Started By
Message
SEC West's (and now East's) most improved players coming out of spring
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:02 am
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:02 am
ESPN - West
ESPN - East
East is a few comments down
ESPN - East
East is a few comments down
quote:
Alabama: WR Robert Foster
After reportedly considering a transfer from Alabama shortly after the Crimson Tide's loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship, it appears that Foster is starting to show more flashes of the potential everyone was excited to see when he first arrived. The redshirt senior has just 21 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons with Alabama. He was the team's No. 1 option in 2015 before a shoulder injury ended his season in the third game, and after this spring it looks like he's finding his footing again. He caught two passes for 115 yards in Alabama's spring game, including a 65-yard touchdown.
Arkansas: OG Hjalte Froholdt
OK, so Froholdt started all 13 games at left guard last year, but the word out of Fayetteville is that he's even better now than he was last year. This was a very good spring for Froholdt, who is still learning how to play left guard. In fact, he's still learning how to play on the offensive line. The 2017 season will mark only his second year as an offensive lineman after he moved from defensive line last spring. He has come a long way from where he was last spring, and he has come a long way from where he was at the end of last season.
Auburn: CB Javaris Davis
Davis played in all 13 of Auburn's games last year, starting five contests. He was one of the team's most explosive players and recorded 37 tackles, with six tackles for losses. He also defended nine passes and grabbed two interceptions. This spring, coach Gus Malzahn & Co. saw even more from the redshirt sophomore. He spent the entire spring with the first-team defense, and it appears he has a starting spot to himself. Some people think he is one of the fastest players in the SEC.
LSU: CB Kevin Toliver II
Toliver arrived at LSU as a five-star stud, but we've yet to fully see what the junior is capable of. Injury cut his 2016 season short, but this spring he was the healthiest he has been since his freshman year, and the coaches were excited by what they saw. He appears to be the Tigers' No. 1 corner, considering that the plan is to move Donte Jackson inside when LSU plays a nickel defense. Coach Ed Orgeron sang Toliver's praises for having such a productive spring.
Mississippi State: LB Gerri Green
Green has played in 24 career games but started only one. That came way back in his freshman season. This spring, the redshirt junior probably pushed himself into being a full-time starter as a linebacker and edge-rusher for a Bulldogs team that lost a lot of experience at linebacker. Green has been waiting patiently with all the talent in front of him, and he took full advantage of his opportunities this spring. He won't just take a starting role because of his age, he's earning it with his play.
Ole Miss: LB Detric Bing-Dukes
With such a big need at linebacker for the Rebels this spring, Bing-Dukes took it upon himself to make sure he helped this unit as much as possible. His coaches praised him for his improvement, and the redshirt junior has gotten much more comfortable in Wesley McGriff's new defensive scheme, which will allow him to play more in the box instead of having to cover as much as he did last year. Bing-Dukes showed better footwork, attacked his blocks better, and developed into more of a vocal leader this spring. He started three games last year, but with Rommel Mageo gone, the middle spot is now Dukes' to lose.
Texas A&M: DT Justin Madubuike
Texas A&M's top recruit in 2016, Madubuike redshirted last year. He was recruited as a defensive end but grew into the defensive tackle spot. It seems that he'll be a prominent figure in the Aggies' rotation up front this fall after having a solid spring. With the losses along that defensive line, Madubuike will have to step up.
This post was edited on 5/11/17 at 10:26 am
9
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:07 am to AU_251
quote:
Auburn: CB Javaris Davis
One of the best players nobody talked about last year
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:07 am to AU_251
(no message)
This post was edited on 5/11/17 at 10:09 am
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:08 am to LSUBeaux88
Revisit the article title one time and you may see why
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:08 am to jvilletiger25
quote:
One of the best players nobody talked about last year
Agreed. I have a feeling he will make his name known this year
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:10 am to AU_251
He's terrible. Chark finna eat
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:11 am to AU_251
quote:
Arkansas: OG Hjalte Froholdt
To be honest he did not have a clue of how to play on the line last year, so even a small amount of improvement is going to seem major based on how he did last year.
He has all the physical tools and is, by all accounts, a very bright kid so he will pick it up but the coaching staff did him zero favors throwing him into the deep end of the pool last season.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:12 am to AU_251
I won't create a separate thread for this, so here is the East as well...
quote:
Florida: CB Chauncey Gardner
Some might go with quarterback Feleipe Franks, considering how lost he was last spring, but the staff was very excited about the improvement Gardner made this spring. For one, he moved from his more natural position at nickelback to boundary corner and really took off. Gardner played really well outside, improving his one-on-one coverage ability and according to folks around the program, he surpassed everything the coaches wanted form him in the weight room and when it came to getting stronger this spring. He's an athletic freak and could be a big-play machine (like he showed with two interceptions in the bowl game) for the Gators on the outside. Plus, if they need him to move inside at all, he can do that, too.
