SEC Football: Ranking the SEC Inside Linebackers

Every Tuesday, The SEC Blog will rank the top player at each position for each team in the SEC. Today, we rank the best inside linebacker at every school in the conference. Keep in mind, with some teams running a 4-3 and others running a 3-4, this list is as much system-based as any position on the field.

14. Ferlando Bohanna, Mississippi State

Bohanna was listed as the first-teamer at middle linebacker on Mississippi State's most recent depth chart. The 6'0", 225-pound sophomore tallied only nine tackles last season as a freshman and was pushed this spring by redshirt freshman Benardrick McKinney. This spot is definitely up in the air for the Bulldogs.

13. Avery Williamson, Kentucky

As a reserve in 2012, Williamson finished with 49 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception and one forced fumble. With Ronnie Sneed gone due to graduation, Williamson has ascended to the top spot on the depth chart at middle linebacker for the Wildcats.

12. Jake Holland, Auburn

Holland stepped in for Josh Bynes at Auburn's middle linebacker spot last year and didn't live up to expectations. He finished with 43 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and one forced fumble while struggling with consistency and injuries.

There aren't many options for Auburn at middle linebacker, but defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder could move either Jonathan Evans or Kris Frost from outside linebacker if needed.

11. Chase Garnham, Vanderbilt

It's not going to be easy for anyone to replace Chris Marve, but it looks like Garnham will get the first crack at it. He had 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble and is expected to make the move permanently to middle linebacker in 2012.

10. Jonathan Stewart, Texas A&M

Stewart was solid last season for an Aggie defense that routinely ran out of gas at the end of games. He finished as Texas A&M's leading tackler with 98 stops and added 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

He will be mentioned as a possible All-SEC candidate at season's end but will have to prove his value in the SEC first.

9. Tenarius Wright, Arkansas

Wright made the move to middle linebacker this spring, and it's assumed that the move will be permanent once toe meets leather in fall camp. As a defensive end, there's no denying his ability. He had 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season but will have to prove his worth in his new role in 2012.

8. Shaq Wilson, South Carolina

Wilson is a veteran that has been around the SEC block a time or three. The rising senior returned from a hamstring injury in 2011 after sitting out the majority of the 2010 season. He responded with 52 tackles, five tackles for loss and one sack.

He will have a big season playing behind one of the SEC's best and deepest defensive lines.

7. Kevin Minter, LSU

Minter emerged as LSU's starting middle linebacker midway through the 2011 season. He finished the season fifth on the Tigers with 61 tackles and added 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble return for a touchdown.

He will have to step up and be a leader in that linebacking corps after outside linebacker Ryan Baker graduated.

6. Will Ebner, Missouri

Ebner got off to a hot start during his Missouri career, playing in all 14 games as a freshman in 2008 and earning All-Big 12 honors with 78 tackles in 2009. But injures lost him some of his 2010 season and virtually all of his 2011 season. The injury bug is a concern, but his ability is not.

5. Mike Marry, Ole Miss

Marry was a star last season for the Rebels. As a sophomore, he tallied 81 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks. The 6'2", 248-pounder quietly emerged as a star in 2011, and he will be heard with more consistency in 2012. 

4. A.J. Johnson, Tennessee

Johnson burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2011, earning consensus freshman All-American honors. He had 80 tackles and seven tackles for loss in his inaugural campaign on Rocky Top. Expect even bigger things from Johnson in 2012 under new defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri.

3. Alec Ogletree, Georgia

Ogletree missed six games last season but still managed to rack up 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. It has been reported (via Scout.com) that Ogletree will be suspended for two games to start the 2012 season, although Georgia hasn't confirmed that yet.

Jarvis Jones gets the pub, but Ogletree has proven to be a star in his own right in the Georgia linebacking corps.

2. Nico Johnson, Alabama

Between Johnson, C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest, Alabama has the best interior linebackers in the country. Johnson had 42 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and one sack last season. If I ranked the top 14 overall and didn't include the top linebacker for each team on this list, all three of these players would be included.

1. Jonathan Bostic, Florida

Bostic has enjoyed a fine career in Gainesville and is looking to top it off with All-American honors in 2012. He led all Gators last season with 95 tackles and added 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. He is a physical linebacker that has a nose for the football and will be the unquestioned leader of the Gator defense.

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