I absolutely stand by our decision to pick him in the top 5, and I'm just as convinced that he deserved to remain on the list even though he's not going to be playing this season. Davis is a class act in every sense of the word and a terrific football player.
As I survey the list, I admit to wincing a bit at not seeing more LSU players included. The Tigers are loaded with talent, but much of it is concentrated in the freshman and sophomore classes. If we did a top 50, LSU would probably be right there at the top.
The other thing is that we genuinely tried to pick the 25 players we felt would have the best seasons in 2011 without trying to make sure every team was accounted for or that a team had more players on the list simply because it was picked high in the preseason polls.
The No. 1 choice was tough, but we went with Alshon Jeffery for a number of reasons.
First, there's no denying his production. The bigger the game, the better he played last season, and he's only going to be more polished as a receiver. You're talking about a guy who's 6-4 and weighs 230 pounds and has the leaping ability to go up and get passes, the hands to catch passes with people hanging onto him, and the strength to out-wrestle defenders for passes you simply don't see many receivers catching.
He's not going to wow anybody with his speed (or his physique), but how many times do you see him being run down when he breaks into the clear?
Simply, Jeffery's a football player, and he's poised for a monster junior season.
Before getting into the 10 players who just missed the cut, here's a breakdown of the list:
BY TEAM
Alabama: 5
Arkansas: 5
South Carolina: 4
Georgia: 3
Tennessee: 2
Auburn: 1
Florida: 1
Kentucky: 1
LSU: 1
Mississippi State: 1
Vanderbilt: 1
BY POSITION
RB: 4
LB: 4
WR: 3
DT: 3
CB: 3
OL: 2
DE: 2
S: 2
QB: 1
TE: 1
Here are the 10 players (could have been 20) who just missed the cut. They're listed alphabetically:
LSU LB Ryan Baker: The Tigers are oozing with talent on defense, and Baker will be one of their leaders. He had seven sacks last season and played the first month with his mouth wired shut due to a broken jaw.
Ole Miss RB Brandon Bolden: He's got a chance to rush for 1,000 yards and also catch 30 passes. He just missed joining the 1,000-yard/30-catch club last season by 24 rushing yards.
Georgia CB Brandon Boykin: One of the SEC's top cover cornerbacks, Boykin is also one of the most dangerous return specialists in the league. Maybe we see him on offense this season, too.
Florida DE Sharrif Floyd: The Gators are going to play him at end because of his ability to both rush the passer and stop the run.
Georgia C Ben Jones: A stalwart in the middle of that Georgia offensive line, Jones ranks among the best centers in college football.
Vanderbilt LB Chris Marve: Everywhere you look in the SEC, there are great linebackers. Marve will be gunning for his fourth straight season of 80 or more tackles.
Ole Miss OT Bradley Sowell: The Rebels have two future NFL offensive tackles on their roster, and the 6-7, 315-pound Sowell is primed for a big senior season.
LSU RB Spencer Ware: The Tigers didn't really unveil Ware until the Cotton Bowl last season. He'll be the centerpiece of their offense in 2011.
Kentucky OG Larry Warford: Not many guys the size of the 6-3, 336-pound Warford can move the way he can. He's exactly what you're looking for at guard.
Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson: He gained a lot of mileage by the way he played against Auburn in relief a year ago. Don't be surprised if he leads the SEC in touchdown passes this season.
I’ve yet to meet a coach who revels in kicking any kid off the team.
And when that kid just happens to be one of your most talented players, it’s all the more painful.
Janzen Jackson was one of Tennessee’s best players. He was one of the Vols’ most valuable players.
But all players are expendable, especially when their actions compromise the core values of a program.
It should be noted that Tennessee coach Derek Dooley didn’t just flippantly kick Jackson to the curb.
Rather, those in and around the Vols’ program will tell you that Dooley invested as much time and energy in trying to help Jackson as he has any player he’s ever coached.
Dooley was willing to go that extra mile with Jackson because Jackson had made a sincere effort to help himself. The junior safety had made progress, too, with his substance abuse issues and had reached out to Dooley and Tennessee officials for help.
Still, there were certain boundaries that Dooley simply wasn’t willing to compromise, even if it meant sending one of his best players packing.
There’s no question that Tennessee’s a better football team with Jackson on the field. He makes things go in that secondary.
So it wasn’t an easy decision for Dooley to part ways with Jackson.
It was, however, the right decision.
As much as Dooley wanted to help Jackson, he’s smart enough to realize that no single player is more important or bigger than the entire program.
In the short term, it’s going to hurt. Jackson’s a difference-maker on the field.
But in the long term -- and Dooley has been around the SEC long enough to know that there are no quick fixes in this league -- it’s the kind of decision that will serve the program well.
If his players didn’t already get it, I guarantee you they do now.
Here’s the other thing: It’s pretty much down to the players that Dooley has brought into the program.
Very few of the Phillip Fulmer holdovers remain, and only 11 of the 23 signees in Lane Kiffin’s 2009 signing class -- a class that was ranked No. 10 nationally -- are still on the roster.
Moreover, only four of those players from Kiffin's 2009 signing class are expected to play significant roles this season, and two are listed as projected starters -- Daniel Hood at defensive tackle and Marsalis Teague at cornerback.
In other words, this is truly Dooley’s team now.
He likes the last two classes that he’s assembled and feels like the Vols are pointed in the right direction.
Sounds like he's committed to get there by doing it the right way, too.
And when that kid just happens to be one of your most talented players, it’s all the more painful.
Janzen Jackson was one of Tennessee’s best players. He was one of the Vols’ most valuable players.
But all players are expendable, especially when their actions compromise the core values of a program.
It should be noted that Tennessee coach Derek Dooley didn’t just flippantly kick Jackson to the curb.
Rather, those in and around the Vols’ program will tell you that Dooley invested as much time and energy in trying to help Jackson as he has any player he’s ever coached.
Dooley was willing to go that extra mile with Jackson because Jackson had made a sincere effort to help himself. The junior safety had made progress, too, with his substance abuse issues and had reached out to Dooley and Tennessee officials for help.
Still, there were certain boundaries that Dooley simply wasn’t willing to compromise, even if it meant sending one of his best players packing.
