The SEC has been long regarded as the best conference in college football, especially for over the past decade. More players have been drafted out of the SEC then of any other conference in the USA. Here is a brief look at must watch players looking to explode in 2015.
Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs, QB, Jr.
Dobbs took over from Justin Worley in time to play the A"3rd Saturday in October", and led Tennessee to the closest result (34-20) that Tennessee has had against Alabama since 2009, when Tennessee nearly shocked the #1 Tide with a 12-10 loss. Dobbs led Tennessee to wins in 4 of the next 5 games, including the overtime shocker to South Carolina, where Dobbs passed for 301 yards and ran for 166, scoring 5 TD's all night, and finishing the season with 1206 yards passing, 469 yards rushing, and a total of 17 TD's.
Dobbs biggest strength are his legs. He's not afraid to torch people on 3rd down with long runs and take hits downfield. He's a physical runner, and growing to be a very accurate passer. Watch Dobbs in 2015 become an elite SEC QB and run all over the Tennessee record books.
Georgia's Nick Chubb, RB, So.
Nick Chubb entered the 2014 season as the 3rd running back on the Georgia depth chart, behind Hiesman candidate Todd Gurley, and fellow freshman Sony Michel. He finished the season as Georgia's starting RB, with 1547 yards rushing and 16 total TD's. Not only did he have all those piled up stats on his hands, but he averaged 7.1 yards per carry, finished first in the SEC with his 1760 yards from scrimmage, and proved to be Georgia's back of the future.
Chubb runs with a fierce downhill style, and with his 5-10 238 pound frame he gets incredible speed that will outrun most SEC secondaries. He has extremely refined footwork to go with his moves, and incredible balance that allows him to plow. However, considering his age and size, his vision is something that will need some improvement. Still, watch for Chubb to plow his way into the Georgia record books in 2015.
South Carolina's Pharoh Cooper, WR, Jr.
Cooper's stats compare to Percy Harvin. 70 catches for 1140 yards and 9 TD's in 2014, alongside his 27 runs for 200 yards and 2 TD's. Cooper also spent some time in 2014 throwing, firing 5 completions out of 8 passes with another 2 TD's attached to that. He's dangerous on every angle, spending a good bit of time as South Carolina's Wildcat Formation. His biggest game was against Tennessee, when he torched the Volunteer secondary with 11 catches for 233 yards and 2 long TD catches.
Cooper is only 5-11 201 pounds, but his leaping ability and body frame reminds me of a smaller Calvin Johnson. He has the skill to pick up a lot of yards after the catch, and his change of direction and speed is subtle, and will torch SEC secondaries all of 2015. Watch another Dark Horse candidate for the Hiesman trophy.
