Running backs took center stage this season in the SEC because the conference experienced sort of a down year for passers. But perhaps that’s not a knock on the conference’s signal-callers, rather a testament to those preventing quarterbacks from succeeding via the air. It’s was another strong year for safeties in the SEC, who should crank out a slew of future NFL talent when it comes to shutting down passing games.

Here is a look at the top-10 safeties in the SEC during the 2015 campaign.

10. Oren Burks, Vanderbilt – Burks became Vanderbilt’s first SEC Defensive Player of the Week against Kentucky, picking off two passes and taking one of them to the house. The redshirt sophomore finished with 59 tackles and three interceptions to go along with two tackles-for-loss and nine passed defended. Burks will return to Nashville next year, where he should be a leader on the ’16 Commodores defense.

9. Brian Randolph, Tennessee – Randolph logged 67 tackles, second on Tennessee, and picked off a pass this season as a stalwart in the Volunteers’ secondary. The senior’s biggest play of the season came against Georgia, swatting away a potential game-winning pass from Bulldog quarterback Greyson Lambert on the contest’s final play.

8. Blake Countess, Auburn – Michigan-transfer Countess made the most of his lone season patrolling Auburn’s secondary, being named the team’s defensive MVP award. The senior picked off two passes and broke up another 10 this season, while bringing down 65 ballcarriers. Former Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp moved Countess to safety this season and the dividends paid off almost immediately.

7. Keanu Neal, Florida – Not too many opponents had much success throwing the ball against Florida this season. Neal was a big part of that prowess with 85 tackles, 3.5 of them for loss, ranking him second in the conference among safeties for take-downs. The redshirt junior also finished with two sacks and an interception. Along with fellow safety Marcus Maye, it’s possible that the Gators lose both their starting safeties a year early to the NFL.

6. Armani Watts, Texas A&M – If Watts wraps you up, there’s very little likelihood of you escaping. The Texas A&M free safety finished third in the SEC with 111 tackles, two behind Auburn’s Johnathan Ford. Watts also picked off a pass and forced a fumble for an Aggies’ secondary that surrendered the fourth-fewest yards (161.3 YPG) in the nation this season.

5. Marcus Maye, Florida – Maye couldn’t let fellow Florida safety Keanu Neal have all the fun. Maye churned out 73 tackles (1.5 for loss) and picked off two passes for the Gators defense. Maye’s efforts landed him a first-time slot on USA Today’s All-American squad.

4. Jamal Adams, LSU – Adams emerged as one of the top safeties in the SEC as a sophomore, snaring four interceptions for the LSU Tigers. Adams added 60 tackles (third on the team), nine  passes defended and as many tackles-for-loss (5) as passes broken up. He’ll return to Baton Rouge next year to once again lead the Tigers defense, which finished fifth overall in total defense this season in the SEC.

3. Trae Elston, Ole Miss – The AP named Elston among its Second Team All-Americans, thanks to 66 tackles (second-most on Ole Miss) and four interceptions (second-most in the SEC). Elston returned two interceptions for pick-sixes and led all safeties in the SEC with 16 passes defended, second overall in the conference. The senior accomplished this while alternating between free safety and rover.

2. Dominick Sanders, Georgia – Georgia led the nation in fewest passing yards allowed this season, thanks in large part to Sanders. The sophomore was named to the AP’s All-SEC First Team, courtesy of 45 tackles and five interceptions, tying him with Alabama’s Eddie Jackson and Texas A&M’s Donovan Wilson for most in the conference. Sanders turned those five picks into 205 return yards, setting a Bulldog program record.

1. Eddie Jackson, Alabama – Jackson’s move from oft-picked on cornerback to strong safety this season has worked out better than anyone could have imagined. The junior led the SEC with 5 interceptions this season, including two picks that he returned for touchdowns. The AP All-SEC Safety finished with 40 tackles, three of them for loss, to go along with seven passes defended, while forcing and recovering a fumble. Jackson’s 230 return yards are a single-season record for the Crimson Tide.