University of Florida Lawrence Wright Lawrence Wright was the recipient of the 2006 Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and was a first-team All-SEC choice in 1995 and 1996. He was also a recipient of UF's 1995 Best Effort on Defense Award. Wright earned SEC Academic Honor Roll status four times and was named to the 1996 College Football Association's Scholar-Athlete Team. He also received the Gene Ellenson Award, which honors the squad's most inspirational player.

University of Georgia Garrison Hearst Garrison Hearst left his mark on SEC football history by breaking records that many said would never be broken. A consensus All-American tailback, Hearst averaged 6.8 yards per carry, shattering Bo Jackson's SEC record. Hearst was honored with the Doak Walker Running Back Award, and the SEC Player of the Year, among others. He was a first round pick in the 1993 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and finished his career with the Denver Broncos.

University of Georgia David Pollack David Pollack re-wrote the definition of the defensive end position during his Georgia career. After electing to bypass the NFL and return to UGA for his senior season on 2004, he joined legendary tailback Herschel Walker as the only two Georgia players to be chosen first team All-American three times. Pollack won many awards, including the 2004 Rotary Lombardi Award, and the 2004 Chuck Bednarik Award, among others. He was selected as a first round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.