ESPN College Football

Arkansas will have six captains for the 2012 season.

Quarterback Tyler Wilson and running back Knile Davis were chosen as captains for the second consecutive year and are joined by center Travis Swanson, defensive tackle Alfred Davis and linebackers Alonzo Highsmith and Tenarius Wright. The group was selected by a team vote after spring practice.

Wilson is the only Razorback in school history to be named first-team All-SEC quarterback, an honor he earned in 2011 after leading Arkansas to a school-record-tying 11 wins in his first season as a starter. The senior from Greenwood, Ark., holds nine school records, including career completion percentage, and has produced three of the top-five single-game completions marks in school history. He finished the 2011 season 277-of-438 passing for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions, becoming just the second Razorback to pass for 3,000 yards in a season, and leading the SEC with the eighth-highest single-season passing yards total in conference history.

Knile Davis was a first-team All-SEC performer by the Associated Press in 2010, when he led all SEC running backs with 1,322 yards on the ground, the fourth-highest single-season total in school history. The junior from Missouri City, Texas, was named to numerous preseason All-America and All-SEC teams as well as watch lists for the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards before suffering an injury during a preseason scrimmage that forced him to miss the 2011 campaign.

Swanson has started all 26 games of his Razorback career and blocked for consecutive seasons with a 3,000-yard passer, including the first season in school history with a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher in 2010. Alfred Davis has appeared in 37 games with eight starts in his career. The senior from College Park, Ga., saw action in all 13 games and recorded 14 tackles with 0.5 for loss in 2011.

Highsmith started all 13 games of his first season at Arkansas and finished 2011 first on the team and 10th in the SEC with 12.5 tackles for loss. The senior from Missouri City, Texas, recorded 80 tackles, including 12.5 for loss with 4.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass breakup. Wright enters the 2012 season as Arkansas' active career leader in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, quarterback hurries and forced fumbles and tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries. The senior from Memphis, Tenn., started all eight games in which he appeared in 2011 and recorded 25 tackles, 5.0 for loss with 1.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His quarterback hurry total tied for the team lead despite him being injured early in the game at No. 3 Alabama and missing the next five games.

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

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Tight end
• Sacks

The SEC returns three of the top 10 tacklers from 2011, but don't let that fool you. There's still a lot of quality out there on those SEC defenses. Last season's tackling king, Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan, is gone, and so are his 143 tackles. But the league's No. 2 tackler is back.

Here's a look at the top tackler returning in the SEC:

Cameron Lawrence, LB, Mississippi State: He was second in the SEC with 123 tackles and had 50 solo stops. He also averaged 9.5 tackles per game. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder found ways to take down opposing offensive players by roaming all over the field for the Bulldogs. Lawrence started on the outside, but made his presence known on many different areas of the field with his speed and relentless attitude. Lawrence picked up right were he left off this spring, and the coaches expect him to be just as valuable this fall. It'll be tough to stop Lawrence from taking the tackling crown in 2012.

The SEC returns two more of its top tacklers:

• Daren Bates, LB, Auburn: He registered 104 tackles, including 59 solo, and averaged eight tackles a game.
• Jonathan Bostic, LB, Florida: He registered 94 tackles, including 60 solo, and averaged 7.2 tackles a game.

Those three will certainly get their chances to fight for the crown, but there are other players to keep an eye on as well this fall. Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw are gone at Alabama, but that means Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley will have the chance to take some of that lost production.

Missouri linebacker Andrew Wilson was a stud last season with his team-high 98 tackles, so he'll definitely be in the race this season. So will South Carolina's Devonte Holloman, as he moves back to the Spur position that he lost last season to Antonio Allen, who led the Gamecocks in tackles. Georgia's Jarvis Jones will also take a crack at it. He was the best when it came to making plays behind the line of scrimmage last season, but you better believe offenses will look to protect the backfield more against him. That means he'll have more opportunities to make plays past the line, and he's just as deadly when he isn't rushing the passer.

