50 greatest SEC football players this century, ranked
By Nick Villano
Best SEC football players this century – 50. Dak Prescott, Mississippi State, Quarterback (2012-2015)
Right off the bat with a superstar quarterback that’s now leading the most popular franchise in the NFL. After redshirting his first year at Mississippi State, Dak Prescott was used as a gadget player in his freshman year. He took over the starting role after Tyler Russell got hurt in his sophomore season and Prescott started to show how great he could be.
Prescott took Mississippi State to new heights in 2014. For the first time in program history, they spent a week as the number one team in the nation. He finished the season 10-2 and broke 10 school records for passing. He finished eighth in Heisman voting that season and even received two first-place votes. He was even better in his senior season and he finished his career third in total yards in SEC history. He finished fourth in total touchdowns. Think about how many players have come through this conference? Like in the NFL, Prescott may have been overlooked at first, but once he got established, he was one of the best players at his position.
Best SEC football players this century – 49. Shawn Andrews, Arkansas, Offensive Tackle (2001-2003)
Shawn Andrews showed that someone at a premium position could stay home and still prove himself to be one of the best in the country. He was born in Camden, Arkansas, a town known for its military history. He spent his entire life there before he went on a four-hour drive to the University of Arkansas. It took him no time at all to dominate in Fayetteville.
He started as a freshman and made the freshman All-American team as a tackle. In his second season, he established himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the country. He was named a consensus All-American in his sophomore year and a unanimous All-American in his junior year. He won the Jacob’s Blocking Trophy, named the best offensive lineman in the SEC, two times. In 35 career college games, he only gave up two sacks. This is despite facing SEC defensive lines on a weekly basis.