Around the SEC East: The Biggest Shoes To Fill In 2020

Every year star players move on from college to the pros or transfer from one school to another. The players move on and advance their careers but they leave a giant pair of shoes to fill for their college teams. In this series we will look at the biggest shoes to fill on each team and attempt to guess who will fill them in 2020.

Vanderbilt

Devin Cochran

This was a close call between Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Devin Cochran. We went with Cochran because a quality left tackle is difficult to find in college football. Cochran started 32 games over the past three seasons for the Commodores providing good play at left tackle. He was the cornerstone of the offensive line for Vanderbilt and leaves a giant void upfront for the Commodores.

Possible Replacements

Jonathan Stewart is a massive tackle prospect at 6’7″ 326 lbs. He will be a redshirt junior this season and has had three years in the program to hone his craft. Stewart started three games at tackle last year, all against SEC competition, so he does have some experience. He has the size to play tackle but will need to prove he has the quickness and technique to handle high level pass rushers. Stewart’s time is now and if he is going to become a starter for the Commodores it will happen this season.

If Stewart is not able to develop and step into Cochran’s shoes the Commodores will likely ask Tyler Steen to slide over to left tackle and have someone else fill in at right tackle. Steen started all 12 games at right tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2019. He has a good frame as well and should be bigger and stronger in this third year with the program. Steen has proven he can play in the SEC, if his technique continues to improve he could become an excellent blocker for Vanderbilt. If he is asked to move over to the left side someone else will need to step in at right tackle.

Bryce Bailey has played guard and tackle for Vanderbilt during his career. If Steen is asked to play left tackle and Stewart cannot handle the right tackle spot either, Bailey will be the likely option on the right side. Replacing Cochran will not be easy, Stewart will probably get the first crack at the job, if he performs that will be the best case scenario for Vanderbilt in 2020.

Tennessee

Darrell Taylor

Darrell Taylor was a pass rushing outside linebacker for the Volunteers. He led the team with 10 TFL and 8.5 sacks in 2019. Taylor was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Taylor was the best pass rusher on the team by a wide margin last season. The Vols will need to find a pass rushing presence to fill Taylor’s shoes in 2020.

Possible Replacements

DeAndre Johnson will likely get the first shot at the job. Johnson will be a senior in 2020 and was a key reserve in 2019. In limited playing time in 2019 he recorded 4.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks for the Vols. Johnson has played in a reserve role for Tennessee for three years and has had similar production the last two seasons. Johnson has been a key reserve but has not yet shown he can be an every down player for the defense.

Roman Harrison is another name to keep in mind and he will likely push for playing time. He came on towards the end of his freshmen season recording a sack in each of his final two games. Harrison is a tough player with good ability on the edge who could carve out a role for himself as a pass rusher in 2020. Tennessee could have Johnson and Harrison split reps to maximize both players abilities depending on situation and matchup.

If Johnson and Harrison are not able to provide a consistent pass rush the team may decide to move Quavaris Crouch from inside linebacker to the outside. Crouch (who we picked as the team’s second year player to breakthrough) is a superb athlete who can play many positions for Tennessee. We expect him to settle in at linebacker this season but that could be as an inside linebacker, or on the outside if the team cannot find another pass rusher. Crouch’s versatility will give Tennessee options as they attempt to replace their best pass rusher from a year ago. It would be best if Johnson and Harrison can step up and handle the pass rushing duties, allowing Crouch to man one of the inside linebacker spots next to star Henry To’o To’o.

South Carolina

Javon Kinlaw

Javon Kinlaw became a star at South Carolina over the course of his career. Over the last two seasons he accumulated 16 TFL and 10.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position. Kinlaw was the leader of the Gamecocks defense and was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. South Carolina will need to replace their best defensive player from last year in 2020.

Possible Replacements

Fortunately, the Gamecocks have recruited well at defensive tackle the last few cycles. Zacch Pickens is the likely replacement for Kinlaw in 2020 and the former five star recruit is a talented player. Pickens saw action in all 12 games last year and will attempt to build on that experience this season. He has the type of size and athleticism that should allow him to be a force on the interior. Pickens had 16 tackles as a true freshman in his reserve role, but he did not record any TFL or sacks, which will have to change.

