SEC Football: 35 Best NFL players from SEC teams

9 of 17

Nov 5, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackie Geno Atkins (97) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) during an NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 5, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins (97) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) during an NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

. DT. Georgia. Geno Atkins. 9. player. 56

Geno Atkins is one of the biggest draft steals this century. The former fourth round pick out of Georgia in the 2010 draft slid because he’s 6-1, 286 pounds, but despite lacking ideal measurables for the position has played like a high first round pick.

He may be short, but Atkins is one of the strongest players in the NFL and he’s able to use that strength to develop into one of the better interior pass rushers in the league.

Atkins made his first of four Pro Bowl trips in 2011 after getting 7.5 sacks and made his first All-Pro team the next year with a career-high 12.5 sacks. He also had career-highs in tackles with 54 total tackles and four forced fumbles.

He looks fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered in the ninth game of 2013 after getting 11 sacks last year, tied for the most among defensive tackles.

Next: 8. A.J. Green

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