10 underrated SEC players who could impact the college football playoff race

USA Today

9 hours ago

The race for the SEC title is wide open as the 2025 college football season inches closer. The top contenders are clear -- Texas, Georgia, Alabama, and LSU all figure to be in the mix.
You have your sleepers, too. Texas A&M is looking to take the next step, and Ole Miss wants to prove it can hang with the top of the sport.
But the SEC's contenders all have their fair share of questions. For any of the aforementioned squads to reach their goals, they will need some breakout performances. Players who aren't seen as stars now will need all-conference campaigns.
Today, we'll look at 10 underrated players who will impact the SEC football championship race in the 2025 season. Even a handful of these guys aren't on teams that can win the whole thing, but they'll play a role. Auburn and Tennessee probably won't take home the SEC title, but they can still affect the race by punching above their weight. Think of the players on this list as leverage points for their respective teams.
Auburn offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin
Finding good offensive linemen in the transfer portal is rare, but Auburn landed a promising offensive tackle in Xavier Chaplin. Chaplin spent the first three years of his career at Virginia Tech and was ranked as the No. 14 player in the portal, per On3's Industry Rankings.
Chaplin brings over 1,400 snaps of experience to Auburn's offensive line. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 338 pounds, he's got the size to play SEC football.
Auburn needs the offense to take a step forward in 2025, especially the passing game. The offensive line created run lanes in 2024, but protecting the QB was a struggle. Chaplin aims to solve that. The Tigers have a star-studded WR group, and if the offensive line is good, Auburn's offense can get away with average QB play. Auburn won't compete for an SEC title, but if Hugh Freeze figures some things out, they can pull some upsets and still impact the SEC race. For that to happen, Chaplin needs to have an All-SEC caliber season.
Georgia cornerback Daylen Everette
Phil Steele lists Daylen Everette on his preseason first-team All-SEC squad, so it's a stretch to say the Georgia cornerback is flying under the radar. But he's not the first guy that comes to mind when you think of players who will impact the playoff race.
UGA's defense ranked in the 64th percentile in EPA/dropback allowed last year. That's good, but below the high standard Kirby Smart's defense has set for itself. The Dawgs' defense is looking to get back to an elite level this fall, and an All-SEC performance from Everette would certainly help.
The veteran corner had a strong 2024, recording three interceptions and posting a 73.3 coverage grade, per PFF. But Georgia has questions at the other cornerback spot. UGA doesn't know what it's going to get from Daniel Harris, which makes an elite showing from Everette paramount.
Texas defensive back Jelani McDonald
Texas is losing key pieces on the backend with Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba off to the next level. But don't expect a steep drop-off -- the room is still filled with talent, including Jelani McDonald.
McDonald only played one snap as a true freshman in 2023 but saw 477 snaps as a redshirt freshman in 2024. Now entering year three, he's primed for a starting role. McDonald finished the year strong with five stops vs. Arizona State before recording a 78.4 PFF grade vs. Texas. He's a versatile defender who can play true safety or in the slot. McDonald is stout vs. the run and figures to take another step forward in pass coverage.
The Texas DB has All-SEC upside, and if he emerges, there won't be many questions about Texas' defense, and the Longhorns are set for another playoff run.
LSU defensive end Patrick Payton
LSU signed the top-ranked transfer portal class in the country, which included Patrick Payton from Florida State. Brian Kelly and the Tigers are hoping to compete for a playoff spot, but LSU needs its new look defensive end room to deliver. That starts with Payton.
Payton brings over 1,500 career snaps from FSU and played a pivotal role on the Seminoles' elite defense in 2023, racking up 44 pressures and seven sacks. In his career, he has 90 pressures to go along with 68 stops. LSU lost the bulk of its edge defender production, and an experienced defender like Payton is just what LSU needed.
The Tigers feel good about their cornerback and linebackers. If Payton emerges as a true pass rush threat, LSU's defense has a chance to be elite, and the Tigers will contend for a national title.
Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard
Ryan Williams gets much of the attention in Alabama's wide receiver room, and deservedly so. But Bama has one of the top WR duos in the SEC with Germie Bernard working alongside Williams.
Bernard can stretch the field. He caught 56.3% of deep targets in 202,4, and that was with the inconsistent quarterback play from Jalen Milroe. He finished the year with 50 catches for 794 yards and 15.9 yards per catch. Of those 50 catches, 37 went for first downs.
Alabama expects to compete for national titles every year. If the QB situation works out, this offense will be near impossible to stop if Williams and Bernard bring it every week.
Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell
Just like LSU, Texas A&M also has a ton to replace at the defensive end position. But the Aggies are in a good spot with plenty of talent in-house. It starts with Cashius Howell, who's on the verge of a breakout year.
Howell began his career at Bowlong Green, but looks the part of an SEC defensive lineman. He's explosive at the point of attack, which allows him to shed blocks, even against bigger offensive linemen. Howell has a deep bag of pass rush moves, and his PFF pass rush grade was one of the best in the SEC last year. Now with a full-time role, Howell should put up big numbers.
A&M is expected to be strong on the backend, and if Howell performs, the Aggies' defense will be one of the best in the country.
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop
One of the biggest holes any team has to replace this year is Tennessee's loss of Dylan Sampson at running back. Sampson was one of the most productive players in Tennessee history, carrying the ball 258 times and rushing for 22 TDs in 2024.
Tennessee has a few options and could go with running back by committee, but if one guy has a chance of emerging as the feature back, it's DeSean Bishop.
Bishop ran the ball 74 times and averaged 6.1 yards per carry last fall. He's shown flashes and averaged 3.96 yards after contact. With Tennessee's questions at the QB position, it needs a strong ground game if it hopes to make another playoff push. That makes Bishop pivotal to Tennessee's success in 2025.
Florida cornerback Devin Moore
Florida cornerback Devin Moore was beginning to emerge in 2024 before a shoulder injury cut his season short. In his final two games, vs. Kentucky and Georgia, Moore was targeted just four times and didn't allow a single catch.
Moore is healthy now and looking to put together a breakout campaign.
Florida has a chance to take the next step after a strong finish to 2024. The Gators' offense returns phenom quarterback DJ Lagwa, and the defensive line has a handful of future NFL players. An All-SEC cornerback on the backend could be the missing ingredient.
Ole Miss wide receiver Cayden Lee
Ole Miss is losing four of its top five wide receivers from its elite offense in 2024. The lone returner is Cayden Lee.
Lee posted some big games last fall, which included a nine-catch, 132-yard performance vs. LSU in Death Valley. He finished the year with 57 catches for 874 yards, averaging 15.3 yards per catch and 2.08 yards per route run. Lee plays in the slot and is on the smaller side. He's not a guy who will make contested catches on the outside, but he has the speed to take the top off a defense and can make things happen with the ball in his hand.
This unit will have a new look this fall, but if Lee can deliver big games, the drop-off won't be as steep.
LSU left tackle Tyree Adams
We'll finish the list with one more LSU player. Tyree Adams has big shoes to fill at left tackle with three-year starter Will Campbell off to the NFL. Campbell was a consensus All-American and a top-five NFL Draft pick.
LSU's biggest question mark on offense is the offensive line. LSU arguably has the best QB in the SEC with Garrett Nussmeier, and the receiver core is among the best in the country. The line, which lacks the experience of last year's squad, could be the one thing standing between LSU and a playoff berth. But if young players like Adams can figure it out quickly, LSU will be firmly in the hunt for a national title.
Adams entered spring ball in a competition for the left tackle job, but took control quickly. That should leave LSU fans feeling confident in the talented tackle entering 2025.