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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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Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-6. Tennessee Volunteers Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half in the 2016 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 45-6. Tennessee Volunteers Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Joshua Dobbs 2015 Season Statistics

  • Games Played: 13
  • Completions: 205
  • Passing Attempts: 344
  • Completion Percentage: 59.6
  • Passing Yards: 2,291
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 176.2
  • Passing Touchdowns: 15
  • Interceptions: 5
  • Rushing Attempts: 146
  • Sacked: 21
  • Rushing Yards: 671
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 11
  • Notable: Tied with Missouri’s Maty Mauk as the SEC leader in games started by a quarterback (22).

There are three players ranked ahead of Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs on our list, but there may not be a more important player in the SEC in 2016. With expectations on the rise following back-to-back bowl victories, and a now-experienced roster of that returns 18 starters from the 2015 squad, which doesn’t even include Top 100 player Alvin Kamara, the Vols are the hottest team in the league at this point of the pre-season. And Tennessee will go as far as Dobbs can take them.

With 22 career starts under his belt, Dobbs is tied with Missouri’s Maty Mauk as the SEC’s most experienced quarterback. However, given the fact that Mauk lost his starting job and was then suspended after four games in 2015, Dobbs has an edge because he won’t have to shake off any unnecessary rust next season.

Hobbs started all 13 games for the 9-4 Vols last year, and threw for 2,291 yards and 15 touchdowns with only five interceptions. While Tennessee would like to see Dobbs improve his accuracy (his 59.6 completion percentage ranked No. 6 in the SEC in 2015), Dobbs is a true dual-threat capable of making big plays with his legs. Dobbs ran for 671 yards and 11 touchdowns last year – both tops among SEC signal callers. He also caught a 58-yard touchdown pass.

Quarterback is one of the weakest position groups in the league heading into 2016, but Tennessee has the advantage of Dobbs’ dynamic ability as well as his experience, both of which should play a big role for the Vols in their quest to win the SEC.

Next: Myles Garrett

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