UF’s Zaire among SEC’s top players.
A pair of quarterback transfers highlight a talented group of players to watch in the SEC this college football season:
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
The Buzz: Chubb rebounded from a leg injury that prematurely ended his 2015 season by rushing for 1,134 yards on a career-high 224 carries. His 3,424 yards career yards ranks him second all-time in school history behind Herschel Walker’s 5,259 yards. He’ll team with Sony Michel to give Georgia one of the best running back tandems in the country.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
The Buzz: An AllAmerican standout in the Alabama secondary, Fitzpatrick set school marks for interceptions in a season (6), interception return yards in a season (186) and career interceptions for touchdowns (4). He finished fourth on the team with 66 tackles, including a career-high 41 solo tackles, while adding seven pass breakups to the best secondary in the SEC.
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
The Buzz: When he’s not busy squatting 650 pounds in the LSU weight room, Guice is preparing to follow up a career-best season — one in which he led the SEC in rushing yards (1,387) and yards per carry (7.6) with a teamhigh 15 touchdowns. He finished with 766 yards in the final five games of the season, including rushing for more than 200 yards in a game twice (Arkansas, Texas A&M).
Marquis Haynes, DL, Ole Miss
The Buzz: Haynes is one of six starters back on defense for Ole Miss in 2017. The senior defensive end earned All-SEC honors after leading the team in sacks (7.0) and quarterback hurries (8) while adding 56 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss. He ranks third in school history with 24.5 career sacks and fourth with 36.5 tackles for loss.
Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama
The Buzz: Hurts burst onto the scene when he became the first true freshman quarterback to start a game for Alabama since Vince Sutton in 1984. He set a school record for touchdowns responsible for (36) and was second all-time to former Tide QB Blake Sims with 3,734 yards of total offense in a single-season. His development under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is worth watching.
Jordan Jones, LB, Kentucky
The Buzz: Jones is the SEC’s top returning tackler with 109 stops and 15.5 tackles for loss for the Wildcats. He added 4.0 sacks, a forced fumble and 9.0 quarterback hurries to claim all-conference honors in 2016. Jones is one of eight starters back on defense and he’s looking to become another in a long line of Wildcats linebackers continuing their careers in the NFL.
Arden Key, DL, LSU
The Buzz: Key was a force up front for LSU, leading the Tigers in sacks (12.0) and quarterback hurries (11) during 11 games last season. He missed three months during this offseason as he recovered from an injury but there’s no doubt that his decision to return in 2017 was huge for a defense that returns just four starters from the previous season.
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
The Buzz: For the second consecutive season, Kirk led the team in receptions after hauling in 83 passes for 928 yards and nine touchdowns. The talented receiver also continued his strong play as a returner in 2016 with three punt returns for touchdowns. The Aggies will lean on Kirk this season with an inexperienced group of receivers surrounding him on the roster.
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
The Buzz: Stidham is one of two graduate transfer quarterbacks looking to continue their careers in the SEC. The four-star, dual-threat quarterback excelled at Baylor in 2015 before leaving the program and eventually landing at Auburn. His presence gives coach Gus Malzahn something he’s lacked for some time — a legitimate QB star.
Malik Zaire, QB, Florida
The Buzz: Zaire has attempted fewer than 100 passes in his college career, but he comes to Florida with a lot of buzz. The dual-threat quarterback gives the Gators some much-needed experience at the position, but is he the answer to the team’s offensive woes and will he win the battle for the starting job? His mobility is a plus for a team that allowed 28 sacks in 2016.