SEC: Tennessee Volunteers
Wasn’t it just yesterday that Alabama’s Nick Saban was raising that crystal trophy out in California?
It sure seems so, but the start of spring practice in the SEC is only two weeks away. LSU cranks it up on Feb. 25, which means it’s time for the pre-spring power rankings.
There’s not much drama as to who’s No. 1. The Crimson Tide haven’t lost a regular-season game since 2007 and are coming off their first national championship in 17 years.
Even with nine starters departing on defense, they still head into the spring as the clear-cut favorite in the SEC.
Here’s a look at the entire poll:
1. Alabama: We’ll find out early about Alabama. The Crimson Tide face Penn State the second week of the season in Tuscaloosa. Losing nine starters on defense will be a challenge to overcome. But make no mistake. There's no shortage of defensive talent in Alabama’s program. New faces will emerge, and Nick Saban is one of the best in business when it comes to developing players. The offense should be even better than it was a year ago. How good will the Mark Ingram-Trent Richardson tandem be next season? Repeating as SEC champions isn't easy. It hasn't been done since Tennessee did it in 1997 and 1998.
2. Florida: The Gators get the prize for losing the most talent in the SEC when you consider all the juniors leaving early for the NFL. John Brantley finally gets his shot at quarterback and right away will be one of the better passers in the league. How successful he is in his first season will depend largely on the players around him. Tim Tebow won’t be around anymore to convert all the key third downs. Defensively, Florida will again be strong. There’s a ton of untapped talent on that side of the ball in the program. The Gators won’t win 13 games again, but 10 or 11 isn’t out of the question.
3. LSU: Having LSU this high may be a bit of a gamble. But when you look at the talent on the Tigers’ roster, both offensively and defensively, they’re still a top 3 team … for now. Here’s betting that quarterback Jordan Jefferson breaks out and has a much more productive junior season. And somehow, the Tigers have to get Russell Shepard involved in the offense. John Chavis’ defense played well enough to win the West last season and will give the Tigers a chance in every game again next season. It’s a critical year for Les Miles. He needs to make a run at another title and finish strongly.
4. Arkansas: Watch out for the Hogs in 2010. And really watch out for them if some of the younger players on defense grow up and play more consistently. Arkansas still isn’t going to be able to win every game 41-38. But with quarterback Ryan Mallett returning along with his arsenal of playmakers, the Hogs should be the most explosive offense in the league. Mallett will also be better equipped to operate against some of the better defenses now that he’s been through the league one time.
5. Auburn: One of the biggest pickups in the offseason for any team in the SEC was the Tigers signing junior college quarterback Cameron Newton. He looks like a perfect fit in Gus Malzahn’s offense. Look for the Tigers to play at an even faster pace offensively next season. The real trick will be picking up the pace defensively and not giving up as many points. If some of the newcomers in this highly touted signing class can help on defense, Auburn has a chance to make a run at nine or 10 wins in 2010.
6. South Carolina: If ever the Gamecocks were going to make a serious push to be in Atlanta for the SEC championship game, this may be the year. They return many of their key players on offense and defense, and Stephen Garcia all of a sudden looks like a seasoned quarterback. Ellis Johnson’s defense will be up to the task, and South Carolina gets Georgia in Columbia next season in the second week. It’s all going to come down to whether or not the Gamecocks can finally figure it out in the offensive line. So far, they haven't.
7. Georgia: The Bulldogs will sport several new looks in 2010. They have a new defensive coordinator in Todd Grantham, who’s implementing a new 3-4 defense. They will also have a new quarterback. Redshirt freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are expected to battle it out for the starting job this spring. The Bulldogs are talented enough to make some noise in the East. The Washaun Ealey-A.J. Green combo on offense should be something to see. It remains to be seen, though, if they can improve enough on defense to be a factor.
8. Ole Miss: The Rebels loom as the team most likely to take the biggest tumble next season. They were a senior-heavy team a year ago, and most of their playmakers on offense and defense are gone. More than ever, Tyrone Nix’s defense is going to have to carry Ole Miss in 2010. The Rebels should again be strong up front defensively with Kentrell Lockett and Jerrell Powe returning. But the offense will include new faces across the board, including a new starter at quarterback.
9. Tennessee: New coach Derek Dooley may not be ready to call it a rebuilding job, but that’s what he faces in Knoxville. The Vols are frighteningly thin on the offensive line and at defensive tackle, and that’s not a good combination in the SEC. They will also have a new starter at quarterback, not to mention a killer schedule. Tennessee has lost 13 games in the last two seasons. That total could easily approach 20 following next season. In other words, it's not going to be a quick fix for Dooley.
10. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs appear poised to make a move under Dan Mullen after coming close to being bowl eligible a year ago. The young talent in this program is impressive, headed up by Chad Bumphis, Johnthan Banks and Fletcher Cox. Pernell McPhee returns as one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the league, but the real question for Mississippi State is on offense. Replacing Anthony Dixon won’t be easy. Is redshirt freshman Tyler Russell ready to win the starting quarterback job?
11. Kentucky: The Joker Phillips era begins with a lot of question marks on defense. The Wildcats lost a ton of good defensive football players from last season, including Corey Peters, Micah Johnson, Sam Maxwell and Trevard Lindley. The good news is that Randall Cobb is back on offense (and special teams), and Phillips can build around him offensively. Getting back to a bowl game for a fifth straight year may be a tall order for the Wildcats.
12. Vanderbilt: Quarterback Larry Smith will have some competition this spring in the form of junior college newcomer Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Commodores can’t possibly have as many injuries as they had a year ago, which means they’re a solid bet to improve on their 2-10 season. They should again be good on defense. It just gets down to whether or not they can generate any type of passing game.
