Cole Cubelic ranks top 5 SEC offensive breakout players

Each season, the SEC looks to replace a large portion of its marquee names with new faces who have the potential to fill in. The SEC has led college football in total draft picks in each of the past 15 years and had a record 65 players selected in April. As yesterday’s stars move on, ESPN analyst and Birmingham, Alabama-based radio host Cole Cubelic has ranked the top candidates to take a step forward.

Despite the departure of some big-name quarterbacks, no one at the position cracks this list. Perhaps more surprising from Cubelic, a former offensive lineman, is his exclusion of any big men on the front line. The skill position-heavy list includes players who are stepping out of the shadow, showing potential in training camp or transferring into the SEC.

Here are Cubelic’s top five SEC offensive breakout players:

5. Ja’Varrius Johnson, WR (Auburn)

Johnson is a sophomore wide receiver who has struggled with injuries early in his career. He missed 2019 completely and played just one game in 2020. Despite having no career targets, Johnson has emerged as a consistent playmaker during the spring and summer under new head coach Bryan Harsin.

4. E.J. Jenkins, WR (South Carolina)

Jenkins has never played at the FBS level but possesses incredible size at 6-foot-7. After the FCS season was postponed in 2020, Jenkins transferred to South Carolina to prepare for his senior season. He had 44 catches for 831 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with St. Francis.

3. Kole Taylor, TE (LSU)

Taylor played in seven games as a freshman in 2020, making six catches for 36 yards. The departure of Freshman All-SEC team tight end Arik Gilbert this offseason, the position is open for the taking. Taylor has stepped up as a candidate to win the starting role and could make a big leap in year two.

2. Mookie Cooper, WR (Missouri)

Cooper transferred to Missouri from Ohio State after seeing limited time in 2020. His departure from the Buckeyes says more about the level of talent at Ohio State than any problem with Cooper, who arrived as a top 100 recruit in 2020. At Missouri he will have a chance to be the star in an improved Eli Drinkwitz offense.

1. Kendall Milton, RB (Georgia)

Milton does not top SEC breakout list by default, he has earned reps at Georgia beside Zamir White, James Cook and Kenny McIntosh. The four-pronged attack in Georgia’s backfield is one of the deepest position groups in college football. Playing time is not easy to come by with the versatility of each back making them an important piece of the offense.