SEC Football Top 150 Players: No. 75, D.J. Swearinger, South Carolina Safety

The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30, at the start of the college football regular season.

75. D.J. Swearinger, No. 36, South Carolina Safety

2011 stats: 80 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one forced fumble

Strengths

Swearinger is a savvy veteran that has been through the SEC wars. The rising senior has played in every game over the last three seasons, establishing himself as one of the SEC's most reliable safeties in the process. He has an eye for the football and is not afraid to stick his nose in and help out on run defense.

Weaknesses

He doesn't have many. If there's one thing Gamecocks fans should be concerned about, it's the transition from Ellis Johnson to Lorenzo Ward as defensive play-caller (Ward has had the title of defensive coordinator since 2009). There shouldn't be much to worry about, but there will be a slight adjustment period—and Swearinger is one of the players that the defense will be relying on to ease that transition.

2012 Prediction

Expect big things from Swearinger. Defense has been the foundation of the Gamecocks' success over the last few years, and Swearinger is one of the biggest reasons why. A solid pass rush will filter through the defense into the secondary in 2012, which will provide plenty of opportunities for Swearinger to make a name for himself.

Follow @BarrettSallee