It sure seems so, but the start of spring practice in the SEC is only two weeks away. LSU cranks it up on Feb. 25, which means it’s time for the pre-spring power rankings.
There’s not much drama as to who’s No. 1. The Crimson Tide haven’t lost a regular-season game since 2007 and are coming off their first national championship in 17 years.
Even with nine starters departing on defense, they still head into the spring as the clear-cut favorite in the SEC.
Here’s a look at the entire poll:
1. Alabama: We’ll find out early about Alabama. The Crimson Tide face Penn State the second week of the season in Tuscaloosa. Losing nine starters on defense will be a challenge to overcome. But make no mistake. There's no shortage of defensive talent in Alabama’s program. New faces will emerge, and Nick Saban is one of the best in business when it comes to developing players. The offense should be even better than it was a year ago. How good will the Mark Ingram-Trent Richardson tandem be next season? Repeating as SEC champions isn't easy. It hasn't been done since Tennessee did it in 1997 and 1998.
2. Florida: The Gators get the prize for losing the most talent in the SEC when you consider all the juniors leaving early for the NFL. John Brantley finally gets his shot at quarterback and right away will be one of the better passers in the league. How successful he is in his first season will depend largely on the players around him. Tim Tebow won’t be around anymore to convert all the key third downs. Defensively, Florida will again be strong. There’s a ton of untapped talent on that side of the ball in the program. The Gators won’t win 13 games again, but 10 or 11 isn’t out of the question.
3. LSU: Having LSU this high may be a bit of a gamble. But when you look at the talent on the Tigers’ roster, both offensively and defensively, they’re still a top 3 team … for now. Here’s betting that quarterback Jordan Jefferson breaks out and has a much more productive junior season. And somehow, the Tigers have to get Russell Shepard involved in the offense. John Chavis’ defense played well enough to win the West last season and will give the Tigers a chance in every game again next season. It’s a critical year for Les Miles. He needs to make a run at another title and finish strongly.
4. Arkansas: Watch out for the Hogs in 2010. And really watch out for them if some of the younger players on defense grow up and play more consistently. Arkansas still isn’t going to be able to win every game 41-38. But with quarterback Ryan Mallett returning along with his arsenal of playmakers, the Hogs should be the most explosive offense in the league. Mallett will also be better equipped to operate against some of the better defenses now that he’s been through the league one time.
5. Auburn: One of the biggest pickups in the offseason for any team in the SEC was the Tigers signing junior college quarterback Cameron Newton. He looks like a perfect fit in Gus Malzahn’s offense. Look for the Tigers to play at an even faster pace offensively next season. The real trick will be picking up the pace defensively and not giving up as many points. If some of the newcomers in this highly touted signing class can help on defense, Auburn has a chance to make a run at nine or 10 wins in 2010.
6. South Carolina: If ever the Gamecocks were going to make a serious push to be in Atlanta for the SEC championship game, this may be the year. They return many of their key players on offense and defense, and Stephen Garcia all of a sudden looks like a seasoned quarterback. Ellis Johnson’s defense will be up to the task, and South Carolina gets Georgia in Columbia next season in the second week. It’s all going to come down to whether or not the Gamecocks can finally figure it out in the offensive line. So far, they haven't.
7. Georgia: The Bulldogs will sport several new looks in 2010. They have a new defensive coordinator in Todd Grantham, who’s implementing a new 3-4 defense. They will also have a new quarterback. Redshirt freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are expected to battle it out for the starting job this spring. The Bulldogs are talented enough to make some noise in the East. The Washaun Ealey-A.J. Green combo on offense should be something to see. It remains to be seen, though, if they can improve enough on defense to be a factor.
8. Ole Miss: The Rebels loom as the team most likely to take the biggest tumble next season. They were a senior-heavy team a year ago, and most of their playmakers on offense and defense are gone. More than ever, Tyrone Nix’s defense is going to have to carry Ole Miss in 2010. The Rebels should again be strong up front defensively with Kentrell Lockett and Jerrell Powe returning. But the offense will include new faces across the board, including a new starter at quarterback.
9. Tennessee: New coach Derek Dooley may not be ready to call it a rebuilding job, but that’s what he faces in Knoxville. The Vols are frighteningly thin on the offensive line and at defensive tackle, and that’s not a good combination in the SEC. They will also have a new starter at quarterback, not to mention a killer schedule. Tennessee has lost 13 games in the last two seasons. That total could easily approach 20 following next season. In other words, it's not going to be a quick fix for Dooley.
10. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs appear poised to make a move under Dan Mullen after coming close to being bowl eligible a year ago. The young talent in this program is impressive, headed up by Chad Bumphis, Johnthan Banks and Fletcher Cox. Pernell McPhee returns as one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the league, but the real question for Mississippi State is on offense. Replacing Anthony Dixon won’t be easy. Is redshirt freshman Tyler Russell ready to win the starting quarterback job?
11. Kentucky: The Joker Phillips era begins with a lot of question marks on defense. The Wildcats lost a ton of good defensive football players from last season, including Corey Peters, Micah Johnson, Sam Maxwell and Trevard Lindley. The good news is that Randall Cobb is back on offense (and special teams), and Phillips can build around him offensively. Getting back to a bowl game for a fifth straight year may be a tall order for the Wildcats.
12. Vanderbilt: Quarterback Larry Smith will have some competition this spring in the form of junior college newcomer Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Commodores can’t possibly have as many injuries as they had a year ago, which means they’re a solid bet to improve on their 2-10 season. They should again be good on defense. It just gets down to whether or not they can generate any type of passing game.
History has proven that the state of Florida is one of the top two or three most fertile grounds in the country when it comes to producing major college football players.
In the 2010 signing class, the state of Texas led the way with roughly 400 FBS signees. The state of Florida was second with roughly 370 and the state of California third with roughly 330.
