ESPN College Football

2011 record: 11-2
2011 conference record: 6-2

Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 0

Top returners:
WR Ace Sanders, OG A.J. Cann, QB Connor Shaw, RB Marcus Lattimore, CB Akeem Auguste, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Devin Taylor, DT Kelcy Quarles, LB Shaq Wilson, Spur DeVonte Holloman, S D.J. Swearinger

Key losses:
WR Alshon Jeffery, OT Rokevious Watkins, OG Terrence Campbell, Spur Antonio Allen, DE Melvin Ingram, CB Stephon Gilmore, DT Travian Robertson

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Marcus Lattimore* (818 yards)
Passing: Connor Shaw* (1,448 yards)
Receiving: Alshon Jeffery (762 yards)
Tackles: Antonio Allen (88)
Sacks: Melvin Ingram (10)
Interceptions: Stephon Gilmore (4)

Spring answers

1. Shaw's development: The goal for quarterback Connor Shaw this spring was to work on the passing part of the position. The run-first quarterback showed flashes of transformation in his mindset toward the end of last season and it bled over to this year. He seems to be more confident in his passing and that will go a long way for the Gamecocks offense, as the downfield passing game was missing for most of South Carolina's season in 2011.

2. Running back depth: With Lattimore sitting out the spring, South Carolina turned to reserves Brandon Wilds and Kenny Miles. Both performed well, but Miles was named the offensive player of the spring. He wrestled with returning to the Gamecocks, and still seems to be creating some drama about his return this fall, but if he comes back he'll be the No. 2 back. Miles made major strides in his game and his return would mean South Carolina has some insurance at running back if Lattimore struggles. Even if he returns at full health, having Miles there will give the Gamecocks a solid option to keep Lattimore fresh.

3. Shell's development: South Carolina's coaches were anxious to see what redshirt freshman Brandon Shell could do and he didn't disappoint. He ended spring as the starter at left tackle -- the same position that Rokevious Watkins manned last season. The Gamecocks lost two starters along the offensive line, but Shell provided a nice spark at the most important position along the line.

Fall questions

1. Lattimore's health: While word out of South Carolina's camp is that Lattimore was ahead of schedule with his knee rehab, it's still unknown if he will be back to his old self. It's hard to believe that anyone could come back from an ACL injury in this amount of time and be as effective and as good as Lattimore was, but his coaches think he can do just that. Until we see him play, there will still be some uncertainty. A healthy Lattimore makes this an SEC contender and maybe more.

2. Secondary: South Carolina has veterans Akeem Auguste and D.J. Swearinger returning in its defensive backfield, but both dealt with injuries in the spring and the Gamecocks must replace three of its top four cornerbacks from last season. The injuries gave young guys the opportunity to get more reps, but questions still remain. Victor Hampton, listed as a starter, might be South Carolina's most athletic returning corner, but he has limited experience and a history of off-field issues. Brison Williams should enter the fall as a starter at strong safety, but has just one career start. He's one of two players at strong safety with game experience. Jimmy Legree and Cadarious Sanders are the only other corners with game experience. Expect redshirt freshman Ahmad Christian to compete for time as well.

3. Wide receiver: The Gamecocks will start the summer still wondering about the wide receiver position. Ace Sanders returns as the team's most productive receiver, but after that there isn't a lot of production. The good news was that Bruce Ellington returned to football this spring, but the bad news is that even with him back, Sanders is still the only receiver returning with 20 or more catches (29). Speedster Damiere Byrd showed progress and the coaches expect to get more from D.L. Moore, but the position is still a mystery. Incoming freshman Shaq Roland will be relied on a lot when he reports in the summer.

The second and third rounds of the NFL draft will be held tonight with coverage beginning at 7 ET on ESPN, and several SEC players should hear their names called early.

It's baffling to me how Alabama's Courtney Upshaw didn't hear his name in the first round on Thursday. Somebody's going to get a heck of a deal by landing him in the second round tonight.

