Entering week 12 of college football, the SEC is more topsy-turvy than ever. Upsets abound, No. 2 teams drop to No. 11 and teams that were previously looked over as contenders have made a run to place all eyes back on them. The stat leaders for this conference are a reflection of how wonderfully wacky college football is right now. Let’s take a look.
Passing yards: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss quarterback
Senior Jackson Dart is the uncontested leader for passing yards, boasting 3,409 yards after last week’s upset against Georgia — for reference, second-in-line is LSU redshirt junior Garrett Nussmeier with 2,866. With a completion rate of just under 71% and an average pass of 11.4 yards, Dart has been throwing balls akin to his namesake. He is also responsible for 22 touchdowns and has thrown just four interceptions this season.
Rushing yards and touchdowns: Dylan Sampson, Tennessee running back
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee’s junior star running back, has carried the Volunteers to the top spot in the SEC. With 1,129 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns off of 201 attempts, Sampson has run through every SEC defense to put his name at the top of the conference’s board.
Receiving yards: Tre Harris, Ole Miss wide receiver
Tre Harris is the second of three Ole Miss Rebels to top the SEC stats board. With 59 receptions for 987 yards, Harris has put the ball in the endzone six times. The senior is a big playmaker, averaging 16.7 yards after the catch — making him a powerful force against any secondary in the conference.
Tackles: Isaac Smith, Mississippi State safety
With 101 total tackles and a forced fumble, sophomore Isaac Smith gives a shine to Mississippi State’s otherwise lackluster defense. The safety has had an incredible season after coming out of 2023 with only 15 tackles, six of which were solo. Now, he is responsible for 42 solo tackles and has assisted on another 59, placing him atop the defensive leaderboard.
Sacks: Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss linebacker
Sophomore Suntarine Perkins is no match for any offensive line he’s faced, recording 10 sacks this season, making him the third Ole Miss player to top this week’s stats leaderboard. To go with his double-digit sack numbers, he also has 28 solo tackles. With only three and a half sacks during the 2023 season, Perkins is another defensive player who has shown massive improvement between seasons.