Ranking.. the SEC’s defensive players

Much of the focus in 2007 with be on the SEC’s offenses which feature marquee names like Doucet, Tebow, Woodson, McFadden, Jones and Stafford but the league also features some of the nation’s best defensive players. With any further adieu, the top five defensive players in the SEC.

1. Glenn Dorsey – DT – LSU

This is a no-brainer. There isn’t a defensive tackle, or a defensive lineman, in the SEC or in the nation right now than Glenn Dorsey. Had he left last year, the 299-pound senior would have been a late first-round, early second round pick in May’s NFL draft and decided to stick around, a decision that could make Dorsey a very wealthy man in 2008. Dorsey will be featured in a rotation of interior lineman that is arguably the best in the SEC. Dorsey will likely be double teamed every down, which will generate opportunities for his teammates to step up and make plays. Dorsey’s presence in the middle makes LSU a very difficult team to run against and control the line of scrimmage.

2. Jasper Brinkley – MLB – South Carolina

There isn’t a better linebacker in the SEC than Jasper Brinkley. A pre-season All-SEC selection, expect to see Brinkley follow up on an ‘06 campaign where he finished 4th in the conference in solo tackles and 9th in tackles for loss. A quick, instinctive linebacker with good size and speed, Brinkley could find himself on the Butkus finalist list at season’s end and will certainly have a place on the All-SEC first team for the second consecutive year.

3. Quentin Groves – DE/OLB – Auburn

After deciding to stick around for his senior campaign, Quentin Groves will have to prove in ‘07 that he can do more than rush the quarterback. He will certainly get that opportunity to show off his versatility as he lines up as defensive end in Auburn’s 4-3 packages but will also play standup end/outside linebacker when the defensive coordinator Will Muschamp lines up in the 3-4. Fast off the edge, Groves is most dangerous as a pass rusher and will need to develop into an outside linebacker that is function in pass coverage to improve his draft stock. Still, opposing coordinators will always have to know where Groves is on the field at any one time. He’s very, very dangerous off the edge and shows great closing speed when rushing the passer, having finished last year with 13 sacks, good for 2nd best in the conference.

4. Jerod Mayo – OLB – Tennessee

I don’t know if I saw a more exciting defensive player last season than Tennessee outside linebacker Jerod Mayo. The big question this year for Mayo is whether or not he can stay healthy as he was hobbled by injuries towards the end of last season and into the spring this year. If he can stay healthy, he’s as good of an open-field tackler as any in the conference. Having finished 2006 with 83 tackles, 12.5 for loss, Mayo was dubbed 2nd team All-America by rivals and a strong year in ‘07 could put him on the first team. Still the junior linebacker is the anchor of the entire Tennessee defense and as the cornerstone of that unit, he needs to stay on the field and off the injury report.

5. Simeon Castille – CB – Alabama

SEC quarterbacks would be wise not to throw in Simeon Castille’s direction. The ball-hawking cornerback out of Birmingham proved to be one of the most dangerous defensive backs in coverage last season, racking up 6 picks (tops among returning SEC) and will look to do the same in ‘07. With Lionel Mitchell lining up on the other side, Castille gives Alabama the best pair of corners in the conference. Look for Castille on the list of finalists for the Thorpe award. Even if quarterbacks don’t throw in his direction, Castille will find a way to get to the ball and at 6′1″ has the size to match-up against any receiver in the conference.