SEC East: 2008 Look Ahead

Brian McDonald
Senior Editor
January 13, 2008
It was the year of Tebow in 2007, and while 2008 may not see 51 touchdowns and a Heisman Trophy, it’s safe to say that you may not want to throw young Timothy back in the drafting pool next August. While Tebow has certainly garnered his share of deserved hype, Knowshown Moreno is another SEC East stud that looks to be a fantasy superstar for as long as he calls Athens his home. The 2008 season will see Kentucky attempt to rebuild following its run of success that hasn’t been seen in a very long time while Tennessee hopes to, once again, create a fantasy-worthy offense following another Cutcliffe departure. Does Spurrier finally have his fun and gun pieces together in Columbia? Can Vanderbilt remain in the suburbs of college fantasy footballville, or will they be banished to a barren, desolate fantasy football land? After a brief break during the bowl season we continue on with our 2008 conference look aheads. Today we take a look at the SEC East. Granted a great deal can change, however this is our gut feeling on players to watch as spring ball will be here before you know it. Before we do move forward, here’s a look at the All-SEC fantasy team of 2007. An asterisk notes those players that have either exhausted their eligibility (*) or may be candidates to forego their remaining years on campus (**). Please keep in mind that any speculation is just that, speculation and we’ll have more on these potential early entries candidates as information becomes available. 2007 All SEC Fantasy Team QB: Tim Tebow 454.26 RB: Darren McFadden** 250.03 RB: Arian Foster** 182.40 WR: Percy Harvin 140.00 WR: Steve Johnson* 127.86 TE: Cornelius Ingram 74.73 K: Colt David 140.00 D: LSU Tigers Florida Gators Will be missed next year: Andre “Bubba” Caldwell’s six touchdowns amidst about 800 yards of offense will likely be replaced without much difficulty, but replacing their senior team captain will not be as easy. Caldwell, the all-time receptions holder at the University of Florida, will take his act to Sundays, and believe me, there is ample talent waiting to step up. Still, there will be times next season where Florida will need a big catch and #5’s absence will be felt. Fantasy Star of 2008: I think we’ll go with Tim Tebow on this one. Never has a player from a power conference put up 51 scores, let alone returned to campus following a 51-score season, so Tebow could be returning to the All-Time College Football Team in the History of Life, and he’d be the predicted fantasy star of 2008. Looking at Tebow’s numbers makes me want to cry. Not cry in a hand plucking my nose hairs kind of way, nor cry in a watching George Bailey get a bunch of money at the end of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” These Tebow tears are comparable to hitting a five-team parlay on a blocked extra point returned for a safety as time expires. You know, the stuff that really matters. Fantasy sleeper of 2008: Carl Moore is a 6’4” 220-lb wide receiver that spent his 2007 season playing at Roseville Sierra Community College in California. In 2008 he’ll be catching passes in Gainesville. According to a recent Sacramento Bee piece written by Joe Davidson, it appears that almost immediately following his Heisman ceremony Tim Tebow was on the phone (handed to him by his coach) telling Carl to get his arse down to Florida. Moore is on the way. He’s described as a freak talent, and his recruitment has elements of former Hurricane LB Willie Williams or some crazy Zooker escapade. However when Jeff Tedford is cooking a kid jumbo shrimp, Pete Carroll is hanging on his back patio, and an assistant coach is dancing down his street, we’ll bank on the fact that this kid may catch some passes. 2008 Fantasy Outlook: They’ll be more of the same, with maybe more Tim Tebow touchdown passes and less Tim Tebow touchdown runs. We don’t see Kestahn Moore hanging onto the starting job. Two names to file away: freshman RB Chris Rainey who redshirted this year, and Mon Williams, who blew out his knee in the spring. Each could steal carries or the starting gig. Oh, and let us not forget that USC transfer Emmanuel Moody will look to make his mark in the Gator backfield. In other words, Moore may not want to get too comfortable at the top of the depth chart. The touchdown receptions will be spread around, however Percy Harvin will be the clear focal point in the passing game. The junior-to-be will likely score about five on the ground, but he may triple his touchdown reception output. Georgia Bulldogs Will be missed next year: Thomas Brown, and from more of a leadership standpoint Kregg Lumpkin, will both be missed next season. Each back did some very good things over the course of their career and each went out with a fine performance against a Hawaii defense that spent the New Year getting run over. Injuries took their toll on each, however players like these two are what (warning: cliche alert) college football is all about. Fantasy Star of 2008: Knowshon Moreno appears the next great thing in the SEC, and the talented back is one who fantasy owners can build their 2008 season around. There was preseason concern that Caleb King could make a move on Moreno’s potential output until King’s redshirt. Then, when Lumpkin and Brown injuries devastated the running back depth chart there was a thought of burning King’s redshirt, though this was avoided. King is firmly entrenched as the number two tailback heading into the spring, which would cause concern for Moreno’s owners if they hadn’t seen him run this season. Based on what we saw, Caleb King will have to be one hell of a back to supplant a superstar-in-waiting like Knowshon Moreno. Still, we expect King to see