Who are the top defensive backs in SEC history?

We’ve spent the last several weeks flipping through team-specific media guides, glancing over highlight film and nearly coming to blows at our home office determining this 25-member comprehensive list of the league’s best players in the secondary.

Editor’s note: The SDS staff weighed multiple factors during our SEC’s all-time defensive backs rankings process including career statistics, individual awards, importance to their respective team and the era in which they played. Official statistics were pulled from team web sites or media guides.

5.) CHAMP BAILEY, GEORGIA (1996-98)

One of the SEC’s top cover guys during his time, Bailey won the Nagurski award in 1998 as the top defensive player in college football and was a unanimous All-American selection.

A trend-setter as a playmaker with the ball in his hands, Bailey played the majority of his total team’s snaps during the 1997 and 1998 seasons, catching passes on offense, covering the opposition’s best wideout on defense and returning kicks and punts on special teams.

He could do it all.

One of the NFL’s premiere shutdown corners for a decade, Bailey is a member of the Denver Broncos’ 50th Anniversary Team and retired with the team he spent most of his pro years in November 2014. Bailey notched 52 career interceptions, 925 total tackles and a Super Bowl appearance. He’ll be eligible as a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2019.

Career numbers:

147 tackles, 8 INTs; 1,588 yards of total offense, 5 TDs

Individual superlatives:

All-American (1998); All-SEC (1997-98); Bronco Nagurski Award (1998)

NFL Draft:

No. 7 overall in 1999

Defining moments:

Bailey averaged 103.5 all-purpose yards per game during his final season at Georgia in 1998, earning All-American status.

4.) PATRICK PETERSON, LSU (2008-10)

A player with unmatched athletic ability at the cornerback position, Peterson became a full-time starter in Baton Rouge as a sophomore, locking down touted receivers and future first-round picks A.J. Green (Georgia) and Alabama’s Julio Jones as the SEC’s best coverman.

Opposing offenses didn’t throw Peterson’s way often as a junior, but he still earned all-league honors for the second straight year, was a first-team All-American and took home the Thorpe and Bednarik awards as the best defensive player in college football.

Doubling as a return specialist in 2010, Peterson led the SEC in punt return average (16.1 yards) and kickoff return average (29.1 yards). He returned two punts for touchdowns that season and was named the league’s special teams player of the year.

Career numbers:

135 tackles, 7 INTs

Individual superlatives:

All-American (2010); All-SEC (2009-10); Thorpe Award (2010); Bednarik Award (2010); SEC Special Teams POTY (2010)

NFL Draft:

No. 5 overall in 2011

Defining moments:

As a junior in 2010, Peterson blocked a field goal, then returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, striking a Heisman pose during a win over West Virginia.

3.) ERIC BERRY, TENNESSEE (2007-09)

Tennessee’s best player in the last decade and one of the Top 5 in program history, Berry is one of the most decorated defensive backs ever to play in the SEC, a two-time consensus All-American with several individual awards and accolades as a hard-hitting safety with a penchant for takeaways.

Afer establishing himself as a star in the secondary as a freshman All-American, Berry led the nation in interceptions (7) and interception return yards (265) in 2008 under immense expectations as the SEC’s top returning player in the secondary. Berry returned two of those picks for touchdowns and was the runaway choice for league defensive player of the year.

With a reputation to uphold, Berry recorded a career-best 87 stops in his final campaign as a junior, taking home the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation’s top defensive back and another unanimous All-American selection. He skipped his final year of eligibility for the NFL Draft and was selected fifth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Career numbers:

245 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 14 INT, 31 passes defended

Individual superlatives:

All-American (2008-09); All-SEC (2007-09); Thorpe Award (2009); SEC Def. POTY (2008); Freshman All-American (2007)

NFL Draft:

No. 5 overall in 2010

Defining moments:

Berry once forced a fumble and picked off a pass on consecutive plays as the SEC’s defensive player of the year in 2008.

2.) TERRY HOAGE, GEORGIA (1980-83)

A consensus first-team All-American his junior and senior seasons in Athens, Hoage earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and was named a Heisman finalist in 1982 — a rarity for a defensive player in any era of college football. During his four-year stint as a starter, the Bulldogs went 43-4-1, captured three conference titles and a national championship.

Hoage holds the school and SEC record for interceptions in a single season (12, 1982). At the turn of the century, Hoage was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and is a member of the Walter Camp All-Century Team as a safety.

Career numbers:

14 INTs

Individual superlatives:

All-American (1982-83); All-SEC (1982-83); SEC Def. POTY (1982-83); College Football Hall of Fame (2000); Georgia Sports Hall of Fame (2004)

NFL Draft:

No. 68 overall (third round) in 1984

Defining moments:

Hoage is one of only three Bulldogs ever to pick off three passes in a single game, doing so against Vanderbilt in 1982.

1.) TOMMY CASANOVA, LSU (1969-71)

The only three-time All-American in LSU football history, Casanova starred at several positions in Baton Rouge including running back, defensive back and return specialist, dominating the SEC as a dynamic playmaker during his tenure. He was plastered on the cover Sport’s Illustrated annual College Football Preview issue in 1971, but injuries damaged his campaign as the Heisman frontrunner that season.

“Tommy was one of the most gifted athletes I ever coached,” said LSU coach Charlie McClendon. “There’s no question in my mind he could’ve been an All-American running back. He could really have jazzed up our offense.”

In 2000, the Walter Camp Foundation named Casanova one of college football’s best players of the century. Casanova’s No. 37 jersey is retired at LSU.

Career numbers:

N/A

Individual superlatives:

All-American (1969-71); All-SEC (1969-71); Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (1985)

NFL Draft:

No. 29 overall (second round) in 1972

Defining moments:

Against Ole Miss in 1970, Casanova returned an NCAA-record tying two punts for touchdowns to secure the SEC championship.