Photo courtesy of Missouri athletics
With conference play starting to get into full swing, we hand out our helmet stickers from the SEC in Week 4.
Our weekly 2-part series begins with the SEC East. Here are the players who stood out on offense and defense:
Florida
Offense: QB Emory Jones
Some in Gainesville were calling for Jones to get benched, but he has seemed to win over some detractors over the last two weeks. Jones went 21-for-27 passing for 209 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-14 win over Tennessee.
It was his work on the ground that made this performance. Jones ran for 144 yards on 15 carries, with a long of 49.
Most importantly, Jones took care of the football and did not turn the ball over for the first time this year.
Defense: CB Tre Dean III
Florida was extremely active on defense against Tennessee, especially up front. Still, Tre Dean was the most active of all.
From the secondary, Dean finished with a season-high 11 tackles. 1.5 for loss and a pass breakup.
Georgia
Offense: TE Brock Bowers
Bowers was a name that not many people outside of Athens knew, but he is starting to make waves.
The former 4-star finished with three total touchdowns in a 62-0 thrashing of Vanderbilt. Bowers caught two touchdowns and rushed for another.
Through four games, Bowers leads the Bulldogs in receiving.
Defense: LB Robert Beal Jr
Georgia was able to rotate a lot of players on defense after routing Vanderbilt, so nobody really made a huge impact.
Still, Robert Deal came away with three tackles and a sack.
Kentucky
Offense: RB Chris Rodriguez
Kentucky struggled to get things going through the air, but it got another big rushing performance from Chris Rodriguez to make up for it in a 16-10 win over South Carolina.
Rodriguez rushed for 144 yards on 26 carries. Kentucky finished with 230 total rushing yards against South Carolina.
Defense: LB Deandre Square
Square has been one of the leaders for the Wildcats in the middle of the defense, and his presence was felt on Saturday.
The senior from Detroit has had a productive season, but finished with his career-high eight tackles against the Gamecocks.
On the season, Square has 18 total stops.
Missouri
Offense: K Harrison Mevis
Special teamers don’t typically receive helmet stickers, but this was a special case.
Mevis went 2-for-2 on field goals against Boston College, including a 56-yarder to force overtime at the end of regulation.
While the Tigers fell 41-34 in overtime, they would not have even gotten that far without Mevis.
Defense: DB Martez Manuel
Martez Manuel was all over the field for Mizzou.
The hometown kid finished with 11 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
South Carolina
Offense: WR Jalen Brooks
South Carolina struggled to get anything going on offense against Kentucky, but Jalen Brooks had the best game of his young career.
Brooks finished with 63 yards on four receptions, and snagged the only touchdown of the night for the Gamecocks.
In all of 2020, Brooks had 100 receiving yards. He already has 138 in 2021.
Defense: CB Jaylan Foster
Jaylan Foster had another big night for the Gamecocks.
Not only did he finish with 12 tackles, but he came away with a clutch interception late in the first half.
Foster is starting to become a difference-maker for the Gamecocks.
Tennessee
Offense: C Cooper Mays
Mays is the first offensive lineman to receive a helmet sticker, and that is because he showed some fight in a loss to Florida.
Mays has been banged up all year, and showed incredible grit by playing through injury in Gainesville.
Talk about laying it all on the line. Mays did that.
Defense: LB Trevon Flowers
Tennessee struggled on defense, but there is at least one bright spot.
Trevon Flowers came away with an astounding 15 tackles on Saturday — a career-high. The senior from Atlanta now has 27 stops for the season.
Vanderbilt
Offense: QB Mike Wright
Considering Vandy finished with 77 yards of offense against Georgia, there is not much to talk about here.
Mike Wright led the Commodores in both passing and rushing.
Defense: LB Ethan Barr
Barr was one of the lone bright spots for Vanderbilt against Georgia.
Barr tallied six tackles and an interception.