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.

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)

Don’t let Trent Richardson fool you.

His humble demeanor is a coach’s dream, and I respect the fact he says “We” and “They” more than “Me” or “I.”

But when you’re talking about the Heisman Trophy, only one person can win it. Only one person can have his named etched into that bronze beauty. Only one player has his photo plastered on the Heisman Hall of Funny Smiles each year.

This year, Trent, your cheesy smile should join the group.

However, someone should have informed Alabama’s mild-manner, bulldozing running back that it’s OK to be a little selfish sometimes when you’re trying to sell your Heisman campaign.

You can’t hate Richardson for his team-first attitude, and it just goes to show you that the award that judges both on-field AND off-field actions should return to Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“It’s an honor just to have my name mentioned in that situation,” Richardson said.

“It means a lot to me. I know it means a lot for the team because they deserve every bit of it.”

Sure, Alabama’s offensive line definitely deserves some credit for Richardson’s spectacular season – a season in which he took over for past Heisman winner Mark Ingram – but Richardson was the battering ram wearing down defenders. Richardson was the one who routinely required a cluster of defenders to bring him down, after about five more big-boy steps.

With Alabama replacing a handful of offensive veterans, Richardson was the offense’s linchpin. There was no game-changing wide receiver. There was no proven quarterback. So, Richardson, who spent two previous seasons as a backup, was left to carry Alabama’s offense on his doublewide shoulders.

Without Richardson, Alabama isn’t even in the conversation for the national championship.

“He does everything for us,” said quarterback AJ McCarron, who gave Richardson some bonus points by calling him a great role model.

Richardson finished the season leading the SEC with 1,583 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. He was also second for Alabama with 27 receptions for 327 yards and three more scores, ranking him second in school and SEC history with 23 total touchdowns.

Against SEC opponents, Richardson averaged 137 rushing yards a game, 6 yards per carry, and his 12 total touchdowns put him second in the league in scoring in conference games (nine points a game).

He rushed for 100-plus yards nine times, eclipsing the 160-yard mark five times.

Against LSU’s second-ranked defense, Richardson gained 169 total yards, dragging a few Tigers along the bumpy ride.

Richardson didn’t get a championship game to showcase his skills one last time before a national audience, but when his last stage was set, he tore the roof off that sucker.

In the season finale at Auburn, Richardson had a career-best 203 yard rushing yards and had a receiving touchdown. He had another dazzling Heisman moment when he pushed aside a few Tigers on his way to a superb 57-yard run.

It wasn’t the 76-yarder he pulled off against Ole Miss, where he cut BACKWARD at full speed to juke poor Senquez Golson out of his shoes before waltzing into the end zone.

Ladies and gentlemen, Richardson is your guy. He’s meant more to this Alabama team than Ingram did when he won back in 2009. He’s been tremendously consistent and is the nation’s best running back, if not player.

Not buying that last statement? Well, Ingram told Richardson so.

“That means a lot coming from him,” Richardson said. “He was a Heisman winner.”

And so should you be, Trent.

My Heisman Trophy ballot has changed every week for the last couple of months.

I'm not surprised there are more than three players going to the trophy presentation.

Five players were invited to New York for Saturday night's Heisman Trophy presentation -- quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Robert Griffin III of Baylor, tailbacks Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Trent Richardson of Alabama and cornerback Tyrann Mathieu of LSU.

It's a shame the Heisman Trust didn't have room for three more quarterbacks because Houston's Case Keenum, USC's Matt Barkley and Boise State's Kellen Moore were just as deserving.

With five finalists going to New York, it figures to be one of the closer votes in recent Heisman Trophy history.

The closest vote in Heisman Trophy history came just two years ago, when Alabama tailback Mark Ingram edged Stanford's Toby Gerhart by only 28 points. Ingram received 227 first-place votes, Gerhart got 222 and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, the second runner-up, received 203.

Given the number of finalists and their geographical regions, we could have another really close finish on Saturday night.

Luck, the runner-up to Auburn's Cam Newton last season, entered the 2011 season as the Heisman Trophy favorite. His performance didn't slip much this season, as he completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

I still feel Luck might be the most valuable player on any team in the country. Without him, there's no way the Cardinal is ranked No. 4 in the country and playing No. 3 Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Luck has done more with less, as Stanford lacks the game-changing playmakers that other teams have.

But Luck might still be the second-best quarterback in New York. Griffin, who is widely known as RG3, completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,998 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 644 yards with nine touchdowns.

Without him, the Bears wouldn't have beaten TCU, Oklahoma and Texas. Griffin's one drawback: He had a late interception that sealed the Bears' fate in a 36-35 loss at Kansas State on Oct. 1 and threw two picks in a 59-24 loss at Oklahoma State on Oct. 29. But with everything else RG3 has done this season, it's easy to give him a mulligan for the miscues.

I still believe Richardson is the best player in the country. He looked like the best player on the field in No. 2 Alabama's 9-6 loss in overtime to No. 1 LSU on Nov. 5. He had 89 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards in a game where every yard mattered. He finished the season with 1,583 yards with 20 touchdown runs and three touchdown catches. He's also Mr. Dependable, not losing a fumble in his past 520 touches and only once in 614 career touches.

Ball has been a scoring machine for the No. 10 Badgers this season, running for 1,759 yards with 32 touchdown runs and six touchdown receptions. His 38 total touchdowns are one shy of matching former Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record of 39 set in 11 games in 1988. Ball's production helped lead the Badgers to a Jan. 2 date against Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

Mathieu fell off my ballot after he was suspended from playing in the Tigers' 45-10 victory over Auburn on Oct. 22 for smoking synthetic marijuana. But his big plays helped the Tigers overcome deficits in each of their last two victories, over Arkansas and Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Mathieu -- aka the "Honey Badger" -- is the best player on the top-ranked team. He leads the Tigers with 70 tackles and has forced six fumbles and recovered five. He also is the most dynamic punt returner I've seen since Florida State's Deion Sanders. Mathieu has scored four touchdowns -- two on fumble returns and two on punt returns.

To penalize Mathieu for one foolish mistake wouldn't have been right. After all, Newton was briefly ruled ineligible at Auburn last season and 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James of Oregon was suspended from playing in last season's opener.

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.”

It’s that time of year when the answers are starting to outnumber the questions.

Here’s a look at what we learned in the SEC in Week 7:

1. The gap is getting wider: We already knew that Alabama and LSU had separated themselves from the rest of the SEC, but the truth is that they’re in their own league, maybe even on their own planet. LSU pummeled Tennessee 38-7 on the road Saturday, and LSU coach Les Miles conceded afterward that the Tigers didn’t play their best game and were especially suspect to open the game. Alabama squashed Ole Miss 52-7 on the road after also getting off to a so-so start. Even when these two teams give up a rare play on defense, they adjust and finish the game with a vengeance. LSU has given up a total of 25 points in its past three games. Alabama has given up just 17 points in its past three outings. And on offense, they both have the kind of running games that pound teams into submission in the second half. Who’s ready for Nov. 5 to go ahead and get here?

2. Richardson for Heisman: It’s starting to have that same feel as 2009 when Mark Ingram made his move. Alabama junior running back Trent Richardson is now front and center in the Heisman Trophy race and should be. If there’s a better player in college football (and, yes, that includes Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck), let’s see him. Richardson has been sensational in his past six games, rushing for 100 yards in all six and putting on a show in the rout of Ole Miss with 183 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Go back and watch his 76-yard touchdown run. Finding a better one this season in college football will be a chore. Richardson now has 912 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and is ahead of Ingram’s pace in 2009. If Richardson has a big game against LSU on Nov. 5 and the Crimson Tide win, the Heisman will (and should) be his to lose.

3. Two-team race in the East: It’s Georgia and South Carolina in the Eastern Division, and neither would be classified as a great football team right now. The Bulldogs just barely survived at Vanderbilt in a 33-28 win despite a glut of personal foul penalties, not being able to finish drives on offense and a total meltdown on special teams. The Gamecocks held on to win 14-12 at Mississippi State, and while their defense is playing its best football, there are real issues on offense. Star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a sprained knee in the game, and the Gamecocks will know more about the severity of his injury on Monday. If he’s out for a few weeks, this is a very beatable football team. Both teams have their warts, but they’re also two games ahead of everybody else in the East. Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Vanderbilt all have three SEC losses.