There’s no question that Tennessee’s a better football team with Jackson on the field. He makes things go in that secondary.
So it wasn’t an easy decision for Dooley to part ways with Jackson.
It was, however, the right decision.
As much as Dooley wanted to help Jackson, he’s smart enough to realize that no single player is more important or bigger than the entire program.
In the short term, it’s going to hurt. Jackson’s a difference-maker on the field.
But in the long term -- and Dooley has been around the SEC long enough to know that there are no quick fixes in this league -- it’s the kind of decision that will serve the program well.
If his players didn’t already get it, I guarantee you they do now.
Here’s the other thing: It’s pretty much down to the players that Dooley has brought into the program.
Very few of the Phillip Fulmer holdovers remain, and only 11 of the 23 signees in Lane Kiffin’s 2009 signing class -- a class that was ranked No. 10 nationally -- are still on the roster.
Moreover, only four of those players from Kiffin's 2009 signing class are expected to play significant roles this season, and two are listed as projected starters -- Daniel Hood at defensive tackle and Marsalis Teague at cornerback.
In other words, this is truly Dooley’s team now.
He likes the last two classes that he’s assembled and feels like the Vols are pointed in the right direction.
Sounds like he's committed to get there by doing it the right way, too.
Heading back home after a few days at Florida's preseason camp. First, though, some links:
- Alabama's AJ McCarron shows his mettle in the Crimson Tide's quarterback competition.
- LSU's Brandon Taylor carries on the tradition and will wear the revered No. 18 this season.
- Tennessee's Janzen Jackson is glad to be back with the team and glad Derek Dooley stuck with him.
- Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is setting the bar even higher for the 2011 season.
- Ole Miss' defense is showing signs of improvement, and coach Houston Nutt likes what he's seeing from the secondary.
- Kentucky senior receiver Gene McCaskill is healing and hungry.
- South Carolina freshman defensive end Jadeveon Clowney misses practice Monday to return home and tend to a personal matter.
- Florida's still looking for a go-to receiver to open things up down the field.
- Auburn freshman running back Tre Mason is trying to make his own way.
- Junior college newcomer Alonzo Highsmith has been impressive while working with Arkansas' first-team linebackers.
Tennessee was the first SEC team to open preseason practice on Tuesday, and the UTsports.com website has a complete rundown, including video of Derek Dooley's post-practice comments and links to stories from different media outlets around the state.
It sounds like sophomore Daniel Hood is serious about making an impact at defensive tackle. Hood, who's listed at 293 pounds now, made the switch from offensive line and is one of the players Dooley complimented.
Junior safety Janzen Jackson also made a big impact in his first day back. He missed all of spring practice after withdrawing from school last semester to deal with personal issues.
"I think what benefits the team is just his energy level," Dooley said of Jackson. "It rubs off on people. He's first in everything. He has good enthusiasm. He's active. He loves competing. He's everything you look for in a competitor on the field."
After suffering his second torn Achilles tendon, senior defensive end Ben Martin was back on Haslam Field for the first practice. The Cincinnati native missed last season after his first torn Achilles suffered in August 2010. Then in February, he suffered the same injury on the foot causing him to miss spring practice.
"It felt really good to be back on the field with the guys," Martin said. "It felt good to be a part of the team again, going through the drills and getting yelled at by the coaches, it felt good again."
Martin took a moment to collect himself when asked about what `the moment' was that he felt like he was back.
"Probably when we were going through the first set of drills and I realized I was tired -- this is what football is supposed to feel like," Martin said. "I had my helmet, my mouth piece, that's what football is. I wasn't hesitant -- that's how you get hurt. I do think about limitations and have to know what my limits are .... But I am a football player, I just want to get back out there and play."
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray said he's up to 202 pounds, and one of the battles to watch this August will be at safety. Junior Prentiss Waggner, who had five interceptions last season, will be vying with Jackson and Brent Brewer for one of the starting jobs. It could be that Waggner settles in as a nickelback. He's also played some at cornerback, so his versatility should come in handy for the Vols this season.
They also have junior college newcomers Byron Moore and Izauea Lanier, both of whom are expected to contribute right away in the secondary.
It sounds like sophomore Daniel Hood is serious about making an impact at defensive tackle. Hood, who's listed at 293 pounds now, made the switch from offensive line and is one of the players Dooley complimented.
Junior safety Janzen Jackson also made a big impact in his first day back. He missed all of spring practice after withdrawing from school last semester to deal with personal issues.
"I think what benefits the team is just his energy level," Dooley said of Jackson. "It rubs off on people. He's first in everything. He has good enthusiasm. He's active. He loves competing. He's everything you look for in a competitor on the field."
After suffering his second torn Achilles tendon, senior defensive end Ben Martin was back on Haslam Field for the first practice. The Cincinnati native missed last season after his first torn Achilles suffered in August 2010. Then in February, he suffered the same injury on the foot causing him to miss spring practice.
"It felt really good to be back on the field with the guys," Martin said. "It felt good to be a part of the team again, going through the drills and getting yelled at by the coaches, it felt good again."
Martin took a moment to collect himself when asked about what `the moment' was that he felt like he was back.
"Probably when we were going through the first set of drills and I realized I was tired -- this is what football is supposed to feel like," Martin said. "I had my helmet, my mouth piece, that's what football is. I wasn't hesitant -- that's how you get hurt. I do think about limitations and have to know what my limits are .... But I am a football player, I just want to get back out there and play."
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray said he's up to 202 pounds, and one of the battles to watch this August will be at safety. Junior Prentiss Waggner, who had five interceptions last season, will be vying with Jackson and Brent Brewer for one of the starting jobs. It could be that Waggner settles in as a nickelback. He's also played some at cornerback, so his versatility should come in handy for the Vols this season.
They also have junior college newcomers Byron Moore and Izauea Lanier, both of whom are expected to contribute right away in the secondary.
We kick off our countdown today of the SEC's 25 best players entering the 2011 season.
Like past top 25 lists, this isn't a list of the top NFL prospects in the league. It's based on what players have accomplished in college so far, their potential for the 2011 season and the impact they have on their teams.
What separates this from the postseason list is that it relies more on projections, as opposed to mainly statistics, like the postseason poll.
