SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #6

We are now less than one week away from the kickoff of the SEC Schedule! Just six days separate from South Carolina and Vanderbilt playing in Nashville next Thursday. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo for updates. You can also follow the blog by clicking the "follow" button in the upper right corner of your screen. Our countdown for #6 today features a player from the two teams that will meet in the first SEC matchup of the season:

Jay Cutler, QB, Vanderbilt

Jay Cutler is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play at Vandy. Cutler was the 2005 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. That season Cutler led the SEC in completions and passing yardage. His 21 passing touchdowns were second in the conference that season, where he led the Commodores to just a 5-6 season despite his numbers. Cutler was the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Here are some of Cutler's highlights from his 2005 season with the Commodores:




Melvin Ingram, LB/DL, South Carolina

Ingram was a special player for the Gamecocks. He started in at least 11 games in all four of his seasons with South Carolina from 2007 until 2011. He was a Consensus All-American in 2011. Ingram's 22 career sacks put him ninth on the all-time in the SEC. He racked up 15 tackles for loss in 2011, which was the third-best total in the conference. Ingram was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, where he still plays today. Check out his lone touchdown of his South Carolina career, where he displayed his tremendous athleticism by taking a fake punt 68 yards to the end zone against Georgia in Athens to help give the Gamecocks a big win:



Be sure to check out our week one SEC picks this coming Tuesday (8/29). If you missed any part of our countdown you can find the links to each post on the right side of your screen. You can follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo. As always, thanks for reading and feel free to share!

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #13

We are now under two weeks until South Carolina travels to Nashville to open their season against Vanderbilt Sept. 1. Just 13 days remain...

Today's countdown features a very talented receiver, who had tremendous size and ability.

Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

Evans was an absolute monster for the Aggies in 2012 and 2013. His size and talent made him the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans was a 2013 Consensus All-American that would've probably broken several SEC records had he played more than two seasons in College Station. Still, his two years featured many plays that made the "12th Man" go crazy from the great catches he made.

Evans racked up more the 1,100 yards in 2012, and he topped that number by totaling six yards shy of 1,400 in 2013. He was second in the SEC in average yards per reception in 2013 with 20.2 yards per catch, and his 12 touchdown receptions was the most of any player in the conference.

Here's Evans burning an Alabama defender for a 95-yard touchdown catch in 2013. The Tide managed to hold on and won 49-42, but the Aggies certainly gave Nick Saban's squad a scare.




Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GSL_SECPlus3 and @griffaldo by clicking the user names and pressing the "follow" button. You can also follow the blog and receive notifications by clicking the "follow" button in the upper right hand corner of your screen. If you missed any of the previous countdown posts, you can find them by clicking on the links below. As always, thanks for reading!

SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #19
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #18
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #17
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #16
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #15
SEC+3's Countdown to Kickoff: #14