The SEC is loaded with talented linebackers this season, as evidenced by the 16 conference players named on the Butkus Award watch list.

But how do you decide who is the best of them all?

Do you look for the guy with high NFL upside? Our film study of Georgia’s Leonard Floyd highlights a very promising skill set and a body that could translate well to the NFL style of play. But he may not even be the best linebacker on his own team, as fellow outside backer Jordan Jenkins has also drawn rave reviews for his play.

If you prefer using an approach heavy on stat accumulation, how do you ignore Missouri’s Kentrell Brothers? He ranked second in the league in 2014 with 122 total tackles and is the league’s returning tackler now that former Arkansas LB Martrell Spaight has moved on to the NFL.

If it is sacks you are after, Tennessee’s hybrid LB Curt Maggitt collected 11 sacks last season, trailing only Missouri DE Shane Ray (15) and Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett (12) for the conference lead.

LSU middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith has emerged as one of the top players on the Tigers defense and could be primed for a breakout season.

You can make an argument for each of these guys as the top linebacker in the league.

But if you’re asked to pick just one guy that will offer the right combination of performance and leadership in 2015, your answer may be Alabama’s Reggie Ragland.

As a first-year starter in 2014, Ragland was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award after recording 95 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss.

Even though he was given a second-round grade for the 2015 NFL draft, the 6-foot-2, 252-pound middle linebacker decided to forgo a chance to go pro to return for senior season, telling AL.com that he felt he still had things to learn about playing middle linebacker while finishing his degree.

“I wanted to come back and get even smarter for the game, because I know at the next level, if you’re not smart playing on the inside, you’re not going to last that long,” Ragland said.

Following spring practice, Nick Saban offered up high praise for his will linebacker, telling Lindy’s Sports: “Reggie has done a phenomenal job for us. He is a leader, the leader of our defense.”

Expectations are high for Ragland’s final year in Tuscaloosa. Pick up any college football preview magazine on the newsstand and you’re likely to see Ragland mentioned as a preseason All-America pick.

The media voted on its preseason All-SEC team last week, naming three linebackers to first-, second- and third-team all-conference honors. The results support Ragland being considered the best among his conference peers.

Here is the final vote tally ranked by points received:

  • Reggie Ragland, Alabama (181)
  • Jordan Jenkins, Georgia (121)
  • Curt Maggitt, Tennessee (102)
  • Kendell Beckwith, LSU (93)
  • Leonard Floyd, Georgia (92)
  • Cassanova McKinzy, Auburn (80)
  • Kris Frost, Auburn (77)
  • Antonio Morrison, Florida (66)
  • Kentrell Brothers, Missouri (61)