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As the season approaches, SEC fans look forward to seeing their returning stars and favorite players back in action again. And while the returning All-Americans sell tickets, it’s often the new or somewhat forgotten guys who make the difference between a good or a great season.
With that in mind, here are five players for each East team who didn’t see the field for their teams in 2015 — whether they are new recruits, transfers, or redshirts — but could make a big impact in 2016.
Florida
QB Luke Del Rio: The favorite to start, Del Rio walked on at Alabama, transferred to Oregon State, and then sat out last year at UF as a transfer. He played well in the spring and has more experience in the system.
RB Mark Thompson: Fast and powerful (242 pounds), Thompson will add some bite to the Florida running game, and could be an instant star.
K Eddy Pineiro: How important is the strong-legged Pineiro? Well, he was chosen All-SEC before ever playing a down at Florida — or in an organized game. He could be the difference for UF in 2016.
LB Alex Anzalone: Technically, did play briefly in 2015, but was injured and redshirted. The senior figures to start in 2016.
WR Dre Massey: Massey is a small, speedy JUCO receiver who played his way up the depth chart in the spring. Don’t be surprised if he starts.
Georgia
QB Jacob Eason: It’s not whether, it’s just a question of when for this five-star passing sensation who starred in the spring.
OT Tyler Catalina: UGA lost both its starting offensive tackles, but graduate transfer Catalina was twice all-conference at Rhode Island, and should provide some experience in the line rotation.
TE Jacob Nauta: Returning starter Jed Blazevich will be difficult to unseat, but Nauta has more upside as a receiver, as he showed in the UGA spring game. Like Eason, it’s only a matter of time before Nauta steps into a starring role.
LB Reggie Carter: Cheating a bit here, as Carter did briefly play in one game last year before he suffered a season-ending injury, but he did redshirt, and junior Carter will see plenty of time for a relatively inexperienced UGA linebacker corps.
P Marshall Long: UGA’s special teams are very much unsettled, but the freshman Long has too big of a leg to end up sitting. He’ll be UGA’s punter sooner or later, and the smart money may be on sooner.
Kentucky
LB Courtney Love: No, not THAT Courtney Love. This Love is a transfer from Nebraska, and made a big impact last season on the scout team while he redshirted. Love will be a leader on the UK defense in 2016.
LB De’Niro Laster: Laster is a transfer from Minnesota, and while he probably won’t have as big of an impact as Love, he will be a solid player in UK’s linebacker rotation.
P Grant McKinniss: A true freshman who shows up on campus listed on the depth chart as UK’s starting punter, he will play from Day 1.
OL Tate Leavitt: A big-time JUCO lineman, Leavitt struggled at times in the spring, but given his size (6-6, 310 pounds), he will play in the fall.
LB Kash Daniel: Daniel is a true freshman, but played in the spring, and figures to have a shot at seeing the field for UK.
Missouri
RB Alex Ross: A transfer from Oklahoma, where he ran for 786 yards in three seasons, Ross will get a shot to be the man at Mizzou.
RB Nate Strong: Unfortunately for Ross, talented JUCO Strong will also get a shot. It wouldn’t be surprising if the two combined to rack up around 1,500 rushing yards in 2016.
WR Chris Black: Like Ross at Oklahoma, Black was stuck in a numbers crunch at Alabama. He’ll have no such issues in Columbia, and may start.
K Tucker McCann: A true freshman with a big leg, McCann could be a four-year starter for Mizzou.
TE Brendan Scales: A former Alabama commit, Scales will be a true freshman in 2016, but his size and skills will make him too good to keep off the field.
South Carolina
QB Brandon McIlwain: McIlwain’s rise doesn’t seem as certain as Jacob Eason’s, but there have been more and more hints that USC is going to play him early and often.
WR Bryan Edwards: Edwards is a solid (6-3, 200 pounds) and talented freshman who looks likely to play — and perhaps start — from Day 1.
OG Cory Helms: A 6-4, 303 pound Wake Forrest transfer, Helms will likely be a solid player on a retooled USC line.
CB Jamarcus King: A skilled JUCO transfer, King will be part of the rotation in the secondary immediately.
DE Keir Thomas: A high-motor early enrollee, Thomas will play a role in the defensive line development for the Gamecocks.
Tennessee
WR Jeff George: A 6-6 JUCO star, George had a big spring, and may become the tall possession receiver and red-zone threat UT needs.
OT Drew Richmond: A big-time recruit, Richmond redshirted last year, but leads for a starting job as a redshirt freshman.
OL Brett Kendrick: Kendrick started five games at guard in 2014, but missed the 2015 season due to injury. He has moved outside to tackle, and will likely see some time there.
DE Jonathan Konbgo: A top JUCO recruit, Kongbo enters a fairly deep and talented defensive line, but has already impressed teammates and coaches with his size and skill.
S Rashan Gaulden: A talented sophomore who showed flashes of his skills in 2014 before breaking his foot and missing the 2015 season, Gaulden is a likely starter.
Vanderbilt
WR C.J. Duncan: Duncan had 441 yards receiving in 2014, but missed the 2015 season with an injury. He’s a likely starter in 2016.
OT Andrew Jelks: A two-year starter who missed 2015 with an injury, Jelks will anchor the Vandy line.
LB Nigel Bowden: He did play briefly in 2015, before concussion-related injuries forced him into a redshirt. Was All-SEC freshman in 2014, and so long as healthy, no reason to not expect a return to form.
P Sam Loy: A top prospect who is likely to grab the starting job as a true freshman.
CB Joejuan Williams: Highly-regarded prospect who played in the spring. Vandy would like to redshirt him, but frankly, he may be too good to sit.
Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.
