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There are only a few players in college football worthy of being regarded as playmakers.
While there are plenty of productive players throughout the nation who better their teams with reliable performances each Saturday, few can transcend the game itself with their dynamic athletic abilities.
A great player makes the plays asked of him with precision and consistency; a playmaker makes something happen in any situation, serving as an always-present threat to change a game with just one broken tackle or one filthy move in the open field.
The SEC is predicated on supreme playmakers elevating their teams and in turn the conference as a whole. The league isn’t lacking playmakers entering the 2015 season, and we ranked our top 5 as the spring practice season approaches:
1. Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina: Regardless of what the numbers say, Cooper is far and away the most exciting playmaker to watch in the SEC because he possess the ability to make plays in so many different ways. He throws the ball like a natural quarterback, and has a great chance to throw multiple touchdown passes this coming fall. He’s as fast and explosive as any wideout in the conference, and is sure to make plays down the field. He’s routinely given the ball behind the line of scrimmage as well and left to make plays for himself, and he returns kickoffs and punts when called upon. Cooper is a legitimate threat to score touchdowns in five different ways this season — now that’s something I’d love to see.
2. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia: Chubb’s emergence from the Georgia bench to All-SEC honoree was one of the most remarkable stories from the 2014 season, but he’s likely to be even better as the Dawgs’ full-time starter in 2015. The rising sophomore has yet to rush for fewer than 100 yards in any game he’s started, and he’s handled a workload greater than most college tailbacks could bear. If the second half of last season is any indication, Chubb is a legitimate threat to rush for 2,000 yards so long as he stays healthy, and he’ll punish more than a few opposing defenders along the way. If you love a physical brand of football, this is the guy to watch.
3. Leonard Fournetee, RB, LSU: Fournette entered his freshman season in 2014 with much greater expectations than Chubb, and it took him a few weeks to finally adjust to the speed of the SEC. However, once he did, there was simply no stopping him. The nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2014 class ran for more than 1,000 yards, most of which came in SEC play, and he boasted three multi-touchdown games along the way thanks to a bruising style similar to Chubb’s. Fournette may have more raw ability than his counterpart from Georgia, and it’s likely the two will push one another as the season progresses, both vying for the title of SEC’s best back while carrying run-dependent offenses. This guy’s going to make a few highlight reels this season, so be ready to watch greatness in the making when the Tigers’ season kicks off.
4. D’haquille Williams, WR, Auburn: Williams battled late-season injuries and a suspension for Auburn’s Outback Bowl appearance, but he’s back and better than ever as we await the arrival of the 2015 season. The rising senior has the ideal combination of size and speed to make plays in a variety of ways on the outside, and few players in the conference will be able to stretch the field vertically as well as Williams, who will be compensating for the loss of former Auburn deep threat Sammie Coates. He has a strong-armed quarterback in Jeremy Johnson prepared to feed him the ball, and plays in an unorthodox spread offense predicated on speed, keeping opposing defenses off balance while Williams creates opportunities for big plays. Auburn’s offense is always fun to watch, and Williams is sure to make plays in that system this fall.
5. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss: Treadwell will make his return from a season-ending broken leg when spring practice begins next month, and if he can remain injury-free throughout the spring practice season and the remainder of the offseason he’s a great candidate to lead the SEC in receiving in 2015. He stepped in right away and led the Rebels in catches in each of his first two collegiate seasons, making plays in a variety of ways. He can catch passes across the middle or down the field, and has a spectacular ability to pick up yards after the catch. He’s even dangerous on bubble screens at the line of scrimmage, using is size to break tackles and his burst of speed to leave unprepared defenders in the dust.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
