SEC Football: Top 50 players entering the 2020 season
Mac Jones, QB. 45. player. 829. . .
After Tua Tagovailoa suffered a season-ending hip injury, Mac Jones stepped in and guided the Tide to a 3-1 record, including a victory over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Jones threw for 1,503 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions as he completed a remarkable 69 percent of his passes.
Jones will likely take over as Alabama’s full-time starting quarterback in 2020 with Tagovailoa with the Dolphins and his younger brother Taulia Tagovailoa having transferred to Maryland.
850. . . . Aaron Sterling, DL. 44. player
South Carolina defensive lineman Aaron Sterling put together an outstanding 2019 campaign for the Gamecocks.
As a junior, he recorded a career-high 40 total tackles with 10 coming for a loss and six being sacks. He also defended two passes, forced a fumble and recovered one. Sterling now has 78 career tackles, nine sacks and 16 tackles for loss as a Gamecock. He enters his senior year an Athlon Sports second-team All-SEC selection.
814. . . . George Pickens, WR. 43. player
Georgia wide receiver George Pickens had a monster freshman season in 2019. He was named to the All-SEC freshman team after hauling in 49 passes for 727 yards and eight touchdowns.
Pickens was one of the best receivers in the nation after the catch as he averaged an outstanding 14.8 yards per reception. He enters his sophomore season as a member of Athlon Sports‘ preseason second-team All-SEC.
42. player. 817. . . . Tyler Shelvin, DL
LSU defensive lineman Tyler Shelvin enters 2020 a projected first-round draft pick for 2021 by several outlets.
Shelvin made 39 total tackles with three coming for a loss as a sophomore in 2019 while also defending two passes to help lead the Tigers to a national championship. He is a member of Athlon Sports‘ preseason All-SEC first team entering his junior campaign.
. Landon Young, OL. 41. player. 833. .
After missing the entire 2018 season with a torn ACL, offensive tackle Landon Young returned to the Kentucky starting lineup in 2019 and helped play a vital role in helping black for the SEC’s top rushing attack.
Young started all 13 games for the Wildcats and was named All-SEC third team by Athlon after recording 64 knockdown blocks, missing just one assignment the entire season and taking home an SEC offensive lineman of the week honor.
He enters 2020 on Athlon’s preseason All-SEC second team and ranked as the league’s second-best offensive tackle by former Auburn lineman and now ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic.