Individual Position Rankings

They’re the last line of defense, the hardest hitters on the team and excellent coverage men.

Today’s safeties must play a lot of different roles in order to be successful against evolving offenses. SEC safeties are no different, and these Top 10 will be leading the charge entering the 2015 season.

10. A.J. Stamps, Kentucky: Stamps is the rare senior whose raw athleticism leaves more to the imagination than the junior college transfer’s previous experience. Coach Mark Stoops is working more directly with the secondary in 2015, so expect Stamps to build on his four interceptions and five pass breakups from his 2014 season SEC debut.

9. Armani Watts, Texas A&M: Aggies freshmen like Myles Garrett and Kyle Allen received a lot of praise in 2014, but Watts proved he was just as talented if not more frustrating for his plus coverage and subpar tackling. Look for new defensive coordinator John Chavis, previously the Safety Whisperer at LSU, to transform Watts into once of the SEC’s best.

8. Mike Hilton, Ole Miss: Mississippi’s 4-2-5 defense can make the role of the team’s safeties seem confusing, but Hilton’s skill set allows coach Hugh Freeze to play a lot of creative sets. Look for Hilton to hold things together with duties akin to a strong safety.

7. Marcus Maye, Florida: While his 62 tackles and five pass break-ups in 2014 stand out, it’s tough to isolate Maye’s performance without keeping in mind that he played with Vernon Hargreaves III and some other excellent defensive backs. If he takes the next step in coverage awareness, though, Maye will introduce his name to non-Gators fans who may only know about the team’s two-time All-SEC cornerback.

6. Quincy Mauger, Georgia: Mauger’s four interceptions are tied for the second-most of returning SEC players. With a Bulldogs front seven that looks to dominate opposing offensive lines, Mauger could eclipse that mark as he tracks down errant passes.

5. Brian Randolph, Tennessee: The hard-hitting Randolph was the veteran presence on a surprisingly solid Tennessee secondary. While only picking off two passes in 2014, Randolph’s positioning will allow the Vols young corners to build off last season and catapult the secondary into one of the SEC’s best.

4. Johnathan Ford, Auburn: Ford led Auburn in tackles last year during his first full season playing safety. The Tigers’ pass defense struggled at times in 2014, but in Ford new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has a player he can trust as a last line of defense.

3. Jamal Adams, LSU: Adams finished like a rocket in 2014, notching three tackles for loss in the Tigers’ last two games. Despite coming off the bench last season, Adams’ explosive speed will add dynamism to an LSU secondary that led the conference in pass efficiency defense.

2. Tony Conner, Ole Miss: His teammates Hilton and Trae Elston get a lot of credit for their physical play, but it was Conner whom NFL.com called the second-most physical player in college football. While Conner thrives in the nickel, his nine tackles for loss last season indicate a future first-round draft grade as a strong safety.

1. Jalen Mills, LSU: After moving to safety following a Freshman All-American season at cornerback, Mills established himself as an elite coverage man while starting every game of his career. The super-talented senior has all the ingredients to continue the Tigers’ reputation as “DB U.”