4. Plain resourcefulness on the Plains: Nobody expected this Auburn football team to be a championship-caliber football team again this season with all the Tigers lost a year ago. But this is definitely an Auburn football team that still knows how to win. It’s also an Auburn football team that’s on its way back when you look at all the youth on the roster. It’s not a secret that the Tigers are struggling at the quarterback position right now, but they’re finding ways around those issues and winning games. They’ve made vast improvement on defense. Their punter, Steven Clark, has been clutch, and they’ve committed to running the football. Their 17-6 victory against Florida on Saturday was a clinic in resourceful football, and that’s a credit to the Tigers’ coaches and their players. They’ve won five games now, and eight wins or more aren’t out of the question this season. The Florida game was a huge swing game for both teams. While Auburn is far from a dominant team, it’s a team that has mastered the art of winning.

5. Batting .500: At this rate, we might have as many as six teams in the SEC that finish no better than .500 overall in the regular season. Kentucky (2-4, 0-3) and Ole Miss (2-4, 0-3) are both headed for losing seasons. It’s going to be a struggle for Tennessee (3-3, 0-3) to finish above .500, especially with trips to Alabama and Arkansas looming. The Vols also get South Carolina at home on Oct. 29. Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3) certainly hasn’t been a pushover this season, but six overall wins in James Franklin’s first season would be considered a huge success. Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4) needs to get busy if it's going to have a winning season. The Bulldogs are winless in SEC play and will have to upset either Alabama or Arkansas to finish above .500 in the regular season. Even Florida isn’t a lock to have a winning record in the regular season. The Gators (4-3, 2-3) have lost three in a row and still have to face Georgia in Jacksonville in two weeks while also having to travel to South Carolina on Nov. 12 and wrapping up the regular season with a home game against Florida State.

1. South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram won SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. He also won Special Teams Player of the Week against Georgia. Three awards in five weeks may put Ingram on a record pace. It’s hard to say– the SEC hasn’t kept track of who has won the most weekly awards in a season. The last two Heisman winners, Cam Newton of Auburn and Mark Ingram (no relation) of Alabama, won six and two, respectively. That makes Melvin the lead Ingram.

2. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said that tailback Boom Herron and wide receiver DeVier Posey made decisions “to go off the reservation” when they accepted too much money for their 2011 summer jobs. Does that mean that, after receiving five-game suspensions to start this season, they returned to the reservation only to decide to leave again? Did they just keep straying, and if so, where is Ohio State’s boundary? Which Native American tribe, and what is its translation of the word "knucklehead?”

3. It’s easy to forget that college football players are young and have lives. Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken reminded me of that when he discussed the Cowboys’ three practices during bye week. “We’ve been going at it pretty good now for four weeks of camp and four weeks of the season, so I think their minds were on the weekend,” he said. “I’m sure for a month they had planned what they were going to do for the bye week.” The rested No. 6 Cowboys play Kansas this week.

For someone handed the keys to one of the most visible football programs in America, Trent Richardson isn’t too worried about his production.

The third-year Alabama running back paid his dues for the past two years, sitting behind Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Now he owns the Tide’s backfield, but he’s not looking to match Ingram’s career or carve his name into any record books.

Three games into his first season as "the guy," Richardson is running like he’s on a mission for some postseason accolades (he’s fourth in the SEC, averaging 105 yards a game and leads the league with eight rushing touchdowns), but he insists his only goal is winning.

“I don’t care if people are trying to shut me down or not. As long as my team is having a good time and we’re winning, it’s OK with me,” Richardson said.

The last two defenses have failed miserably in shutting him down. Two weeks ago at Penn State, he carried the ball 26 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. A week later, he ran just 11 times against North Texas for 167 yards and three touchdowns. He has two or more touchdowns in all three games this season.

Still, Alabama’s bullish back is humble in his approach and leads more with his mouth than his actions.

“In the past, he knew his role and he knew he wasn’t our primary back, but this year he knows the responsibility that comes with that position and he’s really stepped up leadership-wise and really become a leader for us,” offensive lineman Barrett Jones said.

Jones said it’s been a joy working with Richardson. Physically, Jones said Richardson is “better than ever” because of the shape he’s in and his ability to absorb hits better this season.

