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SEC Football: Top 100 SEC players to watch in 2016

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) is hit by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Tony Conner (12)at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) is hit by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Tony Conner (12)at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Tony Conner 2015 Season Statistics

  • Games Played: 5
  • Tackles: 17
  • Tackles for Loss: 4
  • Sacks: 0
  • Interceptions: 0
  • Pass Breakups: 0
  • Forced Fumbles: 0
  • Fumble Recoveries: 0
  • Notable: Missed eight games due to injury in 2015.

Had he been healthy all season, Ole Miss safety Tony Conner would have been ranked in either the top five or the top ten on our list of the Top 100 SEC football players for 2016. Or, maybe he wouldn’t have been on the list at all because he may have decided to skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.

A Freshman All-American in 2013, and a second team All-SEC performer as a sophomore, Conner entered 2015 with All-American aspirations. The 6-foot, 217-pounder earned a reputation as one of the SEC’s most active tacklers, and one of the nation’s most physical players (NFL.com ranked him No. 2 in a preseason list).

Unfortunately, Conner suffered a knee injury in Week 3 against Alabama that knocked him out of the lineup for the majority of the season. Even when he returned, Conner was severely limited following knee surgery. Still, his impact was noticeable.

As Daniel Paulling of The Clarion-Ledger pointed out, Ole Miss allowed roughly 25 percent more passing yards without Conner available or fully healthy than they did with the star defender at full strength.

Next: Fred Ross

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