College Football Nation: Justin Houston
Georgia's Jarvis Jones is a thinking man
April, 5, 2012
Apr 5
11:08
AM ET
By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Jarvis Jones isn't what you think.
Regardless of what you think you thought you knew about his stellar SEC debut with Georgia last season, Jones says his performance was a bit of a mirage.
Sure, he was galloping around making play after play and clobbering quarterbacks, but the speed and strength you thought you saw was more of an optical illusion.
“I’m not fast at all, man,” said Georgia’s rising junior linebacker, who led the SEC in tackles for loss (19.5) and sacks (13.5) in his SEC debut season last fall. “That’s what people don’t understand. I’m not big. I’m not strong.”
While probably bigger, stronger and faster than the average individual, Jones said his year of SEC success following his transfer from USC happened because of his brain power. His time in the film room and time analyzing every move and twitch of his opponents helped him be the monster and All-American he was in 2011.
It does help being 6-foot-3, and 241 pounds, but it doesn’t help you understand what’s going on. When playing out on the Left Coast, Jones mostly survived on physical ability. But when he moved down south and things around him picked up, Jones had to adjust.
For him, taking hours to dissect film of a left tackle’s movements, finding any sort of trends he might have, benefited him much more than hitting the weight room or sprinting until his legs gave out. Jones knows that football is just as mental as it is physical.
“I had to catch up,” Jones said.
And catch up he did. Even before he was eligible to play in 2011, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham noticed something special about Jones. He was versatile enough to move around all the different linebacker spots, so before settling on the outside, Grantham used him inside during bowl preps for the 2010 Liberty Bowl.
Jones, who was working with the scout team, impressed, but really shined outside. He hounded the quarterback, stuffed the run and dropped back in coverage when needed. Grantham felt he was a perfect fit to play outside and help ease the loss of star Justin Houston.
“He has the complete package as an outside backer,” Grantham said. “He’s a guy that we depend upon to make a lot of plays.”
Fellow linebacker Christian Robinson said he wasn’t surprised at how well Jones performed in 2011 after seeing him dominate some of Georgia’s best offensive linemen.
“When you go up against top college competition -- NFL players now -- you get used to playing at that level,” Robinson said of Jones. “Then, you put him up against guys who can’t keep up and don’t realize how fast he is and how strong he is.
“He’s quick and he’s going to get lower than you and he’s going to get underneath your pads. He really knocks some people around.”
But to make those plays, Jones said he had to sharpen his mental skills and get smarter in the film room.
So he started dissecting plays like a skilled surgeon and decided to break his game down into steps. They came during the 17 or so seconds that it took for an offense to line up and get set to the two-to-three seconds it took for a play to take place.
Here’s a quick look at what went through Jones on any given play:
Pre-snap:
Look at the formation and the personnel -- he should know what each player can and can’t do and what plays can be run.
Line up and find tendencies of linemen -- he should determine whether linemen (especially the left tackle) are in a pass set or a run set. He should know how long it takes them to get out of their stances and where most of their weight is planted.
Remember the snap count -- this is crucial to providing the most disruptive pressure possible.
Snap:
Get off the ball and remember technique -- quick moves are essential and making sure he has a move to give a tackle and one to combat his retaliation will make or break his progress.
Quarterback movements -- is it a five-step or seven-step drop? Is it play-action? Or is it a run?
“That’s a whole lot in a little bit of time,” Jones said.
This isn’t revolutionary stuff Jones is doing, but it was very important and made life easier last year.
Now, it’s carried over to spring and has helped slow things down in practice. There is no pausing, only reacting.
Building off of last season will be hard, Jones said, and he expects to receive much more attention from opposing offenses. He noticed in the last two games of the season when LSU and Michigan State game planned his side more than other teams had.
The result? Four total tackles, none for loss.
So improvements have to be made, Jones said. He’ll have to study harder and think faster when he’s on the field. Maybe even lift a few more weights.
The good thing is that Georgia’s defense won’t depend solely on him. He has plenty of help around him, making the thought of double-teaming pretty silly.
“I’m always a team player, so if they’re going to focus on me there are 10 more other people they have to block,” he said. “Stats for me, I really don’t care because at the end of the day if we win and I get zero tackles and no sacks I don’t care.”
Regardless of what you think you thought you knew about his stellar SEC debut with Georgia last season, Jones says his performance was a bit of a mirage.
Sure, he was galloping around making play after play and clobbering quarterbacks, but the speed and strength you thought you saw was more of an optical illusion.
“I’m not fast at all, man,” said Georgia’s rising junior linebacker, who led the SEC in tackles for loss (19.5) and sacks (13.5) in his SEC debut season last fall. “That’s what people don’t understand. I’m not big. I’m not strong.”
While probably bigger, stronger and faster than the average individual, Jones said his year of SEC success following his transfer from USC happened because of his brain power. His time in the film room and time analyzing every move and twitch of his opponents helped him be the monster and All-American he was in 2011.
[+] Enlarge
Rob Foldy/Icon SMIGeorgia's Jarvis Jones said his work studying opponents led him to an impressive 2011 season.
Rob Foldy/Icon SMIGeorgia's Jarvis Jones said his work studying opponents led him to an impressive 2011 season.For him, taking hours to dissect film of a left tackle’s movements, finding any sort of trends he might have, benefited him much more than hitting the weight room or sprinting until his legs gave out. Jones knows that football is just as mental as it is physical.
“I had to catch up,” Jones said.
And catch up he did. Even before he was eligible to play in 2011, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham noticed something special about Jones. He was versatile enough to move around all the different linebacker spots, so before settling on the outside, Grantham used him inside during bowl preps for the 2010 Liberty Bowl.
Jones, who was working with the scout team, impressed, but really shined outside. He hounded the quarterback, stuffed the run and dropped back in coverage when needed. Grantham felt he was a perfect fit to play outside and help ease the loss of star Justin Houston.
“He has the complete package as an outside backer,” Grantham said. “He’s a guy that we depend upon to make a lot of plays.”
Fellow linebacker Christian Robinson said he wasn’t surprised at how well Jones performed in 2011 after seeing him dominate some of Georgia’s best offensive linemen.
“When you go up against top college competition -- NFL players now -- you get used to playing at that level,” Robinson said of Jones. “Then, you put him up against guys who can’t keep up and don’t realize how fast he is and how strong he is.
“He’s quick and he’s going to get lower than you and he’s going to get underneath your pads. He really knocks some people around.”
But to make those plays, Jones said he had to sharpen his mental skills and get smarter in the film room.
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Here’s a quick look at what went through Jones on any given play:
Pre-snap:
Look at the formation and the personnel -- he should know what each player can and can’t do and what plays can be run.
Line up and find tendencies of linemen -- he should determine whether linemen (especially the left tackle) are in a pass set or a run set. He should know how long it takes them to get out of their stances and where most of their weight is planted.
Remember the snap count -- this is crucial to providing the most disruptive pressure possible.
Snap:
Get off the ball and remember technique -- quick moves are essential and making sure he has a move to give a tackle and one to combat his retaliation will make or break his progress.
Quarterback movements -- is it a five-step or seven-step drop? Is it play-action? Or is it a run?
“That’s a whole lot in a little bit of time,” Jones said.
This isn’t revolutionary stuff Jones is doing, but it was very important and made life easier last year.
Now, it’s carried over to spring and has helped slow things down in practice. There is no pausing, only reacting.
Building off of last season will be hard, Jones said, and he expects to receive much more attention from opposing offenses. He noticed in the last two games of the season when LSU and Michigan State game planned his side more than other teams had.
The result? Four total tackles, none for loss.
So improvements have to be made, Jones said. He’ll have to study harder and think faster when he’s on the field. Maybe even lift a few more weights.
The good thing is that Georgia’s defense won’t depend solely on him. He has plenty of help around him, making the thought of double-teaming pretty silly.
“I’m always a team player, so if they’re going to focus on me there are 10 more other people they have to block,” he said. “Stats for me, I really don’t care because at the end of the day if we win and I get zero tackles and no sacks I don’t care.”
Some numbers and observations from the NFL combine workouts concerning former SEC defensive linemen and linebackers:
- It sounds like Alabama's Marcell Dareus might have passed Auburn's Nick Fairley in the eyes of NFL scouts as the top interior defensive lineman in the draft. Dareus (6-foot-3 and 319 pounds) ran a 4.94 in the 40-yard dash with a 1.69 10-yard split. The Scouts Inc. guys (Todd McShay, Kevin Weidl and Steve Muench) said the combine couldn't have gone better for Dareus, who showcased a blend of quickness, power and strength during the drills.
- Fairley (6-3 7/8 and 291 pounds) was lighter than most had expected, but still had a strong showing. He ran a 4.89 in the 40 with a 1.76 10-yard split and also had a 31-inch vertical jump. Like Dareus, Fairley also moved well in drills. Still, the feeling coming out of the combine was that Dareus would be picked higher than Fairley on draft day.
