ESPN College Football

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- We are all set down here inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, where temperatures could deep into the 40s tonight.

Both teams are making adjustments to their offensive lines tonight. For Alabama, right guard Anthony Steen is out after suffering a concussion against Ole Miss, so we'll see Alfred McCullough start in his place.

We could also see some of freshman Cyrus Kouandjio at left tackle tonight. Starter Barrett Jones missed time at practice this week, so Kouandjio could get more action tonight.

Tennessee has moved Alex Bullard, who transferred from Notre Dame, from left guard to center. James Stone moves from center to left guard. The Vols worked with this setup during the week — and Stone has had snapping issues all year.

The interesting thing about this move is that Bullard has yet to play center in an organized football game in his life. Well, what a time to make the move.

We could also see Prentiss Waggner play some corner tonight for the Vols, which would mean that freshman Brian Randolph would play in Waggner's place at safety. Waggner is Tennessee's best defensive back and is so versatile that he's also the Vols' best cover guy.

Tennessee will no doubt load the box to try and slow down Alabama running back Trent Richardson, so if someone's going to be on an island back there it might as well be Waggner.

Meanwhile, former Alabama quarterback Joe Namath is the honorary captain for the Crimson Tide tonight.

Everyone is looking for the next Nick Fairley.

Everyone would love to have their own Cam Newton.

So as we look around the league at some of the newcomers from either the junior college ranks or who have transferred in from other schools, we'll try to find them.

Could Georgia noseguard John Jenkins be the beast in the middle that Fairley was? Does Barry Brunetti have what it takes to have a Newton-like impact at Ole Miss?

Here is a look at some of the new athletes around the league to keep an eye on this fall:

ALABAMA

• Duron Carter, WR: Carter could be a big-time playmaker for the Tide, but he has yet to enroll because of transcript issues. The former Ohio State and juco wideout is the son of star former NFL receiver Cris Carter.
• Quinton Dial, DL: Dial could play both inside and out, but is currently getting quality reps at defensive end for Alabama. The former juco standout has made quite the impression on his head coach and he seems to be in line for a starting spot.
• Jesse Williams, DT: Like Dial, Williams transferred in from the juco ranks in January and has also performed well in practice. He's gotten reps all around the line, but could also be in contention for one of the end spots. He's a massive lineman at 6-foot-4 and 319 pounds.

ARKANSAS

• Alonzo Highsmith, LB: The juco transfer is an extremely athletic linebacker and has really impressed since his arrival. He stepped in at the starting weakside linebacker spot on Day 1 of preseason camp and appears to have the edge there heading into the season.

• Robert Thomas, DT: Speaking of athleticism, the Razorbacks might have found their most athletic defensive lineman in Thomas. The juco transfer got a ton of reps this spring with Byran Jones and DeQuinta Jones out with injuries, and is currently competing for a starting spot.

FLORIDA

• Dan Wenger, C: He earned an extra year of eligibility after concussions cut his Notre Dame career short. He's reuniting with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and offensive line coach Frank Verducci and is not only competing for the starting spot at center but has become a leader on the offensive line.

GEORGIA

• John Jenkins, DT: He was a giant gem of Georgia's 2011 class and was expected to snatch the starting noseguard position. However, the juco standout has had injury issues and hasn't been in the best shape. At 6-foot-4, and 340 pounds, people are hoping he can be a force in the middle this fall, but he's currently behind Kwame Geathers.

• Jarvis Jones, LB: Jones transferred in from USC last year and takes over as the starting strongside linebacker. Georgia's coaches feel that with his speed and athleticism he could be a more versatile player than former stud Justin Houston.

LSU

• Zach Mettenberger, QB: If Jordan Jefferson is indeed punished for his alleged involvement in a horrific fight outside of a Baton Rouge bar, Mettenberger's time could be now. He matches his cannon of a right arm with tremendous accuracy and might have the best skill set of any of LSU's current quarterbacks.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

• Brandon Maye, LB: Maye transferred from Clemson and with the Bulldogs looking to replace three starters at linebacker, Maye is expected to make an immediate impact at middle linebacker. He had a slow start to fall camp, but improved throughout.

OLE MISS

• Barry Brunetti, Randall Mackey, Zack Stoudt, QBs: All three are vying for the starting quarterback spot and all have done well since the spring. Brunetti transferred from West Virginia, while Mackey and Stoudt are former juco athletes. Brunetti has the edge at quarterback, but Mackey was on top this spring and won't make things easy for the sophomore. Stoudt isn't as athletic as the other two, but has been very sharp with his passing ability.
• Uriah Grant, Gilbert Pena, DT: Both players were brought in to add some beef in the middle of Ole Miss' line and both could end up starters for opening day. Both have dealt with injuries, but that really hasn't slowed their on-field production in practice.
• Wesley Pendleton, CB: Pendleton had an impressive juco career and has really caught on in Ole Miss' defense. He's in the thick of it for one of the starting cornerback spots and has shown that he might be the Rebels' most athletic defensive back.

TENNESSEE

• Alex Bullard, OG: He transferred from Notre Dame and was granted a hardship in order to play this fall. Bullard has moved all along the line this preseason, but it looks like he could be in the running for one of the starting guard positions.
• Maurice Couch, DT: A lot is expected from Couch, who hopes to fill one of the spots in the middle of Tennessee's line. It hasn't been an easy preseason for Couch, who suffers from asthma, but he has made improvements. He'll contribute at noseguard and the three technique this fall.
• Izauea Lanier, CB: Though he made his mark playing safety in junior college, Lanier is competing for time at corner. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he's a bigger corner, which coach Derek Dooley likes.
• Byron Moore, DB: Moore appears to be a "tweener" on defense. He could play safety or corner for the Vols. With Tennessee running a lot of nickel formations, Moore should see the field in some capacity this fall.