Richardson’s attitude has also been a blessing. It would have been easy for him to give up in the past as one of the most talented backups around, but he didn’t. It also would have been easy for Richardson to come in with a “get mine” attitude this season, but he hasn’t.

“Not many guys could have done what Trent did the past two years here -- playing behind Mark,” Jones said. “Most people would say that Trent probably would have started anywhere else in the country. He waited his turn and supported Mark and really was the ultimate teammate.”

Instead of resenting Ingram, Richardson listened and learned from him. He tried to mimic Ingram’s cutting ability and quickness.

He learned how to read defenses better with extensive film sessions with Ingram and most of all; he learned to be humble as the go-to -guy. Ingram left Richardson with the wisdom of expecting to get a defense’s best each week and to overprepare in order to keep from getting complacent.

This weekend, complacency would hurt Richardson and Alabama’s offense. The Tide faces its toughest test thus far when No. 14 Arkansas comes to town. The Razorbacks have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season and are allowing 87.7 rushing yards a game and 3.3 yards per carry.

Richardson said he expects to get the kitchen sink thrown his way from Arkansas’ defense. Not just because of the West implications or the overall talent Arkansas’ defense has, but the Hogs know firsthand how talented he is.

Richardson has averaged 75 yards in two games against Arkansas. Richardson knows this Arkansas team will be accounting for him on every play and come Saturday afternoon, he’ll be ready for it.

“I know they’re going to bring everything to me Saturday,” he said. “I know I have to be prepare because they’re going to be ready for me.”

It's time to take a look at the award in college football and who from the SEC might be up for that bad boy toward the end of the 2011 season.

That's right, folks, the SEC blog is tackling the Heisman Trophy. Don't worry, it's fine; it has a mean stiff-arm.

Three of the past four winners have come from the SEC. Three of the past four have been sophomores. Also, the SEC produced its first Heisman Trophy winners in back-to-back years when Cam Newton took home the award last season.

So what does that tell us? Pick a youngster from the South, and you should be fine in your Heisman pool.

Obviously, there is a lot of talent -- young and old -- in the SEC and a few players who have what it takes to win college football's most prestigious award.

Here are our five preseason SEC Heisman candidates (in alphabetical order, of course):

• Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas: Davis burst onto the scene with a stellar second half in 2010. After rushing for 294 yards on 44 carries through his first six games, Davis kicked it up considerably, averaging 146.9 yards per game in the final seven games. He dipped below the 100-yard mark just once in that span, and his next-lowest outputs were 110 and 139 yards. Davis can flat-out fly, and he showed at times that he can slip though with enough wiggle room or break a tackle here and there. Although Arkansas has a very pass-friendly offense, Davis will be a major part of the Razorbacks' game plan.
• Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: Jeffery proved to be the toughest receiver in the country to guard in one-on-one situations. At 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, he's like covering a fast linebacker out there. Jeffery was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to nation's top receiver, after leading the SEC with 88 receptions for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. Coach Steve Spurrier and quarterback Stephen Garcia said the thing that makes Jeffery so good is his ability to catch pretty much anything thrown his way. He has exceptional hands and a very impressive vertical that allows him to manhandle smaller defensive backs.
• Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina: Well, we have our sophomore from the SEC. I guess we can stop looking now. Lattimore had a monster freshman season. He was third in the league with 1,197 rushing yards and third with 17 rushing touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions for 412 yards and two more scores. Oh, and he was the unanimous choice for National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year, and was a first-team All-SEC member. He bulked up to 231 pounds heading into the spring but cut his 40 time down to 4.5. He wants to pack more of a punch for defenders while keeping his speed, and although boxes are likely to be stacked for him, he has the power and speed to break down defenses, no matter the numbers against him.
• Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia: Another sophomore makes the list and like Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford before him, he's a quarterback back -- and a darn good one at that. Murray has more touchdown passes from a year ago (24) than any other returning starter in the SEC and passed for a Georgia freshman record 3,049 yards (second in SEC history by a freshman) in 13 starts. He also rushed 87 times for 167 yards and four more scores, giving him the school and conference record for most total offensive yards (3,216) for a freshman. Murray will be without the talents of A.J. Green, but tight end Orson Charles and receiver Tavarres King should provide solid passing targets, plus Murray hopes to get use out of a few younger receivers as well.
• Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: Richardson finally takes the reins in Alabama's backfield, and in his first year as a starter, a lot will be expected of him. He has a rare combination of strength and speed, making him a tank of a track athlete. With a young, inexperienced quarterback joining him in the Tide's backfield, Richardson's number will be called on more than maybe Mark Ingram's was. As a backup for two seasons, Richardson rushed for 1,451 yards and 14 touchdowns, and there are people around the program who think Richardson might be a better all-around back than Ingram, who won the Heisman in 2009.

