ESPN College Football

Spring is a time for renewal. In college football, spring is also the time to look ahead to fall and the upcoming season. Saturday, Alabama holds its annual Golden Flake A-Day Game (ESPN3, 3 ET), which will give its fans a first look at the defending national champions.

Alabama captured its record-breaking ninth national championship of the major poll era in January. Once again, the Crimson Tide are expected to be one of the best teams in the country in 2012. But the Tide have been here before. Will history repeat?

In 2010, Alabama was preseason No. 1 in both The Associated Press and Coaches polls with 11 combined offensive and defensive starters returning from the team that had won the 2009 national title. The problem was the retention breakdown. Bama lost eight starters from a defense that allowed the second-fewest yards (244.1) and points (11.7) per game in the bowl subdivision. With quarterback Greg McElroy, the running back tandem of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, and receiver Julio Jones, the belief was that the Tide would score points and win games with their offense, while buying enough time for their defense to jell.

However, all did not go as planned. The defense allowed slightly more PPG than in 2009 (13.5 in 2010, 11.7 in 2009). The Tide allowed more plays of 20-plus yards (13) in 2010 than it did in 2009 (7). They also blew a 24-point lead in a loss to rival and eventual national champion Auburn in the regular-season finale, the biggest collapse in Alabama’s storied history. That was one of three losses for the Tide that season.

Like in 2010, this Alabama team has a quarterback returning for his second season as a starter (AJ McCarron), along with a strong running back (Eddie Lacy). Also like the 2010 team, the Tide will lose several starters on defense including four likely first-round picks (cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, linebacker/defensive end Courtney Upshaw, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and safety Mark Barron).

So how good will Alabama be in 2012? History suggests the Tide will be one of the best teams in college football, but not good enough to win a second straight national championship. Just like 2010.

Newcomers come in all shapes and sizes.

There are freshmen newcomers, junior college transfers and regular transfers. Regardless, they all come in with the expectations of playing immediately. JUCO standouts and transfers maybe more so than rookies, but the days of automatically redshirting true freshmen are over. Like, dead.

Last year, the SEC saw a few newcomers make immediate impacts. A great example is Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, who transferred from USC back in 2010, but didn't play until last fall. All he did was lead the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. There was Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, who came from the JUCO ranks to be one of the Hogs' most productive linebackers.

Freshman Isaiah Crowell had an up-and-down season, but was sixth in the SEC rushing, and was named the SEC's freshman of the year. His classmate, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, wasn't too bad, either. You also can't forget about South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who was seventh in the SEC with eight sacks.

So, as spring practice begins to wind down around the conference, we're taking a look at five newcomers to keep an eye on in 2012. Some are on campuses, some aren't. Some are obvious choices, and you could be surprised by a couple. Top newcomers can be top league players, or players who will make big impacts on their teams at a position of need.

We're going in alphabetical order, so here's our list:

• Denico Autry, DE, JUCO, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are looking to replace Sean Ferguson at one of the defensive line spots, and Autry was brought in to do just that. The coaches have been extremely impressed with how the former East Mississippi Community College standout has looked in spring practice. People around the program have simply described Autry as a "beast," and the thought is that he'll enter the fall starting at one of the end spots.
• Travell Dixon, CB, JUCO, Alabama: Dixon has had a pretty successful spring, and has had the honor of playing at Alabama's "star" (nickel) cornerback spot. That shows you just how much coach Nick Saban respects Dixon's game. Saban usually puts his most complete defensive backs at the star. That's where Javier Arenas played, and DeQuan Menzie after him. With Alabama losing Menzie and Dre Kirkpatrick at cornerback, Dixon has a chance to come in and start immediately.
• Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Fr., Missouri: It was hard to find another 2012 recruit who received the attention that Green-Beckham did. He has drawn comparisons to A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Calvin Johnson. That's pretty good company, and Missouri is expecting DGB to contribute immediately. DGB stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds, making him a huge, physical target for quarterback James Franklin. DGB might arrive this summer as Missouri's most talented receiver. It also helps that he has top speed, and could be the deep threat that Missouri's offense needs.
• Latroy Pittman, WR, Fr., Florida: Haven't heard of him? Don't worry, not many have. Pittman committed to Florida so long before national signing day, his recruitment wasn't too exciting or noticeable. However, Pittman, who was ranked the No. 24 wide receiver by ESPN recruiting services, has been very productive in spring practice. He isn't the fastest receiver, but with Florida struggling to find a true go-to receiving target, Pittman has really shined by being one of the Gators' most consistent receivers this spring. Word around Florida's program is that Pittman will definitely see playing time this fall. Receiver is wide open in Gainesville, so Pittman could play his way into quality time.
• Shaq Roland, WR, Fr., South Carolina: With Alshon Jeffery gone, South Carolina is searching for a wide receiver to step up and become a primary target for quarterback Connor Shaw. Right now, Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington will get the first shots, but a lot of players at the position are pretty unproven. Roland was one of the top high school receiving targets last year, and has the playmaking ability that could really spark the Gamecocks' passing game. Roland could be a deep threat or make plays over the middle. He wasn't afraid of contact in high school, and that mentality should carry over to the college level. Adding some weight will be key, but coach Steve Spurrier should have fun working him into the offense.