I say "roughly," because these numbers may include a few FCS signees, and there are also a few players who have yet to sign their letters of intent.
Either way, these numbers are right in the ballpark.
If you look at the SEC states, Florida produced almost 200 more FBS signees than the next closest state. Georgia was second with 182 signees. Rounding out the SEC states this year were Alabama (91), Louisiana (91), Mississippi (63), South Carolina (51), Tennessee (38), Arkansas (23) and Kentucky (15).
But if you look solely at players signing with SEC schools, the state of Georgia led the way this year with 65 signees. Every school in the SEC signed at least two players out of the state of Georgia with the exception of Mississippi State, which didn't sign any players from Georgia.
Georgia signed 14 players from its own state. Vanderbilt was second with nine signees from the Peach State.
The state of Florida produced the second most SEC signees -- 46. The only two schools in the league that didn't sign a player from Florida in this class were Alabama and Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide had a player from Florida who signed in last year's class (Petey Smith of Tampa), but he "grayshirted" and is just now starting his career at Alabama.
The SEC state producing the least amount of SEC signees this year was Kentucky with four. Three of those players signed with the Wildcats and the fourth with Tennessee.
MrSEC.com has a complete breakdown, including a team-by-team look at what states the signees came from.
In the 2010 signing class, the state of Texas led the way with roughly 400 FBS signees. The state of Florida was second with roughly 370 and the state of California third with roughly 330.
I say "roughly," because these numbers may include a few FCS signees, and there are also a few players who have yet to sign their letters of intent.
Either way, these numbers are right in the ballpark.
If you look at the SEC states, Florida produced almost 200 more FBS signees than the next closest state. Georgia was second with 182 signees. Rounding out the SEC states this year were Alabama (91), Louisiana (91), Mississippi (63), South Carolina (51), Tennessee (38), Arkansas (23) and Kentucky (15).
But if you look solely at players signing with SEC schools, the state of Georgia led the way this year with 65 signees. Every school in the SEC signed at least two players out of the state of Georgia with the exception of Mississippi State, which didn't sign any players from Georgia.
Georgia signed 14 players from its own state. Vanderbilt was second with nine signees from the Peach State.
The state of Florida produced the second most SEC signees -- 46. The only two schools in the league that didn't sign a player from Florida in this class were Alabama and Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide had a player from Florida who signed in last year's class (Petey Smith of Tampa), but he "grayshirted" and is just now starting his career at Alabama.
The SEC state producing the least amount of SEC signees this year was Kentucky with four. Three of those players signed with the Wildcats and the fourth with Tennessee.
MrSEC.com has a complete breakdown, including a team-by-team look at what states the signees came from.
Lunchtime links: More help for Gators?
February, 9, 2010
Feb 9
12:05
PM ET
Making the rounds in the SEC:
- Florida stocked up on talented defensive linemen in this class, but one of the country's top defensive tackle prospects could be on the way in 2011 -- and he's from just up the road.
- Nick Saban, Gene Chizik and Derek Dooley are signing day winners, but Mark Richt and Tommy Tuberville are signing day losers, according to Mobile Press-Register columnist and popular radio personality Paul Finebaum.
- Incoming South Carolina defensive back Victor Hampton may be removed from his high school after being arrested for bringing liquor to school last week.
- Jay G. Tate of The Montgomery Advertiser hands out position-by-position grades for Auburn's recruiting class. Lots of As and Bs on his report card.
- Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is "not about rebuilding" the Vols, writes Austin Ward of The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
- The recent raise given to Georgia athletic director Damon Evans has stirred debate among Bulldog fans, writes Bill King of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
This is when it really gets tough, because there’s not a lot of difference in the 10th best player in this league and the 20th best player.
Of the first 10 players to make the cut, five will be back next season.
Let’s see how many of these next 20 will be back.
Here we go with selections No. 20-16:
No. 20: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida: Versatile enough to play just about anywhere up front, Pouncey remained at center and was the anchor of the Gators’ offensive line this past season. Go back and count how many times he cleared the way for one of Tim Tebow’s key conversions on third or fourth down. Pouncey won’t be easily replaced -- on the field or off the field. He started in 39 games in three seasons and was one of the strongest leaders on the team. He’s giving up his senior season to turn pro.
No. 19: Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama: As a junior, Johnson was overshadowed somewhat by first-team All-Americans Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell. But this past season, with the Crimson Tide losing three starters up front, Johnson stepped up front and center as one of the most complete offensive linemen in the league. He was a consensus first-team All-American from his left guard position and anchored an offensive line that was rock-solid all season. All the while, Alabama went 14-0, won its first national title in 17 years and put up even better offensive numbers than it did a year ago.
No. 18: Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee: One of the comeback players of year nationally, Hardesty saved his best for his senior season. He’d been inundated with injuries through much of his career and really didn’t get much of a chance as a junior. But this past season, he plowed his way to 1,345 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Hardesty carried the ball an SEC-high 282 times and didn’t fumble a single time on a rushing attempt. Prior to this past season, Hardesty had never rushed for more than 387 yards in a season.
No. 17: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn: Tate was one of those guys who didn’t quite make the cut on the preseason list. He was hurt by how dysfunctional Auburn was on offense in 2008. That wasn’t a problem this past season. The Tigers fed him the ball, and he delivered. The 5-11, 218-pound senior rushed for a career-high 1,362 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and proved to be one of the toughest backs in the league to bring down. Despite carrying the ball 263 times, Tate lost just 44 yards all season. He also showed that he wasn’t just a power back and had three touchdown runs of 35 yards or longer.
