LSU lands two in On3's Top 10 SEC players of 2023 season
With the college football season season approaching, On3’s National College Football Columnist Jesse Simonton named his Top 10 players in the SEC.
“We’re inching ever-so-close to the 2023 season, and with Week 0 just around the corner, I’m unveiling my Top 10 players from each Power 5 conference over the next week,” Simonton said. “This is a fun, but tough exercise. Whittling down to just 10 guys in a sport this loaded with stars and All-Americans is hard.
“Some real dudes didn’t make the cut. There’s not a single quarterback in my preseason Top 10 SEC Players in 2023, but KJ Jefferson, Joe Milton, Jayden Daniels, Carson Beck or Devin Leary could all find their way on the list by year’s end. Same for Georgia’s inside linebacker duo (Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon) or if LSU tackle Maason Smith is able to wreck havoc for a full season returning from his major knee injury.
“Notably, this is not a list of the 10 best future pros. It’s the Top 10 players in the SEC, right now, heading into the 2023 season. Debate away.“
Harold Perkins checks in at No. 2 in the SEC
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins took the nation by storm during his true freshman season this past fall, but where does he stack up entering Year 2?
Simonton circled Perkins as the SEC’s top player on defense and No. 2 player in the conference, which is high praise given the talent on SEC rosters.
The lone player ranked ahead of Perkins is Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, who had a team-high 24 touchdowns in the past two years for the back-to-back national champions, averaging nearly 15 yards per touch. He could also become the first Georgia player to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark in more than 20 years.
Back in Baton Rouge, Perkins is nipping at Bowers’ heels as the next name likely to sit atop the SEC’s list of top players.
“Perkins has a chance to make his case as the best overall defensive player in the country in 2023, especially if he can show growth as a run-defender,” Simonton said. “The former 5-star phenom racked up 72 tackles, 14 TFLs, 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles as an undersized true freshman.
“He’s put on weight this summer and cross-trained at inside linebacker, where the freaky edge rusher is expected to be utilized as an X-factor blitzing from multiple angles in Matt House’s defense.”
Malik Nabers gets the nod as WR No. 1 for 2023 season
LSU junior wide receiver Malik Nabers checked in at No. 7 on the list, making him the highest-ranked wide receiver in the SEC ahead of the 2023 season.
“The Tigers had the SEC’s No. 5 passing attack in 2022, but Nabers returns as the league’s top receiver in yards (1,017) and receptions (72),” Simonton said. “While he caught just three touchdowns, expect that number to jump significantly after he emerged as the Tigers’ go-to option down the stretch last season.
“In LSU’s final four games, Nabers averaged seven catches for 122 yards, with two of his three scores coming during that period. Nabers was an ankle-breaker after the catch, too, forcing 21 missed tackles (fifth-most among all Power 5 wideouts), per PFF.”