From the moment Dorial Green-Beckham put that black-and-yellow Missouri ball cap on his head, the expectations for him at Missouri went through the roof.

Actually, the former Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High star probably would have had relatively high expectations no matter where he signed. He's a special talent, who caught 119 passes for 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns as a high school senior. The No. 1 receiver prospect stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 220 pounds, making him an ideal target for any quarterback in any type of offense. And even with his size, he still has the speed to be a legit deep threat at the college level.

Stop drooling James Franklin. You'll get to start working with him before you know it.

But will DGB be a star on the field from the word "go?" Will he immediately be that top-flight receiving threat that Missouri is still searching for in its offense? Will he take the SEC East by storm and help propel the Tigers toward the top of the division?

The hype machine says yes and he should benefit from having Franklin as his quarterback and being able to learn from vets, like T.J. Moe, who was Missouri's leading receiver last year, and Marcus Lucas, who emerged as a top receiving threat for the Tigers in 2011. However, he's never played on the level of the SEC or seen anything like what he'll see from SEC defenses.

Still, if DGB can nail Missouri's playbook down early and get pretty comfy in the Tigers' offense during the offseason, he could move from watcher to doer very quickly next season.

With his measurables and skill set, DGB could be a very special player in this league and if recent history is an indicator, he could very well make that immediate impact that Mizzou fans expect him to.

We don't have to go far to see success from rookie receivers in this league. Just last season Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell proved to be the Bulldogs' most talented pass catcher. He led Georgia, and was fourth in the SEC, in receiving, hauling in 45 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns. He did that only playing 11 games, as a hamstring injury cut into his playing time during the middle part of the season.

There was also LSU's Odell Beckham Jr., who was second on the team in receiving and grabbed 41 catches as a frosh. Ole Miss' Donte Moncrief and Vanderbilt's Chris Boyd also made big impacts in their respective offenses, as Moncrief led the Rebels in receiving and Boyd led the Commodores with eight touchdown receptions.

Over the years, we've seen other freshmen come in and make their presences well known in passing games. Percy Harvin was one of the most exciting players to watch in 2006 at both a wide receiver and a running back, as he registered 855 total yards of offense and five touchdowns for Florida. In 2009, SEC All-Freshman mates Alshon Jeffery and Chad Bumphis led their schools in receptions and yards.

And who could forget what A.J. Green did at Georgia and what Julio Jones did at Alabama in their first seasons? Both could have just jumped to the NFL at the end of the seasons if they were allowed to.

We've only seen a glimpse of what DGB can do as a football player and if the experts are correct, he has a bright future ahead of him. And Mizzou's faithful is hoping he can have the early success of some of those receivers who have come before him in this league.

