Individual Position Rankings

Just as much as the SEC is known for producing fast and talented offensive weapons, it’s also valued for developing hard-hitting, rush-stopping defensive players.

A quick look at last year’s NFL draft will tell you everything you need to know.

Who now steps into those departed players’ shoes? Some teams have gaps so pronounced at defensive end it almost feels like you can see the hole. For others, it’s a matter of not only sustaining but building upon what worked great last year.

Here’s a look at the top 10 defensive ends going into the season.

Others Considered: Jonathan Bullard, Florida; Jason Hatcher, Kentucky; Caleb Azubike, Vanderbilt; Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama; JaMichael Winston, Arkansas; CeCe Jefferson, Florida

10. Marquavius Lewis, South Carolina: More and more, it’s looking like Lewis is South Carolina’s answer for making the defense better. Last year at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, he made 20.5 tackles for loss as well as 11 sacks. We have yet to see if Lewis can translate his skills to the SEC, but he’s quick off the line and has great ball awareness. The Gamecocks look forward to getting a better picture of what he brings to the team.

9. Charles Harris, Missouri: Shane Ray has gone, which means it’s time for Harris to take the lead. However, Harris will be attempting to do so with only three other players on the defensive line who’ve ever taken a snap at the Division I level. Maintaining the stinginess that was Missouri’s defense last year is a challenge with all of the turnover in personnel, but this could also be Harris’s opportunity to step up as the person who makes crucial defensive stops when they’re desperately needed.

8. Alex McCalister, Florida: The job of filling Dante Fowler Jr.’s shoes is not an easy one, and no one knows that better than his former roommate McCalister. It’s worth remembering that McCalister had more sacks than Fowler all the way up until the Birmingham Bowl. Fowler was more well-rounded, able to rush the passer and defend against the run. McCalister will be expected to do the heavy lifting in that area this year, with Jonathan Bullard and Bryan Cox Jr. lending him support.

7. Jarran Reed, Alabama: Reed will be a vocal leader of the defense, and his numbers from 2014 (54 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 5 passes broken up) only solidify reasons why he deserves that role. Reed chose to stay at Alabama for his last remaining year of eligibility, so he’s a part of one of the best, deepest defensive lines in the country.

6. Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss: Haynes had a freshman All-America season with 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Now Haynes will be tasked with leading a group of inexperienced defensive ends to success. With him carrying the team in the position, Haynes will undoubtedly increase his stats by multiples.

5. Curt Maggitt, Tennessee: Maggitt lead the Volunteers in sacks last season, but lagged behind Derek Barnett (found later on in this list) in total tackles for a loss. Despite that, the media at SEC Media Days recognized Maggitt for his potential by naming him to its preseason All-SEC first team, the only Volunteer to make it. Maggitt firmly believes that Tennessee claims the best pass-rushing duo in college football and will work hard to prove that true.

4. Carl Lawson, Auburn: Lawson didn’t have a chance to play in 2014 due to an ACL injury, but he is expected to be better than ever with his return to the field. As a freshman, Lawson had a total of 20 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, and 4 sacks. He has superb pass rush ability, and will be a driving force behind improving Auburn’s defense from last season.

3. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: Perhaps because he broke Jadeveon Clowney’s SEC freshman sack record with 11 sacks, Garrett has found his way onto the preseason All-SEC first team. Garrett didn’t start early last season presumably because of his performance against the run, but he proved too dynamic to keep off the field. He’ll need to show that he’s physically stronger than last season and play with more consistency against the SEC’s best. But there’s a good chance he’ll be an All-American by the end of the season.

2. Jonathan Allen, Alabama: Allen was selected to the All-SEC team at the end of last season for his 32 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He also recently tied for No. 77 on ESPN’s ranking of the top 100 college football players going into 2015, cited for his blocked extra point attempt that gave Alabama the victory over Arkansas. Allen is a solid, reliable figure on the Crimson Tide defense, and will continue to be that immovable force the opponents’ run game has to deal with.

1. Derek Barnett, Tennessee: Barnett disrupted the backfield all season long last year with 20.5 tackles for loss, including 10 sacks. He showed over and over again that he has the speed to beat you to the football and the strength to knock you out of the way. He also never stops fighting; he had more solo tackles in away games than home games. Keeping in mind that Barnett is still early in his career at Tennessee, we can only imagine what greatness he has in store for us in the near future.