Ranking the SEC’s top 10 players in Week 6

It’s the games, stupid.

Wasn’t Alabama-Georgia the latest reminder that the game is the reason we watch, no matter how much college football has changed?

Take your 12-team playoff, transfer portal and NIL complaints elsewhere, because the game is what has always fascinated this sport.

And yes, down here, on Saturdays in the south, it’s different.

From the moment Saban and the Bear appear on the video boards at Bryant-Denny Stadium to the moment Zabien Brown made the game-winning interception that finally halted a frenzied Georgia comeback, it’s the games.

Campuses live and breathe for the games. Families come back together and in some cases fall apart. Coaches, some of whom are narcissistic lunatics, angrily insist that they would win nine out of 10 games on Mondays and then blow an 11-point fourth-quarter lead the following Saturday. What the coach says on Mondays doesn’t matter that much if you win the game.

When you lose, the feeling is almost spiritual. You feel it in your bones and in the silence of your Sunday morning coffee.

You may even hear about it at your place of worship. After all, there is no shortage of people down here who won’t get on their knees and ask God for the favor of their team, hoping against hope that the prayers that are being raised at the same moment asking God for the favor of the other team not be heard.

There’s a great story my dad used to tell about you when, after a rare defeat in the Steve Spurrier era, I asked him why God didn’t “smile on the Gators” that day, as Spurrier himself liked to say.

“God,” my father said plaintively to me, “doesn’t expect you to throw five interceptions.”

Saturday night in Tuscaloosa was the final reminder that the games are what make this sport what it is.

All changes come so quickly and rapidly that it’s easy to forget about it for a moment, or even for a few endless months out of season, I suppose.

But the games are what make the sport. This is why men like my uncle sit in auto repair shops in Jacksonville, Florida on Fridays wearing an old Gators shirt, and why men like my friend Ryland wear a red and black tie to teach Sunday school. They are the reason why there are fewer weddings in the South on fall Saturdays than in any other area of ​​the United States and why grown men from Ohio don’t buy gas in Michigan.

The Games are the reason this sport permeates every inch and fiber of our lives.

Here in the SEC, the games produce the best players.

“The List” features a number of changes this week, including the appearance of a certain Alabama quarterback back in the top 10 for the first time since the end of the 2023 season. “The List” rewards production – and we told you that the top class tends to rise to the top.

As always, honorable mentions come first, limited to 2 per program. Last week’s “List” is here for those keeping score at home.

Alabama: Deontae Lawson, LB; Jihaad Campbell, LB. Arkansas: Ja’Quinden Jackson, RB; Landon Jackson, DL. Auburn: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR; Jalen McLeod, LB. Florida: Jason Marshall Jr., DB. Georgia: Carson Beck, QB; Malaki Starks, S. Kentucky: Deone Walker, DT; Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB. LSU: Will Campbell, OT; Garrett Nussmeier, QB. Mississippi State: Stone Blanton, L.B. Missouri: Luther Burden III, WR; Connor Tollison, C. Oklahoma: Kip Lewis, LB; R Mason Thomas, DL. Old lady: Chris Paul Jr., LB; Jaxson Dart, QB. South Carolina: Dylan Stewart, Edge; Kyle Kennard, Edge. Tennessee: Joshua Josephs, Edge; Nico Iamaleava, QB. Texas: Vernon Broughton, DT; Andrew Mukuba, DB. Texas A&M: Reuben Fatheree II, OL; Nic Scourton, Edge. Vanderbilt: Diego Pavia, QB; Steve Hubbard, OL.

10. Robert Spears-Jennings, S (Oklahoma)

Spears-Jennings and the Sooners’ defense were the top-ranked safety in the country, according to PFF, and were key to Oklahoma’s fourth-quarter rally on the Plains. Spears-Jennings had 6 tackles and a sack, increasing his season tackle total to 35, a team best 24 solo. The junior also collected 2 sacks, forced 2 fumbles, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass. Not a bad month of work for the anchor of a strong Oklahoma defense that ranks 14th in SP+ defensive efficiency and 15th in defensive success rate.

9. Chris McClellan, DT (Missouri)

Missouri found an absolute highlight by landing McClellan from Florida this winter. Leaner and quicker off the snap than during his time at Florida, McClellan recorded 17 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, 2 pass deflections, 10 pressures and 8 quarterback hurries in 4 games for the Tigers. McClellan has an 80.4 grade as a pass rusher – a nearly 25-point grade jump from his time at Florida, making one wonder what exactly Billy Napier’s team had in mind when they drafted the former top-100 recruit used.

8. Princely Umanmielen, Edge (Ole Miss)

Like McClellan, Umanmielen left Florida for another SEC destination this offseason, and the move is paying off. The senior defensive lineman is scoring at 87.5 according to PFF, a 10-point jump from a productive junior year at Florida, where he led the Gators (and third in the SEC) in quarterback pressure. While Umanmielen lost its third straight game to Kentucky on Saturday, he was active in losses, recording 5 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 tackles for a loss. This season, Umanmielen has 20 quarterback pressures, 11 hurries, 4 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss.