- Georgia's Justin Houston (6-3 and 270 pounds) worked out with the linebackers, but projects as a right end in the NFL. The Scouts Inc. crew think Houston helped his chances of being a first-round pick with his performance at the combine. He ran a 4.68 in the 40 and posted a 10-5 broad jump and 36.5-inch vertical jump. He also has huge hands (10.^ inches), long arms (34½) and a wide wingspan (81]).
- The Scouts Inc. crew reported that LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis didn't look as explosive or agile as expected and had to re-start two different drills.
- Also, Baylor's Phil Taylor (6-3 and 344) continued to separate himself from Ole Miss' Jerrell Powe (6-1 and 335) at the nose guard position, according to the Scouts Inc. guys. Taylor had the better frame, was in better shape and didn't appear to wear down as quickly as Powe.
- Mississippi State's Chris White posted a 4.68 in the 40, which was tied for seventh fastest among the linebackers.
- Georgia's Akeem Dent had a 10-3 broad jump, which was fourth among the linebackers.
Justin Houston became the second Georgia player to declare early for the NFL draft when he announced Saturday that he was turning pro.
Houston, an All-SEC outside linebacker, joins former Georgia star receiver A.J. Green, who announced last week that he was skipping his senior season to enter the draft.
Houston was second in the SEC this season with 10 sacks and collected 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons. With Houston's early exit, that means the Bulldogs are losing four linebackers off this season's team. Darryl Gamble and Akeem Dent were seniors, and Marcus Dowtin is transferring to another school.
Here's an updated list of the SEC underclassmen entering the NFL draft:
Houston, an All-SEC outside linebacker, joins former Georgia star receiver A.J. Green, who announced last week that he was skipping his senior season to enter the draft.
Houston was second in the SEC this season with 10 sacks and collected 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons. With Houston's early exit, that means the Bulldogs are losing four linebackers off this season's team. Darryl Gamble and Akeem Dent were seniors, and Marcus Dowtin is transferring to another school.
Here's an updated list of the SEC underclassmen entering the NFL draft:
- Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
- Marcell Dareus, DE, Alabama
- Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
- A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
- Tori Gurley, WR, South Carolina
- Will Hill, S, Florida
- Justin Houston, OLB, Georgia
- Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama
- Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
- Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
- Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
- Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU
- Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU
Georgia leads way with 'pro' All-Americans
December, 21, 2010
12/21/10
10:17
AM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
Pro Football Weekly, after gathering input from NFL evaluators, has released its 2010 All-America team based on a combination of draft value, pure talent and performance.
Any guesses on which SEC team had the most first-team selections?
Georgia ... by a mile.
The Bulldogs, who suffered through the worst season of the Mark Richt era, had five players on the first team, including Cordy Glenn and Clint Boling as both of the offensive guards. A.J. Green was selected at receiver, Justin Houston at outside linebacker and Drew Butler at punter.
No other SEC team had more than one player selected as a first-team All-American, which only reinforces that Georgia was far more talented than its record reflected this season. The Bulldogs (6-6) need to beat UCF in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to avoid their first losing season since 1996.
Auburn's Cam Newton was beaten out by Stanford's Andrew Luck as the first-team quarterback. The only Auburn player to earn first-team honors was junior defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
The other SEC first-team selections included Florida center Mike Pouncey, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
The SEC had 12 honorable mention selections, including Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Alabama receiver Julio Jones, Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams and South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Here's the complete list (SEC players are bolded). Juniors are marked by one asterisk (*), draft-eligible sophomores have two (**) and true sophomores have three (***):
Quarterback
Andrew Luck, Stanford**
Honorable mention
Kellen Moore, Boise State*
Cam Newton, Auburn*
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*
Jake Locker, Washington
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
Running back
Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
Honorable mention
LaMichael James, Oregon**
Andre Ellington, Clemson**
Mark Ingram, Alabama*
Jordan Todman, Connecticut*
Mikel LeShoure, Illinois*
Fullback
Owen Marecic, Stanford
Honorable mention
Anthony Sherman, Connecticut
Wide receivers
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State**
A.J. Green, Georgia*
Honorable mention
Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina***
Julio Jones, Alabama*
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma*
Titus Young, Boise State
Tight end
Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin
Honorable mention
D.J. Williams, Arkansas
Michael Egnew, Missouri*
Offensive tackles
Nate Solder, Colorado
Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
Honorable mention
Marcus Cannon, TCU
Danny Watkins, Baylor
Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Lee Ziemba, Auburn
Ben Ijalana, Villanova
Offensive guards
Cordy Glenn, Georgia*
Clint Boling, Georgia
Honorable mention
John Moffitt, Wisconsin
Rodney Hudson, Florida State
Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State
Center
Mike Pouncey, Florida
Honorable mention
Chase Beeler, Stanford
Mike Brewster, Ohio State*
Defensive ends
Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson*
J.J. Watt, Wisconsin*
Honorable mention
Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Allen Bailey, Miami (Fla.)
Cameron Jordan, California
Defensive tackles
Marcell Dareus, Alabama*
Nick Fairley, Auburn*
Honorable mention
Stephen Paea, Oregon State
Corey Liuget, Illinois*
Inside linebacker
Luke Kuechly, Boston College***
Honorable mention
Greg Jones, Michigan State
Manti Te’o, Notre Dame***
Nate Irving, North Carolina State
Outside linebackers
Von Miller, Texas A&M
Justin Houston, Georgia*
Honorable mention
Bruce Carter, North Carolina
Akeem Ayers, UCLA* Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.)*
Cornerbacks
Patrick Peterson, LSU*
Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Honorable mention
Brandon Harris, Miami (Fla.)*
Janoris Jenkins, Florida*
Cliff Harris, Oregon***
Omar Bolden, Arizona State*
Safeties
Eric Hagg, Nebraska
Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple
Honorable mention
Mark Barron, Alabama*
Rahim Moore, UCLA*
Ahmad Black, Florida
Placekicker
Alex Henery, Nebraska
Honorable mention
Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State
Punter
Drew Butler, Georgia*
Honorable mention
Chas Henry, Florida
Return specialist
Cliff Harris, Oregon***
Honorable mention
Patrick Peterson, LSU*
Any guesses on which SEC team had the most first-team selections?
Georgia ... by a mile.
The Bulldogs, who suffered through the worst season of the Mark Richt era, had five players on the first team, including Cordy Glenn and Clint Boling as both of the offensive guards. A.J. Green was selected at receiver, Justin Houston at outside linebacker and Drew Butler at punter.
No other SEC team had more than one player selected as a first-team All-American, which only reinforces that Georgia was far more talented than its record reflected this season. The Bulldogs (6-6) need to beat UCF in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to avoid their first losing season since 1996.
Auburn's Cam Newton was beaten out by Stanford's Andrew Luck as the first-team quarterback. The only Auburn player to earn first-team honors was junior defensive tackle Nick Fairley.
The other SEC first-team selections included Florida center Mike Pouncey, Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
The SEC had 12 honorable mention selections, including Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Alabama receiver Julio Jones, Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams and South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Here's the complete list (SEC players are bolded). Juniors are marked by one asterisk (*), draft-eligible sophomores have two (**) and true sophomores have three (***):
Quarterback
Andrew Luck, Stanford**
Honorable mention
Kellen Moore, Boise State*
Cam Newton, Auburn*
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*
Jake Locker, Washington
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada
Running back
Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
Honorable mention
LaMichael James, Oregon**
Andre Ellington, Clemson**
Mark Ingram, Alabama*
Jordan Todman, Connecticut*
Mikel LeShoure, Illinois*
Fullback
Owen Marecic, Stanford
Honorable mention
Anthony Sherman, Connecticut
Wide receivers
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State**
A.J. Green, Georgia*
Honorable mention
Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina***
Julio Jones, Alabama*
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma*
Titus Young, Boise State
Tight end
Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin
Honorable mention
D.J. Williams, Arkansas
Michael Egnew, Missouri*
Offensive tackles
Nate Solder, Colorado
Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
Honorable mention
Marcus Cannon, TCU
Danny Watkins, Baylor
Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin
Lee Ziemba, Auburn
Ben Ijalana, Villanova
Offensive guards
Cordy Glenn, Georgia*
Clint Boling, Georgia
Honorable mention
John Moffitt, Wisconsin
Rodney Hudson, Florida State
Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State
Center
Mike Pouncey, Florida
Honorable mention
Chase Beeler, Stanford
Mike Brewster, Ohio State*
Defensive ends
Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson*
J.J. Watt, Wisconsin*
Honorable mention
Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
Allen Bailey, Miami (Fla.)
