ESPN College Football

We all know that defense wins championships and the SEC is very much a testament to that. Alabama possessed the nation's No. 1 defense last season and now possesses another national championship. Runner-up LSU ranked second nationally.

Alabama ran away with the crown as the nation's and the SEC's best defense, but that title is for the taking in 2012. Alabama is down key players from last year's squad, like linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive tackle Josh Chapman, and defensive backs Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, and DeQuan Menzie.

Alabama's defense isn't as green as the 2010 group, but it's still drawing some comparisons to it. That's exactly what the Tide wants to hear. Nico Johnson seems primed to be a true leader at linebacker, while Adrian Hubbard could be a budding star at Upshaw's old position. Defensive backs Robert Lester and Dee Milliner are back and will be joined by a couple of JUCO standouts and talented sophomores Vinnie Sunseri and Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix. Jesse Williams could be a real force at defensive tackle along with end Damion Square.

Then you have LSU. The Tigers lost All-World cornerback Morris Claiborne to the NFL draft and two starting linebackers. Michael Brockers is gone at defensive tackle as well. But LSU is still loaded. The Tigers return Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon, who should be fine with an expanded role at cornerback. Junior Kevin Minter really stepped up at linebacker last year and should pick up right where he left off. Even without Brockers, the line is solid with future first-rounder Sam Montgomery at one end position and the underrated Barkevious Mingo at the other. The two combined for 17 sacks last season.

Bennie Logan and Anthony Johnson should provide some meat nastiness in the interior, while the very talented Eric Reid is back at free safety.

Georgia and South Carolina both finished the 2011 season ranked in the top five nationally in total defense. South Carolina was third, while Georgia was fifth, respectively. The Gamecocks lost first-round defensive end Melvin Ingram, but return freshman standout Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor, who many thought would be better than Ingram last season. Kelcy Quarles is back at defensive tackle and the coaches think he'll be even better in his second year.

Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens, who combined for 96 tackles last year, will grab time at linebacker again, while the very athletic DeVonte Holloman returns to the Spur for his senior year. There are questions in the secondary, but seniors D.J. Swearinger (safety) and Akeem Auguste (cornerback) return.

Georgia returns nine defensive starters. Brandon Boykin is gone at corner, and the Bulldogs will enter the fall with a lot questions in the secondary, especially with starters Branden Smith, Sanders Commings and Bacarri Rambo suspended to start the season. Star freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell moved to corner this spring and fits right in, but there are depth issues at the position.

Other than that, the Bulldogs are still pretty stacked. Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree will serve a suspension to start the year, but Georgia will fill his spot by committee. Mike Gilliard, Cornelius Washington, Christian Robinson, Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson provide Georgia with a very solid linebacking unit alongside star Jarvis Jones, who racked up 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Georgia's defensive line should also be pretty stout with the massive John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers battling in the middle. Abry Jones really progressed at end as well this spring.

Or maybe someone else will step up and take the crown ...

Over the next couple of weeks, we're going to highlight one assistant coach daily on all 12 SEC teams.

In this particular case, it's a coach who has his work cut out for the 2011 season. Maybe he's new to the scene, or maybe the position he's coaching will be extremely inexperienced in 2011. Then again, it could be that the position he's coaching holds the key to that team's success in 2011.

One way or the other, the spotlight will be on him and his players this coming season.

We'll start with Alabama.

Coach: Chris Rumph

Position: Defensive line

Experience: First season on Alabama's staff. Rumph spent the previous five seasons as the defensive ends coach at Clemson. He was hired to replace Bo Davis, who left to take a job on the Texas staff. Rumph also served stints on the Memphis and South Carolina State staffs.

Of note: Played his college football at South Carolina and was a linebacker for the Gamecocks from 1991-94. ... Among his star pupils at Clemson were Da'Quan Bowers and Phillip Merling. ... One of the top recruiters in the ACC over the past few years.

His challenge: Alabama's defense appears poised to return to the kind of dominant unit that paved the way for the Crimson Tide's run to the 2009 national championship. The linebacker corps is loaded with future NFL talent, and the talent and depth in the secondary isn't too far behind, especially with some of the younger players back there having had a chance to mature a year ago. With Marcell Dareus leaving early for the NFL, Alabama doesn't return a proven difference-maker up front. Senior nose guard Josh Chapman is solid, and junior end Damion Square has proven in the past that he can get after the passer. He should only be better in 2011 now that he's two years removed from a torn ACL. Generating a more consistent pass rush will be a priority for Alabama this coming season, and a big part of that will hinge on getting a better push from the defensive line. The departure of Dareus opens the door for some of Alabama's younger players to step up, guys like Darrington Sentimore and Ed Stinson. How quickly junior college newcomers Jesse Williams and Quinton Dial develop will also be critical to the Tide's success up front. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Williams has the size and physical tools to be a dominant nose guard. It's up to Rumph to help get him there.