We have reached out to members of the SEC, including coaches and players, for input on our list and have spoken with different members of the media for help as well.
Of course, there will be some players who burst onto the scene this fall and make their way onto the list. Remember some guy named Cam Newton? I think he surprised just about everyone last year.
And there will be some players who fall off this list. Last season, Ole Miss defensive tackle Jerrell Powe ranked No. 10 on the preseason list, but he recorded just 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
OK, we've stalled long enough. Here is No. 25 and we’ll count it down daily until we get to No. 1:
No. 25: Janzen Jackson, S, Tennessee
2010 numbers: Jackson was one of 10 Volunteers to start every game in 2010 and owns the highest streak of consecutive starts heading into 2011 with 15. His five interceptions tied for the team lead and tied for third in the SEC. He was also the Vols’ leader in interception return yards with 114, ranking third in the league. Jackson led the team with 11 passes defended and led Tennessee’s secondary with 69 tackles.
Most recent ranking: Not ranked in the 2011 postseason countdown.
Making the case for Jackson: When Jackson is on, he’s really good -- even great. His tremendous field instincts are undeniable, he’s a big hitter and he his cover skills that make you think he’s a cornerback at times. Jackson has the ability to cover almost every portion of the field. His mere presence makes the Vols’ defense go. Jackson ranked fifth on our safeties list, but that was before he reported back to school. Now that he's back we expect him to make an impact on the Vols' defense. However, we wonder what kind of playing shape he’ll be in once he finally steps back onto the football field. Jackson only recently rejoined the team after withdrawing from school following the Music City Bowl. He hasn’t practiced with the team since before the bowl, so he’ll no doubt be rusty this preseason. Even though he worked out on his own, it could take him some time to regain his football legs. Jackson has also been hampered by off-the-field incidents through his first two years, which makes him a bit of a wild card in Knoxville. Jackson has the skill to be a terrific player in this league, but he has to overcome the mental side of things first.
Like past top 25 lists, this isn't a list of the top NFL prospects in the league. It's based on what players have accomplished in college so far, their potential for the 2011 season and the impact they have on their teams.
What separates this from the postseason list is that it relies more on projections, as opposed to mainly statistics, like the postseason poll.
We have reached out to members of the SEC, including coaches and players, for input on our list and have spoken with different members of the media for help as well.
Of course, there will be some players who burst onto the scene this fall and make their way onto the list. Remember some guy named Cam Newton? I think he surprised just about everyone last year.
And there will be some players who fall off this list. Last season, Ole Miss defensive tackle Jerrell Powe ranked No. 10 on the preseason list, but he recorded just 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
OK, we've stalled long enough. Here is No. 25 and we’ll count it down daily until we get to No. 1:
No. 25: Janzen Jackson, S, Tennessee
[+] Enlarge
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/US PresswireJanzen Jackson (15) is a playmaker in Tennessee's secondary, collecting 69 tackles and five picks last season.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/US PresswireJanzen Jackson (15) is a playmaker in Tennessee's secondary, collecting 69 tackles and five picks last season.Most recent ranking: Not ranked in the 2011 postseason countdown.
Making the case for Jackson: When Jackson is on, he’s really good -- even great. His tremendous field instincts are undeniable, he’s a big hitter and he his cover skills that make you think he’s a cornerback at times. Jackson has the ability to cover almost every portion of the field. His mere presence makes the Vols’ defense go. Jackson ranked fifth on our safeties list, but that was before he reported back to school. Now that he's back we expect him to make an impact on the Vols' defense. However, we wonder what kind of playing shape he’ll be in once he finally steps back onto the football field. Jackson only recently rejoined the team after withdrawing from school following the Music City Bowl. He hasn’t practiced with the team since before the bowl, so he’ll no doubt be rusty this preseason. Even though he worked out on his own, it could take him some time to regain his football legs. Jackson has also been hampered by off-the-field incidents through his first two years, which makes him a bit of a wild card in Knoxville. Jackson has the skill to be a terrific player in this league, but he has to overcome the mental side of things first.
Taking a look at what's going on in the SEC world just before the weekend comes.
- A heated exchange between Auburn coach Gene Chizik and NCAA vice president for reinforcement Julie Roe Lach during the SEC spring meetings revealed the NCAA isn't done investigating Auburn.
- Former Auburn and Alabama football players will play each other in a flag football game next month to raise money for tornado relief.
- Izzy Gould of The Mobile Press-Register wonders if Alabama will be deep enough on offense this fall.
- Despite being removed from Auburn's roster this spring, Eric Smith is still hoping to return to the Tigers' football team.
- Former Auburn football player Chaz Ramsey is suing Auburn and its strength and conditioning coach, Kevin Yoxall, in Mississippi state court after alleging that they were negligent in weightlifting activities that caused Ramsey's career-ending back injury.
- Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a look at Georgia's special-teams group.
- Marc Weiszer of The Athens Banner-Herald writes that former running back turned linebacker Richard Samuel could move back to running back with the depth Georgia has.
- Kentucky's "Thursday Night Lights" workout brings some energy to the football team.
- Janzen Jackson still has a lot to do in order to stay a part of Tennessee's football team.
- Workers from Sports Turf Solutions completed installing the rolls of 419 Bermuda grass sod at Vanderbilt Stadium on Wednesday.
Taking a look at the SEC's NFL draft future
July, 14, 2011
7/14/11
9:00
AM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
It's never too early to talk about next year's NFL draft, right? Of course not.
Well, ESPN colleague Mel Kiper recently made a list of his top-five juniors and seniors at each position and 12 SEC seniors made Kiper's list -- it would have been 13 if not for the dismissal of former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who is rated as the No. 3 corner on Kiper's list.
Here is the list of SEC seniors on Kiper's list:
Running backs:
Now for the juniors:
Quarterbacks
Well, ESPN colleague Mel Kiper recently made a list of his top-five juniors and seniors at each position and 12 SEC seniors made Kiper's list -- it would have been 13 if not for the dismissal of former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who is rated as the No. 3 corner on Kiper's list.
