SEC - Defensive Talent Analysis

This piece digs a little deeper into the talent level of each Southeastern Conference team on the defensive side on the ball. The offensive data cane be found in the in the blog. The raw data comes from Rival.com prospect ratings and is calculated as followed.

5.7 = 1.00 point
5.8 = 1.25 points
5.9 = 1.50 points
6.0 = 1.75 points
6.1 = 2.00 points

Players under 5.7 were not calculated into the raw data as a way to limit complexity.

The 2005, 2006, 2007 classes are weighted at 100% while the 2008 class is weighted at 75% and 2009 is weighted at 25% due to a lot of players redshirting. Important to note is that this data only includes current players on the roster.



Florida is #1 in the SEC and #2 in the county in Scoring Defense and Total Defense and is clearly the most talented team defensively in the SEC.

Alabama is #2 in the SEC and in the Top 5 in the country in Scoring Defense and Total Defense and is group in the next tier with Georgia and LSU in terms of defensive talent, but it is no surprise that that Tide get the most out of their talent under defensive mastermind, Nick Saban.

The biggest surprise is Georgia, who has a lot of talent on paper, but is 12th and 9th in Scoring Defense and Total Defense respectively. Mark Richt might be forced to make a tough decision this off-season on what to do with DC, Willie Martinez.

It is no surprise that Arkansas is 11th and 12th in Scoring Defense and Total Defense as their talent level ranks just above Vanderbilt and is a area that Bobby Petrino will have to emphasize moving forward in recruiting.



It all starts on the defensive line and having talent here is biggest key to defensive success, so it is no surprise that Florida's unit, which features former 5-Star DE Carlos Dunlap and 4-Star Jermaine Cunningham on the other side and a ton of beef in interior leads the Gator's #1 defense. Former 3-Star and future 1st Round pick, Terrance Cody is a mountin in the middle that anchors the NT position in Bama's 3-4 system and really makes that defense click.


Terrence Cody

LSU is always stacked along the defensive line, which is the main reason their defense is always ranked toward the top in the nation.



The SEC has a plethora of top linebacker, but none are better than the trio of Florida's 5-Star Brandon Spikes, Alabama's 4-Star Rolando McLain and South Carolina's 3-Star Eric Norwood.



Tennessee's former 5-Star Eric Berry is the top defense back in the nation while Bama's former 4-Star Mark Barron leads the SEC in interceptions and is in the top five in passes defended.


Eric Berry

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