Ole Miss linebacker Mike Marry had a solid season in 2011, accumulating 81 total tackles. He's turned into a better player, and with the Rebels lining up in all sorts of different defensive formations, he'll be moving all around the field to make plays. Also, keep tabs on Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith and defensive end/linebacker Tenarius Wright. Highsmith had a tremendous 2011 season, racking up 80 tackles, and with the team's top tacklers gone, expect his production to increase. And if Wright stays at linebacker, he'll have more opportunities to add to his tackling numbers.

Two other players to watch out for are Texas A&M linebacker Jonathan Stewart and Vanderbilt linebacker Chase Garnham. Stewart led the Aggies with 98 tackles last season, and Garnham moves into Chris Marve's spot in the middle. A spot where Marve registered a team-high 91 tackles.

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 continues with a look at the sack artists.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Tight end

The SEC returns six players that ranked in the top 10 in sacks in 2011. Three of the top four sack men from a year ago are gone, but Mr. Sack himself, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, is back. Defenses will key in on Jones more this fall, but it'll still be hard to stop him, so expect him to battle to keep his crown.

The obvious top performer when it came to sacks:

Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia: Jones led the SEC with 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He did all of this in his first season playing in the SEC after transferring from USC in 2010. Jones really made SEC tackles suffer, as 12.5 of his sacks came in league play. Jones played like a freight train chugging off of the line. He showed tremendous speed and agility and was nearly unstoppable at times, registering 49 quarterback hurries. His best performance came in a pivotal game against Florida, where he recorded four sacks. Jones is already getting a ton of NFL draft love, as ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. rates him as the No. 2 player on his first Big Board . Jones was also second on the team with 70 tackles.

The SEC returns five more of its top sackers:

Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn: He recorded 9.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hurries.

Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: He recorded nine sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry.

Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU: He recorded eight sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hurries.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: He recorded eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries.

Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina: He recorded six sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries.

It feels like the SEC produces pass rushers likes trees produce leaves. Jones leads the pack right now, but those LSU ends are going to put up quite the fight because it'll be tough for anyone to block both at the same time. Clowney was good as a freshman, but people expect bigger and better in 2012.

Florida lost Ronald Powell this spring, but Lerentee McCray is a player to keep an eye on. He missed spring with a shoulder injury, but coach Will Muschamp is very excited about what McCray can do on the outside with his speed and relentlessness. Also, watch out for linebackers Alonzo Highsmith at Arkansas and Adrian Hubbard at Alabama. Highsmith suffered a pec injury this spring, but he should be fine for the fall after leading the Razorbacks with 12.5 tackles for loss. Hubbard replaces Courtney Upshaw at the Jack linebacker position and people at Alabama left spring impressed with the youngster.

Texas A&M has a couple of players that could compete for the sack title this fall in linebacker Sean Porter and end Damontre Moore, who combined for 18 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. Porter is a player who is already garnering a lot of draft attention and will enter the fall as one of the SEC's top linebackers.

And don't forget about Ole Miss linebacker/defensive end C.J. Johnson. He only registered one sack last year, but the coaches in Oxford feel very good about how much he improved this spring. He'll be used as more of a pass rusher this year, and if he adds some weight he'll be the cause of a lot of headaches for opposing tackles.

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.

There should be plenty of reps to go around at linebacker this spring for Arkansas.

The Hogs' only returning starter, Alonzo Highsmith, injured his left pectoral muscle Tuesday and is expected to miss all of spring practice. Arkansas opened spring workouts on Wednesday.

Highsmith, a rising senior, led the Hogs with 12.5 tackles for loss last season after coming over from junior college and was listed No. 1 at middle linebacker on the pre-spring depth chart.

“I am extremely disappointed for Alonzo,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “He had an impressive first year for us, and I know he had high expectations for himself this spring. Alonzo has demonstrated he is a leader on our team and the coaching staff expects him to continue to be a strong part of building our defense.”

