One rule of this list is that you had to participate in spring practice. Maybe not the spring game, but definitely spring practice. Which means Alabama’s Jonathan Allen is not eligible.

Neither is Tennessee’s Derek Barnett.

So remember that as you send me your complaints about the SEC’s top 10 defensive linemen coming out of spring ball (in alphabetical order).

FANTASTIC FIVE

Caleb Brantley, Florida: I expect the Gators’ defensive line to cause some real havoc with Brantley, Bryan Cox, Joey Ivie, CeCe Jefferson, etc., etc. But Brantley really stands out to me with the improvements he made in 2015 as a difficult matchup on the interior. He still has to show that he can be more consistent as the game wears on, but there’s a lot of talent there.

Myles Garrett, Texas A&M: If I were ranking this 1-10 Garrett would be No. 1. Heck he might be 1 and 2. What can we say about Garrett that hasn’t already been said? He’s the prototype defensive end that you want in your program. He has size, speed, long arms, pursuit, backside pursuit. He broke the school’s freshman sack record in six games and the conference record in nine games. Jadeveon Clowney was a better prospect coming out of high school, but Garrett is a better player than Clowney was at this stage of his career.

Marquis Haynes, Ole Miss: With Robert Nkemdiche off to the NFL, Haynes is the new leader of the Land Sharks. Given his double-digit sack production of a year ago he might have been the real leader last year. Either way there’s little that can stop Haynes from being the man on the Ole Miss defense this year, especially opposing offensive linemen.

Arden Key, LSU: The Tigers’ move to the 3-4 puts Key in a position to kill the quarterback on every play. I like that move for Key, who proved that he could terror quarterbacks in a 4-3 last year. There are a few things Key could continue to improve on – he tends to get fooled on some running plays – but overall he does the one thing you want defensive linemen to do – chase the quarterback and hit him.

Nick James, Mississippi State: With Chris Jones off to the NFL, it’s James’ time to prove that he’s not just another big body clogging the middle of lines in the SEC. James can be so much more and he will be if he can prove to be a productive player on passing downs, even if he’s just freeing up other pass rushers.

NEXT 5

Terry Beckner Jr., Missouri: A top recruit from 2015, Beckner Jr. had a solid freshman campaign and should double his numbers across the board.

Charles Harris, Missouri: The leader of a very good, very underrated front four. Had seven sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss in 2015 and is a candidate for double-digit sacks this year.

Carl Lawson, Auburn: It’s been injuries, not talent, that have kept Lawson from stardom. He was an absolute beast in the Auburn spring game.

Daron Payne, Alabama: Payne managed to carve out a starting spot on the league’s deepest defensive line as a freshman. He looks like he took another step forward in spring.

Deatrich Wise, Arkansas: Wise looked very quick on the pass rush in the spring. He has good talent around him like Jeremiah Ledbetter and incoming freshman McTelvin Agim.