{"id":7245,"date":"2017-06-13T07:21:08","date_gmt":"2017-06-13T11:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosoncfb.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=7245"},"modified":"2017-12-30T17:01:31","modified_gmt":"2017-12-30T22:01:31","slug":"five-best-returning-sec-linebackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2017\/06\/13\/five-best-returning-sec-linebackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Simmer: Five Best Returning SEC Linebackers"},"content":{"rendered":"

We continue our summer series looking at the best returning players at each position in the Southeastern Conference<\/strong>. In this installment, we examine the five best returning SEC<\/strong> linebackers.<\/p>\n

Summer Simmer: Five Best Returning SEC Linebackers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The SEC normally has a tremendous amount of talent at the linebacker position. This year, there is a little less star power coming back. The conference lost a ton of talent to the NFL draft, with Zach Cunningham<\/a><\/strong>, Kendell Beckwith<\/a><\/strong>, Reuben Foster<\/a><\/strong>, Tim Williams<\/a><\/strong>, Jarrad Davis<\/a><\/strong>, and Ryan Anderson<\/a><\/strong> all gone after the 2016 season. But there’s still some bona fide starts and certainly some emerging talent. What’s most different about this season that previous years are the question marks surrounding many of the best returning players. Three of our top five have some lingering questions from either injuries or discipline issues.<\/p>\n

Linebackers are the most versatile players on defense. They’ve got to be big and strong enough to stop the run and athletic and fast enough to drop back in pass coverage. And, on top of the athletic demands, they have to be the play callers on defense as well.<\/p>\n

Here’s the previous position groups:<\/p>\n

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  1. Five Best Returning SEC Safeties<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Five Best Returning SEC Receivers<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Five Best Returning SEC Cornerbacks<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Five Best Returning SEC Running<\/strong> Backs<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So, who are the five best returning SEC linebackers? Here’s the list:<\/p>\n

    Honorable Mention:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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    Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n