Spread offenses may finally be starting to take hold in the SEC, but the conference is still loaded with some of the best defensive players in the nation.

Nine SEC players made the 18-person list of semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which was revealed by the Maxwell Football Club on Monday. The honor is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football.

The SEC accounted for half of the semifinalists, while the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 each placed three players on the list. Alabama and LSU tied with Clemson for the most semifinalists with two apiece, and five other SEC schools had one player honored as a semifinalist.

Here’s the complete list of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award:

Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn
Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
Christian Wilkins, DE, Clemson
Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
Desmond King, CB, Iowa
Arden Key, DE, LSU
Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
Jabrill Peppers, LB, Michigan
Nate Gerry, S, Nebraska
Ejuan Price, DE, Pittsburgh
Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Hunter Dimick, DE, Utah
Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
Budda Baker, S, Washington