Cameron Jordan, California
Defensive tackles
Marcell Dareus, Alabama*
Nick Fairley, Auburn*
Honorable mention
Stephen Paea, Oregon State
Corey Liuget, Illinois*
Inside linebacker
Luke Kuechly, Boston College***
Honorable mention
Greg Jones, Michigan State
Manti Te’o, Notre Dame***
Nate Irving, North Carolina State
Outside linebackers
Von Miller, Texas A&M
Justin Houston, Georgia*
Honorable mention
Bruce Carter, North Carolina
Akeem Ayers, UCLA* Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.)*
Cornerbacks
Patrick Peterson, LSU*
Prince Amukamara, Nebraska
Honorable mention
Brandon Harris, Miami (Fla.)*
Janoris Jenkins, Florida*
Cliff Harris, Oregon***
Omar Bolden, Arizona State*
Safeties
Eric Hagg, Nebraska
Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple
Honorable mention
Mark Barron, Alabama*
Rahim Moore, UCLA*
Ahmad Black, Florida
Placekicker
Alex Henery, Nebraska
Honorable mention
Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State
Punter
Drew Butler, Georgia*
Honorable mention
Chas Henry, Florida
Return specialist
Cliff Harris, Oregon***
Honorable mention
Patrick Peterson, LSU*
Georgia takes on Conference USA champion UCF in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31. The Bulldogs (6-6) will be trying to avoid their first losing season since 1996.
Who's going to step up for Mark Richt's club?
Junior outside linebacker Justin Houston: He's been the big-play guy all season long for the Bulldogs with 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He's second only to Auburn's Nick Fairley in the SEC in sacks and has also become a more complete defensive end. If Georgia is going to win this game, getting to UCF true freshman quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey and forcing him into mistakes will be key. He's had an outstanding debut season and is a threat to both run and pass. Godfrey had 10 or more rushing attempts in eight of his 13 games this season and passed for 2,042 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Houston's good enough off the edge to rush Godfrey into some quick throws and to get him out of his comfort zone. If Houston can get to Godfrey early, either with a sack or some quarterback hurries, that's likely to change the way the Knights play offense. The Bulldogs, even though they finished fourth in the SEC in total defense, were still prone to giving up too many big plays this season. Making a few big plays on defense could really set the tone in this game, and that's where Houston comes in.
Who's going to step up for Mark Richt's club?
Junior outside linebacker Justin Houston: He's been the big-play guy all season long for the Bulldogs with 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He's second only to Auburn's Nick Fairley in the SEC in sacks and has also become a more complete defensive end. If Georgia is going to win this game, getting to UCF true freshman quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey and forcing him into mistakes will be key. He's had an outstanding debut season and is a threat to both run and pass. Godfrey had 10 or more rushing attempts in eight of his 13 games this season and passed for 2,042 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Houston's good enough off the edge to rush Godfrey into some quick throws and to get him out of his comfort zone. If Houston can get to Godfrey early, either with a sack or some quarterback hurries, that's likely to change the way the Knights play offense. The Bulldogs, even though they finished fourth in the SEC in total defense, were still prone to giving up too many big plays this season. Making a few big plays on defense could really set the tone in this game, and that's where Houston comes in.AutoZone Liberty Bowl
December, 6, 2010
12/06/10
2:11
AM ET
By
Chris Low and
Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com
Georgia Bulldogs (6-6) vs. UCF Knights (10-3)
Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Georgia take by SEC blogger Chris Low: For a while there, it looked like there was no way Georgia would keep alive its bowl streak, especially after losing four straight games for the first time in the Mark Richt era.
But the Bulldogs battled back and gained bowl eligibility on the final Saturday of the regular season with a 42-34 win over Georgia Tech, extending their bowl streak to 14 consecutive appearances.
The best part about this season for Georgia was the way redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray played. He’s passed for 2,851 yards this season, the second most ever for an SEC freshman quarterback. He’s thrown 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and also has four touchdowns runs.
Unfortunately, Murray didn’t have star receiver A.J. Green to throw to all season. Green was suspended by the NCAA for the first four games for selling one of his game jerseys, but he’s been a favorite target ever since returning.
The Bulldogs had their ups and downs in their first year in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense and still need to recruit to that scheme, in particular add some bigger defensive linemen. But junior outside linebacker Justin Houston certainly flourished. He’s second in the SEC with 10 sacks and is a blur coming off the edge.
UCF take by nation blogger Andrea Adelson: The Knights won their second Conference USA title on Saturday over SMU and hope that this win allows them to turn the corner and be taken seriously in Florida. After all, they have watched Florida, Florida State, Miami and even USF get all the headlines while they struggle for consistency.
This is actually the first season they have posted back-to-back winning campaigns since George O’Leary became coach in 2004. They have the best run defense and total defense in Conference USA and are led by defensive ends Bruce Miller and Darius Nall, and linebacker Derrick Hallman is the leader of the unit.
One point to watch -- cornerback Josh Robinson has been burned badly at times this season on the deep ball, so you can expect Georgia to take advantage with A.J. Green. Robinson did come up big against SMU because he knew the target would be on him. Well, it’s going to be even bigger against the Bulldogs.
The offense is balanced, and is led by a true freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who has been outstanding. UCF also has great depth at running back with Latavius Murray and Ronnie Weaver. The Knights need one more win to set the school record for most wins, but they are 0-3 in bowl appearances. Also, the Knights only own two wins over schools from AQ conferences -- Alabama (2000) and NC State (2007). So if they do want to be taken seriously, they need to win a game like this one.
Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Georgia take by SEC blogger Chris Low: For a while there, it looked like there was no way Georgia would keep alive its bowl streak, especially after losing four straight games for the first time in the Mark Richt era.
But the Bulldogs battled back and gained bowl eligibility on the final Saturday of the regular season with a 42-34 win over Georgia Tech, extending their bowl streak to 14 consecutive appearances.
The best part about this season for Georgia was the way redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray played. He’s passed for 2,851 yards this season, the second most ever for an SEC freshman quarterback. He’s thrown 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and also has four touchdowns runs.
Unfortunately, Murray didn’t have star receiver A.J. Green to throw to all season. Green was suspended by the NCAA for the first four games for selling one of his game jerseys, but he’s been a favorite target ever since returning.
The Bulldogs had their ups and downs in their first year in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense and still need to recruit to that scheme, in particular add some bigger defensive linemen. But junior outside linebacker Justin Houston certainly flourished. He’s second in the SEC with 10 sacks and is a blur coming off the edge.
UCF take by nation blogger Andrea Adelson: The Knights won their second Conference USA title on Saturday over SMU and hope that this win allows them to turn the corner and be taken seriously in Florida. After all, they have watched Florida, Florida State, Miami and even USF get all the headlines while they struggle for consistency.
This is actually the first season they have posted back-to-back winning campaigns since George O’Leary became coach in 2004. They have the best run defense and total defense in Conference USA and are led by defensive ends Bruce Miller and Darius Nall, and linebacker Derrick Hallman is the leader of the unit.
One point to watch -- cornerback Josh Robinson has been burned badly at times this season on the deep ball, so you can expect Georgia to take advantage with A.J. Green. Robinson did come up big against SMU because he knew the target would be on him. Well, it’s going to be even bigger against the Bulldogs.
The offense is balanced, and is led by a true freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey, who has been outstanding. UCF also has great depth at running back with Latavius Murray and Ronnie Weaver. The Knights need one more win to set the school record for most wins, but they are 0-3 in bowl appearances. Also, the Knights only own two wins over schools from AQ conferences -- Alabama (2000) and NC State (2007). So if they do want to be taken seriously, they need to win a game like this one.
We take our weekly look at the offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year and coach of the year races in the SEC:
Offensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton: Not only has he been the best player in the SEC this season, but he’s put together one of the more dominant seasons in SEC history. Accounting for 39 touchdowns in 11 games, Newton has been the player nobody in the league has an answer for this season.
2. Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb: His versatility and his consistency have been remarkable. He’s accounted for at least one score in all 11 games this season and has accounted for touchdowns four different ways -- rushing, passing, receiving and punt return. Cobb is the only player in the SEC with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and is second in the SEC with 66 catches.
3. South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore: It’s no coincidence that when Lattimore has a big game running the football, the Gamecocks win. He leads all SEC running backs with 1,066 rushing yards and leads the league with 19 touchdowns. He needs two more to break the SEC freshman record for single-season touchdowns.
4. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett: With the Hogs playing their best football here at the end of the season, so is Mallett. He leads the SEC with 3,272 passing yards and 27 touchdown passes and is completing 67.2 percent of his passes. Mallett is third nationally in passing efficiency.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley: He’s the kind of disrupter in the middle all defenses are looking for and the kind of player that blows up plays from the start with his inside push. Fairley leads all SEC players with 18 tackles for loss and leads all defensive tackles with 7.5 sacks.
2. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson: His four interceptions this season don’t begin to tell you what kind of player he is. Not only is he the best cornerback in college football and outstanding in man coverage, but he’s also one of the surest tacklers in the game.
3. Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston: The 3-4 defense has obviously been good for Houston, who leads the SEC with 10 sacks. He’s second to Fairley with 17.5 tackles for loss and has developed his game to where he’s more than just a pass-rusher.
4. LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis: Outside of Fairley, there hasn’t been a more dominant interior lineman in the SEC this season than Nevis. He leads all SEC defensive linemen (ends and tackles) with 53 total tackles, including 12.5 for loss.
