Individual Position Rankings

Ranked in terms of talent and potential impact, here’s how the SEC’s top cornerbacks stack up this season:

Just outside the Top 5: Rashard Robinson, LSU; Jamerson Love, Mississippi St.; Damian Swann, Georgia; Jonathan Mincy, Auburn

5. Cam Sutton, Tennessee: As a rare true freshman starter in Knoxville last season, Sutton led the Vols with nine passes defended, recovered two fumbles and had a pick six. Considering Sutton took personal offseason instruction from former Vols great Eric Berry, one of the NFL’s top young safeties for the Kansas City Chiefs, his numbers could explode in his second campaign as one of the leaders on the Tennessee defense.

4. Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M: The Aggies’ best player in the secondary did a lot of chasing last season, running after open wide receivers following a teammate’s blown coverage. Texas A&M’s hoping Everett’s stability at the cornerback position as a three-year starter contributes to his new role as a leader. Everett’s the SEC’s active leader in defensive touchdowns with three and has recorded four career interceptions.

3. Taveze Calhoun, Mississippi St.: Calhoun earned the job at corner as a sophomore and started 12 games for the Bulldogs as an immediate impact player. Two of Calhoun’s three interceptions came against Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, a rare feat considering the Crimson Tide passer’s penchant for accuracy. Following Nickoe Whitley’s exit, much of the secondary’s workload has been placed on Calhoun’s shoulders this fall in what promises to be an exciting season in Starkville.

2. Tre’Davious White, LSU: One of two lockdown Tiger corners worthy of mention, White’s one of LSU’s top returning players on defense and performs with a high level of confidence despite being less than two years removed from the prep gridiron. In a recent video interview with The Times-Picayune, White said he welcomes his new role as a leader at the back end. “I always try to take guys under my wing,” White said. “When you’re passing knowledge to the young guys, it just makes us that much better as a secondary.”

1. Vernon Hargreaves, Florida: The Gators breathed a huge sigh of relief Friday when it was revealed Hargreaves suffered a bone bruise instead of a feared season-ending ligament tear during a practice scuffle with several players the previous night. Hargreaves is one of college football’s top defenders in coverage who routinely blankets his side of the field and is a future first-round pick if he continues to develop. The sophomore ballhawk is the SEC’s most valuable player on defense in 2014 and crucial to Florida’s Eastern Division title hopes.