plenty of carries in 2008. Fantasy sleeper of 2008: Super freshman A.J Green heads to Athens, and by all accounts he’s ready to go right now. Super freshman Tavarres King heads to Athens, and by all accounts he’s ready to go right now. And Walter Hill is already at Georgia. Our loyal readers know that we feel in most cases that true freshman wide receivers are ones to avoid due to the amazingly intricate offensive systems being run these days. It simply takes time to become accustomed to collegiate passing games. However, for a few reasons, we’re certain at least one of these players is going to explode onto the scene. Veteran and talented quarterback Matt Stafford will help. As will a great running game. Combine this with the steady leadership of Mohammed Massaquoi and we’ve the potential for a burner to take off. Tavarres King’s measurables show he’ll likely need a year to get stronger. Hill has been impressive in practice, and he’s a big (6’4”) target. Still we think the one to nab will be true freshman A.J. Green. He, like Hill, is 6’4” and our gut says he’ll be the one. 2008 Team Fantasy Outlook: The more I read about Georgia the more I feel we may be looking at next year’s national title winning squad. The pieces, especially on the offensive side of the ball, are in place. Matt Stafford, while one to avoid from a fantasy perspective, is a great game manager. Knownshon Moreno will be the top Bulldog on the board, and owners will want to invest in Caleb King as well. Late-round flyers on any of the aforementioned young wide receivers may be a sound investment as well. Tripp Chandler could be a sleeper at tight end. Kentucky Wildcats Will be missed in 2008: Lost amidst the Billy Gillispie arrival that makes Norman Dale’s early days in Hickory seem like a smooth transition, Wildcat fans seem to be neglecting (or unwilling to admit) that the great Andre’ Woodson is moving on. The talented senior has led the renaissance of the Kentucky football program and replacing his 39-touchdown season will be impossible (yes, impossible). Woodson, along with Keenan Burton, Rafael Little and Steve Johnson will be sorely missed. Hopefully the Kentucky faithful really took in the Music City Bowl experience, as it may be awhile before they return to postseason play. Fantasy star in 2008: Derrick Locke’s 536-5 freshman season certainly bodes well for the future of the Kentucky running game. Filling in for oft-injured Raphael Little, Locke provided solid but not spectacular production. In fact it is tough to tell the difference between Locke, Little and former Wildcat Artose Pinner. All are stocky, hard-nosed running backs that can catch the ball out of the backfield. Locke’s injury leading up to the bowl game notwithstanding, he should be a solid selection in SEC-only leagues. While there is a bevy of candidates to pick up additional carries in 2008, we think Locke will see the majority of touches, which includes the half dozen screen passes Kentucky throws each game. This will make him the likely fantasy star of the offensive unit, though this unit will be without the services of an NFL-caliber quarterback. Speaking of missing Mr. Woodson, Dicky Lyons Jr. may fall prey to the same feelings of loss experienced by Notre Dame TE John Carlson in 2007; in other words he may spend next fall wondering where all his buddies went. Fantasy sleeper of 2008: Remember the name Curtis Pulley? At one point this young man was penciled in to be the 2006 Kentucky starting quarterback, then following some academic struggles and personal stuff the talented footballer left the university. Well, he’s been running the scout team this fall, and he has a legitimate shot to win the starting job in 2008. First off, he’s not Andre’ Woodson-in fact, he’s a better athlete, having seen significant carries and balls thrown his way prior to his premature departure from Lexington. He has a couple years of eligibility left and only the very green Mike Hartline in front of him. He’ll likely be raw, but he may also come from nowhere. Keep an eye on this young man. 2008 Fantasy Outlook: The 2008 Kentucky Wildcats will have a difficult time coming close to their 2007 offensive production, and we see a significant drop off from this impressive campaign that saw the Woodson-led squad surpass 40 points in eight of their 12 contests. Some programs are able to withstand the loss of a talent like Woodson and not miss a beat. Kentucky is nowhere near this point, and fantasy owners will be wise to look elsewhere for SEC talent. Or at least wait until the later rounds to snap up some Wildcats. South Carolina Gamecocks Will be missed in 2008: After a career full of off-the-field issues, it’s hard to say that Coach Spurrier and the rest of the Gamecocks will miss departing quarterback Blake Mitchell. Cory Boyd is another story. The tough tailback put up over 1300 yards and ten scores in a senior season that saw him fly under the national radar. Boyd was steady, not spectacular in nearly every game, and he garnered three scores against Florida. His production will certainly be missed in 2008. Fantasy Star of 2008: Kenny McKinley and his family reiterated that he’d return next season, and an injured toe seemingly provided the sealer. McKinley will look to build upon an impressive 2007 season where he went for 77-968-9 and he’ll likely see those numbers improve as we expect steadier production from the quarterback spot. If either quarterback, Chris Smelley or Stephen Garcia, is able to distance himself from the other, then he immediately becomes a very viable fantasy option. Smelley will improve, and while Garcia is very highly regarded on the field, will the Ball Coach put up with off-the-field antics following Blake Mitchell’s nights on the town