As college football season nears kickoff, we’ll be breaking down the best prospects by position in each FBS conference. Few conferences come close to producing the type of NFL talent that the SEC does, but this year there are a few positions that are thin thanks to attrition. As always the SEC boasts multiple first-round talents, many of them being underclassmen. Today’s focus is on the offensive side of the ball.
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SEC Prospect Preview
QB: Bo Wallace, Mississippi State
Wallace likely will not be the highest ranked QB prospect from the SEC next offseason given that the amount of turnover under center in the SEC this past season has made it difficult to truly identify the best prospect. Wallace flashes a strong arm to get downfield and has more starts than any SEC quarterback entering this season. However, his release is looks forced and elongated and he has rarely taken a snap from under center.
RB: Todd Gurley,* Georgia
Gurley is one of the most complete backs to step onto the field in college football. He is naturally powerful, rarely getting dropped for a loss and trucking through arm tackles. He has breakaway speed and shifty feet and hips to find daylight. He also is a competent check down option out of the backfield. The few knocks that I have on Gurley at this point is that he doesn’t care the best care of the football, and needs to run with lower pad level.
RB: Mike Davis,* South Carolina
Davis is a strong, compactly built back who is tough to bring down when he gets a full head of steam. Needing only a few steps to reach top-end speed, Davis is a runaway train when he gets a hole. He also has a knack for catching the ball of his frame. His top-end speed isn’t much better than average, but Davis’s ability to gain chunk yardage helps negate the concern about long runs.
WR: Amari Cooper,* Alabama
Cooper is a strongly built wide receiver who possesses a surprising amount of playing speed given his size. He is adept at uncovering downfield and jets off the line to reach top-end speed with ease. However, Cooper has shown a tendency to let passes ricochet off his hands and will need to prove he catch the big pass and not just get open for it. If Jacob Coker has better arm strength than A.J. McCarron had, Cooper could see a boost in his production and stock.
WR: Sammie Coates,* Auburn
If Coates played in a more conventional offense, he would likely receive more national attention as one of the better receivers in the nation. However, Coates is a very good blocker by that virtue, and is very strong after the catch. Like Cooper, Coates doesn’t have the strongest hands, but he can extend off his frame to make the difficult catch.
TE: Jake McGee, Florida
The transfer from Virginia, McGee is a well-rounded tight end. He has speed to get vertical, he can block effectively in the running game, and he stretch out to catch passes. McGee will need to add strength and mass to his frame to be more suited for a blocking role in the NFL, but he has a decent skillset as a pass catcher.
OT: Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M
It can be tough to appreciate how good Ogbuehi is, given that he played opposite of Jake Matthews. Ogbuehi is a prospect that I’ve warmed up to over time and has the look of a first round left tackle. He is very athletic and can ably protect the edge from speed rushers. Ogbuehi has good base strength, but his upper body might not be as developed as he doesn’t lock out as well as he holds his ground. If there’s one concern with Ogbuehi it’s his ability to sustain run blocks, but he certainly has a high ceiling as a prospect.
OT: La’el Collins, LSU
After choosing to remain at LSU, after the bizarre recruitment of Jeremy Hill to stay (even though he ended up declaring), Collins is one of the few senior starters for the Tigers. Collins has the sheer power to be a dominant run blocker at the collegiate level and even in the NFL. He is not the quickest or most balanced, and his frame might suggest a move inside to guard, but Collins could man the right side ably in the NFL.
OG: Arie Kouandjio, Alabama
Kouandjio is a mobile, athletic blocker like his brother Cyrus, but his technique work is lacking as well. To Arie’s credit, he’s only played one season as a starter and should benefit from that experience coming into this season should see some improvement. I would anticipate that the older brother, Arie, likely will be the highest selection of the two brothers.
OG: A.J. Cann, South Carolina
Cann is a powerful run blocker who is capable of working his way up to second level. He can be sloppy with his technique, lunging and getting off balance, but he is highly effective, regardless. In one-on-one matchups, Cann will get beat by superior athleticism, which is his main weakness at this point.
OC: Reese Dismukes, Auburn
Dismukes is an explosive blocker out of his stance and can easily move to the second level. Like Oregon’s Hroniss Grasu, Dismukes is both powerful and surprisingly athletic, but not necessarily to the same degree. Playing under Gus Malzahn, Dismukes isn’t exactly well-versed in pass protection, but he has the tools to develop.
Missed the Cut:
QB: Hutson Mason, Georgia
RB: T.J. Yeldon,* Alabama
WR: Christion Jones, Alabama
TE: C.J. Uzomah, Auburn
OT: Corey Robinson, South Carolina
OG: Jarvis Harrison, Texas A&M
OC: David Andrews, Georgia
On the Horizon:
QB: Jacob Coker,* Alabama
RB: Kenyan Drake,* Alabama
WR: Laquon Treadwell,** Mississippi
TE: O.J. Howard,** Alabama
OT: Laremy Tunsil,** Mississippi
OG: Isaac Luatua,* Alabama
OC: Mike Matthews,* Texas A&M
Inside next week’s War Room: 2015 NFL Draft Fall Rankings
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