With the 2007 season winding down to an end I decided it was time to start ranking the top returning impact players in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the 2008 season.  The following players are ranked in order of impact I expect them to have on the how the conference shapes out next year.
 
1) Tim Tebow (Florida) - What can we say?  He will either win the Heisman in 2007 or be the leading candidate by far for 2008 or both.  In his first year in the spread I think all the SEC naysayers are seeing the offense of the future.  LSU already runs a spread and both teams have the type of playmakers to excel with the spread in the future.  Tebow has greatly improved his progression on passing plays and next year you can expect his offensive efficiency to be beyond what it is now.  After a full season and another spring practice Tebow will be reacting rather than thinking in games.  And THAT could be a very scary proposition for opponents.
 
2) Knowshon Moreno (Georgia) - Say what you will about Matt Stafford, he’s a quarterback who came to Georgia with all the hype and glory but Moreno has become the heart of the Bulldogs.  Without his running Georgia’s offense would still be as anemic as it looked against South Carolina and Vandy.  With Knowshon running and gashing opposing defenses Georgia is a team that can control the clock and impose its will on opponents thus improving both the offensive AND defensive play. 
 
3) Earl Bennett (Vanderbilt) - The best wide receiver in the conference who unfortunately plays for one of the worst offenses in the conference.  He’s virtually the entire Vanderbilt passing attack and defenses all gameplan around him.  Despite this attention Bennett continues to put up great numbers and proving he is physically beyond your typical college receiver.  Already the best WR in Vandy history, he might end up leaving after this year for the NFL draft.  If he stays he will be the best WR in the league.
 
4) Felix Jones (Arkansas) - Another player who could choose to go to the NFL but with the foregone loss of Darren McFadden he could also stay and become the focus of the Arkansas offense next year.  Another influence in his decision could be whomever Arkansas hires to replace Houston Nutt.  Jones is a big time playmaker with an average yard per carry that is truly staggering (over 9 yards).  He’s also a NFL first rounder and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him and DMac leave for the NFL.  This could be a very deep year at running back though with all the juniors who could announce - Jonathan Stewart (Oregon), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Rashard Mendenhall (Illinois), Javon Ringer (Michigan State), Ray Rice (Rutgers), Felix Jones (Arkansas), Kevin Smith (UCF), Jamaal Charles (Texas), James Davis (Clemson), Ian Johnson (Boise State), and Arian Foster (Tennessee) - so neither would I be surprised if he stays a year to improve his position on the board.
 
5) Ryan Periloux (LSU) - Should Ryan manage to keep from getting kicked off the LSU team he will be the incumbent QB for 2008 and could be in store for a HUGE year.  He has all the intangibles and is a freak athletically.  His weaknesses seem to be all mental.  His judgment on the field is sometimes suspect (not surprising for a young player) but his judgment OFF the field are downright baffling.  Clearly this kid was raised in an atmosphere where he was treated like a God and doesn’t think the rules and laws of mere mortals apply to him.  Should he straighten up his act he has a chance of being special.  Then again, in these types of situations the odd favor that he will end up on the street trying to make an NFL roster as a late round pick or free agent because of “off-field” issues.  Let’s hope that isn’t the case.
 
6) Percy Harvin (Florida) - Is he a running back or a wide receiver?  Who cares as he seems to be the best of each on the Florida roster.  He’s a terrible mismatch for a defense to handle downfield on routes and has that special burst and elusiveness when running the ball that makes people draw comparisons to Reggie Bush when running.  Percy’s presence on the field also forces teams to plan against two top playmakers (Tebow being the other) who have to be contained.  And that’s usually beyond the ability of even top defenses.
 
7) Kenny McKinley (South Carolina) - McKinley is a phenomenal wide receiver.  He may not be the fastest or the biggest or have the best hands but when it comes to having a feel for the game combined with outstanding technique you will not find a better receiver in the league.  A perfect fit for the Spurrier system, Kenny has continued to put up incredible numbers in this offense.  His later draft status and lack of prototypical NFL size could keep him in the SEC for his senior year.
 
8) Eric Berry (Tennessee) - The top prep cornerback in the country has become one of the best playmaking safeties in the SEC.  When you consider that Berry is having this kind of an impact as a true freshman one can only imagine how good he will become in the next few years.  He has a knack of making plays and finding the ball whether it be on fumble recoveries or interceptions.  He has also proven to be a very good tackler (something lacking on the Volunteer defense).
 
9) Matt Stafford (Georgia) - The best pro prospect in the Conference has yet to live up to his potential in college.  Perhaps Stafford will be one of those signal callers whose talents better fit at the next level and he’ll never achieve as much in the collegiate ranks.  Stafford has the arm to make any throw but lacks the wisdom to know when he shouldn’t throw the ball.  I was disappointed with his progress this year from how he ended 2006 but another year might clear some of the cobwebs and allow him to be more than just a compliment to the running of Knowshon Moreno.  Should Stafford ever become a focal point for defenses to worry about the Bulldog offense could reach heights heretofore unknown in Bulldog history.
 