Coach of the Year
1. Auburn’s Gene Chizik: A finalist for the Eddie Robinson national coach of the year award, Chizik has the Tigers two wins away from playing for their first national championship since 1957.
2. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier: He has the Gamecocks in the SEC championship game for the first time in school history. They also have a chance to win 10 or more games for only the second time in school history.
3. Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen: Two consecutive losses haven’t soiled the job Mullen has done this season with the Bulldogs, who are already bowl-eligible and can get to eight wins by taking care of arch-rival Ole Miss on Saturday.
4. LSU’s Les Miles: If the Tigers win Saturday at Arkansas and finish 11-1 in the regular season, the Mad Hatter deserves some consideration. He’s kept this team together and on point despite all the negativity that gripped the program earlier this season.
Offensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton: Not only has he been the best player in the SEC this season, but he’s put together one of the more dominant seasons in SEC history. Accounting for 39 touchdowns in 11 games, Newton has been the player nobody in the league has an answer for this season.
2. Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb: His versatility and his consistency have been remarkable. He’s accounted for at least one score in all 11 games this season and has accounted for touchdowns four different ways -- rushing, passing, receiving and punt return. Cobb is the only player in the SEC with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and is second in the SEC with 66 catches.
3. South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore: It’s no coincidence that when Lattimore has a big game running the football, the Gamecocks win. He leads all SEC running backs with 1,066 rushing yards and leads the league with 19 touchdowns. He needs two more to break the SEC freshman record for single-season touchdowns.
4. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett: With the Hogs playing their best football here at the end of the season, so is Mallett. He leads the SEC with 3,272 passing yards and 27 touchdown passes and is completing 67.2 percent of his passes. Mallett is third nationally in passing efficiency.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley: He’s the kind of disrupter in the middle all defenses are looking for and the kind of player that blows up plays from the start with his inside push. Fairley leads all SEC players with 18 tackles for loss and leads all defensive tackles with 7.5 sacks.
2. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson: His four interceptions this season don’t begin to tell you what kind of player he is. Not only is he the best cornerback in college football and outstanding in man coverage, but he’s also one of the surest tacklers in the game.
3. Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston: The 3-4 defense has obviously been good for Houston, who leads the SEC with 10 sacks. He’s second to Fairley with 17.5 tackles for loss and has developed his game to where he’s more than just a pass-rusher.
4. LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis: Outside of Fairley, there hasn’t been a more dominant interior lineman in the SEC this season than Nevis. He leads all SEC defensive linemen (ends and tackles) with 53 total tackles, including 12.5 for loss.
Coach of the Year
1. Auburn’s Gene Chizik: A finalist for the Eddie Robinson national coach of the year award, Chizik has the Tigers two wins away from playing for their first national championship since 1957.
2. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier: He has the Gamecocks in the SEC championship game for the first time in school history. They also have a chance to win 10 or more games for only the second time in school history.
3. Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen: Two consecutive losses haven’t soiled the job Mullen has done this season with the Bulldogs, who are already bowl-eligible and can get to eight wins by taking care of arch-rival Ole Miss on Saturday.
4. LSU’s Les Miles: If the Tigers win Saturday at Arkansas and finish 11-1 in the regular season, the Mad Hatter deserves some consideration. He’s kept this team together and on point despite all the negativity that gripped the program earlier this season.
Our weekly look at the offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year and coach of the year races in the SEC:
Offensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton: He became the SEC’s first player to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season in last week’s win against Georgia. Newton’s assault on the SEC record books continues.
2. Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb: After rolling up a career-high 170 rushing yards last week against Vanderbilt, Cobb now leads the country in all-purpose yardage (2,047). He’s also accounted for 16 touchdowns four different ways.
3. South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore: His 40-carry, 212-yard rushing effort last week in the 36-14 win over Florida vaults the true freshman into the top three. Lattimore leads all SEC running backs in league games with an average of 114.2 rushing yards per game.
4. South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery: Without him, where would the Gamecocks be? Jeffery’s seven touchdown catches have all come in SEC games, and he also leads the league with 1,087 receiving yards.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley: No defender in the SEC has been as consistently disruptive as Fairley, who leads the league with 18 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks.
2. LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis: He’s been running a close race with Fairley all season. LSU coach Les Miles says Nevis’ impact on the Tigers’ defense can’t be measured.
3. Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston: He’s still the SEC sacks leader with 10 and is second with 17.5 tackles for loss. As outside pass-rushers go, Houston is one of the best out there.
4. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson: Don’t look at his statistics. Look at how few passes are completed to his side of the field when he’s in coverage, and look at what a sure tackler he is.
Coach of the Year
1. Auburn’s Gene Chizik: His job just got tougher with all the Newton allegations swirling. But the bottom line is that his team continues to perform, and the Tigers have been absolutely clutch in the fourth quarter.
2. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier: The Head Ball Coach vaults into the No. 2 spot this week after guiding his Gamecocks to a 36-14 win over his old team, Florida, and a berth in the school’s first-ever SEC championship game.
3. Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen: The Bulldogs had their six-game winning streak snapped last week at Alabama, but still have a chance to finish this season up with eight or nine wins.
Offensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton: He became the SEC’s first player to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season in last week’s win against Georgia. Newton’s assault on the SEC record books continues.
2. Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb: After rolling up a career-high 170 rushing yards last week against Vanderbilt, Cobb now leads the country in all-purpose yardage (2,047). He’s also accounted for 16 touchdowns four different ways.
3. South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore: His 40-carry, 212-yard rushing effort last week in the 36-14 win over Florida vaults the true freshman into the top three. Lattimore leads all SEC running backs in league games with an average of 114.2 rushing yards per game.
4. South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery: Without him, where would the Gamecocks be? Jeffery’s seven touchdown catches have all come in SEC games, and he also leads the league with 1,087 receiving yards.
Defensive Player of the Year
1. Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley: No defender in the SEC has been as consistently disruptive as Fairley, who leads the league with 18 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks.
2. LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis: He’s been running a close race with Fairley all season. LSU coach Les Miles says Nevis’ impact on the Tigers’ defense can’t be measured.
3. Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston: He’s still the SEC sacks leader with 10 and is second with 17.5 tackles for loss. As outside pass-rushers go, Houston is one of the best out there.
4. LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson: Don’t look at his statistics. Look at how few passes are completed to his side of the field when he’s in coverage, and look at what a sure tackler he is.
Coach of the Year
1. Auburn’s Gene Chizik: His job just got tougher with all the Newton allegations swirling. But the bottom line is that his team continues to perform, and the Tigers have been absolutely clutch in the fourth quarter.
2. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier: The Head Ball Coach vaults into the No. 2 spot this week after guiding his Gamecocks to a 36-14 win over his old team, Florida, and a berth in the school’s first-ever SEC championship game.
3. Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen: The Bulldogs had their six-game winning streak snapped last week at Alabama, but still have a chance to finish this season up with eight or nine wins.
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Georgia has sacked South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia four times.
Three of those have come courtesy of Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston.
Garcia's taking sacks was one of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's chief problems with his quarterback last season. The Gamecocks allowed 37 sacks, which tied LSU for the most in the league.
A couple of times Saturday, Garcia probably should have gotten rid of the ball quicker or stepped up into the pocket and thrown the ball quicker. But there were also a couple where he didn't have a chance.
Houston is really giving the Gamecocks fits off the edge.
Three of those have come courtesy of Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston.
Garcia's taking sacks was one of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's chief problems with his quarterback last season. The Gamecocks allowed 37 sacks, which tied LSU for the most in the league.
A couple of times Saturday, Garcia probably should have gotten rid of the ball quicker or stepped up into the pocket and thrown the ball quicker. But there were also a couple where he didn't have a chance.
Houston is really giving the Gamecocks fits off the edge.
One of the things Georgia fans wanted to see from this new-look 3-4 defense under first-year coordinator Todd Grantham was more pressure.
So far, so good.
Georgia has been dominant defensively, particularly on third down, in racing out to a 17-0 lead against Louisiana-Lafayette in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs weren't very good on third down a year ago.
Lafayette, though, has been unsuccessful on its first six third-down attempts Saturday, and Georgia's second touchdown was set up by outside linebacker Justin Houston forcing the Lafayette quarterback to throw earlier than he wanted to. Brandon Boykin was there to pick off the pass for the Bulldogs.
With star receiver A.J. Green sidelined, the Bulldogs also needed somebody else at receiver to step up. Veteran Kris Durham caught a 3-yard touchdown pass. It's the first time Durham has played in 707 days. He missed most of the 2008 season with an assortment of injuries, then redshirted last season after having shoulder surgery.
So far, so good.
Georgia has been dominant defensively, particularly on third down, in racing out to a 17-0 lead against Louisiana-Lafayette in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs weren't very good on third down a year ago.
Lafayette, though, has been unsuccessful on its first six third-down attempts Saturday, and Georgia's second touchdown was set up by outside linebacker Justin Houston forcing the Lafayette quarterback to throw earlier than he wanted to. Brandon Boykin was there to pick off the pass for the Bulldogs.