We’ve divided the defensive line into two categories -- ends and tackles. The more rankings the merrier, right?

First, we'll start with the defensive ends. The pass-rushers in the SEC are scary. You have to feel for the league quarterbacks when you look at the enormous talent flying off the edge in this conference.

It wasn't easy ranking these backfield harassers, but here goes:

1. Devin Taylor, South Carolina, Jr.: Taylor was a first-team All-SEC performer last season after leading the Gamecocks’ defensive linemen with 46 tackles and 12 for loss. He was fourth in the league with 7.5 sacks. Taylor is one of the more athletic ends in the league and his pass-rushing ability is just plain scary.

2. Jake Bequette, Arkansas, Sr.: He returns as Arkansas’ sack leader, after registering seven in 2010. Bequette harassed quarterbacks all last year, totaling five quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. He’s the heart of Arkansas’ defense and was one of the more unheralded defensive ends in 2010. Most in Fayetteville think he could be even better this fall.

3. Kentrell Lockett, Ole Miss, Sr.: Ole Miss got great news this spring when the NCAA granted Lockett a sixth year of eligibility for the fall. Even though he missed spring while recovering from his knee injury, he is already the Rebels’ best pass-rusher and will be leaned on to be Ole Miss’ emotional leader since D.T. Shackelford is out for the season.

4. Sam Montgomery, LSU, So.: He hasn’t played a ton at LSU, but the feeling coming out of Baton Rouge is that he has the talent to be one of the top ends in the SEC. A knee injury shortened his first year, but he regains his starting spot and is on a mission to show just how disruptive he can be this fall.

5. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, Sr.: Ingram is someone who will frustrate opposing linemen with not only his tremendous skill but because he moves all over the place. He’s the inside man on passing downs, but he primarily plays outside. Still, he was third in the league and first for the Gamecocks with nine sacks last season.

6. Tenarius Wright, Arkansas, Jr.: Wright was Bequette’s partner in crime a year ago. He had 36 tackles, including eight for loss and six sacks in 2010. Oh, and he did all that without starting a game last season. Wright entered spring as the starter opposite Bequette and should make the Hogs’ pass rush one of the most intimidating in the league.

7. Corey Lemonier, Auburn, So.: Lemonier isn’t even a returning starter, but there is a ton of buzz surrounding him this offseason. He was one of the top end prospects coming out of high school a year ago and saw action in every game last fall, earning SEC All-Freshman honors. He’ll become more unpopular among SEC quarterbacks this fall.

8. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, Fr.: Clowney makes our list as a true freshman because he’s got all the tools to be an immediate star in this league. Some feel he can start right away in Columbia and with his freakish ability, he could make an instant impact on the league. The No. 1 high school player in the country has everything needed to be a pain for tackles, but handling the hype is his first hurdle.

9. Damion Square, Alabama, Jr.: Square is two years removed from a severe knee injury, but he came back strong in 2010. The athletic lineman played in 13 games, making six starts and accumulating 27 tackles and three sacks. In Alabama’s 3-4, he’ll line up as an end and could have the makings for a breakout year.

10. DeAngelo Tyson, Georgia, Sr.: He’s moving from noseguard back to his natural position at end and should do fine in Todd Grantham’s 3-4. He was a little too small to be in the middle, but has nice quickness to be a nuisance for offensive linemen in his new home.

Today we look at the big uglies that cause all the mayhem in the trenches. The SEC consistently spits out nasty defensive linemen and this year has more of an athletic feel.

Here's how the teams stacked up:

1. South Carolina: The Gamecocks return a defensive line that would make any offensive line shutter. Plus, incoming freshman Jadeveon Clowney comes in as the top high school player in the country and could be one of the best ends in the league this fall. Devin Taylor leads the group at end and was second on the team with 7.5 sacks as a sophomore. Helping on the outside is Melvin Ingram, who plays inside on passing downs, and led South Carolina with nine sacks a year ago. Senior Travian Robertson, who came off injury to get four sacks last year, is solid in the middle as well.

