These underappreciated players may be overshadowed by other SEC stars at their position or perhaps a superstar teammate, but they are a big part of their respective team.

 

1. G Larry Warford – Kentucky

He plays one of the least appreciated positions at one of the least followed SEC football schools. That doesn’t mean NFL scouts don’t know who he is. He moves remarkably well for his 6-foot-3, 340-pound frame and will anchor a Kentucky offensive line in 2012 that will try to create running room for running back CoShik Williams and protect quarterback Maxwell Smith or Morgan Newton, both of whom were injured in 2011.

2. CB Tharold Simon – LSU

No, he doesn’t have a cool nickname like ‘the Honey Badger,’ but Simon could be one of the best cover cornerbacks in the league in 2012. He has size at 6-foot-3, and was impressive as the Tigers’ No. 3 cornerback in 2011 behind Tyrann Mathieu and Morris Claiborne. Expect him to snag several interceptions in 2011 and to follow a long line of LSU defensive backs into the NFL in either 2013 or 2014.

3. QB Connor Shaw – South Carolina

He doesn’t get the preseason accolades like Tyler Wilson of Arkansas, Aaron Murray of Georgia, AJ McCarron of Alabama or Tyler Bray of Tennessee, but Shaw has a chance to be extremely productive for the Gamecocks in 2012. In his final three games of 2011 he averaged 219 passing yards, a 74.5-percent completion percentage, 2.6 passing touchdowns, 79.7 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. If he can carry numbers like that into 2012, he could be in line for some postseason accolades.

4. P Dylan Breeding – Arkansas

Breeding led the SEC in punting average by almost a full yard in 2011 with 45.3 yards per punt. He hit 17 of his punts 50 yards or longer and 16 were dropped inside the 20. The only problem was that the Razorbacks didn’t use him much due to their prolific offense. Cody Mandell of Alabama was the only full-time punter in the SEC that punted less than Breeding.

5. WR Jordan Matthews – Vanderbilt

He doesn’t get as much publicity as Cobi Hamilton of Arkansas, Ryan Swope of Texas A&M, or Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers of Tennessee, but Matthews could be one of the most productive receivers in the SEC in 2012. He was very prolific for the Commodores in their last seven games of the season, totaling 36 receptions for 715 yards and five touchdowns. 

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.