Offense: Benny Snell Jr., RB, Kentucky
I have praised Stanley Williams in this column before. And I stand by that praise, for the man called Boom is a talented SEC running back. What he isn’t, however, is a physical, battering-ram of a running back. But Kentucky has found one of those running backs.
Benny Snell Jr. is just a freshman, but the coaches already trust him to handle a full workload. Against Missouri on Saturday, Snell carried the ball 38 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Snell saw a great many of his snaps come via the Wildcat formation. He would charge into a stacked box and emerge five yards downfield. It truly was a great performance for the young man.
Honorable Mentions:
Kamryn Pettway, RB, Auburn
Speaking of battering rams, nobody in the SEC embodies that more than Kamryn Pettway. Pettway is big, but he’s also surprisingly quick. Against Ole Miss, Pettway carried the ball 30 times for 236 yards and a touchdown.
Prior to the season, after Jovon Robinson’s dismissal, I wrote an article where I suggested that Gus Malzahn feed the big man. And feed the big man he has. Pettway has rumbled for 933 yards and seven touchdowns on the season, despite splitting time with Kerryon Johnson. He is a special talent.
Nick Fitzgerald, QB, Mississippi State
Nick Fitzgerald had a phenomenal game against Samford, racking up over 500 yards of total offense. He completed 20 of his 35 pass attempts for 417 yards and five touchdowns. Plus, he rushed for 119 yards and two more touchdowns on 19 carries.
It has not been a good year for Mississippi State. The loss of Dak Prescott, along with other key players, has proven difficult to overcome. However, Fitzgerald looked like a good quarterback on Saturday.