ESPN College Football

While the college football season is still months away, recruiting is still going and going.

There have been a few changes since we last visited our SEC recruiting scorecard. South Carolina and Ole Miss made the biggest jumps, getting six commitments each since the last time we checked in, while Arkansas has gone from zero verbal commitments to five with new coach John L. Smith taking over.

Alabama and Florida are still leading the way when it comes to ESPN 150 members. Alabama leads with eight, while Florida has seven. Georgia is also getting in on the top-rated talent, as the Bulldogs' staff has gained verbals from six 150 members, while Texas A&M has five.

When you're done looking at the scorecard, take a look at how the Way-Too-Early Top 25 teams are doing in recruiting.

ALABAMA

2013 verbal commitments: 14

Spotlight: Quarterback Cooper Bateman of Salt Lake City is the No. 6 pocket-passer in the 2013 class, and he became very important for the Crimson Tide once Phillip Sims decided to transfer to Virginia this spring.

ESPN 150 members: 8 (ILB Reuben Foster of Auburn, Ala.; TE-H of O.J. Howard of Prattville, Ala.; RB Altee Tenpenny of North Little Rock, Ark.; QB-PP Cooper Bateman of Salt Lake City, Utah; RB Tyren Jones of Marietta, Ga.; DE Jonathan Allen of Ashburn, Va.; OG Andy Dodd of Lindale, Ga.; ATH ArDarius Stewart of Birmingham, Ala.)

ARKANSAS

2013 verbal commitments: 5

Spotlight: Austin Allen of Fayetteville, Ark., is a four-star prospect some have compared to current Razorbacks quarterback Tyler Wilson. I'd say that's a pretty good thing. The fact that he committed despite everything that has happened at Arkansas should provide other prospects interested in Arkansas with more confidence in the program.

ESPN 150 members: None

AUBURN

2013 verbal commitments: 9

Spotlight: Carl Lawson of Alpharette, Ga., is the No. 2 defensive end in the country, and is one of the most explosive players in the country, regardless of position. He registered 31 tackles for loss, including 15 sacks as a junior.

ESPN 150 members: 4 (DE Carl Lawson of Alpharetta, Ga.; DT Dee Liner of Muscle Shoals, Ala.; WR Earnest Robinson of Pinson, Ala.; ILB Trey Johnson of Lawrenceville, Ga.)

FLORIDA

2013 verbal commitments: 16

Spotlight: Running back Kelvin Taylor of Belle Glade, Fla., is not only the top running back prospect in the country, he's the big powerful/versatile back Florida has been searching for. He's been playing varsity ball since eighth grade, and rushed for 2,884 yards and 40 touchdowns during his junior season.

ESPN 150 members: 7 (DT Caleb Brantley of Crescent City, Fla.; RB Kelvin Taylor of Belle Glade, Fla.; OLB Daniel McMillian of Jacksonville, Fla.; WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla.; S Nick Washington of Jacksonville, Fla.; S Keanu Neal of Bushnell, Fla.; OLB Quinton Powell of Daytona Beach, Fla.)

GEORGIA

2013 verbal commitments: 17

Spotlight: Athlete Derrick Henry of Yulee, Fla., can line up all over the field at the next level, but has mainly made his name at running back. He could be dangerous at different spots in college, and rushed for nearly 2,800 yards last season with 39 rushing touchdowns.

ESPN 150 members: 6 (ATH Derrick Henry of Yulee, Fla.; ATH Tramel Terry of Goose Creek, S.C.; CB Shaq Wiggins of Tyrone, Ga.; QB-PP Brice Ramsey of Kingsland, Ga.; S Tray Matthews of Newnan, Ga.; ILB Johnny O'Neal of Dublin, Ga.)

KENTUCKY

2013 verbal commitments: 1

Spotlight: Defensive tackle Jacob Hyde of Manchester, Ky., remains Kentucky's only commitment at the moment, but he's an important get at a position of need. The 300-pounder has shown good strength, and can fill up the middle, especially on running plays.

ESPN 150 members: None

LSU

2013 verbal commitments: 12

Spotlight: Athlete Jeryl Brazil of Loranger, La., is an extremely versatile player who can play multiple positions, and has the speed and athleticism to make tons of plays, no matter where he lines up. He can also line up on the defensive side of the ball and play cornerback.

