With football season right around the corner, all eyes turned this past week to Hoover, Ala. for the 2015 SEC Media Days. Possibly one of the biggest weeks in the college football season, certain players and coaches took the podium to discuss the off season and plans for the season. Of course favorites such as Les Miles made an appearance and future stars like LSU's Leonard Fournette made appearances, giving hope to fans of The Mason-Dixon line teams hope that their school would be victorious.
Recently, SECSports.com released their 2015 All SEC Preseason Team list. Of course names like Georgia's Nick Chubb and Ole Miss' Robert Nkemdiche highlighted the first team ranks respectably, but do we as fans really care whose the stars, personally I'd rather see who are the dark horse to step up and be the future studs on the game. While seeing players who are already household names, we as fans should be able to see the unsung hero get his shot.
This is my preseason Breakout All SEC Team for 2015. Who is going to be the Nick Chubb of 2015? Who's going to give Vernon Hargraves a run for the money in Interceptions. These are just a few players who stats from previous seasons make them favorites to be the dark horse contender for the All SEC Team come December. Oh and to save people some time, here's a list of players who will not be on this list.
Alabama- RB Derrick Henry, DL A'Shawn Robinson, LB Reggie Ragland, OL Cam Robinson
Arkansas- RB Jonathan Williams, OL Dan Skipper, QB Brandon Allen
Auburn- QB Jeremy Johnson, WR Duke Williams, DL Carl Lawson, DB Jonathon Jones
Florida- DB Vernon Hargreaves III,
Georgia- RB Nick Chubb, OL John Theus, LB Jordan Jenkins
Kentucky- None
LSU- RB Leonard Fournette, OL Vadal Alexander, DB Jalen Mills
Mississippi St.- QB Dak Prescott, WR De'Runnya Wilson,
Missouri- QB Maty Mauk
Ole Miss- DL Robert Knemdiche, WR Laquon Tredwell, OL Laremy Tunsil,
South Carolina- WR Pharaoh Cooper
Tennessee- DL Derrick Barnett, LB Curt Maggitt, RB Jalen Hurd
Texas A&M- OL Germain Ifedi, C Mike Matthews, DL Myles Garrett
Vanderbilt- None
QUARTERBACK- JOSHUA DOBBS, TENNESSEE
This was basically a toss up of heads or tails between Dobbs or Texas A&M's Kyle Allen. The fact that Dobbs has played a little bit more makes him an actual breakout star.
Josh Dobbs was called into the game to replace Justin Woorley against rival Alabama. While Dobbs did take the loss, that was the one of just two losses on his record the rest of the season. Like the rest of the team, The Vols have high expectations this year and Dobbs might be the reason their hopes to dominance in the SEC East come through.
Dobbs has a solid throwing arm, finishing last season with nine touchdowns over 1200 passing yards. Not only that but Dobbs is your promo-typical dual-threat quarterback. Worst case senario if no one is open, Dobbs tucks and runs the ball for a seven yard pickup. Last season Dobbs rush for almost 400 yards in just 5 games so with a full season under his belt, Dobbs might just be the missing piece to bring Tennessee back to former glory.
RUNNING BACK- RUSSELL HANSBROURGH, MISSOURI
With players like Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry in your division, it's hard to get the respect from other teams. However if there was one player who could break through the barrier, Russell Hansbrough seems like the the perfect candidate to fill the role. After two season of being an under the radar back, last year Hansbrough broke 1000 yards for the first time in his career.
The reason he's a breakout candidate is due to the issues Head Coach Gary Pinkel might have with quarterback Maty Mauk. Mauk is a decent quarterback with some speed, but needs help with his passing. In step Hansbrough to get more carries and gain more yards for the Tigers struggling offense. In a division with premier running backs, Russell Hansbrough isn't elite, but can be the difference maker in a win or loss against SEC East teams.
WIDE RECEIVER- SPEEDY NOIL, TEXAS A&M
While other Wide Receivers might be on the rise, Texas A&M had a handful of receivers that could have made this list. For a guy who found most of his touchdowns in a short slanting game, Speedy Noil will be Texas A&M's golden boy for many years to come. Sure he had over 500 receiving yards last season, but except Amari Cooper numbers this season of the Big Easy prospect.
Known as a return man for the Aggies, Noil will find his path by using his short frame for running quick slant routes and gaining yards up the field. A perfect Slot Receiver Noil will be a great team paired up with Kyle Allen and the deadly passing attack down in College Station. Josh Reynolds broke up for Kenny Hill last season, Now it's time to see the speed Speedy can bring to the field.
WIDE RECEIVER- MALCOLM MITCHELL, GEORGIA
With a new offensive scheme being brought in with Brian Schotenhiemer, whoever ends up being the Starting quarterback for the Bulldogs will have a special player in Malcolm Mitchell. The senior was very overlooked last years due to the duo of Hudson Mason and Chris Conely, but now Mitchell will show off what he has to offer.
At 6'1, Mitchell is your prototypical Z receiver who can make players miss by using his speed to get up the field. Whille Mitchell won't be a deep threat like Conely, he will be able to get the consistent first downs and YAC. Don't look for Mitchell to be leading the team in touchdowns, but receiving yards in the SEC East isn't that far out of reach.
FLEX- KENYAN DRAKE, ALABAMA
This position is based off the player who can play multiple positions and be the spark plug to an offense. Kenyan Drake may be a well known name after SEC media days, but he really shouldn't have been on this list this season.
After starting the season strong with six total touchdowns, Drake's season was cut short due to a broken leg injury he suffered against Ole Miss. With Derrick Henry now as the lead back for the Crimson Tide, Kenyan Drake is pretty much the odd man out right? Wrong. Drake has the speed of a running back but size and strength of a number 2 receiver. Not only that but Alabama fans saw how well he was able to not only run the ball, but catch the deep ball and use his speed to out run anyone in his path. Drake isn't just a surprise breakout candidate for the SEC, but he should be a surprise to be in the hunt for every major category college football has to offer.
