Charles Harris had 3 1/2 sacks this spring as he tries to replace Shane Ray at defensive end. (Getty Images)
Every year, programs must replace key players.
This is a team-by-team look at 13 SEC programs (Chip Towers and Seth Emerson have UGA covered) and a key player who must be replaced this season.
Who replaces Shane Ray? If LSU is "DBU," then Missouri is becoming "DLU."
Sheldon Richardson, Michael Sam, Kony Ealy, Markus Golden and Ray are among the defensive linemen who have excelled for the Tigers the past few years.
Look for sophomore Charles Harris, who is 6-3, 255 pounds, to join that group. He had 3½ sacks in spring scrimmages and picked off a pass, returning it for a TD.
Coaches are moving Harris around, sometimes playing him as a stand-up end and sometimes dropping him in coverage.
The Tigers are looking at him replace Ray, who was Denver’s first-round pick, and Golden, Arizona’s second-round selection.
Harris, who had two sacks while backing up both of them last fall, was projected to team with Marcus Loud (6-4, 260), but he was dismissed from the program on Wednesday.
