Our next player on the countdown of the SEC's best 25 players certainly didn't have an issue making a splash during his first season on the field and in the SEC.
No. 17: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M,RSo.
2012 summary: The Freshman All-SEC selection started all 13 games for the Aggies and led the team with 82 catches for 1,105 yards, which were both A&M freshman records. He also scored five touchdowns and averaged 85.2 yards per game with three 100-yard outings last fall.
Most recent ranking: Not ranked in the 2012 postseason countdown.
Making the case for Evans: All he had to do was step onto the field for the first time in his career and make some noise in the SEC of all conferences. Well, he didn't take long to make his mark on the league and he didn't disappoint all year. Evans, who stands a menacing 6-foot-5 and weighs 225 pounds, caught five or more passes in 12 of the Aggies 13 games and only had fewer than 50 receiving yards twice. Evans is a physical specimen who can not only fly down the field but isn't afraid to put his hands on defenders. A one-on-one matchup with Evans really isn't recommended with the strength he possesses. He really made a name for himself in the Aggies' upset win over Alabama last year. He only caught five passes for 40 yards against the Crimson Tide, but he out-musceled defenders for the ball and extra yards on a few critical plays. With the numbers he put up last year, Evans made a very strong case for being the league's top wide receiver in 2012. Evans will be the leader of A&M's receiving corps in 2013, so he'll have even more responsibility in College Station, but that shouldn't be much of a problem at all for one of the league's best.
The rundown
No. 18: Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State, Sr.
No. 19: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama, Jr.
No. 20: Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas, Sr.
No. 21: Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia, So.
No. 22: Craig Loston, S, LSU, Sr.
No. 23: Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt, Sr.
No. 24: Keith Marshall, RB, Georgia, So.
No. 25: Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida, Jr.