1. Stanford coach David Shaw told me last April that he and his staff had a shot at nationally prominent recruits who would be the school’s most highly-regarded class ever. Stanford signed seven players Wednesday out of the ESPNU 150 and is 12th in the recruiting rakings. Shaw also said this: “Nobody wants us to be successful. There’s no way. With our academic standards? There’s no way that other schools want to see us have continued success … because if we’re going to be in the top 10 in football perennially, why wouldn’t you come here? How could you say no?”

2. And Stanford isn’t the only one. Vanderbilt, where James Franklin has refused to accept the Commodores perennial role as league doormat, at one point on Signing Day made the ESPNU top 25. Northwestern and Virginia both signed players in the ESPNU 150. Is something afoot here? Are better players getting smarter? Are they more willing to consider their education when deciding where to play?

3. And, now, for your dose of salt. Go back and take a look at the top classes of 2008. There are a lot of hyperlinked names that won’t ring a bell, even among the teams that are playing well. Alabama may have won the BCS Championship, but the three players highlighted are wide receiver Julio Jones, who played like a five-star player, offensive lineman Tyler Love, who played in two games last year, and athlete Burton Scott, who transferred to South Alabama.

Our recruiting folks at ESPN have gone back and re-visited the 2008 signing class and assessed how the marquee prospects in that class fared in college.

It’s one of my favorite exercises, because it’s a reminder that recruiting is anything but an exact science, and that evaluating recruiting classes and prospects on signing day is a dicey proposition.

Everybody is trying to recruit great players, but what matters is what you do with those players once you get them on your campus.

Of the 25 top prospects in the 2008 class, seven signed with SEC schools.

No. 2 on that list was Julio Jones. No. 5 was A.J. Green, and No. 8 was Patrick Peterson.

I’d say the analysts got those three right. They were all great players who earned numerous awards and accolades, and all three were taken among the top six picks in last year’s NFL draft.

But for every Julio Jones, A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson, there’s a Will Hill, Dee Finley, Chancey Aghayere and Burton Scott.

All four were ranked among the top 25 prospects in the nation by ESPN in 2008, but for varying reasons, they never flourished in college.

Hill, a safety who signed with Florida out of West Orange, N.J., was the No. 3 overall prospect in 2008. He had a promising freshman season, but struggled with consistency his next two seasons. He declared early for the NFL draft and wasn’t selected, and wound up playing in the Arena Football League.

Finley, another safety who signed with Florida out of Auburn, Ala., was No. 10. He was sidetracked by injuries and off-the-field issues during his career and announced that he was transferring to North Alabama.

Aghayere, a defensive end who signed with LSU out of Garland, Texas, was No. 14. He’s a rising senior, but has played mostly in a reserve role for the Tigers. He didn’t make any starts this season and finished with three total tackles.

Scott, an athlete who signed with Alabama out of Prichard, Ala., was No. 19. He moved from running back to cornerback after arriving at Alabama, but wound up transferring and played at South Alabama this past season.

Florida signed an SEC-high six players in 2008 that were ranked among the top 55 prospects nationally. The Gators signed 10 players who were ESPNU 150 prospects.

It’s a haul that looked terrific at the time, but four seasons later, the Gators lost six football games and didn’t beat anybody in 2011 (in the FBS ranks) that finished with a winning record.

There’s also the flip side.

Alabama’s 2008 class was ranked No. 3 by ESPN, and it’s a class that was the driving force behind the Crimson Tide’s dizzying run the past few years, which includes two national championships.

So, again, there are always hits and misses in recruiting, and those players who miss sometimes do so for reasons that go well beyond football ability. What’s more, classes that look like a million dollars on signing day don’t always look so good three and four years later.

Just something to remember with national signing day approaching.

