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Ranking the best defensive lines in the SEC (Al.com)
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:14 am
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:14 am
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14. Missouri
The Tigers ranked 112th stopping the run last year and that starts up front. This year’s group won’t have Charles Harris and Spencer Harris but added top recruit Terry Beckner Jr. at tackle.
Projected starters
DE Marcell Frazier
DE Nate Howard
DT Terry Beckner Jr. (photo above)
DT A.J. Logan
Interesting fact
Gadsden product Brick Haley, formerly an assistant at LSU, Texas and the Bears, is the new defensive line coach in Columbia.
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13. Vanderbilt
Defense has been the Commodores strong suit in recent years. It lost top lineman Adam Butler and won’t have the talent of Zach Cunningham at linebacker this fall. It has starter Nifae Lealao back along with Jonathan Wynn at end.
Projected starters
DE Jonathan Wynn
NT Nifae Lealao
DE Dare Odeyingbo
Interesting fact
Vanderbilt was No. 117 in sacks last season with 15.0 total.
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12. Arkansas
The Razorbacks lost their entire starting defensive line as it shifts from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 -- one fewer linemen in the base. McTelvin Agim could be the player to watch after arriving at Arkansas as the No. 18 overall recruit in 2016.
Projected starters
DE McTelvin Agim
NG Austin Capps/Bijhon Jackson/Dylan Hays
DE Briston Guidry
Interesting fact
Auburn ran for 543 yards on Arkansas in 2016.
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11. Kentucky
The Wildcat defensive line was a disappointment in 2016 with a limited impact on opposing backfields. New positional coach Derrick LeBlanc is charged with getting this group -- mostly in tact -- to have a better impact on the point of attack.
Projected starters
DE T.J. Carter
NG Naquez Pringle
DE Adrian Middleton
Interesting fact
Matt Elam, once a top recruit hotly pursued by Alabama, is now a senior at Kentucky after what’s been a disappointing career to this point.
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10. Tennessee
The Vols lost star defensive end Derek Barnett and Corey Vereen and have several interior linemen coming off injuries in 2016. It still has a strong group of ends in Darrell Taylor and Jonathan Kongbo.
Projected starters
DE Jonathan Kongbo
DE Darrell Taylor
DT Kendal Vickers
DT Kahlil McKenzie
Interesting fact
Former Michigan head coach Brady Hoke is the Vols defensive line coach this fall.
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9. Mississippi State
After all the controversy last offseason, this is the year for former top recruit Jeffery Simmons to live up to his high school hype. Without practically all of the defensive line from last year, the Bulldogs will need young players to step into key roles.
Projected starters
DE Jeffery Simmons
DE Cory Thomas
DT Braxton Hoyett
Interesting fact
Mississippi State ranked near the bottom of most SEC defensive stats last year, but was in the middle (seventh) in run defense allowing 177.5 yards a game.
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8. South Carolina
Will Muschamp lost the sack leader in Darius English and doesn’t have too much depth returning. Former top recruit Shameik Blackshear has had injury problems since arriving in Columbia and suffered a concussion last week, according to media reports.
Projected starters
DE D.J. Wonnum
DE Dante Sawyer/ Shameik Blackshear
DT Ulric Jones
DT Taylor Stallworth
Interesting fact
Nothing, I guess.They didn't post one.
7
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:14 am to TideSaint
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7. Florida
The Gators have put together some strong defenses in recent years and that started up front. Cece Jeffeson could be the next star to come out of the defensive line coming off the edge. The Gators still lost Bryan Cox and Caleb Brantley, which will test the depth of line. The middle will be the biggest concern.
Projected starters
DE Cece Jefferson
DE Jabari Zuniga
DT Taven Bryan
DT Khairi Clark
Interesting fact
Jefferson, once a top target for Alabama, had an interesting signing day after his father said he wanted his son to go somewhere else.
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6. Ole Miss
The Rebels have a decent group returning with Marquis Haynes and Breeland Speaks and sophomore Benito Jones coming off an SEC All-Freshman season at tackle. This group will have to do much better against the run after ranking a dismal 120th of 128 FBS teams last seasons.
Projected starters
DE Marquis Haynes
DE Qaadir Sheppard
DT Breeland Speaks/ Josiah Coatney
DT Benito Jones
Interesting fact
The Rebels defensive line scored a touchdown on Alabama last year when John Youngblood scooped a Jalen Hurts fumble. He was a senior last year.
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5. Texas A&M
The Aggies lost No. 1 draft pick Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall at the two end spots but return their two tackles in Kingsley Keke and Zaycoven Henderson. With depth inside, it will come down to how they replace edge pass-rushers will Garrett and Hall.
Projected starters
DE Jarrett Johnson
DE Qualen Cunningham
DT Kingsley Keke
DT Zaycoven Henderson
Interesting fact
Daylon Mack, a five-star in 2015 recruited by both Alabama and Auburn, is still working to find a starting position.
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4. Auburn
The Tigers lost a few of their best players in Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, but it still returns talent like Marlon Davidson and Dontavius Russell. There’s also former top recruit Byron Cowart who is moving inside to tackle -- another guy to watch even if he’s not cracking the starting lineup at this point.
