Alabama’s Williams, LSU’s Perkins and Texas’ Baxter top list of SEC players to watch in ’25

Non-quarterback players from each of the SEC s schools who could be poised to help change his association s fortunes in Alabama WR Ryan Williams already had his breakout season with receptions for yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in What will he do for an encore A good start would mean more consistency after failing to crack yards in the Tide s last nine games Arkansas After three lackluster years at Georgia LB Xavian Sorey Jr came on strong in his debut season with the Razorbacks He finished with tackles which ranked seventh in the league and is expected to anchor Sam Pittman s defense as a senior Auburn WR Cam Coleman was arguably the SEC s best receiver in late November notching a combined catches for yards and six touchdowns against Louisiana-Monroe Texas A M and Alabama Like Williams at Alabama he was only a freshman Florida Although RB Jaden Baugh took a backseat to teammate Ja Kobi Jackson carries for yards and TDs in the unit s spring tournament he is expected to be the lead ballcarrier when the Gators open the season Baugh ran for yards and seven TDs while sharing carries with Jackson and Montrell Johnson in Georgia DL Christen Miller should be a key piece as the Bulldogs attempt to revamp a front seven that lost Mykel Williams Jalon Walker Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins Smael Mondon Warren Brinson and Chaz Chambliss The -foot- -pound Georgia native had five tackles against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals Kentucky WR Kendrick Law transferred to Lexington after three years at Alabama where he totaled catches for yards and a figure With Dane Key Nebraska and Barion Brown LSU gone he could emerge as the Wildcats top threat LSU LB Harold Harold Perkins was supposed to be in the NFL by now At least that s how it looked after he totaled tackles for loss including sacks in his first two years with the Tigers But he tore a ligament in his right knee against UCLA in late September and is back to prove he s healthy and worthy of a first-round draft pick Mississippi DE Princewell Umanmielen the younger brother of Princely Umanmielen transferred to Ole Miss after two years and seven tackles for loss at Nebraska Princewell Umanmielen should help the Rebels rebuild a talented front that also included Walter Nolan and JJ Pegues Mississippi State S Isaac Smith a -foot -pound Mississippi native led the conference with tackles as a sophomore last season The hard-hitting safety was one of the bright spots for a Bulldogs defense that ranked last in the league in nearly every category Missouri On his fourth college stop in as various years WR Kevin Coleman Jr is absolutely home Now he gets tasked with helping the Tigers replace standouts Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Coleman caught passes for yards and six scores at Mississippi State in He also played for Louisville and Jackson State Oklahoma Following a nine-sack campaign as a junior in DL R Mason Thomas already is gaining traction as a promising first-round draft pick in despite his -foot- -pound frame South Carolina In games last season edge rusher Dylan Stewart had tackles including sacks and was widely regarded as one of the best freshmen defenders in the country There already are comparisons to Jadeveon Clowney and speculation that the -foot- -pounder has the promising to be a top pick in Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy was a lockdown cornerback as a sophomore in a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award after transferring from Oregon State Pro Football Focus gave the -foot -pound Texan an coverage grade and a near-perfect tally in its athleticism metric Texas RB CJ Baxter was projected to be the group s starter when he tore two ligaments in his right knee in August As a true freshman in Baxter ran for yards and averaged yards a carry He s fully healthy now and expected to share carries with Quintrevion Wisner Texas A M CB Will Lee III surprised various outsiders when he decided to stay in school for his senior season It was a boon for second-year coach Mike Elko s defense Lee finished last season with tackles and two interceptions including a -yarder for a amount against rival Texas in late November Vanderbilt G Chase Mitchell anchors an offensive line tasked with keeping dynamic quarterback Diego Pavia upright Mitchell is one of five transfers up front for the Commodores and the unit s only returning starter Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top throughout the season Sign up here AP college football https apnews com hub ap-top- -college-football-poll and https apnews com hub college-football Source