Who is the best returning defender in the Southeastern Conference? If the FOX Sports’ college football pregame crew is to be believed, that’s an easy answer.

How so?

Well, they believe Derek Stingley Jr. is not only the SEC’s best returning defender, they have the sophomore defensive back as the nation’s best returning defender in 2020.

“What I love most about his game though is for a corner, I think that one of the most underrated traits that you can have is to be a long and smooth strider,” Joel Klatt said of Stingley. “Because what that does is it allows you not to panic, so he can catch up, he can chase, he can be in front. He can do all the different things you need to do out on the outside, and he does them very well.”

Also making an appearance on the list is Alabama linebacker, Dylan Moses at No. 4 overall.

The crew discussed their picks at length during a recent episode of the “Big Noon Kickoff” which can be found on YouTube.

Here is an overview of the group’s collective rankings.

Big Noon crew rankings

#1 Derek Stingley — LSU

#2 Kayvon Thibodeaux — Oregon

#3 Micah Parsons — Penn State

#4 Dylan Moses — Alabama

#5 Gregory Rousseau — Miami

The only analyst among the group that didn’t rate Stingley No. 1 was Matt Leinart. The former USC quarterback ranked Stingley No. 3 overall while Urban Meyer and Joel Klatt each ranked the LSU defensive back No. 1 overall on their individual rankings.