2. Arkansas: The Razorbacks might have the best pass-rushing group Arkansas has seen in a while. Things revolve around defensive end Jake Bequette, who was one of the more unheralded players in the league last year, despite having seven sacks. On the other side of the line is Tenarius Wright, who will make up the second part of a formidable outside duo in Fayetteville with his speed and athleticism. In the middle, there are plenty of options. Byran Jones and DeQuinta Jones missed spring due to injury, but will be back this fall and there’s a wealth of depth behind them. Junior college transfer Robert Thomas might be the best and most athletic option in the middle is primed to break out.

3. LSU: There are some questions about the experience the Tigers bring back, but no one will question the talent and athleticism in Baton Rouge. Sam Montgomery is back at defensive end, after suffering a serious knee injury. He hasn’t played much, but the coaches believe he’s got what it takes to be a top end in this league. Kendrick Adams started 11 games last year at end, while Lavar Edwards filled in for Montgomery. Ego Ferguson redshirted last year, but should get a ton of playing time in the middle this fall. He is already one of the most athletic tackles in the SEC. Don’t forget about five-star early enrollee Anthony Johnson, who made very strong impressions on his coaches this spring and will be in the rotation inside.

4. Florida: This unit was criticized for lacking toughness last season, but will be full of that and even more athleticism in 2011. Jaye Howard is returning from spring ankle surgery and is already considered a top defensive tackle prospect in next year’s NFL draft. Alongside him are youngsters Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley. Floyd was the most consistent of the much-ballyhooed freshman class last fall, while Easley struggled with attitude problems. Easley has rebounded and both excelled this spring. Omar Hunter is finally healthy and will share time with Floyd at noseguard and senior William Green will occupy an end spot. This group is even better when Ronald Powell lines up at end in the 4-3.

5. Alabama: On paper, there are a few questions with this group, but it’s hard to drop Alabama very far on this list. The 3-4 scheme will have senior Josh Chapman at noseguard. Chapman started 12 games in the middle last fall, totaling 31 tackles, including 3.5 for loss. Damion Square will compete for time on the outside, and since returning from his ACL injury, he’s gained a lot more playing confidence and could be a budding star in the league. Junior college transfers Quinton Dial and Jesse Williams will compete for time on the line as well, while sophomore Ed Stinson will stay at end after starting last season at Jack linebacker.

6. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have arguably the top returning tackle tandem in the SEC. Fletcher Cox and Josh Boyd are the behemoths in the middle who combined for 53 tackles, 13 for loss and five sacks last year. Finding any sort of inside running game against Mississippi State will be extremely tough. Developing a pass-rusher is the next step for the Bulldogs’ staff. Sean Ferguson occupies one side, but the other is still up for grabs. Trevor Stigers and Shane McCardell battled for the spot this spring, but neither has really pushed ahead.

7. Georgia: There is a lot of talent in Athens, but there could be a lot of movement on the line. JUCO transfer John Jenkins is the big -- and we mean big -- name up front and he’s yet to play a down in the SEC. He arrives with a ton of hype, but is perfect at noseguard in Todd Grantham’s 3-4. DeAngelo Tyson moves to his natural position outside after playing noseguard last year. Kwame Geathers played in the middle this spring, but could be usurped for Jenkins this fall and move outside. Abry Jones is still maturing after moving to end and recording 34 tackles including 3.5 for loss last season and had a 16-tackle performance against Georgia Tech.

8. Auburn: The Tigers must replace three starters this season. Inside, Auburn is talented but inexperienced with Kenneth Carter and Jeffrey Whitaker having 13 combined tackles from a year ago. There’s less concern on the outside with lone returning starter Nosa Eguae on one side and sophomore Corey Lemonier on the other. Eguae might have more experience with 11 starts, but Lemonier appears to be more athletic and should be near the top of the defensive end pool this year. After that, the Tigers are young across the board.

9. Tennessee: The Volunteers’ line will grow with senior Malik Jackson running things in the middle. He had 48 tackles and five sacks a year ago and some think he’ll be even better this fall. A lot will also be expected from incoming JUCO transfer Maurice Couch. He’s pretty athletic at 6-foot-4, 327 pounds and he’ll be greatly needed, considering the dismissal of Montori Hughes. Jacques Smith has All-SEC potential and will hold one of the end spots. After that, Tennessee has some young, but encouragingly talented bodies at each position.

10. Ole Miss: Some of the best news of the spring coming out of Oxford was the return of Kentrell Lockett at defensive end. Lockett was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA and will not only be the Rebels’ top lineman but possibly their best defensive player. After that, the questions roll in with four tackles gone and youth coming in. Tackle Justin Smith has yet to really emerge as the All-SEC talent he was expected to be and Ole Miss is smaller up front. JUCO transfer Gilbert Pena could add some size in the middle. Gerald Rivers returns to get time at end, but has played in just 15 career games in two years.

