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.

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.

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 concludes with a look at the league's top returning punt returners.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Tight end
• Sacks
• Tackles
• Interceptions
• Kicker
• Punter
• Kickoff returner

The SEC returns six of the top 10 punt returners from 2011. Unfortunately for all those interested in watching one of the most electrifying plays in football, the SEC's top returner won't be back. Arkansas' Joe Adams must have had a blast returning punts last year. If you don't believe me just look here. He led the nation with four punt returns for touchdowns and led the SEC with an average of 16.9 yards per return. His moves will be missed, but the top player returning (we're going by average per return) isn't too bad either:

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU: He averaged 15.6 yards on 27 returns, had a long of 92 yards and recorded two touchdowns. If Adams was the most exciting punt returner in the country, Mathieu was a close second. He completely turned the Arkansas and Georgia games to LSU's favor with three huge returns. The first came on a 92-yarder against the Razorbacks to tie the game at 14 in the second quarter and helped spark a 34-3 run for the Tigers. Against Georgia in the SEC championship game, he gave LSU its first points of the game with a 62-yard touchdown return in the second quarter, but his most exciting return came on a scintillating 47-yarder in the third that he took down to Georgia's 17-yard line. Mathieu is a game-breaking returner and the best thing teams can do is just kick away from him.

The SEC returns five more of the top 10 punt returners from 2011:

Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State: He averaged 10.4 yards on 16 returns, had a long of 65 yards and recorded one touchdown.

Ace Sanders, WR, South Carolina: He averaged 9.3 yards on 12 returns, had a long of 68 yards and recorded one touchdown.

Marquel Wade, WR, Arkansas (currently not a part of Arkansas' team): He averaged 8.2 yards on 12 returns and had a long of 19 yards.

Quan Bray, WR, Auburn: He averaged 7.4 yards on 13 returns and had a long of 24 yards.

Jonathan Krause, WR, Vanderbilt: He averaged 4.1 yards on 19 returns and had a long of 18 yards.

Teams will likely kick away from Mathieu more this fall, so he could have a tougher time going for the crown in 2012. One player who could really push for the top spot in this category is Wade. But with him not currently being with the team following his recent arrest, he might not have the chance. Wade is a very dynamic athlete and got to learn from the best in Adams. If he comes back, he'll definitely compete for the throne.

Banks could have competition from his own teammate in Chad Bumphis. Bumphis only returned eight punts last fall, but returned one 82 yards for a score and averaged 16.6 yards per return.

Krause is someone to keep an eye on. Coach James Franklin was very pleased with how his spring went, but he might have to battle incoming freshman Brian Kimbrow here as well.

Texas A&M's Dustin Harris could certainly challenge for the crown after the season he had in 2011. He led the Big 12, averaging 18.6 yards per return, had a long of 72 yards and registered a touchdown. Last season against Kansas, Harris set the school record with 162 punt return yards, including that 72-yard score.

Ole Miss' Jeff Scott still has some academic hurdles to get over, but when he's fielding punts, he's one of the most fun to watch in the SEC. He averaged 17.2 yards per return on just eight returns last year and returned one for a touchdown.

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.

South Carolina's Steve Spurrier can handle being one of those coaches everybody loves to hate. Matter of fact, deep down, he loves it. From Chris Low's story:

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Steve Spurrier insists that his bark is much worse than his bite.

But to much of the college football world, the Head Ball Coach will forever be known as that wise-cracking son of a Presbyterian minister who's won more SEC games than any other coach in history not named Bear Bryant and revels in rubbing it in the faces of his opponents.

The only thing more entertaining than some of the plays Spurrier has drawn up in what's sure to be a Hall of Fame coaching career are some of his zingers.

That is, unless you're on the receiving end of those zingers.

And we learned earlier this spring that, even at 67, Spurrier is still on top of his game, which is probably good news for South Carolina fans and not such good news for everybody else in the SEC.

When he's chirping the loudest, that's usually a pretty good sign that he thinks he has a pretty good team.

His classic one-liner in April was that he'd prefer to play Georgia that second week of the season "because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended."

That's vintage Spurrier.

To some, he's beyond cocky and absorbed in himself.

To others, he's a breath of fresh air, and unlike a lot of coaches who are programmed to the point of being robotic, Spurrier will say whatever's on his mind.

To read the rest of Chris' story, click here.

ESPN Insider's "20 teams that can win it all" series is previewing each of the top 20 teams in Brian Fremeau's five-year program metric (for a full explanation, and links to all of the previews as they are published, click here), with the help of ESPN's Stats & Information group.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Travis Haney took a look at South Carolina. Haney discussed three reasons why South Carolina can win it all and three reasons why the Gamecocks won't.

Here's a little of what Haney said about the Gamecocks' chances of winning it all this year:

"Spurrier has a quarterback at South Carolina. There are no question marks, with respects to performance -- or off-field behavior -- any longer. Connor Shaw became a long-awaited answer last season, taking over for the much-maligned Stephen Garcia.

The Gamecocks went 7-1 with Shaw at quarterback, losing only at then-No. 7 Arkansas. It's difficult to argue with those results."

My thoughts: Shaw's development is big for South Carolina's offense. There's no doubt that Shaw can make plays with his feet, but Spurrier wants a passer. He was a passer and his quarterbacks at Florida were passers. Shaw showed more of a pass-first mentality during the second half of the season and it sounds like it carried over into the spring. Now, he'll have to continue that this fall. Old habits do die hard, but what would really help him is if Marcus Lattimore is healthy.

Speaking of Lattimore, Haney threw out some pretty interesting facts about Lattimore's running habits when he was healthy. One that I was really impressed with was: "Lattimore was not touched until he was five yards past the line of scrimmage on 94 of his 412 rushes (22.8 percent) in his first two seasons (according to ESPN Stats & Info). Seventy-two of those runs were between the tackles." He also added that it continues to sound like Lattimore is ahead of schedule.

My thoughts: A healthy Lattimore would certainly add some confidence to the thought of saying South Carolina is an SEC title contender and beyond. When he's on top of his game he's one of the best running backs in the country. But no one really knows how he'll respond this season and how healthy he'll actually be. We won't really know until he takes real contact in a real game. Until we know where Lattimore's health stands there will still be speculation surrounding this offense.

Haney also talks about the defensive line, which I think will be very good this fall. Ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor should be pretty annoying to guard and tackles Kelcy Quarles and Byron Jerideau showed a lot of improvement this spring. This line will be pretty darn good this fall, which should help the entire defense.

As for three reasons why the Gamecocks falter, Haney talks the lack of proven receivers, the loss of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson and having to play LSU and Arkansas.

My thoughts: I agree with all three and I still feel most of the concern is in the secondary. Starting corners Stephon Gilmore and C.C. Whitlock are gone and DeVonte Holloman is moving back to the Spur, leaving an opening at strong safety. That leaves three spots that need to be filled. Two will be filled by rising sophomores, while veteran Akeem Auguste will take a corner spot. The problem is that he hasn't played since 2010 and hasn't played corner since 2009.

Fremeau's projection:

Most likely result: 8-4 (30 percent likelihood)
Projection window: 7-5 to 10-2 (86 percent likelihood)

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

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 continues with a look at the league's top returning kickoff returners.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Tight end
• Sacks
• Tackles
• Interceptions
• Kicker
• Punter

The SEC returns seven of the top 10 kick returners from 2011. The top three returners are back, so kickers beware. However, the ball will now be moved forward five yards to the 35-yard line for kickoffs, meaning returns should occur less often. But that also means they'll now be more important. We're going by average per return. Note: To qualify, a player must have at least one return per team's games played. This is one of the most exciting plays in football and here's a look at the SEC's top returner:

Tre Mason, RB, Auburn: He returned 24 kicks for an average of 26.4 yards per return, had a long of 97 yards and recorded a touchdown. Mason dealt with being in a crowded backfield by making a name for himself in the return game during the first half of the season. He did most of his damage in the first two weeks, grabbing 10 returns for 348 yards and had a touchdown in the season opener against Utah State. He saw his production dip as the season went on because of injuries and his fumbling issues. He eventually lost his job, but could he make a comeback for his crown in 2012?

The SEC returns six more of the top kickoff returners in 2012:

Andre Debose, WR, Florida: He returned 19 kicks for an average of 26.1 yards per return, had a long of 99 yards and registered one touchdown.

Dennis Johnson, RB, Arkansas: He returned 18 kicks for an average of 25.6 yards per return, had a long of 98 yards and registered one touchdown.

Tobias Singleton, RB, Ole Miss: He returned 21 kicks for an average of 24.6 yards per return and had a long of 47 yards.

Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt: He returned 31 kicks for an average of 23.8 yards per return, had a long of 96 yards and registered one touchdown.

Devrin Young, RB, Tennessee: He returned 27 kicks for an average of 23.3 yards per return and had a long of 67 yards.

Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina: He returned 20 kicks for an average of 23.2 yards and had a long of 45 yards.

With kickoffs being moved up, we might see even less in the kick return game this fall. We could also see a new winner for this category if Mason doesn't get his job back. And with the amount of production he'll have on offense, his returns might get cut short anyway. Keep an eye on Mason's teammates, Onterio McCalebb and Quan Bray. McCalebb averaged 30.1 yards per return and had a touchdown on just 11 returns, while Bray averaged 24.2 on 10 returns.

Johnson has always been very dangerous in the return game. He entered the 2011 season as the SEC's active leader for career kickoff return yards and total return yards with 2,014 and he added 461 last fall. Johnson will likely have more steam to work with this fall with Knile Davis eating into his carries at running back. That will make him even tougher to stop in the return game and counting him out of the race for the return crown is just silly.

Debose was named the nation’s top kick returner by the College Football Performance Awards in 2010, but has always had some issues with his decision-making in the return game. Still, there's no doubting his speed when he finds a hole. When he's focused, he's exciting to watch, but he's yet to keep his focus for an entire season as a returner.

LaDarius Perkins will have more responsibility in Mississippi State's offense, but he was sometimes fun to watch in the return game.

Missouri receiver T.J. Moe averaged 23.3 yards on 26 kicks, but didn't return a kick longer than 49 yards. Still, he's shifty enough and has the vision to make a run at this thing.

When you start selecting coaching villains, so much of it gets back to who's doing the selecting.

For instance, in the realm of the Alabama Football Nation, good luck in finding somebody who doesn't revere Nick Saban. Of course, the folks in and around the 334 area code in that state probably haven't spent a lot of time posing for pictures with Saban's statue at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Steve Spurrier is one of the most refreshing and funny figures in all of college football. That is, unless your team has been on the wrong end of one of his zingers after he's beaten you a bunch of times in a row.

Something says Urban Meyer isn't as popular these days in Florida as he was in 2008 when he was putting the finishing touches on the Gators' second national championship in three years.

And would anybody in the SEC stop to lend a hand to Lane Kiffin if he were broken down on the side of the road? Alshon Jeffery might pump his gas for him, but that's a story for another day.

Anyway, you get the idea.

Now it's on you, the fans, to tell us via our SportsNation poll who gets the top prize as the SEC's most hated coach -- past or present.

We've come up with five choices.

We'll review the results later this week.

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.

It's been a while since I tackled links. I hope I remember how to do this ...

• President Barack Obama mentions Missouri's football team during his commencement speech at Joplin (Mo.) High School.
• Arkansas lands commitments from Fayetteville trio.
• The shifting conference landscape could benefit Kentucky and hurt Louisville.
• Athlon Sports takes a deeper look at South Carolina's 2012 season.
• Alabama commit Jonathan Allen brings versatility and potential as a defensive end and a Jack linebacker.
• Seth Emerson of the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph takes a look at Georgia's fourth-most important in 2012: cornerback Damian Swann.
• Don't expect Georgia coach Mark Richt to use social media any time soon.
• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley gets a boost from new athletic director Dave Hart.
• Tennessee gets its seventh commitment in its 2013 class from safety Kameron Miles.
• LSU gets a commitment from quarterback prospect Hayden Rettig.

This week, ESPN.com is taking a look at the coaches we love to hate. We kicked things off on the blog by looking at this year's top SEC villain.

Now, we're asking you guys to weigh in. We want to know who you think the most hated current or past coaches are in the SEC. You can dig into your record books or throw out names of coaches still roaming SEC sidelines. Go as far back as your memory will take you, or go as recent as your college days -- which might be about the same.

You can let us know by hitting up the mailbag today. We'll create a poll with the top candidates later today so get those responses in quickly.