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5 SEC safeties who could play as true freshmen in 2016

Chris Wuensch

By Chris Wuensch

Published:

The rich appear to get richer in the SEC when it comes to safeties.

The conference added nine of the top-50 ranked safeties in the 2016 recruiting class. Six picked three SEC teams in Florida, LSU and Ole Miss.

Here’s a look at five safeties who can make an impact as true freshmen during the 2016 season.

Deontay Anderson, Ole Miss

Ole Miss could use some help shutting down opponents’ passing games after allowing 258.8 yards per game, second-worst to only Arkansas. And while a 6.3 yards-per-pass average (No. 21 national) helps to strengthen the unit, the Rebels must replace both starting safeties Trae Elston and Mike Hilton.

Rebels coach Hugh Freeze addressed the need with his 2016 recruiting class, landing the nation’s No. 2 safety in Anderson and a pair of three-star recruits, according to 247Sports composite rankings.

The four-star Anderson has a chance to make an impact early as Freeze and safeties coach Corey Batoon reshuffle their unit, particularly working in C.J. Hampton into a bigger role at one of the safety positions. Three-star recruits Greg Eisworth and Myles Hartsfield provides Ole Miss with depth at the safety position, but Anderson arrives in Oxford with the most flair. That was evident by his school announcement, in which he leapt from an airplane.

Eric Monroe and Cameron Lewis, LSU

The LSU secondary should be among the SEC’s stronger units in 2016 with the return of Jamal Adams at strong safety and free safeties Rickey Jefferson and Corey Thompson expected to play larger roles.

Adding to Les Miles’ wealth at the position is a duo of four-star recruits in Monroe and Lewis, both of whom rank in the top 13 in the nation, according to 247Sports composite rankings. Monroe ranks close behind Ole Miss’ Anderson as the No. 3 safety recruit in the nation, while Lewis checks in at No. 13.

Both are athletic, staunch defenders against the run and are expected to make a push for playing time on a unit that has to replace Jalen Mills. That is, after they both Monroe (knee) and Lewis (shoulder) recover from offseason surgeries that will sideline them for the spring.

Marlon Character Jr., Auburn

One of the things that attracted Marlon Character Jr. to Auburn was the prospect of playing often and early.

The Auburn secondary never lived up to its potential in Will Muschamp’s lone season. Now it’s Kevin Steele’s turn to revamp a defense that allowed 224.3 YPG in the air last year, ranking No. 12 in the SEC — albeit tied for No. 3 in the conference in interceptions.

With Auburn’s leading tackler the last two seasons Johnathan “Rudy” Ford nursing injuries and weighing a possible move to offense, Nick Ruffin and Stephen Roberts have spent the spring in the starting safety spots. The shuffling gives the three-star Character, the No. 18 overall safety in the 2016 class, an opening to play as a true freshman.

“They do need defensive backs,” Character said via the Montgomery Advertiser. “And they’re not scared to play freshmen. No matter what year you are, the best will be on the field. They told me I could play right away.”

Chauncey Gardner, Florida

Marcus Maye — who tallied 82 tackles, 6 pass break-ups and 5 forced fumbles — returns to anchor the safety position for a Florida team that is thin in the secondary.

One piece that needs replacing is at safety where Keanu Neal is preparing for the NFL Draft. That means a shot at some playing time for Gardner, an early enrollee.

Gardner is, technically, a cornerback and a good one at that, ranking No. 4 in the nation at the position. The four-star recruit is seeing time at safety this spring and impressing Gators defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.

Florida is also hoping that freshman Jeawon Taylor, a three-star talent and No. 20 overall safety in the 2016 class, along with Quincy Lenton, the No. 39 overall safety, can provide valuable depth to the unit.

https://twitter.com/SECstagram/status/714800842679910404

Chris Wuensch

Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.

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