A 2022 bounce-back candidate for every SEC East school

Every SEC school has someone — very likely more than one — person looking for a bounce-back season in 2022. 

Maybe they were injured in 2021. Or suspended. Academically ineligible. Or just didn’t play very well last fall. Thanks to the transfer portal, lots of former top recruits are hoping for a fresh start at a new school, too. 

So with that in mind, here’s a comeback candidate — however that bounce-back season should be defined — for every SEC East program in 2022.

Florida — LB Ventrell Miller

The super-senior linebacker is back in Gainesville for one more go-around after a biceps injury limited Miller to just two games — and three solo tackles — in 2021.

The Gators’ middle of the defense desperately needs Miller to return to his 2020 form, where the inside linebacker led the team with 86 stops and 7.5 tackles for loss.

As sixth-year veteran, Miller is already one of first-year coach Billy Napier’s leaders, and if his production looks like it should, then UF has an All-SEC candidate anchoring its defense.

Georgia — TE Arik Gilbert

Despite winning a national title in 2021, the Bulldogs don’t lack potential comeback candidates this fall. 

Former 5-star Tate Ratledge, the favorite to win the right guard job, returns after breaking his foot in the opener against Clemson last season. Fellow 5-star Dominick Blaylock is also finally healthy after the wideout has battled a pair of ACL injuries. Meanwhile, former All-Big-12 safety Tykee Smith is looking to make his Bulldogs debut after the West Virginia transfer sat out 2021 with a knee injury. 

And yet, it’s a different 5-star who is the correct choice for this exercise. Arik Gilbert is one of the more tantalizing talents in college football, teasing a glimpse of his crazy skill-set in 2020 at LSU (35 catches for 368 yards and two scores). But Gilbert is mostly a mystery man after abruptly leaving the Tigers’ program and then sitting out all of 2021 due to off-the-field matters. 

While if was a circuitous route home, the Georgia native has generated all sorts of hype after getting his conditioning in order and catching a couple touchdowns in the spring game. Gilbert joins a loaded tight end room, but the 6-5, 250-pound playmaker stands to have a major role in Todd Monken’s offense this fall.

Kentucky — OL Eli Cox

The Wildcats’ projected starting center in 2022 was actually one of the best guards in the country for much of the 2021 season. Cox was a fixture in Kentucky’s mashing running attack, earning mid-season AP All-American honors. 

He suffered a season-ending hand injury in UK’s ninth game, not returning to full health until the spring. 

Cox replaces veteran center Luke Fortner, a second round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in April’s NFL Draft — so he has some big shoes to fill. 

Still, Mark Stoops and new OL coach Zach Yenser believe Cox has the mentality, tenacity and talent to spearhead Kentucky’s ‘Big Blue Wall’ this fall.

Missouri — DL Trajan Jeffcoat

The Tigers’ defensive lineman pulled a Houdini act last season, completely disappearing after an impressive 2020 campaign. 

Jeffcoat was a guy on all sorts of NFL Draft radars following a six-sack season in just eight games, but the edge lineman recorded just seven combined hurries and sacks in 2021. He wasn’t overly effective against the run either, as the Tigers ranked dead last in the SEC in rush defense.

Still, there’s a reason scouts were so intrigued by Jeffcoat’s combination of twitch and explosiveness at 280 pounds. If he plays like he did two years ago, then his bounce-back season should serve him well come next April. 

South Carolina — QB Spencer Rattler

The former 5-star recruit sought fresh surroundings this offseason after a turbulent end to his Oklahoma career. 

A year ago, Rattler was the preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy Award and go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. 

Instead, following too many turnovers early in OU’s season, Rattler was benched after throwing two more picks in the first half against Texas. 

Still, Rattler’s raw talent is unquestioned, and he’s the quintessential bounce-back candidate at South Carolina. He reunited with a fresh face in former OU assistant and current Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer. He also has his security blanket with him in former Sooners TE Austin Stogner, and a slew of other playmakers at his disposal.

The competition will be stiffer in the SEC and the pressure-cooker isn’t going away, but Rattler seems primed for a comeback year in Columbia.

Tennessee — WR Bru McCoy

Like Arik Gilbert, McCoy sat out the entire 2021 season dealing with off-the-field issues. The former 5-star recruit never lived up to his blue-chip billing at Southern Cal, but a fresh start at Tennessee could be what unlocks McCoy’s obvious physical gifts. 

McCoy has just 21 career catches, battling a myriad of injuries and issues with the Trojans. 

If cleared for action (something that hasn’t happened yet), McCoy could flourish in Josh Heupel’s receiver-friendly offense.  

Vanderbilt — LB Kane Patterson 

A Nashville native, Patterson returned home this offseason, transferring from Clemson after two seasons struggling to find a role with the Tigers. 

Maybe’s mama’s home cookin’ is just what the doctored ordered. The former 4-star recruit has already emerged as a leader for Clark Lea’s second-year team and will start Week 0 against Hawaii. 

Considering his talent of out high school, it wouldn’t be any surprise if Patterson led the Commodores in tackles in his first season back in the Music City.