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Radi Nabulsi writes: A torn ACL, which happened during Tuesday's practice, will put Georgia's leading wide receiver Michael Bennett on the bench for the rest of the season.

David Ching writes: Bennett's loss is a blow to Georgia's offense.

Ching: Aaron Murray spent the entire offseason focusing on honing every tool in his impressive skill set – so much so that now, when the Georgia quarterback watches film from the 2011 loss to South Carolina, he shrinks in dismay at just how bad he was, and how much his mistakes cost his team.

Kipp Adams writes : Georgia-South Carolina recruiting battles are border wars.

Radi Nabulsi writes: With an eye on redemption against South Carolina, which every Bulldog has in mind, defensive end Abry Jones is nursing a sprained ankle but says it’s part of the game and he’ll play through the pain.

Ching : Practice notebook. Georgia’s often questioned offensive line faces its most stringent test this weekend when it lines up to protect Aaron Murray from the touted South Carolina defense.

As promised, we're rolling out our All-SEC team from the BCS era this morning.

These are the top players by position in the league going back to the 1998 season. To be eligible, players had to have played in the SEC for at least two seasons starting in 1998 and running through now. Current players were also not eligible.

We unveiled our top 11 offensive players and top 11 defensive players of the BCS era on Tuesday. Later today, we'll come up with a list (with your help) of those deserving players who just missed the cut.

Here we go with the All-SEC team:

OFFENSE

• QB – Tim Tebow, Florida
• RB – Darren McFadden, Arkansas
• RB – Shaun Alexander, Alabama
• WR – Percy Harvin, Florida
• WR – A.J. Green, Georgia
• TE – D.J. Williams, Arkansas
• OL – Chris Samuels, Alabama
• OL – Shawn Andrews, Arkansas
• OL – Matt Stinchcomb, Georgia
• OL – Andre Smith, Alabama
• C – Maurkice Pouncey, Florida

DEFENSE

• DL – John Henderson, Tennessee
• DL – Glenn Dorsey, LSU
• DL – David Pollack, Georgia
• DL – John Abraham, South Carolina
• LB – DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
• LB – Patrick Willis, Ole Miss
• LB – Rolando McClain, Alabama
• CB – Patrick Peterson, LSU
• CB – Lito Sheppard, Florida
• S – Eric Berry, Tennessee
• S – Reggie Nelson, Florida

SPECIAL TEAMS

• PK – Billy Bennett, Georgia
• P – Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee
• KR – Javier Arenas, Alabama

Now that it’s official that we’ll be leaving the BCS era for the playoff era in college football beginning in 2014, I thought it would be fun to reflect on the best SEC players of the BCS era.

These are the best players, period, going back to the 1998 season, which was the birth of the BCS era.

To be eligible, players had to have played at least two seasons in the SEC from 1998 until now, meaning a player who played in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 would not be eligible. We also didn’t consider current players, meaning Marcus Lattimore, Jarvis Jones and Tyrann Mathieu weren’t eligible.

We picked 11 players on offense and 11 players on defense and consulted with a number of coaches and other media members in making these selections.

We’ll start with offense and come back with defense later today. We’ve also selected an All-SEC team of the BCS era that we’ll unveil.

The players are listed alphabetically. Here goes with our best 11 on offense:

Shaun Alexander, RB, Alabama: He scored 50 touchdowns in 41 career games and ranks as Alabama’s all-time leading rusher with 3,565 yards. He set the SEC single-season record for touchdowns scored in 1999 with 24.

Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas: A massive road-grader for the Hogs and a two-time All-American. Andrews won the Jacobs Trophy as the SEC’s best blocker in both 2002 and 2003.

A.J. Green, WR, Georgia: Combined a blend of speed, size and incredible body control to haul in 23 touchdown catches in 31 career games. Green caught more than 50 passes all three seasons at Georgia from 2008-10.

Percy Harvin, WR, Florida: They called his position the “Percy” position because he was so versatile and so dynamic. Harvin lined up as a tailback, in the slot and out wide and finished his career with 32 touchdowns (19 rushing, 13 receiving).

Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama: The first and only Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama in 2009, Ingram scored 46 career touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry on 572 career rushes. Ingram lost just two fumbles in more than 620 touches at Alabama.

Eli Manning, QB, Ole Miss: Prior to his Super Bowl heroics in the NFL, Manning carved out a record-breaking career at Ole Miss. He was a first-team All-American in 2003 and threw 81 career touchdown passes, which is fifth all-time in the SEC.

Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas: Won the Doak Walker Award in 2006 and 2007 as the nation’s best running back. McFadden averaged 120.8 rushing yards for his career, second only to Herschel Walker and Emmitt Smith in the SEC

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn: After an inauspicious start to his career at Florida, Newton produced a season for the ages in 2010 after transferring to Auburn. He accounted for 51 touchdowns and rushed for an SEC-best 1,473 yards in leading the Tigers to the national title.

Chris Samuels, OT, Alabama: Winner of the Outland Trophy in 1999, Samuels started 42 games for the Crimson Tide and cleared the way for a lot of Alexander’s 3,565 career rushing yards.

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida: Set the SEC record with 57 career touchdowns from 2006-09 and was an integral part of two national championship teams at Florida. Tebow won the Heisman Trophy in 2007 when he passed for 32 touchdowns and rushed for 23 touchdowns.

Carnell Williams, RB, Auburn: There’s a reason they called him “Cadillac.” Williams teamed with Ronnie Brown in 2004 to form one of the best backfield tandems in SEC history and finished his career with 3,831 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns.

Newcomers come in all shapes and sizes.

There are freshmen newcomers, junior college transfers and regular transfers. Regardless, they all come in with the expectations of playing immediately. JUCO standouts and transfers maybe more so than rookies, but the days of automatically redshirting true freshmen are over. Like, dead.

Last year, the SEC saw a few newcomers make immediate impacts. A great example is Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, who transferred from USC back in 2010, but didn't play until last fall. All he did was lead the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. There was Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, who came from the JUCO ranks to be one of the Hogs' most productive linebackers.