He will have to add production and make more impact type plays if he is going to be able to make up for the loss of Kinlaw. The talent is there and he will have the opportunity for regular playing time in 2020. We believe Pickens will shine as a sophomore and show that he has built on the experience he got in 2019. In case he is not ready to completely fill the shoes of Kinlaw right away, the Gamecocks do have another elite defensive tackle recruit to provide help up front.

Jordan Burch will be a five star true freshman in 2020. He has excellent quickness on the defensive line and good strength to boot. He will need to add some weight but should be ready to contribute immediately. Burch’s athleticism and playing style will make him a disruptive presence even in a reserve role for South Carolina. He gives the Gamecocks another high impact option at defensive tackle who can wreck the offensive gameplan. We expect Pickens to excel as the primary replacement for Kinlaw, but Burch will make some plays as well and the two should do a good job filling some tremendous shoes in Columbia.

Missouri

Jordan Elliott

Jordan Elliott was the rock at the center of the Missouri defensive line in 2019. He accounted for 44 tackles 8.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks but his impact was much more than just statistics. Offenses focused on Elliott which left other players with favorable matchups to exploit. Elliot was a third round draft pick for the Cleveland Browns, leaving the Tigers looking for a new defensive tackle. Elliott’s impact both statistical and on the game around him will be tough to replace in 2020.

Possible Replacements

Kobie Whiteside was Elliott’s running mate up front last season and had a good season. He made 27 tackles and had 6.5 sacks as a junior in 2019 but will be asked to do more in 2020. He is powerful player who led the team in sacks last year, but that was with Elliott being the main focus of the offensive blocking scheme. Whiteside will now become the focal point of the defensive line and will have to adjust to the extra attention he will receive from offensive lines. For the Tigers to truly replace Elliott, someone will have to step up alongside Whiteside and be a formidable threat.

Akial Byers has been a reserve his entire career with the Tigers but the senior should get the opportunity to be a major contributor this coming season. As a reserve last season Byers recorded 18 tackles and had 2 TFL. While he was not a significant contributor, he did have some production which is an encouraging sign. Byers is a taller more athletic defensive tackle and the hope is that with more playing time his production will increase. His development will be a key factor in the team’s ability to replace Elliott.

If Byers struggles to find consistency or to handle the workload the team could turn to Markell Utsey. Utsey, like Byers, will be a senior who has played as a reserve throughout his career. He has not produced as much as Byers and would need to show a major improvement to be a regular contributor. Another option with more upside is Darius Robinson. Robinson has good length and has added good weight in his time at Missouri. He only recorded 1 tackle as a true freshman but has some upside and could take the next step in 2020.

Expect Whiteside and Byers to start up front for the Tigers. Byers will have opportunities to make plays with the extra attention Whiteside gets, we expect he will take advantage of them. Look for Robinson to emerge as a disruptive player off the bench to help the interior of the defensive line as well.

Kentucky

Lynn Bowden Jr

Bowden did everything for Kentucky over the course of his career. He passed for 495 yards, ran for 1,530 yards and caught passes for 1,303 yards over the course of his career. If that wasn’t enough, he served as an excellent return man during his career as well. Bowden’s diverse talents got him selected in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. Replacing the versatility of Bowden is highly unlikely, Kentucky has Terry Wilson returning from injury to play quarterback, so they will need to replace Bowden the receiver and playmaker from 2018 more than anything else.

Possible Replacements

Bowden was the top receiver on the team the last two seasons, the next most productive returning receiver is Josh Ali. Ali had 115 receiving yards in 2018 and 233 in 2019. He probably would have had more yardage in 2019 if the offense did not become so run heavy due to the injuries to the quarterbacks. He has shown growth from year to year and will be a senior in 2020 and a leader in the receiver room. With Wilson back and the Wildcats likely to employ a more balanced offense, he will see his production jump significantly. The problem may be that Ali has never proven to be a big play receiver in his career.

Ali has never averaged at least 12 yards per catch in his career and has never had more than three touchdowns in a season. While, he has had some production in his career, he has always been more of a steady target than a big play threat. Maybe he develops into that threat with better quarterback play in 2020, but if he doesn’t the Wildcats will need someone to provide big plays in the passing game.

Bryce Oliver maybe that big play threat the Wildcats need on the outside. As a redshirt freshmen he only caught 6 passes but they went for 111 yards and 1 TD. Oliver has good size at 6’3″ 205 lbs and could be a big weapon with more opportunities. He is a physically imposing receiver who has the ability to be good in contested situations downfield. His development will give Ali support and help Kentucky spread the burden of replacing Bowden.