In the case of Alabama junior running back Trent Richardson, weight room numbers tell just part of the story when you start to dissect what a freak of nature physically he truly is.

Ask his teammates about him and watch them gasp in amazement.

“You ever seen him with his shirt off?” asks Alabama center William Vlachos. “It’s scary.”

Offensive guard Barrett Jones adds, “You look at him, and the guy is a freak. You watch him work out, and he’s one of the strongest human beings I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to see what he does this year on the field.”

Richardson, who steps in as Alabama’s feature back now that Mark Ingram has departed for the NFL, doesn’t necessarily want to be known as a “Workout Warrior.” He wants to be known as one of the best players in college football and somebody who helped lead his team to championships.

That said, he concedes that the weight room in a lot of ways is his sanctuary.

“I feel lost if I don’t work out,” Richardson said. “It’s a part of me. It’s who I am. I’ve got to do something extra every day. I don’t care what it is. Maybe it’s wrestling my brother, but I’ve got to do something. If I don’t, I feel like something’s missing.”

Richardson’s exploits in the weight room are the stuff of legend at Alabama.

For starters, you’re talking about a 225-pound guy who’s run a 10.4 in the 100 meters and a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash.

If he sees a sliver of daylight, he’s gone.

But he combines that speed with brute strength and explosive power.

You see, Richardson doesn’t know for sure how high he could go on some of the weight-room lifts at Alabama.

He said the Alabama strength staff stopped him at 465 pounds on the bench-press.

“They didn’t want me straining anything,” Richardson explained. “But I wonder what I could do for real.”

The same goes for squats and the power clean. Richardson said he wasn’t allowed to go higher than 600 pounds on squats and “did that easy.”

He’s gone all the way up to 365 pounds on the power clean, but added, “I was doing right around that in high school.”

He said his vertical jump is 36 inches, and he possesses just 6 percent body fat.

“I don’t feel like I’m a weight-lifter,” Richardson said. “I’m a football player who has natural strength, crazy strength, really. I’ve got a lot of God-given talent, and it’s up to me to build on that talent and get the most out of it.

“That’s why you never stop working, and you never think you’ve done enough.”

Even though he was banged up with an assortment of injuries last season, Richardson averaged 6.2 yards per carry and was second only to Kentucky’s Randall Cobb in the SEC in all-purpose yards per game (145.5).

One of the things that makes Richardson such a specimen is his blend of power and speed. He’s a bruising runner who’s adept at making yards after contact, and yet, he’s also a burner when he gets on the outside.

And while Richardson doesn’t think there are many players in the SEC who could beat him in a straight-up race, he jokes that there’s one who definitely could.

“I thought I was pretty fast, and then I went up against my boy, Jeff Demps, in a high school track meet,” Richardson said. “The race started, and I kept up with him for a couple meters and was thinking, ‘He doesn’t look that fast. I’m in this race.’

“But just like that, he pulled away and was celebrating before he finished. Now, that is one fast dude.”

Indeed he is, but Richardson is one freakish dude in his own right.

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.

Spring game: 3 p.m. ET on ESPNU and ESPN3.com

Questions answered: Julio Jones might not be out there anymore, but Alabama will still have a solid group of receivers this fall. Returning starters Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks have bee flying around this spring. Neither has the skill Jones had, but both will be formidable matchups for defenders this fall. Alabama should also be fine at running back without former Heisman winner Mark Ingram. Trent Richardson returns and he’s healthy, while newcomer Dee Hart has added a lot of speed to the position. Richardson not only has tremendous talent, but he has increased his leadership skills. This offense will be leaning on him quite a bit this season.

