Top 3 Players from the SEC (Defense)

Our third installment of a top prospects from a Power 5 conference brings us down south as we take a look at the SEC conference. The SEC is pretty widely regarded as the top conference in college football and they’re known for pushing out top talent.

Defensive Line
Quinnen Williams – Alabama
Jeffery Simmons – Mississippi State
Ed Alexander – LSU
Quinnen Williams is an athletic freak who could even warrant a #1 overall draft pick. He’s going to be causing disruption snap after snap in the NFL for a long time. Simmons was a very solid player out of Miss St. who rightfully got overshadowed by teammate Montez Sweat. He will likely slip in the draft because of his ACL injury, but could’ve been a top-20 pick type talent before then. The race for third best in the SEC was tight between Alexander and Isaiah Buggs, but Alexander is a better player in my eyes. Overshadowed by his teammates and dragged down by injuries, whoever drafts him will be getting a great value for a great player.

EDGE
Josh Allen – Kentucky
Montez Sweat – Mississippi State
Jachai Polite – Florida
Josh Allen is a pass-rusher who checks all of the boxes in NFL standards of size, athleticism, speed, and strength. He is another SEC player fighting for that coveted #1 overall draft pick. Sweat had an amazing combine to go along with a great senior bowl. He’s another prototypical NFL pass-rusher. Polite would probably projected higher in a year that is so pass-rusher needy. He is not a great run defender who could even fit well as a 3-4 OLB standing at 6’2 260lbs.

Defensive Backs
Devin White – LSU
Mack Wilson – Alabama
Vosean Joseph – Florida
I mean, if we’re being honest, Devin White alone is the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd best LB in this draft class. He has all the tools needed to dominate in the NFL, I’d be shocked to see him fall out of the top-10. Mack Wilson is a great pass coverage LB who has immense potential for the next level. He is a probable Day 2 pick, but could see a team taking him late in the first round. Vosean Joseph is a quick and instinctive LB who with some added weight and strength could be a great WLB in the NFL.

Defensive Backs
Greedy Williams – LSU
Deionte Thompson – Alabama
Deandre Baker – Georgia
Similar to Devin White, Greedy is far and away the best DB in this class who I don’t see falling past the Broncos at #10. Deionte Thompson will likely fall in the draft due to his injury, but when playing is a dominant deep safety. Deandre Baker headlined an impressive 2018 Georgia defense and might fall out of the first round after having a rough weekend at the NFL Combine.