ESPN 150 members: None

MISSISSIPPI STATE

2013 verbal commitments: 2

Spotlight: Athlete Brandon Wells of Bogue Chitto, Miss., might play quarterback now, but he'll likely move to wide receiver in college. He'll be a project for coaches, but he's proven he can make plays when the ball is in his hands.

ESPN 150 members: None

MISSOURI

2013 verbal commitments: 12

Spotlight: Athlete Chase Abbington of St. Peters, Mo., is a dynamic athlete who could move around once he gets to the college level, but might be the most comfortable at running back right now. Still, with his size, he could be an outside receiver or a tight end.

ESPN 150 members: None

OLE MISS

2013 verbal commitments: 10

Spotlight: Wide receiver Dannon Cavil of San Antonio, Texas, is a big-bodied receiver who could even lineup as an H-back if needed. Ole Miss needs playmakers on offense going forward, and if Cavil continues to develop, the Rebels' staff will likely want to use him early.

ESPN 150 members: None

SOUTH CAROLINA

2013 verbal commitments: 12

Spotlight: Quarterback Connor Mitch of Raleigh, N.C., is a four-star prospect who appears to be the right kind of quarterback for Steve Spurrier's offense. He doesn't move a ton outside the pocket, but has a very strong throwing arm and a pretty quick release. He passed for 3,832 yards and 48 touchdowns as a junior.

ESPN 150 members: None

TENNESSEE

2013 verbal commitments: 7

Spotlight: Safety Kameron Miles of Mesquite, Texas, is a solid athlete who plays both defensive back and quarterback, but does most of his damage as a defender. He can be a cover guy or stop the run. He also isn't afraid to hit.

ESPN 150 members: None

TEXAS A&M

2013 verbal commitments: 17

Spotlight: Derrick Griffin of Rosenberg, Texas, is the top tight end prospect in the country. It looks like he'll grow to make it as a very athletic H-back. If he stays on this path, he'll become a true mismatch for defenders through the middle of the field.

ESPN 150 members: 5 (TE-H Derrick Griffin of Rosenberg, Texas; ATH LaQuvionte Gonzalez of Cedar Hill, Texas; QB Kohl Stewart of Houston, Texas; OG Joas Aguilar of N. Richland Hills, Texas; WR Jamar Gibson of Baytown, Texas)

VANDERBILT

2013 verbal commitments: 9

Spotlight: Quarterback Johnathan McCrary of Ellenwood, Ga., might be a bigger quarterback, but he has excellent speed and can make the tough throws on the run. He's a top dual-threat quarterback and threw for more than 2,400 yards with 27 touchdown passes last season.

ESPN 150 members: None

Just a few links before the Memorial Day weekend.

• Drama runs high at next week's SEC spring meetings.
• Alabama's Barrett Jones and other SEC players make the Rimington Award watch list.
• Florida coach Will Muschamp finishes up his Gator Club speaking tour.
• There won't be a raise for Mark Richt with his new contract, but bonuses could be coming.
• Former LSU commit Torshiro Davis talks decommitting from the Tigers before signing with Texas last year.
• USA Today takes a look at athletic directors and league commissioners and their salaries.
• Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze is moving the Rebels in the right direction.
• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley addresses discipline issues with his team.

David Ching writes : UGA Recruit 411: Get to know the very confident pass-grabbing UGA receiver commit Ty Smith.

Coach's Q&A : Colquitt Co. head coach Rush Propst has plenty to say -- about everything -- and he sees receiver Ty Smith helping Georgia morph into a more gunslinging kind of offense.

Ching: Contracts for Richt, Grantham are not ready to be finalized.

GREENSBORO, Ga. -- The Mark Richt contract news out of Thursday’s University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors meeting is that there is still no news.

“We are so close to getting the final T's crossed and I's dotted,” athletic director Greg McGarity told the board. “We’re there. It’s just a matter of legal wording that needs taking care of and deal points that have all been covered.”

McGarity informed the board that Richt’s $2.8 million base pay “basically stays where it is right now,” although the two sides are finalizing several changes to Richt’s deal.

