The SEC has emerged as the leader of the Power Five conferences over the past few years and not just because the Alabama Crimson Tide have dominated on the national stage. The conference as a whole is absolutely loaded with talent and we took the time to break down the rosters in order to project which players we think will have the best shot at dominating this season. Here is a look at the four potential breakout players to watch from the SEC this season.
RB: Bo Scarborough, Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide will miss Heisman trophy-winning running back Derrick Henry but they have some capable options to step in and replace him including a potential star in Scarborough. The sophomore running back was limited to 104 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries behind Henry last season but he has all of the tools to put up big numbers as Alabama’s lead back in 2016. One thing we know for sure is that Nick Saban and company love to pound the round, so he’s going to get lots of touches.
The 6’2’’, 230-pound Scarborough impressed in the Tide’s spring game and it won’t be long before he is consistently showcasing his elite skill set on a national stage.
CB: Donte Jackson, LSU Tigers
Every college football fan in the country knows about star running back Leonard Fournette and his potential to put up big numbers on the offensive side of the football. The bigger question is the LSU defense and whether or not new coordinator Dave Aranda can get them back to being one of the top units in the SEC. Aranda will have a boatload of talent to work with including the sophomore cornerback Jackson, who made 22 tackles with one interception in his freshman season. Jackson will take on a bigger role this season while also finding ways to contribute on special teams returning kicks and punts and it won’t be long before Tigers’ fans start touting him as a star.
WR: Terry Godwin, Georgia Bulldogs
New head coach Kirby Smart will have some tough decisions to make at the quarterback position with highly touted freshman Jacob Eason set to challenge senior Greyson Lambert for the starting job. Whoever starts at quarterback will have an impressive cast of weapons to move the ball around with including the sophomore receiver Godwin. The 5’11’’, 174-pound receiver has outstanding speed and there is a good chance he will thrive as a deep threat for the Bulldogs this year. With two star running backs in the backfield, most opposing defenses are going to key in on those guys. That should give a guy like Godwin a lot of one-on-one opportunities to shine.
Malcolm Mitchell’s exit from Georgia will open the door for Godwin to play a bigger role in the offense so you can pencil him in for some big numbers this season.
WR: Preston Williams, Tennessee Volunteers
The Vols are expected to take a major step forward this season as one of the top teams in the SEC and a big part of the equation is the return of senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs and an absolutely loaded offense. While Dobbs is getting most of the attention, remember that he’s going to have to have a cast surrounding him if this team is to succeed.
Williams is an intriguing option because of his outstanding blend of size, speed and hands and it will be interesting to see how quickly he develops after a quiet freshman season. We know he’s got the tools, but like the team itself, we’re not sure if he’s ready for the prime time. The good news is that in Butch Jones we trust. He’s proven to be a really good head coach, one who can develop talent and programs. Offenses and receivers thrive under his watch. That being the case, put your faith in Williams breaking out and being one of the most important options for Dobbs on this offense. The 6’4’’, 209-pound Williams should be the perfect fit in the Tennessee offense as a deep threat and his big play capability could lead to a breakout season in 2016.
