Published October 13, 2011 - 10:43am
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We here at SDS want to take a moment and look at the 10 best offensives studs and 10 best defensive studs of the first half of this 2011 football season. There are a ton of good defensive stars on every team; however, here are 10 who have made plays that have stood out so far this season.
We have already looked at the offensive studs; now it’s time for the defensive studs:
10. Danny Trevathan, LB, Kentucky
9. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
8. Charles Sawyer, DB, Ole Miss
While Danny Trevathan doesn’t get a lot of publicity, he’s racking up tackles like he always does in Lexington this season. He leads the SEC in tackles right now with 72 total tackles, and he is averaging 12 tackles per game for the Wildcats…Jadeveon Clowney has been a big spark for the South Carolina defense this season. Clowney is a freak, and he’s currently second in the SEC in sacks and ninth in tackles for loss. He threw Aaron Murray around like a rag doll earlier in the year. The guy is a beast, and his potential is off the charts…Chris Sawyer is the defensive bright spot for the Ole Miss Rebels this season. Sawyer has four interceptions on the year, which is good for first in the SEC. He returned a 95-yard interception against BYU in the first game of the year. He’s 10th in passes defended in the SEC, and he’s had a great first half.
7. Bacarri Rambo, DB, Georgia
6. Johnathan Banks, DB, Mississippi State
5. Morris Claiborne, DB, LSU
Georgia defensive back Bacarri Rambo not only has the best name in the SEC, but he has been one of the best defensive backs in the first half. Rambo is tied with Sawyer with four interceptions to lead the SEC, and he is second in passes defended with eight total. Rambo did not get to play against Boise, but I have the feeling he could have helped the Bulldogs out in a big way on that day…Johnathan Banks is have a wonderful year for the Bulldogs. Banks has four interceptions on the year, and he is first in the SEC in passes defended with 11 total. He is a ball hawk at corner for the Bulldogs…The fact that Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu are in the same defensive secondary is criminal. Claiborne is most likely the best corner in the SEC if not for Mathieu, and he is having a great year. Claiborne’s kickoff touchdown return against West Virginia shines bright, as does his two interceptions on the road against Mississippi State.
4. Winston Guy, DB, Kentucky
3. Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
2. Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Kentucky defensive back Winston Guy has had a really good first half of the season. Guy has proved he has a nose for the football in his senior season in Lexington. Guy is right behind teammate Danny Trevathan with 67 total tackles, good for second in the SEC. Guy is also tied with Courtney Upshaw with 8.5 tackles for loss. This guy is good, and he is having a really good year so far…Courtney Upshaw single-handedly dismantled the Florida Gators. He had a pick-six off John Brantley, and then he personally took out Brantley and backup Jeff Driskel. Upshaw is first in the SEC with 8.5 tackles for loss, and he seems to be all over the field in Nick Saban’s defense. He is the best linebacker the Tide has every Saturday…Melvin Ingram has been an absolute freak of nature for the Gamecocks. Ingram is leading the SEC in sacks with 5.5 total, and he is fourth in the SEC in tackles for loss with 7.5. Ingram also ran a fake punt for a touchdown 68 yards, and he looked like a full back running down the sideline. He has played out of his mind for the Cocks in the first half.
1. Tyrann Mathieu, DB, LSU
Was there any doubt Tyrann Mathieu would be the No. 1 defensive stud in the first half? Mathieu has an SEC-leading four forced fumbles this season, and he has the career lead at LSU with eight total. This guy makes a play every single week, and you just never know what he will do on any given Saturday. He might be the best defensive player in the country.
Have to disagree with Mathieu. Yes, he is the best defensive playmaker in the SEC but not the best defensive player. He doesnt tackle well and if you watch all of the fumbles he is playing the ball and not the offensive player, he lets someone else tackle and all he tries to do it take away the ball. While I am not dissing him about that if you put him one on one with some of the great recievers or put him in a zone by himself with T.R, Latti, Jeffery, Dyer, and other greats he will miss or alllow them to gain another yard or two during the tackle. He is a go getter but not a defensive stud like Dre Kirkpatrick who completely shuts down wide recievers and IF the QB throws it his way it is deflected or dropped after he lays the wood! ONCE AGAIN, Im not dissing Mathieu but he is a playmaker who will get burned if he doesnt have help. Every turnover has came with another LSU player hitting or being right on the player who fumbles allowing him to go after the ball but not the player.
Let’s re-evaluate this list on November 6.
As much as I like what Jadeveon Clowney has done for the Gamecocks this year, he’s not even one of the top two defensive players on the team. I will make the argument that Melvin Ingram is right now the best all around defensive player in the SEC, but at this time Antonio Allen is the second defensive player on the team and a better candidate for this list than Jadeveon. His stats are comparable Mathieu’s including takeaways and scores. He’s not getting as much press because he plays that weird hybrid LB/S “Spur” position so no one knows what to make of him.
I do not disagree with you both at all. I feel Mathuieu is just the perfect ball hawk machine and knows how to create the tunrover time and time again, which is what people love to see. Tha tbeing the case, i think that is why he is getting so much love. On him tackling, i feel he is exceptional, but of course, i have seen him miss a few. The best part of LSU’s defense is it’s like watching a bunch of lions chasing antelope on National Geographic. They are everywhere with that speed. Make no mistake, both LSU and BAMA’s defense’ are electric and any other adjective you want to use, THEY are it!!! Nov 6th, both teams will be bruised up, becuase body’s will be flying. Good luck and Geaux Tigahs.
I am really looking forward to the first Richardson-Mathieu collision.
All I can say is, Honey Badger better go low. TR is indeed a beast. He will need to be gang tackled no doubt.
I think Antonio Allen at least deserves an honorable mention.