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With the 2016 NFL season wrapped up, it makes sense to go back and have a glance at which rookies hailing from SEC schools performed best in their inaugural campaign.
The biggest story of the season is the Dallas Cowboys resurgence from laughing stock to legitimate contender. Two rookies — RB Ezekiel Elliott and QB Dak Prescott — have completely changed the fortunes of this franchise virtually overnight.
According to NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah, Elliott and Prescott rank as the two-best rookies hailing from this past class.
It’s nearly impossible to overlook what Prescott has accomplished for the Cowboys. A fourth-round pick out of Mississippi State, Prescott has performed at an MVP level. He’s thrown 23 touchdowns to only four interceptions — completing passes at a ridiculous 67.8-percent clip.
Prescott’s play is a big reason for why Dallas is considered a big Super Bowl favorite.
Other than Prescott, there were a multitude of former SEC athletes performing exceptionally well.
Florida safety Keanu Neal finished No. 10 on Jeremiah’s list. He accrued 106 tackles and forced five fumbles for the Atlanta Falcons. Also starring for Atlanta was former LSU linebacker Deion Jones. Registering at No. 11, Jones led all rookies in tackles (108).
Also finishing within the top 25 included No. 14 San Diego Chargers TE Hunter Henry (Arkansas), No. 17 Miami Dolphins OG Laremy Tunsil (Mississippi), No. 22 Indianapolis Colts C Ryan Kelly (Alabama), No. 23 Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry (Alabama), and No. 24 Chicago Bears LB Leonard Floyd (Georgia).