With star receiver A.J. Green sidelined, the Bulldogs also needed somebody else at receiver to step up. Veteran Kris Durham caught a 3-yard touchdown pass. It's the first time Durham has played in 707 days. He missed most of the 2008 season with an assortment of injuries, then redshirted last season after having shoulder surgery.
Now that everybody in the SEC has gone through at least one scrimmage in the preseason, what do we know now that we maybe didn’t know when practices began earlier this month?
Right tackle battle: The consensus coming into the preseason was that junior college transfers Brandon Mosley and Roszell Gaydon would battle it out for Auburn’s right tackle job. But after three scrimmages, sophomore John Sullen and junior A.J. Greene (the other one) are the two guys fighting it out for the final starting spot on Auburn’s offensive line, which returns four senior starters.
Davis sighting: In danger of being labeled a bust, Ole Miss junior running back Enrique Davis has played some of his best football this preseason and displayed some of the same moves that made him one of the top running back prospects in the country when he signed with the Rebels.
Please remove your hat: You better not wear a Florida hat to one of Arkansas' press conferences. If you do, you might not have a job the next day, especially if you’re in the media. Wonder what would have happened if Renee Gork had been wearing one of those Hog heads instead of a Gators cap?
Lee to baseball: Zach Lee was intent on playing football and baseball at LSU and possibly could have played his way into some snaps this season at quarterback for the Tigers. That all changed when the Los Angeles Dodgers offered him a $5.25 million signing bonus, leaving LSU with just two scholarship quarterbacks on its roster.
Brown is back: Nobody questioned Jeremy Brown’s ability, but there were major questions about his back. So far, so good for the Florida sophomore cornerback, who’s in line to replace Joe Haden after missing two straight seasons with chronic back problems. Brown is due some good luck.
Turning the Tide: Nobody’s saying Alabama is going to be subpar on defense, but the personnel losses from a year ago have been obvious so far during camp. It’s a secondary that has a ways to go, especially when you consider how much Nick Saban likes to use five and six defensive backs.
Freshmen of influence: It’s still a little bit of a crap shoot, but the early returns are that South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Auburn receiver Trovon Reed, Auburn running back Michael Dyer, Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter, Tennessee offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James, Alabama cornerback DeMarcus Milliner, Arkansas defensive tackle Byran Jones, Florida defensive end Ronald Powell and Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd are 10 true freshmen we’re going to see early.
Masoli’s impact: We haven’t heard much from Jeremiah Masoli this preseason. He’s been extremely guarded with the media, but he’s fit in well with his teammates and has made a difference for Ole Miss offensively with his ability to scramble around and make plays.
Getting defensive: Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino told us that the Hogs would be improved on defense. The real proving ground comes in several weeks, but star quarterback Ryan Mallett is a believer. He said the Hogs have been aggressive, fast and nasty on defense this preseason.
Houston, we have a problem: It’s clear that Georgia’s Justin Houston is going to be a problem for opposing offenses, and it’s equally clear that he’s a perfect fit as an outside linebacker in the Bulldogs’ new 3-4 defense. He had 7.5 sacks last season. Here’s betting he gets 10-plus this season.
Right tackle battle: The consensus coming into the preseason was that junior college transfers Brandon Mosley and Roszell Gaydon would battle it out for Auburn’s right tackle job. But after three scrimmages, sophomore John Sullen and junior A.J. Greene (the other one) are the two guys fighting it out for the final starting spot on Auburn’s offensive line, which returns four senior starters.
Davis sighting: In danger of being labeled a bust, Ole Miss junior running back Enrique Davis has played some of his best football this preseason and displayed some of the same moves that made him one of the top running back prospects in the country when he signed with the Rebels.
Please remove your hat: You better not wear a Florida hat to one of Arkansas' press conferences. If you do, you might not have a job the next day, especially if you’re in the media. Wonder what would have happened if Renee Gork had been wearing one of those Hog heads instead of a Gators cap?
Lee to baseball: Zach Lee was intent on playing football and baseball at LSU and possibly could have played his way into some snaps this season at quarterback for the Tigers. That all changed when the Los Angeles Dodgers offered him a $5.25 million signing bonus, leaving LSU with just two scholarship quarterbacks on its roster.
Brown is back: Nobody questioned Jeremy Brown’s ability, but there were major questions about his back. So far, so good for the Florida sophomore cornerback, who’s in line to replace Joe Haden after missing two straight seasons with chronic back problems. Brown is due some good luck.
Turning the Tide: Nobody’s saying Alabama is going to be subpar on defense, but the personnel losses from a year ago have been obvious so far during camp. It’s a secondary that has a ways to go, especially when you consider how much Nick Saban likes to use five and six defensive backs.
Freshmen of influence: It’s still a little bit of a crap shoot, but the early returns are that South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Auburn receiver Trovon Reed, Auburn running back Michael Dyer, Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter, Tennessee offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James, Alabama cornerback DeMarcus Milliner, Arkansas defensive tackle Byran Jones, Florida defensive end Ronald Powell and Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd are 10 true freshmen we’re going to see early.
Masoli’s impact: We haven’t heard much from Jeremiah Masoli this preseason. He’s been extremely guarded with the media, but he’s fit in well with his teammates and has made a difference for Ole Miss offensively with his ability to scramble around and make plays.
Getting defensive: Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino told us that the Hogs would be improved on defense. The real proving ground comes in several weeks, but star quarterback Ryan Mallett is a believer. He said the Hogs have been aggressive, fast and nasty on defense this preseason.
Houston, we have a problem: It’s clear that Georgia’s Justin Houston is going to be a problem for opposing offenses, and it’s equally clear that he’s a perfect fit as an outside linebacker in the Bulldogs’ new 3-4 defense. He had 7.5 sacks last season. Here’s betting he gets 10-plus this season.
Todd Grantham got a glimpse of the hand he was dealt in the spring.
The first-year Georgia defensive coordinator will get a more definitive look beginning Monday when the Bulldogs open preseason practice.
Dale Zanine/US PresswireDefensive coordinator Todd Grantham says he has a better feel for his second unit after spring practice.The freshmen and players who were injured during the spring will be added to the mix as Georgia completes its move to the 3-4. Grantham, whose previous 11 seasons were spent coaching in the NFL, is one of three new defensive assistants on the Bulldogs’ staff.
Their challenge is pretty straightforward: to return the edge to Georgia’s once-proud defense. The Bulldogs were 10th in the SEC last season in scoring defense and have given up 34 or more points in 10 of their 26 games over the last two seasons.
I caught up with Grantham recently to get his thoughts on the upcoming season, his first in college football since 1998 when he was the assistant head coach/defensive line coach at Michigan State under Nick Saban.
Where will the hottest battles be this preseason?
Todd Grantham: The corner position will be interesting. Brandon Boykin, Vance Cuff and Branden Smith will all play, but they will be battling it out for the two starting spots. At safety, we have Bacarri Rambo starting at one, but [junior college transfer] Jakar Hamilton and Nick Williams will be a good battle at the other safety. We moved Darryl Gamble from inside linebacker to outside linebacker, and we’ll see how that turns out with Cornelius Washington. I’m also curious to see what freshmen T. J. Stripling, Dexter Morant and Brandon Burrows do at linebacker and how they fit in. On tape, I like Stripling at our will linebacker position [weakside linebacker] behind Justin Houston. We’ll see how it plays out when everybody gets here.
How much will you experiment this preseason, especially given the move to the 3-4?
TG: I come from pro football, and you’re going into the game with 21 or 22 guys on defense, and that’s it. What you learn is that you have to be flexible, and we will be. If somebody goes down, I’d rather play the next best guy instead of the next guy at that position, and there’s a difference in that. We’re going to find out which guys can play different roles.
What will be key for you up front defensively?
TG: We’ve got to develop a rotation up there, and those guys have to be relentless. DeAngelo Tyson will start out at nose, and Kwame Geathers is behind him. We also have Justin Anderson moving over from the offensive line. If those other two guys come on, it might give us a chance to move DeAngelo around and see what we can do with him at end. I just believe you have to play a lot of guys up there. You expend so much energy playing in the defensive line. If a guy feels like he has to play 60 plays, he’s going to coast. But if he knows he only has to play 35, he will give you more and knows when he gets tired that he’s going to come out and the next guy’s going in. We’ve got to find a way to develop that kind of rotation. If you don’t, when the fourth quarter comes around and it’s time to win the game, your best guys are going to be tired.
What kind of outside linebacker will Houston be in your scheme after recording 7.5 sacks last season at defensive end?
TG: I’m expecting a big year out of him and have talked to him about that. Everybody on your team isn’t the same, and he’s got to be one of those guys who rises above for us. We need to expect more out of him. You have to manufacture production from your linebackers in the 3-4, particularly your outside guys, because that’s where you generate your pass rush. I think Justin is made for the 3-4, and it’s a very good fit for him. That showed up in spring ball with some of the things he did.
