By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Five potential names to know should an SEC defender get Heisman Trophy consideration.

It takes the stars aligning for defensive players to get into the Heisman Trophy conversation. Though a longshot for any lineman, linebacker or defensive back, here are five SEC defenders to watch should such a concept come to fruition;

1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M — As a true freshman, Garrett finished second in the SEC with 11.5 sacks. He also had ten quarterback hurries. Garrett is an overwhelming talent off the edge, capable of highlight-reel plays. A former five-star recruit, he is now a year older and wiser and will learn from new defensive coordinator John Chavis in College Station.

2. Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida — Hargreaves might be college football’s premier cover corner, a defender with a penchant for the big play. His endzone interception in the final moments of the Birmingham Bowl gave the Gators a win to end last year. What may hurt Hargreaves’ statistics is the sheer fact that quarterbacks likely won’t throw his way very often.

3. Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss — The anchor of a fierce Rebel defense, a unit which led the SEC in points allowed, Nkemdiche is the ultimate disrupter at the line of scrimmage. At 6’4”, 296 pounds, he is one of the most powerful defensive tackles in the nation and can take over games in the trenches. He demands double-teams up front.

4. Derek Barnett, Tennessee — Like Garrett, Barnett had a stellar freshman debut. He leads all league returnees with 20.5 tackles for loss last season, having also compiled ten sacks. Barnett and fellow end Curt Maggitt, who could also be on this list and had similar statistics to Barnett in 2014, may form the top pass-rushing duo in all of college football.

5. Leonard Floyd, Georgia — An athletic freak of nature, Floyd has 12.5 sacks in two years for the Bulldogs. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt plans to use Floyd a variety of different ways in Athens this fall. He is capable of impact, game-changing plays as a pass rusher and is versatile enough to make plays in coverage.