With Highsmith out during the spring, junior Robert Atiga and senior Terrell Williams figure to get longer looks at the middle linebacker spot. Senior Matt Marshall and sophomore Braylon Mitchell are listed as the starters at the other two linebacker spots.

Schedule: Arkansas opens spring practice on Wednesday at 4:50 p.m. ET. Six of the Hogs’ 15 practices will be open this spring. Those dates are Wednesday and Thursday of this week, March 30, April 6, April 13 and the Red-White spring game on April 21, which will kick off at 3 p.m. ET.

What’s new: Paul Haynes takes over as the Hogs’ defensive coordinator after coming over from Ohio State, where he was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach last season. He’d worked with the Buckeyes’ defensive backs from 2005-10. Haynes was hired in time to coach in the AT&T Cotton Bowl last season with the Hogs. He replaced Willy Robinson, who was fired. Paul Petrino returns to Arkansas as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after spending the past two seasons at Illinois. He replaces Garrick McGee, who left to take the head-coaching job at UAB. Other first-year assistants include linebackers coach Taver Johnson and defensive tackles coach Kevin Peoples. Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell will add special teams to his duties after John L. Smith left to take the Weber State head-coaching job. Bobby Allen, who coached the Hogs' defensive tackles last season, will work with the secondary this season.

On the mend: Star running back Knile Davis has been cleared to practice after missing all of last season with a fractured ankle, but the Hogs have yet to decide if he will receive any live contact this spring.

On the move: Sophomore Brey Cook is moving back to offensive tackle after spending most of last season at guard. Sophomore Mitch Smothers is listed at guard this spring. Smothers started the first four games last season at offensive tackle. He became the first true freshman in Arkansas school history to start the season opener on the offensive line.

Key battle: The Hogs know what they have in senior receiver Cobi Hamilton, but they’re going to need other playmakers to emerge in the passing game with Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs all departing. Senior tight end Chris Gragg is sure to be one of Tyler Wilson’s favorite targets, but this spring is big for juniors Julian Horton and Javontee Herndon to establish themselves as consistent threats in the Hogs’ passing game. The same goes for sophomores Marquel Wade and Keante Minor, and 6-foot-4, 200-pound redshirt freshman Quinta Funderburk gets a chance to make his move.

New faces: Freshman tight end Demetrius Dean, who initially signed in 2011 with Arkansas, is on campus and will go through spring practice. Junior college defensive end Austin Flynn is another newcomer to watch. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Flynn played the past two seasons at Los Angeles Harbor Community College and has been clocked at 4.55 in the 40-yard dash. Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has referred to Flynn as a “clone” of Jake Bequette. Flynn is expected to compete with junior Chris Smith for one of the starting end positions.

Breaking out: The Hogs will no doubt be looking for linebackers this spring, but they welcome back one of the more underrated players in the league. Alonzo Highsmith returns to his starting linebacker spot after coming over from junior college last season and leading Arkansas' defenders with 12.5 tackles for loss. He was a very good player for the Hogs a year ago. Don’t be surprised if he develops into an All-SEC player his second time through the league. Highsmith will also need to be a leader. There’s not a lot of experience returning at linebacker. And staying on defense, sophomore cornerback Tevin Mitchel also has that look of a budding All-SEC player. He started in seven games last season as a true freshman and was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman Team.

Don’t forget about: It’s always a good sign when you’re strong up the middle on both lines of scrimmage, and the Hogs have talent, experience and depth on the interior in both their offensive and defensive lines. On offense, junior center Travis Swanson and junior guard Alvin Bailey return as one of the best center-guard tandems in the league. Then on defense, the Hogs have five tackles returning who’ve seen extensive playing time. Juniors Byran Jones and Robert Thomas are listed as the starters going into the spring, but seniors D.D. Jones, Alfred Davis and Lavunce Askew have all played a ton of snaps. Askew, who played some as a true freshman, redshirted last season.

