After years of discussions, negotiations and preparation, Texas has finally joined the SEC. But how do the Longhorns stack up as they enter the toughest conference in college football?

We're ranking the SEC position by position, assigning points for each team — 16 points for first place through one point for 16th. We'll update the totals with each installment, giving a sense of which teams will contend for the SEC title and College Football Playoff spots.

We've already examined the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive lines and defensive lines and linebackers Next we rank the SEC schools on the strength of their defensive backs heading into the season:

More: Best of the SEC: How does Texas football DL stack up as we rank all 16 conference teams?

1. Oklahoma: Secondary bowing up for Sooners

Brent Venables has spent his first two seasons as Oklahoma’s head coach rebuilding a defense that had nearly fallen apart. This season’s unit could be the best yet under him, especially in the secondary. All-American Billy Bowman, arguably the best free safety in the country, returns for his senior season and third year as a starter after picking off six passes a year ago. Robert Spears-Jennings and Peyton Bowen will Iine up alongside Bowman and have proven production in Venables’ system. Veteran Woodi Washington returns for his fourth season as a starter at cornerback, and San Diego State transfer Dez Malone provides some competition for returner Gentry Williams at the other corner spot. Depth abounds, too, which testifies to the recruiting focus that Venables and his staff have paid to the secondary.

More: Already the talk of the town, Texas takes center stage at 2024 SEC media days

2. Kentucky: Plenty of seasoning for salty bunch

If you like plenty of seasoning in your secondary, you’ll love these Wildcats. Kentucky will start all upperclassmen at defensive back, a rarity in this transfer era. That group includes All-SEC cornerback Maxwell Hairston, a junior who led the league with five interceptions a year ago. Classmate Jantzen Dunn will likely start at the other spot after serving as a valuable part of the rotation a year ago, but he’ll be pushed by JQ Hardaway. Ball-hawking junior Alex Afari Jr. returns at the nickel spot after racking up 49 tackles and 5½ stops for a loss, and team captain Zion Childress and Jordan Lovett are back at the safety spots after racking up 59 and 30 tackles, respectively. Sophomore Ty Bryant, who would likely start for most other SEC schools, and Alabama transfer Kristian Story provide safety depth.

3. Georgia: Questions, but lots of talent

Sure, the secondary looks like the weak spot on a dominant defense. But talent still abounds for the best pass defense in the SEC a year ago, starting with all-conference safety Malaki Starks. Blue-chip recruit KJ Bolden may push veterans JaCorey Thomas and Dan Jackson for playing time at the other safety spot, but head coach Kirby Smart rarely starts true freshmen these days. Sophomore Joenel Aguero seems ready to assume the “star” role. The corners come with a few more questions. Daylen Everette returns at one spot, but Georgia will have to break in a new starter on the other side. Julio Humphrey and Daniel Harris seem like the top candidates, but yet another five-star freshman in Ellis Robinson could factor in the competition.

More: Texas, Oklahoma: Differences between SEC and Big 12 football start with talent

4. Arkansas: A safe spot for Hawgs' D

After signing 11 defensive backs in their 2023 and 2024 recruiting cycles, the Razorbacks have plenty of depth to go along with some impressive portal arrivals. Returning safeties Hudson Clark and Jayden Johnson each had more than 600 snaps last season for the SEC’s fifth-ranked pass defense. The corners have experience to go along with intriguing potential. Jaylon Braxton earned a starting spot as a freshman as well as freshmen all-SEC honors and has an NFL look at 6-feet, 190 pounds. Doneiko Slaughter arrives after starting for Tennessee and sixth-year player Kee'yon Stewart is also among a large group all vying for snaps in a suddenly competitive spot.

5. Texas: New faces plugging old holes

Pessimistic fans will point out that Texas must replace three starters, including both starting cornerbacks. But the optimists welcome any changes after watching the Longhorns allow 254.4 yards passing a game in 2023, third from last in the Big 12. Texas certainly needs better play at corner, although Malik Muhammad flashed star power as a true freshman last season and San Jose State transfer Jay’Vion Cole boasts plenty of skins on the wall. The safety position seems in better hands, especially with the arrival of Austin native and former All-ACC player Andrew Mukuba from Clemson. He’ll join a deep group that includes sophomore Derek Williams, ballhawk Michael Taaffe and preseason All-SEC selection Jahdae Barron, one of the best nickel backs in college football.

