The Southeastern Conference is the best in college football. Thus, it features some of the game's biggest stars. Here are 10 players to know heading into this upcoming season.
1. Georgia QB Carson Beck
In his latest mock draft, ESPN's Matt Miller has the New York Giants taking Beck with the first overall pick. It's easy to see why, as the 21-year-old could lead the Bulldogs to their third national title in four seasons.
In 14 games in 2023, Beck completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, six picks and an 86 QBR, the fifth-best in the FBS. Keep in mind last season was his first as a starter, so he should produce even better numbers in 2024.
"There's a narrative about Beck taking a next step in 2024," wrote CBS Sports' Chip Patterson. "And if that's the case, Georgia's offense is in for a special season because even replicating last year's production is going to be enough to keep the Bulldogs in title contention all season."
2. Tennessee edge-rusher James Pearce Jr.
Coming out of high school, Pearce wasn't a blue-chip prospect. ESPN's recruiting rankings gave him a three-star rating. The 20-year-old pass-rusher has proved to be a steal for the Volunteers.
Pearce broke out in 2023, earning a first-team All-SEC nod. Per Pro Football Focus, in 13 games, he posted 52 pressures, 28 hurries and the sixth-best pass-rush grade (91.9) at his position.
The 6-foot-5, 242-pound junior should be in store for another huge season. In his top 100 players of 2024, CBS Sports' Blake Brockermeyer rates Pearce No. 2 behind Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter.
3. Texas QB Quinn Ewers
Will Ewers head to New York City for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony in December? As of Tuesday, DraftKings Sportsbook gives the Longhorns passer the second-best odds (+900) to win the award behind Beck (+800).
Last season, Ewers made significant strides. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,479 yards, 22 TDs, six interceptions and an above-average 78.3 QBR in 12 games.
"Quinn Ewers is a fun study," NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah recently wrote on his X account. "Super twitchy and explosive as a thrower. Beautiful deep ball. Once he consistently marries his feet to his eyes, he's going to make a major leap. He's very talented."
4. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
Milroe led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as a starter and plans to elevate his game in 2024.
"I want to master the game of football," he recently said on the "Next Up with Adam Breneman" podcast.
New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer helped QB Michael Penix Jr. — whom the Falcons selected with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft — blossom in two seasons at Washington. He should do the same with Milroe, who posted the FBS 13th-best QBR (80.5) in 13 games in 2023.
"Jalen Milroe was almost like a Heisman finalist type guy last year. He's right on the precipice," 247 Sports' Josh Pate recently said on "The Late Kick." "What happens if this new coaching staff actually does take his game to the next level?"
5. Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
On3's Jesse Simonton named Nolen the most valuable transfer in the SEC, noting he's "one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the country."
Nolen is one reason Texas A&M finished third in the SEC in points allowed (21.3) in 2023. Per PFF's Max Chadwick, he posted a 9.9 percent pass-rush win rate in 12 games, fourth among DTs in the conference.
Nolen should also shore up Ole Miss' weak run defense. Last season, the Rebels ranked ninth in the SEC in rushing yards allowed (151.9).
6. Missouri WR Luther Burden III
During a recent "College GameDay Podcast" episode, Missouri HC Eliah Drinkwitz compared Burden to San Francisco 49ers star WR Deebo Samuel.
"I know it's a lofty expectation but it's just the ability [Burden] has with the ball in his hands," Drinkwitz said. "You watch the way the 49ers and [HC] Kyle Shanahan use Deebo Samuel as a big slot receiver and in the backfield, I believe Luther has some of those same tendencies."
Like Samuel, Burden is an offensive weapon. In 13 games last season, he had 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine TD catches.
Per Cory Diaz of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, LSU HC Brian Kelly plans to move Perkins back to inside LB, even though he's more effective as an edge-rusher.
However, Tigers defensive coordinator Blake Baker insists he's "not going to put [Perkins] in one spot" and will find ways to maximize his pass-rushing ability.
If the plan works, Perkins could become a headache for offensive coordinators. In 13 games in 2023, he recorded 43 tackles, 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
8. Georgia Safety Malaki Starks
Arguably the best safety in college football, Starks earned first-team All-American honors in 2023. He registered 31 tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defended in 14 games.
"A unique talent in the secondary because of his ability to not only play center field but match up in man coverage," wrote Brockermeyer, who rates Starks as the 14th-best player in the country. "Starks is routinely glued to his opponent and does a nice job of playing the receiver's hands when they touch the ball to dislodge it. The ball has to be thrown perfectly in order for it to be caught."
Starks is expected to be a first-rounder in the 2025 NFL Draft, with Tankathon projecting the Pittsburgh Steelers will take him with the 14th overall pick.
9. Texas WR Isaiah Bond
Longhorns wideouts Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell left for the NFL after combing for 16 TD catches in 14 games last season. Bond, an Alabama transfer, seems like an excellent replacement.
In 14 games with the Crimson Tide last season, Bond had 48 receptions for 668 yards and four TD catches. Figure on his numbers increasing under Texas HC Steve Sarkisian, an offensive guru.
Along with Mitchell and Worthy, Sarkisian has developed several talented pass-catchers throughout his career. While he served as Alabama OC from 2019-20, DeVonta Smith became the third WR to win the Heisman.
10. Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman
Stutsman considered entering the 2024 NFL Draft before changing his mind and returning for his senior season, a win for Sooners head coach Brent Venables.
A 2023 third-team All-American, he finished with 51 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in 12 games.
Chadwick rates him as the fourth-best returning LB in the country and noted he had 19 tackles for loss last season.
Stutsman's return potentially makes Oklahoma a contender in its first season in the SEC. ESPN's Football Power Index rates the Sooners as the fourth-best team in the conference behind Alabama, Texas and Georgia.
