Ad Disclosure
After every weekend of games, you always hear about the performances of stars like Nick Chubb and Myles Garrett. But there are also the performances you don’t hear as much about, coming from some under-the-radar SEC players — the sleepers.
Who were the best of the Saturday Sleepers from Week 3? Take a look.
JORDAN WILKINS, OLE MISS
Wilkins is the Rebels backup running back but there is no true workhorse in the Ole Miss backfield. On a goal line trip in the second quarter where Ole Miss was finding no room to run up the middle against that stout Alabama defensive front, Wilkins scored the Rebels’ first touchdown of the game on a jet sweep to put the Rebels up 10-3. He finished the game in Tuscaloosa with 7 carries for 39 yards and that score. He also added a reception for 2 yards.
ANTHONY SHERRILS, MISSOURI
In a slopfest of a game against UConn, Sherrils sealed the deal for the Tigers by intercepting Huskies quarterback Tim Boyle at the end of the fourth quarter. Sherrils’ pick came at the perfect time because UConn was driving deep into Missouri’s territory and almost set itself up for a game-tying field goal attempt with the score at 9-6. Sherrils also forced and recovered a fumble. He’s Missouri’s starting safety but he had to win that job in fall camp.
SONY MICHEL, GEORGIA
Being the backup to one of college football’s best runners — Nick Chubb — is the only reason Michel isn’t a household name. The sophomore provides the perfect blend of speed and power and that was on full display in the Bulldogs dismantling of South Carolina. Michel had 51 rushing yards on 8 carries and a touchdown against the Gamecocks and also had 3 receptions for 32 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
TRENT SHERFIELD, VANDERBILT
This might be the sleeper performance to end all sleeper performances. Although Sherfield is a starting wide receiver for the Commodores, the sophomore only had 1 catch last year for 9 yards and entered the game against Austin Peay with 5 receptions for 107 yards and touchdown so far this season. But in Week 3, Sherfield went off, finishing the game with 16 receptions, 240 yards and a touchdown. Consider Sherfield officially on the map and out of sleeper status.
DONALD GRAY, MISSISSIPPI STATE
In a game against a much more inferior team, most of Mississippi State’s skill players on offense had productive days. But Gray led all Bulldogs receivers with 4 catches for 140 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter from Mississippi State backup quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who could also be considered a sleeper from this game after he spelled Dak Prescott once the Bulldogs had a big lead. He finished 4-of-4 for 90 yards and the touchdown to Gray.
QUINCY WILSON, FLORIDA
Vernon Hargreaves III gets most of the attention as far as Florida defensive backs go and he did have an interception of his own in Week 3 against Kentucky. But Wilson had the pick that locked up a win for the Gators in the fourth quarter. In a one-possession game, Kentucky was driving down field with less than a minute to go. The Wildcats found themselves in a fourth-and-27 situation and that’s when Wilson made his play on the ball and assured victory for Florida.
Pat Donohue is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @SportsDownPat.
