The SEC, a conference known for its amazingly fast and powerful defensive players, will lose several of its top defenders to the upcoming NFL Draft.

A’Shawn Robinson, Vernon Hargreaves III, Reggie Ragland, Robert Nkemdiche, Leonard Floyd and Jarran Reed are likely first-round picks according to recent NFL.com rankings.

However, several defensive stars will return for the 2016 season, including a few former standouts who were injured in 2015.

Here’s a list of the top 10 returning SEC defenders:

10. LB Jaylen Reeves-Maybin, Tennessee: The Volunteers got a big boost when Maybin opted to return rather than enter the draft. Maybin led the Vols with 105 tackles and 14 for loss. He also made 6 sacks and forced 2 fumbles.

9. LB Skai Moore, South Carolina: Another standout who chose to return rather than enter the draft, Moore had 111 tackles, 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles as a junior.

8. DE Charles Harris, Missouri: As a sophomore, the Mizzou standout pass rusher had 18.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries with 56 tackles.

7.  LB Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt: As a sophomore, Cunningham led an outstanding  Commodores defense in tackles (103), tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (4.5).

6. DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee — A dominating player, Barnett had 10 sacks for the second straight season in 2015. He also had 69 tackles, 16.5 for loss, 7 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble.

5. CB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee: Great in coverage and a tremendous tackler — 27 of his 28 tackles in 2015 were solos — Sutton had 6 pass breakups and forced 2 fumbles.

4. DE Carl Lawson, Auburn: An All-SEC selection as a freshman, Lawson missed the 2014 season with a knee injury and missed five games last season with injuries.

3. DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama: The lone returning player from the Tide defensive line, Allen led the team with 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. He contributed 6 quarterback hurries, 4 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles.

2. CB Jalen Tabor, Florida: Teams that tried to stay away from Vernon Hargreaves III often paid the price. Tabor made four interceptions, returning 2 for touchdowns, broke up 14 passes and had 40 tackles.

1. DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: Long with amazing speed and strength, Garrett made 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss resulting in minus-101 yards. As a sophomore, he forced a conference-high 5 fumbles and caused 10 quarterback hurries.

Also considered

Alabama: LB Tim Williams, LB Reuben Foster, CB Eddie Jackson; Arkansas: LB Brooks Ellis; LB Dre Greenlaw, DE Deatrich Wise Jr.

Auburn: CB Carlton Davis; Florida: LB Jerrad Davis, DE CeCe Jefferson; Georgia: FS Quincy Mauger, SS Dominick Sanders.

LSU: CB Jamal Adams, DE Lewis Neal, DT Davon Godchaux, DE Arden Key.

Ole Miss: DE Marquis Haynes, LB DeMarquis Gates, CB Tony Bridges.

Mississippi State: LB Richie Brown, FS Brandon Bryant.

Missouri: DE Walter Brady, DT Harold Brantley, LB Michael Scherer.

Texas A&M: DT Daylon Mack; DE Daeshon Hall, FS Armani Watts.

Vanderbilt: LB Nigel Bowden.