Here’s a look at the remaining ESPNU 150 prospects in 2008 who signed with SEC schools:

• No. 30: DE Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
• No. 31: CB Janoris Jenkins (Florida)
• No. 33: OT Tyler Love (Alabama)
• No. 35: RB Richard Samuel (Georgia)
• No. 37: DT Omar Hunter (Florida)
• No. 41: ATH Joe Adams (Arkansas)
• No. 43: DE William Green (Florida)
• No. 45: DT DeAngelo Tyson (Georgia)
• No. 50: RB Carlton Thomson (Georgia)
• No. 51: WR Chris Tolliver (LSU)
• No. 54: CB Charles Whitlock (South Carolina)
• No. 55: ATH Jeff Demps (Florida)
• No. 70: S Karnell Hatcher (LSU)
• No. 76: RB De’Anthony Curtis (Arkansas)
• No. 80: OLB Lerentee McCray (Florida)
• No. 81: QB Tyler Wilson (Arkansas)
• No. 87: WR Rod Wilks (Tennessee)
• No. 93: ATH Charles Mitchell (Mississippi State)
• No. 99: OLB Jerrell Harris (Alabama)
• No. 108: RB Mark Ingram (Alabama)
• No. 121: OT Matt Patchan (Florida)
• No. 131: DE Toby Jackson (Georgia)
• No. 132: OG A.J. Harmon (Georgia)
• No. 133: ILB Brendan Beal (Florida)
• No. 136: CB Neiko Thorpe (Auburn)
• No. 140: C Ben Jones (Georgia)
• No. 142: CB Jeremy Brown (Florida)
• No. 144: ATH Chris Jackson (Alabama)
• No. 146: WR Tavarres King (Georgia)
• No. 147: RB Eric Smith (Auburn)

It’s never easy to say goodbye.

But that’s what Alabama coach Nick Saban and the rest of the Crimson Tide faithful will have to do Saturday when Alabama’s extraordinary 2008 class bids farewell to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

This class that featured the likes of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron, Dont’a Hightower and Barrett Jones will go down in Alabama history as one of the best to step foot in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

For as serious as Saban can be, we might witnesses a softer side of him during Saturday’s senior day.

“A lot of guys in that class played a lot of really good football,” Saban said.

“Those guys to this point have won 45 games. That’s probably as many games as anybody around here has ever won in their career.”

The class has just six losses.

Not everyone stuck around or totally complied, but the ones who did certainly set the tone for Alabama’s football program under Saban. In 2008, the Tide went undefeated during the regular season, before falling to Florida in the SEC championship -- the semifinal for the national championship. It then bounced back masterfully to win 14 straight in 2009 and claim yet another national championship for Alabama.

That same year, Ingram won Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy.

While last season could be considered a disappointment for Alabama, 2011 could still be quite special for the Tide and this class. Their 9-6 loss at home to LSU is currently the only blemish on this team’s record and winning out could put them right back in the national championship game.

Some things still have to work out in Alabama’s favor, but the quest for a second national title in three years continues this weekend against Georgia Southern. Alabama needs style points and after a lackluster performance against Mississippi State last week, you can bet this team will be ready to run all over the Eagles.

But regardless of what happens at season’s end for this team and this class, Saban will always remember the players in this class for their tremendous leadership skills and winning attitude. Alabama might not be where it is right now if not for the 2008 class.

“There’s no doubt that that group was the group that sort of turned the program around, bought in, did the things that we all wanted to do to make it better,” Saban said. “They’ve set the example and certainly have made a more significant contribution than anybody would realize.”

If you're looking for two of the most underrated players in the SEC, look no further than the state of Alabama.

In fact, Auburn's Emory Blake and Alabama's Marquis Maze might be two of the most underrated receivers in college football.

Both have had solid careers and were coming off big seasons. Blake caught eight touchdown passes last season to lead Auburn, but was overshadowed by all of the other big names on the Tigers' national championship team.

And while Julio Jones was on his way to setting Alabama receiving records last season, Maze was quietly doing his part, catching 38 passes and averaging 14.7 yards per catch. Maze had 31 plays of 15 yards or longer and was a perfect complement to Jones.

The only question about both Blake and Maze coming into this season was whether or not they could be go-to guys and handle the burden of defenses keying on them.

So far, they've been up to that challenge and then some.

Blake, a junior, is tied for the SEC lead with four touchdown catches. He leads all SEC players with 317 receiving yards, and he's also averaging 19.8 yards per catch, which is tops among the SEC receiving leaders.

One of the things that sticks out about Blake through the first four games is his ability to hit the big play. He already has three touchdown catches of 36 yards or longer.

