Rival Views: Which program has the best secondary?

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate who has the best secondary in college football.

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I’m going to go with the Florida Gators here just ahead of Alabama and LSU. I think if Jourdan Lewis was healthy, Michigan would be in the mix as well. The cornerback combination of Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson is awesome, and it seems they haven’t missed a beat despite losing All-American Vernon Hargreaves III outside.

At safety, Marcus Maye will make you pay any time you come across the middle while Nick Washington is starting to emerge as well. They are just as physical, it seems, as when they had Keanu Neal patrolling the middle.

With two lockdown corners, there is no side to pick on. And with Maye stepping into that leadership role more than ever with Neal gone and bringing Washington under his wing, I don’t think there’s a foursome in the country with the same combination of coverage skills and physicality in run support. Throw in true freshman Chauncey Gardner for depth as well as Marcell Harris and Duke Dawson and you have an embarrassment of riches I don’t think anyone can compete with.

The SEC is loaded with outstanding secondaries, but I’m going to argue that Alabama – surprise, surprise – has the best one. My main point is that they have been tested twice already this season and absolutely lambasted their opponents.

In the season opener against USC, the Trojans passed the ball 37 times for only 18 completions and 130 yards. USC’s leading receiver Deontay Burnett had four catches for 26 yards. JuJu Smith-Schuster, one of the nation’s best receivers, was basically shut out with one reception for nine yards. One catch!

Last weekend against Western Kentucky - yes, it’s Western Kentucky, but the Hilltoppers put up 552 passing yards against Rice in the season-opener - Alabama allowed only 216 passing yards. Western Kentucky completed only 50 percent of their throws.

Those are strikingly impressive numbers as Alabama gears up for a double-revenge showdown against Ole Miss this weekend.

Former five-star CB Minkah Fitzpatrick leads the Crimson Tide in tackles. Three defensive backs already have interceptions.

Alabama is crushing opponents to start the season. The way this entire defense, but especially the secondary, is playing and dominating, that should continue into SEC competition.