Predicting the Top 5 SEC football players for 2015

Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) works out prior to the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Vernon Hargreaves – Junior Defensive back, Florida

The SEC has been a factory for NFL talent at the defensive back position, producing players such as former Georgia Bulldog Champ Bailey, former Tennessee Volunteer Eric Berry and former LSU Tiger Patrick Peterson.

This season will not be any different. The league is filled with top-end talent, including Ole Miss safety Tony Conner, Tennessee defensive back Cam Sutton and LSU safety Jalen Mills.

But the best of the bunch plays for the Florida Gators: Vernon Hargreaves. The junior defensive back is possibly the best defensive back to come out of the SEC since LSU’s Patrick Peterson.

Quarterbacks around the SEC know how good Hargreaves is. And with all the inexperience at the quarterback position in the SEC, the threat of Hargreaves alone might be enough to prohibit quarterbacks from throwing to his side of the field. Hargreaves is a two-time All-American, and has led the SEC in pass breakups over the past two seasons.

“The great ones are guys that understand what it takes to work, to perfect your craft every single day, and he does that,” said first-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain during the SEC Media Days.

Hargreaves is set up to not only be one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC, but potentially one of the best cornerbacks in the NCAA. This will all favor him well in regards to his NFL prospects, as he seeks to become a top-10 pick in next year’s draft.

Next: Leonard Fournette