Top 5 SEC Defensive Players

[gamecocknfire]

The best around

The top five defensive players in the SEC

Written by JOSEPH PERSON

jperson@thestate.com

In The State’s second installment of the SEC’s crème de la crème, the attention shifts to defense, which this conference does pretty well.

Alabama and Florida, which have met for the conference title the past two years, were ranked No. 2 and No. 4 nationally in total defense last year, while South Carolina finished in the top 15 for the second consecutive season.

The Crimson Tide lost 10 starters from last year’s national championship defense, but ’Bama’s backups weren’t bad last year: One of them was named defensive MVP of the BCS title game last season and has a spot on our preseason top-5 list.

5. Stephon Gilmore, CB, USC

From the moment he arrived on campus, when it took him about two practices to lock down a starting job, to his first game, a 7-3 win at N.C. State he preserved with a pass breakup in the end zone, Gilmore has lived up to the hype that accompanied his signing with the Gamecocks.

Steve Spurrier called Gilmore one of the best players to come to USC, and Gilmore began building his legacy by earning Freshman All-American honors last year. Gilmore also adds a wrinkle to the Gamecocks’ offense as a WildCock quarterback and the special teams as a punt returner. But the Rock Hill product made it clear his priority is corner.

Gilmore plans to get his hands on more passes after snagging one interception in 2009. That seems like a safe bet.

4. Kelvin Sheppard, LB, LSU

If you polled SEC observers about the conference’s best linebacker, many would go with Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower, who returns from a knee injury that sidelined him in 2009. But with Hightower shaking off the rust early in the season, The State will stick with Sheppard, who was a one-man hitting machine last year in Baton Rouge. Sheppard is big (6-foot-3 and 239 pounds) and athletic. The fifth-year senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., was third in the SEC last season with 110 tackles, nearly half of which were solo hits. Sheppard had at least seven tackles in 11 of LSU’s 13 games last season.

3. Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama

A lot of Alabama linemen were lost in the shadows of Mt. Cody — mammoth tackle Terrence Cody. But with Cody part of the Tide’s exodus to the NFL, the Tide needs a physical playmaker up front. And based on his performance against Texas in the BCS championship game, Dareus appears up to the challenge. The 6-foot-3, 306-pounder knocked Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy out of the game in the first half, and took an interception 28 yards for a touchdown that all but sealed things by halftime. Dareus led Alabama with 6.5 sacks in part-time duty last year. All he needs is a nickname.

2. Mark Barron, S, Alabama

College football rosters are filled with safeties who possess tremendous ball skills or sound tackling ability. Barron has both. The junior was the SEC leader with seven interceptions in 2009 and tied for the lead with 18 passes defended. But Barron knows how to hit, too, finishing behind only Rolando McClain for team tackling honors with 77 stops. There may be safeties around the country who are faster or bigger than Barron. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find one as versatile.

1. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Peterson, a junior from Pompano Beach, Fla., is that blue-chip athlete who has been as good as advertised. Peterson led all SEC corners in 2009 with 13 passes defended while coming up with 52 tackles, including 43 solo stops. Peterson also had two interceptions, a number that is deflated because so few teams challenge him and throw his way. Peterson, the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year as a high school senior, is regarded as the SEC’s best cover corner — and might be the best in the country.

[Xnex]

I'm happy to see that The State decided to include Gilmore in the list. I believe Stephon is going to be an excellent cb and an important playmaker for the Gamecocks defense. The only other Gamecock I feel comfortable suggesting as a possible member of this list at season's end is Cliff Matthews. If he has the type of season I believe he is capable of having I think he could be this seasons version of John Abraham.

And just to get my prediction in early, I think Devonte Holloman is going to have a breakout season this year too. I believe he will have more than 5 int's. and will likely have at least 1 touchdown on an int return.

It's a testament to the Bama coaching staff and recruiters that the Crimson Tide can lose 10 starters on "D" and still place 2 players on this list. And that's without Hightower being included.

I wish I knew what it felt like to live and die with a team that has such great history and is capable of pulling in a top 10 recruiting class on an "off year". Bama fans, & Florida fans should remind themselves how lucky they are to have the programs and coaches that they have.

[tjb]

I'm happy to see that The State decided to include Gilmore in the list. I believe Stephon is going to be an excellent cb and an important playmaker for the Gamecocks defense. The only other Gamecock I feel comfortable suggesting as a possible member of this list at season's end is Cliff Matthews. If he has the type of season I believe he is capable of having I think he could be this seasons version of John Abraham.

I agree. Cliff Matthews has some serious potential. He was one guy I was really disappointed we couldn't get. SC's defense has a chance to be pretty dang good. Holloman's a heck of player too...

[CrimsonKat]

I agree. Cliff Matthews has some serious potential. He was one guy I was really disappointed we couldn't get. SC's defense has a chance to be pretty dang good. Holloman's a heck of player too...

I would probably flip-flop Dareus and Barron on that list. Barron is poised to have a big season, but I think Dareus is going to be a game-changer. In the Spring, he was unblockable. Texas also had a little trouble blocking him (and tackling him) in the Championship Game.

[tjb]

I would probably flip-flop Dareus and Barron on that list. Barron is poised to have a big season, but I think Dareus is going to be a game-changer. In the Spring, he was unblockable. Texas also had a little trouble blocking him (and tackling him) in the Championship Game.

The first time I recall seeing Dareus was the MNC game. Holy cow, dude was a beast. Definitely could be a game changer.

Edited July 8, 2010 by tjb

[Mr Pickle1]

Nothing against Gilmore, but I personally(of course, as a UGA fan :P ) would have put Justin Houston as the 5th defender. J. Houston was basically the most efficient passrusher/tfl guy in the whole SEC last year. If he had played all year, he would have led the conference in those categories, and he's moving to a defense that will use him to attack even more.

[SacFalcFan]

Justin Houston is a top 5 defensive player in the SEC and could get #1 overall after this season..