UGA announced on March 12 that it was adding three years to the football coach’s contract, extending his deal through 2016. McGarity said Thursday that while Richt’s base salary will remain the same, his contract incentives -- pay bumps for accomplishments like BCS and SEC championships and bowl appearances -- will double.

“All the important performance bonuses, which means bowls, which means BCS championship appearances, they really increased 100 percent,” McGarity said. “One of the things was basically rewarding excellence. I don’t think anybody has a problem at all when we do great things as far as competing for SEC championships, participating in BCS bowls, so there is a lot of incentive in that.”

McGarity added that “there will be some adjustments” to Richt’s buyout and that the language in the document will be much simpler than in the coach’s current contract.

McGarity said he hopes to have versions of contracts for Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham -- who he confirmed is in line for a raise to his $750,000 salary -- available for public consumption in the near future, but the legal wrangling over final details prevented them from being completed in time for Thursday’s board meeting.

He said the holdup is not the product of contentious negotiations between UGA and the Richt and Grantham camps.

“We all agree on everything,” McGarity said. “It’s just a matter of going through that process of our legal counsel. I don’t know what their caseload is like. As long as it’s all agreed upon, everybody is sort of in a good place.”

McGarity first revealed that UGA would revisit the coaches’ contracts nearly seven months ago and has insisted for months that negotiations moved along smoothly. UGA president Michael Adams reiterated McGarity’s point that the lack of resolution is not a source of frustration on his end.

“This is simple nitpick lawyering at this point,” Adams said. “If it was something else, I think I would tell you. But these things sometimes just take more time than when you get into them you think they’re going to. They’re complicated. These are high-profile people. They have a lot of obligations to us and we require a lot of obligations to them.”

We asked you on Tuesday to vote for the most hated coach in SEC history -- past or present.

We're all about the love here on the SEC blog, but this is after all "Hate Week" at ESPN.com. Seriously, this is all done in fun, and some of your responses were priceless.

Here's a sampling:

Drew in Greenville, S.C., writes: I don't think there is any doubt that Lane Kiffin is the clear winner (loser). The two glaring differences between Kiffin and all the other candidates is that he left the program in shambles and he didn't win anything. All the other coaches had success at their respective schools and Kiffin never sniffed success. With Kiffin at the helm, if felt like I was always having to defend my school's decision to hire that clown. Currently, Dooley may not be winning much, but at least I don't have to defend him for his lack of honor.

Darth Tripous writes: The most hated SEC coach has to be Lane Kiffin. My hope is that one day Alshon Jeffery will say to Kiffin, "Fill 'er up please."

Mike in Mandeville, La., writes: I'm down on Nick Saban, but not for the reasons most LSU dislike him. I just need to look at the last play of his tenure at LSU, the Iowa "Hail Mary." Saban was DB coach and that garbage could happen? Nicky was always pulling boneheaded stunts, only saved by the awesome talent he recruited. Anyone remember his annual inability to pick a starting QB? How about UAB 13 LSU 10? The 2000 Arkansas game he failed to use a time out to punt with the wind and ended up with a 3-yarder to start the 2nd quarter? How about 4th & inches at his own 27 during the 2001 SEC title game? The dog show from 2002 that started in Auburn and culminated in the Cotton Bowl loss to Texas? 2003 Florida? UGa 2004? Nick seems to have learned a great deal from the NFL, but the poor in-game calls that cost LSU from 2000-2004 will always have Lil' Nicky No. 1 on my dog list!

R.J. in Portland, Ore., writes: The biggest SEC villain is no doubt Nick (the dictator) Saban. He oversigns, ruthlessly cuts players, has hissy fits in front of the media and undermines them. Not to mention he compares losses to horrific tragedies such as Pearl Harbor and has a terrible personality. The guy is everything that is wrong with college football.

Jason in Athens, Ga., writes: By far, it's the "Evil Genius" now at South Carolina. Being a lifelong DAWG fan, I despised him when he was at Florida, when we could only pull out one win in the 90's (1997: behind Bobo and Edwards running the show). And now he has gotten the best of us the past few years for sure. But as much as I wish he would leave, I have respect for him because he is without a question one of the best college football coaches in history. Anyone who can win an ACC championship with Duke is a helluva ball coach.

