Best Defenses in the SEC

1. Alabama, (A+): Bama's D will be similar to the 2009 team, they are loaded everywhere. The D-line is probably the weakest, but not too weak with experience coming back even though they lost Marcell Dareus. They are stacked at linebacker with Courtney Upshaw, Nico Johnson, Dont'a Hightower, and C.J. Mosley. And their secondary has got to be the best in the country with all four returning starters including Mark Barron and Robert Lester, and then 5-star recruit Dre' Kirkpatrick at CB. It will not be easy to score on the Tide.

2. South Carolina, (A): The Gamecocks are stacked at defensive line. They have two excellent true freshman coming in with Jadeveon Clowney and Kelcy Quarles and Clowney was the #1 player in the country for the 2011 recruiting class and Quarles is a 4-star so they should step right in. Devin Taylor, Melvin Ingram, Travian Robertson are all picked to be All-SEC players so there is a big gap between this D-line and every other in the SEC. They get their leading tackler from '09 back from injury in Shaq Wilson at linebacker. Stephon Gilmore is a great cover corner and should be 1st team all-SEC, including him they have 3 out of 4 returning from the secondary, but do have 4-star Sheldon Royster coming in at safety as a true freshman.

3. LSU, (A-): LSU loses their three best defensive players in Drake Nevis, Kelvin Shephard, and Patrick Peterson. Still, they stockpile talent in Baton Rouge and have 6 returning starters on this defense. The D-line is always a strength for LSU and they have both ends returning, I'm sure they can find guys for the inside including 5-star recruit Anthony Johnson. They return 5 of their top 6 linebackers from 2010, and the secondary is loaded with talent with Morris Claiborne leading the way. If they can overcome the leadership they lost from '10 this D could be even better.

4. Florida, (B+): Janoris Jenkins was one of the best DBs in the SEC, but he was dismissed from the team in the offseason. Still, this is going to be a good defense under new Will Muschamp. Jaye Howard is my #1 DT, and Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic are very good linebackers. They've only got four returning starters but with all the talent coming back from a young team last year, and Muschamp's coaching, I think this will be a feared D.

5. Mississippi State, (B): Josh Boyd and Fletcher Cox anchor the D-line and make up possibly the best tackle combo in the conference. There looks to be enough depth at defensive end to ease the hole left by Pernell McPhee. The biggest question for everyone is at linebacker, were all three starters left including two NFL draft picks. State does have Brandon Maye, transfer from Clemson, coming in that should plug one of those holes, and the other two remain to be seen. The secondary should be one of the best in the SEC with all four returning starters.

6. Arkansas, (B): The Hogs have seven returning starters to a middle of the road defense in 2010. They've got my #1 DE Jake Bequette, but they will be anchored by their linebackers, mainly Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson. I think they've got an adequate defense to supplement their explosive offense, and the D will probably look better than they are if the offense meets expectation.

7. Tennessee, (B-): The D-line should be pretty good, they only have one returning starter on that unit but the three guys coming in are all 4-star recruits who are now sophomores. The linebackers should be the weak spot with one returning starter. The secondary has everyone coming back and should be the strong point. I think this will be a better defense then last year's mediocre one.

8. Georgia, (C+): Georgia had the #4 defense in the SEC last year, but they lose two 3rd round NFL draft picks in Justin Houston (who had 1st round talent) and Akeem Dent off their linebacking corps. It's the Dawgs second year under Todd Grantham and the 3-4 scheme and they return their entire secondary. Back-to-back games vs. Top 10 teams to start the year is really going to put the load on this group.

9. Kentucky, (C+): Danny Travathan had almost 20 tackles more than anyone else in the league last year, but perhaps that was because the D-line let everyone through. This wasn't a great group last year but they do return 10 starters so you would have to think they will improve on experience alone. The secondary should be good returning all 4 starters on a pass defense that was 4th in the SEC. This D should be better.

10. Vanderbilt, (C-): Vandy has 8 returning starters including stand-out linebacker Chris Marve, but when you're not as talented as the rest of the SEC that doesn't necessarily compute to a stellar defense. I've got to think that with senior leadership and the excitement of a new coach they will turn things around from the worst D in the league last year.

11. Auburn, (C-): Nick Fairley was a beast last year, he kept Auburn's D from blowing their SEC and National Titles hopes by playing out of his mind. But he's gone and so are seven other players from 9th rated defense in the SEC last year. Neiko Thorpe is the only projected starter that is a senior. If they can get some help from some highly touted recruits then it might be ok, but they will be thrown into the fire early and often.

12. Ole Miss, (D): Kendrell Lockett is my #2 DE in the SEC, outside of that this group is no good. As long as teams double team Lockett there should be no trouble getting through the line, the linebackers are very young, and the bright spot will be the secondary which is a little more experienced but still not that great. Unless there's some kind of big surprise, this has got to be it for Tyrone Nix.



JB