Here is the list of SEC seniors on Kiper's list:
Running backs:
- No. 5: Jeffery Demps, Florida
- No. 3: Cordy Glenn, Georgia
- No. 4: Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina
- No. 2: William Vlachos, Alabama
- No. 3: Ben Jones, Georgia
- No. 5: Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
- No. 1: Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
- No. 4: Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
- No. 1: Mark Barron, Alabama
- No. 3: Tramain Thomas, Arkansas
- No. 1: Blair Walsh, Georgia
- No. 2: Drew Butler, Georgia
- It's interesting to see Demps on this list. Yes, he has incredible speed and there isn't a player in the country that can catch him after he hits a hole and finds some space, but he has size (5-8, 190 pounds) and durability issues. He injured his foot last season against Tennessee when he carried the ball more than 20 times and was never the same in 2010. Demps needs to stay healthy and excel in Charlie Weis' pro-style offense this fall in order to stay on this list. Also, I expect Ole Miss' Brandon Bolden to creep onto this list. He's one of the most underrated players in the SEC.
- Tennessee's Malik Jackson and South Carolina's Travian Robertson have the ability to nudge their way into the list of top defensive tackles with solid seasons this fall. Also, Arkansas' Jerry Franklin and Kentucky's Danny Trevathan will push get in on the action at linebacker. I think Franklin has, like, 1,000 career tackles at this point.
- I like the love Hayward got. He hasn't gotten a ton of national attention, but he would start on just about any team in the SEC.
Now for the juniors:
Quarterbacks
- No. 5: Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
- No. 1: Trent Richardson, Alabama
- No. 2: Knile Davis, Arkansas
- No. 1: Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
- No. 5: Rueben Randle, LSU
- No. 2: Orson Charles, Georgia
- No. 4: Michael Williams, Alabama
- No. 5: Xavier Nixon, Florida
- No. 2: Barrett Jones, Alabama
- No. 5: Larry Warford, Kentucky
- No. 5: T.J. Johnson, South Carolina
- No. 4: Devin Taylor, South Carolina
- No. 4: Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
- No. 1: Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
- No. 4: Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
- No. 5: Morris Claiborne, LSU
- No. 2: Robert Lester, Alabama
- No. 3: Janzen Jackson, Tennessee
- No. 5: Bryson Rose, Ole Miss
- Well, this junior class sure is stacked. There are 19 SEC juniors on Kiper's list and all of them are impact players in this league. I won't argue many of the players on this list, but I'm going to hold off on putting Wilson on here. He played in just one game last season, and while he did pretty well, I need to see more of him before I place him on a draft list. Cue his 4,000-yard performance this fall ...
- I saw where my Big 12 blog compadre David Ubben disagreed with Kiper for his decision to put Jeffery ahead of Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon. Sure, Blackmon has the killer speed that Jeffery doesn't, but Jeffery is a physical beast on the field and was the best in one-on-one situations last season. He'll catch anything, no matter who's around him. I'll take Jeffery as well and he should be just fine at the next level.
- Five of Kiper's 10 defensive backs reside in the SEC. Memo to all the quarterbacks in this league: throw with extreme caution. One player to keep an eye on this season is Claiborne. He has all the tools to be the top corner in the league this fall and could end up being the top corner in the country.
Making the rounds in the SEC:
- Dee Hart's injury hurts Alabama's increasingly shrinking backfield, writes Jon Solomon of The Birmingham News.
- Alabama coach Nick Saban says Hart's status will be determined at a later date.
- Georgia's offense appears to be in good hands with Aaron Murray running the show, writes Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- Now the full-time starter, Kentucky junior quarterback Morgan Newton is pushing his teammates to get better.
- Kentucky continues to stock up on its offensive line of the future with the commitment of Jon Toth of Indianapolis. The 6-5, 290-pound Toth is rated by ESPN as the No. 125 offensive tackle prospect in the country.
- Tennessee's Janzen Jackson gets another chance with the Vols, and John Adams of The Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that the payoff could be worth it.
- Auburn's new indoor practice facility and practice fields are almost complete.
Tennessee coach Derek Dooley had been optimistic all along, but now it's official: Junior safety Janzen Jackson has re-enrolled for the second session of summer school, paving the way for his return to the football field this fall.
Jackson has been dealing with personal issues and withdrew from school during the spring semester. He didn't participate in spring practice, but stayed in Knoxville and got a job. Dooley has been extremely patient with Jackson and left the door open the entire time. The second-year Tennessee coach said the reason he went out of his way to help Jackson was because Jackson has been committed to helping himself.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that Jackson is a key component on defense. He's the kind of safety that makes everyone around him better and is a big-time hitter.
The Vols have some potential in the secondary, and getting Jackson back will help to solidify things back there. Junior Prentiss Waggner, a second-team All-SEC selection last season, can play both cornerback and safety, while sophomore safety Brent Brewer just started to scratch the surface of how good he can be last season after playing four years of minor league baseball.
Tennessee also brought in a pair of heralded junior college defensive backs -- Byron Moore and Izauea Lanier. Moore, who spent a season at USC before transferring to Los Angeles Harbor Community College, will compete for a starting cornerback job right away.
Jackson, though, is the one who makes it all go back there, which is why this will be a huge fall camp for him and the Vols' defense. He's been working out on his own, but he hasn't had any contact since the bowl game last December.
The other factor to consider is his emotional state. He's run into several issues off the field during his career, and this is his final chance to show that he's matured.
Tennessee's defense will be looking for playmakers and leaders this fall. The Vols need Jackson to be both.
[+] Enlarge
Paul Abell/US PresswireTennessee is counting on a big season from safety Janzen Jackson.
Paul Abell/US PresswireTennessee is counting on a big season from safety Janzen Jackson.Of course, it doesn't hurt that Jackson is a key component on defense. He's the kind of safety that makes everyone around him better and is a big-time hitter.
The Vols have some potential in the secondary, and getting Jackson back will help to solidify things back there. Junior Prentiss Waggner, a second-team All-SEC selection last season, can play both cornerback and safety, while sophomore safety Brent Brewer just started to scratch the surface of how good he can be last season after playing four years of minor league baseball.
Tennessee also brought in a pair of heralded junior college defensive backs -- Byron Moore and Izauea Lanier. Moore, who spent a season at USC before transferring to Los Angeles Harbor Community College, will compete for a starting cornerback job right away.
