Looking at the front seven situation for every SEC East team

Recently, we analyzed the defensive secondaries for the SEC East teams. Today, let’s have a look at how their front sevens might shape up for 2016:

Florida: The Gators will have to replace Jonathan Bullard and Alex McCalister on the defensive line. Tackles Caleb Brantley (29 tackles, 3 sacks) and Joey Ivie (27 tackles, 3.5 sacks) soften the blow a bit as returning starters. Cece Jefferson (29 tackles, 3.5 sacks) had a strong freshman season and figures to earn one of the starting jobs at end. Bryan Cox Jr. (45 tackles, 3.5 sacks) was a starter at end late last season, and should have the job full-time in 2016.

At linebacker, replacing middle linebacker Antonio Morrison is the priority. His backup, Anthony Harrell, also exhausted his eligibility. Jarrad Davis (98 tackles, 11 tackles for loss) put off the NFL for one more season to return to his outside linebacker spot. Depth is an issue right now, as there are only six scholarship linebackers on the roster for the spring. Two more, Jeremiah Moon and Vosean Joseph, are currently committed in this year’s recruiting class.

Georgia: While the Bulldogs’ secondary may be returning pretty much intact, the defensive front will be undergoing a makeover.  Six of the seven players who started most of the games will be missing from the 2016 roster, with outside linebacker Tim Kimbrough (67 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss) as the lone returnee. Trenton Thompson (25 tackles) and DaQuan Hawkins (1 start) saw action on the line in 2015, and seem likely to earn starting nods.

Davin Bellamy (33 tackles), Lorenzo Carter (19 tackles), Natrez Patrick (22 tackles) and Roquan Smith (20 tackles) all saw action at linebacker last season and will compete for the open positions. Four-star recruit Jaleel Laguins could figure into the rotation as well.

Kentucky: Five players who started games for the Wildcats have moved on, so there will be some new faces in the front seven in Lexington this fall. Matt Elam (23 tackles) and Denzil Ware (39 tackles) are back at tackle and end, respectively. Regie Meant, junior-college product Naquez Pringle and as many as three recruits will battle for time at tackle while Courtney Miggins could get a look at end.

Jason Hatcher (39 tackles, 5 starts) and Nebraska transfer Courtney Love (6 tackles in 2014) will need to fill the void at linebacker.

Missouri: Replacing the nation’s leading tackler is a tall order for the Tigers, but on the plus side, Kentrell Brothers is the only major loss for this group. The Tigers return a pair of dynamic rush ends in second-team All-SEC pick Charles Harris (56 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks) and Walter Brady (40 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks). Harold Brantley, a standout tackle in 2014, will return after missing 2015 from injuries suffered in a car accident. Josh Augusta and Rickey Hatley — each with 27 tackles last season— also return in the trenches. Terry Beckner Jr. may be back, if his indefinite suspension is lifted.

Michael Scherer is back after recording 93 tackles, as is Donavin Newsome (63 tackles) at the outside linebacking spots. Brandon Lee served as Brothers’ backup last season and will fight for the right to replace him.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks return Marquavius Lewis (45 tackles), Boosie Whitlow (14 tackles) and Dante Sawyer (17 tackles), but with the new coaching staff bringing in as many as five new players for the line, major changes to this unit are looming.

Skai Moore’s decision to return for his senior year might have been the staff’s best recruiting job yet. Moore led the team in tackles (111) and interceptions (4) and brings experience to a group that also features T.J. Holloman (63 tackles) and Jonathan Walton (42 tackles).

Tennessee: Thirteen of the 14 players listed on the two-deep from the Vols’ front seven are coming back for 2016. Derek Barnett (69 tackles, 10 sacks), Corey Vereen (39 tackles) and LaTroy Lewis (29 tackles) return at end while Kendal Vickers (20 tackles) is back at tackle. Kahlil McKenzie, all 340-plus pounds of him, will get a chance to make headlines for something other than Twitter at the other tackle spot.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin (105 tackles, 14 tackles for loss), who put off going to the NFL and Darrin Kirkland Jr. (66 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss) are back to lead the linebacking corps. Austin Smith, who started the bowl game at strongside linebacker, Cortez McDowell (12 tackles), Colton Jumper (10 tackles) and Kenny Bynum (11 tackles) also return.

Vanderbilt: First-team All-SEC linebacker Zach Cunningham (103 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss) returns to lead this group. One of his linebacking mates, Stephen Weatherly, left early for the draft while the other, Darreon Herring graduated. Nigel Bowden, an all-freshman team choice in 2014, should bounce back from a concussion to man a starting spot while Landon Stokes (24 tackles, 5 starts) should grab another.

Tackles Nifae Lealao (18 tackles) and Jay Woods (24 tackles) return on the line, while Torey Agee (17 tackles), Adam Butler (18 tackles) and Jonathan Wynn (21 tackles) will figure into the mix at end.

Randy Capps

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