There are many familiar faces in the SEC week 8 game changers. Three made the list before, and two of them were on the list last week. Plus, there are the negative game changers that were a collective effort.
Offensive Game Changers
Jadan Baugh RB, Florida
Florida was left for dead after the first couple of weeks. Many thought they were maybe the worst team in the SEC. They are now 4-3 after their 48-20 win over Kentucky. True freshman Baugh was a big reason with 22 carries for 106 yards. His five touchdowns matched a Gators’ record. With him and their true freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, this team could be more interesting than expected over the next couple of years.
Dylan Sampson RB, Tennessee
Sampson is a regular for SEC game-changers. It’s getting boring putting him on this list every week. But he continues to earn it as the best running back in the country not named Ashton Jeanty. He was vital to Tennessee’s 24-17 win over Alabama especially given Nico Iamaleava’s recent struggles. Bama actually held him to 41 yards, a fumble, and no touchdowns in the first half. But it didn’t last. He finished the game with 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive Game Changers
Nick Emmanwori DB, South Carolina
The South Carolina defense dominated Oklahoma in their 35-9 win. The Gamecocks sacked the Sooners’ quarterbacks nine times and caused four turnovers. They had two guys with seven solo tackles and a sack a piece, but the player at the center of it all was Emmanwori. He had 11 total tackles, seven solo, and a tackle for loss. He also had two interceptions, one of which he returned 65 yards for a touchdown.
Jalon Walker LB / Daylen Everette DB, Georgia
The Georgia defense had so many standout performances in their 30-15 win over Texas that I couldn’t pick just one. Walker is a guy who is expected to go high in the next NFL Draft. He showed off why with just eight solo tackles, a fumble recovery, and three sacks. Everette arguably might have had an even better game filling up the stat sheet with seven solo tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception.
Whit Weeks LB, LSU
After Weeks’ incredible performance that got him on this list last week, it would be hard to match it and he didn’t. But he still led the LSU defense in their 34-10 beat down of Arkansas. Weeks had nine total tackles, five solo, a sack, and an interception. This will help the eighth-ranked Tigers continue to climb in the rankings and their one-loss has them in SEC championship contention.
Negative Game Changers
Offense, Texas
The top-ranked Longhorns were anything but in their 30-15 loss to Georgia. For a team that appeared to have two great quarterback options, this game they had zero. They were sacked seven times. Quinn Ewers had an interception and two lost fumbles. It got so bad they put in Arch Manning who also lost a fumble. At the half, the offense was shut out and only had 38 total yards. They only rushed for 29 yards on 27 carries. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck threw three picks and this offense still wasn’t close. A disastrous performance by everyone involved.
