Everyone out there knows it: the SEC brings in the best talent in the nation every year, as teams restock and retool their rosters on the fly. Those young players make their impact felt early their careers all over the field, and cornerback is no exception. Throughout the conference, there are a handful of teams that have not just one, but a pair of standout kids playing the corners. Here, we run down the top three of those pairs.

Vernon Hargreaves III and Jalen Tabor, Florida: Hargreaves started the year as a preseason All-SEC pick at cornerback after a strong freshman year, and he’s lived up to that billing this season. He locks down his man as well as any corner in the SEC. Despite most teams avoiding him, Hargreaves still has 2 interceptions on the season, as well as 10 passes broken up, tops on the team. One of the most welcome developments of the season has been Tabor’s emergence. The true freshman made headlines with a ridiculously athletic interception late against Vanderbilt, but he’s been a bit part of Florida’s pass defense turning around its early season struggles. The former five-star recruit hasn’t been consistent, but he’s played very well across from Hargreaves for the most part. Tony Brown and Cyrus Jones, Alabama: It takes a lot to start as a true freshman on Alabama’s defense, yet Brown has held down a spot at corner all season. While he hasn’t been spectacular, Brown has been a solid contributor to the defense, chipping in about a tackle per game while doing a good job defending the pass. On the other corner is the junior Jones. While he’s an upperclassman, Jones is in his first full season playing defense after coming to Alabama as an athlete and playing mostly receiver a year ago. He’s ninth on the team in tackles and has an interception on the season. Tre’Davious White and Jalen Collins, LSU: The Tigers would be higher on this list if not for some off-field issues. LSU was starting two true sophomores, White and Rashard Robinson, for much of the season with stellar results, as they currently sit fifth in the nation in pass defense. However, Robinson is currently serving an indefinitely suspension, reportedly for some classroom issues. Junior Jalen Collins filled in against Alabama and likely will the rest of the season, but the Tigers don’t have any full-time cornerbacks that have played much behind White and Collins. Collins is big and rangy, with the size (6-foot-2, 194 lbs.) to contend with the most athletic receivers in the conference, while White is a playmaker with shutdown skills.