SEC Football: Why Gamecocks' Melvin Ingram Is Nation's Best Defensive Player

Who is the best defensive player in the country?

If you answered with LSU's Tyrann Mathieu, you wouldn't be alone, trust me.

But you would be wrong.

If you haven't heard about South Carolina's outstanding defensive end, Melvin Ingram, get out from under your rock and start paying attention.

Ingram first made news in the Gamecocks win over Georgia, a game in which he ran a fake punt 68 yards for a score, scored the game-winning touchdown on a fumble recovery and recovered the onside kick by Georgia that sealed the victory.

He made more big plays in that entire game than Ohio State quarterbacks have all season.

In the Gamecocks' last game against Kentucky, he was somewhat limited due to an injury sustained against Auburn. But in SC's loss to the Tigers, Ingram embodied the word "dominant."

He finished that game with 11 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks.

While he has shown that he is extremely gifted physically and a is versatile pass-rusher; however, he has also shown some vulnerability against the run.

All that said, it should be clear that even with his occasional failings against the rush, Ingram is the nation's best defensive player.

Mathieu gets more press, simply because his team is undefeated.

Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict might also be a candidate, and while he is amazingly athletic and harries quarterbacks with impunity, he does not have the impact or the numbers that Ingram has put up thus far against top-flight competition.

While there is no arguing that Mathieu and Burfict are incredibly talented, we have yet to see them at the level Ingram displayed against the Tigers.

Ingram is playing today against Mississippi State, and going into the game, he was first in the SEC and tied for seventh in the country with 5.5 sacks.

Sacks are a great indicator of a d-lineman's ability, but they are not the only measure of his effectiveness.

His impact on every play should be taken into consideration as well.

Ingram showed against Auburn that he is solid—if not spectacular—dropping back into coverage, while also being effective at getting off blocks to stuff the run.

Mathieu is surrounded by stellar talent that routinely force offensive coordinators to change up their gameplan.

Ingram has some solid support as well, but he is the lone superstar on this defense, and without him, this team would not be nearly as good upfront as they are.

It's time to give some attention to this guy and start recognizing him for what he is—the best defensive player in the SEC and the nation.