ESPN's "Post-signing day SEC position ranks

PhD Gator

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Each day ESPN is releasing a ranking for a new position. I'll post below what they have done so far and then try to update the post each day. Would love to see some discussion on how you feel about their rankings.

QB - 14 out of 14 (OUCH! Sad, but not completely unexpected) http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/127035/post-signing-day-sec-position-rankings-quarterback
  • 14. Florida: The theme continues: The Gators need to find a quarterback. They have plenty to choose from. Luke Del Rio, last year's starter, is back after an injury-plagued season, but he'll miss spring football because of shoulder surgery. Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, the Gators' 2016 QB recruits, both redshirted last year and will compete for the job. Kadarius Toney, a four-star 2017 athlete recruit who played quarterback in high school, will begin spring behind center. And Jake Allen, another 2017 recruit who was a four-star quarterback, will arrive in the summer.
RB - 10 out 14 (Much lower than I would have expected here) http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/127079/post-signing-day-sec-position-rankings-running-back
  • 10. Florida: Between Jordan Scarlett, Lamical Perine, Mark Thompson and incoming freshman Adarius Lemons, there’s plenty of talent on Florida’s roster. It’s just a matter of somebody emerging for a Gators team that has had only two 1,000-yard rushers in the past nine seasons.
WR/TE - 2 out of 14 http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_...ec-position-rankings-wide-receiverstight-ends
O-Line - 6 out of 14 http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/127136/post-signing-day-sec-position-rankings-offensive-line
  • 6. Florida: Four starters return for the Gators: Martez Ivy, T.J. McCoy, Tyler Jordan and Jawaan Taylor. Left tackle David Sharpe declared for early entry into the 2017 draft, so that spot must be filled. But it could possibly be done by moving someone already starting over to that spot (possibly sliding Ivey over from left guard or move Taylor over from right tackle).
D-Back - 3 out of 14 (http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/127183/post-signing-day-sec-position-rankings-defensive-back)
  • 3. Florida: How do the Gators still have one of the SEC's top three secondaries after losing three of their best defensive backs? It starts with Duke Dawson, the nickelback who is expected to move to cornerback. Safety Marcell Harris, the team’s leading tackler in 2016, is also back, along with Chauncey Gardner, the MVP of the bowl game.
Front Seven - 5 out of 14 (http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/127158/post-signing-day-sec-position-rankings-front-seven)
  • 5. Florida: The Gators are losing a lot with star linebackers Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone gone, along with monster in the middle Caleb Brantley and linemen Bryan Cox Jr. and Joey Ivie. Florida has plenty of depth up front with high impact guys such as Taven Bryan, Keivonnis Davis, Cece Jefferson, Jachai Polite, Jordan Sherit and Jabari Zuniga. A lot is expected from former ESPN 300 DE Antonneous Clayton too. Linebacker has some young parts with David Reese, Vosean Joseph and Kylan Johnson, but there isn’t a ton of adequate depth. Newcomers Kyree Campbell and Tedarrell Slaton could provide immediate help at DT.
 
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Yankeetown

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re our RBs being rated 10 of 14 - I haven't dug through the other teams, but my feel is that the *RB talent* (and depth) is definitely better than average. The rating penalizes us for non-productive OLs in recent years, which is hard to argue against. If the OL is at least average, we'll do better than ESPN's writer expects.

I think we have a lot of talent at RB and WR ... kinda hoping we go to a semi-sped-up tempo to give everyone a chance at making some plays.
 

MJMGator

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QB 14 out of 14 is all you need to know. So glad we hired someone specifically to fix the offense that specializes in coaching the QBs. The improvement in QB play from years past has been off the charts.
 

Marianna-FL_Gator

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QB 14 out of 14 is all you need to know. So glad we hired someone specifically to fix the offense that specializes in coaching the QBs. The improvement in QB play from years past has been off the charts.
:lol: it's year 3....if they don't have one of the young guys ready....Mac will be on the hot seat year 4.
 