Speaking of big plays, it was Maze's 83-yard punt return for a touchdown -- easily one of the plays of the year so far in the SEC -- that opened the floodgates to Alabama's 38-14 rout of Arkansas last week.

Maze, a senior, has 20 catches, which ties him for second in the SEC, and he's third in all-purpose yardage, averaging 151.5 yards per game. The only two players ahead of him in that category are South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore and Florida's Chris Rainey.

Following Alabama's 24-point victory over Arkansas last Saturday, Maze admitted that he grew weary of hearing about all the playmakers the Hogs had on offense and special teams.

"They gave those guys credit the whole week, how good they were on offense and special teams," Maze said. "It just made us hungrier to want to go out and prove that we have some guys to be reckoned with, too."

Maze and Blake both fit into that category, and both are doing just fine in their new roles.

Mel Kiper, ESPN's NFL draft analyst extraordinaire, has released his first Big Board for the 2012 draft, and South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery is the top SEC player at No. 4 on the list.

Kiper's Big Board is a ranking of the top 25 draft-eligible players in college football based on value, and he updates it periodically all the way up to the draft.

Jeffery is coming off a monster sophomore season and will almost certainly come out early. He set single-season records last season for the Gamecocks with 88 catches for 1,517 yards and is also tied for the school record with Sidney Rice with 11 100-yard receiving games. As Kiper points out, the 6-foot-4, 233-pound Jeffery is a matchup nightmare for defenses and is a lot faster than you think.

The SEC had a total of five players on Kiper's Big Board, and the second player might surprise a few people. Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was No. 9. The NFL scouts love Kirkpatrick's size and range, even though he was a bit inconsistent at times last season.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson was No. 13, South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore No. 19 and Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw No. 25.

Before it's over, I wouldn't be surprised to see three more Alabama players on there -- cornerback DeQuan Menzie, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Mark Barron. In fact, Menzie could wind up being one of the top cornerbacks in the SEC and was the most consistent defensive back on Alabama's team this spring.

LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is another player who could easily show up on the Big Board at some point along with South Carolina defensive end Devin Taylor, Arkansas running back Knile Davis and Arkansas receiver Greg Childs.

The ACC led the way with eight players on the first Big Board for 2012. The Pac-12 had six players.

On Kiper's first Big Board a year ago, he had six SEC players. Five of them wound up being selected in the first round of the draft in April. Georgia receiver A.J. Green was No. 4 on that first Big Board last year. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was No. 6 followed by Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus at No. 7, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson No. 10, Alabama running back Mark Ingram No. 11 and Alabama receiver Julio Jones No. 17.

Mallett was the only one of the group that didn't go in the first round. He slipped to the third round.

ESPN's Mel Kiper has unveiled his final NFL mock draft, and if he's right, get ready to hear a bunch of SEC players' names right away on Thursday night from Radio City Music Hall.

Kiper is predicting that five of the first six picks in the draft will be SEC players, led by Auburn quarterback Cam Newton going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers.

The only non-SEC player in Kiper's top six is Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller going No. 2 to the Denver Broncos.

After that, Kiper has Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus going No. 3 to the Buffalo Bills, Georgia receiver A.J. Green going No. 4 to the Cincinnati Bengals, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson going No. 5 to the Arizona Cardinals and Alabama receiver Julio Jones going No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns.

Also in the top 10, Kiper projects that Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley will go No. 8 to the Tennessee Titans.

That would be six SEC players in the top 10 picks, which would be a record.

The SEC has produced four of the top 10 players in the draft on two different occasions. In 2008, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden went No. 4, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey No. 5, Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey No. 8 and Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo No. 10. In 2005, Auburn running back Ronnie Brown went No. 2, Auburn running back Cadillac Williams No. 5, South Carolina receiver Troy Williamson No. 7 and Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers No. 9.

Overall, Kiper has nine SEC players going in the first round this year. The SEC record for first-rounders is 11, which was set in 2007.

