🏈 Bama has 3 in ESPN's Top 10 SEC players

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Our top 25 countdown of the SEC's best 25 players for 2014 continues with selections 10-6.

10. Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Like any true freshman, Jones was inconsistent at times last year. But it was obvious the talent was there. He had 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and maybe his most impressive stat was the 10 quarterback hurries. He proved to be a nightmare for opposing signal callers. This fall, the true sophomore is bigger, stronger and more experienced. The sky is the limit for the former star recruit.

9. Reese Dismukes, C, Auburn: After briefly flirting with the NFL, Dismukes felt he had unfinished business at Auburn and returned to school for his senior year. The veteran, who has started 37 games over the past three seasons, has been through the good times and the bad during his time on the Plains. He hopes to end his career on a high note, anchoring one of the best offensive lines in all of college football.

8. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: Fellow freshmen Jones and Robert Nkemdiche stole the headlines heading into last year but Robinson outplayed both, finishing with 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Nobody's sleeping on him this year. Robinson has yet to turn 20, though he looks closer to 40, and he'll be counted on to make plays up front for a Crimson Tide defense that struggled down the stretch a year ago.

7. Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida: It was a disappointing season for the Gators last year, but Fowler was one of the only bright spots for this team. The sophomore, who played all over the defense, led the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and three fumbles forced. This could be his last year in Gainesville -- he's a projected top 10 draft pick -- and his play will be critical if Florida wants to rebound and contend in a wide-open SEC East.

6. Nick Marshall, QB, Auburn: This will be the first time since Gus Malzahn has been at Auburn, both as head coach and offensive coordinator, that he has a quarterback returning. The question is, can Marshall take that next step? He's reportedly improved his throwing ability, and despite his recent citation, teammates claim he's become more of a leader this offseason. If he can stay healthy and stay out of trouble, he has the talent to be a Heisman Trophy candidate.


ESPN's SEC Blog—Continue reading...

 

[bama alum]

Am I the only one who doesn't get the infatuation with Reese Dismukes?

 

[TerryP]

@bama alum

No, you're not.

This line from that write-up: The veteran, who has started 37 games over the past three seasons, has been through the good times and the bad during his time on the Plains.

Unless he's a changed man, there's too much bad to garner any degree of my respect.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for. Our top-25 countdown ends here and now with our best five players in the SEC entering the 2014 season.

5. Landon Collins, S, Alabama Crimson Tide
It was only a matter of time before Collins became one of the league’s best DBs. The former five-star recruit had to wait his turn, but when he got his chance as a sophomore, he jumped at the opportunity. Despite switching back and forth between free and strong safety and not starting the first four games of the season, he filled up the stat sheet with 70 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and eight passes defended.

4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida Gators
Cornerback is one of those positions that’s supposed to take time to master. You have to learn the various coverages and physically mature to handle more experienced receivers. But Hargreaves defied convention last season, quickly becoming the top on-ball defender in the SEC by season’s end with three interceptions and 11 passes defended. "At the end of the day, he has some natural instincts that others of us don't have," his coach, Will Muschamp, explained.

3. Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama Crimson Tide
We didn’t see Cooper’s best until late in 2013. By the time his foot injury healed, he tweaked his knee, and without full mobility, he wasn’t his usual elusive self. But in the final six games, he looked more like the Cooper we saw burst onto the scene as a true freshman, catching 30 passes for 507 yards and three touchdowns. Now fully healthy and armed with an offensive coordinator in Lane Kiffin who loves to highlight his playmakers, Cooper’s stock could soar even higher as a junior.

2. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, Texas A&M Aggies
There’s got to be something in the water in College Station, Texas. The way the Aggies keep producing NFL-caliber offensive tackles defies any other explanation. First, it was Luke Joeckel. Then, it was Jake Matthews. Now, it’s Ogbuehi, who made himself a potential first-round pick at right tackle last season before deciding to return for his senior year and a shot at playing left tackle, the O-line’s biggest money position. You'd be hard pressed to find an offensive lineman who has a better blend of size, strength and athleticism than Ogbuehi.

1. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
Coaches, players and sports writers can agree on at least one thing: Gurley is a beast. At SEC media days, nearly every player surveyed by ESPN called Georgia’s lead tailback the most intimidating player to tackle in the league. Reporters, meanwhile, made Gurley a first-team All-SEC choice, awarding him the second-most votes overall. If he can stay healthy, he’s the league's best shot at winning the Heisman Trophy. With 2,374 yards in the past two seasons, only Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah has more career rushing yards entering 2014.

ESPN's SEC Blog—Continue reading...

 

[BamaFan334]

Gurley is an absolute stud, no doubt! But can he stay healthy is the question? A lot of comparisons between him and Yeldon, but they are a lot different. Gurley feeds off contact and uses that energy and force to work up field and eventually separate himself. Yeldon is way more fluid, takes very few hits, hits the hole faster than anyone in the country, makes quicker cuts, and is always falling forward or squirting through. I think Yeldon is one of the most unappreciated players in the country, and all he's done is become the first Alabama running back to ever rush for back to back seasons as a freshman and sophomore, win an SEC and National Championship while being a very important piece of those accomplishments, stay out of trouble and keep clean, and stayed healthy. I think he will be the SEC's 1B to a Heisman Trophy because he's proven he can carry to the load and can hate the hot hand. He's averaging over six yards a carry for his career!

 

[BamaFan334]

Rush for a 1,000 yards in back to back seasons I meant.

 

[TerryP]

@BamaFan334 I have a lot of respect for Gurley as well but was left wondering why there was such a difference in rankings—Gurley and #1 and Yeldon at [HASHTAG]#16[/HASHTAG] (behind UofSC's Davis at [HASHTAG]#15[/HASHTAG].) How he's below Davis is puzzling.

In conference play last season Yeldon had more TD's than Davis (twice as many) and averaged 20 more yards per game. Davis had 11 TD's on the season, Yeldon in conference play. It's just odd...

 

[bama alum]

@BamaFan334 I have a lot of respect for Gurley as well but was left wondering why there was such a difference in rankings—Gurley and #1 and Yeldon at [HASHTAG]#16[/HASHTAG] (behind UofSC's Davis at [HASHTAG]#15[/HASHTAG].) How he's below Davis is puzzling.

In conference play last season Yeldon had more TD's than Davis (twice as many) and averaged 20 more yards per game. Davis had 11 TD's on the season, Yeldon in conference play. It's just odd...

Fumblitis?

 

[TerryP]

Fumblitis?

I don't know if that's a stat recorded on any of the stat sites around the 'net. UofSC lost more fumbles than Bama did last year on the season. (13 vs 10)

 

[BamaFan334]

@BamaFan334 I have a lot of respect for Gurley as well but was left wondering why there was such a difference in rankings—Gurley and #1 and Yeldon at [HASHTAG]#16[/HASHTAG] (behind UofSC's Davis at [HASHTAG]#15[/HASHTAG].) How he's below Davis is puzzling.

In conference play last season Yeldon had more TD's than Davis (twice as many) and averaged 20 more yards per game. Davis had 11 TD's on the season, Yeldon in conference play. It's just odd...

I didn't even see where Yeldon ranked, but yes, that's very puzzling. He's the most consistant player in the SEC. Mike Davis is good, but he's no more proven than Yeldon, by a long shot. Oh well, he'll just run for 1,300 this year with fifteen touchdowns and blow the doors off everyone. And that'll be with two, potentially three other backs eating into his carries. Gurley and Davis receive 98% of the carries it seems. And think, we have a better