Scouting the SEC: Week 1

The SEC is as loaded as ever with talent that lines up perfectly with the Tennessee Titans and their needs. Let's talk about them every week.

This is a new series that I have been working on putting together, unfortunately, SEC’s official site kind of screwed me with the way they labeled games and I thought they were all on Saturday through Monday.

However, the Titans fane base is largely tied to the SEC and so, why not look at the myriad of draft prospects from the SEC and their opponents and keep up with who they are, what they’ve done, and what to watch for.

Already Played

Damon Wilson II, EDGE, Missouri

• On Senior Bowl Top 300?: No

• Consensus Board Rank: Overall: 127 | Position: EDGE14

• 2024 Stats (with Georgia): 6 TFLS, 3 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 13.4 Pass Rush Productivity, 11.3 Win Rate

Outlook: A Senior Bowl watchlist snub, in my opinion. In plays with “true pass sets” he was the more productive EDGE rusher between him and Mykel Williams. He had more sacks, more pressures, on less pass rush snaps in that category. He transferred to Missouri, and even though he plays opposite of Zion Young who is ranked higher than him on consensus boards, if Thursday’s game is any indication that won’t last long.

he destroyed Central Arkansas in the limited snaps he played. He got 2 sacks and 2 TFL’s already closing in on his 2024 stats, and he did it all in just 10 pass rush snaps. Now, you may say: “Well, Zach that is against Central Arkansas.” Sure, but James Pearce Jr. didn’t do that. JPJ played Chatt, NC State, and Kent State and failed to get a sack during that time. 27 pass rush snaps without a sack. During all of those snaps, he only garnered 1 TFL.

That’s not to say Damon Wilson II is a 1st Round pick, but this 6’4”, 250 lb EDGE rusher needs to be on your radar. It’s a long season and you want to see him continue this trend against competition, but if last year is any indication he should. His 3 sacks each came in the Texas, Tennessee, and Texas (CFp) games. All 6 of his TFLs came in SEC games. So, he has shown it now versus lesser competition and SEC. Also, in big moments.

A team that likely needs to spend a lot at the EDGE rusher position in 2026, may look to double-dip and he could be a nice 1-2 punch with whoever they draft ahead of him.

Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri

• On Senior Bowl Top 300?: Yes

• Consensus Board Rank: Overall: 69 | Position: EDGE9

• 2024 Stats: 6 TFLS, 2.5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 8.8 Pass Rush Productivity, 15 Win Rate

Outlook: I walked away less impressed with Zion Young. He’s a bigger EDGE played at 6’5”, 262, but so far I haven’t seen enough on tape to warrant the talk he’s been getting. He lined up opposite Wilson and did nothing but a QB Hurry. Now he did play less pass rush snaps, but he’s more of an edge setting run defender from what I have seen.

Again, it is a long season, but I am looking for pass rush juice. I am tired of slow boys who can’t get sacks. We will see what he is able to do this season, but he spent two years at Michigan State and is now in his second year at Missouri and has’t ever reached more than 2.5 sacks. I need to see way more before I even think about drafting him ahead of Wilson.

Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

• On Senior Bowl Top 300?: Yes

• Consensus Board Rank: Overall: 11 | Position: DL3

• 2024 Stats: 11 TFLS, 7 Sacks, 12 Pass Rush Productivity, 12.7 Win Rate

Outlook: Already notched a sack and a tackle for loss versus Baylor. Faulk is a guy that I have seen a lot of top-50 lists and definitely closer to 10 than 50. In fact, Dane Brugler has him 5th overall just after Caleb Downs.

the 6’6”, 275 lb EDGE rusher is being compared to Mykel Williams, what you hope is that he stays healthy, and is more productive. He has all the goods you want in an EDGE rusher physically and athletically. What did I preach just a few days ago? You want to see consistency, and we already have a base line as seen above, to compare him to.

I would even go as to far to say, while the eyeball test may remind you of Mykel Williams, he has the potential to be better. I wasn’t a big Williams fan because he was never consistent, Faulk is. Faulk is also super versatile. He has line up everywhere.

If he exceeds the production we saw in 2024, he may very well be EDGE1 when it is all said and done.

Connor Lew, C, Auburn

• On Senior Bowl Top 300?: No

• Consensus Board Rank: Overall: 38 | Position: iOL1

• 2024 Stats: 1 Career Sack Allowed, 15 Career Total Pressures Allowed

Outlook: I said it on Cover Two yesterday, but this team may need to look beyond Lloyd Cushenberry. I am not ready to make the statement definitively without seeing Cush’s recovery from his achilles, but if a youth movement is the way forward, center needs to be a position on the Titans’ radar.

While it isn’t massive savings, they can designate him a post-June 1st cut and save $8m dollars against the cap. $3.475m if they do a normal cut. Either way, if he doesn’t show progress as the year goes on, the Titans may need to search for his replacement.

Connor Lew is arguably the best center in college football and may be able to have made that case last year as well. Centers are becoming increasingly more important in the NFL and having a guy who is SEC battle tested like Lew, who got the opportunity week 8, as a Freshman, versus Ole Miss and never looked back.

Playing Today

Going to list all of the players in the games, highlight a few, but also show their 2024 stats.