and academic woes? Adding more confusion is Spurrier’s tendency to start and sit quarterbacks like an antsy fantasy owner. McKinley is the sure thing on the Gamecock offense. Fantasy Sleeper of 2008: Chris Culliver, one of the most highly touted recruits in the country last year, had minimal impact from the wide receiver position in 2007. In fact, the dude didn’t catch one ball. As loyal and stubborn guys we’re going to stick with Culliver as a sleeper in 2008. He’s simply too talented, and while there certainly may be more than meets the eye in this case, we think he’ll make strides and join McKinley and the surprising Dion Lecorn as key cogs in the South Carolina offense. You’ll also want to keep an eye on TE/WR Jared Cook. 2008 Fantasy Outlook: Following a 6-1 start it appeared that Coach Spurrier’s team had made the leap…and then the next five games were played. This offense shows little resemblance to those Florida Gators units from over a decade ago. While players like Danny Wuerffel put up big numbers, and Jack Jackson was a stud on Sega’s Bill Walsh College Football, the Spurrier offense has, of late, seen numbers spread around. Numbers spread around do fantasy geeks little good, but this could change next season. If a clear starter at quarterback emerges, grab him. If Mike Davis becomes the clear heir-apparent to Corey Body, grab him. Grab Kenny McKinley if he’s available. This could be the year South Carolina’s offense puts it all together. Tennessee Volunteers Will be missed in 2008: Erik Ainge and David Cutcliffe put together two fine seasons, and Ainge’s quarterback play will be missed in 2008. Ainge was very rarely spectacular (save for an outrageous seven score performance against UK) so he was tough to start on a weekly basis. Owners simply don’t win weeks when their starter typically tosses two scores, and it proved too difficult to predict when Ainge would provide a great week. Ainge will be missed, but Jonathan Crompton’s presence makes this loss one that the Volunteers should be able to overcome. Fantasy star in 2008: Arian Foster sent his stuff into the NFL for evaluation, but we’re banking on the talented back returning for his senior season. Foster will be the beneficiary of an offense that will see his skills featured very prominently. Gaining over 1400 yards while scoring 14 times in 2007, Foster proved a great threat on the ground or as a safety valve in the passing game, and his return will be pivotal as Tennessee looks to break in a new starting quarterback. With Lamarcus Coker officialy out of the picture, he also won't be ignored on draft day in 2008. Fantasy sleeper of 2008: QB Jonathan Crompton is 6-4, 230 lbs. and he’s more mobile than you would think. He’s the clear choice to replace Erik Ainge, and was impressive when thrust into action against South Carolina and LSU in 2006 when Ainge went down. Crompton is one we will be watching closely this spring as we believe has as the ability to make a splash in 2008. The wildcard is Dave Clawson, who takes over as offensive coordinator. Clawson comes to the Vols from Richmond of the Championship Playoff Subwhatever Division. It will be interesting to see what impact Clawson will have on the offense. Everything we've been able to gather is that Vol fans will continue to see a traditional power run game mixed in with a vertical passing game. Which is good for both Foster and Crompton. 2008 Fantasy Outlook: Ainge and Cutcliffe moving on will get a good deal of attention, but the Tennessee offense could be very enticing in 2008. Foster is a top national back and will garner the most attention on draft day. There are also a number of wide receivers that can stretch the field, with Taylor and Rogers leading the way. Throw in Crompton, who has the potential to be the top sleeper quarterback in 2008 and Tennessee will allow the fantasy owner to build depth, and possibly find a great steal. Vanderbilt Commodores Will be missed next year: The SEC's all-time leading receiver Earl Bennett, yes you heard that right, Earl Bennett is off to the NFL. Bennett finishes his career with a SEC record 236 receptions. Despite the gaudy numbers, Bennett was a tough start for fantasy owners as Vandy's offense rarely put him in a position to score and fantasy football, like a sound brothel, is often all about the scores. Fantasy Star of 2008: Mackenzi Adams took over for the injured Chris Nickson and he did a very nice job. The junior-to-be proved a dual threat option, and he even accounted for three scores against Kentucky and Tennessee. Adams is one who could make significant strides next season, and he could become a decent starting option when match ups are right. Still the likelihood that Vandy’s starting quarterback will crack your starting lineup at any point is very remote. Can he be a backup buried on your depth chart? Certainly. Fantasy sleeper of 2008: We’re going to go with running back Jared Hawkins. Hawkins had a nice little season going before leaving the Kentucky game with a head injury on November 10th. Hawkins and Adams may be the building blocks to the Vanderbilt offense in 2008, and the Commodores’ likely struggles make both only real options in SEC-only leagues. 2008 Team Fantasy Outlook: Not good. Vandy had its little window, and now it appears this window has been closed, sealed and boarded up. Then they put some metal bars over the wooden planks and built a brick wall around the window. With Earl Bennett's departure, it is hard to imagine the Commodore offense improving and Adams becoming a consitent performer. Of course I also thought Todd Reesing would be a fantasy afterthought when he was named Kansas’ starter this summer, so what the hell do I know?

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