Safeties are the last line of defense. They’re the guys with the last chance to bring down a running back headed for the end zone or to knock away a pass intended for a streaking wide receiver. The SEC has produced some very good ones in recent years, and another good crop of potential standouts is on the way.

Here are the SEC’s top five safety signees in the Class of 2016, based on 247Sports.com’s composite rankings:

1. Deontay Anderson, Ole Miss (Manville, Texas)

The Skinny: If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the guy who announced his decision while jumping out of a plane on Signing Day. In addition to having a flair for the dramatic, he’s also a pretty good football player. Anderson is the No. 2-ranked safety prospect in the nation, and he has the size (6-1, 192) and ability to help the Rebels right away. He may need to do just that, with last year’s starters at the free safety (Chief Brown) and rover (Trae Elston) positions moving on.

2. Eric Monroe, LSU (Houston, Texas)

The Skinny: Monroe’s recruitment was much more subdued. The nation’s No. 3-rated safety committed to the Tigers last summer, visited four games at Tiger Stadium and took no other official visits before signing his National Letter of Intent. He even managed to get a little court time in at Les Miles’ during his recruitment, showing off his basketball ability. Safety was a position of need for Miles in this class, so Monroe and another guy on this list, Cameron Lewis, may see the field his fall.

3. Nigel Warrior, Tennessee (Suwanee, Ga.)

The Skinny: In addition to having a great football name, Warrior also has some strong bloodlines. His father, Dale Carter, was an All-American at Tennessee in the early 1990s and became a four-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. Warrior, the No. 4-ranked safety in the class, joins a group of talented young safeties with family ties to the school (namely Todd Kelly Jr. and Evan Berry) vying for the starting jobs left open by Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil. He may not start, but he should still see plenty of action in 2016.

4. Cameron Lewis, LSU (Monroe, La.)

The Skinny: Lewis is a local product, but still ranks as the 13th-best safety prospect in this class. He has good size (6-1, 192) and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at LSU’s camp in 2014. That put him on the radar of other schools, like Texas A&M and TCU, but Lewis decided to stay in his home state. He’s the first recruit from his high school to sign with a SEC school since 1995, and like Monroe, he’ll get a chance to compete for playing time early on.

5. Marlon Character, Auburn (Atlanta, Ga.)

The Skinny: Character was once committed to Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, but flipped to Auburn after Spurrier’s retirement. He stayed true to his pledge to the Tigers, even after a late push from new Gamecock coach Will Muschamp. He’s a three-star recruit, and the nation’s 18th-best safety prospect. Character posted 50 tackles and five interceptions in an injury-marred senior season, but with four of the the Tigers’ eight secondary players from last year’s two-deep departed, he may get the chance to work his way into the lineup at safety or corner as a freshman.