Edward Aschoff, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Take Two: SEC West's biggest breakout player?

Occasionally, our SEC reporters will give their takes on a burning question facing the league. They'll both have strong opinions, but not necessarily the same view. We'll let you decide which reporter is right.

With the start of the 2015 season only a few months away, we thought we'd take a look at potential breakout stars in the SEC. These are guys who either piqued our interest last season or haven't had much of a presence yet.

Today's Take Two topic: Who is poised to be the biggest breakout player in the SEC Western Division -- LSU wide receiver Malachi Dupre or Ole Miss cornerback Tee Shepard?

Take 1: Sam Khan Jr.

There are so many good options across the conference, so it’s hard to choose a “wrong” answer, but my choice is LSU receiver Malachi Dupre. He’s young (entering his sophomore season), he’s big (6-foot-3, 187 pounds) and is oozing talent. Don’t take my word for it. See Exhibit A. Or Exhibit B. Or Exhibit C.

Dupre was ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the 2014 recruiting class for a reason. He only caught 14 passes last season, but five of them were for touchdowns. It was an adjustment year for the freshman. Playing right away is a challenge for any freshman receiver, but especially in the SEC. Dupre said himself that playing against physical cornerbacks who excel in press coverage was a significant adjustment. So I expect Dupre to be much improved this fall with a season and a full offseason under his belt.

Yes, LSU’s quarterback play has to be better for Dupre’s numbers to rise, but considering neither one played well last year, they can’t get worse. There were signs this spring that both Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris made improvements, and whoever starts knows Dupre is a gifted athlete who can go airborne to beat an opposing defensive back, so bet on him getting more passes to catch now that Dupre has had more time to establish chemistry with each of them. Don’t expect him to catch 100 passes or anything like that; LSU’s offense isn’t built that way (and they have a guy named Leonard Fournette in the backfield) but I suspect he’ll at least double his freshman reception and touchdown totals this fall.

Take 2: Edward Aschoff

I really like that pick, Sam. I'm a big fan of what Dupre can do in 2015, and he told me earlier this spring that he's packed on some pounds so he can be more physical with defenders.

Like you, I think there are a lot of good options in the SEC West, so this wasn't easy. I was all ready to pick Auburn running back Jovon Robinson, but with you going offense, I decided to go defense. My choice for biggest breakout player is Ole Miss cornerback Tee Shepard. Now, he had to sit out last season because of a toe injury, but Shepard impressed just about everyone in Oxford this spring, and he arrived last year from the junior-college ranks with the potential to be an immediate star. That might have been pushed back a year, but Shepard is healthy and showed this spring that he should have no problem replacing All-AmericanSenquez Golson as the Rebels' top starting cornerback.

Shepard arrived in Oxford as the nation's No. 2 juco corner. He signed with Notre Dame in 2012 as the No. 9 high school corner prospect. He doesn't have a lot of on-field experience, but he's an older guy who has learned a lot over the years. From everything I've heard, I don't envision him having any nerves playing in SEC play this fall.

There isn't a lot of film on Shepard, but he was flying around Ole Miss' spring game and recorded an interception on the final play of the "game." Shepard is incredibly athletic, has a great nose for the ball and has quality speed to help him stay in line with the elite receivers in the league. With his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame, he won't have a problem being physical with some of the bigger receivers. I'm sure he'll keep your boy Dupre in check whenever he's lined up opposite him on Nov. 21.

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