The SEC just set the record for draft picks in a single draft by a conference. A whopping 87 players from the SEC were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, breaking the previous record of 79, set by the SEC in the previous draft in 2025.
The talent level in the SEC is at an all-time high, according to the draft. Therefore, it makes a list like this one almost impossible to compile. After creating the list, I’ll be able to name another 10 or more players who could’ve made it.
Regardless, I’ll give it my best shot. When the 2026 college football season is over, these are the 10 players whom I believe we’ll look back on and say, “Those were the 10 best players in the SEC this year.”
Honorable Mentions
Zabien Brown, CB, Alabama
KJ Bolden, S, Georgia
Ellis Robinson IV, CB, Georgia
Trevor Goosby, OT, Texas
David Sanders Jr, OT, Tennessee
Jordan Seaton, OT, LSU
Ty Redmond, CB, Tennessee
Isaiah Sategna III, WR, Oklahoma
NOTE: Ahmad Hardy has been omitted from this list for injury reasons. He’s undoubtedly a top-10 player in the SEC.
10. Will Echoles, DT, Ole Miss
The first Ole Miss Rebel on this list, Echoles is an all-around playmaking machine. Known for his pass rush ability, Echoles also brings a foundation in the run game. His 68 combined tackles in 2025 from the IDL position mark an incredibly high number. Even the most elite IDL’s tend to finish with peak tackle numbers in the 40s. Echoles also racked up 11.5 TFLs and 5 sacks. He finished near the top of college football in both pressures and passes batted at the line of scrimmage.
On a defense with multiple potential first-round draft picks, Echoles is the leader of the Ole Miss defense. His havoc creation from the IDL spot is invaluable. His No. 10 ranking on this list should prove just how loaded this list will be, as Echoles is likely to finish as a First-Team All-American.
9. Bray Hubbard, S, Alabama
Hubbard is the best player in what most deem as the best secondary in college football. His sideline-to-sideline ability matches even the best of linebackers, and his ball-hawking skills have been among the best in the country. Hubbard totaled 79 combined tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 4 INTs, 6 PDs, and 3 FFs. He now has 7 INTs since becoming the starter halfway through the 2024 season.
Hubbard’s role as a sub-linebacker for Alabama has given defensive coordinator Kane Wommack a lot of flexibility. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Hubbard gives Alabama a hybrid safety-linebacker who tracks the ball as well as any safety in the country. Finishing First-Team All-SEC in 2025, he now sets his sights on First-Team All-American.
8. Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
You’ll likely find Lacy’s ranking to be higher on most other lists, and rightfully so. Lacy is college football’s hardest running back to bring down, breaking 89 tackles in 2025. He’s college football’s ultimate workhorse, carrying the ball 306 times while not missing a single game. His 1,567 rushing yards finished 3rd in the country, while his 24 rushing TDs finished 2nd.
Lacy’s dominance should continue with the return of starting QB Trinidad Chambliss, as Lacy should never face a loaded box. I would anticipate Lacy’s total carries to come down, while his yards per carry should increase. Lacy will be looking to repeat as a First-Team All-American come the 2026 season.
7. Rasheem Biles, LB, Texas
Biles is a newcomer to the SEC, but he’s been one of the best defenders in college football for two seasons now. Over the last two years, Biles has racked up 183 combined tackles, 31.5 TFLs, 10 sacks, 3 INT TDs, 13 PDs, and 3 FFs. He’s one of the best all-around defenders in the sport. Now, he’s the presumed leader of the Texas Longhorns defense that should be one of the best in the country.
Biles finished as an All-ACC player with Pittsburgh in both 2024 and 2025. Had he been playing at a more recognized school, his numbers would’ve earned him an All-American appearance already. Only one other LB in college football impacts the game at the rate of Biles, and he appears later on this list.
6. Arch Manning, QB, Texas
Manning catches more jokes than any other player in college football since he was hyped as the No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner before the 2025 season. But if we compare Manning to his peers rather than those expectations, it’s easy to see why he should be one of the nation’s best players in 2026. Manning finished with 3,562 total yards, 36 total TDs, and 7 INTs. He managed this while facing 5 top-10 opponents and being one of college football’s most pressured quarterbacks.