Freshman Isaiah Crowell had an up-and-down season, but was sixth in the SEC rushing, and was named the SEC's freshman of the year. His classmate, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, wasn't too bad, either. You also can't forget about South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who was seventh in the SEC with eight sacks.

So, as spring practice begins to wind down around the conference, we're taking a look at five newcomers to keep an eye on in 2012. Some are on campuses, some aren't. Some are obvious choices, and you could be surprised by a couple. Top newcomers can be top league players, or players who will make big impacts on their teams at a position of need.

We're going in alphabetical order, so here's our list:

• Denico Autry, DE, JUCO, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are looking to replace Sean Ferguson at one of the defensive line spots, and Autry was brought in to do just that. The coaches have been extremely impressed with how the former East Mississippi Community College standout has looked in spring practice. People around the program have simply described Autry as a "beast," and the thought is that he'll enter the fall starting at one of the end spots.
• Travell Dixon, CB, JUCO, Alabama: Dixon has had a pretty successful spring, and has had the honor of playing at Alabama's "star" (nickel) cornerback spot. That shows you just how much coach Nick Saban respects Dixon's game. Saban usually puts his most complete defensive backs at the star. That's where Javier Arenas played, and DeQuan Menzie after him. With Alabama losing Menzie and Dre Kirkpatrick at cornerback, Dixon has a chance to come in and start immediately.
• Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Fr., Missouri: It was hard to find another 2012 recruit who received the attention that Green-Beckham did. He has drawn comparisons to A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Calvin Johnson. That's pretty good company, and Missouri is expecting DGB to contribute immediately. DGB stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds, making him a huge, physical target for quarterback James Franklin. DGB might arrive this summer as Missouri's most talented receiver. It also helps that he has top speed, and could be the deep threat that Missouri's offense needs.
• Latroy Pittman, WR, Fr., Florida: Haven't heard of him? Don't worry, not many have. Pittman committed to Florida so long before national signing day, his recruitment wasn't too exciting or noticeable. However, Pittman, who was ranked the No. 24 wide receiver by ESPN recruiting services, has been very productive in spring practice. He isn't the fastest receiver, but with Florida struggling to find a true go-to receiving target, Pittman has really shined by being one of the Gators' most consistent receivers this spring. Word around Florida's program is that Pittman will definitely see playing time this fall. Receiver is wide open in Gainesville, so Pittman could play his way into quality time.
• Shaq Roland, WR, Fr., South Carolina: With Alshon Jeffery gone, South Carolina is searching for a wide receiver to step up and become a primary target for quarterback Connor Shaw. Right now, Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington will get the first shots, but a lot of players at the position are pretty unproven. Roland was one of the top high school receiving targets last year, and has the playmaking ability that could really spark the Gamecocks' passing game. Roland could be a deep threat or make plays over the middle. He wasn't afraid of contact in high school, and that mentality should carry over to the college level. Adding some weight will be key, but coach Steve Spurrier should have fun working him into the offense.

From the moment Dorial Green-Beckham put that black-and-yellow Missouri ball cap on his head, the expectations for him at Missouri went through the roof.

Actually, the former Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High star probably would have had relatively high expectations no matter where he signed. He's a special talent, who caught 119 passes for 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns as a high school senior. The No. 1 receiver prospect stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 220 pounds, making him an ideal target for any quarterback in any type of offense. And even with his size, he still has the speed to be a legit deep threat at the college level.

Stop drooling James Franklin. You'll get to start working with him before you know it.

But will DGB be a star on the field from the word "go?" Will he immediately be that top-flight receiving threat that Missouri is still searching for in its offense? Will he take the SEC East by storm and help propel the Tigers toward the top of the division?

The hype machine says yes and he should benefit from having Franklin as his quarterback and being able to learn from vets, like T.J. Moe, who was Missouri's leading receiver last year, and Marcus Lucas, who emerged as a top receiving threat for the Tigers in 2011. However, he's never played on the level of the SEC or seen anything like what he'll see from SEC defenses.

Still, if DGB can nail Missouri's playbook down early and get pretty comfy in the Tigers' offense during the offseason, he could move from watcher to doer very quickly next season.

With his measurables and skill set, DGB could be a very special player in this league and if recent history is an indicator, he could very well make that immediate impact that Mizzou fans expect him to.

We don't have to go far to see success from rookie receivers in this league. Just last season Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell proved to be the Bulldogs' most talented pass catcher. He led Georgia, and was fourth in the SEC, in receiving, hauling in 45 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns. He did that only playing 11 games, as a hamstring injury cut into his playing time during the middle part of the season.

There was also LSU's Odell Beckham Jr., who was second on the team in receiving and grabbed 41 catches as a frosh. Ole Miss' Donte Moncrief and Vanderbilt's Chris Boyd also made big impacts in their respective offenses, as Moncrief led the Rebels in receiving and Boyd led the Commodores with eight touchdown receptions.

Over the years, we've seen other freshmen come in and make their presences well known in passing games. Percy Harvin was one of the most exciting players to watch in 2006 at both a wide receiver and a running back, as he registered 855 total yards of offense and five touchdowns for Florida. In 2009, SEC All-Freshman mates Alshon Jeffery and Chad Bumphis led their schools in receptions and yards.

And who could forget what A.J. Green did at Georgia and what Julio Jones did at Alabama in their first seasons? Both could have just jumped to the NFL at the end of the seasons if they were allowed to. Coincidentally, DGB is being compared to both, so that's nice.

We've only seen a glimpse of what DGB can do as a football player and if the experts are correct, he has a bright future ahead of him. And Mizzou's faithful is hoping he can have the early success of some of those receivers who have come before him in this league.

Our recruiting folks at ESPN have gone back and re-visited the 2008 signing class and assessed how the marquee prospects in that class fared in college.

It’s one of my favorite exercises, because it’s a reminder that recruiting is anything but an exact science, and that evaluating recruiting classes and prospects on signing day is a dicey proposition.

Everybody is trying to recruit great players, but what matters is what you do with those players once you get them on your campus.

Of the 25 top prospects in the 2008 class, seven signed with SEC schools.