Jackson, though, is the one who makes it all go back there, which is why this will be a huge fall camp for him and the Vols' defense. He's been working out on his own, but he hasn't had any contact since the bowl game last December.
The other factor to consider is his emotional state. He's run into several issues off the field during his career, and this is his final chance to show that he's matured.
Tennessee's defense will be looking for playmakers and leaders this fall. The Vols need Jackson to be both.
In the spirit of next week's MLB All-Star Game, we've decided to get in on the fun with our own shot at building all-star teams in the SEC.
I'll go first, while fellow SEC blogger Chris Low will unveil his team later today.
Since there are two divisions, we're going East versus West. Like MLB, the school from the winning division will be the home team in the SEC championship game. As a bonus, the winning representative will also get unlimited Chick-fil-A during its stay in Atlanta.
(Supplying unlimited amounts of food from The Varsity would leave the team sluggish and bloated before the big game, so we went lighter.)
Without further adieu, here are my East and West all-stars:
EAST
OFFENSE
QB - Aaron Murray, Georgia, So.
RB - Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina, So.
RB - Tauren Poole, Tennessee, Sr.
WR - Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, Jr.
WR - Justin Hunter, Tennessee, So.
TE - Orson Charles, Georgia, Jr.
C - Ben Jones, Georgia, Sr.
OL - Cordy Glenn, Georgia, Sr.
OL - Larry Warford, Kentucky, Jr.
OL - Ja'Wuan James, Tennessee, So.
OL - Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE - Devin Taylor, South Carolina, Jr.
DE - Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, Sr.
DT - Jaye Howard, Florida, Sr.
DT - Malik Jackson, Tennessee, Sr.
LB - Danny Trevathan, Kentucky, Sr.
LB - Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, Sr.
LB - Ronald Powell, Florida, So.
CB - Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, Jr.
CB - Casey Howard, Vanderbilt, Sr.
S - Janzen Jackson, Tennessee, Jr. (consider this like the wacky fan vote because he has yet to return to the team)
S - D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Blair Walsh, Georgia, Sr.
P - Drew Butler, Georgia, Sr.
RET - Andre Debose, Florida, So.
WEST
OFFENSE
QB - Tyler Wilson, Arkansas, Jr.
RB - Trent Richardson, Alabama, Jr.
RB - Knile Davis, Arkansas, Jr.
WR - Greg Childs, Arkansas, Sr.
WR - Joe Adams, Arkansas, Sr.
TE - Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn, Jr.
C - William Vlachos, Alabama, Sr.
OL - Barrett Jones, Alabama, Jr.
OL - Bradley Sowell, Ole Miss, Sr.
OL - Josh Dworaczyk, LSU, Sr.
OL - Brandon Mosely, Auburn, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE - Jake Bequette, Arkansas, Sr.
DE - Kentrell Lockett, Ole Miss, Sr.
DT - Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, Jr.
DT - Josh Chapman, Alabama, Sr.
LB - Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, Jr.
LB - Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, Sr.
LB - Jerry Franklin, Arkansas, Sr.
CB - Morris Claiborne, LSU, Jr.
CB - Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, Jr.
S - Mark Barron, Alabama, Sr.
S - Tramain Thomas, Arkansas, Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Zach Hocker, Arkansas, So.
P - Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss, Jr.
RET - Joe Adams, Arkansas, Sr.
I'll go first, while fellow SEC blogger Chris Low will unveil his team later today.
Since there are two divisions, we're going East versus West. Like MLB, the school from the winning division will be the home team in the SEC championship game. As a bonus, the winning representative will also get unlimited Chick-fil-A during its stay in Atlanta.
(Supplying unlimited amounts of food from The Varsity would leave the team sluggish and bloated before the big game, so we went lighter.)
Without further adieu, here are my East and West all-stars:
EAST
OFFENSE
QB - Aaron Murray, Georgia, So.
RB - Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina, So.
RB - Tauren Poole, Tennessee, Sr.
WR - Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina, Jr.
WR - Justin Hunter, Tennessee, So.
TE - Orson Charles, Georgia, Jr.
C - Ben Jones, Georgia, Sr.
OL - Cordy Glenn, Georgia, Sr.
OL - Larry Warford, Kentucky, Jr.
OL - Ja'Wuan James, Tennessee, So.
OL - Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE - Devin Taylor, South Carolina, Jr.
DE - Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, Sr.
DT - Jaye Howard, Florida, Sr.
DT - Malik Jackson, Tennessee, Sr.
LB - Danny Trevathan, Kentucky, Sr.
LB - Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, Sr.
LB - Ronald Powell, Florida, So.
CB - Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina, Jr.
CB - Casey Howard, Vanderbilt, Sr.
S - Janzen Jackson, Tennessee, Jr. (consider this like the wacky fan vote because he has yet to return to the team)
S - D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina, Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Blair Walsh, Georgia, Sr.
P - Drew Butler, Georgia, Sr.
RET - Andre Debose, Florida, So.
WEST
OFFENSE
QB - Tyler Wilson, Arkansas, Jr.
RB - Trent Richardson, Alabama, Jr.
RB - Knile Davis, Arkansas, Jr.
WR - Greg Childs, Arkansas, Sr.
WR - Joe Adams, Arkansas, Sr.
TE - Phillip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn, Jr.
C - William Vlachos, Alabama, Sr.
OL - Barrett Jones, Alabama, Jr.
OL - Bradley Sowell, Ole Miss, Sr.
OL - Josh Dworaczyk, LSU, Sr.
OL - Brandon Mosely, Auburn, Sr.
DEFENSE
DE - Jake Bequette, Arkansas, Sr.
DE - Kentrell Lockett, Ole Miss, Sr.
DT - Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, Jr.
DT - Josh Chapman, Alabama, Sr.
LB - Dont'a Hightower, Alabama, Jr.
LB - Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, Sr.
LB - Jerry Franklin, Arkansas, Sr.
CB - Morris Claiborne, LSU, Jr.
CB - Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, Jr.
S - Mark Barron, Alabama, Sr.
S - Tramain Thomas, Arkansas, Sr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Zach Hocker, Arkansas, So.
P - Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss, Jr.
RET - Joe Adams, Arkansas, Sr.
