Tennessee or Georgia? Ranking SEC East football defensive linemen | Adams
This is the fifth in a series ranking SEC East football teams by position groups.
No news here. Once again, Georgia will have the best defensive line in the SEC East.
Can you remember when it didn’t?
Here’s how I rank the division’s defensive lines
1. Georgia: The Bulldogs lost All-America defensive lineman Jordan Davis after the 2021 season. They lost All-American Jalen Carter after the 2022 season.
But no one would be surprised if they have another All-American on their defensive front next season.
End Mykel Williams, a freshman All-American this past season, is an obvious candidate for more postseason honors. He started two games and had a crucial sack in Georgia’s comeback victory over Ohio State in a College Football Playoff semifinal game.
Nazir Stackhouse (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) will replace Carter at nose tackle, just as Carter replaced Davis last year. Warren Brinson is the leading candidate to complete Georgia’s starting front three.
But there’s more depth behind them, which is a testament to coach Kirby Smart’s recruiting. Georgia’s top six defensive linemen were all four-star recruits.
2. Tennessee: The strength of UT’s defensive front is veteran coach Rodney Garner, who has a long track record of developing competent defensive lines.
The Vols don’t have Georgia’s talent but do have experience. Five of their defensive linemen have starting experience. They aren’t short on 300-pounders, either.
Improved consistency should be a goal.
End Tyler Baron and tackle Omari Thomas both were decisive factors in a couple of UT’s close wins last season.
Baron had four tackles, two TFLs, a sack, forced fumble and a quarterback against Pittsburgh. Thomas had five tackles, two QB hurries, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup against Florida.
Elijah Simmons, Kurott Garland and Da’Jon Terry also have starting experience.
3. Florida: When the Gators decide to go big on their defensive front, nobody can match them in poundage.
Desmond Watson, a returning starter, is 6-foot-5, 415 pounds. Understandably, it often takes two blockers to budge him.
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Florida can now pair him with Memphis transfer Cam’Ron Jackson, who is 6-6, 353 pounds. He and Watson are so big, Florida almost could go to a two-man front in some situations.
End Princely Umanmielen is another returning starter. He led the Gators with 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season.
The Gators also added Louisville transfer Caleb Banks. Although he played sparingly in two seasons with the Cardinals, he attracted a surprisingly amount of interest in the transfer portal.
Maybe, teams are just desperate for defensive linemen.
4. Kentucky: Deon Walker, who made second-team All-SEC last season as a freshman, will anchor the Wildcats’ revamped defensive front.
Several players with little experience will compete to line up alongside Walker after starter Justin Rogers transferred. Octavious Oxendine has starting experience. Jamarius Dinkins and Josaih Hayes also will be in the competition.
Tre’vonn Rybka, who had 19 tackles last season, and Kahlil Sanders, will compete to start at defensive end.
5. Missouri: Solid line play was a factor in the Tigers’ drastic defensive improvement.
After repeatedly being trampled in 2021, Missouri improved to 32nd nationally in run defense under first-year coordinator Blake Baker.
The Tigers will have to replace three prominent members of their defensive front, but they return tackles Kristian Williams and Darius Robinson, who combined for 59 tackles.
Defensive ends Johnny Walker and Arden Walker have experience as backups. They will compete with transfers Austin Firestone of Northwestern and Joe Moore of Arizona State.
Moore is the son of former Missouri star running back Joe Moore.
6. South Carolina: The Gamecocks incurred key losses on their defensive front with the departure of Zacch Pickens and Jordan Burch. After that attrition, they need Tyree Johnson, Tonka Hemingway, and Jordan Strachan to stay healthy.
Injuries limited Strachan to two games last season.
Hemingway was the most productive of the group. He had eight tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Alex Huntley had 21 tackles.
7. Vanderbilt: End Nate Clifton had the most tackles of the Commodores returning defensive linemen. He had 22 tackles last season and blocked a field goal in a 24-21 victory over Kentucky.
Tackle Devin Lee, who had 14 tackles, is another likely starter.
The Commodores ranked 96th in run defense last season. They could be worse in 2023.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Ranking SEC East football defensive linemen. Georgia over Tennessee
