2022 SEC Preview: The most notable departure from every East Division program

SEC Media Days is right around the corner, so now is a good time for our 2022 SEC Preview and a refresher on who is and isn’t on SEC rosters for the upcoming season. 

This week, I’ll take a look at the most important player no longer at your favorite program — whether by graduation, early entry into the NFL Draft or transfer. And then we’ll preview a key offseason addition — transfer or incoming freshman — for each school. 

We started with the SEC West yesterday. Today, we look at the most notable departure from the each SEC East program. 

FLORIDA — DB Kaiir Elam 

The Gators had one of the better pass defenses in the SEC last fall, allowing opponents to complete just 57.2 percent of their passes — second-best behind only Georgia. They allowed just 6.7 yards per attempt and 203.9 yards per game. Elam was a major component of those successes, as the future 1st Round pick of the Buffalo Bills essentially took away half the field. Talented sophomore Jason Marshall is expected to carry the torch as a top-flight Florida cornerback, but the Gators are hoping a few other underclassmen (Jaydon Hill, Avery Helm, Jalen Kimber) make a leap to fill Elam’s void. 

GEORGIA — LB Nakobe Dean

The Bulldogs set a record with four defensive players selected in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick in lineman Travon Walker, yet the player Kirby Smart will miss the most this season is do-it-all linebacker Nakobe Dean. The Butkus Award winner and third-round draft selection led Georgia in tackles for loss (10.5) and finished second on the team in tackles and sacks. He was the signal-caller for UGA’s historic defense, constantly positioning teammates for opportunities for success. Jamon Dumas-Johnson flashed tremendous upside as a freshman, but he isn’t Nakobe Dean. At least not yet. 

KENTUCKY — WR Wan’dale Robinson

I was tempted to pick offensive lineman Darian Kinnard, who was an All-American right tackle in 2021, considering the Wildcats have some questions up front, but Robinson is the right choice here. The former Nebraska transfer was No. 2 in the SEC in receptions (104) and yards (1,.348). Wildcats quarterback Will Levis got himself into trouble at times by overly relying on Wan’dale Robinson’s playmaking ability. Kentucky believes Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson is the perfect facsimile but it’s hard to envision him coming close to replicating Robinson’s weekly output. 

MISSOURI — RB Tyler Badie

Despite his diminutive stature (5-8, 190-pounds), Badie was the oversized engine of the Tigers’ offense. He led the SEC with 1,604 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He was also Missouri’s top receiving, serving as multiple quarterbacks’ security blanket out of the backfield (team-high 54 receptions). Eli Drinkwitz plucked Stanford transfer Nathaniel Peat from the portal, and backup Elijah Young was solid in the bowl loss to Army (75 yards on 13 carries), but this will have to be a by-committee approach after leaning so heavily on Badie last season. 

SOUTH CAROLINA — DL Kingsley Enagbare

The Gamecocks struggled to rush the quarterback in 2021, with Enagbare the team’s lone edge defender challenging defenses. He had 10.5 sacks the last two seasons and nearly a 33 percent of South Carolina’s entire QB hurries. Enagbare was also a solid run-defender on a unit that was otherwise lousy at stopping opponents on the ground. The Gamecocks believe Jordan Burch, a former 5-star prospect entering his third season, is primed for a breakout year, and need that to come to fruition for their defense not to take a step backward.

TENNESSEE — CB Alontae Taylor

Taylor probably wasn’t Tennessee’s best defensive player in 2021. I’d give that nod to super-senior defensive lineman Matthew Butler, but the Vols’ rangy defensive back was their most important piece because of the lack of options around him. Taylor had two picks, 60 tackles and played almost every snap for a unit that is really lacking depth and upside. The Vols had the SEC’s worst pass defense — and that was with its second-round draft pick manning one side.

VANDERBILT — LT Tyler Steen

The Commodores saw their starting left tackle the last two seasons bolt Nashville for Tuscaloosa, as Steen is considering the preseason favorite to replace the aforementioned Evan Neal as Bryce Young’s blindside protector at Alabama. Steen had some consistency issues, but he was still Vandy’s best OL the last three years. The Commodores offensive line is expected to be among the worst in the SEC again this fall, making Steen’s transfer all the more notable.