Projected starters
Buck Jeff Holland
NG: Dontavius Russell
DT Andrew Williams/Derrick Brown
DE: Marlon Davidson
Interesting fact
Auburn DL coach Rodney Garner has coached nine Pro Bowl selections.
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3. Georgia
New defensive line coach Tray Scott inherits a group with considerable talent returning. Trenton Thompson brings considerable potential as one of the returning starters and top returning tackler. One-time Alabama commit Jonathan Ledbetter is in position to start at defensive end for a group that is expected to be the strength of a defense returning almost the entire starting lineup.
Projected starters
DE Jonathan Ledbetter
NT John Atkins
DL Trenton Thompson
Interesting fact
Atkins, a 308-pounder, was a greeter at a local car dealership’s service department over the summer, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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2. LSU
This is an annual thing with LSU producing some of the top talent in the trenches every season. Counting Arden Key as a lineman (he plays a hybrid DL/LB position), this has a chance to be a special group. Christian LaCouture is back for a fifth year after missing last season with a knee injury. He’ll wear the coveted No. 18 jersey this season. This is an experienced group with mostly seniors in the mix for starting jobs.
Projected starters
DE Christian LaCouture
DE Frank Herron
NT Greg Gilmore
BUCK Arden Key
Interesting fact
The Advocate reported Herron graduated this summer after a Citrus Bowl suspension for academic reasons.
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1. Alabama
Despite graduating draft picks Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson, this group still tops the SEC. Da’Ron Payne and DaShawn Hand have the most experience with players like Raekwon Davis and Quinnen Williams adding young talent to the mix. They won’t be as deep as in the past few seasons but the top-end talent is still there to make Karl Dunbar’s group tops in the league.
Projected starters
DE Raekwon Davis
DE Da’Shawn Hand
NG Da’Ron Payne
Interesting fact
Alabama has produced four defensive linemen drafted in the top two rounds of the last two NFL drafts.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:15 am to TideSaint
uh, no 2nd team Auburn line...list is shite
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:16 am to TideSaint
Not sure about Herron starting over Rashard Lawrence. Either way, both very talented guys.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:18 am to TideSaint
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4. Auburn
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2. LSU
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:18 am to NYCAuburn
Florida is way too low.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:20 am to TideSaint
I just don't get how bama gets #1 based off potential and not experience or actual play. Im not saying they wont be good but I don't see the logic in #1.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:20 am to TideSaint
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8. South Carolina
If anyone who knows anything about football has your starting DL listed below ours, you're bad and should feel bad.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:21 am to TideSaint
Terry Becker is a JR. He's got 50+ tackles and 3 sacks in his career and has played in 15 games.
That's pretty terrible research.
That's pretty terrible research.
This post was edited on 8/14/17 at 9:22 am
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:29 am to TheGusBus34
I actually agree with you. Are they going to be bad no but I think Auburn and Florida and maybe even LSU could be as good if not better. Georgia returned everyone as well on defense.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:35 am to TheGusBus34
The projected starters have considerable experience, and Payne is arguably the best DT in the country.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
Who the hell is Spencer Harris
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:44 am to TideSaint
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Projected starters
DE Christian LaCouture
DE Frank Herron
NT Greg Gilmore
BUCK Arden Key
Dis they research their projections? Coach O has stated multiple times that Rashard Lawrence is starting at DE, over Frank Herron.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:44 am to Riseupfromtherubble
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The projected starters have considerable experience
Payne has a lot of experience. Hand has a fair amount himself. R. Davis doesn't have much
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Payne is arguably the best DT in the country.
I think he's a tremendous player and will be a major key in keeping Bama's D as one of the top units in the country. But I don't think a legitimate argument could be made to put him ahead of Ed Oliver or the Lawrence kid from Clemson
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:46 am to NYCAuburn
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uh, no 2nd team Auburn line...list is shite
#8. Auburn second string
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:47 am to TideSaint
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:47 am to Riseupfromtherubble
Imo its always been your bucks and jack linebackers that come off the edge that makes your Dline greater than most. Allen was really the only true Dlineman in my opinion that did considerable damage. It just seem your Dline gets the credit when LBs are doing much of the work.
obviously the talent is there just wondering the thought was in to making this article, Im quite sure bama will end up proving it right more times than not.
obviously the talent is there just wondering the thought was in to making this article, Im quite sure bama will end up proving it right more times than not.
This post was edited on 8/14/17 at 9:48 am
Posted on 8/14/17 at 9:56 am to sugatowng
He's good. I remember being disappointed we didn't snatch him from under your nose. First good thing to ever come outta Hope, AR.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 10:00 am to TheGusBus34
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Imo its always been your bucks and jack linebackers that come off the edge that makes your Dline greater than most. Allen was really the only true Dlineman in my opinion that did considerable damage. It just seem your Dline gets the credit when LBs are doing much of the work.
Tomlinson was also a great college DL.
Agree about LBs, but we line them up like DEs a lot of the time so it's all a little mushed together label wise.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 10:04 am to TheGusBus34
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I just don't get how bama gets #1 based off potential and not experience or actual play. Im not saying they wont be good but I don't see the logic in #1.
Because they are just that damn good. Justified ranking, IMO.
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