Rounding out the SEC players projected to go in the first round, Kiper has Florida offensive center/guard Mike Pouncey going No. 15 to the Miami Dolphins, Alabama running back Mark Ingram going No. 28 to the New England Patriots and Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod going No. 29 to the Chicago Bears.

Three of the most talked-about players in Kansas State's spring camp have never suited up in a Wildcats uniform.

Expectations from fans and media are high for all three, but for now, coach Bill Snyder isn't ready to tell anyone just what to expect.

"These are quality young people, wonderful youngsters and very, very fine players," he said during the Big 12's conference call on Tuesday. "But I wouldn’t go beyond that at this point in time, because they haven’t, in either case, had the opportunity to step up and prove themselves."

Bryce and Arthur Brown are brothers and Wichita, Kan., natives. Bryce, a running back, originally signed with Tennessee before transferring back to Kansas State to be closer to home. Arthur, a linebacker, did the same after signing with Miami originally.

Both were five-star recruits, among the best in their class at their positions. In Arthur Brown's class, ESPN pegged only five players better than him, and four (A.J. Green, Julio Jones, Terrelle Pryor, Da'Quan Bowers) became household names over the course of their careers.

Alabama's Trent Richardson was the only running back ESPN ranked above Bryce Brown.

Neither stuck at their respective program.

Quarterback Justin Tuggle, meanwhile, started briefly at Boston College after leaving high school as the nation's No. 38 player. Last year, he spent the season filling Heisman winner Cam Newton's shoes at Blinn College in Texas.

Snyder has built a reputation on turning transfers from junior colleges and other Division I programs into stars, and the Wildcats hope that will be the case with their new trio, who will finally get their chance this fall.

"Are they going to step on the field and be instant successes to an extremely high degree? I can’t guarantee that," Snyder said. "I’d like for it to happen, they’d like for it to happen, our players would like for it to happen, and our coaches, but I wouldn’t instill that kind of pressure on either one of them."

The Brown Brothers have been in the program for a year, and Arthur has already drawn rave reviews for his work on the scout team last year. Tuggle, a dual-threat quarterback, arrived this semester and is working on learning the Wildcats offense while competing with Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur to win the starting job.

"I’d hate to put a ceiling on anybody’s capabilities, whether it’s a transfer student or young people who have been in our program for a period of time. It would be hard to say this is what their limitations are. We try to stress not placing limitations on their abilities to perform successfully," Snyder said. "They weren’t in a position where they were on the field, the kind of repetition that is quality or signifies quick improvement, but they are now and each and all of them are making headway. Where does that take them? That’s certainly up to them."

Both ESPN draft analysts, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, have Auburn quarterback Cam Newton going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers in their latest mock NFL drafts this week.

Six SEC players will go among the top 10 picks, according to both Kiper and McShay.

Here's a look at the SEC players in Kiper's three-round mock draft:

First round

• Auburn QB Cam Newton, No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers
• Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, No. 2 overall to the Denver Broncos
• Georgia WR A.J. Green, No. 4 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals
• Alabama WR Julio Jones, No. 6 overall to the Cleveland Browns
• LSU CB Patrick Peterson, No. 7 overall to the San Francisco 49ers
• Auburn DT Nick Fairley, No. 8 overall to the Tennessee Titans
• Alabama RB Mark Ingram, No. 15 overall to the Miami Dolphins
• Florida OG Mike Pouncey, No. 19 overall to the New York Giants
• Georgia OLB Justin Houston, No. 28 overall to the New England Patriots
• Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod, No. 32 overall to the Green Bay Packers

Second round

• Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, No. 39 overall to the Tennessee Titans
• Georgia OG Clint Boling, No. 48 overall to the Oakland Raiders
• Kentucky WR Randall Cobb, No. 50 overall to the San Diego Chargers

Third round

• Alabama OT James Carpenter, No. 69 overall to the Arizona Cardinals
• Florida OT Marcus Gilbert, No. 75 overall to the Detroit Lions
• LSU DT Drake Nevis, No. 87 overall to the Indianapolis Colts
• Georgia LB Akeem Dent, No. 89 overall to the San Diego Chargers