VANDERBILT

• Jordan Rodgers, QB: Rodgers missed the 2010 season and missed the spring while recovering from shoulder surgery, but is No. 2 at quarterback. The younger brother to Super Bowl champ Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Rodgers is a player coach James Franklin has been especially excited about seeing.

Some really tough news for Arkansas and Knile Davis, who's out for the season with an ankle injury. Davis is an outstanding football player and a really swell guy. He's fought back every time in the past when he's had injuries, and he'll fight back from this one, too. Best of luck to you, Knile.

Now, for some links:

• Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News wonders if SEC expansion could mean two Iron Bowls in the same year.
• A groin injury sidelines Georgia freshman running back Isaiah Crowell.
• Alex Bullard, a transfer from Notre Dame, is trying his hand just about everywhere this preseason on Tennessee's offensive line.
• Mississippi State wouldn't mind taking a page out of Oregon's playbook when it comes to offensive tempo.
• Ole Miss' trio of quarterbacks is making strides.
• Shaq Wilson's return at linebacker is a boost for South Carolina.
• Rachel George of The Orlando Sentinel takes a look at some stats Florida can be expected to improve on this season.
• Vanderbilt coach James Franklin joins his players in a little ice bath after practice.
• Kentucky gets a commitment from defensive back Jacoby Glenn of Prichard, Ala. Glenn is ranked by ESPN as the No. 55 safety prospect in the country.
• LSU's "freak" of a freshman, defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, is making his presence felt on the practice field.
• Cris Carter clarifies his son's eligibility status at Alabama. Duron Carter is still waiting on grades for two of his summer school classes to be added to his transcript, and the elder Carter is hopeful that everything will be cleared up by the end of next week.
• Auburn's Gene Chizik is balancing preparation and preservation.

Spring game: 2 p.m. ET on Saturday

Questions answered: Even though Tauren Poole topped 1,000 yards rushing last season, the Vols’ running game lacked consistency. Coach Derek Dooley felt like they left too many yards on the field. This spring, they added another piece to that running game in sophomore Rajion Neal, who had some big scrimmages. Dooley feels like you have to have two No. 1 running backs to make it in the SEC, and both of the incoming freshmen (Marlin Lane and Tom Smith) will get their shot when they arrive this summer. The Vols’ continued development in the offensive line was also one of the highlights of the spring, and they’re building depth up front. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James, right guard Zach Fulton and center James Stone are all returning starters who played last season as true freshmen. Sophomore Alex Bullard, who transferred from Notre Dame, has worked at left tackle and is somebody who will definitely be in the rotation if he gets a hardship waiver from the NCAA. Marcus Jackson, a highly rated true freshman who enrolled early, has been a starter all spring at left guard.

Questions unanswered: Sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray added a few pounds, got a lot stronger and gained a deeper understanding of the Vols’ playbook. But it remains to be seen if he’s the kind of leader who can help take this team to the upper echelon of the SEC. Bray said he made a conscientious effort to be more vocal this spring. What’s not up for debate is his ability to throw the football. He has a big-time arm and is fearless in the pocket. The entire front seven on defense also remains a huge question mark. Tennessee lost five of its seven starters from a year ago, including key leaders such as Nick Reveiz and Chris Walker. The Vols were still shuffling guys around on the defensive line this spring to find the right combination, and the jury’s still out on whether they have enough SEC-quality linebackers. Staying on defense, the Vols will probably be counting on a pair of junior college players (Byron Moore and Izauea Lanier) to come in and play right away in the secondary, especially with no guarantees that safety Janzen Jackson will be back.

Spring stars: Sophomore Da’Rick Rogers has All-SEC receiver written all over him. He’s a 6-foot-3, 215-pound specimen who can go get the football with the best of them. He made huge strides this spring in the finer points of playing receiver and made as many big plays as anybody on the team. He and fellow sophomore Justin Hunter as a combo should be something to see. Sophomore defensive end Jacques Smith was one of the Vols’ top defenders this spring and has a chance to be a dominant pass-rusher. He suffered an injury to his foot (believed to be a broken bone) this week in practice that will likely sideline him until June. Sophomore Brent Brewer, who made a big impact a year ago in his debut, has been lighting people up at safety and made even more improvement this spring.

Of note: James has missed the past two and a half weeks of practice with mono. … The Vols would like to get sophomore fullback Channing Fugate more involved in the offense. The 251-pound Fugate rushed for 3,000 yards as a junior in high school. … Tennessee appears set at the kicking positions with sophomore Michael Palardy handling the place-kicking duties and redshirt freshman Matt Darr doing the punting. … Junior safety Prentiss Waggner broke one of his fingers and has played the last two weeks with one of those clubs over his cast. … True freshman Vincent Dallas has made a strong push this spring to be a part of the receiver rotation next season, and Bray said sophomore Matt Milton is also coming on. Milton, who’s 6-foot-5, would fit in nicely with the 6-4 Hunter and 6-3 Rogers. The Vols also have heralded freshman receiver DeAnthony Arnett arriving this summer.