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Amari Cooper, Dante Fowler Jr., Trey Flowers, T.J. Yeldon, Mike Davis, Todd Gurley, Bud Dupree, Shane Ray, D.J. Humphries.
These former SEC stars and more are now gone from the ranks of college football. But even while we miss the talent all of them brought to our teams, we look forward to the next great talent we can rally around.
Who will be among the next wave of SEC stars?
You’ve probably heard all of their names already, but here’s a list in random order of who will claim star status in 2015. (This is in no way an exhaustive list. The amount of talented players in the conference is just too large.)
QB Dak Prescott, Mississippi State
Year: Senior
Star Quality: He is poised, accurate, and aware of his surroundings as a play progresses. And if a pass play shuts down, he is able to do just as much damage on the run.
RB Nick Chubb, Georgia
Year: Sophomore
Star Quality: Even though he is 220 pounds, he runs with the speed of someone 15-20 pounds lighter. He’s elusive, but he’ll also keep his legs moving forward until he is forced to stop.
DB Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
Year: Junior
Star Quality: If Hargreaves is assigned to cover you, there’s a good chance he’ll be able to stay with you, outrun you and then prevent you from making the reception by using his hands intelligently, in a way that won’t get a flag. And he’ll do that all day long.
WR D’haquille “Duke” Williams, Auburn
Year: Senior
Star Quality: Along with a large catch radius, he has the speed and agility to make the play after the reception. His leaping ability and long arms allow him to make catches out of reach of defenders.
RB Jonathan Williams, Arkansas
Year: Senior
Star Quality: His great instincts as a rusher help him create lateral space, and his strength allows him to run at full speed afterward.
WR Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
Year: Junior
Star Quality: His head coach calls him “South Carolina Pharoh,” after the horse American Pharaoh who recently won the Triple Crown. Versatility is another good nickname for him. He’s good at receiving, but also at returning kickoffs, rushing and even passing.
RB Leonard Fournette, LSU
Year: Sophomore
Star Quality: He’s fast, strong, agile and unafraid to face an oncoming tackler head on. He also is built with all the physical qualities of the perfect running back.
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama
Year: Junior
Star Quality: He has great acceleration for a player his size, and is a go-to for goal line situations. A future nightmare for NFL linebackers, he’s difficult to bring down.
DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee
Year: Sophomore
Star Quality: It takes several people to keep Barnett out of the backfield, because he’s that powerful. And when so much focus is given to stopping him, his fellow defenders can rush into the unmanned space. Either way, Barnett strengthens the entire defense with his presence.
LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
Year: Senior
Star Quality: He’s solid, he’s stout and he’s strong. He plugs gaps in the line and excels at preventing anyone from getting through. He also is a strong tackler.
DL Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
Year: Junior
Star Quality: Nkemdiche can be placed anywhere on the line and play the position well. He explodes off the line, locates the ball, and brings it down. He’s also adept at using his arms to keep defenders away from his body.
DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Year: Sophomore
Star Quality: He is a sack master. He has also proven that he can tackle well, force fumbles, and block kicks. With more development this season, he will become the trusted backbone of the defense.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