No. 2 on that list was Julio Jones. No. 5 was A.J. Green, and No. 8 was Patrick Peterson.

I’d say the analysts got those three right. They were all great players who earned numerous awards and accolades, and all three were taken among the top six picks in last year’s NFL draft.

But for every Julio Jones, A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson, there’s a Will Hill, Dee Finley, Chancey Aghayere and Burton Scott.

All four were ranked among the top 25 prospects in the nation by ESPN in 2008, but for varying reasons, they never flourished in college.

Hill, a safety who signed with Florida out of West Orange, N.J., was the No. 3 overall prospect in 2008. He had a promising freshman season, but struggled with consistency his next two seasons. He declared early for the NFL draft and wasn’t selected, and wound up playing in the Arena Football League.

Finley, another safety who signed with Florida out of Auburn, Ala., was No. 10. He was sidetracked by injuries and off-the-field issues during his career and announced that he was transferring to North Alabama.

Aghayere, a defensive end who signed with LSU out of Garland, Texas, was No. 14. He’s a rising senior, but has played mostly in a reserve role for the Tigers. He didn’t make any starts this season and finished with three total tackles.

Scott, an athlete who signed with Alabama out of Prichard, Ala., was No. 19. He moved from running back to cornerback after arriving at Alabama, but wound up transferring and played at South Alabama this past season.

Florida signed an SEC-high six players in 2008 that were ranked among the top 55 prospects nationally. The Gators signed 10 players who were ESPNU 150 prospects.

It’s a haul that looked terrific at the time, but four seasons later, the Gators lost six football games and didn’t beat anybody in 2011 (in the FBS ranks) that finished with a winning record.

There’s also the flip side.

Alabama’s 2008 class was ranked No. 3 by ESPN, and it’s a class that was the driving force behind the Crimson Tide’s dizzying run the past few years, which includes two national championships.

So, again, there are always hits and misses in recruiting, and those players who miss sometimes do so for reasons that go well beyond football ability. What’s more, classes that look like a million dollars on signing day don’t always look so good three and four years later.

Just something to remember with national signing day approaching.

Here’s a look at the remaining ESPNU 150 prospects in 2008 who signed with SEC schools:

• No. 30: DE Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
• No. 31: CB Janoris Jenkins (Florida)
• No. 33: OT Tyler Love (Alabama)
• No. 35: RB Richard Samuel (Georgia)
• No. 37: DT Omar Hunter (Florida)
• No. 41: ATH Joe Adams (Arkansas)
• No. 43: DE William Green (Florida)
• No. 45: DT DeAngelo Tyson (Georgia)
• No. 50: RB Carlton Thomson (Georgia)
• No. 51: WR Chris Tolliver (LSU)
• No. 54: CB Charles Whitlock (South Carolina)
• No. 55: ATH Jeff Demps (Florida)
• No. 70: S Karnell Hatcher (LSU)
• No. 76: RB De’Anthony Curtis (Arkansas)
• No. 80: OLB Lerentee McCray (Florida)
• No. 81: QB Tyler Wilson (Arkansas)
• No. 87: WR Rod Wilks (Tennessee)
• No. 93: ATH Charles Mitchell (Mississippi State)
• No. 99: OLB Jerrell Harris (Alabama)
• No. 108: RB Mark Ingram (Alabama)
• No. 121: OT Matt Patchan (Florida)
• No. 131: DE Toby Jackson (Georgia)
• No. 132: OG A.J. Harmon (Georgia)
• No. 133: ILB Brendan Beal (Florida)
• No. 136: CB Neiko Thorpe (Auburn)
• No. 140: C Ben Jones (Georgia)
• No. 142: CB Jeremy Brown (Florida)
• No. 144: ATH Chris Jackson (Alabama)
• No. 146: WR Tavarres King (Georgia)
• No. 147: RB Eric Smith (Auburn)

Next up on our coaching caravan is Georgia.

Coach: Tony Ball

Position: Wide receivers

Experience: He's entering his sixth season on Georgia's staff and his third as the Bulldogs' wide receivers coach. Ball, 51, coached the Georgia running backs his first three seasons in Athens from 2006-08. Prior to coming to Georgia, Ball spent eight seasons as the wide receivers coach at Virginia Tech from 1998-2005. He was the receivers coach at Louisville for three seasons in 1995-97 and also coached on the staffs at Holy Cross, UT-Chattanooga and East Tennessee State. Ball alternated between coaching running backs and receivers at those stops. Ball got his coaching start at Austin Peay in 1985-86 as a graduate assistant.

Of note: Ball was one of two assistant coaches on Georgia's staff to receive a raise following the Bulldogs' 6-7 season a year ago. He went from $165,480 to $200,000 after receiving what Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said was a legit offer from another school. Running backs coach Bryan McClendon was the other assistant to get a raise and went from $90,000 to $200,000. ... Ball was a standout running back at UT-Chattanooga and played for the late Joe Morrison. Ball later coached under Morrison at South Carolina in 1987 as a volunteer assistant. ... In 1977, Ball led the nation in kickoff returns with a 36.4-yard average and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2007.

His challenge: The truth is that A.J. Green would make a lot of coaches, a lot of quarterbacks and a lot of offenses look good, but he's gone now. Ball got a glimpse of what life without Green would be like the first four games of the season a year ago when Green was serving his NCAA-mandated suspension, and it wasn't pretty. The Bulldogs clearly missed his playmaking ability. They've had time to plan without him now, not to mention the steady Kris Durham, who had 32 catches last season as a senior, and Ball's task is taking a group of receivers with decent experience and making it more dynamic and more consistent across the board. Senior Tavarres King, who's bigger and stronger, says he's ready to go from the second option to the go-to guy in the Bulldogs' passing game. He caught 27 passes, including three touchdowns, a year ago. Another key project for Ball is getting more out of junior split end Marlon Brown, who was highly recruited, but has caught just 13 passes his first two seasons. Brown showed considerable improvement toward the end of last season and during the spring. Junior flanker Rantavious Wooten needs to step up his game, while redshirt freshman Michael Bennett and true freshmen Chris Conley and Malcolm Mitchell will also factor into the equation. Conley went through the spring, so it won't be completely new to him. The Bulldogs have the best quarterback in the league in Aaron Murray. We'll find out about his receivers this fall.

