SEC Football: Game Balls, Top Performers from Week Five

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 1, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels running back Eugene Brazley (23) runs the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Memphis Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 48-28. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Hello there. Welcome to our weekly “Game Balls” column here at Southbound and Down. In this column, we will give you our picks for who the top performers on offense, defense, and special teams from SEC Football were this week. Though some overlap may occur, this is not a re-posting of the SEC’s Players of the Week.

In addition to the top performer, we will also give you two “Honorable Mentions” for each category. If you are reading the article and think that someone was snubbed, or even omitted entirely, then please let us know in the comment section.

Below their names, I will attempt to tell you a bit about the player’s performance this week. That way you can see why I felt they deserved a Game Ball. But again, if you think someone else performed better, let us know.

This week there were several big games happening across the conference, and thus there were many players who performed at a high level for their teams. This did make it tough to decide who should get the “Game Balls” this week. Nevertheless, we here at Southbound and Down have powered through and will give you what you came to see.

Some players on losing teams perhaps deserve to be on this list. However, if a player can’t lead his team to a win, then that is a pretty big knock against them. For a player on a losing team to make our list he must perform virtually flawlessly.

Well, without further ado, let’s just dive on in. We will start with the offensive “Top Performer” and the two offensive “Honorable Mentions.” Click on the handy link below to see who gets the offensive “Game Ball” this week.

Oct 1, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) breaks a tackle by Missouri Tigers linebacker Michael Scherer (30) during the second half of a game at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Missouri 42-7. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Offense: Derrius Guice

In the absence of Leonard Fournette, Guice went off. He racked up a career-best 163 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 carries. That’s an average of 9.6 yards per carry. Those are incredible numbers. In addition, Guice caught a pass out of the backfield and turned it into a 21 yard gain.

Guice would start for pretty much every SEC team besides LSU and Georgia. After Fournette leaves for the NFL after this season, Guice will be the man in LSU’s backfield. That’s a scary thought for defensive coordinators around the conference. While not as big as Fournette, Guice is more explosive and a better receiver. He is going to be a star in the world of SEC Football.

Honorable Mentions:

Oct 1, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) drops back to pass against the Kentucky Wildcats at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Eugene Brazley, RB, Ole Miss

Speaking of under-appreciated running backs, Ole Miss has one on their roster as well. Junior Eugene Brazley has been buried on the depth chart for three seasons. But he showed this week that he has the right stuff. He carried the ball 13 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns against Memphis. That’s an average of 9.5 yards per carry.

Brazley had a great game against Memphis. Ole Miss has struggled at the running back position for a few years now. So why hasn’t Brazley gotten more playing time? Only Hugh Freeze can say for sure. Brazley is small, at just 5’9″ tall, but he is a fast, agile, runner. Expect to see more of him moving forward.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Alabama

Jalen Hurts continued his stellar true freshman campaign against the Kentucky Wildcats. He completed 20 of his 33 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 25 yards on the ground.

Hurts has played at a high level this season for the Tide. Still, he does have things he can work on. His deep ball accuracy still leaves a lot to be desired. Also, he needs to work on going through his progressions faster and seeing who will be open before they actually are. If he can improve on these things, he could be the first true freshman quarterback to win a national championship.

Sep 3, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Daeshon Hall (10) reacts to a tackle against the UCLA Bruins during a game at Kyle Field. Texas A&M won in overtime 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

Defense: Daeshon Hall, DE, Texas A&M

Myles Garrett gets all the press clippings, as well he should, but the man on the opposite end of the Texas A&M defensive line is a terror in his own right. Daeshon Hall had a big game against South Carolina. He had six tackles, including two sacks. Also, he had two additional quarterback hurries.

Hall is a 6’6″ 270 pound defensive end. He isn’t the athletic freak that Garrett is, but his production speaks for itself. He is projected to be a 4th round selection in the 2017 NFL draft. Somebody is going to get quite the bargain.

Honorable Mentions:

Sep 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; LSU Tigers linebacker Kendell Beckwith (52) during the Lambeau Field College Classic against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field. Wisconsin won 16-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Somebody who won’t be a draft bargain is Derek Barnett. Barnett is projected as a 1st round pick, which he well deserves. Barnett also had a great game this week. He had five total tackles, two sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss.

And, most importantly, Barnett had a timely forced fumble. He sacked Jacob Eason in the end zone and ripped the ball out. The ball was recovered by Tennessee for a critical touchdown. Barnett is a monster.

Kendell Beckwith, LB, LSU

Kendell Beckwith is arguably the best linebacker in the conference this season. Against Missouri, he had nine tackles. He is a well-rounded linebacker who flies all over the field. He is projected to be a 3rd or 4th round selection in the upcoming draft.

Sep 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks tackle Dan Skipper (70) in action against the Texas A&M Aggies at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams: Dan Skipper, OT, Arkansas

Dan Skipper is a great offensive tackle. He’s also a force on special teams. This week he blocked a 41-yard field goal attempt. That is his second block of the season and the seventh of his career. Skipper is a 6’9″ 326 pound behemoth who projects as a right tackle in the NFL. He is projected to be a 3rd or 4th round selection in the NFL Draft after this season.

Honorable Mentions:

Sep 3, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators punter Johnny Townsend (19) holds the ball for place kicker Eddy Pineiro (15) who made a field goal during the second half of a football game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators won 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Evan Berry, S/KR, Tennessee

Evan Berry is an exceedingly dangerous return man. It was his return that put Tennessee in range to attempt the Hail Mary that ultimately won them the game against Georgia. He had three returns for 75 yards on the day.

Evan has undoubtedly been compared to his brother his whole life. He is not the defensive enforcer that Eric is, and it doesn’t look like he ever will be. Still, he has found a way to be valuable contributor for his team.

Eddy Pineiro, K, Florida

Week five was a rather poor one for kickers across the conference. But Eddy Pineiro had a fine game. He made both of his field goals and his only extra point attempt. You can’t ask for any better than that.

Sep 17, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Evan Berry (29) runs the ball against Ohio Bobcats defensive lineman Andrew Payne (48) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 28 to 19. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Thank You!

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed the article. If so, be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Also, share your own top performers in the comments below. Finally, check in again next week to see who gets a “Game Ball” in Week Five.