Miss. St. Football: Johnthan Banks Says He, Not Honey Badger, Is SEC's Top CB

LSU's Tyrann Mathieu gets the publicity, and Alabama's Dee Milliner has the potential.

Those two players—along with every other cornerback in the SEC—fall in behind Johnthan Banks in the SEC cornerback pecking order.

Well, at least according to Banks.

The rising senior defensive back for the Mississippi State Bulldogs claimed the title of the SEC's best defensive back while with ESPN at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.

"

@mstateFB CB Jonathan Banks says he's at the top when it comes to #SEC cornerbacks. Hmmm, waiting for a reply from the Honey Badger

— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) July 18, 2012"

Banks' confidence is high, and he may have an argument.

Banks had five picks last season and returned one for a touchdown, compared to two by Mathieu. He also defended 14 passes, three more than Mathieu.

Mathieu's success last year was due to his stellar play on defense and on special teams, but we saw in the BCS National Championship Game that Alabama wasn't afraid to pick on him—especially considering Morris Claiborne was locking down the other side.

This season, Tharold Simon will likely start opposite the Honey Badger, and Simon proved in limited action that he may have what it takes to be a star as well.

Cornerbacks are a confident bunch, as we saw last week when Mathieu rattled off tweet after tweet about how he is the best defensive player in the country.

Banks disagrees, and his play at the defensive back position last season may back up his opinion.

Follow @BarrettSallee