Tunaboat

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Between Franks and Trask, one of them better have a good arm and bring it... they've both had a year to get stronger and learn the playbook - one of them has to step up. If we get good QB play for the first time in 9 years Mac might have a job here for a while.
 

MertzJay26

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RBs 10 of 14 is a joke. Scarlett is one of the best RBs in the nation, and Perine was impressive as a frosh. All behind a below average OL.
 

Tunaboat

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Time for Mac to field a QB or two that is ready to ball. No more screwing around, give us a serious offense and see where that takes us.
 

Gator Fever

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RBs may be about right if Scarletts blocking on passing plays is included. Its like he is blind out there. Hopefully they can correct that some.
 

Gator Fever

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RBs 10 of 14 is a joke. Scarlett is one of the best RBs in the nation, and Perine was impressive as a frosh. All behind a below average OL.

One of the best at breaking a tackle maybe but he doesnt have the cutting ability/vision right now to be up there with the top backs in the nation.
 

Swamp Donkey

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RBs 10 of 14 is a joke. Scarlett is one of the best RBs in the nation, and Perine was impressive as a frosh. All behind a below average OL.
They are mediocre. Not game changers. That being said, mediocre can be good enough behind a decent OL.
 

MertzJay26

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One of the best at breaking a tackle maybe but he doesnt have the cutting ability/vision right now to be up there with the top backs in the nation.

Disagree. Dude was met at the LOS most runs last year. I expect a 1300 yard season from him in 2017 IF Mac lets him be the workhorse from the start.
 

Durty South Swamp

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Scarlett is one of the best RBs in the nation,
lol.. dude cant pass block and he can't really cut and change directions either. He just sort of runs forward and leans. I don't have a problem with the kid, but c'mon, this statement is so pumper its ridiculous :lol2:
 

BMF

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RBs 10 of 14 is a joke. Scarlett is one of the best RBs in the nation, and Perine was impressive as a frosh. All behind a below average OL.

I think ESPN got it about right on our RB list. Maybe 9th, but that's splitting hairs.

I often wonder, outside of UF football, if many fans pay any attention to what other programs are doing.

Not sure what everyone sees in Scarlett. He's a good RB. That's it. Plus he can't block worth a sh*t. Sure, if he had a better OL....and if he carried the ball more....this excuse, that excuse. He's a GOOD RB, not "one of the best in the nation". That's laughable.

Here's a list of top returning SEC RB's for 2017.....and Scarlett doesn't even make the list (out of 11!!). This is just one list, I'm sure others will be different, but just read the article and it's hard to argue:

http://www.fanragsports.com/cfb/top-sec-running-backs-for-2017/


11. Sony Michel, Georgia
2016: 152 carries, 840 yards (5.5 YPC), four touchdowns; 22 receptions, 149 yards, one touchdown

The lightning of UGA’s running back combo, Michel is adept at catching the ball as well as running it. He got off to a late start last fall because of an offseason injury, but he still broke the 100-yard mark three times during the year. He won’t put up the gaudy numbers some other players will because he shares carries, but plenty of other teams would love to have him.

10. Benny Snell, Jr., Kentucky
2016: 186 carries, 1,091 yards (5.9 YPC), 13 touchdowns

Boom Williams may have been the feature back in Lexington last year, but the freshman from Ohio came within 100 yards of matching the future pro. Strangely for a team built to run the Air Raid, Kentucky mutated into a run-first team with Williams, Snell, and quarterback Stephen Johnson in 2016. With Williams and Jojo Kemp gone, Snell will get the lion’s share of the carries. Look for him to break the 1,000-yard mark again next fall.

9. Nick Chubb, Georgia
2016: 224 carries, 1,130 yards (5.0 YPC), eight touchdowns

The other half of the Bulldogs’ dynamic duo was not what he once was in 2016 thanks to nagging injuries and iffy line play. He was still able to carry the load last year—he had more than 20 carries in three of the team’s final four regular-season games—but his average per carry was way down from his first two years. Here’s hoping he can make it back to 100 percent and return to form. Until he does so, he isn’t as high on the list as he otherwise would be.

8. Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
2016: 156 carries, 1,057 yards (6.8 YPC), eight touchdowns; 19 catches, 91 yards

Kevin Sumlin finally found himself a running back in Williams. He has the speed and balance to make himself a good fit in the scheme, and he has good enough hands to catch a lot of passes (even if he didn’t take them very far). His production tailed off a bit late in the season as Keith Ford’s picked up, but he’s still the better back of the two. With TAMU having questions at quarterback for next fall, the run game with Williams has a chance to do even more.

7. Damarea Crockett, Missouri
2016: 153 carries, 1,062 yards (6.9 YPC), ten touchdowns

Crockett didn’t get many meaningful carries prior to mid-October, but he had a breakout performance with 145 yards on just 14 carries against Florida on 10/15. From there, he was effective enough across six games to break the 1,000-yard mark as a true freshman after logging 225 yards against Tennessee. He then got himself suspended for the finale against Arkansas due to a pot arrest, but Mizzou coaches think he’s learned a lesson from it. Being the top running back from the get-go in 2017 should allow him to rack up plenty more yardage in his sophomore campaign.

6. Damien Harris, Alabama
2016: 146 carries, 1,037 yards (7.1 YPC), two touchdowns; 14 catches, 99 yards, two touchdowns

Despite eventually being overshadowed in his own backfield, Harris carried the largest load among the Crimson Tide running backs last year. He had the most attempts and most rushing yards with the highest yards per carry average. The only thing to complain about is that he let his quarterback and other running back steal away a lot of the rushing touchdowns. Even though he’ll split carries due to the embarrassment of riches that Bama has at his position, don’t overlook just how good Harris is.

5. Kamryn Pettway, Auburn
2016: 209 carries, 1,224 yards (5.9 YPC), seven touchdowns

Pettway was supposed to wait his turn behind Jovon Robinson this year, but the latter got himself dismissed from the team before the season began. Despite missing three games and getting no carries in the opener, Pettway was a true breakout performer last fall. A human battering ram with more speed than someone his size should have, he’s the perfect running back for Gus Malzahn’s offense. Now that the secret’s out, he should have an even bigger year in 2017.

4. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt
2016: 250 carries, 1,283 yards (5.1 YPC), 13 touchdowns; 21 catches, 166 yards

The ninth-year senior Webb has carried the Commodore offense for years, and he’ll do it one more time next season. He’ll never get as many highlight runs or as high an average as some other backs because he’s working behind a Vanderbilt line with often a mediocre-at-best passing game to help him. Despite those factors, he’s tough as nails and will dish out more punishment than he takes. If the Vandy pass attack can become merely above average, Webb should be able to get the team across the bowl eligibility line earlier next year than last.

3. Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
2016: 125 carries, 812 yards (6.5 YPC), 11 touchdowns

Like other Bama backs before him, Scarbrough is a rare combination of size and speed that is simply unfair at times. Unlike those previous ones, his dominant performances have also been rare because he fought injuries most of his first two seasons. He finished strong by racking up a combined 363 yards and six touchdowns combined against Florida, Washington, and Clemson, but injury famously knocked him out of the national title game. If he can be healthy, he’ll dominate like we saw towards the end of 2016. It’s, unfortunately, a pretty big if.

2. Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas
2016: 245 carries, 1,360 yards (5.6 YPC), 12 touchdowns; 15 catches, 220 yards, one touchdown

Whoever is Bret Bielema’s top running back will have plenty of chances to rack up yards, and Williams sailed past the 1,000-yard mark with two games to spare. He has the right size and vision for the Hogs’ Power O, and he thrived in it last year. Though Williams does most of his work on traditional handoffs, he was the best receiving back among the regular SEC starters as well. Expect more big things from him next season.

1. Derrius Guice, LSU
2016: 183 carries, 1,387 yards (7.6 YPC), 15 touchdowns; nine catches, 106 yards, one touchdown

Last year was supposed to be Leonard Fournette’s grand finale, but him not staying healthy meant it was instead Guice’s big break. He is an amazing combination of violent, physical running with breakaway speed, and he had some jaw-dropping performances like when he put up 252 yards on Arkansas and 285 on Texas A&M. With Fournette off to the NFL, there won’t be a point at which he has to share the spotlight. If he plays up to his potential and the new LSU offense clicks, Guice might make a run at 2,000 rushing yards in 2017.
 