ESPN colleague Bruce Feldman took a stroll down Memory Lane Wednesday when he re-ranked the top 10 players in the 2008 recruiting class. The SEC had five members inside Feldman's top 10.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck took the top spot after being ranked No. 61 overall by ESPN and the seventh-best quarterback prospect back in 2008. With what he did in his last two years, I don't think many will argue with Feldman there.

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson was the highest of the SEC players, coming in at No. 2 after ranking eighth when he came out of high school.

Peterson took away half of the field when he lined up at corner and was a dynamic kick returner. He might end up playing safety in the NFL, but he'll be a game changer on defense for years to come.

Here's Feldman's take:

A real freak athlete, the 6-1, 220-pound corner was the nation's No. 8 recruit and he more than lived up to that hype. Peterson won a starting job by the end of his freshman season in 2008, was all-SEC and made some All-America teams as a sophomore. He then won the Jim Thorpe and Chuck Bednarik awards and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010. The Cardinals drafted him fifth overall in April.

Next was Alabama running back Mark Ingram, who was third, moving all the way up from 109th.

The Heisman trophy winner was a total work horse in Tuscaloosa and his numbers would have been even better last season if he hadn't have suffered a knee injury before the year.

Here's Feldman's take:

It's fascinating to go through the collection of backs that ESPN had ranked higher in '08: Jermie Calhoun, Darrell Scott, Jamie Harper, Ryan Williams, Richard Samuel; Andre Ellington; Aundre Dean; Carlton Thomas; De'Anthony Curtis and Jonas Gray. A few transferred (Scott and Dean). A few now play other positions (Samuel and Curtis) and if you take out Williams, who had an outstanding 2009 season, you have a group that combined has run for around the same amount of yards and TDs -- 3,300 yards and 42 touchdowns -- as Ingram did in his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, in addition to winning the Tide's first Heisman Trophy. Not bad for the 12th ranked back or 109th overall recruit.

"That wasn't a great running back class," Luginbill said. "With Ingram, his style of play and the school he chose with the scheme they play couldn't have been more of a fit. It was a perfect marriage."

Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green kept the SEC streak alive, coming in at No. 4, which is one spot higher than his 2008 ranking.

What more can be said about Green? He never shied away from double teams and made awkward catches look easy. Despite missing the first four games of the season in 2010, he led the Bulldogs in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Here's Feldman's take;

The lanky South Carolina native had three QBs in three seasons at Georgia and he excelled with each of them, despite some nagging injuries and a four-game NCAA suspension in 2010. Green was equally adept at making the spectacular catch and the routine go-to play for the Dawgs. The Bengals just drafted him fourth overall.

Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus ranked sixth after being ranked the No. 39 defensive tackle prospect coming out of high school in 2008.

Dareus arrived on the mainstream college football scene when he had that nasty interception returned for a touchdown in the national championship. He was drafted No. 3 overall in this year's NFL draft and some thought he could have easily gone No. 1.

Here's Feldman's take:

The Crimson Tide had the No. 3 recruiting class, according to ESPN (behind Miami and Clemson), but Dareus wasn't a major reason for the lofty status. He was only touted as the No. 39 defensive tackle prospect in the country. Even die-hard college football fans probably hadn't heard of him until the BCS title game against Texas, when he knocked Colt McCoy out of the game and proceeded to dominate the Longhorns en route to winning MVP honors. Dareus was one of the few proven players on the 2010 Tide D, but when he was on the field he was a big impact guy. In his career, he finished with 20 tackles for loss and 11 sacks before leaving as the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Finally, Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones came in at No. 9 on Feldman's list, which is seven spots lower than where he was coming out of high school.

Jones was a freakish athlete during his three seasons with the Tide and while some questioned his on-field work ethic at times, he was easily Alabama's best receiver in each year he was in Tuscaloosa. His work ethic certainly wasn't challenged when he went through the NFL combine with a broken foot this year.

Here's Feldman's take:

A big, strong wideout with every bit as much athleticism as Green, Jones was ranked a tad higher than Green, coming in at No. 2 overall in 2008. Jones became the first true freshman receiver to ever start the opener for the Crimson Tide. In 2009, he helped Bama to a national title. Last season, he had his best year, catching 78 passes for 1,133 yards. At the NFL combine he put on quite the display, notching the longest broad jump and the third-fastest 40-yard dash time among the receiver group and did so despite having a broken bone in his foot. The Falcons traded the kitchen sink to get him at No. 6 in the draft.

Today we take a look at the wide receiver/tight end positions in the SEC. This one gets tricky since we’re basing rankings on two different positions.

Let’s take a look at what we came up with:

1. Arkansas: The Razorbacks could have the best wide receiver corps in the country. Making things even better for Arkansas is that each member of its tremendous trio is a senior. First, there’s Greg Childs, who would have taken part in the NFL draft this year had he not suffered a knee injury late in the season. Childs is Arkansas’ best receiver when he’s healthy. Joe Adams really came on strong last year, especially after Childs went down. He’s the best when he gets the ball in open space and will command the slot. Then there’s Jarius Wright, who is the fastest of the three and got even stronger this spring as well. The three have 324 combined career receptions for 5,404 yards and 41 touchdowns.

2. LSU: The Tigers might have lost Terrence Toliver, but they’ll still have weapons at receiver. Junior Rueben Randle is expected to be the go-to guy in LSU’s offense and is coming off a season where he caught 33 passes for 544 yards and three touchdowns. Russell Shepard was right behind him last season, catching the same amount of balls, but only totaled 254 yards and one touchdown. He looked sharper this spring and is looking to break out this fall. Tight end Deangelo Peterson should also get more attention this fall. He only caught 16 passes, but that number should increase.

