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With 10 matchups involving Southeastern Conference teams on the docket, here’s a list of the player to watch in each SEC game for Week 3 (all kickoff times are for Eastern Standard Time):
noon ET, Nevada at No. 17 Texas A&M, SEC NETWORK
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Kirk is a true freshman that has wasted no time making a name for himself in college. Not only has he been the Aggies best receiving target so far this season with 10 receptions for 149 yards, he’s also the team’s primary kickoff and punt returner. That’s just one more area where Kirk can show his dynamic playmaking ability and he has done so already by taking a 79-yard return to the house in Week 1 and also returning one for 56 yards last week.
noon ET, UConn at No. 22 Missouri, ESPN
Donavin Newsom, OLB, Missouri
His partner in crime within the Tigers linebacking corps Kentrell Brothers is stealing the show by leading the nation in tackles so far this season. But Newsom has had an excellent season so far in his own right. He was voted as Missouri’s most improved linebacker during the spring and will continue to show why against UConn, especially as much as new coordinator Barry Odom seems to like using his linebackers to blitz.
3:30 p.m. ET, No. 18 Auburn at No. 13 LSU, CBS
Peyton Barber, RB, Auburn
When Auburn was in trouble last week against Jacksonville State and found itself in overtime against the FCS school, it was Barber that took over and put the Tigers on his back. Barber finished the game with 125 rushing yards and scored the game-winning touchdown a week after rushing for 115 yards against Louisville in Auburn’s season opener. LSU will be his toughest task so far this season but Barber will look to keep it rolling this week.
4 p.m. ET, Northwestern State at Mississippi State, SEC NETWORK
De’Runnya Wilson, WR, Mississippi State
Wilson is considered one of the best receivers in the country and has one of the best quarterbacks in college football throwing to him in Dak Prescott. However, through two games so far this season, Wilson has yet to have a huge game. After only catching two balls in the Bulldogs season-opener, Wilson’s 8 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown against LSU last week were nice to see. But against Northwestern State, he has the chance to really put up some eye-popping numbers. A team like that won’t know what to do with Wilson’s 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame.
4 p.m. ET, Austin Peay at Vanderbilt, SEC NETWORK
Steven Scheu, TE, Vanderbilt
Scheu was an All-SEC tight end last season but only has 4 receptions for 55 yards so far this year. He’s a lone bright spot for Vanderbilt’s offense and the Commodores will need him to produce more for them to win some games this year. The 6-foot-5, 250 pounder is an excellent pass catcher as well as blocker and should ultimately end up being a key cog in Vanderbilt’s offense.
6 p.m. ET, South Carolina at No. 7 Georgia, ESPN
Greyson Lambert, QB, Georgia
Lambert has already faced one SEC team this season, but that was Vanderbilt. His first true conference test will come this week against the Gamecocks. Although South Carolina hasn’t looked like Steve Spurrier’s strongest team so far this season, Lambert will still get his first taste of what a real SEC showdown is like. He has shown some great flashes so far this season but also has made plays that make you shake your head. Which Lambert will show up in Week 3?
7 p.m. ET, Texas Tech at Arkansas, ESPN2
Brandon Allen, QB, Arkansas
Any time the Red Raiders are involved in a game there are going to be a lot of passes thrown. Arkansas generally likes to run the ball with Alex Collins, but Allen has proven to be able to move the ball as well with his arm. Allen threw for 412 yards last week against Toledo and might be asked to do more in this game than he normally is to keep up with Texas Tech’s aerial attack.
7 p.m. ET, West Carolina at Tennessee, ESPNU
Austin Smith, OLB, Tennessee
One of the nation’s top linebackers, Curt Maggitt, will miss several weeks because of an injury he suffered last week against Oklahoma, leaving Smith, a freshman, as the heir apparent. A matchup against West Carolina provides a good opportunity for the Volunteers to see exactly what they have in Smith. And if he struggles this week, Tennessee will know that it has to look elsewhere to replace Maggitt before it faces Florida in its next game.
7:30 p.m. ET, Florida at Kentucky
Jason Hatcher, OLB, Kentucky
Hatcher is supposed to be the guy that makes up for the production that was lost when Bud Dupree was drafted in May. He will be making his season debut against Florida after serving a two-game suspension for violating team rules. Hatcher should provide a big boost for Kentucky’s pass rush and will look to help the Wildcats pull off their second SEC upset in as many weeks.
9:15 p.m. ET, No. 15 Ole Miss at No. 2 Alabama, ESPN
C.J. Johnson, MLB, Ole Miss
Johnson’s performance against Alabama will go a long way in determining whether or not the Rebels can beat the Crimson Tide for the second year in a row. Johnson is a converted defensive end who is still learning his position at middle linebacker and his knowledge of his new position will be truly gauged this Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake have been running rampant so far this season and Johnson will have to find a way to slow them down if Ole Miss wants any chance of controlling this game.
Pat Donohue is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @SportsDownPat.
