SEC player survey: Who's the best athlete in the SEC? We asked 27 players

The following survey cannot, and should not, be considered scientific. The polling results are notable, though.

AL.com asked 27 players at SEC Media Days in Dallas the same question; Who’s the best athlete in the SEC?

The only caveat: They couldn’t pick someone on their rosters. So, for example, a Florida player couldn’t select another Florida player for their answer.

There was no consensus. Some of the players either chose not to name anyone or said they couldn’t think of one. Meanwhile, 11 different players received votes.

“There’s a lot of good athletes in the SEC,” LSU linebacker Harold Perkins said.

Still, a few names emerged more than others. Here are the unscientific results of the informal polling.

Third place: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee edge defender (2 votes)

Pearce became the only player to receive two votes. Most of the nominated 11 players picked up only one.

Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker and Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson each selected Pearce.

“He’s quick,” Walker said. “His get off is insane to me. You can see he’s not the biggest, he’s not the strongest. He’s not just going to overpower a guy. But his hands and footwork is just great.”

Pearce tallied 10 sacks, tied for the SEC lead, and 16 hurries a season ago. He also had 14.5 tackles for loss, ranked second in the SEC in 2023. As a result, Pearce earned All-SEC first team honors.

Second place: Nyck Harbor, South Carolina wide receiver (4 votes)

Let’s start with Harbor’s measurables.

Harbor can run a 20.20-second 200-meter dash, a 10.11-second 100-meter dash and a 6.73-second 60-meter dash. He is listed at 6-5, 235 pounds.

At that size, “that’s insane,” said Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams.

Harbor is one of the fastest collegiate runners in the country. Harbor didn’t participate in spring drills due to his commitment to the South Carolina track and field team. As a true freshman, he finished fifth at the SEC indoor track and field championships in the 200-meter and eighth in the 60-meter. During the outdoor season, Harbor earned second-team All-America honors in both events.

He became a frequent name brought up during the polling. Williams, Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks, Missouri receiver Luther Burden III and Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante all picked Harbor.

“Man, freak athlete,” Starks said. “He’s fast, can jump … Him being able to do that at such a young stage in his career is crazy.”

Harbor only started five games and caught one touchdown last season as a true freshman for the Gamecocks, so he wasn’t widely known. But he’s picking up notoriety because of EA Sports’ College Football 25 video game.

“99 speed, 99 accel, 98 jump,” Burden said. “I haven’t seen (anything) like that … Seems pretty cool to me. I don’t know how DBs are going to tackle him.”

Asante is one player who became aware of Harbor as a result of the video game. He didn’t even know Harbor’s name, but he knew about him. So, Asante gave Harbor his vote.

Said Asante: “I heard South Carolina has a receiver that is an elite talent, crazy talent, super fast, super strong, just crazy athlete.”

First place: Jalen Milroe, Alabama quarterback (5 votes)

Milroe led the polling by one vote.

Five different players from five different schools voted for him: Texas’ Kelvin Banks, Arkansas’ Landon Jackson, Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, Vanderbilt’s Gunnar Hansen and Florida’s Montrell Johnson.

“I’d say Jalen Milroe would be the top athlete,” Jackson said. “I feel like he’s the most athletic quarterback in the conference.”

A season ago, Milroe threw for 23 touchdowns while rushing for 12 scores. Some of his longest passes flew 79 yards, 68 yards and 56 yards. Some of his longest rushes went for 53 yards, 37 yards and 30 yards.

Twitchy. Fast. Big. Able to go outside the pocket. Can throw the deep ball. Cut up. Players listed all of those attributes and abilities when talking about the Alabama quarterback.

“He can do it all,” Faulk said. “He can use his feet, he’s physical. He’s built different. He doesn’t look like an average quarterback. Playing against him was similar to playing (former LSU quarterback) Jayden Daniels. He’s (6-2) and built like a tank. Preparing for him this year you have to do that very cautiously. He can throw the ball. He can run it. He can do about all of it.”

Others receiving votes (1 vote a piece)

· Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas offensive tackle

· Barion Brown, Kentucky receiver

· Luther Burden, Missouri receiver

· Johntay Cook II, Texas receiver

· Kyle Kennard, South Carolina edge defender

· Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia linebacker

· Harold Perkins, LSU linebacker

· Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss edge defender