16 SEC sleepers you better know in 2025 — and Kentucky’s sparkplug could burn bright
Not every star comes with a billboard. Some are forged in the shadows, sharpening their game while the world watches someone else. But make no mistake: every SEC team has one. A player just below the national radar, about to break through it.
Here are 16 under-the-radar talents—one from each SEC program—who could tilt the season in 2025. If you're not watching them yet, you will be soon.
Alabama: Kam Dewberry, OL
Dewberry’s not flashy—just flat-out reliable. He gave up two sacks in over 600 snaps last season, and now he’s sliding to guard to anchor Alabama’s reworked interior. If Jalen Milroe becomes unstoppable in 2025, Dewberry’s name will be in the footnotes—and in the draft guide margins.
Arkansas: O'Mega Blake, WR
A transfer from Charlotte with a jetpack. Blake averaged 24.8 yards per catch in 2024—second-best in the country. He brings vertical juice to an Arkansas offense looking for answers. If Taylen Green connects with him early, Blake could blow the top off more than a few defenses.
Auburn: Mason Murphy, OT
One sack allowed in 700+ snaps. That’s not a stat—it’s a security blanket. Murphy’s job is to give Jackson Arnold time, and he does it like a seasoned vet. You won’t see his name in the highlight reel—but his man won’t be in it either.
Florida: Jadan Baugh, RB
Baugh doesn’t dance—he hits the hole and hits the gas. After 673 yards and 7 touchdowns in a crowded Gator backfield last year, he’s ready for feature-back volume. Florida’s offense needs identity. Baugh might be it.
Georgia: Bo Walker, RB
Walker isn’t the headliner in Athens, but he’s a wrecking ball with fresh legs. He’ll get plenty of work spelling Josh McCray in 2025.
Kentucky: Kendrick Law, WR
The transfer speedster is already turning heads in Lexington. Law racked up 510 yards on 35 grabs last season and gives Zach Calzada a pure vertical threat. Kentucky hasn’t had a true home-run hitter on the outside since Wan’Dale Robinson. Law has that kind of ceiling—and the Wildcats might need every bit of it in a stacked SEC East.
LSU: Bauer Sharp, TE
Sharp might be the best tight end in the league nobody’s talking about. He’s got soft hands, smart routes, and trust from Garrett Nussmeier. Don’t be surprised if Sharp becomes the chain-mover LSU builds around.
Mississippi State: Fluff Bothwell, RB
DeMarion "Fluff" Bothwell is one of my favorite players in all of college football, and I think he could be a top 10 RB in the nation next year at Mississippi state next year. pic.twitter.com/g5ZKgwmRka
— KT Sports (@KTsports_takes) May 5, 2025
Name of the year? Probably. But the game’s no joke. Bothwell ran for over 500 yards on a team that struggled to stay on schedule. He’s built like a bowling ball and runs through contact. New coach, new scheme—old-school runner.
Missouri: Cayden Green, OL
Green played over 800 snaps in 2024 and allowed just two sacks. That’s absurd at any level. At 6-5, 315, he’s a cornerstone for Beau Pribula’s protection—and Missouri’s postseason hopes.
Oklahoma: Zion Kearney, WR
Kearney averaged 16 yards per catch last year and brings reliable hands and big-play energy. With John Mateer taking the reins at QB, expect Kearney to be the breakout name from Norman.
Ole Miss: Cayden Lee, WR
Lee’s 600-yard, 5-TD season flew under the radar behind Tre Harris. But he’s electric in space, and Lane Kiffin knows how to feed his burners. Lee could end up being Dart’s go-to when Ole Miss needs six.
South Carolina: Brandon Cisse, CB
One of the best young corners in the conference. Cisse posted 3 interceptions and 8 pass breakups, and rarely gets beat over the top. He’s a one-man traffic jam on the outside—and South Carolina’s defense leans on him.
Tennessee: Mike Matthews, WR
He played like a future No. 1 receiver as a freshman—now it’s time to take over. With 350 yards and 2 scores already under his belt, Matthews could be the breakout that keeps the Vols offense churning.
Texas: Travis Shaw, DL
At 6-6, 350, Shaw is a natural mismatch. He tallied 3.5 sacks last season and routinely collapsed pockets from the inside. The move to SEC play won’t scare him—he was built for this league.
Texas A&M: Tyreek Chappell, CB
Chappell had 4 interceptions and 10 PBUs in 2024—and still barely got national attention. He’s sticky, physical, and always around the football. If A&M’s defense gets nasty this year, he’ll be a reason why.
Vanderbilt: Keanu Koht, LB
Vandy doesn’t have a star on every level—but Koht can hold down his. With 40 tackles and 5 tackles for loss, he’s their tone-setter. And with Diego Pavia gone, Koht becomes the face of the ‘Dores defense.
Keep an eye on the quiet stars
Every year, a few names rise from the middle of the depth chart to the center of the storyline. These are your watchlist guys. Your “I saw him coming” claims. They won’t all pop—but a few will explode.
And in Lexington, Kendrick Law might be the matchstick.
Don't blink.