Breaking down three potential SEC breakout stars for College Football in 2023
In 2022, the SEC saw a lot of talent in their squads leave for the draft. With players leaving, new talent will arrive this year and breakout stars will come through. I will be breaking down three potential breakout stars the SEC could see in college football 2023.
1. Squirrel White – WR – Tennessee
White caught my eye last year in a few games last season with the Volunteers. In three games last season, White had 122, 96 and 108 receiving yards. Those single-game performances introduced White to all of college football. At that moment, we saw a potential breakout star.
Aside from him was wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, a projected first-round pick in this year’s draft. Hyatt outshone White all of last year, but the latter showed glimpses of star potential in some games. In 2022, White posted 30 catches for almost 500 yards and two touchdowns. On the other hand, Hyatt was voted as the best wide receiver in the country, securing the Biletnikoff Award.
With Hyatt gone to the NFL and White heading into his second season with the Volunteers, there is no question he will be one of college football’s breakout stars. White and quarterback Joe Milton will be one of the best one-two punches in the entire SEC.
2. Malik Nabers – WR – LSU
Malik Nabers had an outstanding year last year with the Tigers, but he can go further. The Youngsville, Louisiana, native eclipsed over 1,000 receiving yards on 72 catches last season and recorded three touchdowns.
Heading into his third season with LSU, Nabers will be an even bigger role in the receiving core as fellow wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has declared for the 2023 NFL draft. It is not 100 percent certain that Nabers will officially play this season though, as he was recently arrested for a weapons charge. LSU hasn’t made any further comments on his situation.
Of course, if Nabers plays for the Tigers in 2023, he will be one of the nation’s top receivers and one of the conference’s breakout stars.
3. Mykel Williams – Defensive Lineman – Georgia
Georgia has bred beasts on the defensive line the last few years. The Bulldogs have had 20 defensive linemen, including linebackers, drafted in the last nine years. That is absurd. Georgia had also arguably the best college football defense of all time in 2021. The real question is, who is going to be the next great Bulldog?
That answer could be very soon, with Mykel Williams breaking out as a star in the SEC next year. Jalen Carter, a projected top three pick in this year’s NFL draft, is leaving the Athens, meaning a spot at defensive tackle will open up for Williams to prove his worth.
In his freshman campaign, Williams led the bulldogs in sacks with 4.5. He also was sixth in tackles for a loss with 6.5. For a DT to have 4.5 sacks, his freshman year is pretty special. I can’t even imagine what Williams has in store for his next two to three years at Georgia.
Williams will be Georgia’s shining star on defense next year. Book it.
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