Chomper

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Regardless of what ESPN has to say about things, we all know that QB is the real issue. And now we head into Mac's 3rd season and we appear to be no better off at QB than we were in in his first season. Instead of giving his two freshmen qb's some valuable game experience last year, he elected to give 100% of the playing time to a pair of transfer qb's with only limited ability and collegiate success and neither of which could be considered "the future." This does not strike me as a coach who knows how to develop players. Maybe he just can't decide between Franks and Trask. And that takes us all the way back to Grier and Harris.
 

MertzJay26

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lol.. dude cant pass block and he can't really cut and change directions either. He just sort of runs forward and leans. I don't have a problem with the kid, but c'mon, this statement is so pumper its ridiculous :lol2:

I'm talking strictly rushing ability cuz I realize he can't block. I highly, highly doubt they took blocking into account when they made this list.

IMO he is one of the runners in the country. He's going to prove me right this year as the bellcow behind a better OL. You can talk about his lack of wiggle, but that's just the type of runner he is, 1 cut and get North and South. Reminds me of a Demarco Murray type.

Dump away.
 

MertzJay26

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I think ESPN got it about right on our RB list. Maybe 9th, but that's splitting hairs.

I often wonder, outside of UF football, if many fans pay any attention to what other programs are doing.

Not sure what everyone sees in Scarlett. He's a good RB. That's it. Plus he can't block worth a sh*t. Sure, if he had a better OL....and if he carried the ball more....this excuse, that excuse. He's a GOOD RB, not "one of the best in the nation". That's laughable.

Here's a list of top returning SEC RB's for 2017.....and Scarlett doesn't even make the list (out of 11!!). This is just one list, I'm sure others will be different, but just read the article and it's hard to argue:

http://www.fanragsports.com/cfb/top-sec-running-backs-for-2017/


11. Sony Michel, Georgia
2016: 152 carries, 840 yards (5.5 YPC), four touchdowns; 22 receptions, 149 yards, one touchdown

The lightning of UGA’s running back combo, Michel is adept at catching the ball as well as running it. He got off to a late start last fall because of an offseason injury, but he still broke the 100-yard mark three times during the year. He won’t put up the gaudy numbers some other players will because he shares carries, but plenty of other teams would love to have him.

10. Benny Snell, Jr., Kentucky
2016: 186 carries, 1,091 yards (5.9 YPC), 13 touchdowns

Boom Williams may have been the feature back in Lexington last year, but the freshman from Ohio came within 100 yards of matching the future pro. Strangely for a team built to run the Air Raid, Kentucky mutated into a run-first team with Williams, Snell, and quarterback Stephen Johnson in 2016. With Williams and Jojo Kemp gone, Snell will get the lion’s share of the carries. Look for him to break the 1,000-yard mark again next fall.

9. Nick Chubb, Georgia
2016: 224 carries, 1,130 yards (5.0 YPC), eight touchdowns

The other half of the Bulldogs’ dynamic duo was not what he once was in 2016 thanks to nagging injuries and iffy line play. He was still able to carry the load last year—he had more than 20 carries in three of the team’s final four regular-season games—but his average per carry was way down from his first two years. Here’s hoping he can make it back to 100 percent and return to form. Until he does so, he isn’t as high on the list as he otherwise would be.

8. Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
2016: 156 carries, 1,057 yards (6.8 YPC), eight touchdowns; 19 catches, 91 yards

Kevin Sumlin finally found himself a running back in Williams. He has the speed and balance to make himself a good fit in the scheme, and he has good enough hands to catch a lot of passes (even if he didn’t take them very far). His production tailed off a bit late in the season as Keith Ford’s picked up, but he’s still the better back of the two. With TAMU having questions at quarterback for next fall, the run game with Williams has a chance to do even more.