Questions unanswered: Greg McElroy is gone, but his replacement hasn’t been named. There are two guys -- A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims -- still battling for the spot and it looks like a starter won’t be named until the fall. McCarron entered as the favorite, but Sims has made a major push this spring. Players have been pretty tight-lipped about the quarterback position, making Saturday’s spring game that much more interesting. Alabama’s secondary was an issue for the Tide in 2010 and this spring most of the unit was on the mend. Barron, Jarrick Williams, Dre Kirkpatrick and Nick Perry all dealt with injuries this spring. True evaluation of this unit won’t come until summer and fall workouts.

Spring stars: Hart was supposed to be getting ready for prom around this time, but instead he’ll be getting reps in Alabama’s spring game Saturday. Hart has played well in scrimmages and with his shiftiness and speed, he’ll add another element to Alabama’s bruising running game. Linebacker Dont’a Hightower seems to have his legs back this spring. After suffering a major knee injury in 2009 that even slowed him last year, Hightower has been solid in spring practices and is back to 100 percent. Linebacker C.J. Mosley made a ton of plays in scrimmages this spring. Receiver DeAndrew White was a bright spot on offense as well.

Of note: Defensive tackle Kerry Murphy, receiver Kendall Kelly and defensive back Wesley Neighbors missed spring practice with injuries. … Senior safety Mark Barron was limited as he recovered from surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. … Linebacker Alex Watkins underwent knee surgery that kept him out of the latter part of spring practices, but should ready for preseason camp in August. Former linebacker Ed Stinson is now at defensive end. ... Former Ohio State receiver Duron Carter, the son of Cris Carter, is finishing up at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and plans to enroll at Alabama in June and will be eligible next season.

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

Now that Edward Aschoff, previously of The Gainesville Sun and a wonderful addition to our SEC coverage at ESPN.com, has joined us, I put the question right to you, Edward: Convince me that Alabama wouldn’t be the champion if we had an SEC playoff next season in football. Then again, maybe you agree with me that the Crimson Tide are poised to take home another crown. Granted, this would be a little different format … March Madness in the fall, if you will. But imagine the intrigue if you had four straight weekends of tournament football in this league with that lose-and-you-go-home specter hanging over every game the way it does in hoops.

Edward Aschoff: First off, what a welcome to the blog. Immediately starting with a great debate like this is always fun. But I have to disagree with you on your champion. While I think Alabama might be the best team in the country, I like LSU to take home the inaugural SEC tournament title. When I look at Tigers, the only area that really concerns me is the quarterback position. Jordan Jefferson didn't have the best year statistically, but the Tigers still went 11-2 and blew out Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Jefferson proved he's a leader, but if he starts to struggle, coach Les Miles has transfer stud Zach Mettenberger waiting in the wings. Plus, LSU might have the most talented defense in the league. The Tigers are replacing a lot, but this year's group won't miss much of a beat. If Jefferson struggles, the defense will be the difference in the tournament. LSU's defense will frustrate and outlast Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron and that offense in the title game.

Chris Low: Both defenses will be worth the price of admission next season, and getting back a healthy Sam Montgomery at end will be big for the Tigers. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis doesn’t think they were ever the same defensively after Montgomery went down in the Tennessee game with his season-ending knee injury a year ago. The same goes for safety Brandon Taylor. Go back and look how much LSU missed Taylor in that loss to Arkansas to end the regular season. His return next season will again make that secondary one of the best in the league despite losing all-world cornerback Patrick Peterson. But here’s the big question: Is it Jefferson or Mettenberger quarterbacking that team when LSU reaches the final?

Edward Aschoff: Jefferson wasn’t spectacular last year and everyone knows it. That’s why he’s working even harder this spring, and he’ll have the benefit of learning a thing or two from new offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe. Being right in the thick of the BCS hunt until losing to Arkansas at the end of the regular season motivates Jefferson. And so does having Mettenberger breathing down his neck. Jefferson never put up gaudy numbers, but he won 11 games last season. He’s a senior leader, and LSU’s defense will put him in good situations, limiting his chances of making mistakes. Let’s not forget he’ll have the luxury of hard-nosed running back Spencer Ware with him in the backfield. I expect Jefferson to carry LSU on this run.

