Top 10 SEC Defensive Backs in 2017

SEC football is just days away. Before toe meets pigskin on August 28th, The Wheelhouse crew has compiled the top 10 players at each position within the SEC to help the days go by quicker.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 SEC defensive backs heading into the 2017 season.
1. Minkah Fitzpatrick (Jr.), Cornerback, Alabama
The 2016 first team All-American was the clear choice as the best defensive back in the SEC. Fitzpatrick is the heart-and-soul of the Crimson Tide defense. The junior defensive back was named a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award last season thanks to his production on the field. He racked up 66 tackles, five tackles for loss and six interceptions. Fitzpatrick will likely go pro after the season, so watch greatness while you can.
2. Ronnie Harrison (Jr.), Safety, Alabama
Overlooked in a crowded defensive back room in Tuscaloosa, Harrison was all over the field in 2016, totaling 86 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Harrison had the second-most tackles on the team from his safety position and has proven to be a clutch player with his 11 tackles in the National Championship game against Clemson.
3. Duke Dawson (Sr.), Cornerback, Florida
Dawson played in 12 games last season excluding the SEC Championship game and started in seven of them. In 2016, he showed flashes of excellence in an already stacked Florida secondary. Dawson had 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions last season as well as a team-high seven passes broken up.
4. Mike Edwards (Jr.), safety, Kentucky
The 6-foot, 200-pound Cincinatti, OH native is quickly stepping up as the leader of the 2017 Wildcats team. The junior was stellar last season with 100 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss with three interceptions and eight passes defended. Edwards is easily one of the most underappreciated players in the SEC considering everything he does for Kentucky.
5. Armani Watts (Sr.), safety, Texas A&M
Watts has proven to be an All-SEC type of player when he is healthy. However, Watts was sidelined for four games in 2016 with a knee injury, but still managed to rack up 56 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and two interceptions. He had 126 tackles in 2015 when he played all 13 games if that gives you any idea of how lethal he really is.
6. Carlton Davis (Jr.), cornerback, Auburn
One thing that describes Carlton Davis is consistency. He has remained one of the most air-tight corners in the SEC for the past two years. Davis had 46 tackles and 10 passes defended in 2016. Last year’s numbers are slightly lower than his 2015 stat line as a freshman, but he still remains as one of the best in the SEC.
7. Dominick Sanders (Sr.), safety, Georgia
Starting in all 13 games last season, Sanders is on track to be in the Bulldog football history books. In 2016 he tallied 34 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. With three picks as a junior, he now has 12 career interceptions, which is sixth-best in the Georgia history books. Look for Sanders to climb up even higher in the record books in 2017.
8. Donte Jackson (Jr.), cornerback, LSU
Jackson, who also runs track for the Tigers, has made a big impact for LSU on the football field. He had 39 tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups, which ranked second-most on the team. The 5-foot-11, 173-pound track star has played in every game in his first two seasons for the Tigers.
9. Nigel Warrior (So.), safety, Tennessee
After the 2016 season, Warrior was named to the All-SEC freshman team. Last season he registered 22 tackles, seven coming against Tennessee Tech and six coming against Alabama. As a freshman, Warrior contributed at a high level, but expect much more from him this season as a starter and a leader on the Volunteers defense.
10. Malkom Parrish (Sr.), cornerback, Georgia
The tandem of Sanders and Parrish in Ahens is sure to be dangerous on the field in 2017. Last season, Parrish had 49 tackles, eight passes defended and two interceptions. He played in all 13 games last season for the Bulldogs and was seventh on the team in tackles and had a touchdown saving pass breakup against Kentucky.
Honorable Mentions:
Chris Westry, Kentucky
Tray Matthews, Auburn
Donovan Wilson, Texas A&M
Chauncey Gardner, Florida