I realize there are questions about what position he would play in the NFL, but the tape doesn't lie. The guy specializes in making big plays and has a knack for getting to the quarterback. He did it at Alabama, and he'll do it at the next level.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has five SEC players going in the second round in his latest mock draft, including Georgia offensive tackle Cordy Glenn with the first pick of the second round to the St. Louis Rams at No. 33 overall. Like Upshaw, Glenn was projected by most analysts to be a first-round selection.

The other four SEC players pegged by Kiper to go in the second round tonight are:

• No. 35: Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw to the Baltimore Ravens
• No. 42: Ole Miss offensive tackle Bobby Massie to the Miami Dolphins
• No. 43: LSU receiver Rueben Randle to the Seattle Seahawks
• No. 44: South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery to the Kansas City Chiefs

Some of the other SEC players to keep an eye on tonight in Rounds 2 and 3 include:

• Arkansas receiver Joe Adams
• South Carolina safety Antonio Allen
• Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin
• Alabama nose guard Josh Chapman
• Georgia tight end Orson Charles
• Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward
• Georgia center Ben Jones
• Auburn offensive tackle Brandon Mosley
• LSU safety Brandon Taylor

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.

Everybody knows the Head Ball Coach likes to play pitch and catch. Finding another catcher or two will be paramount if the Gamecocks are going to do that next season.

OUT: WR Alshon Jeffery. Even in a supposedly “down” year, Jeffery caught eight touchdown passes and made the play that sent the Gamecocks on their way to a 30-13 win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl last season. Jeffery commanded so much attention when he was on the field that it helped the entire offense even when he wasn’t catching passes. He was the ultimate weapon down around the goal line with his 6-foot-4 frame and superb leaping ability. And while not a burner, he was fast enough and won his share of footraces to the goal line. His sophomore season was so monstrous with 88 catches and 1,517 receiving yards that the natural reaction this past season was to say he had an off year. The reality is that receivers like Jeffery don’t come around that often, and now that he’s decided to take his shot at the NFL a year early, the Gamecocks will miss him dearly.

IN: Ace Sanders, DeAngelo Smith, D.L. Moore, Damiere Byrd, Bruce Ellington or Shaq Roland. The 5-7 Sanders is about nine inches shorter than Jeffery and not nearly as big a target, but Sanders has really had an impressive spring. He’s especially dangerous on the quick slants and has made a ton of plays after the catch. He’s clearly the Gamecocks’ top receiver at this point and might be their Offensive MVP of the spring. He’s going to need help, though, and that’s where it gets interesting. Roland, one of the top receiver prospects in the country last year, doesn’t arrive until the summer. He’ll get every opportunity to show what he can do early. Smith and Moore have been around for a while. They combined for 11 catches last season. If they’re going to make their move, this is the time to do it. Byrd has a chance to bring that speed element to the group. He served an NCAA suspension during the first part of last season, but is a guy who can stretch the field. Ellington should also be better and more consistent in his second season. It’s wide open after Sanders. We’ll see how it shakes out come fall.

South Carolina welcomed back a familiar face to wide receiver Tuesday when Bruce Ellington returned to the football practice field.

Earlier this month, Ellington announced that he was picking basketball over football, but shortly after the whispers began about him possibly returning to football after men's basketball coach Darrin Horn was fired.

Tuesday, Ellington worked out with the Gamecocks' football team for the first time this spring. Coincidentally, it was the same day in which Frank Martin was introduced as South Carolina's new men's basketball coach.

Coach Steve Spurrier had some very kinds words to say about Martin:

"I like Coach Frank Martin. I think his track record speaks for itself. The guy has only been a head coach for five years in college, but Frank Martin, in my opinion, knows how to coach ball. He’d be a heck of a football coach, too. I think our basketball program is in excellent hands. Like he said, we’re going to pack Colonial [Life] Arena. I believe him. I believe there will be 18,000 cheering the Gamecocks."

Ellington plans to continue being a two-sport athlete at South Carolina and Spurrier said Tuesday that he was "one of the fastest guys out there" at practice.

Having Ellington back certainly brings some needed experience back to the receiver position. Ellington made his mark as more of an all-purpose guy, but he'll be called on more to catch the ball this fall with Alshon Jeffery gone.

Kicker to the rescue
Vanderbilt's kicking issues from last season are well documented, but Tuesday, it was a kicker who saved the Commodores from extra, uncomfortable running after practice.

