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SEC superlatives: Players, coaches and teams to watch in 2016
By John Crist
Published:
It’s certainly shaping up to be yet another sensational campaign in the best conference in America.
By season’s end, several players will likely be in the conversation for some prestigious individual awards. From the Heisman Trophy to the Bednarik Award, the SEC isn’t short on potential superstars.
Now several weeks removed from Media Days, we know who the favorites are in the two divisions. In the West, until given reason to think otherwise, Alabama is just on another level right now. As for the East, Tennessee is most likely making a long-awaited breakthrough and advancing to Atlanta.
Coaches — both head and assistant — will also play a crucial role in determining how 2016 shakes out. Of the three first-year head coaches in the East, one is sure to overachieve a bit.
Here is a list of 10 preseason superlatives in the SEC featuring players, coaches and teams alike.
College Football Playoff Contender: Alabama
The Crimson Tide are the only team to make the CFP in Years 1 and 2. Three straight is certainly possible.
Jake Coker is far from irreplaceable at quarterback. The sophomore duo of Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris is more than capable of making up for the departure of Derrick Henry. Most of the receiving corps returns.
As far as the defense is concerned, it just doesn’t matter who transitions to the NFL anymore. Coach Nick Saban has recruited so well that every draft pick is backed up by one or two more blue-chip prospects. Was Reggie Ragland a special linebacker? Absolutely. But so are Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster (below) and Tim Williams.
The schedule is by no means a lay-up. ‘Bama opens with USC on a neutral field. The Tide’s four road games are at Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU. But one loss doesn’t mean losing the West division.
It’s simply foolish to pick anyone other than Alabama. Saban and Co. have earned the benefit of the doubt.
Dark Horse Team in the East: Georgia
If Jim McElwain can give Florida a much-needed bump in Year 1, then so can Kirby Smart between the hedges.
Smart inherits a lot more talent on both sides of the ball in Athens than McElwain did in Gainesville. If healthy, the tailback tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is terrific. The defense can be prolific, too.
More than likely, it all comes down to the quarterback position. Greyson Lambert doesn’t have much upside. Brice Ramsey has contributed more as a punter than a passer. Every Dawg’s eyes are on five-star freshman Jacob Eason, who is the high-upside choice. If he matures quickly, Georgia can win the East.
While Tennessee is the obvious favorite in the division, the Vols have to battle the Bulldogs on the road.
Dark Horse Team in the West: Texas A&M
The Aggies have lacked genuine leadership under center. Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray failed to provide any.
Enter Trevor Knight, a one-time star at Oklahoma before suffering a setback and eventually losing his job to Baker Mayfield. Seeking a fresh start, he came to College Station and has won over his new locker room.
We know Knight has weapons aplenty, as no defense can cover Christian Kirk, Speedy Noil, Josh Reynolds (below) and Ricky Seals-Jones at the same time. Tra Carson is gone in the backfield, but another former Sooner, Keith Ford, was a five-star stud in high school not long ago. This could be the highest-scoring team in the SEC.
At Alabama in October will be a challenge. A&M will host Ole Miss and LSU in November, though.
Heisman Trophy Candidate: Leonard Fournette
The front-runner for two months in 2015, Fournette hit a ‘Bama brick wall and didn’t even get invited to New York.
If Brandon Harris shows zero improvement at QB, Fournette is still a threat to crack the 2,000-yard barrier and deliver his fair share of highlight-reel runs. So if Harris takes even a small step forward and forces enemy safeties to think twice about crashing the line of scrimmage, Fournette might be totally unstoppable.
Henry earned all of the hardware he received last season, but Fournette has rare skills as a ball carrier.
Bednarik Award Candidate: Myles Garrett
As a sophomore last year, Garrett led the conference in sacks and tackles for loss. He was a monster.
It wasn’t that long ago when South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney was in a similar situation, already the top pass rusher in the nation and biding his time before being the No. 1 pick in the draft. His play suffered his junior season as a result. But don’t expect Garrett to disappoint. The young man has his head on straight.
No matter the award, if Garrett is eligible, he’s on the watch list for it. He might need a bigger mantel.
Most Underrated Player (Offense): ArDarius Stewart
When breaking down the Alabama aerial attack, it takes some time before people start to mention Stewart by name. His partner in crime on the other side of the formation, Calvin Ridley, was arguably the top wideout in the league last year. Tight end O.J. Howard was a force to be reckoned with in the national title game.
While he only averaged 11.1 yards per catch and never once racked up 100-plus receiving yards in 15 tries, Stewart was at his best in 2015 when Coker needed him most. Time and time again, he made incredible grabs in crucial situations to move the chains. His midair body control is poetic and simply beautiful to watch.
Most Underrated Player (Defense): Zach Cunningham
It’s easy to dismiss Cunningham (below) as a good player accumulating meaningless stats on a bad team. However, that assessment would be wrong. Vanderbilt was sixth in the conference last year in total defense and scoring defense, which is doubly impressive since its offense placed 13th and 13th in the same categories.
As just a sophomore, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder recorded 103 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Through the air, he was credited with 4.5 sacks and three pass breakups. His numbers dwarfed the ones put up by fellow linebacker Stephen Weatherly, who left the Commodores a year early to go to the NFL.
Newcomer of the Year (Player): Gregory Little
Laremy Tunsil, an impenetrable pass protector, is no longer in Oxford. Little has the skills necessary to be equally great. If he keeps Chad Kelly’s blind side clean, then every single-season SEC passing record is in jeopardy.
Newcomer of the Year (Coach): Dave Aranda
If Aranda can carve out a reputation as a top-flight defensive coordinator at programs like Cal Lutheran, Delta State, Southern Utah, Hawaii, Utah State and Wisconsin, imagine what he can do with LSU’s athletes.
Coach of the Year Candidate: Butch Jones
Tennessee has gone from five wins to seven wins to nine wins in three seasons with Jones leading the way.
He inherited a once-proud Volunteers team in total disarray. Three disastrous years under the incompetent Derek Dooley were preceded by one-and-done from the hated Lane Kiffin. Jones had to hit the reset button.
His first recruiting class in 2013 was 24th in the land, according to the composite rankings at 247Sports. But the next two years, the Vols finished seventh and fourth, respectively. With the No. 14 haul this past February, Jones has significantly upgraded the talent in Knoxville. Now, all that talent is ready to rock.
The 2016 schedule is negotiable at the start and finish, but the four-week stretch in between (Florida, at Georgia, at Texas A&M, Alabama) will define this squad. If Jones can win three of four, Rocky Top will be thrilled.
The SEC is better when the Vols are a national power. Jones has them on the verge of reclaiming that role.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
John Crist is an award-winning contributor to Saturday Down South.
