Unless a defensive back makes a name for himself with a penchant for pick-sixes or a dominant pass rusher gets to the quarterback with regularity, defensive players become household names in far fewer numbers than quarterbacks or other offensive playmakers.

While we couldn’t possibly name every underrated defensive player in SEC history, we’ve identified 10 under-the-radar players that all SEC football fans should know, as well as several that deserve honorable mention.

Richard Tardits, Georgia

Given the nickname “Le Sack,” Richard Tardits had been a member of the French national rugby team prior to his decision to attend college in the United States. Tardits landed at Georgia because he had family in Augusta. He decided to join the Bulldogs football program as a walk-on in 1985 with no experience playing the game. As luck would have it, he was a natural.

Primarily a special teams performer in his first season, Tardits quickly rose up the depth chart and led the Dawgs in sacks in each of his final three years — 6 in 1986, 10 in 1987 and 12 in 1988, which tied a school record. His 29 career sacks set a school record that stood until David Pollack broke it.

When his playing career came to a close, the Phoenix Cardinals selected Tardits in the fifth round of the 1989 NFL draft. He made 27 appearances for the New England Patriots across three seasons before embarking on a professional rugby career.

Bobby Wilson, Ole Miss

Wilson is underrated today because few of us had an opportunity to see him play for the Rebels, and because he went on to a career in another sport. But he was a star for the first OIe Miss squad to win an SEC Championship under legendary head coach Johnny Vaught in 1947. A four-year letterman from 1946-49, Wilson set SEC records with 20 career interceptions and 379 return yards.

A great all-around athlete, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Wilson, who spent three years playing professional baseball in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He served 23 years as head coach of the Carson-Newman baseball program and guided the Eagles to the 1965 NAIA National Championship.

Mike Hilton, Ole Miss

The Ole Miss Rebels have fielded one of the most star-studded defenses in the SEC in recent years, headlined by touted players like Robert Nkemdiche and Tony Conner, as well as play-making Sports Illustrated cover boy Trae Elston.

Hilton flew largely under the radar, and seemingly battling for a starting position each spring and fall only to emerge as one of the most productive players on the unit while playing both safety and cornerback.

Hilton led the Rebels with 71 tackles as a junior in 2014, and then followed with 70 tackles as a senior which tied Elston for second on the squad. Hilton also ranked second on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 13 pass breakups (which ranked third in the SEC) as a senior.

Will Herring, Auburn

Herring began his Auburn career at safety and spent three years in the secondary before moving to outside linebacker. He set an Auburn football record with 49 consecutive starts from 2003-06.

Herring recorded 250 career tackles, leading the team his final two years. A seventh-round selection of the Seattle Seahawks in 2007, Herring played eight seasons in the NFL.

Tharold Simon, LSU

Simon played cornerback and nickelback, sharing the field with Tyrann Mathieu, Morris Claiborne and Eric Reid on an SEC Championship defense. LSU ranked second in the nation in scoring defense (11.2 points allowed per game) in 2011 as Simon picked off two passes and ranked third in the SEC with 10 pass breakups.

Simon was a full-time starter for the Tigers as a junior in 2012 and posted his best individual season by recording 45 tackles and four interceptions with nine pass breakups. A fifth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, Simon was a member of the winning squad in Super Bowl XLVIII.

John Abraham, South Carolina

The greatest pro player on our list, John Abraham flew under the radar at South Carolina because he played for some bad teams – particularly during his junior and senior seasons. The Gamecocks won six games in Abraham’s freshman season, and then won only six games combined the next three seasons, including a 1-10 mark in 1998 and 0-11 in 1999.

Abraham finished his career with 23.5 sacks, leading the Gamecocks each of his four years with the program. An All-SEC selection, Abraham was talented enough to be a first round pick.

Jermaine Petty, Arkansas

A junior-college transfer that began his collegiate career at Butler County (Kan.) Community College, Jermaine Petty signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks as a 6-foot-2, 275-pound defensive end.

However, after slimming down, Petty convinced head coach Houston Nutt to move him to linebacker. the move paid off with an All-SEC season in 2001, as Petty recorded 140 total tackles, including 13 for a loss.

With a penchant for the big play, Petty also returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown to help the Razorbacks upset Auburn that season, and made the key tackle in the Hogs’ 58-56 seven-overtime victory against Ole Miss.

Billy Jackson, Mississippi State

He never played in the NFL, but Billy Jackson was one of the greatest pass rushers in Mississippi State history. Jackson racked up 360 tackles and a school-record 49 sacks from 1980-83.

He got to the quarterback 17 times in 1980 and 15 sacks in ’81 – occupying the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the team’s single-season leaderboard.

Jackson also may a key fumble recovery late in the Bulldogs’ 6-3 victory over No. 1 Alabama in 1980, which snapped a 28-game winning streak for the Tide and remains one of the biggest wins in MSU history.

Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

Rambo tied the school record with 16 career interceptions, all while playing safety and flying under the national radar. He returned three of those picks for touchdowns.

Rambo’s 293 career interception return yards rank fifth in SEC history (since 1976, when complete records are available).

As a junior in 2011, Rambo led the SEC and ranked second nationally with 8 interceptions. Though he was not a consensus All-American, Rambo did earn first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

Jeff Van Note, Kentucky

One of the most beloved players in Atlanta Falcons history, the six-time Pro Bowl center enjoyed an 18-year pro career.

Van Note played running back and defensive end for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1966-68 and then got drafted in the 11th round in ’69 as a linebacker. A second-team All-SEC performer as a sophomore, Van Note was named the Wildcats team MVP as a senior. He was selected as an SEC Legend in 2006 as a defensive end.

Honorable Mention

  • Jason Allen, Tennessee
  • Bob Baumhower, Alabama
  • Greg Blue, Georgia
  • Johnie Cooks, Mississippi State
  • Chris Gaines, Vanderbilt
  • Quentin Groves, Auburn
  • Andre Hal, Vanderbilt
  • Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
  • Will Hill, Florida
  • Ellis Johnson, Florida
  • Tyrone Keys, Mississippi State
  • Barry Krauss, Alabama
  • Jim Kovach, Kentucky
  • Robert Lester, Alabama
  • D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
  • Myron Pryor, Kentucky
  • Jimmy Payne, Georgia
  • Quentin Riggins, Auburn
  • Andre Townsend, Ole Miss
  • Ben Williams, Ole Miss