Five Players to watch in the SEC in 2013
Teams from the Southeastern Conference have won seven consecutive BCS National Championships and will be looking to make it eight as the season starts in less than two months.
This season the conference will be loaded with big name players looking to win a national championship for their respective school.
Some are household names like defensive end Jadeveon Clowney at South Carolina and quarterback Jonny Manziel at Texas A&M.
Others have had breakout seasons, while some are ready to have a breakout season. Here are five top SEC players to watch in 2013.
Alabama running back, T.J. Yeldon is faster than Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram and Eddie Lacey, which is hard to believe, but his speed will give the Tide a huge threat out of the backfield. The Tide is thought to have one of the country’s top receiving corps, but Yeldon gives them one of the biggest threats at RB of any team in the country.
He became the first freshman at Alabama to record 1,000 yards on the ground when he had 1,108 and 12 touchdowns last season.
His speed will help get to the hole quicker or around the corner, but his physical way of running will help him bust tackles and gain more on each carry.
In the spring game this season, he was his team’s MVP. His production should increase tremendously this season as he takes the No. 1 spot in the Tide’s backfield.
Bo Wallace the Ole Miss quarterback is a physical presence at 6-4 and 204 pounds. He was a threat last season through the air and on the ground for the surprising Ole Miss Rebels. Last season he threw for 2,994 yards completely 235 of his 358 passing including 22 for touchdowns.
He also had 390 yards on the ground and ran for eight touchdowns. The Rebels have 19 of 22 starters returning. He did have shoulder surgery and was sidelined for spring practice but will be ready when September rolls around.
Loucheiz Purifoy a junior cornerback for Florida will be one to watch this season. He has an excellent 2012 season and is already being considered a first round pick in next year’s draft.
He can run the 40 in less than 4.4 and makes big plays. Last season he recorded 51 tackles, blocked a field goal and punt and forced three fumbles. He had 22 tackles on special teams last season as a true freshman.
Georgia’s John Jenkins at linebacker will help the Bulldogs defense that will be young and inexperienced.
Last season as a freshman, he started just six games, but recorded six sacks. Seven of the defensive starters were lost to the NFL or graduation so the challenge will be big for Jenkins and is teammates.
As a sophomore, Jenkins will lead the defense as they gain experience through the early part of the season.
Rounding out the top five is Anthony Johnson the defensive tackle for LSU who was expected to be one of the best defensive players to ever attend LSU. He has played well thus far in two seasons, but has had to play in the shadow of Bennie Logan and Michael Brockers.
That will all change this season and a big year is expected out of him, which will help his team and place him high on the draft board in 2014. Last season 10 of this 30 tackles resulted in losses.