No. 16: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee: Williams had been a solid player for the Vols prior to this past season, but he certainly hadn’t risen to the level where he could be considered one of the top 30 players in the league. That all changed during his senior season. He was consistently the best interior defensive lineman in the league in 2009 and likely played his way into the first round of April’s NFL draft. Williams led all SEC defensive tackles with 70 total tackles and led the Vols with nine tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries. He stuffs the run with the best of them, but is also an effective interior pass-rusher.
Of the first 10 players to make the cut, five will be back next season.
Let’s see how many of these next 20 will be back.
Here we go with selections No. 20-16:
No. 20: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida: Versatile enough to play just about anywhere up front, Pouncey remained at center and was the anchor of the Gators’ offensive line this past season. Go back and count how many times he cleared the way for one of Tim Tebow’s key conversions on third or fourth down. Pouncey won’t be easily replaced -- on the field or off the field. He started in 39 games in three seasons and was one of the strongest leaders on the team. He’s giving up his senior season to turn pro.
Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRETennessee running back Montario Hardesty broke through this season with 1,345 yards and 14 touchdowns.
No. 19: Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama: As a junior, Johnson was overshadowed somewhat by first-team All-Americans Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell. But this past season, with the Crimson Tide losing three starters up front, Johnson stepped up front and center as one of the most complete offensive linemen in the league. He was a consensus first-team All-American from his left guard position and anchored an offensive line that was rock-solid all season. All the while, Alabama went 14-0, won its first national title in 17 years and put up even better offensive numbers than it did a year ago.
No. 18: Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee: One of the comeback players of year nationally, Hardesty saved his best for his senior season. He’d been inundated with injuries through much of his career and really didn’t get much of a chance as a junior. But this past season, he plowed his way to 1,345 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Hardesty carried the ball an SEC-high 282 times and didn’t fumble a single time on a rushing attempt. Prior to this past season, Hardesty had never rushed for more than 387 yards in a season.
No. 17: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn: Tate was one of those guys who didn’t quite make the cut on the preseason list. He was hurt by how dysfunctional Auburn was on offense in 2008. That wasn’t a problem this past season. The Tigers fed him the ball, and he delivered. The 5-11, 218-pound senior rushed for a career-high 1,362 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and proved to be one of the toughest backs in the league to bring down. Despite carrying the ball 263 times, Tate lost just 44 yards all season. He also showed that he wasn’t just a power back and had three touchdown runs of 35 yards or longer.
No. 16: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee: Williams had been a solid player for the Vols prior to this past season, but he certainly hadn’t risen to the level where he could be considered one of the top 30 players in the league. That all changed during his senior season. He was consistently the best interior defensive lineman in the league in 2009 and likely played his way into the first round of April’s NFL draft. Williams led all SEC defensive tackles with 70 total tackles and led the Vols with nine tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries. He stuffs the run with the best of them, but is also an effective interior pass-rusher.
- No. 21: Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia
- No. 22: Randall Cobb, QB/WR, Kentucky
- No. 23: Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss
- No. 24: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
- No. 25: Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State
- No. 26: Malcolm Sheppard, DT, Arkansas
- No. 27: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
- No. 28: Terrence Cody, NG, Alabama
- No. 29: Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU
- No. 30: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama
When Bacarri Rambo and Da'Rick Rogers meet on the field, let's hope it's as good as their jousting on Twitter and Facebook.
Tim Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a blow-by-blow account.
Rambo, Georgia's sophomore safety, got the ball rolling when he expressed displeasure on his Facebook page with all the recruits backing out on the Bulldogs at the last minute. He added that he was going to "knock fire" from them when he caught any of them on the field.
Rogers was one of those recruits who backed out on the Bulldogs despite being committed for seven months. He had a change of heart and signed with Tennessee, where his Calhoun, Ga., high school teammate, Nash Nance, also signed.
Rogers' initial response on Twitter was, "Who is Bacarri Rambo?"
Needless to say, a few more exchanges occurred, one in which Rogers made light of Rambo being injured in the Auburn game last season.
Rambo's comeback was that he covers the best receiver in college football every day in practice (A.J. Green), so why should he be worried about Rogers?
The date to remember is Oct. 9 when, Tennessee visits Georgia next season. Something says Rogers won't receive a warm welcome at Sanford Stadium.
If he plays as well as he talks, the Vols might have found that dynamic playmaker at receiver they've been missing the past few seasons.
On second thought, whatever happened to at least running a route in the SEC before you engaged in any smack talk?
Tim Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a blow-by-blow account.
Rambo, Georgia's sophomore safety, got the ball rolling when he expressed displeasure on his Facebook page with all the recruits backing out on the Bulldogs at the last minute. He added that he was going to "knock fire" from them when he caught any of them on the field.
Rogers was one of those recruits who backed out on the Bulldogs despite being committed for seven months. He had a change of heart and signed with Tennessee, where his Calhoun, Ga., high school teammate, Nash Nance, also signed.
Rogers' initial response on Twitter was, "Who is Bacarri Rambo?"
Needless to say, a few more exchanges occurred, one in which Rogers made light of Rambo being injured in the Auburn game last season.
Rambo's comeback was that he covers the best receiver in college football every day in practice (A.J. Green), so why should he be worried about Rogers?
The date to remember is Oct. 9 when, Tennessee visits Georgia next season. Something says Rogers won't receive a warm welcome at Sanford Stadium.
If he plays as well as he talks, the Vols might have found that dynamic playmaker at receiver they've been missing the past few seasons.
On second thought, whatever happened to at least running a route in the SEC before you engaged in any smack talk?
Every year in the SEC, there are some big shoes to fill.
But next season, we're talking size 18s, 19s and 20s everywhere you look.
When you factor in the talented juniors leaving the conference, new faces, new leaders and new playmakers are going to have to step up like never before in 2010.
