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Editor’s note: SDS is ranking the 25 best SEC players — at any position — of the last decade. Ole Miss tackling machine Patrick Willis is next up in a 25-part daily series.
- No. 25: South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery
- No. 24: Texas A&M LT Luke Joeckel
- No. 23: Vanderbilt WR Jordan Matthews
- No. 22: Alabama OL Barrett Jones
- No. 21: Georgia QB Aaron Murray
- No. 20: Florida OL Mike Pouncey
- No. 19: Georgia LB Jarvis Jones
- No. 18: Georgia WR A.J. Green
- No. 17: Alabama LB Rolando McClain
- No. 16: Florida LB Brandon Spikes
- No. 15: South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney
- No. 14: Alabama QB AJ McCarron
- No. 13: Alabama RB Mark Ingram
- No. 12: LSU DB Patrick Peterson
- No. 11: Alabama WR Amari Cooper
- No. 10: Alabama WR Julio Jones
- No. 9: Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis
- No. 8: LSU DL Glenn Dorsey
- No. 7: Tennessee DB Eric Berry
- No. 6: LSU DB Tyrann Mathieu
- No. 5: Florida ATH Percy Harvin
- No. 4: Arkansas RB Darren McFadden
- No. 3: Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
- No. 2: Auburn QB Cam Newton
- No. 1: Florida QB Tim Tebow
9.) OLE MISS LB PATRICK WILLIS (2003-06)
Willis exemplified the linebacker position at Ole Miss, one of college football’s greatest defenders on his side of the ball in the modern era and the SEC’s best in BCS history.
The physical specimen with less than four percent body fat (reported) rarely missed a tackle and always knew where to be on the field both pre and post-snap. Willis led the SEC in tackles per game after becoming a full-time starter as a junior in 2005 and did it again the following season, spearheading a respected Rebels defense.
Willis punctuated a brilliant career as a senior with his most noteworthy campaign, collecting three national awards, the SEC’s defensive player of the year honor and earning consensus All-American accolades following a 137-tackle masterpiece for the Rebels.
The first-round pick has played in seven Pro Bowls, has been a five-time All-Pro and led the NFL in tackles during the 2007 and 2009 campaigns with the San Francisco 49ers.
Career numbers: 355 total tackles (247 solo), 33 TFL, 11 sacks, 5 FF
Individual superlatives: Consensus All-American (2006); SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2006); Dick Butkus Award (2006); Jack Lambert Award (2006); Conerly Trophy (2006); All-American (2005); All-SEC (2005-06)
Defining moment: In his first career start as a junior, Willis’ legacy truly began with a 15-tackle performance against Memphis, limiting Tigers All-American running back DeAngelo Williams under 100 yards rushing for only the third time in his last 23 games.
