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 the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive lines and defensive lines. Next we rank the SEC schools on the strength of their linebackers heading into the season:
More: Best of the SEC: How the Texas offensive line stands as we rank all 16 conference teams
1. Kentucky: Don’t overlook talented Cats
The Wildcats’ impressive linebacking corps rivals its defensive line for the best unit on the squad. D’Eryk Jackson, who has led Kentucky in tackles in each of the past two seasons, plays the middle spot like a noseguard with his stout 6-foot-1, 245-pound frame. He’s not just a run plugger, either; last season he had 8½ tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown. He got plenty of help in the portal with the arrival of Jamon Dumas-Johnson, an All-American for Georgia in 2022 who battled injuries last season. Even better, outside linebacker JJ Weaver returns for a sixth season despite an NFL opportunity and has a collegiate résumé that includes 29 starts, 165 tackles, 32 tackles for a loss and 16½ sacks. Daveren Rayner provides the depth inside while Tyrese Fearby and Noah Matthews have flashed as backups on the edge to Weaver.
2. Oklahoma: Danny Stutsman brings the heat
There may not be a better ballhawk in the country than Danny Stutsman, the Longhorns’ nemesis who serves as the heart and soul of what looks like a salty Sooners defense. The returning 6-foot-4, 240-pound All-American had 104 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2023 and looks primed for a big collegiate finale. Kip Lewis returns after finishing second on the team behind Stutsman in tackles with 66, and Jaran Kanak also boasts some starting experience. Veterans Justin Harrington and Dasan McCullough give the Sooners some solid options in their “cheetah” position, which is a hybrid linebacker/safety spot. New co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Zac Alley may get creative with freshman James Nesta, a four-star prospect who impressed in the spring.
More: Texas football enters the SEC with expectations that might be too high | Golden
3. Georgia: Lots of talent, but some questions
Talent abounds at seemingly every position for the nation’s presumed preseason No. 1 team, including linebacker. Smael Mondon Jr., a 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior, returns at an inside spot after earning All-SEC honors but does have some questions after missing the spring with an injury and getting arrested in July for reckless driving. Touted sophomores C.J. Allen and Raylen Wilson impressed in the spring with Mondon out and seem primed to step into starring roles if Mondon misses any time. Mykel Williams, who had a team-high 4½ sacks along with 6½ tackles for a loss, could line up everywhere from linebacker to tackle on passing situations. There are some concerns, however; the portal sapped the unit of proven depth especially at the outside spots.
4. Alabama: Inside pair among nation’s best
The new era at Alabama under coach Kalen DeBoer and first-year defensive coordinator Kane Wommack comes with tweaked schemes, including a base 4-2-5 defense that should showcase the skills of Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Lawson had 67 tackles and three sacks in 11 games last season and will handle the defensive calls. Campbell, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior, may have even more range than the speedy Lawson and racked up 66 tackles with an interception and two fumble recoveries. Justin Jefferson and Jeremiah Alexander provide some veteran depth and Sterling Dixon leads a strong crop of three true freshmen at the position.
5. LSU: Perking up the defense
Talented junior Harold Perkins spearheads what looks like the strength of a questionable defense. A former five-star recruit who has lined up everywhere from the edge to the inside, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Perkins earned All-SEC honors in each of his first two seasons. There probably won’t be a fourth since he projects as a high pick in next year’s NFL draft. Perkins will likely spend much of this season at inside linebacker in order to shore up a run defense that ranked second to last in the SEC. Greg Penn III also returns after starting 27 of 28 games over the past two seasons, while new defensive coordinator Blake Baker has raved about the development of senior West Weeks and his younger brother, Whit Weeks.
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6. Vanderbilt: Vets abound for underrated unit
Head coach Clark Lea, who will handle much of the defensive coordinator duties after a disastrous 2023, may have 99 problems on a porous defense. But linebacker isn’t one, as evident by the savvy and skill coming back. Langston Patterson, a preseason All-SEC pick, returns after leading the team…
Austin American-Statesman
