by Joe Azar
The Flunks:
Florida: The Gators need to learn that quality is valued much higher than quantity. Florida produces a lot of defensive backs, and I mean a lot. Twelve Gators have been selected in the draft in the past decade. Only problem is that for as much talent as the school gives the NFL, it’s hard to see a smooth transition to the professional level. Matt Elam has done a serviceable job as the safety for the Baltimore Ravens, but his play hasn’t resulted in a Pro Bowl appearance. Keiwan Ratliff was a consensus All American and a two-time All-SEC player, but even with all those accolades he still ended up ending his career playing outside of the NFL. There is hope in the form of Vernon Hargreaves and Keanu Neal, but UF is continuously sending out fool’s gold rather than a diamond in the rough.
South Carolina: There was not just one SEC team would show up on this list. The Gamecocks did give the NFL Johnathan Joseph and Dunta Robinson, and even their careers ended up swinging back-and-forth from all-star to journeyman. Other than those two, seven other South Carolina alum have been selected. Some ended up having serviceable careers like Darian Stewart, but many like Ko Simpson and Andre Goodman withered away and hurt their alma mater’s standing on this list.
The Aces:
Miami: The Hurricanes would rank higher on the list if it was for more recent success, but the talent they have produced in the past decade is nothing short of impeccable. The defensive backs of Miami have had more Pro Bowl appearances with 15 than any other school, and it is a landslide. It should come as no surprise considering this is the school Sam Shields, Ed Reed, Antrell Rolle, Sean Taylor and Brandon Meriweather came from. Three of those players have also lifted a Lombardi Trophy. It has been a while since another product from “The U” has continued the legacy left behind by the alum in the early 2000s, but whoever the next great Hurricane will be has a massive legacy to carry with him.
LSU: This was by far the easiest school to pick. The Tigers produce such an impressive amount of valuable NFL talent in their defensive back core. Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu are the staples of the Arizona Cardinal defense. Eric Reid shines over in San Francisco with the 49ers and Ryan Clark won a Super Bowl and earned a Pro Bowl spot before retiring in 2015. Four LSU alum have been selected in the first round of the NFL draft. In the past decade the defensive backs from Louisiana have made it to six Pro Bowls and over 630 NFL starts. Miami may have been the kings of defensive backs in the past, but LSU is now the undisputed best place to find the next star cornerback or safety.
