A player from the SEC West, and specifically Alabama, has taken the SEC Defensive Player of the Year honor the past two seasons — Jonathan Allen last year and Reggie Ragland in 2015.

The Tide have a player on their roster who could make it a three-peat for Bama, and a number of other standouts in the division could keep the award away from the East for yet another season.

Here are our 10 best bets from the West to make a run at the honor this season:

10. Leo Lewis – LB, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs’ leader in tackles (79) among returning players, Lewis will be leaned on heavily to help pick up a defense that gave up more total yards (5,968) than any other in the SEC last year. As a freshman in 2016 he recorded 4.5 tackles for loss and his skills will only continue to improve in the coming years.

9.DeMarquis Gates – LB, Ole Miss: The Rebels weren’t very good defensively last season, especially against the run, but Gates was. He led the team in tackles a year ago with 79, including 5.5 for loss and four sacks. Adept both as a pass rusher and cover linebacker, Gates will be a key to the Rebels defense again in 2017.

8. Tray Matthews – DB, Auburn: A key factor in Auburn’s resurgence on defense, Matthews led the team in tackles (76) and also picked off a pass. He looks to play an even bigger role in 2017 as the Tigers seek to build on a defense that ranked third in the SEC last season against the run.

7. Ronnie Harrison – S, Alabama: The Tide’s leading tackler (85) among returning players, Harrison steps into an even more prominent role in 2017 with the departure Marlon Humphrey and Eddie Jackson from the secondary to the NFL. He can come up and make the big hit as well as cover (two interceptions) ground.

6. Marquis Haynes – DE, Ole Miss: In a rebuilding defense, Haynes will be a leader. Back for another season with the Rebels, Haynes recorded 53 tackles, including 11 for loss and seven sacks, in 2016. His speed and agility off the edge has enabled him to rack up 36.5 tackles for loss, including 24.5 sacks, over three seasons.

5. Armani Watts – S, Texas A&M: The seasoned veteran will once again lead the way in the Aggies’ secondary. After leading the team in tackles (126) in 2015, Watts chalked up another 56 in a season that was cut short by a knee injury. If healthy, those numbers should return to 2015 level.

4. Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn: It’s still too early to make comparisons to some of the better sack artists in the SEC over the last few years, but if his freshman season is any indication, Davidson could be the next in line. As a true freshman last year, Davidson racked up 38 tackles, including six for loss and 2.5 sacks. He’ll be among the leaders on what should be a stellar Auburn defense.

 3. Shaun Dion Hamilton – LB, Alabama: Injured in the SEC Championship Game, Hamilton will be among the top defenders in the conference if he is fully recovered from the ACL as expected. He should improve on last year’s stats that included 64 tackles, nine for loss, and two sacks. Hamilton will help carry on the tradition of solid defense at Alabama.

2. Minkah Fitzpatrick – DB, Alabama: No player in the SEC has a better nose for the football than Fitzpatrick. With a conference-leading six interceptions, he returned two for touchdowns and is the school’s career leader with four pick-sixes. He’ll be squarely in the spotlight after the Tide sent seven players on defense to the NFL.

 1. Arden Key – LB, LSU: Tiger fans held their collective breath until Key returned to the team after missing spring practice for personal reasons. If healthy and 100 percent, Key will be the player to watch in the SEC West. The team leader in sacks (12) and tackles for loss (14.5) a year ago will be the leader in a defense that lost its top five tacklers.

SEC Defensive Players of the Year, last 10 years

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Coaches and The Associated Press had different choices for three seasons, as indicated.