6. Ole Miss: More portal power for Rebs?

The portal impacted virtually every position for the Rebels in the offseason, but was any unit more affected than the secondary? Head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff didn’t have much choice, considering last year’s starting cornerbacks are now prepping for NFL seasons. Isaiah Hamilton arrives as a likely starter after picking off four passes for Houston a year ago while former Alabama reserve Trey Amos looks like a possible starter at the other side. Chris Graves has experience, but the Rebels better hope this group melds into an effective unit. The safeties seem more set; Trey Washington had a team-high 83 tackles and three interceptions while fellow returning starter John Saunders Jr. added 65 tackles and three interceptions.

7. Texas A&M: New coach, new hopes

New head coach Mike Elko made his bones working with defensive backs, and he’ll have his hands full with a talented but unproven secondary that must mesh in seven new faces from the portal as well as two freshmen. The Aggies ranked second in the SEC in pass defense, and Elko seems particularly excited about matching that production. Unlocking the potential of former five-star Alabama signee Dezz Ricks at corner would help, as will the arrival of All-Big 12 honorable mention cornerback Will Lee from Kansas State. Veteran Tyreek Chappell offers some stability on the outside. Elko fell short of luring in all-SEC safety De’Ricky Wright, but Bryce Anderson and Jaydon Hill provide solid if not spectacular options.

8. Alabama: Sudden questions for usual strength

Retired head coach Nick Saban was a secondary mastermind with a demanding scheme that reflected his NFL roots. New defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and new secondary coach Maurice Linguist have simplified the coverages, and that could help a unit with lots of new faces in new places. Malachi Moore gives Alabama a typical Saban safety with his smarts and sure tackling, but he’s the only returning starter. Michigan’s Keon Sabb and Penn State’s King Mack will bolster the safety position, but may have some growing pains in a new system. The corner spots cause the real concern. Can USC transfer Domani Jackson or Wake Forest's DaShawn Jones lock up starting jobs? If not, incoming blue chip freshmen such as Zavier Mincey, Zabien Brown and Jaylen Mbakwe may need to quickly grow up.

9. Florida: Marshalling potential into production

Head coach Billy Napier is feeling the heat in Gainesville, and he hopes a new defensive backs coach in former Los Angeles Chargers assistant Will Harris can help cool of his seat as well as opposing quarterbacks. The Gators ranked just 70th in passing yards allowed last season and picked off only three passes. Jason Marshall Jr. has NFL talent but doesn’t make many plays on the ball at cornerback, and coaches think Devin Moore seems primed for a breakout season at the other corner spot. Napier hopes for help from new faces, including cornerback Trikweze Bridges, who played in 47 games over the previous four seasons at Oregon. Jordan Castell, who popped up on several freshman All-American team a year ago, returns to lead a safety group that also includes a pair of veteran transfers in Tulane’s DJ Douglas and Washington’s Asa Turner.

10. Tennessee: Portal of entry — and exit

Tennessee wasn’t particularly stingy against opposing quarterbacks last season despite a strong pass rush, and things could get worse this year. What else to think after the Vols lost three defensive backs to the NFL and seven more to the transfer portal? Rickey Gibson III appeared in all 13 games as a freshman and started at cornerback in the Citrus Bowl. Classmate Jermod McCoy arrives from Oregon State and could also start at cornerback while Jalen McMurray joins the Vols after starting 23 career games at cornerback for Temple. Yet another transfer, Jakobe Thomas of Middle Tennessee State, will likely start at safety. Keep an eye on freshman Boo Carter, a four-star prospect who can line up at multiple positions.

11. Missouri: New DBs need to earn stripes

Three defensive backs for the Tigers went in April’s NFL draft, which means plugging the holes in the secondary could determine whether Mizzou can make a run at one of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoff. Other than that, no pressure on the new faces. Safeties Joseph Charleston and Daylan Carnell combined for more than 100 tackles last season and provide steady leadership in the back. But a new set of cornerbacks that includes Clemson transfer Toriano Pride will have to provide the downfield coverage. Drey Norwood started six games in his first two seasons at Missouri despite lacking consistency, and Marcus Clarke must step into a starting role for the first time.