7. Damarea Crockett, Missouri
2016: 153 carries, 1,062 yards (6.9 YPC), ten touchdowns

Crockett didn’t get many meaningful carries prior to mid-October, but he had a breakout performance with 145 yards on just 14 carries against Florida on 10/15. From there, he was effective enough across six games to break the 1,000-yard mark as a true freshman after logging 225 yards against Tennessee. He then got himself suspended for the finale against Arkansas due to a pot arrest, but Mizzou coaches think he’s learned a lesson from it. Being the top running back from the get-go in 2017 should allow him to rack up plenty more yardage in his sophomore campaign.

6. Damien Harris, Alabama
2016: 146 carries, 1,037 yards (7.1 YPC), two touchdowns; 14 catches, 99 yards, two touchdowns

Despite eventually being overshadowed in his own backfield, Harris carried the largest load among the Crimson Tide running backs last year. He had the most attempts and most rushing yards with the highest yards per carry average. The only thing to complain about is that he let his quarterback and other running back steal away a lot of the rushing touchdowns. Even though he’ll split carries due to the embarrassment of riches that Bama has at his position, don’t overlook just how good Harris is.

5. Kamryn Pettway, Auburn
2016: 209 carries, 1,224 yards (5.9 YPC), seven touchdowns

Pettway was supposed to wait his turn behind Jovon Robinson this year, but the latter got himself dismissed from the team before the season began. Despite missing three games and getting no carries in the opener, Pettway was a true breakout performer last fall. A human battering ram with more speed than someone his size should have, he’s the perfect running back for Gus Malzahn’s offense. Now that the secret’s out, he should have an even bigger year in 2017.

4. Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt
2016: 250 carries, 1,283 yards (5.1 YPC), 13 touchdowns; 21 catches, 166 yards

The ninth-year senior Webb has carried the Commodore offense for years, and he’ll do it one more time next season. He’ll never get as many highlight runs or as high an average as some other backs because he’s working behind a Vanderbilt line with often a mediocre-at-best passing game to help him. Despite those factors, he’s tough as nails and will dish out more punishment than he takes. If the Vandy pass attack can become merely above average, Webb should be able to get the team across the bowl eligibility line earlier next year than last.

3. Bo Scarbrough, Alabama
2016: 125 carries, 812 yards (6.5 YPC), 11 touchdowns

Like other Bama backs before him, Scarbrough is a rare combination of size and speed that is simply unfair at times. Unlike those previous ones, his dominant performances have also been rare because he fought injuries most of his first two seasons. He finished strong by racking up a combined 363 yards and six touchdowns combined against Florida, Washington, and Clemson, but injury famously knocked him out of the national title game. If he can be healthy, he’ll dominate like we saw towards the end of 2016. It’s, unfortunately, a pretty big if.

2. Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas
2016: 245 carries, 1,360 yards (5.6 YPC), 12 touchdowns; 15 catches, 220 yards, one touchdown

Whoever is Bret Bielema’s top running back will have plenty of chances to rack up yards, and Williams sailed past the 1,000-yard mark with two games to spare. He has the right size and vision for the Hogs’ Power O, and he thrived in it last year. Though Williams does most of his work on traditional handoffs, he was the best receiving back among the regular SEC starters as well. Expect more big things from him next season.

1. Derrius Guice, LSU
2016: 183 carries, 1,387 yards (7.6 YPC), 15 touchdowns; nine catches, 106 yards, one touchdown

Last year was supposed to be Leonard Fournette’s grand finale, but him not staying healthy meant it was instead Guice’s big break. He is an amazing combination of violent, physical running with breakaway speed, and he had some jaw-dropping performances like when he put up 252 yards on Arkansas and 285 on Texas A&M. With Fournette off to the NFL, there won’t be a point at which he has to share the spotlight. If he plays up to his potential and the new LSU offense clicks, Guice might make a run at 2,000 rushing yards in 2017.

Michel and Chubb? Lol please. Maybe Chubb pre-injury.

Only dudes on this list that would scare me are Bo and Guice. Want to talk about zero cutting/wiggle ability, please see #5 on this list :lmao2:
 

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