SEC Football 2017: Biggest x-factor for every team

Heading into the upcoming season, take a look at the biggest x-factors for every team in the SEC. Who will burst onto the scene in 2017?

Alabama enters the season as prohibitive favorites to repeat as SEC champions. LSU, Auburn, Florida and Georgia figure to be their toughest competition. Going through each team in the conference, is there anyone that can overtake the throne that Alabama has? Who is the biggest x-factor for every SEC program that can help catapult them to an excellent season?

The star players are expected to have big seasons for their respective teams and be significant contributors, but the difference between a good season and a great season and a great season from a championship season are the players who come out of nowhere and have a big presence on the team. These players are the x-factors that can emerge from relative obscurity and be the difference for their teams finishing with eight wins or playing for a conference championship or earning a berth in the College Football Playoff.

With the college football season nearly upon us, let’s take a look at the biggest x-factor for every SEC football team this year.

Alabama – Da’Shawn Hand

Hand was the nation’s No. 5 recruit in the nation during the 2014 recruiting circuit. Alabama has obviously had a ton of talent on the roster which blocked him from playing. With guys like Dalvin Tomlinson and Jonathan Allen taking their games to the NFL, Hand is locked in as a starter. Well, that was before he got in trouble anyway.

Hand was arrested for a DUI this summer and many pundits called for him to be suspended, especially for the much-anticipated opener against Florida State on Sept. 2. However, when it was revealed Hand was not operating the vehicle at the time, rather sleeping inside, Saban decided to handle the punishment internally and not suspend his defensive lineman. The game against Florida State could very well decide who eventually secures a trip to the College Football Playoff. Both teams are flat-out loaded and will likely come down to the wire in a low-scoring affair.

Heading into his senior year, it’s time for Hand to cement himself as the next great Alabama defensive lineman. Of course, ‘Bama is loaded once again as Da’Ron Payne is another top-tier prospect along the line. Expect Hand to be slotted right in that 3-technique slot in Alabama’s 3-4 defense. In a full-time starting role, Saban will likely get the most out of him, he always does. There has been a long line of Alabama defenders that have made a big impact in the NFL and there’s no reason Hand can’t do the same thing for the Crimson Tide. The beat will go on for Alabama as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Rashaan Evans, and Anthony Averett will likely be high draft picks next year.