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Alabama, Florida and LSU have legitimate claims to the moniker “DBU.” All three programs have been very successful over the past decade in plucking the top talent in that area of the playing field.
The three schools have dominated the SEC in collecting elite defensive backs, but a couple of other schools have been able to get their hands on quality talent at the position.
Here’s a look at how every 5-star defensive back in the SEC has fared over the past decade.
2007
Tennessee — Eric Berry: Berry was one of the most acclaimed recruits in Vols history. He arrived ranked No. 3 overall, No. 1 among cornerbacks. He stayed on track, too, going No. 5 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He’s a three-time first-team All-Pro.
2008
Florida — Will Hill: Most of the 5-star defensive backs on this list confirmed the hype. Hill, the No. 5 player overall in the class, was an exception, though he was part of the Gators’ national championship team. He eventually reached the NFL, too, but it wasn’t the cleanest path.
LSU — Patrick Peterson: He was No. 6 in the class, one spot behind Hill, but the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the country. Nobody would question that ranking. Peterson needed just three seasons to get ready for the NFL. The fifth overall pick in 2011, Peterson has made the Pro Bowl in all six of his seasons.
Alabama — B.J. Scott: He was highly acclaimed — the No. 26-ranked player in the class — but rarely found the field for Nick Saban before transferring. Alabama fans remember him most fondly for his role in helping to build the vaunted 2008 class that included Julio Jones.
2009
LSU — Craig Loston: Loston twice made the second-team All-SEC, but more was expected out of the No. 9 player and top-ranked safety in the class. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Alabama — Dre Kirkpatrick: The No. 13 player in the class and top-ranked corner, Kirkpatrick helped the Tide win national titles in 2009 and 2011 before leaving early for the NFL.
Georgia — Branden Smith: A key in-state get from Atlanta, Smith arrived as the No. 19-ranked player overall in the class. He had a solid and versatile career (he also ran for 363 yards), but it was far from spectacular and included an arrest.
Arkansas — Darius Winston: He arrived as the No. 24-ranked player in the class but never developed into the lockdown corner he was hyped to be. As such, he bounced in and out of the Razorbacks’ starting lineup for four years.
2010
Alabama — Dee Milliner: Milliner was the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the class, No. 2 defensive back overall. The First Team All-America cornerback was a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2013. After an up-and-down rookie season, he was sidelined by various injuries that severely hampered his playing time over the next two seasons and was released by the Jets early in the 2016 season.
Florida — Matt Elam and Josh Shaw: The two safeties have done very well for themselves. Elam, the No. 2 safety in this class, was a first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens and in two seasons racked up 123 tackles, a sack, an interception, and two fumble recoveries before overcoming major injuries in each of the past two seasons. He earned the 2016 Ed Block Courage Award, which honors a player from each NFL team who “exemplifies commitments to the principles of sportsmanship and courage.”
Congratulations to @ElamVsElo, this year’s winner of the Ed Block Courage Award. #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/ByKBaN7Lbu
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 19, 2016
Shaw, the No. 2 corner in the class, appeared in 11 games but started only one game at Florida before transferring to Southern Cal. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals where in two seasons he has six starts, 41 tackles and an interception.
2011
Alabama — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: The standout safety, No. 2 in the class, was selected in the first round of the 2014 draft by the Green Bay Packers. He had a breakout year this past season, recording 79 tackles while intercepting five passes, and earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
2012
Alabama — Landon Collins: Collins was the No. 2-ranked safety in the class and didn’t disappoint. After a stellar career at Alabama, Collins opted for the NFL Draft following his junior year. He was chosen 33rd overall in 2015 by the New York Giants. The strong safety is already making a name for himself at the professional level, earning his first Pro Bowl selection this season after piling up 125 tackles and five interceptions – returning one for a touchdown.
2013
Florida — Vernon Hargreaves III: The first-team All-American of many publications, Hargreaves opted early for the NFL Draft and was taken 11th overall in 2016 by his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In seven starts this season, the lockdown corner recorded 35 tackles. It’s what was expected as he arrived at Florida ranked No. 3 overall in the 2013 class, No. 1 among defensive backs.

Ole Miss — Tony Conner: Conner was the No. 32 player overall in the class. This senior safety was looking more and more like a first-rounder before a 2015 knee injury has left his April draft status somewhat up in the air.
2014
Alabama — Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown: A redshirt sophomore, Humhrey is opting to enter the NFL Draft. The corner is a projected second-round pick by nfl.com. Brown, also a cornerback, continues to put his four-game suspension behind him and become an integral part of the Tide secondary. With Humphrey entering the draft, Brown looks to have an even bigger role in 2017, his senior season.
LSU — Jamal Adams: A leader in the Tigers’ secondary, the safety has opted to skip his senior season and enter this year’s NFL draft. He is a projected top-five pick.
Florida — Jalen Tabor: Another early entry to this year’s NFL Draft, “Teez” turned in three stellar seasons at Florida, piling up 104 tackles and nine interceptions. The cornerback is projected as a first-round pick.
2015
LSU — Kevin Tolliver II: Injury and suspension have tarnished the brief career of this sophomore cornerback. But much more is expected of him in 2017 as he moves into a leadership role after arriving as the No. 8 player in the class.
Alabama — Kendall Sheffield and Minkah Fitzpatrick: An All-American in just his sophomore season, Fitzpatrick has become a leader in the Tide secondary. In just two seasons he already has eight interceptions, returning four of those for touchdowns. He also has a punt return for a touchdown and will be among the shining stars for the 2017 season at Alabama.

Sheffield never caught on at Alabama. He transferred to Blinn College and is a hard-commit to Ohio State for the 2017 season.
2016
LSU — Kristian Fulton: A broken finger ended the brief season for this freshman corner, considered the top prospect in the state of Louisiana and second-ranked corner in the country by 247sports.com.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.