10 Best SEC Players of 2024
The SEC is known for being one of the best conferences in all of college football. The coaches are elite, the players are among the best in the country, and the fans’ passion is unmatched. With the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners joining the conference this year, the talent pool has gotten even stronger.
Who are the best of the best? Below are 10 SEC players we believe will dominate the conference in the 2024 college football season.
1. James Pearce, EDGE Tennessee, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 27 TACK / 9.5 SKS / 2 FFs / 1 INT / 1 TD
Many draft experts believe Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and rightfully so. EDGE defender for the Vols could finish the 2024 season as the best defensive player in the sport. The North Carolina native has the intangibles and skillset to play anywhere along the defensive line as well as any linebacker position. There is no better pass rusher entering the season.
Pearce led the SEC in sacks with 10 for his second season at Tennessee, adding 53 pressures. He makes fun of offensive tackles with his combination of speed, power and inside moves. There are many instances when Pearce reverse-pancakes offensive tackles into the quarterback, and most of them are for sacks. That’s every offensive lineman’s worst nightmare and the ultimate embarrassment for a highlight reel. Witness a huge season in Knoxville.
2. Luther Burden, WR Missouri, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 86 REC / 1,212 RecYds / 9 RecTDs
The face of the SEC in a non-QB world. Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden is undoubtedly a generational talent. He is a Swiss Army Knife of a player. At 5’11”, 208 pounds, Burden is the right size, where speed and size are the perfect combination. He is the best playmaker in the conference and arguably the best in the nation.
Burden was the top-ranked recruit at his position, and he proved it right in 2023. The Missouri native finished the season with 86 receptions, 1,212 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. Burden was a key figure in the Tigers’ offense.
Back for more this year, Burden has his eyes set on maintaining the top of the SEC wide receiver rankings. He has a great connection with QB Brady Cook and is set for an even bigger year this fall. He’s a treat to watch while playing because Missouri makes a point of force-feeding him to get multiple touches per game. Burden is a playmaker as a traditional wideout, and Missouri will make him run all over the field to try to create space and matchups. He is a physical receiver and is tough to tackle in the open field. Burden could be in the mix to win the Heisman Trophy. He is a potential top-10 overall NFL Draft 2025 selection.
3. Harold Perkins, DE LSU, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 74 TACK / 5.5 SKS / 3 FF / 1 INT / 4 PDs
One of the country’s most dynamic players, Herald Perkins, took the college football world by storm in his freshman year. Unlike in his freshman year, Perkins was used as an inside linebacker or edge rusher, which cost the defensive staff their jobs, and rightly so. It was a wasted year playing in the box for a player who should be wreaking havoc on the edge. Still, Perkins found a way to make plays and finished the season with 74 total tackles, with 43 being solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception.
Head coach Bryan Kelly has already said that they are going to make sure that’s not the case this season. Perkins is a sure-fire first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
4. Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 65.8 CMP% / 2,834 PaYds / 23 PaTDs / 6 INTs / 161 CAR / 531 RuYds / 12 RuTDs
When it comes to dual-threat quarterbacks, no one comes close to Alabama QB Jalen Milroe. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs is unmatched, projecting him a potential first-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft.
The Texas native struggled early on last season (his first season as a starter), and head coach Nick Saban benched him. However, Milroe bounced back and helped lead Alabama to the College Football Playoff, where the Crimson Tide lost a close contest to the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines.
Milroe finished the season with 2,834 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 65.8% completion percentage through the air. He added 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns on the ground.
Milroe now has an opportunity to work with a very quarterback-friendly head coach at Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer has a history of developing quarterbacks, specifically Michael Penix Jr., at both Indiana and Washington. Hence, Milroe is expected to be an even more polished quarterback and a weapon in DeBoer’s wide-open offense this season.
5. Mykel Williams, DE Georgia, Jr.
2023-24 Season Stats: 16 TACK / 4.5 SKS / 1 FF / 1 FR / 2 PDs
Even though the stats may not support this claim, Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams is one of the top pass rushers in college football.
Georgia’s most talented pass-rusher generated 27 pressures and 4.5 sacks last season. Don’t focus on his numbers, as UGA loves to rotate its defensive linemen, and Williams has natural pass-rush ability and considerable length off the edge. The former 5-star recruit hits tackles with an excellent long arm and can win inside as a defensive tackle in some of UGA’s third-down packages.
The Georgia native is all set to have a breakout junior year in Athens. He has the upside and potential to have double-digits in sacks this fall. Many draft experts have projected Williams as a top-10 selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
6. Carson Beck, QB Georgia, Sr.
2023-24 Stats: 72.4 CMP% / 3,941 PaYds / 24 PaTDs / 6 INTs / 60 CAR / 116 RuYds / 4 RuTDs
Quarterback Carson Beck was one of the key pieces to Georgia’s offense last season. The Florida native hit over 74% of his passes for over 3,700 yards and 22 touchdowns. The only game where Beck struggled was the SEC Championship game against Alabama.
The most impressive thing about Beck is his level of consistency. He is one of the more consistent signal-callers in the country and will continue to be this fall. Beck can work on improving his accuracy with deep balls, but he perceives the field and throws the ball with great anticipation on short and intermediate routes. He is not known for being a runner but can move the chains when needed to move the chains.
