Ranking the Top 10 SEC defensive backs entering 2016 season
It’s not supposed to be a banner year in the SEC at quarterback. Defensive backs are licking their chops.
Of the 15 defenders in the conference who intercepted three or more passes last season, 12 were cornerbacks and safeties who have eligibility left for 2016. There is a bunch of talent on the back end.
Pass defense has never been tougher to play at the college level, as the proliferation of spread-option schemes — coupled with rules too heavily tilted toward the offense — has put increased pressure on the secondary. If corners and safeties don’t have a reliable pass rush helping them, there’s simply no escape.
RELATED: Top 10 SEC QBs | Top 10 SEC RBs | Top 10 SEC WRs | Top 10 SEC LBs
But the No. 3 corner off the board in April’s draft was Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves. The No. 2 safety to hear his name called was his teammate, Keanu Neal. The NFL is looking to this league for secondary help.
Here are our Top 10 defensive backs in the SEC for 2016, although one is in for a position switch.
10. Johnathan Ford, Auburn: His greatness is not measured like a traditional defensive back, as his two interceptions and two passes broken up this past year won’t turn any heads. That being said, Ford might be the premier tackler in the league among secondary players. His 118 total stops in 2015 was quite a number, plus he even averaged 28.7 yards on 15 kick returns.
9. Donovan Wilson, Texas A&M: Technically not a starter since he’s listed as a nickel back, Wilson was all over the final statistics for the Aggies in 2015. Not only did he rank third in the conference with five interceptions, but as an in-the-box defender he recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and was credited with 2.0 sacks. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder forced three fumbles, too.

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
8. Chris Westry, Kentucky: Overlooked to some degree on the recruiting trail due to his shooting guard-like frame at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, Westry was one of the best pass defenders in the SEC a year ago straight out of high school. Not enough fans noticed, of course, as he did it for a basketball-first program in Lexington. You’ll hear about him more often in 2016, though.
7. Jamal Adams, LSU: Take a look at the defensive stat sheet from a season ago in Baton Rouge, and you’ll see Adams’ name all over the place. He registered 67 tackles. Five were behind the line of scrimmage. Interceptions? Four, tied for fourth in the SEC. Six more passes were broken up after being thrown his way.
6. Cameron Sutton, Tennessee: A first-team All-SEC choice by reporters at Media Days last month, Sutton was actually third on his own team in passes broken up last year. He didn’t get his hands on one interception, either. However, statistics can sometimes be deceiving for a corner when the ball doesn’t come his way that often. He’s a magnificent punt returner, too.

Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
5. Oren Burks, Vanderbilt: The aforementioned defensive back who has been asked to change positions, Burks was a standout lining up at safety for the Commodores in 2015 with three INTs and six PBUs. But he’s such a force near the line of scrimmage that coach Derek Mason is moving him to “star,” which is more of a hybrid safety/linebacker. Burks’ tackle total of 59 from a season ago likely spikes.
4. Tre’Davious White, LSU: Similar to Sutton above, don’t be fooled by the fact that White didn’t pick off any passes in 2015. The Bayou Bengals have put defensive backs in the NFL at a staggering rate under coach Les Miles, and White is on his way to the pros, too. If his fingers get a little stickier defending the pass, he could be destined for Round 1.
3. Dominick Sanders, Georgia: What a 2015 for Sanders. He intercepted six passes, one of which he brought all the way to paydirt. He broke up six others. Now that Kirby Smart has left his post as defensive coordinator at Alabama to take the top job in Athens, Sanders may be set up to enjoy even more success. Remember, Smart has coached safeties at the college and NFL levels as an assistant.

Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2. Eddie Jackson, Alabama: A quintessential ballhawk patrolling the secondary, Jackson tied for the conference lead in 2015 with six INTs. He also knows what to do with the pigskin in his hands, as two of those picks he returned for touchdowns. The rest of the Crimson Tide secondary is a bit on the young side, but Jackson is now a senior and overflowing with experience.
1. Jalen Tabor, Florida: Hargreaves enjoyed a sensational career in Gainesville for three seasons and went 11th overall in the draft to his hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Nevertheless, there are tape junkies out there who will tell you Tabor was the better defender in 2015. With Hargreaves and Neal now cashing paychecks, Tabor is the unquestioned Alpha in the secondary.
MISSING THE CUT
Minkah Fitzpatrick/Marlon Humphrey, Alabama: These two corners, plus safety Ronnie Harrison, are rising sophomores soon to be among the elite in the SEC. They might be a year away, though.
Carlton Davis, Auburn: Unlike Ford, who is more of a force in the box, Davis is a classic coverage corner. He had three INTs and eight PBUs as a true freshman last season.
Torren McGaster, Vanderbilt: Among players returning to the league this season, only Tabor broke up more passes in 2015 than McGaster’s 13.
Marcus Maye, Florida: A preseason third-team All-SEC pick, he played fourth banana to Hargreaves, Tabor and Neal last season. We’ll see what he can do with those two first-rounders gone.
John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
I’m pretty sure at the end of the season Brandon Bryant will be on this list.
Who?
I’m certain that Marlon Humphrey, Tony Conner, and Carlton Davis, will all be considered among the SEC’s best by season’s end.
There are a lot of quality DBs in the SEC this season. You can’t fit every one of them on a Top 10 list. A few have to hit the cutting-room floor.
True, but as good as Westry was he’s not as good as any of the ones TanzanianTiger listed. I respect trying to get a KY player on the list though.
Chris westry is legit.
Sutton should be higher…nobody threw at him last year. Statistics deceiving in this situation.
I think he’s really good. The other players are simply better in my opinion. The collection of safeties in particular is dynamite.
Could be but at least get the players info right. You said Sutton didn’t have any Interceptions last year, and I know that he intercepted Mizzou’s first past attempt of the game. A quick google search could have avoided this mistake.
Wow, no Tony Conner is hard to believe. He’s arguably the best player on the Ole Miss defense. To not even list him as just missing the cut is a sham.
The best player on an Ole Miss pass defense that finished 13th out of 14 teams in the league? Conner got consideration, believe me. But the unit he played on was awful, plus he didn’t accumulate any numbers of note.
Well to be fair Connors did get hurt and only play In 5 games and you have white listed from LSU which finished 12th in the SEC in pass defense? What stats got white on the list? Was it his 38 tackles or his zero interceptions? Because if you’re looking at stats and where the Defense ranked then Fitzpatrick and Humphrey both trump white.
Sadly, you’re right BamaTime. LSU was very poor at generating pressure on the QB which means that doesn’t help any LSU DB to make a play on the ball. For example, Bama vs aTm, Bama pressure on the Kyle Allen was good enough generate 3 pick 6’s. Basically what I’m saying is, if your defense can’t generate pressure on the QB, then he is going to have a good time on any defense.
I’d actually switch Adams and white. Both are great though.
John crist I’ve criticized your articles a lot for good reasons, but one thing I definitely like about you is that you actually defend your articles. Not many writers on sds will do that because they’re either too lazy or too scared. I’m glad you do, it makes it much more entertaining and shows that you have pride in your work and actually care about it.
+1
+1
He will defend his articles but he won’t ask his daddy Saban any tough questions. Bama = Two players found with weed and guns + One of Top Defensive coaches fired for recruiting violations = John Crist = Umm, Coach Saban, what do you think of the weather in Alaska. You will never live that down chump.
Live what down? Your opinion? Nobody cares but you…
John- Are u trying to be the worst writer at SDS? How do you not even mention the best safety in the SEC in Tony Conner?
Or his backup, who’s even better.
Okay that was actually funny. And as for armyguy, who cares? It’s post season rankings that matter.
Well for starters he is not the best safety in the SEC…..
Actually Bamatime, yes he is. He has been the best safety in the conference since his sophomore season.