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Super Sophomores: Tracking the stars of the SEC’s 2013 recruiting class
By Ethan Levine
Published:
The SEC has become a recruiting powerhouse on a national level since the start of the BCS era, hauling in more and more highly-rated prospects each year. The 2013 recruiting class was no exception, as the SEC pulled in 59 of ESPN’s top-150 prospects among its 14 member schools.
Those signees are now sophomores (or redshirt freshmen) with their respective programs, and many of them are beginning to make their mark on the field. As a result, Saturday Down South will update its readers on how these “Super Sophomores” are performing from week-to-week.
Because this is the first installment in the weekly series, this week’s edition will update readers on how the sophomores have performed over the first two weeks of the 2014 season:
Alabama: Tailback Derrick Henry has fit in well with the Tide’s deep stable of backs, rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown in two games this season. He ran for just 23 yards on five carries last week against Florida Atlantic. Defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson made his season debut against FAU, recording four tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Linebacker Reuben Foster has recorded nine tackles in two games, including a tackle for loss. Tight end O.J. Howard has played in both of Alabama’s first two games this season, but has been targeted just one time and has yet to catch a pass in 2014.
Arkansas: Tailback Alex Collins continues to spearhead the Razorbacks’ rushing attack, leading the team with 199 yards and three touchdowns in two games against Auburn and Nicholls State. Linebacker Carroll Washington, a juco-transfer, has recorded six tackles and a tackle for loss in his second year at Arkansas. Fellow juco-transfer Martrell Spaight leads the team with 13 tackles and a fumble recovery so far this season.
Auburn: Defensive tackle Montravius Adams has made eight tackles in two wins over Arkansas and San Jose State, and leads the team with four tackles for loss. He also has a sack and two quarterback hurries so far this season. Quarterback Jeremy Johnson started the first half of the Tigers’ season opener, completing 12-of-16 passes before Nick Marshall was reinserted as the team’s signal-caller. Johnson saw the field in garbage time against San Jose State, completing 3-of-4 passes. He has 277 yards passing and two touchdowns in parts of two games this season.
Florida: Defensive back Vernon Hargreaves made two tackles and broke up a pass in the Gators’ win over Eastern Michigan to open their season last weekend. Tailback Kelvin Taylor carried the ball eight times for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker David McMillian made two tackles, including a tackle for loss, and also recovered a fumble. Defensive lineman Caleb Brantley made three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, while also forcing a fumble he would recover himself. Wideout Demarcus Robinson caught six passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia: Wideout Reggie Davis returned seven punts for a total of 37 yards in Georgia’s opening night win over Clemson. The Bulldogs had a bye last week. Linebacker Tim Kimbrough registered four tackles against the Tigers, and defensive tackle John Atkins added another three tackles.
Kentucky: Juco-transfer Za’Darius Smith has made eight tackles from his defensive end position, but has yet to record a sack or tackle for loss in 2014. Fellow defensive lineman Jason Hatcher has made five tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss. Wideout Javess Blue has been limited to just two catches due to an ankle sprain suffered in a Week 1 win over UT Martin. Fellow wideout Ryan Timmons leads UK with 13 catches for 170 yards in two games, while tailback Jojo Kemp has amassed 72 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
LSU: Quarterback Anthony Jennings has started each of LSU’s first two games in 2014, completing 16-of-34 passes for 427 yards and five touchdowns. He has also run 17 times for 41 yards. Wideout John Diarse is second on the team with four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Cornerback Tre’Davious White has recorded five tackles, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry so far in 2014, while adding six punt returns for 56 yards. Fellow defensive back Rickey Jefferson has just one tackle, but also has an interception he returned 18 yards to go along with a pass breakup this season.
Mississippi State: Defensive lineman Chris Jones has five tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack in two games this season against Southern Miss and UAB. He also has two quarterback hurries. Wideout De’Runnya Wilson has caught a team-high six passes for 84 yards and three touchdowns, while fellow wideout Fred Ross has three receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Safety Justin Cox has eight tackles with a pass defended to go along with one kickoff return for 27 yards.
Misouri: Defensive lineman Josh Augusta has three tackles in two games this season, wins over South Dakota State and Toledo. Linebacker Eric Beisel made five tackles in those games, as has defensive back Anthony Sherrills. Backup quarterback Eddie Printz saw time in relief of Maty Mauk in the Tigers’ rout of Toledo, but he failed to complete the only pass he attempted in garbage time.
Ole Miss: Defensive tackle and former top recruit Robert Nkemdiche has registered six tackles in two games this season, including a sack, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Wideout Laquon Treadwell has caught 11 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Evan Engram has pulled 11 passes of his own for 153 yards. Defensive back Tony Conner has recorded seven tackles, including a tackle for loss, and an interception in wins over Boise State and Vanderbilt.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks have not gotten much out of their 2013 recruiting class to this point, but defensive lineman Kelsey Griffin has recorded two tackles and a tackle for loss in games against Texas A&M and East Carolina.
Tennessee: Wide receiver Marquez North has aided the Vols’ 2-0 start with eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns, while defensive linemen Corey Vereen and Jaylen Miller combined to record three tackles in wins over Utah State and Arkansas State.
Texas A&M: Has any first-year starter in the country had a hotter start than Kenny Hill? Seven touchdown passes and no interceptions through two games.Wideout Ricky Seals-Jones has caught eight passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in high-scoring wins over South Carolina and Lamar. Fellow receiver LaQuivonte Gonzalez has two catches for 45 yards and a touchdown in 2014. Linebacker Jordan Mastrogiovanni has nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry so far this season.
Vanderbilt: Receiver Jordan Cunningham has four catches for 27 yards in two losses to Temple and Ole Miss. Linebacker Tre Bell recorded 11 tackles in those two losses, defensive lineman Jay Woods added eight tackles and linebacker Zach Cunningham contributed seven tackles to the defense in a losing effort.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
