Week 4 SEC Players to Watch

Week 4 of SEC Football is among us, so it is time for me to give my top players to watch in the SEC.

I will be picking one offensive, one defensive, and one wildcard player (can be offense, defense, or special teams), as well as some honorable mentions, who I think, will either stand out or be someone worth keeping an eye on for the upcoming week.

Offensive Player to Watch

• Stetson Bennett – Georgia
  • He was my player to watch last week, and I am rolling with him again this week. Bennett has played incredibly well this year and is as important to Georgia’s success as anyone else. You could claim they rely on their defense, but without his level of play, I don’t think they’re undefeated. This weekend could be his “Heisman Game” to prove he belongs in the conversation with the big dogs.

Defensive Player (Unit) to Watch

• Kentucky
  • Tennessee just lost a big game against Georgia, one in which they could have won. Kentucky just came off one of the best defensive performances of the season, one where they went from no interceptions on the season, to leading the SEC. I am looking at the UK defense to see if last week was a fluke, or if Brad White finally figured out this defenses niche, and can start to replicate the numbers from last year.

Wildcard Player to Watch

• Jarrett Guarantano – Tennessee
  • I have not been a believer in Guarantano over his career at UT. I think he has been suitable, but hasn’t been the QB they needed to take that next step. Last week sort of showed he still might not be, but one consistency he has had in his career is showing up against Kentucky. Kentucky just had one of the best defensive performances of the season, but will they be able to replicate that against this UT offense? I think it all goes through Guarantano either way.

Honorable Mention

• Mike Leach – Mississippi St.
  • After last week, the questions of “Can the air raid work in the SEC?” might have been answered. The outcome last week was abysmal from the Bulldog offense. Nothing over 3 yards down the field was opening up. Can Mike Leach get the air raid off the ground, or will it crash upon takeoff? I don’t think Leach will adapt just yet, but I think he needs to start working on adapting to the SEC before it is too late.

Jacob is a film critic and co-founder of the Music City Drive-In. He is a member of the Music City Film Critics’ Association and specializes in the awards season. You can find him on Twitter @Tberry57.