To close Tuesday's practice, coach James Franklin gave his kickers eight field goal attempts. Each kick was to be performed while Franklin messed with the kicker and "whispered sweet nothings" into his ears. For every miss the team had one gasser (a football player's nightmare). Vandy's kickers missed four, meaning four gassers for the team.

But Franklin decided to up the ante with a double or nothing call -- one kick to erase the gassers or force eight on his players. The team was supposed to choose a kicker it was confident in, but Carey Spear jumped right up and volunteered.

"Carey's one of the more competitive guys that we got," Franklin said.

"He's a very, very competitive, tough guy."

Spear stepped up and nailed a 40-yard kick to save his team from eight painful gassers.

"It was a pretty good risk that they were taking and they believed in him, so it was good," Franklin said.

Freeze unhappy with effort
Ole Miss dressed in pads for the second time this spring, but new coach Hugh Freeze wasn't too thrilled with the effort his players showed Tuesday.

“[I was] disappointed,” Freeze said. “I didn’t think the attitude was bad, but I thought the effort was half-hearted. I thought we coasted through a lot of practice. We’re asking a lot of them to lift [weights] and practice, sometimes on the same days. And of course, academics are a priority. We’ll point [the lack of effort] out on film [Wednesday], and we’ll stop practice on Thursday if we have to in order to get it right. We won’t go through two days of that in a row.”

As Freeze looks to install a new, more spread offense at Ole Miss, he's finding that one of the key components needs to improve more as the spring continues. That component is the running game, which isn't just essential to the spread, but is essential to having a successful offense in the SEC.

“There were some good plays, though. In the team run, we broke a few long ones," Freeze said.

"But we’re still very inconsistent.”

Two players sat out practice Tuesday with injuries. Sophomore defensive lineman Bryon Bennett (foot) and junior linebacker Mike Marry (hamstring) are both day-to-day.

Some Monday linkage:

• Everyone at Mississippi State knows Joe Morrow's name this spring.
• Ole Miss' Bo Wallace is well on his way to earning his teammates' respect.
• South Carolina's search for the next Alshon Jeffery is under way.
• Robert Lester, the veteran of the group, sees promise in Alabama's retooled secondary.
• Auburn kicks off its first practice in pads.
• Arkansas returns to the practice field on Tuesday and will break out the pads.
• Florida's Andre Debose finally has a break go his way.
• Georgia's Jarvis Jones is thinking even bigger with a loaded defense returning.
• Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne said his expectations for Texas to extend their rivalry were foolish.
• Tennessee's staff has been tinkering with the Vols' roster during the offseason.
• Kentucky's Jacob Russell is glad he made the jump from Eastern Kentucky.

Devin Taylor is noticing all the attention surrounding South Carolina’s program, and he likes it.

It means people are expecting big things from the Gamecocks, and some might even be a little fearful of them.

“It’s almost like a target on our backs,” South Carolina’s senior defensive end said.

But that target didn’t just appear in Columbia, S.C. It started to form after South Carolina’s first trip to the SEC championship game in 2010, and Taylor said he could sense it every week last season. He could tell that the perception of South Carolina’s team had changed around the league and more respect was thrown the Gamecocks’ way.

“You could just feel it,” he said.

It’s not hard to believe that the team that once struggled to make upward moves in the SEC's Eastern Division is now linked to divisional favorite talk. In coach Steve Spurrier’s seven seasons at South Carolina, he has compiled 55 wins (leaving him nine away from tying Rex Enright’s school record for career wins), took South Carolina to Atlanta, and led the Gamecocks to their first 11-win season in 2011.

The next step? An SEC championship.

It’s a goal that Spurrier said he expects, and so do his players. Taylor said winning the East is no longer the No. 1 goal. They want to be showered with celebratory confetti inside the Georgia Dome in December.

And South Carolina has the parts in place to make such a run. The offense loses star receiver Alshon Jeffery and returns a cluster of unproven receivers, but the plus is that there is a ton of depth there. Also, much-ballyhooed incoming freshman WR Shaq Roland will be in town this summer, and a lot is expected of him.

