Ad Disclosure
We’re heading into the heart of summer, which means one thing: it’s time for predictions. Here are our predictions for the SEC’s leaders in major statistical categories.
Passing
Yards: Kyle Allen, Texas A&M
Last year’s Aggies quarterbacks combined to lead the league in passing yardage, with Allen taking over midseason for Kenny Hill. Texas A&M should have a more reliable run game in 2015, but the Aggies still figure to throw the most passes in the conference by a wide margin. With a precision passing game and talented receivers who can turn short throws into big gains, Allen will rack up yards as a sophomore.
Prediction: 3,720 yards
Touchdowns: Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
Prescott finished second in the SEC in TD passes last fall with 27, and he’ll be counted on to provide just as much if not more offense in 2015. He has one of the best red-zone targets in the conference at his disposal in De’Runnya Wilson and several receivers capable of getting behind the defense.
Prediction: 32 touchdowns
Rushing
Yards: Leonard Fournette, LSU
Fournette is going to shoulder the heaviest workload in the SEC this year as the most experienced runner in LSU’s backfield. The Tigers have one of the most talented lines in the nation, which will make Fournette’s job a whole lot easier as he racks up a huge yardage total. LSU’s single-season rushing record is certainly not safe in 2015.
Prediction: 1,750 yards
Touchdowns: Derrick Henry, Alabama
Fournette and Nick Chubb both have other intriguing goal-line options behind them, while Henry and his Brinks truck frame give him a major advantage in close. Henry scoring 20-plus touchdowns isn’t out of the question, especially if Alabama leans more heavily on the run game in 2015.
Prediction: 19 touchdowns
Receiving
Catches: Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
The Rebels are going to throw it plenty this year, and Treadwell will be the main hub of the passing game. While his yards per catch rose significantly from his freshman to sophomore year (8.4 to 13.2), Treadwell has been incredibly effective when used on shorter routes. Whoever ends up as the team’s quarterback will be able to dump the ball to Treadwell quickly and often and let him do the work.
Prediction: 87 catches
Yards and touchdowns: D’haquille Williams, Auburn
Duke is one of the dangerous downfield threats in the country, and with Jeremy Johnson now slinging the ball for Auburn he’ll get plenty of opportunities to use his size and speed to make plays for the Tigers. If Johnson is as good as advertised, these two will be one of the deadliest combos in the country.
Prediction: 1,360 yards, 14 touchdowns
Defense
Tackles: Kentrell Brothers, Missouri
Brothers blossomed into an outstanding tackler last year, and he’s a sideline-to-sideline beast for the Tigers. With the way Mizzou’s interior will occupy blockers, there should be plenty of space for Brothers (and his linebacker mate Michael Scherer) to once again rack up a huge tackle total.
Prediction: 125 tackles
Tackles for loss: Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Barnett is the best two-way defensive lineman in the SEC, playing the run and the pass equally well. After racking up more than 20 tackles for loss as a freshman, he’ll be even better in his sophomore year, especially with plenty of other talented linemates to take up opponents’ attention.
Prediction: 22.5 tackles for loss
Sacks: Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Garrett struggled against SEC competition last year, with just 3.0 of his SEC freshman-record 11.5 sacks coming in conference games. Here’s a bet that we see that number increase by a good deal under John Chavis, as Garrett is the ideal playmaking DE for the new defensive coordinator.
Prediction: 14.5 sacks
Interceptions: Brian Randolph, Tennessee
Picks are a hard category to predict — did anyone think Senquez Golson would have 10 of them last year? — but Randolph should be able to take advantage of Tennessee’s ferocious front line as a senior. He has six interceptions over the last two years, and with the chaos his defensive line causes in front of him should use his nose for the ball to get his hands on plenty more in 2015.
Prediction: 6 interceptions
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
