SEC's Top 10 Players

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 21, 2007

SEC's Top 10 Players

Felix Jones, RB, Jr.

Overshadowed by superstar teammate Darren McFadden, Jones quietly rushed for 1,168 yards and six touchdowns with an astounding 7.6 yards per carry average in 2006. He joins McFadden on the preseason first team All-SEC.

Quentin Groves, DE, Sr.

The defensive end surprised many when he decided to return to Auburn for his senior campaign. Groves needs just four sacks to set Auburn's career record.

Derrick Harvey, DE, Jr.

Harvey is the SEC's returning leader in sacks with 11 in 2006. He earned MVP honors in the BCS Championship game, recording three sacks and recovering a fumble. With solid production, he can play himself into the first round of next year's NFL Draft.

Jonathan Hefney, FS/PR, Sr.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder has a nose for the ball and can hit with the best of them. Hefney is also one of the SEC's most feared punt returners.

Earl Bennett, WR, Jr.

Having hauled in 161 catches in his first two seasons, the junior is just 48 catches from becoming the SEC's all-time leader in receptions. In 2006, Bennett caught at least four passes in every game.

Percy Harvin, WR, So.

As one of the most explosive offensive threats in America, Harvin flourished in his first season under imaginative head coach Urban Meyer. That is, when Harvin was on the field: The sophomore has been injured often.

Jasper Brinkley, LB, Sr.

This heavy-hitting linebacker headlines a talented front seven for the Gamecocks. Brinkley is a playmaker on the blitz, finishing with 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He teams up with his twin brother, Casper, in the South Carolina linebacking corps.

Andre Woodson, QB, Sr.

In his breakout season of 2006, Woodson led the SEC in passing yards (3,515) and touchdowns (31) and finished second in passing efficiency (154.5). Woodson and Keenan Burton make a dangerous pitch-and-catch combination.

Glenn Dorsey, DT, Sr.

Many experts projected Dorsey as a first-round pick in last April's NFL Draft, but he chose to come back for his senior season. The 6-foot-2, 300-pounder is the centerpiece of what should be one of the nation's most dominant defenses.

Darren McFadden, RB, Jr.

McFadden finished second to Troy Smith in last year's Heisman race, making him a frontrunner this season. In just two years, he's amassed 2,760 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground. Last season, he thrilled college football fans nationwide by lining up at quarterback in the "Wildcat" formation and throwing three touchdown passes.<br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com