Auburn’s rich football history has included more than a few stud linebackers through the years, which of course always inspires a debate as to who was the school’s best at the position.

There are more than a dozen worthy candidates, but we whittled the list down to our top five Auburn linebackers of all-time. Take a look:

5. Gregg Carr (1981-84): Carr was not as dynamic as some other players on this list, but he’s one of the most consistent linebackers in school history. He led Auburn in tackles three times, peaking in 1984 when he earned his only All-America and All-SEC honors. His 453 tackles rank second in school history behind Freddie Smith (see below), and his two seasons with more than 130 tackles both rank in the top 10 in school history for tackles in a season. Although he lacked jaw-dropping abilities, he went on to play six seasons in the NFL following his days with the Tigers, again using consistency to succeed at the game’s highest level.

4. Freddie Smith (1976-79): Known as ‘Fast Freddie’ during his playing days for his lightning-quick speed, there were few ball-carriers in the SEC capable of eluding the star linebacker in the late 1970s. Smith still holds the school record with 528 tackles in his four-year career, an average of 132 per season, and he ranks No. 1 and No. 4 on Auburn’s single season tackles list with 193 in 1977 and 162 in 1979. The Tigers were just 24-19-1 during Smith’s career, failing to reach a bowl game in that span, which is a big reason his legacy doesn’t get the same recognition as other Tigers greats. Still, as an individual he’s as accomplished as any player in program history.

3. Aundray Bruce (1984-87): Bruce was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, due in large part to his impressive success at the college level. He was a two-time All-SEC honoree and a 1987 All-American, but he’s best remembered for his legendary performance in a game against Georgia Tech during the ’87 season. Bruce recorded 10 tackles, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), one forced fumble (recovered for a touchdown), one fumble recovery and three sacks. It remains one of the most dominant individual performances in the history of college football, and served as the culmination of all of Bruce’s other-worldly abilities during his days at Auburn.

2. Karlos Dansby (2000-03): Dansby is an 11-year veteran in the NFL with more than 1,100 tackles, 41 sacks and 32 takeaways to his name. But when he began his career at Auburn he was originally a wide receiver commit who was initially moved to safety before making his final move to linebacker. A natural football player, Dansby hardly missed a beat during multiple position changes, leading the team in interceptions in 2001 with five and in tackles in 2003 with 84. He was a two-time All-SEC honoree and a 2003 All-American, and although his numbers were impressive its his versatility and instincts that make him a special player even in 2015.

1. Takeo Spikes (1995-97): Spikes is likely the most punishing linebacker in Auburn’s history, earning his nickname TKO (“The Knock Out”) as a result of his fast, physical playing style. His 22-inch neck best epitomizes Spikes’ strength and power, but he also moved better than most other linebackers despite his large, bulky frame. His 331 career tackles rank top 10 all-time in program history, and he was named the MVP of the 1997 SEC championship game even though Auburn lost to Peyton Manning and Tennessee. His numbers on the plains were great, but it was the impact he made on the field, even when he wasn’t part of a play, that earned him the No. 1 spot on the list.