Top 25 Players in the SEC: No. 16 Malcolm Sheppard

<p><b>No. 16 MALCOLM SHEPPARD</b></p><p><b>Arkansas senior defensive tackle</b></p><p><b>Why he's No. 16:</b> Sheppard led all SEC interior defensive linemen with 7.5 sacks in 2008. He spent his high school career and the early part of his college career at end, but bulked up to around 290 pounds (from 255 as a freshman) and with his quick feet and tremendous strength has proven to be a matchup nightmare on the inside. Razorbacks' coaches say Sheppard also has grown into a leader.</p><p><b>Key number:</b> 3. As in the number of stars Sheppard was rated by Rivals.com coming out of Bainbridge (Ga.) High School. He was listed as the 62nd overall ranked defensive end and barely cracked the list of Georgia's top 100 prospects.</p><p><b>Fun fact:</b> During spring practice, Hogs' coach Bobby Petrino pegged Sheppard as a captain for 2009 and also named him the team's 2008 defensive player of the year.</p>