Don’t be surprised if Beck wins the Heisman Trophy at the end of the year and Georgia plays for another national championship.
7. Walter Nolen, DT Ole Miss, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 37 TACK / 4 SKS / 1 PD
One of the best defensive linemen in College Football, Walter Nolen, decided to transfer from Texas A&M to Ole Miss this offseason, beefing up the interior of their defense.
Nolen, a Memphis, Tennessee native, is a former five-star prospect. He is a special player when he puts it all together and has shown flashes of dominance, especially against the run. While he did not do justice to his potential in College Station, the belief in Oxford is that the coaching staff will be able to tap into his full potential moving forward. If that happens, Nolen is expected to be one of the first defensive linemen off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.
8. Nick Courton, DE Texas A&M, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 50 TACK / 10 SKS / 1 FF / 3 PDs
The Aggies landed one of the premier edge rushers in the transfer portal this offseason. They received a commitment from Purdue edge rusher Nic Scourton. A number of programs pursued by the Texas Native. In the end, Scourton chose Mike Elko and the Aggies roster.
Scourton abuses offensive tackles with one of the best spin moves in the country and plays with an excellent motor. He is sudden on the edge, stunts well inside, and can demolish zone-reads. Scourton should grow with the rowdy home-field advantage at Kyle Field but has to elevate his pass-rush moves beyond a spin.
Scourton was a force to reckon with at Purdue last year and now he’ll help Aggies new coach Mike Elko build the Wrecking Crew. He will provide an immediate boost with the loss of Walter Nolen, who went to the transfer portal.
9. Quinn Ewers, QB Texas, Jr.
2023-24 Stats: 69.0 CMP% / 3,479 PaYds / 22 PaTDs / 6 INTs / 59 CAR / 75 RuYds / 5 RuTDs
To start, quarterback Quinn Ewers is the heart and soul of Texas’ offense. Since the Colt McCoy, Texas has not had a quarterback as efficient as Ewers. Texas native helped the Longhorns to their CFP appearance this past season. Texas Longhorns came up just short of reaching the national championship game. Ewers was a key figure in Texas’ offense and will continue to be this season.
With a loaded offense around him, Ewers won’t have any excuses for not having one of the best seasons in the country this year. Ewers possesses all the traits you look for in a quarterback, such as a dropback passer with a cannon for an arm and the ability to make off-platform throws.
If he remains healthy throughout the season, Ewers is likely to be a Day 1 Draft selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
10. Danny Stutsman, LB Oklahoma, Sr.
2023-24 Stats: 104 TACK / 3 SKS / 2 FF / 1 FR / 1 INT / 1 TD / 3 PDs
Oklahoma senior linebacker Danny Stutsman is a tackling machine. This past season was a very productive one for him: 100 tackles, 16 TFLs, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He was named an All-Big-12 First-Team selection. In the past two seasons combined, he has recorded 229 tackles, six sacks, and three interceptions.
Stutsman flirted with going to the NFL but is back and aiming to go one step further this season by having another productive season. Head coach Brent Venables is happy to have him. Stutsman is an excellent box backer with the ability to roam sideline to sideline and is solid in coverage.
There are some speculative predictions about Oklahoma’s performance in the SEC. However, one thing is for sure: Stutsman will continue to be a tackling machine for the Sooners.
FAQs:
Q. Who are the top SEC players for the 2024 college football season?
A. The top SEC players for the 2024 season include James Pearce (Tennessee), Luther Burden (Missouri), Harold Perkins (LSU), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Carson Beck (Georgia), Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Nick Courton (Texas A&M), Quinn Ewers (Texas), and Danny Stutsman (Oklahoma).
Q. Which SEC player is predicted to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Many draft experts predict that A. James Pearce from Tennessee will be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft due to his exceptional defensive lineman skills.
Q. What makes Luther Burden a standout player in the SEC?
A. Luther Burden is known for his versatility, speed, and playmaking ability. In 2023-24, he recorded 86 receptions, 1,212 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns, making him a key player for Missouri.
Q. How did Jalen Milroe perform in the 2023-24 season?
A. Jalen Milroe had a notable season, finishing with 2,834 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, 531 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns, demonstrating his dual-threat capabilities.
Q. What are the expectations for Quinn Ewers in the 2024 season?
A. Quinn Ewers, Texas quarterback, is expected to have a standout season in 2024. With a strong supporting cast, he aims to lead Texas to success and improve his draft stock for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Q. Why is Mykel Williams considered a top pass rusher?
A. Mykel Williams is regarded as a top pass rusher due to his natural ability and potential. Despite having 4.5 sacks and 27 pressures last season, his skills and length off the edge make him a key player for Georgia.
Q. Which SEC player transferred to Ole Miss for the 2024 season?
A. Walter Nolen, one of the best defensive linemen in college football, transferred from Texas A&M to Ole Miss, bolstering their defense.
Q. What are Danny Stutsman’s achievements in the past seasons?
A. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma’s linebacker, has recorded 229 tackles, six sacks, and three interceptions over the past two seasons, making him a crucial player for the Sooners.