Texas has invested heavily in its offensive personnel around Manning, adding elite transfers at WR, OL, and RB. With an improved OL and a true No. 1 WR in Cam Coleman, Manning should have his name in the conversation for college football’s best QB, along with another QB on this list.
5. Xavier Atkins, LB, Auburn
Due to Auburn’s inability to contend at the national level, Atkins flies under the radar for most fans. However, he’s the focal point of any offensive coordinator’s game plan. Atkins moves around the field with incredible speed, and he possesses incredible tackling skills for someone who is 6-foot, 215 pounds. In 2025, Atkins totaled 84 tackles, 17 TFLs, 9 sacks, 1 INT, and 2 FFs. Atkins is truly the prime example of a player who dominates in space.
Too fast for offensive tackles to pass block on the edge, and too fast for guards who are run blocking on the second level, Atkins is a matchup nightmare. Atkins averaged 8 tackles per game and totaled 7 sacks in SEC play en route to a First-Team All-SEC appearance.
4. Cayden Green, OT, Missouri
In a conference full of great offensive tackles such as Jordan Seaton, David Sanders Jr, Trevor Goosby, and others, Green is the cream of the crop. His 89.6 PFF pass-blocking grade ranked 2nd in college football. He managed this incredible grade after moving to left tackle just two weeks before the season started. He even managed a 78.2 run-blocking grade, which is well above average.
Green earned a spot on the First-Team All-SEC in 2025 and likely could’ve earned this spot playing guard if needed. He’s the only offensive lineman in the SEC that I could confidently say has All-American potential at both guard and tackle this upcoming season. His value playing at left tackle makes him a top-5 player in the SEC according to this list.
3. Dylan Stewart, DE, South Carolina
Stewart is what football fans call an “avatar.” For a player who stands roughly 6-5 1/2, 250 pounds, he possesses some of the best speed, burst, and bend that you’ll ever see. If you watch the film and list Stewart as your best player in college football, I honestly wouldn’t argue. Over the past two seasons, Stewart has totaled 56 tackles, 22.5 TFLs, 11 sacks, and 6 FFs. His immense length and athleticism create havoc on almost every play. Despite just 11 sacks in the past two seasons, Stewart has a 90.2 pass rush grade in that time frame, along with a 79 run defense grade.
Stewart’s pass rush win rate equates to that of a player who should easily have double-digit sacks, and everything’s bound to come together soon. Jeremiah Smith is currently the consensus No. 1 overall draft prospect in the 2027 class, but Stewart’s one double-digit sack season away from having that changed.
2. Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Our third Ole Miss Rebel on this list, Chambliss burst onto the scene in Ole Miss’s third game of the season, having been the backup for the first two games. If you had asked me going into the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff, I would’ve said that Chambliss was the best player in the country at the time. He ended the season with 4,464 total yards, 30 total TDs, and 3 INTs. Chambliss played his best football in the biggest games, throwing for 1,813 yards, totaling 11 TDs and just 1 INT against ranked opponents. He totaled 978 yards, 6 TDs, and 0 INTs in his three College Football Playoff games.
Chambliss will return Kewan Lacy as his running mate in the backfield, meaning no defense will be able to cheat the pass. Deuce Alexander, who had 684 receiving yards last season, returns at receiver. Darrell Gill Jr. and Johntay Cook II, who combined for more than 1,000 yards last season, have transferred in. Five-star RS FR Caleb Cunningham also returns to the Rebels. Chambliss won’t have Lane Kiffin calling his plays this year, but I expect Chambliss to dominate once again.
1. Colin Simmons, EDGE, Texas
My prediction for the best player in the SEC is Colin Simmons, who was already the best pass rusher in the conference last season as a true sophomore. Simmons totaled 43 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 12 sacks, and 3 FFs in 2025. This comes after posting 48 tackles, 14 TFLs, 9 sacks, and 3 FFs as a true freshman. Simmons has created a whopping 105 quarterback pressures in the past two seasons. On top of being the SEC’s best pass rusher, Simmons has developed into a good run defender as well, making him the best all-around EDGE defender in the country.
Simmons will be chasing history in 2026. He needs 14 sacks to pass Will Anderson Jr. for the most official career sacks in SEC history. I’m expecting a 15-plus sack season from Simmons. Combining that with his run defense and ability to force turnovers, I believe this makes Simmons the best player in the SEC during the 2026 season.
