Editor’s note: Saturday Down South has selected an all-decade offensive and defensive team for all 14 SEC programs.

Zach Cunningham could have started for any SEC team, and combine that all-time career with the versatility of Oren Burks and the ball-hawking of Casey Heyward and this is a defense to talk about.

Throw in the Odeyingbo brothers and the likes of Joejuan Williams, and it’s no surprise that Vanderbilt ranked 6th or better in total defense 5 times in the decade.

That led to 5 bowl appearances in what has become the backbone of the program under Derek Mason.

Here is the All-Decade defense for Vanderbilt:

Defensive line: Tim Fugger

One of the best pass rushers in the SEC in the early part of the decade, Fugger was All-SEC in 2011, and was among the top 10 defensive ends in sacks (7.5, 5th) and tackles for loss (13.5, 3rd). He also made a team-high 3 forced fumbles, good for 7th in the SEC. In 2010, his 4 forced fumbles were among the tops in the SEC and leaders nationally.

Backup: Adam Butler: In 2016, all 4 of Butler’s sacks – and 6 of his tackles for loss – came against SEC competition. Most notably, he had 2 sacks against Florida and 1.5 sacks in the season finale win over Tennessee.

Defensive line: Dayo Odeyingbo

His 12 tackles for a loss this season were tied for 4th in the SEC, and he added 1.5 sacks. In 2018, he made 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, and a team-high 2 fumble recoveries.

Backup: Kyle Woestmann: In 2014, Woestmann ended the season as team’s active career leader with 13 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss, and second in total tackles. He was a senior captain who made 23 starts in his final 2 seasons.

Defensive line: Caleb Azubike

In 2013 as a junior, Azubike was primarily a backup in a 5-man rotation, but led the defense with 10 tackles for loss and shared the team lead with 4 sacks. He received the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week at Florida with 4 tackles, 2 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Backup: Dare Odeyingbo: Made 27 starts in his final 3 seasons, including a team-high 11 tackles for loss and 4 sacks in 2017. He had 6.5 tackles for a loss in 2018.

Defensive line: Chase Garnham

Despite suffering injuries that cut short his 2011 and 2012 seasons, in 2012, he tied a career-high with 10 total tackles in a blowout win over Tennessee. That was during a season when he led the team with 7 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. That was nothing new as Garnham began his career as a sophomore with a tackle for loss in 5 consecutive games.

Backup: Rob Lohr: In 2012, Lohr finished his career as the team’s active leader with 31.5 career tackles for loss and 11 sacks. That season, his best game may have been against Ole Miss with 5 solo tackles, and 3 for a loss.

Linebacker: Oren Burks

One of the most versatile players in the SEC during his career, Burks was a defensive co-captain and in 2017, his senior season, he set career-highs with 45 solo tackles and 82 tackles. When he finished his career, Burks was the team’s active leader in several defensive statistical categories, including 237 total tackles, 136 solo tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 5 interceptions.

Backup: Charles Wright: In 2017, Wright led the Commodores – and shared the SEC lead – with 9 sacks, which was the 2nd-highest total in team history behind only Alan Young’s 12-sack total in 1993.

Linebacker: Chris Marve

Marve ranks 8th on the team’s career list with 397 total tackles. His career total of 28 tackles for loss ranks 9th all-time. Marve received All-SEC honors all 4 years. In 2010, Marve was a junior defensive co-captain. That year, he finished with 80 tackles and 8 tackles for loss.

Backup: Stephen Weatherly: In 2014, Weatherly had career highs in every defensive category, including 30 solo tackles, 55 total tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and 2 quarterback hurries. Those 12.5 tackles for loss total is 2nd only to Tim Fugger (13.5) since 1998. He won’t soon forget the Tennessee game that season when Weatherly broke the modern-day team record with 5 tackles for loss in a 7-tackle performance against Tennessee.

Linebacker: Zach Cunningham

Cunningham was a consensus All-American in 2015, the 7th Commodore to earn that distinction. In 2016, Cunningham was named among 5 finalists for the Butkus Award and a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. Cunningham finished the season as the SEC leader with 125 total tackles (9.6 per game), which ranked among the top 10 player nationally.

Backup: Darreon Herring: Voted a defensive captain after the 2015 season, and finished second on the team with 64 total tackles. He finished his career, as the team’s active leader with 123 solo tackles and 226 total tackles. In 2014, in the new 3-4 scheme, he made 11 starts, 8 at inside linebacker and 3 at nickel back.

Defensive back: Casey Hayward

In 2011, Hayward became the first Vanderbilt All-American in 4 years. That season he earned 2nd-team All-SEC honors by coaches and writers, and his 15 career interceptions tied Leonard Coleman (1980-83) for most in team history and was the most by active players. In 2010, Hayward was 2nd in the SEC in interceptions (6) and his pass breakups (17) led the SEC and were 3rd in the country.

Backup: Torren McGaster: Led the team in 2015 and 2016 in pass breakups. He made 33 starts in his final 3 seasons and became Vanderbilt’s top cover corner in the process.

Defensive back: Andre Hal

A two-time second-team all-SEC, Hal in 2013 led the SEC – and ranked among the country’s leaders – with 18 passes defended. In the bowl game after the 2013 season, Hal made 9 total tackles, an interception and 3 pass breakups.

Backup: Tre Herndon: A 3-year starter, Herndon led the team with 11 pass breakups in 2017. Overall, he made 36 starts and collected 126 tackles, 2 interceptions and 25 pass breakups.

Defensive back: Kenny Ladler

Ladler was an All-SEC pick in 2013 after a season when he led the SEC and shared the lead nationally while he set a team record with 5 forced fumbles. H was also tied for 2nd in the SEC with 5 interceptions. In his first year starting in 2012, Ladler led the defense with 90 total tackles.

Backup: Jahmel McIntosh: McIntosh made 4 interceptions in his career and added a career-high 40 tackles in 2014.

Defensive back: Joejuan Williams

Williams was an All-SEC pick by the coaches and media in 2018 and set career highs in interceptions (4), passes defended (18), solo tackles (48) and 61 total tackles. He led the SEC with 14 pass breakups and 18 passes defended. He was 2nd in the SEC with 4 interceptions and made at least 3 tackles in 11 games. In 2016, he played in every game as a true freshman

Backup: Trey Wilson: In 2012, Wilson started every game at cornerback for the Vanderbilt defense that ranked 3rd in the SEC in pass defense. He had a team-high 3 interceptions and returned 2 picks for TDs. Wilson also set a school record for most interception returns for TDs (4) and total interception return yardage (291), and ended career ranked 2nd all-time in the SEC with 4 TDs off interceptions.