Here's a look at the SEC players in McShay's three-round mock draft:

• Auburn QB Cam Newton, No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers
• Alabama DT Marcell Dareus, No. 2 overall to the Denver Broncos
• Georgia WR A.J. Green, No. 4 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals
• LSU CB Patrick Peterson, No. 7 overall to the San Francisco 49ers
• Auburn DT Nick Fairley, No. 8 overall to the Tennessee Titans
• Alabama WR Julio Jones. No. 10 overall to the Washington Redskins
• Florida OG Mike Pouncey, No. 15 overall to the Miami Dolphins
• Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod, No. 23 overall to the Philadelphia Eagles
• Alabama RB Mark Ingram, No. 28 overall to the New England Patriots

Second round

• Georgia OG Clint Boling, No. 33 overall to the New England Patriots
• Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett, No. 39 overall to the Tennessee Titans
• Georgia OLB Justin Houston, No. 42 overall to the Houston Texans
• Kentucky WR Randall Cobb, No. 47 overall to the St. Louis Rams
• LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard, No. 55 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs
• Alabama OT James Carpenter, No. 60 overall to the New England Patriots

Third round

• Florida OT Marcus Gilbert, No. 69 overall to the Arizona Cardinals
• Auburn OT Lee Ziemba, No. 82 overall to the San Diego Chargers
• Tennessee TE Luke Stocker, No. 95 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers

The batch of receivers last season in the SEC was as good as I’ve ever seen.

In fact, I don’t think there was a stronger position in the league from top to bottom.

With Darvin Adams, Randall Cobb, A.J. Green and Julio Jones all choosing to turn pro early, the receiver position doesn’t figure to be as strong next season in the SEC.

But start putting together a top 10 list, and you realize pretty quickly that the well has hardly run dry.

Here’s an early (I repeat, an early) glance at how I would rank the 10 best returning receivers in the SEC:

1. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina: South Carolina fans had better enjoy Jeffery in 2011, because he has NFL written all over him. What an incredible blend of size, athletic ability and hands.

2. Greg Childs, Arkansas: Had Childs not gotten hurt last season, he’d be another SEC receiver we’d be talking about going high in the NFL draft right now.

3. Joe Adams, Arkansas: One of the most exciting players in the country after the catch. Adams did have a few too many drops last season, but he’s a big play waiting to happen.

4. Jarius Wright, Arkansas: They just keep churning out big-time receivers at Arkansas under Bobby Petrino. Wright really came on last season for the Hogs.

5. Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State: Is this the year that Bumphis goes from being a very good receiver to a great receiver? He has all the tools.

6. Justin Hunter, Tennessee: Throw it somewhere in the vicinity, and Hunter will go get it with his freakish leaping ability. He caught seven touchdown passes last season as a true freshman.

7. Emory Blake, Auburn: One of the more improved receivers in the league, Blake looms as the Tigers’ go-to guy in 2011. He led the team with eight touchdown catches last season.

8. Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas: Petrino has said that Hamilton might end up being the best receiver of the bunch. He caught six touchdown passes and averaged 19.7 yards per catch last season.

9. Rueben Randle, LSU: He’s much more talented than his numbers suggest to this point. And with Steve Kragthorpe taking over the LSU offense, look for Randle to break out next season as a junior.

10. Marquis Maze, Alabama: After playing in the shadow of Julio Jones, it’s Maze’s time to be the focal point in the Tide’s passing game. He’s already proved that he’s one of the SEC’s best deep threats.

Coming off an impressive showing at the NFL combine, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson has jumped up to No. 1 on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper's latest Big Board of the top NFL draft prospects.

Peterson, weighing 219 pounds, ran a 4.34 in the 40-yard dash to go from a sure-fire top 10 pick to possibly one of the top two or three picks in the draft. Kiper thinks there's a chance that Peterson could go No. 1 overall.

Three of the top four guys on Kiper's latest Big Board, which reflects combine performances, are SEC players. Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley is No. 2, and Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus No. 4.

In fact, seven of the top 13 players are from the SEC.

