Week 3 in the SEC and everyone but Georgia looked vulnerable.

Alabama and Florida played their second epic game in 10 months, this time in a roaring Swamp. The Crimson Tide won, but not before Florida showed that the Tide have warts, especially in the middle of that defense and on the side of the offensive line not occupied by Evan Neal.

There was another terrific game played last Saturday as well, with Penn State whiting out Auburn in an instant classic. The going prize for a “moral victory” is still a participation ribbon in Comic Sans font and a trophy made with popsicle sticks, candy corn and super glue, but Auburn fans have to feel decent about the Bryan Harsin era after seeing their Tigers answer the bell and punch back for four quarters against an excellent Nittany Lions team.

Elsewhere, Kentucky’s feel-good start was almost derailed by Chattanooga, and Mississippi State’s feel-good start was derailed by Memphis, with a huge assist from the SEC officials, who had a miserable week basically everywhere and would qualify for a seat in the penthouse (or is it outhouse?) of the “Bottom 10” if SDS made such a list.

Here’s your weekly look at the top 10 players in the SEC. I promised Honorable Mentions (limit 2 per school) after Week 3, and we keep our promises with the list, even if we also left your favorite player off the list because we don’t like your favorite team and we know leaving them off a top 10 list on the internet is the best way to express anger and contempt. Here’s a look at last week’s top 10, if you are scoring at home.

Honorable mentions: Phidarian Mathis, DL (Alabama); Jameson Williams, WR (Alabama); Treylon Burks, WR (Arkansas); Ricky Stromberg, C (Arkansas); Tank Bigsby, RB (Auburn); Roger McCreary, CB (Auburn); Zachary Carter, DE (Florida); Richard Gouraige, OT (Florida); Lewis Cine, S (Georgia); Nakobe Dean, LB (Georgia); Darian Kinnard, OT (Kentucky); Chris Rodriguez, RB (Kentucky); Andre Anthony, DE (LSU) — get well soon, young man!!; Kayshon Boutte, WR (LSU); Will Rogers, QB (Mississippi State); Jett Johnson, LB (Mississippi State); Tyler Badie, RB (Missouri); Blaze Alldredge, LB (Missouri); Dontario Drummond, WR (Ole Miss); Sam Williams, DE (Ole Miss); Kingsley Enagbare, DE (South Carolina); Jaylan Foster, CB (South Carolina); Matthew Butler, DT (Tennessee); Theo Jackson, DB (Tennessee); Leon O’Neal Jr., S (Texas A&M); Jalen Wydermyer, TE (Texas A&M); Ethan Barr, LB (Vanderbilt).

10. DeMarvin Leal, DL (Texas A&M)

Leal continues to battle through double and sometimes triple teams to pace an Aggies defense that ranks first in America in points allowed through 3 games. Leal’s 3 sacks lead the team and his talents are a big reason Mike Elko’s pass defense also ranks No. 1 in America. With Leal up front, Elko knows he can pressure with 3 or 4. That does wonders on the back end, making Leal the rising tide that lifts all boats.

9. Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (Kentucky)

Robinson drops a few places this week, but this is more about dominant performances elsewhere and not anything the former Mr. Kentucky football did. In fact, Robinson posted 8 receptions for 111 yards in Kentucky’s narrow win over Chattanooga, and while the Cats oddly didn’t use Robinson in the run game a week after he broke open the Missouri game with his running ability, his contributions were desperately needed to help Kentucky escape an embarrassing loss at home. Robinson leads all SEC receivers in total yards and is second in receiving yards entering Kentucky’s Week 4 date with South Carolina.

8. Jalen Catalon, S (Arkansas)

Another guy who falls a few spots but not really because of anything he did. Catalon continues to show out for the Hogs. He ranks 2nd on the team in tackles and leads the way in passes defended, interceptions and completion percentage in 1-on-1 situations. The sophomore added 9 more tackles in Arkansas’ rout of Georgia Southern and now gets his second opportunity to showcase his All-American caliber talents this weekend when the Hogs face off with Texas A&M.

7. Bryce Young, QB (Alabama)

Young passed his first road test with flying colors, winning in an environment Nick Saban praised as one of the loudest games he’s ever heard. Yes, the Tide had some issues with crowd noise, committing a handful of false start penalties and picking up a delay of game while struggling with a silent count forced by The Swamp.

But Young also took care of the football, helping Alabama win the turnover battle 1-0 —  and with it, the game, as Alabama converted Florida’s lone turnover to 7 points, which proved to be more than enough to be the difference.