Georgia: DE Jonathan Ledbetter
Talk about a real turnaround. After being suspended for seven games last season because of two alcohol-related arrests during the offseason, Ledbetter is in line to be a full-time starter this season. He did start four of the seven games he eventually played in last year, but he was more focused this spring and much more productive. He's being looked at as a leader and a playmaker for this defense. Outside of just being a better teammate, Ledbetter has seen his development take off by being more cognizant of his technique and hustle. Ledbetter is in much better shape and he finished spring registering four tackles, with 1.5 TFLs, including a sack, in the spring game.
Kentucky: QB Gunnar Hoak
Heading into spring, Stephen Johnson was the set starter at quarterback. But as the spring progressed, Hoak continued to make noise here and there. Then came the spring game, where Hoak showed out and Johnson regressed under the bright lights. Hoak, a redshirt freshman, completed 16 of 24 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. On the other end Johnson went 8-for-18 for 106 yards and an interception. Hoak was a relative unknown until this spring, and now he could be in a real quarterback battle with Johnson once falls rolls around.
Missouri: DE Nate Howard
The Tigers are looking to bolster a defensive line that was absolutely shredded last year, and Howard worked his way into becoming someone who can do just that this fall. Howard finished his freshman season in 2015 with 12 tackles, including two for a loss, but a knee injury limited him to just four games in 2016. However, he looked good during spring practice and we'll see if he can help ease some of the loss of Charles Harris on the outside Marcell Frazier.
South Carolina: LB Skai Moore
This is so obvious. After missing all of last season while rehabbing from neck surgery, Moore returned to the field this spring to retake his defense. Before his injury, Moore led the Gamecocks in tackles in each of his first three seasons. Just getting back on the field this spring was great for South Carolina. He had a good spring and the coaches clearly didn't need to see much from him after limiting him in the spring game.
Tennessee: CB Justin Martin
OK, so this might be cheating a little since Martin was named Tennessee's most improved defensive player this spring, but he earned it. He took the challenge of potentially being Tennessee's No. 1 corner spot head on. It's wide open at cornerback, and Martin is making sure he's one of the last guys standing there. He's always had the confidence to be the Vols' No. 1 corner, but he showed more of it this spring, along with improved maturity and technique. He's long and athletic and has been one of new defensive backs coach Charlton Warren's darlings this spring.
Vanderbilt: WR Trent Sherfield
Sherfield was second on the team with 34 catches and 472 yards last year, but he showed so much more promise this spring. People in Nashville described his spring as "dominant" and he's becoming an even better leader for this team. on the field, he improved his ability to get in and out of his breaks and his ability to finish plays. He was also a much more consistent target for quarterback Kyle Shurmur.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:13 am to AU_251
quote:
Hjalte Froholdt
quote:
he's even better now than he was last year
I would hope so, how many times does a player regress in Spring practice?
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:20 am to Easternrio
quote:
He's terrible. Chark finna eat
Yes, we are all very fearful of LSU's vaunted pass offense 
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:21 am to dawgdayafternoon
Thanks. I truly didn't see the East's article or would have included it as well
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:21 am to AU_251
quote:
LSU: CB Kevin Toliver II
Toliver arrived at LSU as a five-star stud, but we've yet to fully see what the junior is capable of. Injury cut his 2016 season short, but this spring he was the healthiest he has been since his freshman year, and the coaches were excited by what they saw. He appears to be the Tigers' No. 1 corner, considering that the plan is to move Donte Jackson inside when LSU plays a nickel defense. Coach Ed Orgeron sang Toliver's praises for having such a productive spring.
They nailed this one. If Toliver II was healthy last year he probably starts over Donte Jackson outside. Dude is really talented and showed out this spring, cant wait to see him back on field in 2017.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:24 am to AU_251
No worries, sir.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 11:52 am to jvilletiger25
Auburn very quietly has one of the most talented secondaries in the conference
Posted on 5/11/17 at 11:53 am to Hogwarts
quote:
I would hope so, how many times does a player regress in Spring practice?
If you play LT for Bama then quite often (Cam Robinson and Cyrus Koundjio)
Posted on 5/11/17 at 11:56 am to dawgdayafternoon
quote:
South Carolina: LB Skai Moore
This is so obvious. After missing all of last season while rehabbing from neck surgery, Moore returned to the field this spring to retake his defense. Before his injury, Moore led the Gamecocks in tackles in each of his first three seasons. Just getting back on the field this spring was great for South Carolina. He had a good spring and the coaches clearly didn't need to see much from him after limiting him in the spring game.
I like Moore as much as the next Gamecock fan but with as many Freshman as we had on the field last year, this seems like a lazy choice.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 12:01 pm to AU_251
How is Auburn's NOT Stidham?
He's gone from Baylor quitter to Heisman candidate.
He's gone from Baylor quitter to Heisman candidate.
Posted on 5/11/17 at 12:05 pm to East Coast Band
I mean who would stay at Baylor with all the rape shite?
Posted on 5/11/17 at 12:57 pm to CarolinaGamecock99
quote:
I mean who would stay at Baylor with all the rape shite?
nobody. But some Bammer's just got too much Bama in them
Posted on 5/11/17 at 12:58 pm to dawgdayafternoon
quote:
Kentucky: QB Gunnar Hoak
Now that's a QB name.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News