11. Vanderbilt: This was supposed to be a strength for the Commodores last year until injuries hit. Still, Vanderbilt returns three starters. Experience is there, but this unit has to continue to improve, especially in the pass-rushing department where the Commodores had just 20 sacks in 2010. Rob Lohr led Vanderbilt with four sacks a year ago and had 35 tackles. T.J. Greenstone is coming off of injury and will line up inside. Tim Fugger was one of the Commodores' most consistent players at end, playing in every game and registering three sacks and four forced fumbles.

12. Kentucky: End Collins Ukwu and tackle Luke McDermott return with the most experience on Kentucky’s line. Ukwu improved not only on the field but in the weight room this spring and is expected to be a more consistent pass-rusher. McDermott is a walk-on currently ahead of Donte Rumph, who has the talent to be one of Kentucky’s top defenders, but has yet to fully buy in to the program. The coaches are also waiting for tackle Mister Cobble to finally break out of his funk and be a regular contributor. The rest of Kentucky’s linemen have some developing to do and are inexperienced.

Alabama senior outside linebacker Alex Watkins will miss the rest of spring practice after undergoing knee surgery on Thursday.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said he expects Watkins to be recovered in full for preseason camp in August. Watkins is one of those guys Saban was counting on to upgrade the Crimson Tide's pass rush next season.

Saban thinks the 2011 Alabama defense will have more of those guys capable of rushing the passer from different spots on the field.

Junior defensive end Damion Square is another guy who's poised to have a big season. He's ditched the knee brace that he wore last season coming off ACL surgery and is showing a renewed burst off the ball.

A twirl around the SEC:

• The door is open for Ole Miss redshirt freshman receiver Vincent Sanders to become a big part of the Rebels' offense.
• The search is on at Mississippi State to find Pernell McPhee's replacement at defensive end.
• Can John Jenkins do for Georgia what Terrence Cody did for Alabama at noseguard?
• Former South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders is working his way back.
• Mike Berardino of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that former Auburn player Stanley McClover deserves praise for blowing the whistle on the Tigers.
• A rebuilding year is likely on the way for Auburn's linebacker corps.
• Alabama is proceeding with caution at the safety position this spring.
• Alabama defensive end Damion Square, his knee brace gone, is back on track.
• Florida picks up its second commitment from a defensive lineman in a week -- Quinteze Williams of Tyrone, Ga.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Blocking Marcell Dareus, Alabama’s star defensive end, will be one of the biggest challenges for Arkansas on Saturday.

This is Dareus’ second game back after being suspended by the NCAA the first two games.

But Arkansas had better not place too much emphasis on Dareus, because Damion Square at right end is one of the Crimson Tide’s best pure pass-rushers on the team. Square may be close to overtaking senior Luther Davis full time at that right end spot.

It’s only natural that most eyes will be on the secondary when defending national champion Alabama opens spring practice on Friday.

The Crimson Tide lost seven defensive backs from last season’s team, including three starters, while another one, safety Robby Green, is in limbo for this coming season.

Green’s eligibility is in question, but Alabama is appealing and hopes the matter will be resolved.

Although there might not be as many holes to fill as the secondary, the defensive line will be another area that’s closely monitored this spring.

Starters Terrence Cody, Brandon Deaderick and Lorenzo Washington are all gone, but Alabama rotated its defensive linemen throughout the season a year ago.

Noseguard Josh Chapman and ends Marcell Dareus and Luther Davis have all played. Dareus is a budding star. He led the Crimson Tide in sacks last season and was the Defensive MVP of the BCS National Championship Game. He’s poised to become one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the SEC next season.

The Crimson Tide will also need Davis to take a big step, while sophomore Kerry Murphy has the kind of ability to be a breakout player at noseguard.

Alabama coach Nick Saban really liked Damion Square’s versatility last season. He was one of their more effective inside pass-rushers until he hurt his knee. He’ll be back next season, but could be limited this spring.

Junior college newcomer Brandon Lewis is on campus and will go through spring practice, and these next 15 practices will be especially important for redshirt freshmen Chris Bonds, William Ming, Brandon Moore and Darrington Sentimore.

The numbers are there. And while there might not be a space-eater like Cody on campus, if Murphy develops the way most think he will, the Crimson Tide will again be imposing up front defensively.