SEC mailbag: Razorbacks poised for title run?
June, 24, 2011
6/24/11
4:30
PM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
Our mailbag has returned to cap off our week of position rankings. There’s never a dull moment in the SEC, so there will always be questions that need to be answered around the league.
Enough with the boring intro, on to your questions:
Drew of Greenland, Ark., writes: Given Arkansas' success the last two years, and Bobby Petrino's high-paying contract which will most likely keep him at Arkansas for awhile, do you think there is serious potential for a national championship team in Fayetteville within five years? Ten years? What about this year?
Edward Aschoff: Bobby Petrino has really recruited well since he arrived at Fayetteville. He’s still looking to consistently recruit with the bigger recruiting powers – Alabama, LSU, Florida, Georgia – but he’s done enough to make this year’s Arkansas team arguably the best one he’s had. This year’s team has real chance at making a title run with the talent it has. The receiving corps is the best in the country and the defense is the best it’s been under Petrino. Road games at Alabama and LSU won’t make it easy, but nothing is easy in the SEC and someone out of this league has won it all in each of the last five seasons. As far as five or 10 years for the Hogs, it’s not out of the question at all. Petrino is an offensive genius and he’s been able to recruit athletes to Arkansas that he couldn’t at Louisville. Just looking at the young receivers and running backs he has is impressive. He’s been growing this program since he arrived and Arkansas should keep itself near the top of the pack as long as Petrino is at the helm. Next year could be tough with a lot of seniors leaving, but there is some good young depth to work with.
Jason of Frederick, Md., writes: Looking at the offense ratings you've given Tennessee could they possibly be a dark horse in the SEC East? I know I'm a fan so I'm biased, but this is a team that should have beaten LSU and UNC and was great in the first half last year (see game against Oregon). What that means to me is the team was good, but too young and not deep enough to go against top teams. This year they have built depth and have a year of experience under their belts. Florida is under a new system, and UGA is a perennial choke artist. With an easier schedule this year could UT not finish #1 or 2 in the East???
Edward Aschoff: It’s going to be really tough. The offense is going to score points with two talented receiving targets in Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers for Tyler Bray to throw to. Tauren Poole is back at running back and he’ll have a pretty solid offensive line blocking for him. Bray has the skill to be very good, but he still has some maturing to do. Defensively, this team has issues and I don’t know if it can keep up with the offense. It’s young and there are some legitimate talent questions. This team will be much better if safety Janzen Jackson returns after leaving the team this spring for personal reasons. Prentiss Waggner was penciled in at safety, but was an All-SEC cornerback last year and he could move back to corner this fall. If he moves and Jackson isn’t back there will be a huge hole at safety. The linebackers still have a lot of questions marks, as does the defensive line, but there are some young athletes on this roster that could eventually make strong impacts for the Vols. I think this team is still a year away from really competing in the East. Another six-win season wouldn’t be surprising.
Ty of Tuscaloosa, Ala., writes: I am going to the Bama/Penn St game in State College in August and was wondering if you see ANY possible way the Tide will get upset by the Nittany Lions this season? I hear they are down, but not how much. Thanks!
Edward Aschoff: This game is on the road, these are two historical giants going at it and anything can happen on Saturdays in the fall. College Station has one of the best football atmospheres around and you better believe those Penn State fans will be going nuts before, during and after this game. Penn State had one of its youngest teams last year and must replace Mr. Reliable at running back in Evan Royster. Alabama’s defensive line might be the biggest area of concern for the Tide, so if Penn State can generate a successful running game, the Lions could stay in this one late. But Penn State has questions at quarterback and that has to be figured out of the Lions even want to have a chance against Alabama. In the end, the talent difference is just too much. Alabama is equipped with one of the best defensive units in the country and the speed on both sides of the ball should prove to be too much for the Lions. Penn State could be in the running for a Big Ten championship, but Alabama has the makings of a national championship team and Nick Saban isn’t about to let this team lose focus against an over-matched team.
Jonathan of Louisville, Kent., writes: With Vanderbilt making a surprise appearance in the initial recruiting rankings, do you think James Franklin may actually have what it takes to pull enough talent so that Vandy is consistently competitive? They may not be winning SEC championships, but a consistent .500 record is enough to give the fan base something to cheer for at this point.
Edward Aschoff: Franklin has really done a great job of selling the Vanderbilt program to recruits. There is still a lot of work to do on the field, but prospects are really buying into what Franklin has to say. He was an outstanding recruiter at Maryland and hasn’t let up since he arrived at Vandy. While talking with Franklin down in Destin, Fla., for the SEC meetings, he told me that he knows it’s going to be an uphill battle at Vandy because of the tremendous talent difference between Vandy and the rest of the league. He’s not running from that and he’s not being naïve about it. It’s tough for any coach to recruit there with the academic standards the school has and let’s be real, a lot of these top-tier athletes aren’t taking visits to Vanderbilt for that very reason. It would be easy for any coach to use that as a crutch for an excuse on why Vanderbilt will continue to struggle, but Franklin has yet to do that and he’s embraced the academics at Vanderbilt. He’s selling that to prospects and the chance to turn the program around. He won’t win the major recruiting battles, but he’s going to get some pretty good athletes here and there and the Commodores will become more competitive. If he can coach in the SEC as well as he can recruit, Vanderbilt could consistently reach .500.
Jacob of Charlotte, N.C., writes: Although Tennessee WR Justin Hunter is a good wide out and a sleeper, I think it's absurd to have him as a sleeper Heisman winner. It’s near impossible for a WR to win the Heisman these days and even harder for a no-name one to do it. I think the backup quarterback or running back at any school would have a better chance than he would. What made you go with him over all the other great WR's in the league besides the ones you mentioned in your original Heisman watch list?
Edward Aschoff: He’s a sleeper because he’s what you consider a “no-name” that could come out and really impress this fall. Remember Cam Newton? I don’t think Justin Hunter will win the Heisman and I don’t think a receiver will win the Heisman, but I have no problem listing him as a sleeper because he could be a real receiving gem in this league. He has great speed and athleticism and seven of his 16 catches went for touchdowns last season. He’s a big-play threat in Tennessee’s offense and has a chance to have a really good year this fall. He might not be as strong as Alshon Jeffery or as talented as Arkansas’ trio, but he’ll get by defenders this season and he’ll make the athletic plays. Not a lot of people really know Hunter, so that makes him that much more interesting and that much more of a sleeper. I expect him to make someone’s All-SEC team in some capacity.