3. South Carolina: For starters, the Gamecocks have the league’s best receiver in Alshon Jeffery. The 6-foot-4, 233-pound freak snatched just about everything that came his way last fall and registered 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s nearly impossible to stop in one-on-one situations. Senior Jason Barnes didn't make a major impact in 2010, but he does have 60 career receptions under his belt. The smaller Ace Sanders should be even better after bursting onto the scene with 25 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns. D.L. Moore, who caught 17 passes in 2010, should have a more expanded role as well.

4. Georgia: The Bulldogs are still looking for a few playmakers at receiver, but there is definitely talent in Athens. Junior Tavarres King has moved into A.J. Green’s flanker spot and while he’s not Green, he proved this spring that he’s ready to be the Bulldogs' main receiving threat. Tight end Orson Charles is the best at his position and can flex out to receiver if needed. His 26 catches for 422 yards should increase this upcoming season. Marlon Brown also made strides this spring and should be the No. 2 receiver.

5. Tennessee: Neither Justin Hunter nor Da'Rick Rogers had a ton of catches last fall, but that will change with a strong passing game in 2011. Hunter caught 16 passes, but registered 415 yards and seven touchdowns in the process. He’s a solid deep threat and playmaker. Rogers also only caught 16 passes, and while he didn’t have the yardage Hunter had, he made tremendous strides this spring. Tight end Mychal Rivera caught 11 passes in 2010 and with Luke Stocker gone he takes over as the Vols’ weapon at tight end.

6. Alabama: There aren’t a lot of questions surrounding the Crimson Tide, but receiver isn’t Alabama’s best area. Seniors Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks should get the brunt of the catches. They combined for 70 catches for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns last season. There is a long list of other inexperienced players who should grab some catches as well and former Ohio State receiver Duron Carter, who just transferred in, could be a factor this fall.

7. Florida: The Gators have talent at wide receiver, and Florida should have a more pass-friendly offense, but the group is very unproven. Frankie Hammond Jr. could be Florida’s best weapon at receiver with his speed and athleticism. Omarius Hines has the size and speed to be a major mismatch for defenders in the slot and on the outside. Freshman Quinton Dunbar was Florida’s top deep threat this spring and should get ample playing time. At tight end, Jordan Reed was called Florida’s best athlete and could end up being the Gators’ top playmaker. Trey Burton should catch a few more passes as well.

8. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have a ton of depth at receiver, starting with Chad Bumphis. The junior has yet to really break out, but this could be the year he finally puts it together. Alongside him, Mississippi State has Chris Smith, Brandon Heavens and Arceto Clark, who all had solid springs. Those four combined for 115 catches last fall. The Bulldogs also have a host of young receivers who appear ready to compete.

9. Auburn: There is still some talent left on the Plains at receiver. Sure, Darvin Adams and Terrell Zachery are gone, but the Tigers will look to Emory Blake and Trovon Reed to make up for their departures. Blake is the leading returning receiver, while Reed will be used all over the field by Auburn’s coaches. He can be a threat in the slot and on the outside. Philip Lutzenkirchen will be more of a staple in the offense as the Tigers’ trusted H-back.

10. Ole Miss: Athletically, the Rebels are fine. However, this group is very inexperienced and was inconsistent this spring. The incoming freshmen will have every opportunity to take a starting spot and Tobias Singleton could be the best option of Ole Miss’ youngsters. Of the returners, Melvin Harris did the most in 2010, catching 30 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Vincent Sanders will also get a chance to heavily contribute after making strong strides this spring.

11. Vanderbilt: Four of Vanderbilt’s five receiving leaders return, but the group wasn’t tremendously productive last fall. The Commodores didn’t have a receiver go over 320 yards last season and tight end Brandon Barden caught a team-high 34 passes for 425 yards. Vanderbilt's top two wideouts -- John Cole and Jonathan Krause -- are back, but the Commodores might have to turn to their youngsters for help.

12. Kentucky: The Wildcats lost a lot when do-everything Randall Cobb left early for the NFL and things didn’t get any better by losing No. 2 wideout Chris Matthews. Now, it’s back to the drawing board in Lexington. La'Rod King should be the top target for quarterback Morgan Newton, but he disappointed at times this spring. Matt Roark and E.J. Fields will compete for time, but both need vast improvement. The top athlete could be Brian Adams, but he spent spring playing for Kentucky’s baseball team.

One way to gauge how a team might fare offensively heading into the next season is to determine what percentage of the players who scored touchdowns the previous season will be back.

In the case of Vanderbilt, every player who rushed for a touchdown or caught a touchdown pass a year ago is back for the 2011 season.

Of course, the Commodores only scored 24 touchdowns all season long in finishing 2-10 and have a new coaching staff.

So looking purely at the number of touchdown-makers returning is anything but a foolproof way to predict success that next season.

Still, it provides a few hints.

Kentucky, for instance, scored 52 offensive touchdowns last season. The Wildcats don’t return a single player who threw any of their 26 touchdown passes a year ago, and 37 of their 52 touchdown runs or receptions were scored by players who won’t be around in 2011.

Only one of Mississippi State’s 46 offensive touchdowns a year ago was accounted for by a player who won’t be on the roster in 2011.

And then there’s Georgia. The Bulldogs return quarterbacks Aaron Murray and Hutson Mason, who combined for all 25 touchdown passes a year ago. Murray threw 24 and Mason one. But with receivers A.J. Green and Kris Durham departing, only nine of those 25 touchdown passes were caught by players returning.