That said, here’s a look at the biggest shoes to fill in the league next season. As you might imagine, the names are familiar ones:
1. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow: Contrary to popular belief, Tebow didn’t play seven seasons at Florida. It just seemed that way to everybody he beat up on. As a starter, he was a remarkable 35-6 with a Heisman Trophy, one SEC championship, one BCS national championship, two SEC championship game appearances and two BCS bowl wins. He scored more touchdowns than anybody who’s ever played in the SEC, and he was the kind of inspirational leader that coaches dream about having on their team. It’s impossible to replace everything that Tebow was to the Gators. He’s one of the best college football players of this era. Junior John Brantley gets first chance. He’s a different kind of quarterback than Tebow and is already an extremely polished passer. The Gators’ offense will change with Brantley, a highly recruited player who’s been waiting for his chance.
2. Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain: One of the smartest players Nick Saban has ever coached, McClain was so many things, not only to the Alabama defense, but to the entire team. For one, he was that rock-solid, emotional leader all great teams have. But he was also that guy on the field who knew everybody’s position, knew everybody’s duties and made sure guys were in the right spots. On top of it all, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound McClain was one of the most productive linebackers in the country who was always making game-changing plays. With the Butkus Award winner deciding to turn pro early, Dont’a Hightower is the heir apparent to take over for McClain. Hightower is a great player in his own right, but is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. If he returns close to 100 percent, the Crimson Tide could have their second straight Butkus Award winner.
3. Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon: We’re going with Dixon at the No. 3 spot for a couple of different reasons. Most importantly, it’s always a chore to replace 126.5 rushing yards per game. Dixon led the SEC in that category. But here’s the other thing: Dixon WAS the Mississippi State offense last season. Dan Mullen rode him the entire season, and Dixon delivered with a record-setting season. With him gone (along with two other senior running backs), the Bulldogs will have to tweak things some offensively in 2010. Making it even more difficult is that there’s not a proven quarterback on campus. Chris Relf was the Bulldogs’ designated runner at quarterback last season and was good in that role. But he only attempted 41 passes in 10 games. Redshirt freshman Tyler Russell will get every chance to win the quarterback job this fall. But when things get hairy, he won't have the luxury of turning around and handing the ball off to Dixon.
4. Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster: Staying in the state of Mississippi, there wasn’t a more productive or feared player in the league during the second half of the season than McCluster. From the Arkansas game on (or once he moved full time to running back), he carved opposing defenses apart and made the Rebels’ offense so much better with his ability to strike from long distance. The Rebels didn't have to put together long drives all the time because the speedy McCluster was popping long runs left and right. There’s not player in this league, let alone on Ole Miss’ roster, just like McCluster. After all, he became the first player in SEC history to rush for 1,000 yards and have 500 yards receiving in the same season in 2009. It may be that the Rebels have to divvy up his roles next season. Junior Brandon Bolden returns as the featured back, but junior college newcomer Randall Mackey looks like a great fit in the Wild Rebel formation. And Ole Miss also needs to find more ways to get the ball to Jesse Grandy. The wild card is Tim Simon, who looked great early on as a freshman before suffering a nasty knee injury. His recovery could be a lengthy one.
5. Tennessee safety Eric Berry: Even though Berry’s interception numbers were down last season, he was still the most complete safety in college football. The Jim Thorpe Award winner was used mostly as a hybrid linebacker in Monte Kiffin’s defensive system and ended up leading SEC defensive backs with 87 tackles, including seven for loss. Having a safety the caliber of Berry opens up so many other things for your defense. He makes up for mistakes, takes the pressure off more unproven players in the secondary and forces the opposing offensive coordinator to know where he is at all times. Berry was perennially around the ball and made so many things happen for the Vols the past three years. Plus, he provided some invaluable leadership for that defense. Janzen Jackson has the physical talent to be the next great safety at Tennessee. When he wasn’t suspended last season, he made his presence felt as a freshman. But he still has to prove that he’s going to do the right things both on and off the field.
But next season, we're talking size 18s, 19s and 20s everywhere you look.
When you factor in the talented juniors leaving the conference, new faces, new leaders and new playmakers are going to have to step up like never before in 2010.
That said, here’s a look at the biggest shoes to fill in the league next season. As you might imagine, the names are familiar ones:
1. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow: Contrary to popular belief, Tebow didn’t play seven seasons at Florida. It just seemed that way to everybody he beat up on. As a starter, he was a remarkable 35-6 with a Heisman Trophy, one SEC championship, one BCS national championship, two SEC championship game appearances and two BCS bowl wins. He scored more touchdowns than anybody who’s ever played in the SEC, and he was the kind of inspirational leader that coaches dream about having on their team. It’s impossible to replace everything that Tebow was to the Gators. He’s one of the best college football players of this era. Junior John Brantley gets first chance. He’s a different kind of quarterback than Tebow and is already an extremely polished passer. The Gators’ offense will change with Brantley, a highly recruited player who’s been waiting for his chance.
2. Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain: One of the smartest players Nick Saban has ever coached, McClain was so many things, not only to the Alabama defense, but to the entire team. For one, he was that rock-solid, emotional leader all great teams have. But he was also that guy on the field who knew everybody’s position, knew everybody’s duties and made sure guys were in the right spots. On top of it all, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound McClain was one of the most productive linebackers in the country who was always making game-changing plays. With the Butkus Award winner deciding to turn pro early, Dont’a Hightower is the heir apparent to take over for McClain. Hightower is a great player in his own right, but is coming off reconstructive knee surgery. If he returns close to 100 percent, the Crimson Tide could have their second straight Butkus Award winner.
3. Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon: We’re going with Dixon at the No. 3 spot for a couple of different reasons. Most importantly, it’s always a chore to replace 126.5 rushing yards per game. Dixon led the SEC in that category. But here’s the other thing: Dixon WAS the Mississippi State offense last season. Dan Mullen rode him the entire season, and Dixon delivered with a record-setting season. With him gone (along with two other senior running backs), the Bulldogs will have to tweak things some offensively in 2010. Making it even more difficult is that there’s not a proven quarterback on campus. Chris Relf was the Bulldogs’ designated runner at quarterback last season and was good in that role. But he only attempted 41 passes in 10 games. Redshirt freshman Tyler Russell will get every chance to win the quarterback job this fall. But when things get hairy, he won't have the luxury of turning around and handing the ball off to Dixon.
4. Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster: Staying in the state of Mississippi, there wasn’t a more productive or feared player in the league during the second half of the season than McCluster. From the Arkansas game on (or once he moved full time to running back), he carved opposing defenses apart and made the Rebels’ offense so much better with his ability to strike from long distance. The Rebels didn't have to put together long drives all the time because the speedy McCluster was popping long runs left and right. There’s not player in this league, let alone on Ole Miss’ roster, just like McCluster. After all, he became the first player in SEC history to rush for 1,000 yards and have 500 yards receiving in the same season in 2009. It may be that the Rebels have to divvy up his roles next season. Junior Brandon Bolden returns as the featured back, but junior college newcomer Randall Mackey looks like a great fit in the Wild Rebel formation. And Ole Miss also needs to find more ways to get the ball to Jesse Grandy. The wild card is Tim Simon, who looked great early on as a freshman before suffering a nasty knee injury. His recovery could be a lengthy one.
5. Tennessee safety Eric Berry: Even though Berry’s interception numbers were down last season, he was still the most complete safety in college football. The Jim Thorpe Award winner was used mostly as a hybrid linebacker in Monte Kiffin’s defensive system and ended up leading SEC defensive backs with 87 tackles, including seven for loss. Having a safety the caliber of Berry opens up so many other things for your defense. He makes up for mistakes, takes the pressure off more unproven players in the secondary and forces the opposing offensive coordinator to know where he is at all times. Berry was perennially around the ball and made so many things happen for the Vols the past three years. Plus, he provided some invaluable leadership for that defense. Janzen Jackson has the physical talent to be the next great safety at Tennessee. When he wasn’t suspended last season, he made his presence felt as a freshman. But he still has to prove that he’s going to do the right things both on and off the field.
Derek Dooley has completed his Tennessee coaching staff with one of the Vols' own.
Chuck Smith, an All-SEC defensive end at Tennessee in 1991, has been hired to coach the Vols' defensive line. Smith was also a star defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1990s and played nine seasons in the NFL. After retiring from the NFL, he worked with numerous college and pro players as part of his Defensive Line Inc. firm.
Among his pupils: Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, Ray Lewis, Richard Seymour and Osi Umenyiora. Smith worked with the New York Jets this past season as an assistant defensive line coach and pass-rushing specialist.
There are nearly 60 NFL players over the last five seasons to whom Smith has personally taught, trained and mentored in the art of defensive line play. He and Dooley go back a ways. They played high school football together at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga.
"I’m just excited about this opportunity to be a part of a program that believes not only in winning championships but also having champions off the field,” Smith said. "Integrity always will be one of our goals."
The recruiting part to college football will be new to Smith, who's never previously recruited. But he insists that won't be a problem.
"This is my program. I played in it and think I can sell it as well as anyone," said Smith, who also previously served on Tennessee's athletics board.
Dooley had wanted Smith on his defensive staff for some time, but waited until he hired his defensive coordinator before finalizing anything. With Justin Wilcox aboard, Dooley and Wilcox officially interviewed Smith on Friday morning and closed the deal later in the day.
Chuck Smith, an All-SEC defensive end at Tennessee in 1991, has been hired to coach the Vols' defensive line. Smith was also a star defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1990s and played nine seasons in the NFL. After retiring from the NFL, he worked with numerous college and pro players as part of his Defensive Line Inc. firm.
Among his pupils: Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, Ray Lewis, Richard Seymour and Osi Umenyiora. Smith worked with the New York Jets this past season as an assistant defensive line coach and pass-rushing specialist.
There are nearly 60 NFL players over the last five seasons to whom Smith has personally taught, trained and mentored in the art of defensive line play. He and Dooley go back a ways. They played high school football together at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga.
"I’m just excited about this opportunity to be a part of a program that believes not only in winning championships but also having champions off the field,” Smith said. "Integrity always will be one of our goals."
The recruiting part to college football will be new to Smith, who's never previously recruited. But he insists that won't be a problem.
"This is my program. I played in it and think I can sell it as well as anyone," said Smith, who also previously served on Tennessee's athletics board.
Dooley had wanted Smith on his defensive staff for some time, but waited until he hired his defensive coordinator before finalizing anything. With Justin Wilcox aboard, Dooley and Wilcox officially interviewed Smith on Friday morning and closed the deal later in the day.
Chris Low gives props to the guys behind the programs who brought in top recruiting classes to the SEC.
Checking what's making headlines around the SEC:
- With one commitment already on board, Auburn is already turning its attention to the 2011 class.
- Derek Dooley's under-the-radar demeanor is impressive, writes David Climer of The Tennessean.
- The arrival of Phillip Sims could signal a new age of quarterback at Alabama, writes Gentry Estes of The Mobile Press-Register.
- Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a closer look at Da'Rick Rogers' late switch from Georgia to Tennessee.
- There's another Jeffery on the way in the state of South Carolina. Alshon's younger brother can play, too.
- Bobby Petrino has proven that Arkansas' recruiting is more about development, writes Brandon Marcello.
- This year, it was about filling needs, and LSU feels like it did just that in this recruiting class.
An early look at the top prospects for 2011
February, 5, 2010
Feb 5
8:00
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It's never too early to start looking ahead in recruiting.
Yes, we just put the 2010 class to bed, but the 2011 ESPNU 150 Watch List is already out, and there are several prospects on that list committed to SEC schools.
In fact, LSU already has six commitments from players who are on that list. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Tennessee also have commitments from players on the 2011 list.
No word on whether or not any of those are soft commitments.
Yes, we just put the 2010 class to bed, but the 2011 ESPNU 150 Watch List is already out, and there are several prospects on that list committed to SEC schools.
In fact, LSU already has six commitments from players who are on that list. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Tennessee also have commitments from players on the 2011 list.
No word on whether or not any of those are soft commitments.
The final recruiting rankings are in from the ESPN Scouts Inc. crew, and Florida was a runaway winner nationally for the No. 1 spot.
Alabama held on at No. 3, while Auburn was close behind at No. 4. LSU was No. 8 and Tennessee No. 9 to give the SEC five of the top 10 classes.
Georgia looked like it was headed for a top 5 class until losing several players on signing day and dropped to No. 12. South Carolina was No. 23 and Ole Miss No. 25 in the final rankings.
The SEC led the way with eight Top 25 classes. The Pac-10 was second with six classes ranked in the Top 25, while the ACC had four Top 25 classes.
Alabama held on at No. 3, while Auburn was close behind at No. 4. LSU was No. 8 and Tennessee No. 9 to give the SEC five of the top 10 classes.
Georgia looked like it was headed for a top 5 class until losing several players on signing day and dropped to No. 12. South Carolina was No. 23 and Ole Miss No. 25 in the final rankings.
The SEC led the way with eight Top 25 classes. The Pac-10 was second with six classes ranked in the Top 25, while the ACC had four Top 25 classes.
Tennessee Vols
The class
Recruits: 25 (21 high school seniors, seven enrolled early, and four junior college players, one who enrolled early).
Top prospects: The Vols signed two of the top 6 receiver prospects in the country in Da'Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter. They wound up with six ESPNU 150 prospects, including two of the top linemen in the country. Ja'Wuan James is the No. 2 offensive tackle prospect, and Corey Miller is the No. 4 defensive end prospect. Both are already enrolled in school, too.
Sleepers: Linebacker John Propst isn’t the biggest guy or the fastest guy on the field, but all he does is make plays. Zach Fulton has great size. With the right seasoning, he could develop into a very good offensive guard in college. Derek Dooley also likes linebacker Raiques Crump, who was a last-minute take by the Vols.
Needs met: The most glaring hole in this class is at defensive tackle. Losing J.C. Copeland on the final day to LSU was a killer. Otherwise, Dooley and his staff addressed the most pressing needs -- offensive line, defensive end, receiver and kicker.
Analysis: Dooley didn’t have much time after replacing Lane Kiffin, but give him credit for whipping together a top-10 class in less than three weeks. Having the eight early enrollees helped, but going out and getting players the caliber of James Stone, Rogers and Hunter tells you a little something about Dooley’s recruiting prowess. The Vols were able to get Tyler Bray in early from California, but they still need another quarterback, especially with Nick Stephens heading into his senior season. New defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox has to like the pass-rushing potential of the Jacques Smith-Corey Miller tandem.
Scouts Inc. grade: A-
What Derek Dooley said:
The class
Recruits: 25 (21 high school seniors, seven enrolled early, and four junior college players, one who enrolled early).
Top prospects: The Vols signed two of the top 6 receiver prospects in the country in Da'Rick Rogers and Justin Hunter. They wound up with six ESPNU 150 prospects, including two of the top linemen in the country. Ja'Wuan James is the No. 2 offensive tackle prospect, and Corey Miller is the No. 4 defensive end prospect. Both are already enrolled in school, too.
Sleepers: Linebacker John Propst isn’t the biggest guy or the fastest guy on the field, but all he does is make plays. Zach Fulton has great size. With the right seasoning, he could develop into a very good offensive guard in college. Derek Dooley also likes linebacker Raiques Crump, who was a last-minute take by the Vols.
Needs met: The most glaring hole in this class is at defensive tackle. Losing J.C. Copeland on the final day to LSU was a killer. Otherwise, Dooley and his staff addressed the most pressing needs -- offensive line, defensive end, receiver and kicker.
Analysis: Dooley didn’t have much time after replacing Lane Kiffin, but give him credit for whipping together a top-10 class in less than three weeks. Having the eight early enrollees helped, but going out and getting players the caliber of James Stone, Rogers and Hunter tells you a little something about Dooley’s recruiting prowess. The Vols were able to get Tyler Bray in early from California, but they still need another quarterback, especially with Nick Stephens heading into his senior season. New defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox has to like the pass-rushing potential of the Jacques Smith-Corey Miller tandem.
Scouts Inc. grade: A-
What Derek Dooley said:
- "I guess I was hired on a Friday (Jan. 15), and that next Saturday, I guess it's an understatement to say that the program was in a fragile state. We had so much to do and a short time to get there. We really just had to focus in one step at a time. That started that Saturday. Our first priority was getting some coaches in to help us hit the road recruiting, and of course putting all our energy into those eight mid-term enrollees, which was a fragile state as well. So I was really pleased that all eight of them came back and I thought that was a good first step."
- "Tennessee has so much to sell. So it wasn't as hard as people think to go out there and convince some of these young men to come to Tennessee. It was just a matter of me getting in front of them and selling who I am and what I believe; selling our coaching staff and selling where we are headed with the program."
- "One thing that is certain is that we have to do a good job in the state of Georgia, among other states. There's a lot of good football players in that state. In the past, in all my years of watching this program [Tennessee], when they've won, they've had some very good football players come out of Georgia. I remember when I was on the Georgia staff as a G.A. Cosey Coleman, Jamal Lewis and Deon Grant get plucked right out of the state. And what happens a few years later? National championship."
It's obvious that Florida was the runaway winner this recruiting period, and the Gators were a resounding No. 1 both nationally and in the SEC.
The Scouts Inc. guys have ranked all 12 of the SEC classes this year.
Here's the order as well as the grades for each class:
1. Florida A+
2. Alabama A
3. Auburn A
4. LSU A-
5. Tennessee A-
6. Georgia B+
7. South Carolina B-
8. Ole Miss B-
9. Mississippi State B-
10. Arkansas B-
11. Kentucky C+
12. Vanderbilt C
The Scouts Inc. guys have ranked all 12 of the SEC classes this year.
Here's the order as well as the grades for each class:
1. Florida A+
2. Alabama A
3. Auburn A
4. LSU A-
5. Tennessee A-
6. Georgia B+
7. South Carolina B-
8. Ole Miss B-
9. Mississippi State B-
10. Arkansas B-
11. Kentucky C+
12. Vanderbilt C
Dooley names Wilcox defensive coordinator
February, 3, 2010
Feb 3
3:55
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Tennessee coach Derek Dooley on Wednesday announced that he's hired Boise State's Justin Wilcox as his defensive coordinator.
The two met about the job on Monday. Wilcox, 33, has headed up Boise State's defense the last four seasons.
Here's Tennessee's official release on Wilcox's hiring:
The two met about the job on Monday. Wilcox, 33, has headed up Boise State's defense the last four seasons.
Here's Tennessee's official release on Wilcox's hiring:
Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley turned Wednesday into his own version of national signing day by naming one of the nation’s rising stars his new defensive coordinator.
Wilcox is the son of Dave Wilcox, an All-Pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Justin Wilcox comes to the Vols from Boise State, where for the last four seasons he served as defensive coordinator and helped the Broncos blast their way into the elite of college football. In 2009, Boise State completed a perfect 14-0 season with a Fiesta Bowl victory over TCU.
That victory lifted Boise State’s record to 49-4 in four seasons with Wilcox at the defensive helm under head coach Chris Petersen.
“It’s an unbelievable opportunity,” Wilcox said of his Tennessee assignment. “I’m really humbled to be considered and for Coach Dooley to offer me the job. Boise State is an incredible place and I really wasn’t looking to leave there. All this happened pretty fast.
“But after talking with Coach Dooley and a couple of the other coaches, and getting a feel for the way he wants to model the program and a lot of the philosophies he has, I just felt like it was a great opportunity at an unbelievable place in terms of the tradition. I think it’s just one of those things that was too good to pass up and I’m excited to be here.”
Wilcox, 33, made his mark on the national defensive rankings this past season, guiding the Broncos to a No. 14 statistical finish in both total defense and scoring defense and a No. 3 showing in turnover margin. Boise State bookended the season with two of its most impressive victories, clamping down on Pac-10 Conference champion Oregon 19-8 to start the year and then closing with the 17-10 triumph over previously undefeated TCU at the Fiesta Bowl.
The Broncos of 2008 were nearly as tough, finishing 12-1 and winning their second Western Athletic Conference championship in three seasons. Wilcox’s defense ranked third nationally in scoring, allowing just 12.6 points per game and holding eight of its 13 opponents to 10 points or fewer.
Boise State led the WAC in total defense and scoring defense all four seasons under Wilcox.
Wilcox coached six seasons overall in Boise, also working as a graduate assistant for the Broncos from 2001-02. Among his prized stalwarts were defensive end Ryan Winterswyk and defensive back Kyle Wilson, both of whom twice earned All-WAC first team nods.
In both 2007 and 2006, the Broncos also led the WAC in rushing defense. Boise State was eighth nationally against the run during Wilcox’s debut season as defensive coordinator, and his overall defensive scheme was instrumental in helping that 2006 squad to a 13-0 record and the now-famous 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
Before returning to Boise State as defensive coordinator, Wilcox spent three seasons (2003-05) at California as linebackers coach. Wilcox was credited with turning his linebackers into a unit that epitomized the Cal defense’s swarm-to-the-ball philosophy, and the Golden Bears went to three straight bowls and combined for a 26-12 record.
In his two seasons as a graduate assistant at Boise State, Wilcox worked with the Broncos’ outside linebackers. He helped Boise State to an upset victory over No. 8 Fresno State in 2001 and a 12-1 record and No. 15 national ranking in 2002.
The Junction City, Ore., native played collegiately at Oregon from 1995-99 and was a part of four Ducks teams that advanced to bowl games. He played in the 1997 Las Vegas, 1998 Aloha, and 1999 Sun bowls. He redshirted in 1995 when Oregon participated in the Cotton Bowl.
His first three years were spent at safety before he moved to cornerback as a senior in 1999 and claimed All-Pac-10 second-team honors. Wilcox earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Oregon in 1999.
Derek Dooley hasn't been on the job for three weeks, but his first recruiting class at Tennessee is in the books. It's also a class that will make a strong case for Top 10 billing.
The Vols announced 25 signees on Wednesday, including the eight midterm enrollees who're already in school. The school's official site has bios up on all of the players.
Dooley will hold his press conference at 5 p.m. He may also announce his new defensive coordinator at that point -- Boise State's Justin Wilcox.
The Vols announced 25 signees on Wednesday, including the eight midterm enrollees who're already in school. The school's official site has bios up on all of the players.
Dooley will hold his press conference at 5 p.m. He may also announce his new defensive coordinator at that point -- Boise State's Justin Wilcox.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Chris Low
Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