Enough with the boring intro, on to your questions:
Drew of Greenland, Ark., writes: Given Arkansas' success the last two years, and Bobby Petrino's high-paying contract which will most likely keep him at Arkansas for awhile, do you think there is serious potential for a national championship team in Fayetteville within five years? Ten years? What about this year?
Edward Aschoff: Bobby Petrino has really recruited well since he arrived at Fayetteville. He’s still looking to consistently recruit with the bigger recruiting powers – Alabama, LSU, Florida, Georgia – but he’s done enough to make this year’s Arkansas team arguably the best one he’s had. This year’s team has real chance at making a title run with the talent it has. The receiving corps is the best in the country and the defense is the best it’s been under Petrino. Road games at Alabama and LSU won’t make it easy, but nothing is easy in the SEC and someone out of this league has won it all in each of the last five seasons. As far as five or 10 years for the Hogs, it’s not out of the question at all. Petrino is an offensive genius and he’s been able to recruit athletes to Arkansas that he couldn’t at Louisville. Just looking at the young receivers and running backs he has is impressive. He’s been growing this program since he arrived and Arkansas should keep itself near the top of the pack as long as Petrino is at the helm. Next year could be tough with a lot of seniors leaving, but there is some good young depth to work with.
Jason of Frederick, Md., writes: Looking at the offense ratings you've given Tennessee could they possibly be a dark horse in the SEC East? I know I'm a fan so I'm biased, but this is a team that should have beaten LSU and UNC and was great in the first half last year (see game against Oregon). What that means to me is the team was good, but too young and not deep enough to go against top teams. This year they have built depth and have a year of experience under their belts. Florida is under a new system, and UGA is a perennial choke artist. With an easier schedule this year could UT not finish #1 or 2 in the East???
Edward Aschoff: It’s going to be really tough. The offense is going to score points with two talented receiving targets in Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers for Tyler Bray to throw to. Tauren Poole is back at running back and he’ll have a pretty solid offensive line blocking for him. Bray has the skill to be very good, but he still has some maturing to do. Defensively, this team has issues and I don’t know if it can keep up with the offense. It’s young and there are some legitimate talent questions. This team will be much better if safety Janzen Jackson returns after leaving the team this spring for personal reasons. Prentiss Waggner was penciled in at safety, but was an All-SEC cornerback last year and he could move back to corner this fall. If he moves and Jackson isn’t back there will be a huge hole at safety. The linebackers still have a lot of questions marks, as does the defensive line, but there are some young athletes on this roster that could eventually make strong impacts for the Vols. I think this team is still a year away from really competing in the East. Another six-win season wouldn’t be surprising.
Ty of Tuscaloosa, Ala., writes: I am going to the Bama/Penn St game in State College in August and was wondering if you see ANY possible way the Tide will get upset by the Nittany Lions this season? I hear they are down, but not how much. Thanks!
Edward Aschoff: This game is on the road, these are two historical giants going at it and anything can happen on Saturdays in the fall. College Station has one of the best football atmospheres around and you better believe those Penn State fans will be going nuts before, during and after this game. Penn State had one of its youngest teams last year and must replace Mr. Reliable at running back in Evan Royster. Alabama’s defensive line might be the biggest area of concern for the Tide, so if Penn State can generate a successful running game, the Lions could stay in this one late. But Penn State has questions at quarterback and that has to be figured out of the Lions even want to have a chance against Alabama. In the end, the talent difference is just too much. Alabama is equipped with one of the best defensive units in the country and the speed on both sides of the ball should prove to be too much for the Lions. Penn State could be in the running for a Big Ten championship, but Alabama has the makings of a national championship team and Nick Saban isn’t about to let this team lose focus against an over-matched team.
Jonathan of Louisville, Kent., writes: With Vanderbilt making a surprise appearance in the initial recruiting rankings, do you think James Franklin may actually have what it takes to pull enough talent so that Vandy is consistently competitive? They may not be winning SEC championships, but a consistent .500 record is enough to give the fan base something to cheer for at this point.
Edward Aschoff: Franklin has really done a great job of selling the Vanderbilt program to recruits. There is still a lot of work to do on the field, but prospects are really buying into what Franklin has to say. He was an outstanding recruiter at Maryland and hasn’t let up since he arrived at Vandy. While talking with Franklin down in Destin, Fla., for the SEC meetings, he told me that he knows it’s going to be an uphill battle at Vandy because of the tremendous talent difference between Vandy and the rest of the league. He’s not running from that and he’s not being naïve about it. It’s tough for any coach to recruit there with the academic standards the school has and let’s be real, a lot of these top-tier athletes aren’t taking visits to Vanderbilt for that very reason. It would be easy for any coach to use that as a crutch for an excuse on why Vanderbilt will continue to struggle, but Franklin has yet to do that and he’s embraced the academics at Vanderbilt. He’s selling that to prospects and the chance to turn the program around. He won’t win the major recruiting battles, but he’s going to get some pretty good athletes here and there and the Commodores will become more competitive. If he can coach in the SEC as well as he can recruit, Vanderbilt could consistently reach .500.
Jacob of Charlotte, N.C., writes: Although Tennessee WR Justin Hunter is a good wide out and a sleeper, I think it's absurd to have him as a sleeper Heisman winner. It’s near impossible for a WR to win the Heisman these days and even harder for a no-name one to do it. I think the backup quarterback or running back at any school would have a better chance than he would. What made you go with him over all the other great WR's in the league besides the ones you mentioned in your original Heisman watch list?
Edward Aschoff: He’s a sleeper because he’s what you consider a “no-name” that could come out and really impress this fall. Remember Cam Newton? I don’t think Justin Hunter will win the Heisman and I don’t think a receiver will win the Heisman, but I have no problem listing him as a sleeper because he could be a real receiving gem in this league. He has great speed and athleticism and seven of his 16 catches went for touchdowns last season. He’s a big-play threat in Tennessee’s offense and has a chance to have a really good year this fall. He might not be as strong as Alshon Jeffery or as talented as Arkansas’ trio, but he’ll get by defenders this season and he’ll make the athletic plays. Not a lot of people really know Hunter, so that makes him that much more interesting and that much more of a sleeper. I expect him to make someone’s All-SEC team in some capacity.