Lastly, the Wildcats could incorporate true freshman Michael Drennen who is a running back/slot hybrid player and has some of the explosiveness and versatility Bowden had. It’s not ideal to rely on a true freshman too much, but Drennen is talented and can be a threat with the football in his hands. If he can provide a spark the Wildcats may have enough firepower to replace their do everything star. No one player is going to be Lynn Bowden in 2020, but the Wildcats maybe able to get production from a few receivers combined with the return of quarterback Terry WIlson to fill the void Bowden leaves.

Georgia

Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson

Any time a team has two tackles drafted in the first round of the NFL draft there is going to be a major void to fill on the offensive line the next season. Georgia lost Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson. Add in the transfer of potential tackle to be Cade Mays and there are clearly big shoes to fill at tackle for the Bulldogs in 2020.

Possible Replacements

Junior Offensive Lineman Jamaree Salyer is likely to kick out from guard to tackle in 2020. He is a proven blocker on the offensive line, who may not have the ideal height for a tackle but is talented enough to play on the outside. He started two games at tackle in 2019 and has shown he can handle the position. If Salyer can solidify the right side in place of Wilson, the Bulldogs can focus on developing a left tackle on the other end of the line.

Xavier Truss has excellent size at 6’7″ 330 lbs and has the tools to become a quality left tackle in college, but he does not have experience. Tools and size are a wonderful combination, but it is not a guarantee that a player will perform. Truss will need to learn quickly and be an anchor on the quarterback’s blindside for the Georgia offense to be able to excel. Due to the departure of Mays the depth at tackle is a bit thin but there are a couple options available.

Warren McClendon is more guard than tackle but could play the position if needed. Like Truss he redshirted in 2019 and will need to gain experience but has talent and could be an option at right tackle if the need arose. The Bulldogs always recruit well and landed five star prospect Broderick Jones in the 2020 recruiting class. He has a ton of potential but playing a true freshman at tackle is never desirable. Jones will be needed to provide depth in 2020 but hopefully not more than that. He has the talent to be a quality player but it may be too soon to ask him to step into Andrew Thomas or Isaiah Wilson’s shoes.

Expect Salyer and Truss to man the tackle positions for the Bulldogs. Both players should be ready for the responsibility and though it would be unfair to expect them to match Thomas and Wilson, we expect them to be a formidable duo this season.

Florida

CJ Henderson

Henderson was the top cover corner for the Gators 2019 team. He had 11 PBU on the season but more importantly discouraged opponents from throwing his way. Henderson’s strong play was rewarded when he was drafted in the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft this May. The Gator’s have a strong tradition of defensive back play and are among the best at developing DBs, but replacing an excellent cover corner like Henderson will be a challenge.

Possible Replacements

The easy answer is to say Kair Elam will fill in for Henderson. While that is true, we have Elam as a breakthrough player, Elam had an impact himself last year and the Gators will need someone to fill in those reps as well. The easy part first, Elam is a talented, physical cornerback with good ball skills. He will fill in well as an outside corner and put his playmaking ability to work for the Gators defense. Elam and Marco Wilson should be a good pair of starting corners, but who will be the next man in on passing downs?

Sophomore Jaydon Hill played sparingly for the Gators in 2019 but did record 11 tackles and 3 PBU on the season. He is a quick fluid athlete who could play in the nickel or on the outside if needed. He has the ability to track the ball and make plays, making him a good fit in the Gator’s secondary. Hill will provide insurance in case Elam struggles (unlikely) and good play in the nickel spot or as depth on the outside. His experience and ability are vital to the Florida secondary in 2020.

If Hill or Elam do struggle, the Gators did bring in a handful of corners in the 2020 recruiting class. We expect Jahari Rogers to be a key depth option right away. He has a good combination of size and quickness that will make him an asset in the secondary. As he develops Rogers could be called on to fill a bigger role if needed in 2020. The expectation is that Elam will be a star on the outside and Hill will be a good nickel. Henderson leaves a void but the Gators have good talent ready to step in this season. The issue may become the depth at cornerback is very young and will need to grow up quickly in 2020.

For our previous installment of Around The SEC East click here.

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Javon Kinlaw image take by Gamecock Central is licensed under CC BY 2.0.