12. LSU: Another year of DB who?

What the heck happened to the self-proclaimed DBU? The Tigers gave up 245.4 yards a game through the air in 2023, third-worst in the SEC. But things should get better, especially if fifth-year cornerback Zy Alexander can stay healthy all season and add to his 11 career interceptions. But it’s never a good sign when a true freshman starts the spring game, like PJ Woodland did in April. The five-star prospect could eventually emerge as an NFL prospect, but new defensive backs coach Corey Raymond would rather have a veteran seize control of the spot. Veteran Major Burns returns in LSU’s new “star” role, which should accentuate his ability to stop the run. Steady veteran Sage Ryan is another solid run-stopper, but can freshman Dashawn McBryde or Texas A&M transfer Jarden Gilbert step up in pass coverage?

13. Auburn: Former Longhorn could lead

Auburn quietly put together one of the SEC’s most efficient pass defenses last season, but the NFL draft and the portal took a toll for a unit that lost five players who saw heavy snaps. Former Texas safety Jerrin Thompson proved himself a team leader during his four years with the Longhorns, and he’ll need to help hold together a rebuilt unit in his first season on the Plains. He’ll get plenty of help from Keionte Scott, a versatile playmaker who started at nickel back last season and spurned some transfer offers in the offseason.  He may even start at corner for a secondary with questions on the outside.

14. South Carolina: Covering all spots a concern

With a base 3-3-5 defense, the Gamecocks need a set of physical safeties with plenty of range who can support the run and fill the gaps in coverage. Jalon Kilgore, Nick Emmanwori and DQ Smith all return and can fill that role in one of the conference’s better safety groups, which bodes well for a turnaround. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Kilgore earned freshman All-American honors after 76 tackles, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound Emmanwori had 71 tackles, and the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Smith tallied 73 tackles. But can the group offer better support to a shallow set of cornerbacks that helped allow 246.3 yards passing a game in 2023, second-to-last in the SEC?

15. Mississippi State: New CBs, old concerns

Aside from standout safety Corey Ellington, Mississippi State has some questions in the secondary it needs to answer before the start of conference play. The biggest concern? Finding a pair of reliable cornerbacks for a team that ranked in the middle of the back in the SEC last season. Brice Pollock saw lots of action as a freshman, Brylan Lanier arrives from junior college, DeAgo Brumfield started for Memphis and Montre Miller started at Kent State in 2022 but missed last year at West Virginia with an injury. At least sophomore Isaac Smith impressed in his debut season at the other safety spot opposite the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Ellington.

16. Vanderbilt: Not enough of Wright stuff

It’s impossible to ignore the 279.6 yards passing allowed per game, which ranked — by far — last in the SEC in 2023. But the Commodores do boast a solid safety rotation led by returning starter De’Ricky Wright, who committed to Texas A&M in the portal before a change of heart. Wright had 46 tackles, two interceptions, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles in 10 games last season and could line up next to talented CJ Taylor, who will see action at both safety and linebacker. They also welcome in safeties Maurice Hampton and Randon Fontenette from Memphis and TCU, respectively. The corners look shakier after a season-ending injury to Marlon Jones in the spring, even though Wyoming transfer Kolbey Taylor showed some ball skills a year ago while breaking up seven passes.

About this series

This summer, the American-Statesman is ranking each SEC football team position by position. We're assigning points for each team at each position, with 16 for the leader and one for 16th place. We’ll update the totals with each installment, giving an idea of which teams will contend for the conference title and a possible College Football Playoff spot.

The lineup: (1) quarterbacks, (2) running backs, (3) receivers, (4) offensive line, (5) defensive line, (6) linebackers, (7) defensive backs, (8) coaching and intangibles

Current standings

1. Georgia 100

2. Texas 88

3. Ole Miss 84

4. Oklahoma 78

5. Kentucky 71

6. Alabama 69

7. Tennessee 67

8. Missouri 64

9. LSU 59

10. Florida 55

11. Texas A&M 50

12. Auburn 45

13. Arkansas 42

14. South Carolina 32

15. Mississippi State 25

16. Vanderbilt 23

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Who has the best secondary in the SEC? The Statesman ranks all 16 schools