All eyes on: How healthy does Knile Davis look? By all accounts, he’s ready to go and in great shape. Petrino said that Davis recently ran a personal-best 4.33 in the 40-yard dash. Davis was practicing some toward the end of last season, so getting back onto the practice field won’t be entirely new to him. The reality is that the Hogs will be guarded (and should be) with any live contact Davis receives. He doesn’t have anything to prove this spring. Arkansas returns a deep backfield stable with seniors Dennis Johnson and Ronnie Wingo Jr. listed behind Davis on the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Kody Walker is also back. He scored five touchdowns before a stress fracture in his shin forced him to have season-ending surgery.

We move to linebackers today in our postseason position rankings.

Defensive lines are very important in this league, but there are other guys in the box who have to be pretty reliable as well in this league. This league has done a pretty solid job of producing some top talent at this position as well.

You can see what are preseason linebacker rankings looked like here.

And here are our postseason rankings:

1. Alabama: This unit was at the top of our preseason rankings and didn't budge throughout the season. When you have two All-Americans in Courtney Upshaw, who was the defensive MVP in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game, and Dont'a Hightower it's pretty understandable to see why. Those two combined for 136 tackles, including 29 for loss. Nico Johnson was fourth on the team in tackles, while C.J. Mosley added 37 of his own. Alabama's defense was first nationally in total defense and first in rushing defense, allowing 74.2 yards per game.

2. Georgia: Linebackers are essential to any 3-4 defense, and the Bulldogs' group did quite well in 2011. Georgia ended up with one of the nation's best linebackers in Jarvis Jones, who led the SEC with 19 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. He also had 49 quarterback hurries. Michael Gilliard was third on the team behind Jones with 65 tackles. While Alec Ogletree missed part of the first half of the season, the speedster still finished with 52 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. Cornelius Washington, Amarlo Herrera Christian Robinson combined to add 101 more tackles, as Georgia's defense ranked fifth nationally.

3. Arkansas: Arkansas' defense had a lot of bend in it last season, but the linebackers found ways to make plays. Newcomer Alonzo Highsmith was third on the team with 80 tackles, led with 12.5 tackles for loss and had 4.5 sacks. The star continued to be Jerry Franklin, who led the team in tackles (101) for the fourth straight year. Then there was Jerico Nelson, who was all over the field as that hybrid linebacker/safety. He came away with 70 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. Ross Rasner, who played outside with Nelson, added 53 more tackles and two sacks.

4. Florida: The Gators' defense ranked eighth nationally in part because of the aggressive play of its front seven. Jon Bostic commanded the middle, leading the team with 94 tackles, including 10 for loss. Jelani Jenkins seemed to come more into his own outside, finishing third on the team in tackles. The big surprise was Lerentee McCray, who played both Sam linebacker and the hybrid Buck. He was one of Florida's most active linebackers and grabbed 7.5 tackles for loss. Ronald Powell started at the Buck, but saw most of his production from defensive end.

5. Vanderbilt: The Commodores entered the season needing to replace three starting linebackers and ended the year with a very impressive linebacking corps. It was led by vet Chris Marve, who was 10th in the league in tackles. Archibald Barnes had a solid year at the Will, ranking fourth on the team in tackles and grabbing two interceptions. Chase Garnham and Al Owens manned the Sam position and combined for 72 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. Against conference foes, Vandy's rush defense ranked fourth in the league.

6. LSU: The Tigers were in search of that dominant middle linebacker all season and might have found a budding star in Kevin Minter, really grew into the position by the end of the season and was fifth on the team in tackles. He started 11 games, but shared time with Karnell Hatcher, who finished with 24 tackles. Ryan Baker was LSU's best linebacker, was an outstanding leader and was fourth on the team with 64 tackles. Stefoin Francois was the starter at Sam, but he accumulated just 11 tackles, while backup Tahj Jones registered 27. Still, LSU owned the No. 2 national defense.

