15 SEC Players We’re Going To Miss When This Season Is Over

Right, so we love our SEC players almost as much as we like our SEC co-eds, our SEC stadiums, our SEC tailgates and as much as we hate the postgame SEC traffic.

Anyway, so here are 15 players we are really, really, really, really, really, really going to miss when this season is over. And if you think I’ve overdone it on the word: “Really”, then you should “really” find a new life.

1. Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M): Johnny Mesmerising. Johnny Manziel has been so incredible for A&M this season that you know that when the 2013-4 season is over and Johnny Football becomes Johnny NFL (where he’ll probably get eaten alive), you’ll shed a tear. I know we will. He’s been the greatest thing about SEC this year. Or maybe most years.

2. Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina): Could a player be more dominating despite having a foot/rib injury is this day and age? Is there a more watchable defensive player in college football? If you’re Florida QB Skyler Mornhingweg, you’ll get what we were talking about.

3. Aaron Murray (Georgia): Seems to have the whole of Georgia on his shoulders. Brings them back from the edge either to victory (South Carolina/ LSU) or his defense takes him to heartbreaking defeat (Clemson/Auburn). Georgia Football won’t be the same without you, Aaron.

4. Odell Beckham Jr (LSU): Sure, we might well put Zach Mettenberger up there, but Odell Beckham’s been The Real Deal in Baton Rouge this year. He’s been incredible making great plays everywhere, including punt returns. And he seems to do it with the minimum of nodding, pushing and jawing. Which is refreshing, if you know your LSU players.

5. Mike Evans (Texas A&M): As Lou Holtz would say: “Well, he’s just a tremendous receiver”. Yep. He is. And he’s going to go professional in this football endeavor, too.

6. AJ McCarron (Alabama): Fanbases miss winners. True, he hasn’t had to be AJ Heisman because he’s effectively been given the keys to a Masarati, but he’s been some driver. Roll AJ. Oh, and we’ll miss Ms Webb, too.

7. Zach Mettenberger (LSU): Mettenberger this season has been an adventure. At times he’s looked like a NFL quarterback. At times he’s looked just awful. But he’s definitely going to be missed by LSU fans, who must be enjoying the ‘Air Raid’ attack for the first time in years. We’d like to note that he’s been helped out by Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry.

8. Michael Sam (Missouri): The freakshow defensive end has been incredible for the Tigers this year, and he’s a big reason why they are in the drivers’ seat for SEC East glory (if they beat Ole Miss and Texas A&M). This year he’s had 16 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks. And a forced fumble.

9. Jarvis Landry (LSU): The OTHER LSU wide receiver making hay and headlines alongside Beckham Jr. He’s been exceptional for Zach Mettenberger, too. Can’t wait to see him in the NFL.

10. Connor Shaw (South Carolina): Slide Connor! Slide! For a quarterback that’s so gifted at raising South Carolina from the dead, Connor Shaw’s inability to slide has meant that more often than not he’s been exposed to the big hit, which means that every season, he comes out in plaster. Still, Shaw doesn’t give up, and we love that about him. We’ll miss your guts, Mr Shaw.

11. L’Damian Washington (Missouri): We hadn’t really heard of L’Damian until he, you know, started to play crazy well for Mizzou this season. Now, Washington’s one  of the most dangerous wide receiving combinations in college football, partnering with Dorial Green-Beckham. Expect someone take him in the sixth round and the NFL guys to say (the same ones who say: “That Washington’s a pretty small wide receiver”) and Washington to be a gem.

12. Dominique Easley (Florida): Defensive tackle Easley’s going to the pros after this season’s over. When we see him on Sundays it’s going to be sad because it’ll remind us what we missed this 2013-4 season, because he was set to absolutely dominate the league.

13. Rajon Neal (Tennessee): There’s been a lot to complain about if you’re a University of Tennessee fan over the last four years, but there’s one thing you can’t complain about: The production and effort of Rajon Neal, who’s caught and run his butt off for the Vols. He could well run for 1,000 yards this year.

14. James Franklin (Missouri): The kid’s got guts, yo. We like gutsy kids here in the SEC. Oh, and Franklin’s a leader, too. We like leaders here in the SEC.

15. Arthur Lynch (Georgia): Called “Artie” by the Georgia faithful, he’s got the size and hands to be an excellent TE in the NFL. Put the team on his shoulders after all the injuries.