10) Arian Foster (Tennessee) - Arian Foster is more than just the Volunteers leading rusher, he is also a dangerous special teams returner and can catch the ball out of the backfield.  Plus he will be the focal point of any Tennessee offense trying to replace senior Erik Ainge.  The burden will be placed on the rushing attack next year and if Tennessee is going to have any success offensively it will start on the ground with Foster.
 
11) Chris Smelley (South Carolina) - Smelley has been erratic his first two years but let’s not forget he is a sophomore.  Spurrier’s offensive system is based on timing and reads.  Thus far Smelley has shown significant improvement in this arena.  While his arm strength is not comparable to many other SEC quarterbacks, Danny Weurfell proved that in a Spurrier offense a big time arm is not necessary to flourish.  I expect a huge improvement in Smelley’s junior season and that he will lead the SEC in passing in 2008.  Don’t forget that Wuerfel shared time with Terry Dean in his second year before solidifying himself his junior season.
 
12) Kodi Burns (Auburn) - The future of Auburn will rest in this man’s hands.  Given his abilities I expect Auburn to employ more of a spread type offense to best fit Burns’ skill set.  The lack of offensive playmakers on the Tigers means that Burns will be expected to generate points if Auburn is to have any success in the future.  He is an elusive runner with good size for a QB.  He definitely needs a lot of work on his technique and decision making but with the dearth of talent on Auburn the future of the Tigers is riding on his back.
 
Just missed the list:
Lucas Taylor (Tennessee) - Leads the Vols in receiving and is in the top 5 of the SEC for both receptions and yardage per game.  This is his first year with any significant playing time and he’s becoming a reliable weapon for Offensively Coordinator David Cutcliffe.  Unfortunately for Taylor with Ainge going on who will be throwing him the ball . . . Jeremy Compton?  Exactly my point.
 
Terry Grant (Alabama) - Grant is a shifty runner with breakaway speed.  He has had one of the best freshmen seasons of any Alabama RB.  Unfortunately he doesn’t have the “hosses” in front blocking for him and that situation won’t be fixed in just one offseason.  As the year progressed Grant took a beating and began to look as if he expected to be hit in the backfield (which turned out to be true on many occasions).  He needs to add some strength and “recover” from the atrocious blocking he’s had to deal with in 2007.
 
Greg Hardy (Ole Miss) - The current sack leader in the SEC is just a sophomore and looks to be a true playmaker.  Although suspended for 2 games Hardy still has 10 sacks, averages 7 tackles per game, has forced 3 fumbles, recorded 17 tackles for a loss and even caught two touchdown passes in part time offensive duty.  The only thing that might be able to slow Hardy down is off-field issues (something not too uncommon at Ole Miss these days).
 
John Parker Wilson (Alabama) - He can look All-SEC or all scrub depending on when you watch him.  Consistency has been a problem but then again he’s been performing behind a questionable offensive line.  The big problem next year will be replacing WRs like DJ Hall.  Even if JPW and the line shows improvement the Alabama passing game might still take a step back.
 
Brandon James (Florida) - Here is a kid that can change games through field position as both a punt and kick returner.  As this year progressed James also began to get time at RB and placed 4th in the conference in All-Purpose yards behind only Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Knowshon Moreno.  This is ahead of such players as Percy Havin, Arian Foster and Terry Grant.  If James can get stronger and improve his pass protection skills he will see more time on the field in specific offensive sets.
 
Possible Impact Players not eligible this year (2007).
 
1) Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) - The one-time Florida commitment played a year at the University of Texas where he competed with redshirt freshman Colt McCoy for the starting spot.  Colt won the battle and Snead was relegated to second string.  When McCoy went down with an injury against Kansas State Jevan brought the Longhorns back from a 21 point deficit down to 3 but Texas failed to recover the onside kick and lost 45-42.  Snead should be a considerable upgrade to the Ole Miss QB situation and has the ability to both run and throw the ball that should add another dimension to the Rebel offense.
 
2) Emanuel Moody (Florida) - Moody was USC’s second leading rusher in 2006 as a true freshman.  The 6′0″ 190 lb running back has excellent quickness and vision.  He started 4 games for USC and rushed for 469 yards averaging just under 6 yards per rush (including a career high of 130 yards on 21 carries versus Arizona).  Moody was injured during the 9th game against Oregon (ankle sprain) and missed the remainder of the season.  Describe as an explosive runner who makes people miss and breaks tackles.  Expect a bigger and stronger Moody in 2008 than what people saw at as a true frosh at USC in 2006.