Here’s a team-by-team breakdown in the SEC of who returns the most scoring firepower:

1. Vanderbilt: 100 percent
24 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (24 are back)
11 passing touchdowns in 2010 (6 are back)
11 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (11 are back)
13 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (13 are back)

2. Mississippi State: 97.8 percent
46 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (45 are back)
18 passing touchdowns in 2010 (18 are back)
18 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (17 are back)
28 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (28 are back)

3. Florida: 95.3 percent
43 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (41 are back)
12 passing touchdowns in 2010 (12 are back)
12 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (11 are back)
31 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (30 are back)

4. South Carolina: 79.6 percent
49 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (39 are back)
23 passing touchdowns in 2010 (23 are back)
23 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (16 are back)
26 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (23 are back)

5. Arkansas: 77.6 percent
58 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (45 are back)
36 passing touchdowns in 2010 (4 are back)
36 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (30 are back)
22 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (15 are back)

6. Ole Miss: 68.9 percent
45 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (31 are back)
17 passing touchdowns in 2010 (0 are back)
17 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (10 are back)
28 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (21 are back)

7. Tennessee: 57.5 percent
40 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (23 are back)
26 passing touchdowns in 2010 (26 are back)
26 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (11 are back)
14 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (12 are back)

8. Alabama: 50 percent
54 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (27 are back)
24 passing touchdowns in 2010 (4 are back)
24 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (13 are back)
30 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (14 are back)

9. LSU: 48.7 percent
39 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (19 are back)
10 passing touchdowns in 2010 (10 are back)
10 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (5 are back)
29 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (14 are back)

10. Auburn: 43 percent
72 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (31 are back)
31 passing touchdowns in 2010 (0 are back)
31 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (16 are back)
41 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (15 are back)

11. Georgia: 36.9 percent
46 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (17 are back)
25 passing touchdowns in 2010 (25 are back)
25 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (9 are back)
21 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (8 are back)

12. Kentucky: 28.8 percent
52 offensive touchdowns in 2010 (15 are back)
26 passing touchdowns in 2010 (0 are back)
26 receiving touchdowns in 2010 (8 are back)
26 rushing touchdowns in 2010 (7 are back)

Numbers have been crunched, spring games have been watched and rosters have been thoroughly examined. So, we all know who will be tabbed as the SEC favorites heading into the fall.

When all the preseason polls come out, Alabama and LSU will most likely be in the top five, while Arkansas should hover around the top 10. South Carolina should be the highest ranked representative from the East and will be the favorite to make it to Atlanta for the SEC title game.

But there is also the slim chance that the media will be wrong about these teams, leaving for a surprise to bask in SEC glory.

Auburn was that team last year, so it will come as no real surprise if there is another team that surpasses expectations to challenge for a championship.

Here's a look at my three SEC dark horses for the upcoming season:

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have been a sexy pick this spring to be the team that challenges those four for the SEC crown. Mississippi State returns most of the components of an offense that ranked fifth in the SEC in total offense (401.3 yards per game). One of those components is quarterback Chris Relf, who showed at the end of last season that he's got quite the arm to go with his legs. He'll have plenty of targets to throw to with tremendous depth returning at wide receiver. The Bulldogs must replace remembers of the front seven on defense, starting with three linebacker spots, but they will have a very strong and frustrating secondary to help out.

Georgia: This group of Bulldogs has the talent to make it to Atlanta and win it all. But that seems to be the theme in Athens every year. The star of the show is sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray, who improved both his on-field game and leadership skills this spring and could be the most talented quarterback in the league. He doesn't have A.J. Green to throw to anymore, but he does have the talented Tavarres King at the flanker spot and Orson Charles at tight end, who could move out to receiver at times as well. The defense should be one of the most fun to watch this fall, with a pack of talented linebackers and a strong secondary. Finding playmakers at receiver and running back are the next steps.

Florida: Like Georgia, Florida has the talent to compete for a title. However, there is a new regime in Gainesville and there are a ton of questions on offense. The offense really struggled in the spring game, but new coach Will Muschamp made it clear that he was happy with how it looked throughout spring. Defensively, the Gators have a lot more speed and athleticism out there. The front seven should be much more aggressive, especially when it switches over to the 3-4 during games. The secondary significantly downgraded with the dismissal of All-SEC cornerback Janoris Jenkins, but there is young talent there and the hope is that the front seven will make it tough for teams to get into a passing rhythm.

Mel Kiper, ESPN's NFL draft analyst extraordinaire, has released his first Big Board for the 2012 draft, and South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery is the top SEC player at No. 4 on the list.

Kiper's Big Board is a ranking of the top 25 draft-eligible players in college football based on value, and he updates it periodically all the way up to the draft.

Jeffery is coming off a monster sophomore season and will almost certainly come out early. He set single-season records last season for the Gamecocks with 88 catches for 1,517 yards and is also tied for the school record with Sidney Rice with 11 100-yard receiving games. As Kiper points out, the 6-foot-4, 233-pound Jeffery is a matchup nightmare for defenses and is a lot faster than you think.

The SEC had a total of five players on Kiper's Big Board, and the second player might surprise a few people. Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick was No. 9. The NFL scouts love Kirkpatrick's size and range, even though he was a bit inconsistent at times last season.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson was No. 13, South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore No. 19 and Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw No. 25.

Before it's over, I wouldn't be surprised to see three more Alabama players on there -- cornerback DeQuan Menzie, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Mark Barron. In fact, Menzie could wind up being one of the top cornerbacks in the SEC and was the most consistent defensive back on Alabama's team this spring.

LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is another player who could easily show up on the Big Board at some point along with South Carolina defensive end Devin Taylor, Arkansas running back Knile Davis and Arkansas receiver Greg Childs.

The ACC led the way with eight players on the first Big Board for 2012. The Pac-12 had six players.

On Kiper's first Big Board a year ago, he had six SEC players. Five of them wound up being selected in the first round of the draft in April. Georgia receiver A.J. Green was No. 4 on that first Big Board last year. Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett was No. 6 followed by Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus at No. 7, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson No. 10, Alabama running back Mark Ingram No. 11 and Alabama receiver Julio Jones No. 17.

Mallett was the only one of the group that didn't go in the first round. He slipped to the third round.

Well, it wasn't even close. Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the runaway winner in our poll on which SEC player will be the hardest to replace this upcoming season.

It's no shocker, really. Newton had one of the most productive seasons of any quarterback in college football history in 2010. He not only captured the Heisman Trophy but led Auburn to an undefeated season and a national championship.

He was the best player whenever he stepped on the field and was the heart of Auburn's team last year.

So, I would have gone with Newton as well.

At last count, Newton grabbed 65 percent of the vote with more than 21,500 people voting.