Sam in Athens, Ga., writes: Spurrier is still the most hated coach in the SEC for his snide comments. Saban may be despised by Auburn fans, but the rest of the league recognizes he is simply the best coach in college football today.

Byrd in Houston, Texas writes: How can anyone beat out Tommy Tuberville for the most hated coach? Ole Miss hates him for leaving. Bama hates him for beating them more often than not. Auburn hates him for "losing" toward the end of his tenure. The rest of the SEC hates him. Close second: Jackie Sherrill.

Chris in Tampa, Fla., writes: It's Gene Chizik. He has a terrible record and a bought national title. But, somehow, he has the puppet Auburn fans dancing on his string.

Barry in Charleston, Tenn., writes: James Franklin is the coach I despise most. Dirty on the field and talks too much off it, especially for a program that has always been awful. I hope Candy's fans realize he won't be there once he gets a better offer from somewhere else.

Brian in Washington, D.C., writes: Saban. Period. Petrino would make the discussion if he still met the employment requirement. Without him, there is no argument.

Trevor writes: Gotta be Derek Dooley. He makes horrible remarks about Vanderbilt, has no originality, and let's face it, who really does like the orange pants? Even Johnny Majors still cringes at the thought of orange pants. Spurrier would be a close second.

Michael in Eden Prairie, Minn., writes: Pat Dye for sure. He was the one who turned my Gators into the NCAA in the early 1980s for paying players while the whole time doing it himself. Remember Eric Ramsey?

Realdawgsnocowbell writes: Does it have to be a head coach? How about Willie Martinez?

John in Baton Rouge, La., writes: There have been many coaches in the SEC that are so much fun to hate. For me, though it's none other than Phil Fulmer. Of all his accomplishments and successes, the first thing that comes to my mind is a particular game played Sept. 26, 2005. It was an extremely hot Monday night after Hurricane Rita. It was my freshman year at LSU and my first time in the student section. With the community recently rocked by two hurricanes, everyone was excited to have a game to watch in Tiger Stadium. Sadly, we squandered a 21-point lead and fell in overtime. I remember clearly the sight of Gerald Riggs scoring the winning touchdown and the moment of dead silence that came over the crowd as we realized what had just happened. Tennessee then planted their flag at midfield and Coach Fulmer in his post game interview said that Rick Clausen was now the greatest story in America . It wasn't the greatest story in America. The greatest story in America at the moment had just been ruined. Ever since, Fulmer has been the coach that I loved to root against!

Jordan in Birmingham, Ala., writes: Without a doubt, the most hated coach to ever come through the SEC is Phillip Fulmer! Roll Tide!

What players have the most to prove in the SEC this coming season?

As the season creeps closer and closer, we're going to take a look at some and we're breaking it up by divisions.

I’ll take the East, and Chris will take the West later today.

Here’s my top five in the East:

1. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia: Last season, Crowell was thrown right into the fire when he was named the starter coming out of fall camp. The true freshman had some early success, but steadily saw his popularity dip after nagging injuries continued to keep him hanging near the training table during games. Even though he was named the SEC's freshman of the year, his first season in Athens was headlined by off-field and injury issues. However, it sounds as though things are starting to turn around for Crowell, who had a much more focused and productive spring. Players said Crowell has become a more mature player, and had no problem dealing with injuries this time. He'll have to carry that over to the fall, because Georgia's offense is relying on him, and there are other backs ready to take his spot.

2. Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee: No one has questioned Bray's arm strength or throwing ability, but his leadership and focus have been questioned. He also hasn't gone through an entire season yet, as a thumb injury cut short his 2011 season. Bray said this spring that he knew his leadership skills were lacking, and that he coasted at times, so he started stepping up and speaking out immediately after the Vols' season-ending loss to Kentucky last fall. It carried over to the spring, but we still want to see that leader emerge this fall. Tennessee has a talented group of receivers, but if Bray can't really lead them, the Vols won't be able to use them to their best abilities.

3. Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina: When healthy, Lattimore is one of the best running backs in the entire country. He's big, powerful and has deceptive speed. However, he's coming off of an ACL injury that cut short his 2011 season. Lattimore was held out of spring practice, but the coaches have insisted that he's ahead of schedule in his rehab and even started running sprints this spring. But he hasn't had any contact since his injury, and we won't know how affective he'll be for his team until we see him in a real game this fall. Regardless, Lattimore should get some early Heisman love this season.If he's truly healthy he makes South Carolina a real contender for an SEC title.

4. Xavier Nixon, OT, Florida: As a high school senior, Nixon was one of the most sought-after linemen around. He enjoyed a solid freshman year at Florida, but has since dealt with inconsistency. Weight fluctuation hasn't helped. Last year, Nixon was picked on by pass-rushers and developed a tendency to lose focus and discipline on the field. He was called for a handful of penalties (including several false-start calls), that stalled many drives. This spring, Nixon added some much-needed weight and appeared to actually keep it on this time. He will be looking over his shoulder at a few players this fall, so his spot isn't guaranteed.

5. James Franklin, QB, Missouri: Franklin enjoyed a breakout sophomore year that saw him pass for more than 2,800 yards and rush for nearly 1,000. Now, he'll try to do that against SEC defenses. Franklin said during the spring that his main objective going forward is to be a pass-first quarterback, but his progress was stalled by a shoulder injury. While the coaches expect him back for the season opener, another shot to it could sideline him for even longer, meaning the Tigers will have to turn to an unproven backup. Missouri's offensive success is riding on Franklin's health, and this team's success is riding on Franklin's play in a conference known for its defensive talent and speed. As Franklin goes, so will Mizzou.

David Ching writes : Going up against Georgia's brick-wall veteran defense is daunting, but this spring it made the young, suspect O-line better, in turn helping the entire offense become more prepared for the 2012 season.

When is a brand new contract not exactly a ringing endorsement of a coach?

When that coach, heading into his 12th season at the school and coming off that school’s first appearance in the SEC championship game in six years, doesn’t get any more guaranteed money in his new deal.

Some of the details of Georgia coach Mark Richt’s new contract started to trickle out Thursday following the UGA Athletic Association board of directors meeting in Greensboro, Ga.

The headline grabber was that Richt’s salary would essentially stay the same, according to Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity, although Richt’s incentives package will be sweetened.

Richt’s annual salary is right around $2.9 million.

These contract talks have been ongoing for nearly six months, and McGarity said Thursday that the deal, which will keep Richt under contract through 2016, was still not finalized.

McGarity also said that Richt’s buyout would be adjusted, and it will be interesting to see how that buyout is adjusted.

Extra years on a contract do not amount to much if there isn’t guaranteed money attached to those extra years.

If you’re looking at this whole thing from Georgia’s perspective, it’s understandable that they’re hesitant to load up Richt’s contract with a bunch of guaranteed money. After all, there was considerable rumbling prior to last season that Richt was teetering coming off the Bulldogs’ 6-7 finish in 2010.

It only got worse after the Bulldogs started 0-2 last season before reeling off 10 straight wins and playing their way into the SEC championship game.

So here we are, and the position of the Georgia brass is pretty clear at this point: They don’t mind paying more money to Richt, but only if he wins SEC championships and goes to BCS bowl games.

As McGarity was quoted as saying, it’s about “rewarding excellence.”

But it’s also a telltale sign that McGarity and the movers and shakers at Georgia aren’t convinced that Richt is their coach for the long-term future.

Otherwise, this deal would have been done a long time ago.

Phil Steele has released his 2012 preseason All-SEC teams [PDF], and the first unit is dominated by Alabama and LSU players.

Of the 28 spots on the first team, 12 are occupied by players from Alabama and LSU, and that counts special teams. Alabama placed six players on the first team and LSU five, although Tyrann Mathieu was named as both a cornerback and punt returner.

The Alabama players making the first team were offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, offensive guard Chance Warmack, center Barrett Jones, noseguard Jesse Williams and linebackers C.J. Mosley and Nico Johnson. In addition to Mathieu, the LSU players earning first-team honors were offensive tackle Alex Hurst, defensive end Sam Montgomery, safety Eric Reid and punter Brad Wing.

The biggest surprise to me in looking over Steele's top four teams was that LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo was only third team. Mingo tied for third in the SEC last season with 15 tackles for loss. Also, Florida defensive end Dominique Easley was only fourth team, but Easley did tear his ACL in the last game of the regular season last year. Tennessee's Tyler Bray was not selected among the top four quarterbacks.

Here's a look at the entire first team:

OFFENSE

QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
RB Marcus Lattimore, S. Carolina
RB Knile Davis, Arkansas
WR Ryan Swope, Texas A&M
WR Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee
WR Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn
C Barrett Jones, Alabama
OG Chance Warmack, Alabama
OG Larry Warford, Kentucky
OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
OT Alex Hurst, LSU

DEFENSE

DE Sam Montgomery, LSU
DT Jesse Williams, Alabama
DT John Jenkins, Georgia
DE Corey Lemonier, Auburn
LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama
LB Nico Johnson, Alabama
LB Sean Porter, Texas A&M
CB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi St.
S Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
S Eric Reid, LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Caleb Sturgis, Florida
P Brad Wing, LSU
KR Tre Mason, Auburn
PR Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

Links here! Links here!

• LSU cornerback Ronnie Vinson leaves LSU for Southeastern Louisiana.
• Raises are coming for Georgia's coaches.
• Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin says Florida coach Will Muschamp needs to worry about his own team before making comments about College Station, Texas.
• The recent pledge from the Fayetteville, Ark., trio has the Razorbacks right were they should be.
• South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney reflects on his first year with the Gamecocks.
• Athlon Sports wonders if Georgia can win the SEC title in 2012.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that the ACC once dreamed of challenging the SEC.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer must have misremembered his stance on a college football playoff.

There's no doubt that Alabama should be outstanding again in its offensive line this coming season.

College football analyst Phil Steele is certainly a believer. In his "Phil Steele's 2012 College Preview," which will hit newstands June 5, Steele has center Barrett Jones, guard Chance Warmack and tackle D.J. Fluker making up three-fifths of his preseason first-team All-America selections on the offensive line.

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo and Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis were the other SEC players to earn first-team honors. Mathieu was selected at two different positions -- cornerback and punt returner.

The SEC players receiving second-team All-America mention from Steele were:

• Arkansas running back Knile Davis
• Tennessee receiver Da'Rick Rogers
• Arkansas receiver Cobi Hamilton
• Kentucky offensive guard Larry Warford
• Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel
• Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews
• LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery
• Alabama nose guard Jesse Williams
• Georgia nose guard John Jenkins
• Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley
• Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks
• LSU safety Eric Reid
• LSU punter Brad Wing

The third-team All-Americans from the SEC were:

• Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson
• Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen
• LSU offensive tackle Alex Hurst
• Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd
• Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier
• Alabama linebacker Nico Johnson
• Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter
• Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner
• Alabama safety Robert Lester

The following from the SEC made the fourth team:

• Texas A&M receiver Ryan Swope
• Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg
• Arkansas offensive guard Alvin Bailey
• LSU offensive tackle Chris Faulk
• South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney
• Florida safety Matt Elam
• Texas A&M Dustin Harris

Kipp Adams writes : Talented O-lineman Brandon Kublanow has long considered an offer from UGA to be a dream, but a host of other programs thought the same of him. He took his time through the recruiting process, but followed his heart Wednesday and became a Bulldog.

Adams : Super competitive, strong and intense, Kublanow will afford Georgia great versatility on the O-line. It also doesn’t hurt that his HS coach says Kublanow is the best lineman he has seen in 16 years of coaching.

Video interview: Brandon Kublanow

DawgNation Roundtable : UGA tied for the second biggest NFL class in the 2012 draft, and it could've been bigger. Who among the newest Bulldogs to go pro will have a banner career?

A check of what's shaking in and around the SEC:

• Tennessee tight end Cameron Clear was caught by UT police using a laptop that had been reported stolen by a Tennessee baseball player.
• Alabama is trying to flip Georgia's top recruit -- ESPN 150 running back Derrick Henry of Yulee, Fla.
• The SEC's plans for a television network could set a record for money, writes David Climer of The Tennessean.
• The shifting conference landscape could help Kentucky, but hurt Louisville.
• Florida coach Will Muschamp says the Gators' young offense will mature and grow up.
• Auburn is hoping its Big Cat recruiting recruiting weekend will produce results again.
• College football needs an early signing period more than ever, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News.
• Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson has a good read on Paul Petrino, who's back as the Hogs' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
• LSU's football team is eager to bounce back from its flop in the BCS National Championship Game last year.