7. Nick Emmanwori, S (South Carolina)

The Gamecocks have been idle this week as they move up to No. 1 this weekend. 12 Ole Miss in Columbia prepared. Emmanwori and a much-improved Gamecocks defense will be tested by an explosive Ole Miss offense that should arrive at Williams-Brice Stadium furious. A big hitter with outstanding coverage ability, Emmanwori will need to play his best football for South Carolina to win.

6. Kelvin Banks, OL (Texas)

According to PFF, Banks was the SEC’s top-graded tackle and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in Texas’ 35-13 win over Miss State. The Longhorns gained 522 yards, including 198 yards rushing, on the afternoon in Arch Manning’s second career start. Banks perfectly protected the young quarterback and allowed no sacks or pressure from the blind side as Manning completed 26 of 31 passes for 324 yards with 2 touchdowns. Banks and the Texas offense rank 3rd in offensive SP+ efficiency and 4th in offensive success rate in the opening month of the season.

5. D’Eryk Jackson, LB (Kentucky)

Does Jackson jump out of the film with athleticism like fellow defender Deone Walker? No.

Does Jackson play with one of the highest IQs in the sport and rarely miss a tackle? Yes.

Excellent patience and foresight from Kentucky LB D’Eryk Jackson (#54). Stay disciplined for TFL against Ole Miss. pic.twitter.com/xviyHeH4td

– Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) September 30, 2024

The veteran linebacker from Kentucky returns to The List for the second straight year after posting a 7 tackles and 2 tackles for loss performance in Kentucky’s upset win over No. 6 Ole Miss. This season, Jackson has a team-high 26 tackles, including 3 for losses and 4 pass breakups, for a defense that ranks 17th in SP+ defensive efficiency and 14th in success rate defense. Jackson’s fundamentals, which included the lowest missed tackle percentage in the SEC over the past three seasons, should give him a chance to play in the NFL next year.

4. Tre Harris, WR (Ole Miss)

Ole Miss gained 353 yards in a 20-17 loss to Kentucky on Saturday.

Tre Harris won 176 – almost half.

That 48-yard catch, cut-and-run touchdown gave Ole Miss the lead early in the fourth quarter.

Tre Harris feels like one of those WRs who is just going to be a *really* good pro.

Playing strength, body control, RAC. Reliable producer.

pic.twitter.com/7D4PHxrgMg

— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) September 28, 2024

Harris had a quiet fourth quarter, catching just one pass on three scores on three Ole Miss possessions, including their last, which ended with a missed shot by Caden Davis. But in his first game this season against a strong defense, Harris came into his own, catching 11 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. Had he gotten a little help from his friends, Ole Miss would probably leave the game undefeated.

3. Ryan Williams, WR (Alabama)

Have you heard that Ryan Williams is only 17?

The sensational freshman turned Biletnikoff Award front-runner brought Alabama out of the fire Saturday night when he made this big play to give the Crimson Tide the lead back late in the fourth quarter.

I’ve been doing this scouting thing for a long time and this is one of the wildest plays I’ve ever seen from a wideout. pic.twitter.com/tKkrrJZZKb

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) September 29, 2024

The comparisons between “Baby Julio” and “Justin Jefferson” seemed premature a month ago. No longer. And what if Williams was better — more fluid than Julio and more skilled as a route runner than Jefferson early in his career? What if, like Dave Waters from the great podcast Gators collapse said this week: “Ryan Williams is the first Ryan Williams?”

A cousin from Muscle Shoals sent me the most accurate summary of “Roll Tide” late Saturday night, shortly after the Williams catch.

“That recruiting battle was the moment I fell in love with Kalen DeBoer.”

I understand it.

2. Jalen Milroe, QB (Alabama)

A masterful performance puts Milroe in the top 10 after lingering in the Honorable Mentions.

The numbers were nearly perfect: 27-for-33 passing for 374 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the game-winner for Williams, coupled with a team-high 117 yards rushing and 2 more touchdowns. The List could rave about Milroe’s improved reads and accuracy as a pitcher, and trust us, it will be for weeks.

But Milroe’s leadership and poise won this game for Alabama, which has yet to lose an SEC game started by Milroe.

Would we like to see Milroe play like this on a regular basis as a passer? Naturally. But when the lights were brightest, Alabama’s All-SEC quarterback answered the bell.

1. Dylan Sampson, RB (Tennessee)

A bye week doesn’t push Sampson off the top of The List.

The Vols’ offense is rolling, they rank 5th in SP+ offensive efficiency, 3rd in total offense and lead the country in scoring.

Their best player is Sampson, who ranks 4th in the SEC in rushing yards (449) and yards per attempt (6.5) and 1st in touchdowns (10). Sampson is also recognized as the SEC’s top running back according to PFF, a testament to his ability to impact the game not only as a runner, but also as a pass catcher and blocker.

This remains the most productive and consistent player in the SEC for over a month.