It is pretty clear that Alabama is superior to the rest of the SEC and it isn’t even close. Because of this, I wonder sometimes how it would go if the other SEC teams came together and formed a “super team” of their own. This is my lineup of players I would have to take on such a daunting task. This is a two part series, so I will do defense and special teams later on.
Coaching
Head Coach: Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
If you want a coach that could bring the best out his players, Dan Mullen is your guy. He has really been overachieving the last few years, it is hard to imagine him not doing well with access to much better talent.
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M
He might be on the hot seat, but offense is not at a premium in the SEC so pickings are slim. Nevertheless, Sumlin has been able to put together some great offenses. He might not be the prettiest choice, but he is the right one for this position.
Line Up
Quarterback: Jake Bentley, South Carolina
There aren’t many good quarterbacks in the SEC but Jake Bentley is one of them. Bentley burst onto the scene last year and maintained his consistency. He is one of the best passers in the conference, takes care of the ball very well, and can beat teams with his feet when has to. There are few other options that could have been a good choice, so Bentley is my choice.
Running Back: Nick Chubb, Georgia
One of the best running backs to ever step on the Georgia campus. This one was a no-brainer as he has over 4,000 career rushing yards and showed extreme toughness when coming back from a gruesome knee injury back in 2015. He will be the feature back in the offense.
Running Back: Kerryon Johnson, Auburn
Johnson has quietly put together a spectacular season, and is only now getting some recognition. In only seven games this season, he has rushed for over 800 yards and has scored a whopping 15 touchdowns. Johnson is physical, but also probably the most well rounded back in the conference as he can beat you outside, can catch passes and could be used out of the wildcat.
Wide Receiver: J’Mon Moore, Missouri
Maybe some would categorize it as taking advantage of bad competition, but the last month or so has been pretty good to J’Mon Moore. He is big receiver at 6’3″ and was a 1,000 yard receiver last year as well. So I will take my chances with a guy his size, and if nothing else, at least I have a jump ball guy.
Wide Receiver: DJ Chark, LSU
Here is my big play receiver, averaging 23.5 yards per catch. Much like Moore, he is a tall guy standing at 6’3″ and can be used for jet sweeps as well. Only thing that concerns me is that he is a senior and only has 3 career touchdowns, but I will chalk it up to the bad quarterback play and run-heavy offense that LSU is known for.
Wide Receiver: Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Probably the most explosive guy in the SEC, Kirk will be my slot guy. His stats have dipped a bit this season due to the inexperience at quarterback, but this guy is still dangerous. If you haven’t seen the pattern yet, I usually go for guys who can do a little bit of everything on offense as it will open things a lot and keep the defense on their toes.
Tight End: Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
Here is another no-brainer. Over the last year or so, Hurst has quickly found himself as one of the top tight end prospects in this years draft, so it was pretty hard not to keep him off the list. He has the best skill set and his production in the passing game has improved year to year. He is also a pretty decent blocker so there is great balance for this guy.
Tight End: Isaac Nauta, Georgia
Here is where I don’t really go off stats because a lot of people have forgotten this guy it seems. Ranked number one among tight ends in his class, he still has the skill set that can only be matched by some of the best tight ends. Since Georgia does not throw it a lot, his production has gone down quite a bit, but I still find him worthy of a spot to help take down Bama.
Left Tackle: Greg Little, Ole Miss
Definitely a guy with a huge upside. Greg Little has come in and done a pretty decent job filling Tunsil’s shoes as Ole Miss’s left tackle spot. While he has struggled at times, he has really come into his own after going against some of the best defensive lineman in the country last year. While there are some other guys with more experience that could match up well against Bama, I’m going with raw talent this time.
Right Tackle: Toby Weathersby, LSU
Based on talent, Weathersby is a pretty solid choice, but injuries make him a risky one. However, since this all hypothetical, no one cares about his injury history. Weathersby is pretty athletic for a guy who is 6’7″ and is very good with his run blocking while being fairly decent as a pass protector. Having a guy of his size and athletic ability has me more confident on running the ball against a stout Alabama defense.
Left Guard: Braden Smith, Auburn
Probably the most well-balanced lineman on this list is Brendan Smith. He has been a rock this year and the most durable guy on the field. He is without a doubt the best lineman on the team. Despite giving up 11 sacks against Clemson, Smith only allowed one of them against a future first round pick, but overall played an okay game while everyone else straight up sucked.
Right Guard: Donell Stanley, South Carolina
Another guy with a lot of raw talent but was derailed by injuries in 2016, Stanley has been able to play every game here in 2017. That being said, he has had some dominant performances this season and is the best offensive lineman for the Gamecocks in my opinion.
Center: Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
I saved the best for last because I am big fan of Ragnow. After seeing what he has done, picking him is as easy as it gets. The most dominant center in the country did not allow a sack last year against a lot of good defensive lines in the SEC West. He has started 26 straight games and is pretty big for his position. No surprise he passes both the eye test and does well on the stat sheet as well. He is the foundation of this line and probably the entire offense.