Ranking the Top 10 SEC Defensive Tackles Entering the 2015 College Football Season

Sep 13, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (5) steps up to the line during the game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive tackles are undervalued but still very important in the SEC. Here are the top 10 SEC defensive tackles entering the 2015 college football season.

With spread offenses, up-tempo offenses, and high-scoring offenses making their way into the SEC over the past few years, there appears to be a misconception out there that the conference has lost track of what it is known for.

Nonsense.

The SEC is still the place for those 6’6″ 300-pound defensive tackles who can run like track stars. This is probably the most underrated position on the football field, yes, even behind the offensive line.

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Defensive tackles are hard to measure by stats because a lot of their success comes from clogging up the middle to free up stunts for other linemen.

And that is particularly true in a 3-4 defense.

But in a conference that places so much value on the defensive line, tackles get to shine in the SEC, even in that 3-4. Just take a look at Alabama.

Anyway, as the offenses move more toward spreads and operating out of the shotgun in the conference, speed is more crucial than ever before at the DT position.

But a dominant run-stopper is still as valuable as ever before.

This year, the SEC will have both types of players covering up the middle on the defensive line for many teams.

These are the top 10 SEC defensive tackles entering the 2015 college football season.

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