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Depth and success usually go hand in hand, and that applies to college football and all team sports.
Historically, the SEC has been the epitome of depth. From five-star players to blue-chippers, America’s top conference always seems to have a hot prospect ready to jump in if and when an All-American and potential NFL draft pick goes down with an injury or moves on to the pros.
Because the SEC has so many good players at so many different positions, most of the league’s coaches are blessed with an abundance of options. Now that fall practices are coming to a close, we can evaluate which teams have done the best job of cultivating and developing depth on their rosters heading into the 2015 season.
5. LSU — With all due to respect to Florida’s secondary, the Tigers might have the nation’s best defensive backfield. Two starters – cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Jalen Mills – return from a group that held opposing QBs to just 10 TD passes last season. Elite recruits – safety Jamal Adams and cornerback Kevin Toliver II – could grab the other two spots in the secondary. And there’s no shortage of reserves competing for snaps at those positions. (That will be tested early in the season, as Mills will miss time due to a fractured leg.) Plus, Heisman candidate Leonard Fournette leads LSU’s prolific rushing attack. On the flip side, LSU could obviously be stronger at quarterback, which may be the only area that might keep the Tigers from asserting themselves in the West.
4. Mississippi — Few teams in America can say four of their players are potentially the best at their position in their respective conference, but that’s a boast that the 2015 Rebels definitely can make. In defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, tight end Evan Engram and left tackle Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi has four potential NFL first-rounders next year. And safety Tony Conner, who could join coach Hugh Freeze’s fantastic four on postseason All-American lists, might eventually be playing football on Sundays as well. Tunsil happens to be one of five returning offensive linemen for Ole Miss, which has the most experienced set of blockers in the SEC.
3. Auburn — The Tigers’ depth starts along their offensive line, where they have lost Reese Dismukes, but bring back some valuable contributors. Avery Young looks comfortable at right tackle, and Shon Coleman looks secure on the opposite side. The return of Alex Kozan from injury and the addition of Austin Golson will alleviate the loss of Dismukes. The receiving corps appears set with D’haquille Williams and Ricardo Louis ready to catch passes from new starting QB Jeremy Johnson. The running game features Roc Thomas, Peyton Barber and newcomer Jovon Robinson. Linebackers Cassanova McKinzy and Kris Frost return to anchor new coordinator Will Muschamp’s defense, which also gets a boost with the return of defensive end Carl Lawson from a knee injury that wiped out his 2014 season.
2. Georgia — The Bulldogs might have the best running back trio in the country in Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Keith Marshall, who will have four returning starters on the offensive line to block for them. Linebackers Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins, who passed on the NFL to return to Athens, will lead an impressive front seven that includes sophomore Lorenzo Carter, freshman Trenton Thompson and UAB transfer Jake Ganus, a second-team All-Conference USA selection at linebacker last season. In all, six starters return on defense for Georgia, including three of its top tacklers. But a new quarterback — who will replace Hutson Mason — will go a long way toward determining whether Mark Richt’s team can duplicate, or exceed, its conference-leading 41 points per game last season.
1. Alabama — The Crimson Tide have the best front seven in the country, led by linebacker Reggie Ragland and linemen A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen and Jarran Reed. It returns an outstanding backfield powered by Heisman hopeful Derrick Henry, who led Alabama in rushing 2014 with 990 yards and 11 touchdowns while splitting carries with T.J. Yeldon. Nick Saban has won the national recruiting battle five years in a row, so it’s no surprise that his team tops this list. The biggest issue that could undermine Alabama’s pursuit of another SEC and national title is an unsettled quarterback situation. But the Tide entered 2014 in a similar scenario and made it into the inaugural College Football Playoff, where it lost to eventual national champion Ohio State. With its depth this year, Alabama looks poised to at least reach the sport’s final four once again.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
