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SEC Defensive Player of the Year rankings, Week 12: Will Anderson Jr. stays on top

By Chris Lee • 11/18/2021 in Football

Kingsley Enagbare photo courtesy of South Carolina athletics.

Here's our top 14 contenders for SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Tackle numbers count a solo tackle as a full tackle and an assist as a half-tackle. 

1. Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama: The Heisman talk continues to grow louder. 

2. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: Continues to be the top defender on the country's best defense, according to Pro Football Focus.

3. Antonio Johnson, CB, Texas A&M: Covers well and putting up numbers in run defense (56.5 tackles, 7.5 for loss), too.

4. Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia: He's a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy and a finalist for the Nagurski Award.

5. Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia: The school's site credits him with three sacks and a remarkable 25 pressures.

6. Sam Williams, edge, Ole Miss: He's been a stat-sheet stuffer--13 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, six hurries, a fumble recovering and a forced fumble.

7. Kingsley Enagbare, DL, South Carolina: 32 stops, 10 hurries and seven tackles for loss. 

8. Jordan Battle, S, Alabama: He's gotten better as the season's gone on.

9. Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn: Two picks and 10 break-ups.

10. Lewis Cine, S, Georgia: He's Georgia's top-rated DB, according to PFF.

11. Josh Paschal, edge, Kentucky: 13 stops for loss, six hurries and a huge volume of snaps.

12: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia: He's getting some first-round NFL buzz. 

13. Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama: He's been both durable and consistent when the Crimson Tide's needed it most. 

14. DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M: Did he hint at turning pro recently?

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