Georgia was tied for next to last nationally last season with 12 forced turnovers. How do you turn that around?
TG: It starts with the quarterback. In pro football, we did a study, and the guy who fumbles the ball the most is the quarterback. He’s also the guy throwing the ball, so the more you can do to disrupt him, the more you’re going to create turnovers. You can do that a lot of ways -- disguising what you do, by bringing pressure, four-man and six-man rush, and the biggest thing is the disruption of routes. You can’t allow free access. If you disrupt them and jam them, they’re not always going to be in the spot they’re supposed to be. There’s no question that we need to create more turnovers. Again, going back to the NFL, the teams that were plus-1 in turnover margin over the last 11 years won 80 percent of their games.
Will you call the defensive plays from the booth or be on the sideline during games this season?
TG: I’ll be on the sideline. You have more time to get the calls in when you’re on the sideline. You have more time to think about what you want to do, and you also get a better feel for the players down there. I was on the sideline in the NFL and am used to it. You get used to watching the game from down there and seeing everything develop from down there.
What do you hope the Georgia fans see in this defense?
TG: What I want them to see is improvement and that we’re aggressive, fundamentally sound and relentless in our pursuit of the ball. I want them to see a defense that doesn’t give up explosive plays, a defense that plays with a swagger. I know this, that the Georgia fans have a passion for defense, the “Junkyard Dawg” defense that is so famous around here. I anticipate working toward giving them the things they have a passion for.
The first-year Georgia defensive coordinator will get a more definitive look beginning Monday when the Bulldogs open preseason practice.
Dale Zanine/US PresswireDefensive coordinator Todd Grantham says he has a better feel for his second unit after spring practice.Their challenge is pretty straightforward: to return the edge to Georgia’s once-proud defense. The Bulldogs were 10th in the SEC last season in scoring defense and have given up 34 or more points in 10 of their 26 games over the last two seasons.
I caught up with Grantham recently to get his thoughts on the upcoming season, his first in college football since 1998 when he was the assistant head coach/defensive line coach at Michigan State under Nick Saban.
Where will the hottest battles be this preseason?
Todd Grantham: The corner position will be interesting. Brandon Boykin, Vance Cuff and Branden Smith will all play, but they will be battling it out for the two starting spots. At safety, we have Bacarri Rambo starting at one, but [junior college transfer] Jakar Hamilton and Nick Williams will be a good battle at the other safety. We moved Darryl Gamble from inside linebacker to outside linebacker, and we’ll see how that turns out with Cornelius Washington. I’m also curious to see what freshmen T. J. Stripling, Dexter Morant and Brandon Burrows do at linebacker and how they fit in. On tape, I like Stripling at our will linebacker position [weakside linebacker] behind Justin Houston. We’ll see how it plays out when everybody gets here.
How much will you experiment this preseason, especially given the move to the 3-4?
TG: I come from pro football, and you’re going into the game with 21 or 22 guys on defense, and that’s it. What you learn is that you have to be flexible, and we will be. If somebody goes down, I’d rather play the next best guy instead of the next guy at that position, and there’s a difference in that. We’re going to find out which guys can play different roles.
What will be key for you up front defensively?
TG: We’ve got to develop a rotation up there, and those guys have to be relentless. DeAngelo Tyson will start out at nose, and Kwame Geathers is behind him. We also have Justin Anderson moving over from the offensive line. If those other two guys come on, it might give us a chance to move DeAngelo around and see what we can do with him at end. I just believe you have to play a lot of guys up there. You expend so much energy playing in the defensive line. If a guy feels like he has to play 60 plays, he’s going to coast. But if he knows he only has to play 35, he will give you more and knows when he gets tired that he’s going to come out and the next guy’s going in. We’ve got to find a way to develop that kind of rotation. If you don’t, when the fourth quarter comes around and it’s time to win the game, your best guys are going to be tired.
What kind of outside linebacker will Houston be in your scheme after recording 7.5 sacks last season at defensive end?
TG: I’m expecting a big year out of him and have talked to him about that. Everybody on your team isn’t the same, and he’s got to be one of those guys who rises above for us. We need to expect more out of him. You have to manufacture production from your linebackers in the 3-4, particularly your outside guys, because that’s where you generate your pass rush. I think Justin is made for the 3-4, and it’s a very good fit for him. That showed up in spring ball with some of the things he did.
Georgia was tied for next to last nationally last season with 12 forced turnovers. How do you turn that around?
TG: It starts with the quarterback. In pro football, we did a study, and the guy who fumbles the ball the most is the quarterback. He’s also the guy throwing the ball, so the more you can do to disrupt him, the more you’re going to create turnovers. You can do that a lot of ways -- disguising what you do, by bringing pressure, four-man and six-man rush, and the biggest thing is the disruption of routes. You can’t allow free access. If you disrupt them and jam them, they’re not always going to be in the spot they’re supposed to be. There’s no question that we need to create more turnovers. Again, going back to the NFL, the teams that were plus-1 in turnover margin over the last 11 years won 80 percent of their games.
Will you call the defensive plays from the booth or be on the sideline during games this season?
TG: I’ll be on the sideline. You have more time to get the calls in when you’re on the sideline. You have more time to think about what you want to do, and you also get a better feel for the players down there. I was on the sideline in the NFL and am used to it. You get used to watching the game from down there and seeing everything develop from down there.
What do you hope the Georgia fans see in this defense?
TG: What I want them to see is improvement and that we’re aggressive, fundamentally sound and relentless in our pursuit of the ball. I want them to see a defense that doesn’t give up explosive plays, a defense that plays with a swagger. I know this, that the Georgia fans have a passion for defense, the “Junkyard Dawg” defense that is so famous around here. I anticipate working toward giving them the things they have a passion for.
Who in the SEC can claim the Linebacker U. moniker this season?
Here’s a rundown:
1. Alabama: How many teams lose a player the caliber of Rolando McClain in the middle and replace him with somebody just as talented? Dont’a Hightower made an amazing recovery from a serious knee injury and was going through contact in the spring. He’ll play in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s base defense and will rush the passer from the “jack” linebacker position on passing downs. Courtney Upshaw, Jerrell Harris, Chris Jordan and Nico Johnson are also back, and all four have star potential.
2. Georgia: With the Bulldogs going to a 3-4 scheme this season, that means junior pass-rushing specialist Justin Houston now falls into the linebacker category. Houston had 7.5 sacks last season from his end position. Sophomore Cornelius Washington also shifts from end to outside linebacker after collecting four sacks a year ago. The Bulldogs have moved senior starter Darryl Gamble from inside to outside linebacker, while senior Akeem Dent and junior Marcus Dowtin are also back. Dent and Dowtin were part-time starters last season.
3. Ole Miss: Two of the more underrated linebackers in the SEC are Ole Miss seniors Jonathan Cornell and Allen Walker. Cornell started all 13 games in the middle last season and was third on the team with 79 tackles, including eight for loss. Walker started 11 games last season at strongside linebacker. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix also likes his younger talent, including D.T. Shackelford, Joel Kight and Mike Marry. Shackelford, in particular, could be poised for a breakout season. This is a productive and versatile group.
4. Auburn: The Tigers will line up with a pair of senior All-SEC candidates in Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens. They both finished among the top 10 tacklers in the league last season, combining for 199 total tackles. The only problem was that they had to play just about every meaningful snap. The Tigers hope to have more depth this season. They didn’t have any last season and are moving Daren Bates from safety to a hybrid outside linebacker position. Bates led all SEC freshmen a year ago with 70 tackles. He wasn’t able to go through spring, though, because he was recovering from shoulder surgery.
5. Florida: Brandon Spikes and Ryan Stamper were major cogs in the Gators’ linebacker corps a year ago and made a ton of plays. Life without them will be different, but not impossible. That’s what happens when you recruit talented players like Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic, both of whom had big springs. There’s also some experience returning. Senior A.J. Jones has 30 career starts and started the first 11 games a year ago at outside linebacker before injuring his knee. Senior Brandon Hicks has also been a part-time starter each of the past two seasons. There’s a lot of speed in this group.
6. South Carolina: The Gamecocks might have a little more depth than they had a year ago at linebacker, but what they don’t have is that proven playmaker on the outside. Eric Norwood filled that role as well as anybody the past two seasons, but now he’s gone. Junior Shaq Wilson was the team’s leading tackler last season, and he’s moving to one of the outside spots from middle linebacker. Senior Rodney Paulk returns in the middle after suffering through season-ending knee injuries each of the past two seasons. Senior Josh Dickerson is another guy who can move around and play different spots.
7. Tennessee: One of the most experienced positions on Tennessee’s team is at linebacker. The Vols had several players playing at a high level there last season only to be injured. They’re all back, including senior Nick Reveiz in the middle. Tennessee’s defense was never the same after he left the lineup with a knee injury. Senior LaMarcus Thompson is also back after battling through injuries a year ago, and the same goes for senior Savion Frazier. Sophomore linebacker Greg King is currently suspended, but he also showed promise last season as a freshman.
