SEC preseason position rankings: Receivers and tight ends by ESPN

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The Crimson Tide are loaded with pass-catchers. Two starting receivers are back -- Calvin Ridley returns from a stellar true freshman season (89 catches, 1,045 yards) and senior ArDarius Stewart (63 catches, 700 yards last season) -- and star tight end O.J. Howard (five catches, 208 yards in the national championship game) also returns. Robert Foster -- whom offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin noted was ahead of Ridley on the depth chart last year before getting injured -- is back after suffering a torn rotator cuff.

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The Aggies have an argument as the best receiver quartet in the conference and one of the best in the country, with Christian Kirk, Josh Reynolds, Ricky Seals-Jones, and Speedy Noil. Kirk had a superb true freshman season (1,789 all-purpose yards) and Reynolds is coming off consecutive solid seasons. Seals-Jones (45 catches, 560 yards) could be in for a bigger role this year, and Noil might be the most physically gifted of the group but needs to be more consistent off the field than he has in the past to remain on it.

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The only returning tight end in the SEC who had more receiving yards than the Rebels’ Evan Engram (464) was O.J. Howard, so he’ll be a consistent target for Chad Kelly once again. Quincy Adeboyejo (38 catches, 604 yards), Damore’ea Stringfellow (36 for 503), and Markell Pack (31 for 380) all return after solid seasons, and the Rebels have a pair of young receivers who could be potential stars in DaMarkus Lodge and Van Jefferson.

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It may seem odd to see a team known for its run-first philosophy this high on the list, but the Hogs have significant depth and experience in their pass-catchers. Drew Morgan looks to build on a breakout season in which he caught 10 touchdowns and senior Keon Hatcher is back after missing most of last season with an injury. Add seniors Cody Hollister and Dominique Reed, and the Razorbacks have a reliable quartet. The best weapon might ultimately turn out to be tight end Jeremy Sprinkle, who’s 6-foot-6, 256 pounds, runs like a deer, and now becomes the No. 1 tight end after Hunter Henry’s departure.

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The Tigers have an impressive duo with Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre, while D.J. Chark showed off his speed and potential in LSU’s bowl win over Texas Tech last year with a 79-yard touchdown run. The Tigers took a depth hit losing Tyron Johnson, Trey Quinn, and John Diarse to transfer this offseason (Diarse in January, Johnson and Quinn over the summer), but the Tigers brought in three receivers in their recruiting class, including two early enrollees (Dee Anderson, Stephen Sullivan). Sophomore Jazz Ferguson should emerge as a contributor after a strong spring.

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