On the offensive line, Rokevious Watkins and Terrence Campbell are gone (both were seniors in 2011). But South Carolina returns three starters, and the coaches expect redshirt freshman Brandon Shell to step right in at left tackle for Watkins. Get him going and South Carolina’s line should be fine.

Quarterback Connor Shaw returns after really starting to come into his own as more of a passer at the end of last season. He’ll always run the ball, but he showed he can be disciplined and lead with his arm.

Running back Marcus Lattimore (knee) won’t practice in the spring, but he certainly hasn’t been ruled out for the regular season. A healthy Lattimore, who has racked up 2,015 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in 20 career games, is an obvious Heisman Trophy candidate.

Defensively, Taylor can’t help but get excited. While South Carolina enters spring camp down in numbers in the secondary -- especially with injuries to Akeem Auguste and D.J. Swearinger -- Taylor said he’s seen younger players (such as cornerback Victor Hampton) make improvements during offseason workouts. And Taylor has really been impressed with DeVonte Holloman, who is transitioning back to the spur position from safety.

When it comes to the front seven, Taylor knows the key names are Jadeveon Clowney -- who was seventh in the SEC in sacks (eight) and 11th in tackles for loss (12) -- along with Kelcy Quarles, Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens. But you can’t sleep on defensive tackle Byron Jerideau or linebacker Damario Jeffery, who moves to middle linebacker from the spur.

Taylor said South Carolina isn’t rebuilding on defense, it’s reloading, which is a scary thought. South Carolina was third nationally in total defense in 2011, and Taylor thinks the Gamecocks are equipped with just as much talent to have a similar year in 2012.

Even with the skill that returns on both sides for South Carolina, Taylor still expects the Gamecocks to be overlooked at times -- maybe not by opposing teams, but by those on the periphery.

And he’s fine with that.

“We can do the underdog thing and then come back and bite them in the butt,” he said.

Taylor hopes that “underdog thing” will take South Carolina to the top of the SEC in 2012. From where this program has been to where it is now, a win in Atlanta in early December would show just how big a turnover the Gamecocks have made, Taylor said.

“That would mean a lot, and it would let this entire program shine [and show] how much it’s grown and how much it’s willing to grow for future players coming here,” he said.

“I’ve worked hard over all these summers, and all this work actually paid off to do something great.”

Schedule: South Carolina opens spring camp at 4:15 p.m. ET Tuesday at the Bluff Road Practice Fields. The Gamecocks will conclude spring with the Garnet & Black Spring Game on April 14, beginning at 1 p.m. ET at Williams-Brice Stadium. All 15 of practices are open to the public, unless determined otherwise.

What's new: Four of South Carolina's nine assistants are new. John Butler, Jay Graham, Jeep Hunter and Ellis Johnson are all gone. Lorenzo Ward was promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator, replacing Johnson. Ward will still focus on the cornerbacks this season. Head coach Steve Spurrier also added Kirk Botkin to coach linebackers/Spurs, Grady Brown to coach the secondary, Joe Robinson to coach special teams/tight ends, and Everette Sands to coach running backs. Joe Connolly also replaces Craig Fitzgerald as South Carolina's strength and conditioning coach. Also, South Carolina will be looking to replace kicker Jay Wooten and punter Joey Scribner-Howard. Walk-ons Landon Ard and Adam Yates will compete at kicker this spring, and sophomore Patrick Fish should be No. 1 at punter.

On the move: Safety DeVonte Holloman is looking to transition back to the Spur position after spending 2011 at safety. He worked at the Spur last spring, but the departing Antonio Allen played there last season. Also, Damario Jeffery is slated to move from the Spur to Will linebacker this spring. Jimmy Legree is moving back to cornerback after making a couple of starts at free safety last season.

On the mend: The Gamecocks will be without star running back Marcus Lattimore, who is still recovering from a devastating knee injury suffered halfway through the 2011 season. Running back Shon Carson is also out and recovering from a knee injury suffered last season. Sophomore offensive lineman Mike Matulis will sit out the spring after recovering from shoulder surgery, and senior cornerback Akeem Auguste will be limited as he tries to get over a foot injury that kept him out of all but one game last season. Safety D.J. Swearinger will miss the spring after having an operation on his foot. Offensive lineman Brock Stadnik will sit out the spring following shoulder surgery.

