College Football Network recently released their top 100 college football players for the 2024 season, with 29 players from the SEC receiving national attention, the second-most of any conference behind only the Big Ten (34).
Which standouts from the league where it “Just Means More” were singled out for significant praise ahead of the 2024 college football campaign? Let’s find out!
Which SEC Players Were Included in the CFN Top 100 College Football Players?
Since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, the SEC has produced six national champions, four more than any other conference (two each for the Big Ten and ACC).
The league’s run of national title dominance actually started back in the BCS era (1998-2013), considering that 13 of the last 18 national championships in college football have been claimed by an SEC team.
The conference expanded this off-season with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma — both of whom have won national championships of their own since 2000.
According to our rankings, the SEC features 29 players among the top 100 in college football, including four quarterbacks and five pass rushers at EDGE — both of which rank as the top count of any conference.
Here’s what CFN College Football Analyst James Fragoza had to say about the SEC’s best players.
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (2nd)
James Pearce Jr. isn’t only the best returning player in the SEC; he is one spot away from being the best returning player in the nation. As a true sophomore, he tallied 14.5 TFLs, 10 sacks, one INT, two pass deflections, and two forced fumbles, using his length and explosiveness to devastating effect.
Luther Burden II, WR, Missouri (5th)
Luther Burden III is a Heisman candidate as a true junior and the top WR in the country. After displaying his playmaking ability as a true freshman, LBIII torched SEC defenses to the tune of 1,212 yards and nine scores last season. With the speed, body control, and route-running nuance of a future pro, college DBs stand no chance.
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia (6th)
While Carson Beck isn’t the flashiest athlete or the biggest arm, he has the poise, anticipation, and layering ability of a future NFL QB. He passed for nearly 4,000 yards, 24 TDs, and six INTs last season and operates the collegiate bulldozer that is Georgia with the efficiency of a Tesla.
Will Campbell, OT, LSU (7th)
Will Campbell has started at left tackle since his true freshman season in 2022 and has never looked back. The 6’6″ and 325-pound OT is a mauler in the ground game and didn’t allow a sack in 2023.
He’s balanced, has strong hands, and is explosive off the ball with the range to pull in the run game and mirror twitchier edge rushers. Don’t let the “shorter than you’d like” arm-length discussions distract from what he’s put on film.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (9th)
Kelvin Banks Jr. set foot in Austin and immediately shined at left tackle, particularly in pass protection. The former five-star recruit has lived up to his billing and then some, and with another commanding season, he could be a top-10 NFL Draft prospect.
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (12th)
What do Fresno State, Syracuse, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana have in common? They were all victims of Nic Scourton’s brute force last season. The Purdue EDGE transfer brings his nauseating spin move and raw power to College Station after crushing the Big Ten. He is only 19 years old and is already coming off a 10-sack, 15-TFL campaign — talk about “breakout age.”
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (13th)
Yes, Jalen Milroe isn’t the most accurate QB and has a ways to go, but he showed exceptional growth after being benched early in the season, and he now gets to work with QB guru DeBoer. That’s not even including his dynamic ability as a runner — just ask LSU.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss (18th)
Princely Umanmielen has taken shots at Florida since transferring to Ole Miss, complaining about his lack of development with the program. His film last season also showed several low-effort plays, so a change of scenery was best for both sides.
If seven sacks and 11.5 TFLs were the result of Umanmielen without substantial coaching and living off his athletic tools, just how good could he be in 2024?
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky (21st)
6’6″, 348-pound defensive tackles that can create pressure on their own are rare, and that’s exactly what Deone Walker is. He accounted for 12.5 TFLs and 7.5 sacks last season, using his free-moving and powerful build to open the floodgates on the interior.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (22nd)
Since 2022, Malaki Starks has registered five INTs and 14 PBUs, highlighting his playmaking ability in coverage. But he’s also one of the best tacklers in the nation and revels in crashing the box and forcing negative plays for the offense.
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (24th)
Texas A&M had Walter Nolen anywhere from 1 to 7-tech, but he’s at his best penetrating through the B gap. Through two seasons, he has largely won on talent alone, but with improved technique and hand usage, he could take his game to new heights at Ole Miss.
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (27th)
Quinn Ewers is probably a better college QB than an NFL QB, and that’s OK! He isn’t the most accurate, but he has the arm and talent around him to lead Texas back to the College Football Playoff. Plus, with Arch Manning breathing down his neck, I expect Ewers to keep his foot on the gas pedal.
Harold Perkins, LB, LSU (30th)
The Tigers didn’t know where to line Harold Perkins up last season, so they just lined him up everywhere. He split his time evenly between the slot, box, and defensive line, but he’s at his best rushing QBs off the edge. With the burst and bend to blow by OTs and the range to flow to the ball from the second level, Perkins should excel at WILL in new DC Blake Fisher’s scheme.
Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia (36th)
Tate Ratledge stepped into the starting right guard role in 2022 and has been an immovable boulder there ever since. He is as reliable as they come in pass pro and isn’t averse to getting his nose dirty in the run game.
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas (44th)
Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell are gone, but Isaiah Bond could be even better than either pass catcher. He isn’t as big as Mitchell or as fast as Worthy, but his explosiveness and start/stop ability to torture CBs at the stem set him apart.
Shemar Turner, EDGE, Texas A&M (46th)
The decision to move Shemar Turner from DT to EDGE proved to be the right one for the Aggies, as he went from 6.5 TFLs and two sacks in 19 games to 10.5 and six in 12 contests last season. He even tacked on two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks for good measure. With Nic Scourton rushing opposite him, expect Turner’s numbers to escalate once again.
Trey Moore, EDGE, Texas (49th)
2023 AAC Defensive Player of the Year. UTSA’s record holder for sacks in a season (14). It’s clear why Texas sought the pass-rush specialist. Trey Moore will put his skill set to the ultimate test in the SEC, but his traits should translate. He is sudden off the edge with the quick hands to keep himself clean around the arc.
Full List of SEC Players in the CFN Top 100 College Football Players
- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (2nd)
- Luther Burden II, WR, Missouri (5th)
- Carson Beck, QB, Georgia (6th)
- Will Campbell, OT, LSU (7th)
- Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas (9th)
- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (12th)
- Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (13th)
- Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss (18th)
- Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky (21st)
- Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (22nd)
- Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (24th)
- Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (27th)
- Harold Perkins, LB, LSU (30th)
- Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia (36th)
- Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas (44th)
- Shemar Turner, EDGE, Texas A&M (46th)
- Trey Moore, EDGE, Texas (49th)
- Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (53rd)
- Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss (68th)
- Barion Brown, WR, Kentucky (72nd)
- Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama (75th)
- Debo Williams, LB, South Carolina (78th)
- Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (80th)
- Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama (85th)
- Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia (87th)
- Tyler Booker, G, Alabama (88th)
- Keon Sabb, S, Alabama (93rd)
- James Burnip, P, Alabama (99th)
- Graham Nicholson, K, Alabama (100th)
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