There are 27 SEC underclassmen leaving for the 2018 NFL draft, and as is almost always the case, the guy replacing the guy who is leaving isn’t going to match the production (or talent level) of the departing player.
There are four early entrants, in particular, who would seem to be the most difficult to replace. Here’s a look at that quartet and the players who have the unenviable task of trying to replace them.
Monday, we’ll look at the SEC teams that benefited the most from underclassmen not leaving.
4. Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson
The skinny: He was the SEC offensive player of the year and did yeoman work in the Tigers’ offense; Johnson carried the ball on 44 percent of Auburn’s rushing attempts in 2017.