Winning seven of eight conference games was enough for Florida to finish atop the SEC East last season as they finished two games ahead of Tennessee and Georgia for the best record in their division. The Gators were no match for Alabama in the SEC championship game but it was still an interesting ride. Fast-forward to 2016 and all eyes will be on Florida to see if it has enough weapons to hold off the Vols and Bulldogs once again this season. Tennessee and Georgia reloaded with some substantial young talent and there is plenty of reason to think there could be another shift at the top of the division. Here is a look at the top incoming freshman set to make the biggest impact in the SEC East this season.
QB – Jacob Eason, Georgia Bulldogs
Kirby Smart’s timing could not have been better as he becomes the head coach at Georgia in a year where they have an impressive roster and a very manageable schedule. Headlining their incoming class of freshman talent is the star quarterback prospect Eason, who will start from the outset this season. The 6’5’’, 208-pound Eason arrives as the No. 5 overall prospect in the nation and he has all of the intangibles to expect him to succeed. Eason has the arm strength, accuracy, pocket presence and intelligence to thrive as a true freshman this season and his arrival could very well coincide with the Bulldogs’ climb to the top of the SEC East.
TE – Isaac Nauta, Georgia Bulldogs
It will be very interesting to see how Eason fares with his tight end Nauta, who is expected to have a major impact. The 6’3’’, 244-pound Nauta is considered a major upgrade at the position with excellent hands, good enough speed and solid route-running ability. Nauta’s impact will have a direct impact on the success Eason has and both are expected to be key pieces in the Georgia offense this season.
WR – Mecole Hardman Jr., Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldogs’ offense will also benefit from the arrival of a potential star at wide receiver as Hardman will open the year with plenty of reason to believe he can excel. Hardman is only 5’10’’ and 169 pounds, but he clocked a 4.42 40-yard dash time and he has the quickness and hands to match his straight-line speed. Georgia has a handful of strong options lined up at the wide receiver position but Hardman’s versatility and ability to stretch the floor could lead to him having a major impact as a freshman.
As you can see, with three entries on the list, a lot is going to be expected of Georgia this season. Yes, they didn’t meet the high expectations many people felt that Mark Richt should deliver upon but it’s also clear that the cupboard is not bare. As a matter of fact, it’s quite stocked. As a result – along with the easy SEC East schedule that Georgia has this season – a lot of people will be expecting big things from Smart in his first season.
DE – Jonathan Kongo, Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee’s lone five-star recruit according to Rivals should factor in to the team’s rotation at defensive end from the outset as a pass rusher with the ability to get after the quarterback and making plays in the opposing backfield. The 6’6’’, 260-pound end could factor in to the rotation on the weak side right away. The fact that one of the top defensive ends in the SEC will start on the opposite side in Derek Barnett will only help free up space for Kongo to go to work and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he emerges as one of the Vols’ top pass rushers in his freshman season. The Vols have a loaded defense – and a loaded team, for that matter – so Kongo can come in and just be another piece of the puzzle. There isn’t a lot of pressure on him to deliver big results right away as there’s plenty of talent around him.
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