SEC teams have signed 43 of the Top 100 players overall in the 2019 recruiting class. They are in the hunt for all 7 of the top uncommitted standouts, too, ahead of Wednesday’s National Signing Day.

Let’s expand the list a bit and find out how many of the nation’s top 50 prospects at each defensive position will be in the SEC in 2019. (Last night, we focused on the offense.) The totals, procured from 247Sports’ composite rankings, include signees and commitments.

Top 50 defensive linemen

Total: 21

5-stars: 5

4-stars: 16

Skinny: More than any other position, the SEC’s ability to reload on the defensive line is the single most important ingredient to its national dominance since 2003. And once again, as a recruiting rite, the SEC has more Top 50 DL recruits than any other league. No other league has 10. And the SEC is favored to land the top 3 remaining uncommitted DL recruits, each a 4-star.

Top 50 linebackers

Total: 14

5-stars: 3

4-stars: 11

Skinny: Consider this quality over quantity. The SEC signed 3 of the 4 5-stars at the position and 10 of the top 17 prospects. One more in that group committed to an SEC school and another is uncommitted but has Alabama has a leader. Florida and Georgia each have 3 from this group, and Alabama will join them in uncommitted Henry To’oto’o chooses the Tide.

Top 50 defensive backs

Total: 21

5-stars: 1

4-stars: 20

Skinny: The race for DBU continues. The SEC again leads every other league by a wide margin, but there could be some drama on Signing Day. Seven of the top 50 DBs haven’t made it official. Several have committed to SEC programs. Who will flip? To where? Remember last year, when Alabama flipped Patrick Surtain? This position group will provide more drama than any other Wednesday.