A versatile defensive line is a key component for any college football team looking to have success on Saturdays.

The right mixture of stout run defenders and tenacious pass rushers can improve the performance of an entire defense. Many teams in the SEC have won games because of excellent defensive line play, and there are some talented linemen coming back in 2017.

Looking ahead to the upcoming season, we’ve compiled a list of the SEC’s top 10 returning players at every position. This ranking is based on past performance, opportunity and overall ability, so it isn’t just calculated from last year’s stats.

Previous rankings: Running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen

No. 10: Jarrett Johnson, Texas A&M – 2016 stats (19 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks)

There’s no replacing Myles Garrett’s production for Texas A&M, but Johnson will be an important returning player along the defensive front. As a senior, Johnson has plenty of experience in the SEC, but he has yet to prove he can be the man. In Garrett’s absence last season, Johnson started three games and finished third on the team with 4.5 sacks.

No. 9: Cece Jefferson, Florida – 2016 stats (30 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

Jefferson has yet to live up to his 5-star recruiting status, but he’s become a versatile player who can play on the interior or the exterior of the line. Most of Florida’s elite defensive talent from the past two years has departed to the NFL, leaving Jefferson with plenty of opportunities to step up and become an impact player. The production hasn’t been there, but Jefferson has all of the tools to put together a breakout season.

No. 8: Kingsley Keke, Texas A&M – 2016 stats (37 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks)

Keke is another player that Texas A&M will hope can help fill the void left by Garrett. He was the fourth-highest-graded defender for the Aggies, per Pro Football Focus, and finished fourth on the team with four sacks. For an interior defensive lineman, Keke does a lot of things well; he can take on double teams, slip off blocks and make tackles behind the line of scrimmage and he knocked down four passes, the most by an Aggies defensive lineman.

No. 7: Denzil Ware, Kentucky – 2016 stats (70 tackles, 12 TFL, 5.5 sacks)

A hybrid linebacker/defensive end, Ware is a disruptive force coming off the edge. He ranks slightly lower on this list because his stats are reflective of his opportunity to work in space more often than as a true defensive lineman. Ware was highly effective with his hand in the dirt, however, as four of his sacks occurred while in that position. He’s a versatile threat in the Wildcats’ defensive scheme and an underrated player around the SEC.

No. 6: Jabari Zuniga, Florida – 2016 stats (25 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5 sacks)

Few freshmen had a better start to the season than Zuniga. The redshirt lineman burst onto the scene with two sacks in the season opener, and he finished the year with the most sacks by a Florida freshman since Huey Richardson in 1987. The Gators have developed some very good pass rushers over the years, including Carlos Dunlap and Dante Fowler, but neither of them had Zuniga’s production in his first year on the field.

No. 5: Marlon Davidson, Auburn – 2016 stats (38 tackles, 6 TFL, 2.5 sacks)

As a true freshman, Davidson made an impact on a talented, veteran defensive line. With a year of experience under his belt, the former 5-star prospect seems destined to take a big step forward and emerge as one of the top pass rushers in the SEC. Jadeveon Clowney, Derek Barnett and Myles Garrett are just a few other elite defensive ends who earned starting roles as true freshmen. Davidson’s numbers aren’t eye-popping yet, but he has that type of potential.

No. 4: Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama – 2016 stats (21 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks)

Hand’s stats don’t jump off the page, but he played in a rotation with some of the best defensive linemen in the country. Still, Rivals had him rated as the No. 1 prospect in the 2014 class, ahead of such players as Garrett and Leonard Fournette, so he isn’t your typical backup. Like so many other veteran backups have done for the Tide under Nick Saban, Hand may have a big final season.

No. 3: Da’Ron Payne, Alabama – 2016 stats (36 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks)

While Hand has had to wait his turn, Payne earned rotational minutes as a sophomore, which should speak to his level of talent. He has proven to be a handful for many opposing offensive linemen, and Payne’s strength and leverage help him generate pressure from the interior of the line.

No. 2: Trenton Thompson, Georgia – 2016 stats (56 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 5 sacks)

With so many talented defensive ends departing for the NFL, it’s time for an interior lineman to claim the spotlight. Thompson had a breakout season in his second year, despite having very little proven talent around him. The 6-foot-4, 309-pound lineman ended the season on a tremendous note, notching 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in Georgia’s bowl win against TCU. With another year under Kirby Smart, Thompson could follow in the footsteps of UGA legend Richard Seymour, who also had five sacks as a sophomore before hitting double digits in each of his final two years.

No. 1: Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss – 2016 stats (53 tackles, 11 TFL, 7 sacks)

One of the greatest causes of celebration for Ole Miss fans this offseason was Haynes’ announcement that he would return for his senior season. The Rebels’ leader in both sacks and tackles for loss is coming back as one of the best defensive ends in the conference. Haynes isn’t just valuable for his ability to get in opposing backfields, however — he also forced three fumbles and snagged an interception. Those turnovers led to three touchdowns.