Terry Godwin (5) runs for a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Kentucky 27-3. Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Year after year we see new stars emerge in college football.
In fact, it’s gotten to the point where it’s almost like clockwork.
Take Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley and defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick for example. Sure, they were high-profile recruits (hey, which Alabama player isn’t right?), but no one could’ve predicted the impact they made on this year’s national champs.
Ridley, a former five-star recruit from Monarch High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., stepped right in for departed first-round pick Amari Cooper and led the Crimson Tide, and the SEC, with 89 receptions. His 1,047 yards ranked second in the league to Laquon Treadwell, Mississippi’s stud pass-catcher, and his seven touchdowns ranked fifth in the conference.
Ridley’s breakout year really began to take shape in Alabama’s fifth game of the season, a 28-point win at Georgia. Penciled in as a starter in a more spread out attack (three-receiver set), Ridley hauled in five catches for 120 yards and a score. The acrobatic rookie started the remainder of the Crimson Tide’s games and developed into one of the top wideouts in America.
Like Ridley, Fitzpatrick, also a five-star recruit, settled into a starting role at safety early on in the season and made a huge impact on the Crimson Tide defense. After leading Alabama with seven tackles from his STAR position in a win over Louisiana-Monroe, Fitzpatrick, a St. Peter’s Prep alumn (Old Bridge, N.J.), also played well against the Bulldogs. He racked up four tackles and recorded a sack, but his blocked punt/recovery in the end zone helped propel Nick Saban’s team to a 38-10 win.
Two weeks later in a dominating 41-23 win over Texas A&M, Fitzpatrick helped the Crimson Tide set a school record by recording two of three interceptions for touchdowns. He also became the first Alabama player in history to record two pick-sixes in the same game. Talk about making your mark.
With National Signing Day approaching, it’s hard for die-hard college football fans not to get excited about potential impact players arriving to help their teams win. But there’s no way of actually knowing which true freshmen will pan out and which ones won’t. With junior college transfers and graduate transfers, that’s a little different. But sometimes that’s even tough to do.
That being said, here’s a list of 12 potential breakout SEC players to watch for next year. Sure, some of the players have already performed well. But I feel pretty good about the guys listed below turning into elite players in 2016.
*(Not ranked due to being standouts already: Texas A&M WR/KR Christian Kirk, Alabama WRs Ridley and ArDarius Stewart and safety Fitzpatrick)
Blake Barnett, QB, Alabama: Blake Sims broke AJ McCarron’s single-season passing record in his only year as a starter two seasons ago, and Jake Coker, after some early-season struggles, played his best football in Alabama’s last three games to lead the Crimson Tide to their 16th national title. It’s hard to believe either of those QBs would’ve had the seasons they did without the tutelage of Lane Kiffin. Highly-touted California product Blake Barnett, who has the size (6-5, 200) and skill to continue Alabama’s run of success behind center, will likely be the next man in charge of a Crimson Tide offense that doesn’t really get its due for being one of the nation’s best year after year.
Ross Pierschbacher, OG, Alabama: Like fellow teammates Ridley and Stewart, Pierschbacher is already a good player, but he could become an elite player next season after starting all 15 of the Crimson Tide’s games in 2015 as a redshirt freshman at left guard. Entering the College Football Playoff Championship Game against Clemson, Pierschbacher, who has the versatility to play tackle if needed, had only allowed a half sack all year. If you’re looking for a potential Outland Trophy sleeper candidate next year, here you go.
Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama: Nick Saban has a history of utilizing big, fast running backs and Scarbrough fits that criteria (6-2, 235 pounds) to a T … and then some. Scarbrough was in line for playing time last season behind Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, but a torn ACL suffered in the spring delayed his much-anticipated debut. There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Scarbrough, a major physical presence, since he arrived in Tuscaloosa, and he could show you what that’s all about in 2016.