When you look at Auburn's quarterback situation now, there is a bit of concern. The Tigers worked sophomore Clint Moseley and freshman Barrett Trotter out this spring. Both suffered some growing pains, but steadily improved down the stretch. Auburn will welcome true freshman Kiehl Frazier into the mix this summer. Frazier could have the most athletic ability of all the quarterbacks, and coach Gene Chizik made it known this spring that he will play the best player this fall, regardless of experience.

In a distant second was Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green. Arguably the best receiver to enter this year's NFL draft, Green had 16 percent of the vote. As a junior, Green ended the season leading the Bulldogs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, despite missing the first four games because of suspension.

Green's departure leaves the Bulldogs with a handful of unproven receivers. The next star in line seems to be Tavarres King. King assumed Green's flanker position this spring, and while he certainly wasn't Green, he cemented himself as Georgia's go-to receiver.

There is a lot of uncertainty behind King, but having a quarterback like Aaron Murray should keep the offense going.

Next was LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson. Peterson was one of the most exciting defensive players to watch, and he had the ability to take an entire side of the field away when he lined up. Peterson held 10 percent of the vote.

In single digits were Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett and Florida safety Ahmad Black. Mallett has the biggest arm to replace in the SEC. He led the conference in passing a year ago, but he'll have redshirt junior Tyler Wilson taking his place this season. Wilson will have a slew of targets to throw to with Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright out there, so replacing Mallett might not be too hard in Hog country.

As for Black, he finished his career first in the SEC and tied for sixth nationally among active players with 13 career interceptions. While small in stature, he came up big for the Gators on defense and was the emotional leader at Florida last season. Black's replacement, sophomore Matt Elam, might have more athleticism, but no one is sure if he'll have the intangibles Black possessed.

It's mailbag time on the SEC blog. We were littered with a ton of good questions.

I hope everyone has had a good week and you were able to put up with me while Chris was on vacation. Enjoy the weekend and things will return to normal next week.

Now, on to your questions:

Mike in Kennesaw, Ga., writes: What do you think the chances are that Isaiah Crowell will start for Georgia? I for one saw a lot of key fumbles from the others, especially in the first part of the season? It was very disheartening.

Edward Aschoff: Crowell was one of the top running backs and overall recruits in the entire country last fall. He's got great speed and moves in open space, but he's also a very strong runner. The expectations for him are very high and that's both a good and bad thing. The good thing is that the coaches think he's got the talent to come in and take that starting spot pretty early. The bad news is that the pressure will be on him until he shows that he’ll be a great running back for the Bulldogs. It just comes with the territory when you're a top recruit at a position of need for a team. The spring told us that Georgia is still searching for that elite back. We aren't sure about the future of Washaun Ealey and while Caleb King had a solid spring, he didn't show that he’s ready to be that feature back. Ken Malcome and Carlton Thomas dealt with injuries as well this spring. King said Crowell's arrival adds extra motivation for him, but we'll see if that's the story this fall. I think if Crowell gets comfortable in the offense, he could move to the top of the depth chart. The coaches have to find a playmaker to take some pressure off of quarterback Aaron Murray, and Crowell could be that guy. Fans will need to be patient, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Crowell was the No. 1 running back by midseason.

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Krutch in Dallas, Texas writes: Now that Janoris Jenkins missed the date to declare for the NFL draft, is he more likely to try the NFL supplemental draft or sit out an entire year of football? I don't believe he'll transfer elsewhere and wait another 2 years before moving to the next level.

Edward Aschoff: We don't even know if there will be a supplemental draft at this point with the NFL environment the way it is. If there is one, I could see that happening, but I've also been told that Jenkins would like to get one more year out of college football. If he wants to take another year, he'll probably end up going the Division II route. That way he could play this fall and work on his game more. No way he transfers to a Football Bowl Subdivision school and sits out a year just to play one season. I'm not sure what Jenkins really needs to improve on the football field, but his shoulder injury was a major reason why he returned to school. He could use a year to show that he’s healthy. It also might be smart for him to start over for a year in a new place before heading to the NFL. His image took a major hit this spring and this would be a good way for him to clean that up before NFL teams begin speaking with him. If Jenkins wants to improve his draft status he'll head to a D-II school for a year.

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Luke in Columbia, S.C., writes: After A.J. Green and Julio Jones go in the first six picks, Alshon Jeffery isn't mentioned by Mel Kiper as a top five prospect at wide receiver, but Greg Childs is? Remember, Alshon was first-team all-conference and the only SEC finalist for the Biletnikoff award. Most Gamecock fans see him as the first in a line of early round draft picks (with Lattimore and Clowney to follow of course). Do you disagree with Kiper?

Edward Aschoff: I've gotten a few emails about Kiper's list. Most revolve around him leaving Jeffery and Alabama's Trent Richardson off his list for top 2012 eligible draft picks. Kiper’s list was a list of players that were eligible for the 2011 draft, but opted to stay in school. Trust me, both will be near the top of his list of top underclassmen for next year's draft. Richardson could be the best running back prospect if he opts to enter the draft. He not only has tremendous speed, but he's one of the strongest players on Alabama's team. As for Jeffery, whenever he decides to enter the NFL draft he'll be right up there with Green and Jones. He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s as complete a receiver as there is and his hands are phenomenal. He was tremendous throughout the entire 2010 season and if he can replicate what he did last fall it will be hard for him not to declare for next year's draft.

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Alex Morris in Lexington, S.C., writes: I was wondering what your thoughts were if Russell Wilson choose to come to USC next year. How much of an impact he would be and how good you could see us being (even though were predicted by some to win the east without him)?

Edward Aschoff: The only way Wilson ends up at South Carolina is if Stephen Garcia doesn't return. At this point, that decision hasn't been made. Will it be made anytime soon? Not sure. But will Wilson definitely play football this fall? Not sure about that either. He hasn't told the Rockies, who drafted him in last year's MLB draft, that he intends to play football this fall. However, Wilson recently said that he'd like to play football and isn't sure if he wants to play professional football or baseball later in life. He's a college student, and his mind isn't made up. Shocker. Teams could be taking quite the risk on him at this point. However, if Wilson is serious about playing one more year of college football and Garcia doesn't return, South Carolina could be the right fit for him. He's a very talented athlete and would fit right into the Gamecocks' offense. He was a natural leader at NC State, so that would be a welcomed trait at the quarterback position for South Carolina. Having Wilson would keep South Carolina as the favorite in the SEC.

