In a conference synonymous with defense, it’s no surprise that some of the best linebackers in the country are down south. The heart of any defense, linebackers symbolize just what the SEC is all about. In this day of fast-paced, spread offenses, it’s still hard-nosed physical defensive play that continues to rule the day.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top 10 linebackers in the SEC for 2015:

  1. Richie Brown, Mississippi State: Emerging as a top defender for the Bulldogs, the junior was among the SEC’s top 10 in assisted tackles (48) and interceptions (3) entering the bowl season. For the year, Brown piled up 90 tackles. Of those, 9.5 went for losses including 4.5 sacks. He built momentum into the bowl season and over into the 2016 campaign with double-digit tackles in each of the final two regular season games.
  1. Deion Jones, LSU: The senior finished his career in style for the Tigers. With a season-high 12 tackles against Ole Miss and another 11 total tackles in the regular season finale with Texas A&M, Jones completed his four years at LSU with seven tackles, including a sack in the Tigers’ bowl victory over Texas Tech.
  1. Brooks Ellis, Arkansas: Stepping up his play in the big games, the junior entered the bowl season third in the SEC with 57 assisted tackles. He collected a season-high 13 solo tackles against Alabama and added 12 assisted tackles against Mississippi State. He went over the 100-tackle mark (101) this season for the first time in his three-year career with the Hogs.
  1. Jalen Reeves-Mabin, Tennessee: Helping to resurrect the Vols program, the junior has been a rock in the middle of the defense. He was fifth in the SEC this season with 62 solo tackles. Over the last two seasons, Reeves-Mabin has totaled 200 tackles. Over that same period, he’s recorded 24 tackles for loss including seven sacks.
  1. Leonard Floyd, Georgia: The junior has been steady in three seasons with the Bulldogs. After recording 55 tackles in each of his first two seasons, Floyd increased that number to 66 heading into the bowl season. That included 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 of those were sacks.
  1. Antonio Morrison, Florida: The senior is finishing his career in style. He had a season-high eight solo tackles in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama. He was first in the SEC last season with 71 assisted tackles and has followed that up this season with 90 total tackles, including 11 for loss. Of those, 2.5 were sacks.
  1. Skai Moore, South Carolina: The junior was third in the SEC in tackles (111) entering the bowl season, including 68 solos. He had a big game to end the regular season against No. 1 Clemson. In the 37-32 loss, Moore collected a season-high 11 solo tackles. He totaled 13 tackles, one shy of his season-high 14 against Texas A&M. He has increased his numbers in each of the three seasons at South Carolina and has 258 career tackles, 12 for loss with three sacks.
  1. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt: It was a breakout season for the sophomore. Eclipsing 100 tackles for the season (103), Cunningham turned in double-digit tackles in each of the final three games of the 2015 season and in six games total. He added two more games of nine tackles each. Three times this season, Cunningham had double-digit solo tackles. All tolled, the young emerging star accumulated 16.5 tackles for loss, the most of any linebacker in the SEC, and had 4.5 sacks. The hard-hitter forced four fumbles this season, recovering three.
  1. Reggie Ragland, Alabama: The senior was recently named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the AP. He is viewed by more than a few as not only the best linebacker in the conference, but in the country as well. A strong all-around game, Ragland is among the best anywhere when it comes to playing the run, covering the pass, and rushing the quarterback. His ability to cover ground is what makes him a valuable commodity for NFL scouts. Ragland recorded 90 tackles heading into the College Football Playoff, including three sacks.
  1. Kentrell Brothers, Missouri: This is as solid a linebacker as there is in the nation. While Missouri had a down year as a team, Brothers continued to dominate and the senior closed out his college career with incredible numbers. He nearly lapped the competition as far as tackles go. Brothers led the SEC in solo (73) and assisted (79) tackles, and led the nation in total tackles (152), which also set the SEC single-season mark. With a nose for the football, Brothers not only proved to be the country’s top tackler, but he also finished second in the conference in fumbles forced (3) and fifth in the SEC with three interceptions. Brothers followed up an outstanding junior season (121 tackles) with an even better one in 2015, arguably the best of any linebacker in the country. He recorded double-digit tackles in every game this season but one and finished with three sacks.

Honorable Mentions: Selections would include Reuben Foster, Alabama, and Josh Forrest, Kentucky. The depth chart at this position in the SEC would be a very long one.