Dre Greenlaw, LB, Arkansas: Hey, when you finish second of your team in tackles (95) as a true freshman, and lead the league’s rookies in that category, it’s safe to say ya had a good season. But outside of Fayetteville, and Arkansas’ opponents, not many folks know about this play-making linebacker. Well, you will next year. Greenlaw isn’t the biggest tackling machine in the world (6-0, 220), but he gets to the football and has great instincts.
John Franklin III, QB, Auburn: If Auburn is to rebound from a disappointing 7-6 season, more than likely junior college signee, and early enrollee, Franklin III will be a catalyst in that happening. Last year the Tigers didn’t have a true, instinctive, read-option runner manning the controls of Gus Malzahn’s offense and the results were disastrous. Franklin has a strong arm and a quick release as a passer, but his sub-4.4 speed and excellent running ability could be just what the doctor ordered for the Tigers.
Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn: Playing defensive back as a true freshman in the SEC is tough. It’s really tough. But Davis quickly became one of the league’s better cornerback’s and the Tigers best defensive player’s by the midway point of the season. Davis has the size and physicality to match up against big receivers in man-to-man coverage, but he’s also a strong presence in the run game (seems to enjoy contact). It’s been a while since Auburn had a first-round NFL talent at corner (Carlos Rodgers), but Davis has the look of one early on in his career.
CeCe Jefferson, DE, Florida: Pass rushers are always a vital cog of any championship team, and if the Gators want to make it back to Atlanta for a second year in a row then Jefferson will have to continue to improve. And look for that to happen. Jefferson isn’t the rangy edge rusher Key is for LSU, but he holds up against the run better and relies on power more so than anything due to his size (6-2, 275). Look for Jefferson to build on his numbers of 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore.
Terry Godwin, WR/KR, Georgia: Godwin will never wow anyone with his size (5-11, 175), but his blazing speed and elite quickness, combined with his toughness, should allow him to thrive in a variety of roles for Georgia next season. Godwin finished second on the Bulldogs in catches in 2015 (35), but he also averaged 5.3 yards per carry and led the team with a 14.5-yard per punt return average. Look for new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to make Godwin a big part of the offense. He should also make a huge impact on special teams.
Arden Key, DE, LSU: Key is a rangy athlete (6-6, 231) who made impact plays for LSU all season long. Against Alabama he picked up a sack, recovered a fumble and finished with six tackles. In the Tigers regular season finale, a 19-7 win over Texas A&M, he recorded a season-high eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and three QB hurries. With some added weight, Key, who tallied five sacks as a true freshman last season, could become one of the league’s top pass rushers.
Walter Brady, DL, Missouri: The former Alabama native started nine of 12 games last year as a redshirt freshman for Missouri and was one of its best defensive players. Not only did he tie end Charles Harris for the team lead in sacks (seven), which led all SEC freshman D-linemen, but he also ranked 14th in the league in tackles for loss (12.5). With another offseason in the weight room, Brady should continue Missouri’s tradition of producing outstanding defensive linemen.
Darrin Kirkland Jr., LB, Tennessee: Kirkland started 10 games for the Vols as a true freshman and showed a great nose for the ball. He finished fourth on the team in tackles (66), tied for fourth in tackles for loss (6.5), finished fourth in sacks (three), picked off a pass and recorded five quarterback hurries. Rest assured new defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is licking his chops to turn this uber-talented player loose next season on what figures to be a good Vols team.
Chance Hall, OT, Tennessee: Hall wasn’t a highly-touted recruit, but he started Tennessee’s last seven games at right tackle as a true freshman and helped the Vols go 6-1 in those games. Hall’s first career start came in a hard-fought 19-14 loss at Alabama, so he’s already seen the best of what the SEC has to offer in terms of defensive linemen. Hall could slide over to left tackle with the departure of senior Kyle Kerbyson, but wherever he lines up expect solid production in 2016. The guy just moves defenders backward.
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