Chris Low: I’m sure I’ll endear myself to a lot of fans in South Carolina with my pick of Mississippi State upsetting the Gamecocks. It’s tough to pick against the Marcus Lattimore-Alshon Jeffery tandem, but have you seen South Carolina’s record lately in anything remotely resembling a postseason game? It ain’t pretty. Plus, I’m just not sure about that quarterback situation at South Carolina. Of course, I’m not sure the Head Ball Coach is, either. If I had a better feel for how that whole Stephen Garcia-Connor Shaw thing was going to work out, the Gamecocks might be my surprise pick in this tournament. Who would be your darkhorse pick, Edward?

Edward Aschoff: Well, like you, I also have the Gamecocks bowing out in the second round to Mississippi State, so I’m not starting off too well with that fan base, either. Since I picked Mississippi State (my No. 6 seed) to make a run to the Final Four, I’ll go in a different direction and talk about a potential darkhorse. I have Georgia as my No. 7 seed, but this group of Bulldogs could make a strong run, as well. Aaron Murray is a budding star, and while young, the defense is talented. The wide receiver spot is still a question mark and a running back has to step up this fall, but if Georgia knocks off LSU in Dallas, the Bulldogs will basically be playing a home game in Atlanta. So, Chris, who do you see being the most invaluable player to his team in this tournament?

Chris Low: That’s easy ... Trent Richardson. I think he has a monster season in 2011. He was never really healthy last season and simply didn’t get a lot of carries (112). You just don’t find a lot of guys with his blend of power and speed. The guy bench-presses 500 pounds and has run a 10.5 in the 100 meters. He’s healthy now and rest assured that the Crimson Tide will ride him now that Mark Ingram is gone. We’ve seen great players carry teams through tournaments in all kinds of sports. Richardson has been a guy with great talent who’s had moments of greatness his first two seasons at Alabama. During this tournament, he establishes himself as a great player, and everybody else in crimson hops on board that championship train. Since you’re the new guy, Edward, I’ll give you last word.

Edward Aschoff: How kind of you, Chris. I have to agree with you on Richardson having the most value for his team. Alabama can really put every game on his shoulders. However, LSU wins this one by committee, sending Richardson home with only one piece of hardware -- the MVP trophy. Also, don't be surprised if we have a few unforeseen upsets along the way. If it happens every year in March, it's bound to happen in the fall. While it may look like a few teams are outmatched on paper, playing it out on the field is a completely different situation. It's the SEC. No team is safe.

Bruce Feldman of ESPN The Magazine ranked his top 10 darkhorse candidates for the 2011 Heisman Trophy last week.

Naturally, there were a few SEC guys on the list. How could there not be?

Auburn's Cam Newton and Alabama's Mark Ingram have proven unequivocally the past two years that preseason hype doesn't mean a whole lot when it comes to winning college football's most prestigious individual honor.

At least, in this era, it doesn't.

Nobody had Newton on the Heisman Trophy radar this time a year ago. He hadn't even been named the Tigers' starting quarterback yet and had played primarily in a mop-up role at Florida before leaving school.

The same goes for Ingram in 2009. While he had a solid freshman season with 728 rushing yards in 2008, he was a backup to Glen Coffee.

You're talking about two players who were the ultimate darkhorse candidates, guys who weren't even first- or second-team All-SEC selections the year prior to winning the Heisman Trophy.

So who are those guys this coming season in the SEC?

Feldman has South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery No. 5 on his list, Auburn running back Mike Dyer No. 8 and incoming Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell tied for No. 10.

Those SEC players that just missed the cut, according to Feldman, were Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson and LSU receiver Russell Shepard.

I'd add three more to Feldman's list -- LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray and Florida running back Chris Rainey.

As for the obvious Heisman candidates in the SEC next season, my top three right now, in alphabetical order, would be Arkansas running back Knile Davis, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore and Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Here's a look at Feldman's entire list of darkhorse Heisman candidates for 2011:

1. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia
2. Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska
3. EJ Manuel, QB, Florida State
4. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
5. Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
6. Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona State
7. Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan State
8. Mike Dyer, RB, Auburn
9. David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
t-10. Jeff Godfrey, QB, UCF
t-10. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia