Looking at the defensive backfield situation for every SEC East team

Every year, teams have to cope with losses from all over the roster. Some position groups on those teams are hit harder by attrition than others.

Today, let’s examine how SEC East teams might look in the secondary when the 2016 season rolls around:

Florida: The Gators will have to live without shutdown corner Vernon Hargreaves III and safety Keanu Neal, who both left school early for the NFL. But junior safety Marcus Maye (82 tackles, two interceptions) decided to come back for his senior season, joining the talented Jalen Tabor (40 tackles, four interceptions) as returning starters in the secondary. Quincy Wilson (29 tackles, two interceptions) was a top reserve at corner, and figures to get a look as the starter opposite Tabor. Marcell Harris (22 tackles) was Neal’s backup, and should slide into the starting lineup for what should remain a formidable group.

Georgia: The Bulldogs led the nation in passing defense, allowing allowing less than 157 yards per contest. New coach Kirby Smart has to be excited about having all four starters back from that unit. Cornerbacks Aaron Davis (47 tackles, 1 INT) and Malkom Parrish (42 tackles, 2 INT), strong safety Quincy Mauger (58 tackles) and first-team All-SEC free safety Dominick Sanders (48 tackles, SEC-high 6 INT) form one of the league’s best secondaries. There’s depth, too, with Rico McGraw (20 tackles) and Reggie Wilkerson (11 tackles, 1 INT).

Kentucky: Coaches often say that “the best thing about playing freshmen is that, one day, they’ll be sophomores.” Two such players, Chris Westry (36 tackles, 2 INT) and Derrick Baity (19 tackles), started at corner against Louisville in the season finale. They’ll be a year older, and perhaps a little better, too. Mike Edwards (39 tackles, 1 INT), a redshirt freshman, also started that game. Aside from A.J. Stamps, the rest of the unit returns intact. J.D. Harmon (28 tackles, 3 INT) and Marcus McWilson (66 tackles) will be trying to force their way back into the starting lineup at corner and safety, respectively.

Missouri: The Tigers will need to replace starting cornerback Kenya Dennis and safety Ian Simon from what was a solid unit. Strong safety Anthony Sherrils (64 tackles, 1 INT) and corner Aarion Penton (59 tackles, 1 INT) return, while rising juniors Thomas Wilson (14 tackles) and Logan Cheadle (14 tackles) will try to parlay reserve roles into starting ones at safety and corner, respectively.

South Carolina: T.J. Gurley and graduate transfer Isaiah Johnson depart, but the Gamecocks still have some starting experience on hand. Rico McWilliams (10 starts, 32 tackles) and Chris Lammons (4 starts, 24 tackles, 1 INT) return at corner, while Jordan Diggs (10 starts, 48 tackles, 1 INT) should man the strong safety spot. JaMarcus King is the nation’s top JUCO recruit, and should figure into the cornerback mix, while D.J. Smith (22 tackles) will push for a spot at free safety.

Tennessee: Cameron Sutton’s decision to return for his senior season bolsters this unit greatly. Sutton (28 tackles, 1 INT) joins fellow starting corner Malik Foreman (25 tackles, 1 INT) and nickelback Justin Martin (18 tackles) as returnees. Todd Kelly Jr. (46 tackles, 3 INT) and Evan Berry (18 tackles, 1 INT) were the reserves at the safety position last year, and both figure to slide into the starting lineup. In addition. Rashaan Gaulden should return from injury to bolster the corner position.

Vanderbilt: Starting safety Andrew Williamson is the only significant loss from the Commodores’ secondary. Free safety Oren Burks (59 tackles, 3 INT) and corners Torren McGaster (51 tackles), Tre Herndon (47 tackles) and Tre Tarpley (36 tackles) return to form a strong nucleus for the secondary. Ryan White (26 tackles, 1 INT) is likely to get the first crack at the strong safety job.

Randy Capps

Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.