Georgia receiver A.J. Green is No. 6, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton No. 10, Alabama running back Mark Ingram No. 12 and Alabama receiver Julio Jones No. 13.

Peterson was among those players who gained ground at the combine, according to Kiper.

Among those who lost ground, according to Kiper, were Florida safety Ahmad Black and Newton. Black's best time in the 40 was a 4.74, and with him weighing in the 180-to-190-pound range, Kiper doesn't see that combination cutting it at safety in the NFL.

The 2011 NFL combine has concluded, and 11 different players ran a 4.4 or faster in the 40-yard dash, according to the NFL.

Five of those players played in the SEC.

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson's 4.34 was second overall to Miami cornerback Demarcus Van Dyke, who turned in a 4.28. Of course, Van Dyke weighs 170 pounds and Peterson 219 pounds.

Auburn running back Mario Fannin came out of nowhere to run a 4.38, and he did so weighing 231 pounds. One of the things holding Fannin back at Auburn was a rash of nagging injuries, and he also bounced around between different positions.

Alabama's Julio Jones had the fastest 40 among SEC receivers with a 4.38 and posted that time despite a fracture in his foot.

South Carolina cornerback Chris Culliver, who missed the final five games last season after tearing a pectoral muscle, helped himself with a 4.4. Kentucky's Derrick Locke also ran a 4.4, which wasn't a surprise. Locke was one of the fastest running backs in the SEC the past two seasons.

Here's a look at the fastest 40 times from this year's combine:

• Miami CB Demarcus Van Dyke: 4.28
• LSU CB Patrick Peterson: 4.34
• Maryland RB Da'Rel Scott: 4.34
• Abilene Christian WR Edmund Gates: 4.37
• Belhaven WR Ricardo Lockette: 4.37
• Auburn RB Mario Fannin: 4.38
• Alabama WR Julio Jones: 4.38
• Ohio State CB Chimdi Chekwa: 4.40
• South Carolina CB Chris Culliver: 4.40
• Kentucky RB Derrick Locke: 4.40
• Connecticut RB Jordan Todman: 4.40

Julio Jones has yet to catch his first NFL pass.

But in a league that defines the essence of manhood every Sunday, something tells me Jones will fit right in.

Last season, he set Alabama single-season records with 78 catches and 1,133 receiving yards, and that's despite fracturing his left hand in the sixth game of the season against South Carolina. Jones underwent surgery to have a plate and screws inserted and was back at practice that week. He never missed a game, nor a beat. In fact, two weeks later, he had his best game of the season with a school-record 221 receiving yards and 12 catches against Tennessee.

More recently, we learn that Jones had a fracture in his foot, which was discovered at the NFL combine, when he blazed away to a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash on Sunday and put on a show in all the other drills. His 11-3 broad jump was two inches away from the combine record.

He weighed in at 220 pounds, too, so it's not like we're talking about a 185-pound guy doing this.

And to do it at less than 100 percent only reinforces what a warrior this guy truly is.

According to those in Jones' camp, the fracture isn't a serious one and was more of a crack that showed up on the scan. It's possibily an injury he played with all or most of the season in 2010.

But, then, Jones' tolerance for pain is legendary. As a freshman, he played through painful wrist and shoulder injuries and then underwent three different surgeries following the season, including one for a sports hernia. A knee problem plagued him as a sophomore and cut into his production the first half of the season, but it was Jones who made one of the plays of the year (a 73-yard touchdown against LSU on a wide receiver screen) in the Crimson Tide's run to the 2009 national championship.

Jones will probably need surgery for this latest injury, to go ahead and get it cleaned up. But he's already run a 4.39 with the injury. So being on the shelf for the next month or two while he recovers shouldn't be much of an issue. Plus, Jones recovers quicker than most mortals.

He's a proven commodity, too, and that's whether he's 75 percent or 100 percent.

And when you get right down to it, how many players in the NFL are even close to 100 percent that last month of the season after 16 long games?

There's a level of toughness required to make it in that league that most of us can't even begin to relate to ... even in our wildest dreams.

Jones epitomizes that toughness.