SEC Debate: Who starts at CB on your BCS-era SEC dream team?

The SEC has boasted more than a dozen All-American cornerbacks since the start of the BCS era, achieving the feat as recently as last year when Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson earned consensus All-America honors for his 10-interception season.

But what if you were asked to pick just two corners from that illustrious list of stars to play for your SEC dream team? Who would you choose, and how would you make your decision? Are there certain traits you’d look for in a cornerback? Or is raw talent enough to convince you?

Our SDS staffers indulged in this very debate earlier this week. Take a look at what they had to say:

IF YOU COULD PICK ANY CORNERBACKS SINCE THE START OF THE BCS ERA FOR YOUR SEC DREAM TEAM, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

Christopher Smith (@CSmithSDS): Champ Bailey (Georgia), Joe Haden (Florida)

Bailey didn’t have the interception stats of many others, but that’s because teams knew better than to throw his direction. As evidenced by his stats on offense and special teams, if he did ever get the ball in his hands, he was a threat to score every time. But I’d be able to trust Bailey on an island against even the fastest, tallest and most athletic players in 2015. As for Haden, he sometimes doesn’t get the credit he deserves as a college player because of the tremendous talent around him. But he started from the jump as a true freshman, unlike players like Patrick Peterson. And, much like Bailey, Haden’s presence dictated where opposing quarterbacks threw the ball. These two would have much higher interception totals in tandem because the quarterback would have to put the ball somewhere.

Jon Cooper (@JonSDS): Patrick Peterson (LSU), Haden

Two of the NFL’s best cornerbacks also owned SEC Saturdays. Aside from Percy Harvin, Patrick Peterson was the most dynamic athlete to play for an SEC team during the BCS era, and Joe Haden wasn’t far behind either. Both players made impacts their freshmen season, and both were All-Americans their junior season before heading to the NFL Draft. LSU’s defense in the BCS era always played with an edge. Whether it was Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu or another player, the Tigers had swag and an attitude. Peterson had a major impact on that. And Joe Haden had a massive impact on Florida winning an SEC Championship and the BCS National Championship. Haden was the best player in an absolutely loaded secondary for the Gators. Give me two cornerbacks, and I’m taking Peterson and Haden.

Brett Weisband (@WeisbandSDS): Tyrann Mathieu (LSU), Bailey

With two cornerbacks, I’m looking for versatility and dynamic playmaking. With Honey Badger and Champ, I’m getting two guys that play a combined six positions: cornerback, safety and kick returner for Mathieu; receiver, corner and return man for Bailey. I also get a classic shutdown player with Champ and one of the most dangerous takeaway artists college football has ever seen. Mathieu has the speed to stick with the shiftiest and fastest receivers coming out of the slot and Champ has the size, athleticism and physicality to match up with the the big boys out wide (I’m assuming my team will be facing off the best receivers of the BCS era, so Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Amari Cooper, Randall Cobb and everyone in between are guys I’ll have to worry about stopping).

Ethan Levine (@EthanLevineSDS): Bailey, Peterson

Bailey is one of the most versatile cornerbacks to come through the SEC in the last two decades, making him an easy choice for my SEC dream team. He played both ways during his Georgia career and starred on special teams as well, but never allowed a lack of focus on one single position hold him back. He eliminated an entire side of the field from opposing offenses as a cornerback, and his lack of numbers only serve to prove how little he was challenged while playing for the Bulldogs. Opposite Bailey I’d go with Peterson for many of the same reasons I chose Bailey. Peterson was a playmaker at the cornerback position, and he also created excitement for LSU with his play on special teams. He was simply an explosive athlete who made plays and bettered his team just by taking the field. Between the Bailey and Peterson I’d have two dynamic athletes capable of shutting down any wideout in the game while making plays that changed the entire tone of a game.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.