7. South Carolina: The Gamecocks saw improvement from this group as the season went on. While the defensive line got a ton of credit, the linebackers did their part in securing the defense's No. 3 national ranking. Antonio Allen spent some time in the box at the Spur position and led South Carolina with 88 tackles and had 9.5 for loss. Rodney Paulk and Shaq Wilson, who returned from injury, rotated at the Mike and combined for 109 tackles. Will linebacker Reginald Bowens added 44 tackles.

8. Kentucky: The Wildcats owned the SEC's top tackler in Danny Trevathan (143), who should have received more national attention. Trevathan was one of the most active defenders around at the Will. Winston Guy played the hybrid linebacker/safety and was third in the SEC with 120 tackles. Ronnie Sneed added 71 more tackles. Kentucky's defense was much more aggressive under new defensive coordinator Rick Minter and got more exotic looks from its linebackers.

9. Mississippi State: Cameron Lawrence was a beast for the Bulldogs in 2011. He was second in the SEC with 123 tackles, and had 49 solo. Senior Brandon Wilson added 94 more tackles. Brandon Maye, who transferred from Clemson, was expected to make a bigger impact for the Bulldogs, but played behind Wilson and was 11th on the team in tackles. Sophomore Deontae Skinner added 69 tackles and Mississippi State ranked in the bottom half of the SEC in total defense.

10. Tennessee: The Vols' top three tacklers were linebackers. The leader was senior Austin Johnson, who finished the season with 81 tackles, including 41 solo. Next were two true freshmen on the outside in A.J. Johnson (80) and Curt Maggitt (56). Both freshmen experienced up-and-down seasons, but were SEC All-Freshman selections. Herman Lathers, who was a projected started, missed 2011 with a fractured ankle, and after the big three, the Vols didn't get a ton out of their linebackers, as Dontavis Sapp was their next most productive linebacker with 20 tackles.

11. Auburn: The Tigers' defense really struggled in 2011 and gave up more than 200 rushing yards a contest. Auburn had to basically start over at linebacker, but lone returning starter Daren Bates had a heck of a year, ranking fourth in the league with 104 tackles. He really tried to make sure he played all over the field last fall. After that, the play was up-and-down. Senior Eltoro Freeman took over in the middle halfway into the year and finished with 58 tackles, while Jake Holland and Jonathan Evans combined for 83 tackles.


12. Ole Miss: The Rebels' defense had all sorts of problems defensively, including allowing 256.5 yards per game and 21 rushing touchdowns. The linebackers took a major hit with the absence of D.T. Shackelford, who missed the season with a knee injury. Mike Marry stepped up at the Mike and led Ole Miss with 81 tackles and five for loss. Freshman Serderius Bryant and junior Joel Kight combined for 122 tackles. Damien Jackson played the Spur and added 64 tackles, but Ole Miss' defense ranked dead last in the SEC.

Arkansas was in the BCS hunt right up until the very end of the regular season, but fell short after a trip to Baton Rouge, La.:

OFFENSE: A

Coach Bobby Petrino has shown throughout his coaching career that he knows a little bit about how to run an offense. The Razorbacks brought in new quarterback Tyler Wilson, who was equipped with four future NFL wide receivers, and led the SEC in total offense. Wilson led the SEC in passing, averaging 285.2 yards per game, and he also had 22 passing touchdowns. Wilson was very efficient for the Razorbacks, completing 63 percent of his passes and tossing just six interceptions. Jarius Wright and Joe Adams ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in receiving, with Wright leading the league with 93.5 yards per game and 11 touchdowns. Arkansas worked with a pretty inexperienced offensive line, but it was a line that grew as the season progressed. That growth became more evident in the running game. The Hogs started the season being very inconsistent running the ball and couldn't find a true number one to replace the injured Knile Davis. Following Week 6, Arkansas' running game gained more consistency and found a leader in Dennis Johnson, who led Arkansas with 637 yards. Arkansas' offense would have been even better with Davis in the lineup. He was arguably the most complete back in the league, but missed the season with an ankle injury.

