A look at five freshmen who are poised to make a big impact in their first season in the SEC:
1. RB Keith Marshall -- Georgia
The Bulldogs had big plans for Marshall even before the dismissal of 2011 starting RB Isaiah Crowell. With Crowell now out of the picture, Marshall has a chance to be a huge part of the offense in 2012. Ranked as a five-star prospect by MaxPreps.com, Marshall showed incredible speed and vision while averaging over 10 yards per carry in high school. At the very least, Marshall will split time with sophomore RB Ken Malcome.
2. WR Dorial Green-Beckham -- Missouri
At 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Green-Beckham might be the most physically gifted freshman entering the SEC in 2012. Recent history has shown that big WRs can have early success in the SEC with the likes of Alabama’s Julio Jones, Georgia’s A.J. Green and South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery all having an impact in their careers. Green-Beckham enters a great situation with a capable QB in James Franklin and a veteran WR, senior T.J. Moe, to mentor him.
3. DT Quay Evans -- Mississippi State
An early enrollee, Evans was impressive in spring practice and might earn a starting spot on the revamped defensive line. Replacing first-round pick Fletcher Cox is no simple task, but the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Evans may have the physical talent to do it once he gets some experience. He was ranked as a top-50 prospect by MaxPreps.com and was one of the top-rated signees in recent Mississippi State history.
4. RB T.J. Yeldon -- Alabama
RB Eddie Lacy is the presumptive starter at RB, but Yeldon made his case in the Alabama spring game with 88 yards rushing and 91 yards receiving on his way to being named the game’s MVP. Even if Yeldon doesn’t crack the starting lineup, coach Nick Saban loves to use multiple RBs, and Yeldon will certainly be in that mix. Lacy and RB Jalston Fowler combined for over 1,000 yards as backups to Trent Richardson in 2011, so Yeldon will have a chance to be productive regardless of his spot on the depth chart.
5. WR Shaq Roland -- South Carolina
South Carolina is looking for a new go-to guy after WR Alshon Jeffery departed early to the NFL. Roland might not be that guy from the first day, but he has a real chance to grow into a top target for QB Connor Shaw. He was the consensus top player from the state of South Carolina and was also a top-100 recruit nationally, according to multiple recruiting services.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from SEC bloggers Larry Hartstein and Daniel Lewis, follow @CBSSportsSEC.
