After years of discussions, negotiations and preparation, Texas has finally joined the SEC. But how do the Longhorns stack up as they enter the toughest conference in college football?
We’re ranking the SEC position by position, assigning points for each team — 16 points for first place through one point for 16th. We’ll update the totals with each installment, giving a sense of which teams will contend for the SEC title and College Football Playoff spots.
We’ve already examined SEC quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and offensive lines. Next we rank the SEC schools on the strength of their defensive lines heading into the season:
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1. Tennessee: Vols have edge with James Pearce
There’s not a better pass rusher in the country than future first-round NFL pick James Pearce Jr., a 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior who earned first-team All-SEC honors last season after racking up 10 sacks and 14½ tackles for a loss. But there’s much more to this front than Pearce. Seniors Bryson Eason and Omari Thomas return as starters at the tackle spots and provide all the intangibles plus plenty of production, and 300-pound Jaxson Moi gives quality interior depth after starting seven games for Stanford last season. The Vols also have several young edge rushers that look primed for breakout seasons opposite Pearce, including Joshua Josephs, Tyree Weathersby and five-star freshman Jordan Ross.
2. Georgia: Deep Dawgs still have bite
Sure, the NFL and the portal took their usual toll on the deep and talented roster that head coach Kirby Smart and his staff have constructed, but the Dawgs still have plenty of bite up front after leading the SEC in scoring defense. Nazir Stackhouse, a second-team All-SEC selection, returns for his third season as a starter and is an athletic, 320-pound anchor at noseguard. Classmate Warren Brinson has paid his dues in the system and could thrive in his first year as a full-time starter, and talented redshirt sophomore Christen Miller looks too talented to keep out of the interior rotation. Mykel Williams could be the defensive wildcard; he had a team-high 4½ sacks along with 6½ tackles for a loss and could line up everywhere from linebacker to tackle in passing situations.
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3. Ole Miss: Portal powers Rebels’ line
Never underestimate the portal prowess of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, whose impressive transfer haul included two defensive linemen that will likely be picked in next year’s NFL draft. Manor graduate Princely Umanmielen, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound end, earned All-SEC honors at Florida last season after racking up career highs in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (seven) while 6-foot-4, 290-pound tackle Walter Nolen arrives after two impressive years at Texas A&M. They join a unit that didn’t need much help; veteran Jared Ivey returns at one end, 315-pound senior J.J. Pegues anchors the middle and Akelo Stone and Zxavian Harris both boast lots of productivity and experience. Oh, and five-star recruit Kam Franklin leads an impressive crop of freshmen linemen eager for action.
4. Arkansas: Hog wild about bookends
Is there a better pair of bookend edge players in the SEC than Landon Jackson and Albany transfer Anton Juncaj? Jackson, a 6-foot-7, 280-pound terror from Texarkana, earned first-team All-SEC honors a year ago and can hold up against the run and pressure the quarterback. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Juncaj racked up 15 sacks and 21½ tackles for loss while nabbing FCS first-team All-America honors and looks SEC-ready. Tackles Cam Ball and Eric Gregory, who both top 300 pounds, also return after starting last season. Better yet for arguably the team’s strongest position? Depth abounds with potential starting end Nico Davillier, veteran tackle Keivie Rose and massive 355-pound tackle Danny Saili, who transferred in from BYU after spring ball.
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5. Kentucky: No running allowed
The Wildcats’ base 3-3-5 defense requires some titans up front to hold up against the run and still generate pressure on the quarterback. No one in the SEC does both better than 6-foot-6, 350-pound nose guard Deone Walker, a projected first-round pick in next year’s draft. The All-SEC player had 55 tackles and 7½ sacks last season and will once again be the focal point of any offensive game plan. The other linemen aren’t exactly runts; Dennious Jackson (6-5, 335) arrived in the portal from junior college after injuries took a toll on the unit in the spring, and 6-4, 322-pound Keeshawn Silver looks primed for a breakout season. Fifth-year senior Octavious Oxendine provides leadership and a pass rush for one of the top run-defending fronts in the conference.
6. Texas: Depth gives charge to unit
Based on the comments by head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff in the offseason, the Longhorns are confident in their new starters up front. But it’s hard to ignore the losses; All-American tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II were…
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