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SEC Football: 72 grabs for two of SEC’s best

By Matt Green

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Fred Ross (8) attempts to avoid a tackle by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Mike Hilton (38) during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Fred Ross (8) attempts to avoid a tackle by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Mike Hilton (38) during the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are 72 days till college football season, and today we focus on two of the best deep threats in the SEC in 2016.

There weren’t many spectacular offenses in the SEC in 2016, but there are always dynamic playmakers. Mississippi State and Alabama had two of the most dynamic players in SEC football in 2016, and one of them will be back again in 2017.

And that brings us to no. 72 in the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.

Mississippi State’s Fred Ross and Alabama’s Calvin Ridley each caught 72 passes in 2016.

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Fred Ross, Mississippi State

After catching 88 balls for 1,007 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior in 2015, Fred Ross had 72 receptions for 917 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He had four games with double-digit receptions as a junior, and against Arkansas in 2016, he had 10 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

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Surprisingly, Ross wasn’t drafted in the NFL Draft, but he signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent.

Calvin Ridley, Alabama

Like Ross, Calvin Ridley took a step back statistically in 2016. As a freshman, Ridley had 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and 7 touchdowns. Then last year, he caught 72 passes for 769 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Most likely, Ridley didn’t get worse overnight, so most people point to Jalen Hurts and his inability to connect on the deep ball. Alabama will have a new offensive coordinator in 2017, so it will be interesting to see the effort that they take to make Ridley a bigger part of the offense again in 2017.

Fortunately for SEC defenses, they won’t have to deal with Ross this season, he’s the NFL’s problem now, but there’s no hiding from Ridley in 2017.

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