DEFENSE: C

This was supposed to be Petrino's best Arkansas defense, but the Hogs fell well below expectations. Injuries did pile up, but Arkansas' lack of depth became a glaring issue throughout the year. Arkansas allowed 31.8 points against ranked opponents. Against SEC opponents, the Razorbacks allowed 24.6 points per game. While Arkansas won 10 games, the defense ranked ninth or worse in the SEC in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and passing defense. Opponents averaged nearly 19 first downs per game against Arkansas and converted almost 38 percent of their third-down conversions. There were some solid individual performances for the Hogs, as linebacker Jerry Franklin led Arkansas in tackles (93) for the fourth straight year and ranked sixth in the SEC. Defensive end Jake Bequette overcame injury to record eight sacks in just nine games. Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith enjoyed a solid first year in Fayetteville with 10.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Adams showed why he's such a dynamic athlete by becoming the human highlight reel on punt returns, including his scintillating 60-yard return for a score against Tennessee. He had three touchdowns on returns, and tied for first in the league with 16.2 yards per return. Johnson and Marquel Wade made Arkansas' kickoff team very dangerous. Both ranked in the top 5 in return average and combined for two touchdowns. Zach Hocker led SEC kickers with 8.9 points per game, and hit 18 field goals and 53 extra points. Dylan Breeding led the SEC with 45.2 yards per punt and downed 14 inside opponents' 20-yard lines. Arkansas also ranked third in the league in kickoff coverage.

COACHING: A-

Petrino had the Hogs in the thick of the BCS hunt yet again in 2011. A win over LSU at the end of the year might have put the Hogs on a path toward the national championship. His team overcame a flurry of injuries to grab double-digit wins for the second straight season. It's no shocker that offensive coordinator Garrick McGee was lured away to become the head coach at UAB after another season of directing Arkansas' offense. The Hogs ranked 26th nationally in offense, averaging 445.8 yards per game. Where Arkansas fell short was on defense. Arkansas was supposed to turn the corner there, but never did during the season and was pushed around by Alabama and LSU. Former defensive coordinator Will Robinson resigned at the end of the regular season.

Take a break from checking out those SEC schedules and check out some SEC links.

• Alabama's BCS Championship Game experience gives the Crimson Tide and X-factor edge against LSU.
• Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith enjoys his big season with the Razorbacks and is preparing for more in 2012.
• Auburn players say there will be a different defense taking the field against Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
• The coaching searches continue for Will Muschamp and Florida.
• Talented Georgia freshman wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell is considering time at cornerback.
• LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson is more at ease after his early-season, off-field issues.
• Mississippi State junior defenders Fletcher Cox and Johnthan Banks rate high on NFL draft charts.
• It's been quite the ride for South Carolina freshman offensive lineman Mike Matulis.
• Tennessee may save money by not going bowling this year.
• Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers' road to the Liberty Bowl has been full of twists.

BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 1 LSU scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 21-14 lead over No. 3 Arkansas on Friday at Tiger Stadium.

Here’s a quick halftime analysis:

Turning point: Arkansas was driving in LSU territory late in the second quarter when running back Dennis Johnson fumbled the football. He was initially ruled down on the field, but the play was reviewed and ultimately overturned. LSU took over at its 34 with 1:59 left in the half and drove 66 yards in five plays for Jordan Jefferson's 9-yard touchdown pass to a slanting Russell Shepard, giving the Tigers a 21-14 lead. They scored all three of their touchdowns in the final 5:15 of the second quarter.

Player of the half: Tyrann Mathieu, starting at safety in place of the injured Eric Reid, had a hand in two of the Tigers’ three touchdowns. His 92-yard punt return for a touchdown made it a 14-14 game, and Mathieu is the one who stripped the ball from Johnson on the Hogs’ next offensive possession. Ron Brooks recovered, leading to the Tigers’ go-ahead touchdown.

Stat of the half: The two teams have combined for five touchdowns, which is already five more than was scored in LSU’s 9-6 overtime win against Alabama on Nov. 5.