What impressed the most was Young’s poise and ability to make the proper read, even deep into his progression, despite the noise and a Florida pass rush that was disruptive most of the afternoon. His play in the first quarter staked the Tide to a 21-3 lead — and that was enough for Alabama to hold off Florida’s furious rally.

6. Kaiir Elam, CB (Florida)

To Alabama’s credit, they did attempt to throw at Elam some (4 targets), even completing 1 of those passes. Elam has now been targeted 7 times this year and surrendered 2 completions.

Elam did pick up a dubious pass interference penalty (the game had several, impacting both teams) in the first quarter that changed the dynamics of the game, as it appeared Florida had forced a 3-and-out trailing 7-3 only to extend an Alabama drive that ultimately resulted in a touchdown.

Still, matched up 1-on-1 with John Metchie III, Alabama’s preseason All-SEC wideout, the Gators’ corner dominated, winning 2 of the 3 isolated targets and helping Florida limit Metchie III to a season-low 49 yards receiving and 8.2 yards per catch.

Derek Stingley started the year as the presumed No. 1 corner in the country, but the dynamics of that debate have shifted because Elam plays like he’s that guy on the field.

5. BJ Ojulari, Edge (LSU)

The national sack leader (4.5) and reigning SEC Defensive Linemen of the Week, Ojulari recorded 2.5 sacks in LSU’s blowout victory over Central Michigan. The Tigers’ defensive line registered 5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in the win, a show of dominance that had to be music to Tigers’ fans ears after LSU’s line struggled so mightily at UCLA to open the season. Life will be tougher on Ojulari without edge teammate Andre Anthony (see honorable mentions), who is lost for the season with a knee injury. Still, with Ojulari commanding double teams on the edge, Saturday showed the Tigers have plenty of talent to take advantage of the one on one battles left behind.

4. Evan Neal, OT (Alabama)

Neal drops 3 spots because even when Alabama ran right behind their All-American Saturday, they found the going tough against the best defensive front they’ve played on the young season. Neal only allowed 2 pressures against the Florida front Saturday — and it’s true that when the Tide needed short yardage, they got the job done on the ground late. But Alabama was held under 100 yards rushing and outgained by 100+ yards Saturday, and much of that was about the line falling short in a handful of one on ones up front. Neal is now “only” the 73rd-ranked tackle on the season in the PFF rankings, but plenty good enough to take on your best blocker and a big reason despite all of Florida’s pressure, they registered only 2 sacks Saturday afternoon.

3. Matt Corral, QB (Ole Miss)

Corral is in the top 10 for the first time this season after a monstrous performance against Tulane. The Green Wave, you might recall, pushed perennial College Football Playoff contender Oklahoma to the brink in Norman to begin the season. They had no such luck Saturday in Oxford, mostly due to the splendid play of Corral, who accounted for an absurd 7 touchdowns (3 passing, 4 rushing) and helped the Rebs put the game to bed with a 40-point first half outburst. Even when Tulane got pressure, it didn’t matter, Corral was dropping pots of gold in hands at the end of rainbows:

The Ole Miss sophomore now leads the SEC in passing and passing efficiency and grades out at 5th in the PFF college quarterback ratings. His date with Alabama on Oct. 2 will be must-see TV.

2. Will Anderson, DL (Alabama)

Outside of the guy ranked No. 1, I’m not sure there’s another player in America who makes his impact felt more significantly even when he’s not registering on the stat sheet than Alabama’s monster of a man Will Anderson. Playing on a knee that was at best 80% (Anderson needed help off the field after the win) — Anderson showed up in both respects Saturday in The Swamp. Anderson’s 7 tackles included 2 tackles for loss (1 of which came on a 4th down), and he was one of the only Alabama linemen to get pressure on Florida’s quarterback, registering 2 pressures. Gators fans are probably tired of seeing Anderson after two dominant games in the past 10 months, featuring absurd plays like this one in last year’s SEC Championship Game:

The Tide defender earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the win, and leadership laurels for demanding more of his defense than the 29 points and 245 yards rushing it surrendered to Florida after the game:

With Anderson’s play and leadership, expect Alabama to bounce back on defense in a big way.

1. Jordan Davis, DT (Georgia)

Much like Anderson, it’s the stuff that happens while Davis is being doubled or tripled that makes him such a great football player. And if you don’t bring extra help on Davis, well — safeties are a thing that can happen:

Davis has only 8 tackles and 2 sacks, but he’s the best player on the best defense in America. The Dawgs rank No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in S & P+ defense and No. 5 in yards allowed per play, and Davis’s ability to control the game at the line of scrimmage is the largest — literally and figuratively — reason for that. A captain who came back to school to win a championship, Davis has this team looking the part as the season closes its first month.