Top 5 SEC Returning Players
Welcome Back
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It is starting to look like football season will go forward as scheduled in 2020.
That will be a welcome sight for a sport starved culture in the south, particularly the Southeastern Conference.
Let’s take a look at my top five returning players in the SEC. Again, remember these are my top 5 selections.
- George Pickens WR/Georgia: Pickens after a slow start, Pickens finished the 2019 season with 49 receptions for 8 TD’s.
He topped it off with a 12-catch performance in a Sugar Bowl win over Baylor.
Pickens should have a monster season in 2020, who ever the QB ends up being in Athens. Pickens is a rare talent and people in Athens have not been this excited about a receiver since AJ Green roamed the sidelines a decade ago.
Look for Pickens to be an all-conference performer this fall. By the way, Jaime Newman will be the man tossing the ball to Pickens.
- Najee Harris RB/Alabama: Najee Harris will be the best running back in the SEC this fall. I thought he was the best running back in the conference in 2019, His 1200 yards rushing and 20 total TD’s back up my claim.
Harris is also a great receiver out of the backfield. Harris averaged 5.8 yards per carry in 2019, and Alabama will be the preseason favorite to win the conference in 2020. Harris could be a Heisman Trophy contender this fall.
- Jaylen Waddle WR/KR/Alabama: If you watched the NFL draft last week you noticed that Alabama had two wide receivers selected in the first round, and Waddle will be the next great Alabama WR.
Waddle is also the best return man in the SEC as well, with a kickoff and punt return touchdown in 2019.
The Tide will figure out ways to get Waddle the touches he needs to be a game changer this fall. Alabama has become Wide Receiver U in college football at the moment. Their offense should be pretty salty in 2020.
Waddle is said to run in the 4.35 range which will blow the top off an opposing defense.
- Ja’Marr Chase WR/LSU: Chase had 84 catches and 20 TD’s and was the best WR on the National Champion LSU Tiger roster in 2019.
Chase won’t have Joe Burrow tossing him the ball, but LSU will find ways to get him the touches he needs. He could be the first WR selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Could Chase be a back to back Biletnikoff Award winner? I would not bet against it.
He eats up opposing defensive backs and spits them out. Chase had 9 catches for 221 yards and 2 TD’s against Clemson in the national title game. He abused CB AJ Terrell of Clemson, who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 16th pick in the first round.
Chase will be a future Pro Bowl WR at the next level.
- Derek Stingley Jr. CB/LSU: Stingley is the best returning player in the SEC, and maybe the country.
He had 6 interceptions as a freshman in 2019. He was a game changer for LSU in the SEC title game win over Georgia as Stingley picked off Jake Fromm twice.
This kid will be at LSU for two more seasons before he can declare for the NFL, and will probably be a top five pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
Could a defensive player win the Heisman again? Coach O says Stingley will get touches on the offensive side of the ball also moving forward.
This kid is a generational cornerback and the best returning player in the SEC in 2020. I bet you opposing offensive coordinators will game plan around Stingley.
