Who has the best talent in the SEC at DL?

The common narrative that the SEC separates itself from other conferences on the strength of its defensive line is true.

Sure, there’s a difference between physical talent and on-field production. And in some cases, the high school recruiting sites misjudge talent. But recruiting rankings are an objective place to start when evaluating and comparing talent levels across a position.

Within that framework, 17 different five-star defensive linemen call the SEC home. Another 73 four-star defensive linemen play in the conference.

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Although there are some good three-star defensive linemen in the SEC, it’s very difficult to start at end or tackle for most good teams in the conference unless you were one of the most coveted recruits in the country at the position.

The state of Alabama is particularly saturated, with the Tide and Tigers combining for seven different five-star defensive linemen.

Here’s a look at the team-by-team talent, followed by a few observations:

• Based on recruiting ratings, Alabama (4.1), Auburn (3.8), Texas A&M (3.8) and Georgia (3.7) have the most quality defensive linemen in the SEC. That’s interesting to note considering three of those teams should enter 2015 as the conference favorites, while the Aggies inherit a coordinator in John Chavis with a long track record of leveraging defensive line talent.
• Among the three-star defensive linemen who should be really good players in 2015: Harold Brantley (Missouri), Caleb Azubike (Vanderbilt), Alonzo Williams (Texas A&M) A.J. Jefferson (Mississippi State), Corey Vereen (Tennessee) and Bryan Cox Jr. (Florida). Three of Arkansas’ rotation of four defensive ends also are former three-star players: Tevin Beanum, JaMichael Winston, Deatrich Wise Jr.
• Four SEC schools can claim fewer than four “quality” defensive linemen: Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri and Vanderbilt. Three of those teams play in the SEC East.
• Thin at several positions, Tennessee has no such problem at defensive line. Though Jakob Johnson seems ticketed for linebacker in 2015 (he’s listed at defensive line), the Vols still have 16 other scholarship players at the position group.
• A remarkable seven of the SEC’s 17 five-star defensive linemen are true freshmen: Daron Payne (Alabama), Byron Cowart (Auburn), CeCe Jefferson (Florida), Trent Thompson (Georgia), Terry Beckner Jr. (Missouri), Khalil McKenzie (Tennessee) and Daylon Mack (Texas A&M).

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of the scholarship defensive linemen in the SEC. Star ratings listed below are based on the 247Sports composite rankings.

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

5: Jonathan Allen, Da’Shawn Hand, A’Shawn Robinson, Daron Payne
4: Joshua Frazier, Korren Kirven, D.J. Pettway, Jarran Reed, Dalvin Tomlinson
3: Johnny Dwight, Darren Lake, O.J. Smith

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

4: Hjalte Froholdt, Bijhon Jackson, Taiwan Johnson, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Jamario Bell
3: Tevin Beanum, Cordale Boyd, Daytrieon Dean, Jake Hall, DeMarcus Hodge, Brandon Lewis, Ke’Tyrus Marks, Armon Watts, JaMichael Winston, Deatrich Wise Jr., T.J. Smith

AUBURN TIGERS

5: Montravius Adams, Carl Lawson, Byron Cowart
4: DaVonte Lambert, Andrew Williams, Justin Thornton, Dontavius Russell, Prince Tega Wanogho Jr.
3: Gimel President, Keymiya Harrell, Raashed Kennion, Maurice Swain, Devaroe Lawrence, Jauntavius Johnson

FLORIDA GATORS

5: Jonathan Bullard, CeCe Jefferson
4: Jay-nard Bostwick, Caleb Brantley, Khairi Clark, Thomas Holley
3: Taven Bryan, Bryan Cox Jr., Joey Ivie, Jabari Zuniga, Andrew Ivie, Keivonnis Davis, Richerd Desir-Jones, Luke Ancrum

GEORGIA BULLDOGS

5: Trent Thompson
4: Jonathan Ledbetter, Natrez Patrick, Michael Barnett, D’Andre Walker, Chauncey Rivers, Josh Dawson, Lamont Gaillard
3: DaQuan Hawkins, Justin Young, John Atkins, Sterling Bailey, James DeLoach

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

4: Jason Hatcher, Denzil Ware, Matt Elam
3: Kengera Daniel, Courtney Miggins, Javon Provitt, Alvonte Bell, Jacob Hyde, Cory Johnson, Regie Meant, Tymere Dubose, Adrian Middleton
2: Joshua Allen, Farrington Huguenin

LSU TIGERS

4: Arden Key, Tashawn Bower, Davon Godchaux, Travonte Valentine, Maquedius Bain, Christian LaCouture, Frank Herron, Deondre Clark, Greg Gilmore
3: Isaiah Washington, Trey Lealaimatafao, Sione Teuhema, Lewis Neal, M.J. Patterson, Quentin Thomas

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

5: Chris Jones
4: Fletcher Adams, Nick James
3: Johnathan Calvin, Keith Joseph, Kendell Jones, Anfernee Mullins, Cory Thomas, A.J. Jefferson, Ryan Brown, Torrey Dale, Will Coleman, Grant Harris, Nelson Adams, Braxton Hoyett, Johnathan Calvin

MISSOURI TIGERS

5: Terry Beckner Jr.
4: Josh Augusta
3: Marcell Frazier, Nate Howard, Tyrell Jacobs, Harold Brantley, Rickey Hatley, A.J. Logan, Rocel McWilliams, Spencer Williams, Evan Winston
2: Walter Brady, Charles Harris

OLE MISS REBELS

5: Robert Nkemdiche, Channing Ward
4: D.J. Jones, Breeland Speaks, Garrald McDowell, D.J. Jones, Issac Gross
3: Austrian Robinson, Ross Donelly, Victor Evans, Marquis Haynes, Woodrow Hamilton, Herbert Moore
2: John Youngblood
NR: Fadol Brown

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

4: Marquavius Lewis, Shameik Blackshear, Dexter Wideman, Dante Sawyer, Phillip Dukes, Darius English, Kelsey Griffin, Abu Lamin
3: Ulric Jones, Cedrick Cooper, Gerald Dixon Jr., David Johnson, Taylor Stallworth
2: Gerald Dixon

TENNESSEE VOLS

5: Khalil McKenzie
4: Kyle Phillips, Shy Tuttle, Andrew Butcher, Darrell Taylor, Derek Barnett, Curt Maggitt, Charles Mosley, Danny O’Brien
3: Quay Picou, LaTroy Lewis, Kendal Vickers, Dimarya Mixon, Jakob Johnson, Corey Vereen, Owen Williams, Trevarris Saulsberry

TEXAS A&M AGGIES

5: Daylon Mack, Myles Garrett
4: James Lockhart, Kingsley KeKe, Qualen Cunningham, Daeshon Hall, Jarrett Johnson, Justin Manning, DeShawn Washington, Zaycoven Henderson, Hardreck Walker
3: Reggie Chevis, Alonzo Williams, Julien Obioha, Jay Arnold, Darrell Jackson

VANDERBILT COMMODORES

4: Nifae Lealao, Jay Woods
3: Nehemiah Mitchell, Caleb Peart, Torey Agee, Caleb Azubike, Adam Butler, Sekou Clark
2: Riley Tindol