The 2022 college football season is less than two months away, and every SEC team will bring back at least half of its production from last season.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly ranked each Division I college football team based on return in production — a percentage that indicates how much of a team’s passing yards, tackles and other stats will be back from the previous season. The SEC East looks set to be an uphill battle between a handful of experienced teams and the defending champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. On the other hand, the SEC West may have a little less production behind it, but the division’s seven teams know how to recruit talented athletes every year.
Here’s every conference team on Connelly’s list in terms of returning production ahead of the 2022 season.
No. 12, State of Mississippi, 80 percent
MSU leads all SEC teams by returning 80 percent of their production starting in 2021. The Bulldogs have an experienced quarterback in Will Rogers and lost just three major playmakers to the NFL last season.
No. 17 Tennessee, 77 percent
The volunteers are the only other group giving back more than three quarters of the production. Quarterback Hendon Hooker wants to have a Heisman-worthy season and give his team a chance to win the SEC East.
No. 35 South Carolina, 71 percent
Much of the hype surrounding South Carolina this offseason has centered on transfer quarterback Spencer Rattler. However, the Gamecocks will bring back experienced players on both sides of the ball, including cornerback Cam Smith and tight end Jaheim Bell.
No. 42 Kentucky, 68 percent
The Wildcats ended 2021 with a 10-3 overall record and have a solid shot at matching that number this season by returning more than two-thirds of their production. Quarterback Will Levis is already being predicted to be the high draft pick and will look to show that Kentucky is more than a basketball school.
No. 45 Vanderbilt, 68 percent
Vanderbilt has struggled mightily over the past few seasons, but the Commodores will look to reverse that. Returning 68 percent of its production should help the team improve in a few areas.
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No. 49 Missouri, 67 percent
Like Vanderbilt, the Tigers have had a tough few years. There are many questions surrounding the program, but the amount of recurring production Missouri has could help the Tigers shock some teams once the season begins.
No. 50 Alabama, 67 percent
Alabama finished last season as the second-best team in the country and will return two-thirds of its production in 2022. The Crimson Tide is usually a playoff contender at the end of the regular season, and they’ll likely be right in the middle of the title race all over again.
No. 56 Auburn, 66 percent
Auburn’s offseason was filled with a lot of transfers and some crazy rumours. The Tigers have lost some top players to the portal – including signal caller Bo Nix – and will look very different this year.
No. 64 Arkansas, 65 percent
Arkansas had a breakthrough year in 2021, but can the Razorbacks carry that success into the new season? Double threat quarterback KJ Jefferson is one of the team’s top returns and will have more responsibilities on his shoulders than ever before.
No. 73 LSU, 63 percent
Brian Kelly takes over the Tigers at a difficult time. There’s no denying that LSU brings in plenty of talent each year, but a group that’s only returning 63 percent of production and has a brand new head coach has to work a little harder than most other teams.
No. 77 Ole Miss, 62 percent
Ole Miss is only bringing back 62 per cent of his production from last season but Lane Kiffin has been reloading with star transfers on the offensive side of the ball which should help some. It’s up to the new faces to show they were recruited to play at the SEC for a reason.
#79 Georgia, 61 percent
After winning the CFP National Championship last season, the Bulldogs had 15 players selected for the 2022 NFL Draft. Georgia will have some new faces in its starting lineup, but title-winning quarterback Stetson Bennett will return.
No. 81 Texas A&M, 60 percent
Although Jimbo Fisher and his Aggies are only returning 60 percent of last season’s production, they are recruiting some of the best players in the country. Texas A&M has come close to making the college football playoffs before; Will they finally make it this year?
No. 85 Florida, 59 percent
Florida has the lowest-yielding production in the SEC and a new head coach in Billy Napier. The SEC East won’t be easy for the Gators to navigate this season, but they’re putting together a solid year.