Draft Countdown continues to prepare you for the 2024 NFL Draft season with our conference prospect preview series. Today, I look at the top prospects from the SEC. The Southeastern Conference has dominated the NFL Draft in recent memory. The 2024 edition should be no different.
Today, I will take a different approach than I did with the Group of 5 look ahead. I will list the top prospect from each of the current 14 schools in the SEC.
TOP SEC PROSPECTS
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
JC Latham, OT
Since Nick Saban took over at Alabama, no other school has come close to the number of first-round picks produced. 2024 will see a few more and JC Latham will be one of them. Nine offensive linemen have gone in round one during the Daban era. Latham took over the right tackle job last year and was dominant. He recorded 29 pancake blocks on an offense that ranked 4th in the nation in ppg. The 2024 offensive tackle class appears to be loaded and Latham has a chance to be one of several top-ten draftees at the position.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
Raheim Sanders, RB
“Rocket” Sanders is the next in line of great Razorback runners. He popped up to me during their win over South Carolina a year ago. In that game, Sanders had 189 yards on offense and two scores. He ran for 232 against Ole Miss. Sanders finished 2022 with over 1700 scrimmage yards. He has great speed for someone who is a biscuit shy of 240 pounds.
AUBURN TIGERS
DJ James, CB
The Mobile, AL native started his career at Oregon before transferring back to his home state. James has good size and length but hasn’t always shown the best ball skills. Auburn has a lot of fringe prospects but none that I would call surefire NFL stars.
FLORIDA GATORS
Jason Marshall, CB
Florida has put its fair share of corners into the NFL. I expect Marshall could be one of the next. He has great size and instincts. Marshall tackles well in space. He has two career INTs and 11 PBUs.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Brock Bowers, TE
Is Brock Bowers a top 5 pick at tight end? He has certainly played like that during his first two years in Athens. Bowers has been peerless at the position. The ability to make plays in space is there. he high points the ball. Bowers has open-field speed. You don’t see many tight ends in CFB nearly go for 1000 yards in a season. Bowers has almost done that twice. He has 20 career TDs receiving. Hell, Bowers has rushed for four touchdowns while averaging 12.7 yards per carry. The sky is the limit for Brock Bowers.
KENTUCKY WILDCATS
J.J. Weaver, EDGE
Potential is the name of the game for J.J. Weaver. He has shown flashes of dominance during his time in Lexington. However, be it injury, or playing out of position, Weaver has seemingly never fully reached the levels he should.
LSU TIGERS
Maason Smith, DL
Speaking of potential, no prospect on this list may epitomize that more than the one they call “Amazon”. In two years at LSU, Smith has only played in 8 games. During his 1st year in Baton Rouge, he recorded 13 solo tackles and four sacks. If Smith can stay healthy he has the potential to be a top-ten selection. At this point that is a BIG IF, however.
MISSISSIPPI REBELS
Michael Trigg, TE
After transferring over from Southern Cal, Michael Trigg made modest contributions to the Rebs in 2022. However, he is expected to be one of the top draft prospects at tight end in the SEC this year.
MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Seydou Traore, TE
Traore was one of the best receiving tight ends in the country last year at Arkansas State. After initially transferring to Colorado, the third-year player now finds himself in Starkville. The London-born prospect caught 50 balls last year for 655 yards. Now he comes to the SEC where I hope to see him add a little weight to his 225-pound frame. Traore mostly lined up in the slot which is where I expect Miss State to mostly utilize him as well.
MISSOURI TIGERS
Kris Abrams-Draine, CB
The second Mobile, AL native on this list is also a lean corner. KAD has great ball skills (21 career PBUs, 3 INTs). He pairs with another CB prospect (Ennis Rakestraw Jr.) that I also expect to be drafted.
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Juice Wells, WR
Wells dominated at James Madison as a freshman before moving into the SEC and continuing that upward trajectory. Wells became the goto pass catcher for Spencer Rattler last season. He caught 8 passes for 928 yards with six scores. Wells is an excellent route runner, has breakaway speed, and can go up and get the football. I think he is a first-round prospect entering the season.Â
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Joe Milton, QB
Not a single quarterback prospect in this draft class may have the arm strength that Joe Milton possesses. However, a huge arm does not make a good QB prospect. The Michigan transfer must continue to develop under Josh Heupel the way that Hendon Hooker did.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Reuben Fatheree II, OT
Fatheree is a two-year starter at right tackle for the Aggies. He is 6’8″ and 315 pounds. Fatheree has the highest upside of the Texas A&M prospects in this class.
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
CJ Taylor, S
It is slim pickings for Vandy prospects this year so I went with box safety CJ Taylor. Taylor made 59 stops a year ago with one INT.
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWNS
BIG 12 – ACC – BIG TEN – PAC 12 – Go5