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Ryan in Zanesville, Ohio writes: Hoping you might speak to this in one of your articles or at least on the mailbag. Looking at the schedules I noticed that 4 SEC teams (South Carolina, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama) all play FCS opponents in the next to last week of the regular season. It doesn't seem right that games that are permitted as tune-ups against lesser foes are being used as de facto bye-weeks right before key rivalry games, particularly since two of these teams are playing ACC rivals who don't have the benefit of resting their starters. I feel like these schools are taking advantage of NCAA rules here and that there ought to be a cut off for how deep into the season an FCS team can be played. Thoughts? Can you defend this practice or do you find it equally appalling?

Edward Aschoff: Honestly, I wish major college football programs had to schedule tougher out-of-conference games. Of course, that’s just out my own selfishness. But when the regular season means so much, every game -- and win -- is that much more important. As far as playing them at the end of the season, most schools do it because they feel like they are tune-up games. Let’s not act like that doesn’t happen. However, with that comes that arrogance that has gotten teams in trouble before. We can't forget that Appalachian State stole national headlines by walking into Ann Arbor, Mich., and beating Michigan in 2007. Virginia Tech fell to James Madison last season and Ole Miss lost to Jacksonville State to begin the year a season ago as well. Another thing to consider is that these schools make a good chunk of money for playing bigger SEC schools. Georgia will pay South Alabama $900,000 for their 2014 matchup. Smaller schools greatly benefit from the money they get for these games. As for resting starters, that's decision left up to the coaches. It can be a risk for some and a reward for others. The ethics in scheduling these games will always be debated, but I doubt smaller schools care that much about when they play major college football programs. And if other schools in different conferences want to schedule FCS schools just before major rivalry games, they should. You can’t blame SEC schools for doing something they feel is an advantage within the rules.

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John Hartley in Jackson, Miss., writes: Chris, can you ask Edward if he is related to the late Peter Aschoff. I did most of my college at Alabama but went for a year to Ole Miss. Peter taught the most interesting class I took in the entirety of my college days. The class was the anthropology of the blues. We sat and listened to records all class while Peter described what we were listening to. I can't help but think that peter must have been his father.

Edward Aschoff: I can answer that question for you. Yes, Peter Aschoff was my father and when I was much younger I used to attend his classes during summer school for fun. Oh, and to look at the gorgeous women, of course. What a small world. He always used to joke about how some of his students were shocked to see white man from Iowa who knew everything there was to know about the blues, African-American studies and southern studies. Oh and he loved Tupac. I'm glad you got to take his class. To this day, I still hear nothing but good things about all of them. Thanks for the post!

Georgia assistant coaches Tony Ball and Bryan McClendon received significant pay raises, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ball, Georgia’s wide receivers coach, has been on coach Mark Richt’s staff since 2006 and is set to make $200,000, which is up from the $165,480 he made last year.

McClendon, who joined the Bulldogs' staff as the running backs coach in 2009, was previously one of the lowest-paid SEC assistants. His salary was $90,000 a year, but he will now make $200,000 each year.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said the raises were results of other schools reaching out to Ball and McClendon. McGarity declined to get into what schools contacted the coaches, but did say that the raises were approved in February and March.

“All I can say is they were legit offers,” McGarity told the AJC. “I think the key is continuity. We had already lost two coaches to other schools. Continuity of staff is important to me and to Mark and we thought it was important to maintain stability, especially.

“They’re well-deserved. Both of these men are tremendous coaches who work very hard and were underpaid, in my opinion. We had some momentum going after recruiting and they had a lot to do with that. All signs are pointing up and we needed to be proactive. We will always be proactive.”

The news of Ball's raise comes just days after the Bulldogs had two wide receivers drafted in the 2011 NFL draft. Junior A.J. Green went fourth overall to the Cincinnati Bengals and senior Kris Durham went in the fourth round to the Seattle Seahawks.

Green, who was arguably the best receiver in the draft, caught 57 passes for 848 yards and nine touchdowns in his shortened 2010 season. He finished his career at Georgia with 166 receptions for 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Durham was second on the team with 32 catches for 659 yards and three scores. He finished his college career with 64 receptions for 1,109 yards and four touchdowns.

McClendon has a chance to really earn his new paycheck this fall. He has the responsibility of coaching up a talented but unproven receiving group. Junior Tavarres King returns as the most experienced wideout and moved to Green's flanker position this spring. He and quarterback Aaron Murray developed good chemistry this spring and King figures to be the go-to-receiver in Georgia's offense.

Behind him, it's a bit of a mystery. Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten could have the most pure talent of the bunch, but neither has yet to make much of a contribution at Georgia. Brown caught just 11 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown last year, while Wooten snatched seven balls for 41 yards and a score.

The good news for Ball is that both seemed to have their internal light bulbs come on during spring, but the next step is having that carry over to fall.

As for McClendon, he's got a stable of running backs, but inconsistency is an issue. Senior Caleb King made vast improvements in practice, but never really broke away from the rest of the running back pack. Washaun Ealey is easily the most gifted runner, but off-the-field issues have him crammed in Richt's doghouse. For now, we don’t know where Ealey fits in with the running backs.

Next you have Ken Malcome, Carlton Thomas and incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell. Richt didn't hesitate when Crowell signed to say that he could be the guy this fall. Crowell brings great speed, athleticism and strength to the position, but he's young. Malcome and Thomas battled injuries this spring, but Malcome impressed in Georgia's spring game.

Both coaches have their work cut out for them this fall, but getting strong numbers out of their groups will make them well worth the recent investment.

Of note: “Salary actions” were also completed for new offensive line coach Will Friend, who will earn $200,000 this year, and new linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti, who will earn $250,000.