Stat of the half II: The two quarterbacks -- Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson and LSU’s Jefferson -- were a combined 20-of-27 in the first half.

Of note: Both teams scored non-offensive touchdowns. In addition to Mathieu’s punt return, Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith returned a fumble 47 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Here are the players of the week in the SEC:

SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• TRENT RICHARDSON, RB (Alabama): Richardson rushed for a game-high 126 yards on 17 carries (7.4 avg) in Alabama’s 38-14 win against Arkansas. He also caught three passes for a game-high 85 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown. It was Richardson’s third straight 100-yard game and now ranks second in the SEC with an average of 110.3 rushing yards per game. He also finished with 235 all-purpose yards with the addition of a 24-yard kickoff return.

SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• MELVIN INGRAM, DE (South Carolina): Ingram scored his third touchdown of the season, this time falling on a fumble in the end zone in the second quarter for the Gamecocks' first points in a 21-3 win over Vanderbilt. Ingram was also credited with four tackles on the night, including three tackles for loss that accounted for 24 yards, and a pair of sacks. He also broke up one pass.

SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• BRAD WING, P (LSU): In his first game since the season-opener, Wing punted six times for a 48.7 average in LSU’s 47-21 win at West Virginia. All six of Wing’s punts were downed inside the 20-yard line. West Virginia’s started possessions at its own 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11 yard line following Wing’s punts. None of Wing’s punts were returned. His long punt of 60 yards that went from LSU having the ball on its own 34 to pinning West Virginia inside its 5-yard line.

SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK

• BARRETT JONES, OT (Alabama): Jones received the highest grade on the Alabama offensive line in the Crimson Tide’s 38-14 win against Arkansas. He started at left tackle in the game and also spent time later in the game at right tackle. He has started all four games at left tackle, but has also played center and guard this season. Jones helped lead a balanced Alabama attack that led to 197 rushing yards and 200 passing yards.

SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK

• JAYE HOWARD, DT (Florida): Howard recovered a fumble and returned it for Florida’s first defensive touchdown of the season in the Gators’ 48-10 win against Kentucky. He totaled three tackles and has a pass breakup against the Wildcats. Howard anchored a defensive front that limited Kentucky to 4-of-17 on third downs and 0-for-5 on fourth downs and forced the Wildcats into three 3-and-outs.

SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

• ISAIAH CROWELL, RB (Georgia): Crowell recorded a career-high 30 carries for a career-high 147 yards (4.9 average) to pace the Bulldogs during their 27-13 road win over Ole Miss. Crowell’s 30 carries were the most for a Georgia rusher since Knowshon Moreno had 33 in 2007.

OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES FROM WEEK 4

• CB DRE KIRKPATRICK (Alabama) -- Had six total tackles (all solos) with one for a loss (-3 yards) and three pass deflections against Arkansas.
• RB/RS DENNIS JOHNSON (Arkansas) -- Totaled 123 all-purpose rushing yards including 105 yards on five kickoff returns against Alabama.
• LB ALONZO HIGHSMITH (Arkansas) -- Had team-high eight total tackles with two for losses, including a sack against Alabama.
• DB JERMAINE WHITEHEAD (Auburn) -- Became first Tiger true freshman since 1996 to return an interception for a TD against Florida Atlantic.
• WR EMORY BLAKE (Auburn) -- Caught five passes for 78 yards including a touchdown against Florida Atlantic.
• RB JEFF DEMPS( Florida) -- Rushed for 157 yards on 10 carries and two TDs including 84-yard TD run against Kentucky.
• FS BACCARI RAMBO (Georgia) -- Had two interceptions and four total tackles (all solos) against Ole Miss.
• LB DANNY TREVATHAN (Kentucky) -- Tallied eight total tackles (4 solos) with 1.5 for losses, including sack, a forced and recovered fumble and a pass deflection against Florida.
• WR LA'ROD KING (Kentucky) -- Caught game-high five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown against Florida.
• DB TYRANN MATHIEU (LSU) -- Created two turnovers, had six total tackles and a pass deflection against West Virginia.
• CB/RS NICKOLAS BRASSELL (Ole Miss) -- Returned punt 81 yards for a touchdown, rushed for 14 yards on one carry, had two catches for 52 yards and a tackle on defense against Georgia.
• CB CHARLES SAWYER (Ole Miss) -- Posted season-high nine tackles (eight solos) and had an interception, two pass deflections and recovered onside kick against Georgia.
• LB BRANDON WILSON (Mississippi State) -- Had game-high 18 total tackles (five solos) against Louisiana Tech.
• RS/WRCHAD BUMPHIS (Mississippi State) -- Returned punt 82 yards for a touchdown, had 25 yards rushing on two carries and caught two passes for 17 yards against Louisiana Tech.
• RB MARCUS LATTIMORE (South Carolina) -- Rushed for 77 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown and also caught 3 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt.
• LB CHASE GARNHAM (Vanderbilt) -- Had game-high 10 total tackles (8 solos) with a half tackle for loss (-1 yard) against South Carolina.
• LB CHRIS MARVE (Vanderbilt) -- Had nine total tackles (six solos) and an interception against South Carolina.