Questions: Auguste and Swearinger are dealing with injuries, South Carolina must replace three of its top four cornerbacks, and Holloman is moving back to the Spur, meaning the Gamecocks' secondary is loaded with questions. Sophomore Victor Hampton is expected to take one of the cornerback spots. He's talented, but has had off-field issues. He has the potential to be a key player for the Gamecocks. Depth behind him is a question, as Legree and Cadarious Sanders are the only other cornerbacks with game experience. A big spring from redshirt freshman Ahmad Christian could put him in the thick of it for a starting cornerback spot. Sophomore-to-be Brison Williams takes over at strong safety after playing in eight games last season, but depth behind him is a concern, as rising sophomore Kadetrix Marcus, Edward Muldrow and Sheldon Royster enter spring with six games of experience, all from Marcus. South Carolina must also find players at free safety.

Key battle: With Alshon Jeffery taking his talents to the NFL, and Bruce Ellington sticking to basketball, South Carolina enters the spring with little experience at wide receiver. Ace Sanders is the only returning receiver with 20 or more catches (29), and Nick Jones is the only other one with 10 or more catches (12). There are bodies, but not production. D.L. Moore and DeAngelo Smith should enter the spring as starters, along with Sanders. Both showed promise in the past, but they combined for just 11 catches last season. Lamar Scruggs is a junior, but didn't catch a pass last season. Speedster Damiere Byrd is back after missing four games last season because of NCAA issues. Also, redshirt freshmen Shamier Jeffery (Alshon Jeffery's brother) and K.J. Brent will need to have big springs. South Carolina is expected to get good use out of incoming freshman Shaq Roland, but the Gamecocks need to find at least two solid options before he arrives this summer.

Don't forget about: South Carolina's front seven should be solid again in 2012. Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor will man the defensive end positions, while rising sophomore Kelcy Quarles, who enjoyed a tremendous freshman season, will help ease the loss of Travian Robertson inside. At linebacker, South Carolina only lost Rodney Paulk, and returns seniors Reginald Bowens and Shaq Wilson, who combined for 96 tackles in 2011. Seniors Damario Jeffery and Quinn Smith will also get time at the Will spot.

Breaking out: The coaches are very excited about the potential redshirt freshmen offensive tackle Brandon Shell possesses. He was a standout high school player, and will have every chance to earn the starting spot at left tackle this spring. He has supposedly had a good offseason so far, and has gotten stronger. If he's as good as the coaches say, he'll help shore up a line that has to replace two starters, including left tackle Rokevious Watkins.

All eyes on: Quarterback Connor Shaw saw vast improvements in his game as the 2011 season went on. He started to develop into more of a passer than a runner. While he still likes to run at times, you could tell that Shaw was making a conscious effort to rely on his arm first. In his last three games, Shaw averaged 219 yards and threw eight touchdowns to one interception. Now is the time for him to really come into his own as a passer. For South Carolina's offense to be successful, Shaw has to play smarter, and has to boost the Gamecocks' passing game. He'll also need to create better chemistry with his unproven receivers. South Carolina's offensive players will feed off Shaw's spring.

South Carolina has lost one of its receiving targets for the 2012 season.

The school announced Monday that sophomore Bruce Ellington will give up football and stick to basketball. Here's what Ellington said in a release through the school:

"Basketball's always been my first love. After giving it a lot of thought, this is the decision I've made. If you want to be great at something you have to commit to it full-time. I appreciate Coach Spurrier for giving me an opportunity to play football at South Carolina. It was a great experience, but right now I want to focus on basketball. I also want to thank all the fans for their support throughout my time in Columbia."

Last season, Ellington registered 707 all-purpose yards for the Gamecocks, gaining 211 receiving yards, 106 rushing yards and 390 yards on kick returns. He also earned freshman All-SEC honors and scored two touchdowns on the season as well.

