The SEC produces some of the nation’s top defenses every college football season. One constant among all those defenses is strong play from interior linebackers.

Defensive success hinges on the middle linebackers’ ability to communicate the plays being called and make tackles all over the field. Interior linebackers often are team captains because players realize the importance of the position, which some call the “quarterback” of the defense.

Here are the best five currently on board in the opinion of Saturday Down South:

1. Jaquan Yulee (Chesapeake, Va.) — Alabama commit

  • The skinny: Yulee is a four-star prospect that ranks as the No. 5 inside linebacker in the couny. He turned down several ACC, Big Ten and SEC schools to join the Crimson Tide. Although he’s just a rising senior in high school, Yulee’s 6-foot-1, 246-pound frame already looks college ready and he could end up contributing early in Tuscaloosa.

2. Tre Threat (Spanish Fort, Ala.) — Auburn commit

  • The skinny: Another four star, Threat definitely passes the name test. As the No. 1o-ranked player in Auburn’s home state, the Tigers were able to wrestle Threat away from Alabama, which was also in hot pursuit of the 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker that can play on the inside or outside.

3. Kash Daniel (Paintsville, Ky.) — Kentucky commit

  • The skinny: Another awesome name. The Wildcats are hoping Daniel can be money for them and help turn around a Kentucky defense that has struggled. Daniel is solid at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and is said to be a workout warrior that can run close to a 4.5 40-yard dash.

4. Tyrel Dodson (Franklin, Tenn.) – Texas A&M commit

  • The skinny: Dodson has great athleticism and size for his position. The Aggies aren’t generally known for their defense, but Dodson could develop into the type of player down the line that they can build around on that side of the ball in College Station. He has all the physical tools to be an All-SEC performer some day.

5.  Donta Evans (Lawrenceville, Ga.) — Ole Miss commit

  • The skinny: Despite his home-state school virtually becoming the next Linebacker U, Evans is getting out of Georgia and will help the Rebels build a stout linebacker corps of their own. Evans also had SEC offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt, but ultimately he decided to take his game to Oxford.