Safeties seem to have more responsibility on the field these days and there are a ton of players in this league that love to mix it up close to the line of scrimmage.
The range of some of these players is amazing to watch. Some are known more for their hitting, while others can get involved in the cover game as well.
Here’s the list we came up with at the safety position:
1. Mark Barron, Alabama, Sr.: It would have been easy for Barron to have turned pro this year, but he opted to stay another year with the Tide. He might be the top safety prospect for next year’s NFL draft and even though he went through spring in a non-contact jersey, the coaches expect him to be back to his old self this fall. Passers beware.
2. Tramain Thomas, Arkansas, Sr.: Thomas was tremendous last season and showed that he could make plays all over the field. He registered 83 tackles and grabbed four interceptions. This spring was one of his best, as he made tons of plays and could be the league’s ultimate ball hawk this season.
3. Robert Lester, Alabama, Jr.: Lester has already heard his name associated with next year’s draft and plenty of mock drafts have him going in the first round with Barron. He led the Tide with eight interceptions a year ago and was second in the league with 12 pass breakups. He makes Alabama’s safety tandem arguably the best in the country.
4. Brandon Taylor, LSU, Sr.: He’s the leader of the defensive backfield and should be healed from his foot injury he suffered at the end of last season. Before his injury, he started the first nine games, collecting 44 tackles, including four for loss and had five pass breakups. He has great cover skills and should fly around the field if that foot is fine.
5. Janzen Jackson, Tennessee, Jr.: He would be right near the top if we knew for sure that he’d be playing this fall. He withdrew from school this spring to take care of some personal issues, but Tennessee’s staff is hopeful he returns. If he does, he shouldn’t miss a beat with his ability to take away the deep ball. He grabbed five interceptions last season and has some of the best range at the postion.
6. Sean Richardson, Vanderbilt, Sr.: He’s another member of Vanderbilt’s stout defensive backfield. He’s not an interception machine, but he roams all over the field and registered a team-high 98 tackles and had a sack in 2010. Richardson has the talent to compete at the highest level in the SEC.
7. Winston Guy, Kentucky, Sr.: For a while, Guy didn’t get much praise from his coaches, but that has changed this spring after he was more consistent during spring practice. He plays in the box a lot and will be the team’s nickel linebacker as another one of those versatile hybrids.
8. Bacarri Rambo, Georgia, Jr.: As a freshman, Rambo looked like he was going to be a major hit in the SEC safety world. He had 82 tackles and three interceptions last year, but lacked consistency at times. If he regains the form he had when he first arrived, he could easily move up on this list.
9. Charles Mitchell, Mississippi State, Sr.: He’s another safety that makes his way all around the field. He was third on the team with 93 tackles and is praised by his coaches for having relentless work ethic and is considered the team’s best tackler.
10. D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina, Jr.: The Gamecocks coaches have been very impressed with the progress Swearinger has made. Now in his third year, Swearinger has the talent to be the X factor in the Gamecocks’ secondary. He’s a hard hitter and can move down from his free safety spot to play in the box.
The range of some of these players is amazing to watch. Some are known more for their hitting, while others can get involved in the cover game as well.
Here’s the list we came up with at the safety position:
1. Mark Barron, Alabama, Sr.: It would have been easy for Barron to have turned pro this year, but he opted to stay another year with the Tide. He might be the top safety prospect for next year’s NFL draft and even though he went through spring in a non-contact jersey, the coaches expect him to be back to his old self this fall. Passers beware.
[+] Enlarge
Paul Abell/US PresswireRazorbacks safety Tramain Thomas has seven career interceptions, including four in 2010.
Paul Abell/US PresswireRazorbacks safety Tramain Thomas has seven career interceptions, including four in 2010.3. Robert Lester, Alabama, Jr.: Lester has already heard his name associated with next year’s draft and plenty of mock drafts have him going in the first round with Barron. He led the Tide with eight interceptions a year ago and was second in the league with 12 pass breakups. He makes Alabama’s safety tandem arguably the best in the country.
4. Brandon Taylor, LSU, Sr.: He’s the leader of the defensive backfield and should be healed from his foot injury he suffered at the end of last season. Before his injury, he started the first nine games, collecting 44 tackles, including four for loss and had five pass breakups. He has great cover skills and should fly around the field if that foot is fine.
5. Janzen Jackson, Tennessee, Jr.: He would be right near the top if we knew for sure that he’d be playing this fall. He withdrew from school this spring to take care of some personal issues, but Tennessee’s staff is hopeful he returns. If he does, he shouldn’t miss a beat with his ability to take away the deep ball. He grabbed five interceptions last season and has some of the best range at the postion.
6. Sean Richardson, Vanderbilt, Sr.: He’s another member of Vanderbilt’s stout defensive backfield. He’s not an interception machine, but he roams all over the field and registered a team-high 98 tackles and had a sack in 2010. Richardson has the talent to compete at the highest level in the SEC.
7. Winston Guy, Kentucky, Sr.: For a while, Guy didn’t get much praise from his coaches, but that has changed this spring after he was more consistent during spring practice. He plays in the box a lot and will be the team’s nickel linebacker as another one of those versatile hybrids.
8. Bacarri Rambo, Georgia, Jr.: As a freshman, Rambo looked like he was going to be a major hit in the SEC safety world. He had 82 tackles and three interceptions last year, but lacked consistency at times. If he regains the form he had when he first arrived, he could easily move up on this list.
9. Charles Mitchell, Mississippi State, Sr.: He’s another safety that makes his way all around the field. He was third on the team with 93 tackles and is praised by his coaches for having relentless work ethic and is considered the team’s best tackler.
10. D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina, Jr.: The Gamecocks coaches have been very impressed with the progress Swearinger has made. Now in his third year, Swearinger has the talent to be the X factor in the Gamecocks’ secondary. He’s a hard hitter and can move down from his free safety spot to play in the box.
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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