ESPN ranks 6 SEC players among top 10 defenders in college football
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The SEC has been known for its defensive intensity throughout its history, and that looks to be the case once again entering 2026.
Though the league also has plenty of offensive talent, including potential 2027 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns, there are plenty of first-round prospects on the other side of the ball, too.
ESPN’s Eli Lederman and Max Olson ranked the 10 best defensive players in college football this week, and they had 6 SEC stars in the top 10. Here’s a look at where they ranked:
- No. 2 — Colin Simmons, Edge, Texas
- No. 3 — Dylan Stewart, Edge, South Carolina
- No. 6 — Ty Benefield, Safety, LSU
- No. 7 — Rasheem Biles, Linebacker, Texas
- No. 9 — Will Echoles, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss
- No. 10 — KJ Bolden, Safety, Georgia
Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore took the No. 1 spot, but from there, it was a list loaded with SEC standouts. Will it translate to the SEC snapping the Big Ten’s streak of 3-straight College Football Playoff titles? We’ll find out this fall.
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Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
