Lack of returning star power in 2018 SEC
The college football season came down to a matchup of two Southeastern Conference teams with Alabama defeating Georgia in overtime to win the national title.
The SEC was enduring a poor postseason until the two national semifinal games. SEC teams lost five of seven bowl games with the only winning teams being Mississippi State and South Carolina.
However, the SEC was able to crow about yet another national championship – its ninth in the past 12 years. Alabama has won two national titles against SEC teams – LSU in 2011 and Georgia in 2017. Auburn and Alabama were beaten in national championship games in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
On paper, it seems the SEC will be hard-pressed to win another national crown in 2018. There are 23 all-conference players returning from the 2017 season. But, no team has more than three. Alabama, whose championship run is built on defense, has just one returning all-SEC player on that side of the ball.
There is just one returning all-league running back and he plays at Kentucky – Benny Snell. There is just one returning all-conference wide receiver and he plays at Ole Miss – A.J. Brown.
Two quarterbacks, who earned All-SEC honors this past season, will be back – Drew Lock at Missouri and Jarret Stidham at Auburn. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2016, will be in a competition just to be the Crimson Tide starter next season.
LSU is one of three teams with three returning all-league players. The Tigers’ top returnees are guard Garrett Brumfield, inside linebacker Devin White and cornerback Greedy Williams. White could be considered the best returning defensive player in the SEC.
Alabama and Georgia, the two teams who played for the national title, are the other teams with three returning all-conference players. All three Tide returnees are linemen – offensive tackle Jonah Williams, guard Ross Pierschbacher and defensive end Raekwon Davis.
Two of the Bulldogs returning honorees are members of their secondary – cornerback Deandre Baker and safety JR Reed. The other Georgia player is return specialist Mecole Hardman, who will assume a larger role in the Bulldogs passing game next season.
Offensive line has the most returning all-SEC players. Joining Brumfield, Williams and Pierschbacher are Florida’s Martez Ivey, Ole Miss’ Greg Little and Tennessee’s Trey Smith. There are only three returning all-SEC defensive linemen – Davis and Mississippi State’s Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat.
Player development will obviously play a huge role in which teams contend for the 2018 SEC championship. With the numerous coaching staff shakeups, spring practice will be an important time for the teams who expect to be top teams in the fall.
Here are the returning All-Southeastern Conference football players for the 2018 season. Included is each player’s 2017 statistics.
OFFENSE
WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss, Jr. – 75 catches, 1,252 yards, 11 touchdowns
TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri, So. – 29 catches, 415 yards, 11 touchdowns
OL Garrett Brumfield, LSU, Sr.
OL Martez Ivey, Florida, Sr.
OL Greg Little, Ole Miss, Jr.
OL Ross Pierschbacher, Alabama, Sr.
OL Trey Smith, Tennessee, So.
OL Jonah Williams, Alabama, Jr.
QB Drew Lock, Missouri, Sr. – 419 attempts, 242 completions, 58 percent, 3,964 yards, 44 touchdowns, 13 interceptions
QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn, Jr. – 370 attempts, 246 completions, 67 percent, 3,158 yards, 18 touchdowns, 6 interceptions
RB Benny Snell, Kentucky, Jr. – 262 carries, 1,333 yards, 19 touchdowns
DEFENSE
DL Raekwon Davis, Alabama, Jr. – 69 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, 8½ sacks
DL Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State, Jr. – 60 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, 5 sacks, 5 quarterback-hurries
DL Montez Sweat, Mississippi State, Sr. – 48 tackles, 15½ tackles-for-loss, 10½ sacks, 4 quarterback-hurries
LB Josh Allen, Kentucky, Sr. – 65 tackles, 9½ tackles-for-loss, 7 sacks, 4 quarterback-hurries
LB De’Jon Harris, Arkansas, Jr. – 115 tackles, 8½ tackles-for-loss, 3½ sacks, 4 quarterback-hurries
LB Devin White, LSU, Jr. – 133 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, 4½ sacks, 5 quarterback-hurries
LB Charles Wright, Vanderbilt, Sr. – 43 tackles, 10½ tackles-for-loss, 9 sacks, 8 quarterback-hurries
CB Deandre Baker, Georgia, Sr. – 44 tackles, 3 interceptions, 9 pass breakups
CB C.J. Henderson, Florida, So. – 22 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 pass breakups
CB Greedy Williams, LSU, So. – 38 tackles, 6 interceptions, 11 pass breakups
S J.R. Reed, Georgia, Jr. – 79 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, 6 quarterback-hurries
SPECIAL TEAMS
RS Mecole Hardman, Georgia, Jr. – 20 kickoff returns, 505 yards; 23 punt returns, 271 yards