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Just past the halfway point in the season, our top-10 rankings get their most significant shakeup of the season. Part of that instability is because of the injury-induced absence of Georgia RB Nick Chubbs near the top of the list.
A larger influence, however, is getting to see the conference’s best players go up against similarly talented opponents.
Last week featured two clashes of top-10 teams, and the heightened implications of those games — as well as the spotlight that inherently came with — gave players ample chances to prove their worth on a big stage. Those who took advantage have been justly rewarded.
For first-timers, here’s the mission statement:
We’re endeavoring to sort out the conference’s best players by taking into account all the things the Heisman Trophy voters tend to leave out. To top our list, you don’t need to be a household name playing for a national title contender — though, if we’re being honest, it doesn’t hurt. We aim to find the best player in the conference who is also his team’s most indispensable piece.
We consider a player’s track record because past results tend to be a pretty good predictor of future performance, but as we move deeper into the season, the reputation a player has developed over the course of a career will fade in the equation, replaced proportionately by what they’ve done for their teams lately.
On to top 10:
10. EDDIE JACKSON, ALABAMA
Last week: Not ranked
The first of three newcomers to this week’s list, Jackson intercepted his fifth pass of the season Saturday and for the second time this year returned it for a score. He’s now leading the conference in interceptions, and just as importantly, the former cornerback has solidified the Crimson Tide secondary from his safety position.
9. LAQUON TREADWELL, OLE MISS
Last week: Not ranked
Last week’s disappointing loss to Memphis can’t be blamed on the junior receiver. Now looking fully recovered from last year’s grisly leg injury, Treadwell is leading the SEC in receptions and receiving yards.
8. LEWIS NEAL, LSU
Last week: Not ranked
Perhaps no player in the conference has rocketed up the charts like the Tigers junior defensive end. Entering the season, he had never started a game and contributed only sparingly. Six games later, he’s been arguably the most productive player on the LSU defense, leading a resurgent pass rush and helping form a stout front against the run. Last week’s three sacks give him seven on the season, good enough for second in the conference.
7. CHRISTIAN KIRK, TEXAS A&M
Last week: 8
While the Aggies offense was mostly manhandled by Alabama, Kirk continued to live up to his growing hype. The true freshman leads the SEC in receiving yards per game, as well as punt return yards and average. His return for a score against Alabama was his second of the season.
6. VERNON HARGREAVES III, FLORIDA
Last week: 5
Hargreaves was beaten for one of the few times this season on a long pass play last week against LSU — of course it was on a flea flicker that he still nearly managed to break up. He also forced a fumble, ripping the ball away from the powerful clutches of Leonard Fournette.
5. DAK PRESCOTT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
Last week: 7
Last year’s phenom is having a much quieter season this fall despite the fact that he’s arguably playing better than he did when he led the Bulldogs to nine straight wins in 2014. A pair of losses shifted the attention away from Starkville this season, but it shouldn’t go unnoticed that Prescott leads the SEC in completion percentage and has yet to throw an interception. .
4. MYLES GARRETT, TEXAS A&M
Last week: 3
Even when the Aggies defense struggles, Garrett still does his thing. He earned Defensive Lineman of the Week honors with five tackles, a sack and a blocked punt in Texas A&M’s loss to Alabama. The sophomore defensive end now has 8.5 sacks to lead the SEC this season and 19.5 sacks in 17 career games.
3. REGGIE RAGLAND, ALABAMA
Last week: 4
In many ways Ragland epitomizes what this list is supposed to be about. He ranks fifth in the conference in tackles per game, but stats do little to illustrate the impact the senior linebacker has on the game. More than any other individual, Ragland is the reason Alabama’s defense is playing at a level arguably unseen since the 2011 season, leading the SEC in rushing yards allowed per game and per carry.
2. DERRICK HENRY, ALABAMA
Last week: 6
Henry ran for a career-best 236 yards and scored a touchdown for the 12th consecutive game last weekend against Texas A&M. After splitting carries last season with T.J. Yeldon, the junior has taken over not only as the unquestioned leader in the backfield, but as the focal point the Tide offense.
1. LEONARD FOURNETTE, LSU
Last week: 1
Though his talent is unassailable, some questions lingered as to whether or not Fournette could continue to put up Heisman-caliber numbers against a bonafide defense. Consider those doubts answered. Fournette took his nation-leading totals to 1,202 yards and 14 touchdowns with 181 yards and a pair of scores against a Florida team that entered the game with one of the conference’s top defenses against the run. He’s now gone over 140 yards in eight straight games and hasn’t rushed for less than 158 yards in any game this season.
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