Back when preseason practice was in full bloom, we kept hearing more and more about Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith. The junior college transfer who's the son of former University of Miami star running back Alonzo Highsmith, was brought in to replace the departed Anthony Leon on the outside and from all indications, he was doing that and more.

Three weeks into the season and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino says the younger Highsmith has been a key addition to a Razorbacks defense allowing 230 yards per game. Petrino said Wednesday that Highsmith has "made significant improvement to our defense."

After two games, the 6-foot-1, 229-pound junior is tied for second on the team with nine tackles and has two for loss.

Petrino said Highsmith is very similar to Leon in his athleticism and speed, but he believes that Highsmith might be more physical than Leon was.

"First and foremost he comes from a great football background," Petrino said of Highsmith. "He knows the game, he’s been a very, very good student and a quick learner of what we’re trying to do defensively. He understands offenses, so he picks things up very quick. He's fast and likes to hit. So it's a great combination for a linebacker."

Last year, Highsmith was named a JUCO All-American at Phoenix (Ariz.) College after recording 94 tackles, including 12 for loss, and four sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles.

This defense has been heralded as the best Petrino has had since he arrived at Arkansas, and through two games, Highsmith has proved to be a valuable get for Petrino and his staff.

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.

With all the news and notes out of Gainesville from fellow SEC blogger Chris Low, here are some links from other schools around the league to munch on.

• Alabama might not know who its starting quarterback is, but it's found its quarterback on defense.
• Blake Sims could contribute for the Tide as both a third quarterback and a running back this fall.
• Aged receiver DeAngelo Benton is putting his injury-plagued career behind him and believes he's finally ready to contribute at Auburn.
• Freshmen Erique Florence and Corey Grant are looking to make the most of their experiences at Auburn.
• Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith is getting a lot of early attention and a lot of chances to impress in practice.
• Isaiah Crowell's eagerness to learn and improve at practice has impressed the Georgia coaches thus far.
• Winning the fourth quarter has become a priority for the Bulldogs during preseason camp.
• John Clay of The Lexington Herald-Leader writes that Joker Phillips is rebuilding with more impressive and aggressive recruiting.
• Kentucky defensive back Glenn Faulkner has clearance for takeoff with the Wildcats.
• LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery is healthier and wiser now that he's back on the field for the Tigers after a knee injury cut his 2010 season short.
• Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt downplays the use of the 4-2-5 formation on defense.
• Quarterback Tyler Russell is looking shed his one-dimensional game by becoming a better runner at Mississippi State.
• Bruce Ellington is making the transition from basketball star to wide receiver at South Carolina.
• Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray is ready to start over after a painful ending to his freshman season.
• Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews had an interesting way of improving his hands: he used a pitching machine.