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At the top of the SEC, very few teams have to rely on true freshmen to come in and contribute immediately. If anything, that’s a bonus. That doesn’t mean those players’ contributions won’t be welcomed or even expected.
With 19 total five-star signees, per 247sports’ industry composite, the SEC is loaded with top-end freshmen for this fall. We still have several weeks until spring practices and games get underway, but there are a handful of these incoming five-star freshman who should contribute from day one as starters.
There are still position battles to be fought out during the months leading up to kickoff, which could change some situations. These are the five-star freshmen SDS thinks can start their teams’ openers.
DT Trent Thompson, Georgia — The nation’s top recruit was overshadowed a bit by the drama his fellow top-five recruits created on National Signing Day, but the hulking defensive tackle is certain to make an immediate impact. Georgia graduated its top two defensive tackles from 2014, leaving a big hole in the middle that Thompson should fit comfortably in. With size and agility, Thompson can be the anchor to Georgia’s run defense as soon as he steps on the field.
DT Kahlil McKenzie, Tennessee — Like Georgia, Tennessee is losing a senior starter along the defensive line. Unlike Thompson, though, McKenzie will have some serious competition just among his class, with four-star defensive tackle Shy Tuttle joining him in this class. The biggest test for the 6-foot-4, 340-pound beast will be getting back into a game mindset after sitting out his senior year of high school, but with his natural talent it shouldn’t take long.
CB Kevin Toliver, LSU — Toliver is already enrolled and on LSU’s campus, giving him a leg up on the rest of his talented secondary classmates coming in for the fall. Toliver has fantastic ball skills and athleticism, and with LSU losing two cornerbacks from 2014 there’s a clear path to the starting lineup for the Jacksonville native. With spring practices under his belt, the 6-foot-2 cornerback will be ready to compete with the SEC’s best come September.
DT Daylon Mack, Texas A&M — No signee fits more perfectly into a need than Mack. The Aggies needed a run-stopping defensive tackle who can suck up blocker, and that’s exactly what Mack should provide. If he’s anywhere near as savage as he was in destroying All-Americans in the Under Armour game, the Aggies might have landed the biggest difference maker in the conference.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
