The Southeastern Conference annually loses elite talent to the NFL but the league has done an outstanding job replacing those stars with the next generation of talented athletes each and every year.

Now the big question is which players are set to emerge and become household names this fall.

SEC Network sideline reporter Cole Cubelic did his best to rank the five league defenders set to break out this fall.

Here are the players that made Cubelic’s rankings, along with some information we have to share on each player:

#1 Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, Florida

The sophomore linebacker appeared in all 13 games for the Gators last season, making one start. During that time, he collected 18 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Diabate was named SEC Freshman of the Week following his performance against Vanderbilt in Florida’s 56-0 win last season.

#2 Defensive lineman Christian Barmore, Alabama

The redshirt sophomore was named to the All-SEC Freshman team last season after appearing in 12 games, making one start. Barmore had 26 tackles, two sacks and six tackles for loss last season. During his freshman season, Barmore improved as the season went along as he was named Alabama defensive player of the week by the coaching staff in the final two games of the regular season against Western Carolina and Auburn.

#3 Linebacker Nakobe Dean, Georgia

The sophomore appeared in all 14 games for the Bulldogs last season, registering 25 tackles during his debut season. Georgia’s Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year winner, Dean signed with Georgia after being rated as the No. 2 inside linebacker in the nation in the 2019 recruiting cycle.

#4 Linebacker Damone Clark, LSU

The junior appeared in all 15 games for the Tigers last season, making three starts including in the 2019 SEC Championship Game. Clark ranked sixth in tackles on LSU’s team last season with 50 stops and he added 3.5 sacks in 2019. The Baton Rouge native is expected to slide into the starting lineup this fall in Bo Pelini’s defense.

#5 Defensive back Christian Tutt, Auburn

The junior was a Second-Team All-SEC return specialist last season and will be counted upon to step up to play a much larger role in Kevin Steele’s defense in 2019. Tutt registered 32 tackles and two interceptions last season.