Ellington's biggest impact came on the basketball court, where he averaged 11 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game during the 2011-12 season. He posted 12 double-figure scoring games on the year, while leading or sharing the team lead in scoring 11 times and in assists 16 times. In two seasons, Ellington has scored 649 career points (12.0 points per game) and averaged 3.2 assists per game.

No matter how talented athletes are today, it's so difficult to balance two sports at once, especially when it comes to trying to play both SEC football and basketball. There is just too much to put on someone's plate. Ellington had his moments, but it was clear that he needed more time in the offseason to develop his game as a wide out and that was going to be tough with basketball in the spring.

The Gamecocks will now need more help at wide receiver. That puts more pressure on Ace Sanders, who stands just 5-7 inches, and South Carolina's big group of unproven wide receivers. Outside of Sanders and Alshon Jeffery last year, no other receiver/tight end caught 20 or more passes. Only two receivers — Sanders and Nick Jones — return with 10 or more catches.

South Carolina will have to dip into its freshman class, which signed three receivers, meaning four-star signee Shaq Roland will get even more attention from the coaches during the offseason. He was South Carolina's top member of its 2012 class, so regardless of if Ellington would have returned, Roland was going to get a chance at major playing time this fall.

The postseason top 25 countdown is done and it's time for us to discuss our reasons for how we sorted our list and why we left some players off.

Anytime you do this sort of thing you always second-guess yourself. There are always players you wish you had put higher, slid down lower, left off or put on the list. The only thing that's for sure is that you'll never be perfect and you'll never please everyone, but that's the way it goes.

Alabama running back Trent Richardson was the obvious choice to be first on our list. He was named the nation's top running back and was a unanimous first team All-American and All-SEC member. He accounted for more than 36 percent of Alabama's offense last year and became just the third player in SEC history to rush for 20 or more touchdowns.

Richardson is a track star built like a tank.

While Richardson was spot on, there was another player who we felt should have been higher. At second glance, Chris and I felt that Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones was too low. He ended up sixth, but we now feel like we should have had him above both Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw.

When you finish the year with an SEC-best 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks after a a year away from the field you deserve to be higher.

Our bad.

We took some heat from the College GameDay crew during the season for having only one LSU player — cornerback Morris Claiborne — on our preseason list. (We didn't even have Tyrann Mathieu on the preseason list! We sure look boneheaded now.) Well, we certainly deserved that and had four Tigers on the postseason list, including No. 2 (Claiborne) and No. 3 (Mathieu). Defensive end Sam Montgomery and guard Will Blackwell just missed the cut, too.

We've also received word from some readers that we missed on Tennessee wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers, who was passed by LSU's Rueben Randle and South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery.

When we created this list we took into consideration stats and total impact on a team — good and bad. Yes, Rogers led the SEC in receiving, but his impact wasn't as positive as the others. Randle was LSU's top receiving target all season, was a true leader and finished the year third in the SEC in receiving. Jeffery was South Carolina's only real dependable receiver all season and of his eight touchdowns, five came in conference games. Jeffery also spent the first eight games on a team that didn't have much of a passing game and was still sixth in the league in receiving.

Also, Jeffery had a monster outing in South Carolina's bowl win, while when Tennessee needed a win over Kentucky to become bowl eligible, Rogers caught just two passes in the loss and was openly complaining and being divisive on the sideline.

Rogers had a solid season, but more was taken into consideration than just his play.

Five players — Richardson, Upshaw, Dont'a Hightower, Barrett Jones and Mark Barron — from our preseason top 10 remained there in our postseason countdown, so that made us look good.

We missed on two South Carolina players in the preseason in Devin Taylor (No. 6) and Stephon Gilmore (No. 12) and didn't see Ingram (postseason No. 5) coming. But we did have 14 of 25 from our preseason list back on our postseason list. It probably would have been more if not for injuries to South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Arkansas running back Knile Davis and defensive end Jake Bequette, or the dismissal of former Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson.