We take a closer look today at the Georgia Bulldogs' 2012 schedule:

Nonconference opponents (with 2011 records)

Sept. 1: Buffalo (3-9)
Sept. 15: Florida Atlantic (1-11)
Nov. 17: Georgia Southern (11-3)
Nov. 24: Georgia Tech (8-5)

SEC home games

Sept. 22: Vanderbilt
Sept. 29: Tennessee
Oct. 27: vs. Florida, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Nov. 3: Ole Miss

SEC road games

Sept. 8: at Missouri
Oct. 6: at South Carolina
Oct. 20: at Kentucky
Nov. 10: at Auburn

Gut-check time: The South Carolina game on Oct. 6 has as much or more riding on it for Georgia as any season in recent memory, and it's always a pivotal contest. Until last season, the loser of this game had never advanced to the SEC championship game. The Bulldogs were able to change that by winning 10 in a row after their loss to the Gamecocks the second week of the season. Georgia has lost two in a row in the series, and the Bulldogs would prefer to control their own destiny in the East race heading into the latter part of October as opposed to needing help. Winning in Columbia, S.C., is never easy, but the road to a second straight trip to the SEC championship game for the Bulldogs will almost certainly go through the Palmetto State. What's more, Georgia has never lost three in a row to South Carolina since the teams first started playing back in 1894 (64 meetings).

Trap game: With the reported suspensions on defense for Georgia, the SEC opener at Missouri the second week of the season will be one tough assignment, especially with all the hoopla surrounding Missouri's first-ever SEC game.

Snoozer: There's the opener against Buffalo and then Florida Atlantic's visit two weeks later. Between them, they were 4-20 last season.

Telltale stretch: From Oct. 6 through Nov. 10, the Bulldogs only play one game at home. Four of the five games in that stretch are away from Sanford Stadium, and it starts with the trip to South Carolina. Then comes a bye week followed by an away game at Kentucky and the annual clash with Florida in Jacksonville. After Ole Miss' visit the first weekend of November, Georgia goes back on the road the following week to face Auburn.

Final analysis: Georgia is one of only two Eastern Division teams that avoids all three of the Western Division heavyweights. The other one is Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs don't have to face Alabama, Arkansas or LSU during the 2012 regular season, whereas South Carolina -- which figures to be Georgia's stiffest competition in the East -- has to play at LSU and gets Arkansas at home. That's a huge advantage for Georgia any way you slice it. The Bulldogs also have a much cushier nonconference schedule than last season. In effect, they're trading Boise State for Buffalo. Unless the Bulldogs have a rash of injuries, this is a schedule tailor-made for 10 wins.

We asked the same question we did a year ago at this time ... and got the same response.

If you could only watch one SEC game next season, the game that was absolutely the must-see game in the league, which one would it be?

You the fans picked Alabama-LSU last year, and that's the game you picked again this year -- Alabama vs. LSU on Nov. 3 in Tiger Stadium.

With more than 10,000 votes cast in our SportsNation poll, the Alabama-LSU game drew 42 percent of the vote. The Georgia-South Carolina game on Oct. 6 in Columbia, S.C., was second with 27 percent of the vote.

Alabama's visit to Arkansas on Sept. 15 was third with 15 percent of the vote, meaning the Crimson Tide were involved in two of the top three must-see games.

Given the recent history between Alabama and LSU, it's hard to pick a game that would rise above their Nov. 3 meeting this coming season. LSU won 9-6 in overtime last season in Tuscaloosa, and Alabama came back in the BCS National Championship Game to spank LSU 21-0. Each of the last five regular-season meetings between Alabama and LSU has either gone into overtime or been decided in the final few possessions.

The reality is that we've all come to expect great games when these two teams clash, and it's a lot like watching an NFL Futures contest. Nine players who played in the game last season were taken in the top three rounds of the NFL draft this past April.