Being a successful football team depends on a lot of different things. Almost none are more important than quarterback play. The 16 starters in the SEC and roughly 20 to 25 players that will see the field at that position this season are all key.
But, who are the most important non-quarterback players in the SEC for 2026? Let’s start with five on the offensive side of the ball.
5. WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
Coleman-Williams burst on the scene in year one back in 2024. He’s one of the most talented wideouts in America, and that’s not up for debate. He did however, have a big sophomore slump in 2025. That’s not something that is new to elite Alabama wide receivers over the years.
Julio Jones and Amari Cooper both had massive freshman seasons and underwhelming sophomore campaigns. The issue with Coleman-Williams was, weirdly enough, his hands. This may shock you, but you’re gonna need those if you’re to be an elite receiver.
Last year, he led the country with 12 drops. With Alabama breaking in a new quarterback this season, whoever wins the job will need Coleman-Williams to look much more like the player he was as a freshman.
4. LT Jordan Seaton, LSU
There aren’t a lot of question marks on this LSU team coming into the season.If there’s one clear answer when it comes to Alabama’s biggest question mark, it’s in the trenches.
That concern is way more tethered to the offensive line than the defensive line. The defensive line may be super young, but it’s also incredibly talented. The offensive line is the biggest concern on the team. Period. The floor for those concerns however, is really high.
One player that has very little concern going into the season is left tackle Jordan Seaton from Colorado. Seaton has been one of the best offensive tackles in the country since he stepped foot on campus two years ago. His ability to protect Sam Leavitt and create running lanes for LSU’s loaded backfield will go a long way toward determining whether the Tigers can meet their lofty expectations.
3. LT Jacarrius Peak, South Carolina
South Carolina has allowed over 40 sacks in three consecutive seasons. That’s almost impossible to do. This year they went to the transfer portal and addressed their biggest issue, the offensive line.
Jacarrius Peak steps in at left tackle and provides, arguably, the biggest upgrade at a single position of any player in the conference. Peak finished ranked ahead of Jordan Seaton in the On3 transfer portal rankings. If South Carolina’s offense is to succeed, and Shane Beamer keeps his job, Jacarrius Peak might be reason No. 1.
2. RB Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown, Texas
This feels like cheating a bit using two players instead of one, but to say the run game is imperative for Texas’ success in 2026 is the understatement of the century.
People have a misconception about Steve Sarkisian’s offense being wide open and throwing it all over the field. They can do that, but the peak successes they have had under Sarkisian in Austin have been offenses that are predicated off the run.
During his first four seasons at Texas, the Longhorns averaged over 2,400 yards on the ground. Last year’s offense amassed just over 1,600. This year’s unit will need to do their best Matthew McConaughey in “Wolf of Wall Street” and pump those numbers up.
1. RB Jamal Roberts, Missouri
The ceiling for Missouri is lower than any other team listed alongside the previous four players. That doesn’t mean Roberts is any less important.
It feels apparent that last year’s leading rusher Ahmad Hardy is not going to be ready when the season starts after suffering a gunshot wound this offseason. The next man up is Jamal Roberts.
Roberts finished last season with the third highest yards per carry in the SEC at 6.07. Missouri has had the SEC’s leading rusher three times in the last five seasons. Just because Hardy could miss time doesn’t mean their identity on offense will change.
They upgraded at quarterback with Austin Simmons, and they will feature one of the better offensive lines in the entire conference, as well. Roberts will need to be the guy though at the start of the season if Missouri is to look like their past selves.