8. LSU: Senior Kelvin Sheppard returns as one of the top middle linebackers in the SEC. He’s a tackling machine who was fourth in the league in tackles a year ago with 110. He’s one of those defenders who’s a factor on every play. The key for the Tigers will be how quickly the players around him grow up now that veterans Jacob Cutrera, Harry Coleman and Perry Riley have all moved on. Sheppard thinks junior Ryan Baker is ready to shine at weakside linebacker after being a force on special teams the past two seasons. Junior Stefoin Francois is the top candidate to step in on the strong side after starting his career as a safety.
9. Vanderbilt: Linebacker has been one of the Commodores’ strong suits for several years now, and that shouldn’t change this season with junior Chris Marve manning the middle. A first-team preseason All-SEC selection, Marve has racked up more than 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons. Senior John Stokes, who’s already been accepted into Vanderbilt’s medical school, returns at one of the outside linebacker spots. The Commodores could use a healthy Tristan Strong, who tore his ACL last season as a redshirt freshman.
10. Mississippi State: Gone is hard-hitting Jamar Chaney, who came back from an injury last season and helped anchor the Bulldogs’ defense. Senior Chris White will move over to play in the middle after starting all 12 games and recording 75 tackles last season. Senior K.J. Wright returns as one of the best big-play defenders on the team after finishing with 6.5 tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles last season. After White and Wright, the Bulldogs will be counting on several younger players at linebacker.
11. Arkansas: The Hogs need to improve across the board on defense, and linebacker is no exception. Junior Jerry Franklin has started since he was a freshman and finished with 94 tackles last season. He’s capable of playing in the middle, but Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino wants to leave him at weakside linebacker and give him a chance to make more plays against both the run and pass. The Hogs still need to settle on a middle linebacker. Senior Jermaine Love and sophomore Terrell Williams were battling it out in the spring.
12. Kentucky: Junior Danny Trevathan returns at weakside linebacker. He’s the Wildcats’ leading returning tackler. But after Trevathan, there’s not much game experience at linebacker. Redshirt freshman Qua Huzzie made a big impression on the coaches last preseason before hurting his shoulder. Sophomore Ridge Wilson is another younger player who needs to come through for the Wildcats at linebacker.
Here’s a rundown:
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireExpectations are high for Alabama's Dont'a Hightower.
Marvin Gentry/US PresswireExpectations are high for Alabama's Dont'a Hightower.2. Georgia: With the Bulldogs going to a 3-4 scheme this season, that means junior pass-rushing specialist Justin Houston now falls into the linebacker category. Houston had 7.5 sacks last season from his end position. Sophomore Cornelius Washington also shifts from end to outside linebacker after collecting four sacks a year ago. The Bulldogs have moved senior starter Darryl Gamble from inside to outside linebacker, while senior Akeem Dent and junior Marcus Dowtin are also back. Dent and Dowtin were part-time starters last season.
3. Ole Miss: Two of the more underrated linebackers in the SEC are Ole Miss seniors Jonathan Cornell and Allen Walker. Cornell started all 13 games in the middle last season and was third on the team with 79 tackles, including eight for loss. Walker started 11 games last season at strongside linebacker. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix also likes his younger talent, including D.T. Shackelford, Joel Kight and Mike Marry. Shackelford, in particular, could be poised for a breakout season. This is a productive and versatile group.
4. Auburn: The Tigers will line up with a pair of senior All-SEC candidates in Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens. They both finished among the top 10 tacklers in the league last season, combining for 199 total tackles. The only problem was that they had to play just about every meaningful snap. The Tigers hope to have more depth this season. They didn’t have any last season and are moving Daren Bates from safety to a hybrid outside linebacker position. Bates led all SEC freshmen a year ago with 70 tackles. He wasn’t able to go through spring, though, because he was recovering from shoulder surgery.
5. Florida: Brandon Spikes and Ryan Stamper were major cogs in the Gators’ linebacker corps a year ago and made a ton of plays. Life without them will be different, but not impossible. That’s what happens when you recruit talented players like Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic, both of whom had big springs. There’s also some experience returning. Senior A.J. Jones has 30 career starts and started the first 11 games a year ago at outside linebacker before injuring his knee. Senior Brandon Hicks has also been a part-time starter each of the past two seasons. There’s a lot of speed in this group.
6. South Carolina: The Gamecocks might have a little more depth than they had a year ago at linebacker, but what they don’t have is that proven playmaker on the outside. Eric Norwood filled that role as well as anybody the past two seasons, but now he’s gone. Junior Shaq Wilson was the team’s leading tackler last season, and he’s moving to one of the outside spots from middle linebacker. Senior Rodney Paulk returns in the middle after suffering through season-ending knee injuries each of the past two seasons. Senior Josh Dickerson is another guy who can move around and play different spots.
7. Tennessee: One of the most experienced positions on Tennessee’s team is at linebacker. The Vols had several players playing at a high level there last season only to be injured. They’re all back, including senior Nick Reveiz in the middle. Tennessee’s defense was never the same after he left the lineup with a knee injury. Senior LaMarcus Thompson is also back after battling through injuries a year ago, and the same goes for senior Savion Frazier. Sophomore linebacker Greg King is currently suspended, but he also showed promise last season as a freshman.
8. LSU: Senior Kelvin Sheppard returns as one of the top middle linebackers in the SEC. He’s a tackling machine who was fourth in the league in tackles a year ago with 110. He’s one of those defenders who’s a factor on every play. The key for the Tigers will be how quickly the players around him grow up now that veterans Jacob Cutrera, Harry Coleman and Perry Riley have all moved on. Sheppard thinks junior Ryan Baker is ready to shine at weakside linebacker after being a force on special teams the past two seasons. Junior Stefoin Francois is the top candidate to step in on the strong side after starting his career as a safety.
9. Vanderbilt: Linebacker has been one of the Commodores’ strong suits for several years now, and that shouldn’t change this season with junior Chris Marve manning the middle. A first-team preseason All-SEC selection, Marve has racked up more than 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons. Senior John Stokes, who’s already been accepted into Vanderbilt’s medical school, returns at one of the outside linebacker spots. The Commodores could use a healthy Tristan Strong, who tore his ACL last season as a redshirt freshman.
10. Mississippi State: Gone is hard-hitting Jamar Chaney, who came back from an injury last season and helped anchor the Bulldogs’ defense. Senior Chris White will move over to play in the middle after starting all 12 games and recording 75 tackles last season. Senior K.J. Wright returns as one of the best big-play defenders on the team after finishing with 6.5 tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles last season. After White and Wright, the Bulldogs will be counting on several younger players at linebacker.
11. Arkansas: The Hogs need to improve across the board on defense, and linebacker is no exception. Junior Jerry Franklin has started since he was a freshman and finished with 94 tackles last season. He’s capable of playing in the middle, but Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino wants to leave him at weakside linebacker and give him a chance to make more plays against both the run and pass. The Hogs still need to settle on a middle linebacker. Senior Jermaine Love and sophomore Terrell Williams were battling it out in the spring.
12. Kentucky: Junior Danny Trevathan returns at weakside linebacker. He’s the Wildcats’ leading returning tackler. But after Trevathan, there’s not much game experience at linebacker. Redshirt freshman Qua Huzzie made a big impression on the coaches last preseason before hurting his shoulder. Sophomore Ridge Wilson is another younger player who needs to come through for the Wildcats at linebacker.
As a kid, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the only all-star game worth watching.
It’s still that way, especially when you get to watch the Home Run Derby the night earlier with your boys and see their wide-eyed amazement at how far those guys can hit the ball.
So in keeping with the spirit of tonight’s Midsummer Classic between the American and National leagues, I’ve chosen my football all-star teams for the SEC’s Eastern and Western divisions heading into the 2010 season.
What criteria did I use in picking the teams?
In short, if a group of coaches, media members and fans were all in a room, what players would be selected at each of the positions if you were playing a game that weekend against the other division?
I’m sure there won’t be any disagreements with my picks.
EASTERN DIVISION
OFFENSE
OFFENSE
It’s still that way, especially when you get to watch the Home Run Derby the night earlier with your boys and see their wide-eyed amazement at how far those guys can hit the ball.
So in keeping with the spirit of tonight’s Midsummer Classic between the American and National leagues, I’ve chosen my football all-star teams for the SEC’s Eastern and Western divisions heading into the 2010 season.
What criteria did I use in picking the teams?
In short, if a group of coaches, media members and fans were all in a room, what players would be selected at each of the positions if you were playing a game that weekend against the other division?
I’m sure there won’t be any disagreements with my picks.
EASTERN DIVISION
OFFENSE
- QB: John Brantley, Florida
- RB: Washaun Ealey, Georgia
- RB: Jeff Demps, Florida
- WR: A.J. Green, Georgia
- WR: Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
- TE: Luke Stocker, Tennessee
- OL: Clint Boling, Georgia
- OL: Carl Johnson, Florida
- OL: Cordy Glenn, Georgia
- OL: Stuart Hines, Kentucky
- C: Mike Pouncey, Florida
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Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireJohn Brantley has large shoes to fill in Gainesville.
Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireJohn Brantley has large shoes to fill in Gainesville.- DE: Cliff Matthews, South Carolina
- DE: DeQuin Evans, Kentucky
- DT: Omar Hunter, Florida
- DT: Ladi Ajiboye, South Carolina
- LB: Justin Houston, Georgia
- LB: Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
- LB: Danny Trevathan, Kentucky
- CB: Janoris Jenkins, Florida
- CB: Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
- S: Ahmad Black, Florida
- S: Janzen Jackson, Tennessee
- PK: Blair Walsh, Georgia
- P: Drew Butler, Georgia
- KR: Warren Norman, Vanderbilt
- PR: Randall Cobb, Kentucky
OFFENSE
- QB: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
- RB: Mark Ingram, Alabama
- RB: Trent Richardson, Alabama
- WR: Julio Jones, Alabama
- WR: Darvin Adams, Auburn
- TE: D.J. Williams, Arkansas
- OL: Derek Sherrod, Mississippi State
- OL: Lee Ziemba, Auburn
- OL: Barrett Jones, Alabama
- OL: DeMarcus Love, Arkansas
- C: William Vlachos, Alabama
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Tom Hauck/Getty ImagesJulio Jones' protypical height and weight (6-4, 211) create matchup problems for opposing secondaries.
Tom Hauck/Getty ImagesJulio Jones' protypical height and weight (6-4, 211) create matchup problems for opposing secondaries.- DE: Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State
- DE: Marcell Dareus, Alabama
- DT: Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss
- DT: Drake Nevis, LSU
- LB: Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
- LB: Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
- LB: Josh Bynes, Auburn
- CB: Patrick Peterson, LSU
- CB: Neiko Thorpe, Auburn
- S: Johnny Brown, Ole Miss
- S: Mark Barron, Alabama
- K: Josh Jasper, LSU
- P: Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss
- KR: Jesse Grandy, Ole Miss
- PR: Demond Washington, Auburn
The SEC's 10 best players nobody knew about
December, 17, 2009
12/17/09
11:00
AM ET
By
Chris Low | ESPN.com
Every year, there are players who fly in under the radar to have big seasons.
We’ve gone through and picked the 10 best players in the SEC that you really didn’t know about when the 2009 season began that everybody knows about right now.
These guys all had major impacts on their team after playing limited roles the season before for various reasons. Some were hurt. Others were buried on the depth chart, and a few just simply came into their own. True freshmen and transfers were not included in this list, but redshirt freshmen were.
So here are the 10 best players in the SEC this season that went from anonymity to starring roles:
1. Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee: He’d never rushed for more than 384 yards in a season and only carried the ball 76 times in 2008. But when finally given a chance, Hardesty showed he could stay healthy and also proved he was one of the best backs in the SEC with 1,306 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He didn’t lose a fumble, either, in an SEC-high 264 rushing attempts.
2. Mark Barron, S, Alabama: A fixture on special teams as a freshman, Barron developed into a star in his first season as a starter on defense and led the SEC with seven interceptions. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the coaches and helped ease the loss of senior captain Rashad Johnson with his ball-hawking play at strong safety.
3. Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn: The Tigers were searching for playmakers at receiver, and Adams answered the call. The speedy sophomore tied for the SEC lead with 10 touchdown catches. He was third in the league with 855 receiving yards and fourth with 48 catches. That’s after catching a total of three passes, all against UT-Martin, as a freshman.
4. Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas: He was listed as a backup coming out of spring practice after catching 18 passes as a freshman, but exploded as a sophomore to finish third in the SEC in receiving yards per game (71.8). Childs caught seven touchdown passes and averaged 19.2 yards per catch.
5. Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama: McElroy was about as unproven as it gets at the college level coming into the season. He’d never played a meaningful snap. That sure changed in a hurry. The steady junior directed an Alabama offense that improved in just about every category from last season, and then played his best game in the most important game, earning MVP honors in the 32-13 SEC championship game victory over Florida.
6. Sean Richardson, S, Vanderbilt: After playing in Reshard Langford’s shadow as a freshman, Richardson started all 12 games at strong safety as a sophomore and led all SEC defensive backs with 84 tackles. He established himself as one of the best tackling safeties in the league.
7. Justin Houston, DE, Georgia: With all of the grumbling about Georgia’s defensive problems, Houston’s big season was sort of lost in the shuffle. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound sophomore bounced back from a two-game suspension to start the season to finish second in the league with 7.5 sacks and also had 15 tackles for loss.
8. Corey Broomfield, CB, Mississippi State: Talk about making the most of your opportunities. Broomfield only started in three games for the Bulldogs, but finished with six interceptions and returned two of those for touchdowns. He redshirted his first year at Mississippi State in 2008, but is part of a nucleus of young talent in Starkville that has everybody in maroon so excited.
9. Sam Maxwell, LB, Kentucky: He went from dependable backup to one of Kentucky’s best big-play defenders as a senior. Maxwell was second on the team with 80 tackles and led all SEC linebackers with six interceptions and 13 passes defended from his strongside position. Unfortunately for Maxwell, he will miss the bowl game because of surgery to repair a torn labrum.
10. Eryk Anders, LB, Alabama: One of the most overlooked players on Alabama’s vaunted defense, Anders has made his senior season a memorable one. He has 12.5 tackles for loss, including five sacks, from his jack linebacker position. This coming from a guy who’d all but decided to transfer following the 2007 season.
We’ve gone through and picked the 10 best players in the SEC that you really didn’t know about when the 2009 season began that everybody knows about right now.
These guys all had major impacts on their team after playing limited roles the season before for various reasons. Some were hurt. Others were buried on the depth chart, and a few just simply came into their own. True freshmen and transfers were not included in this list, but redshirt freshmen were.
[+] Enlarge
Kim Klement/US PresswireMontario Hardesty rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Kim Klement/US PresswireMontario Hardesty rushed for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.1. Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee: He’d never rushed for more than 384 yards in a season and only carried the ball 76 times in 2008. But when finally given a chance, Hardesty showed he could stay healthy and also proved he was one of the best backs in the SEC with 1,306 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He didn’t lose a fumble, either, in an SEC-high 264 rushing attempts.
2. Mark Barron, S, Alabama: A fixture on special teams as a freshman, Barron developed into a star in his first season as a starter on defense and led the SEC with seven interceptions. He was a first-team All-SEC selection by the coaches and helped ease the loss of senior captain Rashad Johnson with his ball-hawking play at strong safety.
3. Darvin Adams, WR, Auburn: The Tigers were searching for playmakers at receiver, and Adams answered the call. The speedy sophomore tied for the SEC lead with 10 touchdown catches. He was third in the league with 855 receiving yards and fourth with 48 catches. That’s after catching a total of three passes, all against UT-Martin, as a freshman.
4. Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas: He was listed as a backup coming out of spring practice after catching 18 passes as a freshman, but exploded as a sophomore to finish third in the SEC in receiving yards per game (71.8). Childs caught seven touchdown passes and averaged 19.2 yards per catch.
5. Greg McElroy, QB, Alabama: McElroy was about as unproven as it gets at the college level coming into the season. He’d never played a meaningful snap. That sure changed in a hurry. The steady junior directed an Alabama offense that improved in just about every category from last season, and then played his best game in the most important game, earning MVP honors in the 32-13 SEC championship game victory over Florida.
6. Sean Richardson, S, Vanderbilt: After playing in Reshard Langford’s shadow as a freshman, Richardson started all 12 games at strong safety as a sophomore and led all SEC defensive backs with 84 tackles. He established himself as one of the best tackling safeties in the league.
7. Justin Houston, DE, Georgia: With all of the grumbling about Georgia’s defensive problems, Houston’s big season was sort of lost in the shuffle. The 6-foot-3, 259-pound sophomore bounced back from a two-game suspension to start the season to finish second in the league with 7.5 sacks and also had 15 tackles for loss.
8. Corey Broomfield, CB, Mississippi State: Talk about making the most of your opportunities. Broomfield only started in three games for the Bulldogs, but finished with six interceptions and returned two of those for touchdowns. He redshirted his first year at Mississippi State in 2008, but is part of a nucleus of young talent in Starkville that has everybody in maroon so excited.
9. Sam Maxwell, LB, Kentucky: He went from dependable backup to one of Kentucky’s best big-play defenders as a senior. Maxwell was second on the team with 80 tackles and led all SEC linebackers with six interceptions and 13 passes defended from his strongside position. Unfortunately for Maxwell, he will miss the bowl game because of surgery to repair a torn labrum.
10. Eryk Anders, LB, Alabama: One of the most overlooked players on Alabama’s vaunted defense, Anders has made his senior season a memorable one. He has 12.5 tackles for loss, including five sacks, from his jack linebacker position. This coming from a guy who’d all but decided to transfer following the 2007 season.
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