SEC WR/TE Rankings
September 15, 2012; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs cornerback Malcolm Mitchell (26) catches a pass in the second half against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 56-20. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s dive right in…
1. Georgia – this group returns it’s top two receivers from last year in Chris Conley and Michael Bennet, plus they’ll get the dynamic Malcolm Mitchell back from an injury that sidelined him almost all of 2013. A new QB will have an easier time getting settled with this veteran group. They will have a new guy at TE but they should be fine.
2. Alabama – the play-making Amari Cooper returns along with a handful of other wideouts…they lose Kevin Norwood. TE O.J. Howard is expected to be really good.
3. Mississippi State – one of only two teams in the SEC to return their top three WR and #1 TE (State actually returns all of their TE and top four WR). What’s more, Jameon Lewis is the leading returning receiver in the SEC who will be a senior.
4. Tennessee – the other of the two teams who returns their top three WR and #1 TE. There wasn’t a ton of production from this corps last year and who will throw them the ball but you have to like experience….and they are talented…and when has UT not had good WR?
5. Auburn – Sammie Coates is one of the best WR in the SEC. Top four in yardage are back, although not much production last year outside of Coates because the Tigers didn’t throw it too often.
6. Ole Miss – the Rebs will be without Donte Moncrief but they still have Laquon Treadwell who will be a star. TE Evan Engram is good too…they have some weapons in the passing game, but maybe not as much as last year losing two of the top three.
7. South Carolina – the Gamecocks receiving corps look like MSU’s from two years ago. 5′-11″ Pharoh Cooper, 5′-9″ Damiere Byrd and 6′-1″ Shaq Roland. They will be plenty of balls thrown their way, however, with a QB with a strength in the passing game and Mr. Fun ‘N Gun calling the plays.
8. LSU – no team was gutted quite like LSU. They lost two 1,100 receivers in Landry and Beckham. Those two combined with Mettenberger’s strength in the passing game made for a solid offensive attack. They return almost no production and a new QB, but you know they have talent so they will get some benefit of the doubt.
9. Texas A&M – I’ve seen some folks rank the Aggies WR pretty high but I’m not really seeing it. I’m sure they’ll rack up some big numbers in Kevin Sumlin’s offense but are they really that good? They lose Mike Evans who had nearly 1,400 yards last year and Derel Walker who had 818. Who will throw them the ball?
10. Missouri – the Tigers lost their top three receivers. That should mean they plummet but Gary Pinkel has always found a way to move it through the air so I’ll trust him in that, more so than the four teams below.
11. Kentucky – returning the entire receiving corps that was pretty ineffective last year, check. New TE is the 6’-5″ Jon Toth.
12. Florida – returning Quinton Dunbar at WR and Clay Burton at TE. Can Jeff Driskel get it there? Who knows with this offense.
13. Arkansas – TE Hunter Henry is the leading returning receiver. They like to run the ball. Meh.
14. Vanderbilt – the ‘Dores lost the best receiver in SEC history (Jordan Matthews). Him and the other two who made up their top three. But to make matters worse the number three guy only had 149 yards receiving. They’re all gone. Ouch.