Here's a breakdown of the list by team, position, side of the field, year and division:

TEAM

• Alabama (7)
• Georgia (5)
• LSU (4)
• Arkansas (3)
• South Carolina (2)
• Auburn (1)
• Kentucky (1)
• Mississippi State (1)
• Vanderbilt (1)

POSITION

• DB (7)
• LB (4)
• WR/TE (4)
• DL (3)
• QB (2)
• RB (2)
• OL (3)

SIDE OF THE FIELD

• Defense (14)
• Offense (11)

YEAR

• Senior (11)
• Junior (9)
• Sophomore (5)

DIVISION

• West (16)
• East (9)

Check in tomorrow to see players who just missed the cut for the postseason top 25.

There was an air of restlessness in the chat room today. The Arkansas and Tennessee fans are convinced that I hate them. Not true on either count. But, hey, it will be another group of fans next week.

Here's a snapshot of what you missed:

Bill: Ed wouldn't answer this question honestly. Will you? Why do you hate Arkansas?

Chris Low: What makes you think that I hate Arkansas? In fact, I have a great relationship with all the people at Arkansas, from Jeff Long, to Bobby Petrino, to their staff in sports information and the players such as Tyler Wilson, Knile Davis and past guys like Jake Bequette. If I rank the Hogs lower than you think they should be or don't pick them in a certain game certainly doesn't mean that I hate them. The best environment I've been to for a game in the last two or three years was the Alabama-Arkansas game in Fayetteville in 2010. I look forward to coming back!

Concerned Tennessee Fan: I heard a rumor that UT is suing ESPN over your lack of positive articles about the Vols. Is there any truth to this at all? Seems silly, to me.

Chris Low: Yep, I have a team of attorneys handling the case for me, and I'm talking high-priced attorneys.

Wayne in Florida: I'm positive you won't answer this, Chris, but I will try anyway. You said Alabama was FOURTH in RB stables, not feature back but STABLE meaning all the running backs combined behind South Carolina and Arkansas. Please explain this. Outside of Knile Davis and Marcus Lattimore, those two don't have a stable and they proved it last year.

Chris Low: Just off the top of my head, I would say that's about right -- maybe third or fourth. LSU would be my top choice in terms of overall running backs. Arkansas would be second. Davis, if he's healthy, is one of the best in the country. Also, go back and look at what Dennis Johnson did last year. Ronnie Wingo is a mighty talented third option. Lattimore, like Davis, is one of the best out there, but Wilds was one of the best freshmen in the league last season for South Carolina. Again, I think Alabama would be right there at either third or fourth. Lacy is very good. Fowler is more of a power back, and Hart sounds like he's the real deal, but hasn't played yet.

Bill in Chattanooga, Tenn.: What is the deal with your top 25 players list? How could you leave Da'Rick Rogers from Tennessee off the list while putting Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina on it?

Chris Low: It was a close call. Rogers caught nine TD passes and Jeffery caught eight TD passes. But in SEC games, Jeffery caught five TD passes and Rogers three. Plus, Jeffery made the play in the bowl game with the big TD catch to turn that game around and send South Carolina on its way to a win. Rogers had more overall catches and yards, I'll grant you, but Jeffery meant more to his team. Rogers brooded much of the year and was a divisive force at times. He was a complete no-show in the Kentucky game. In short, he had good numbers, but didn't have the overall impact that Jeffery did on his team. That said, when you do a list like this, there are always going to be players that are deserving who are left off, especially in the SEC.

Anthony in Columbus, Ga.: Thoughts on Crowell for next season?

Chris Low: I think he will mature from his freshman to sophomore season. He also needs to get mentally tougher, and he should. His teammates have gone to bat for him, and that's a good sign. If these things happen, he has all the physical tools to be a 1,200-yard rusher. He's a better runner between the tackles than he's given credit for and has great moves. I just want to see him be more of a gamer in the fourth quarter.

Each year, there are always winners, losers and plenty of questions that come out of the NFL combine. They can all affect players' draft stocks.

It certainly makes for exciting water cooler talk.

Mel Kiper Jr. has been hard at work since the combine ended and he's come up with his winners from the combine and players who still have questions that remain.

Kiper has a couple of SEC players on both of his list. Here's what he had to say about each:

WINNERS

Offense

Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia: "Considering I have Glenn as a mid-first-round pick best suited for guard, it's hard to say he could move up, but some teams could probably see him at right tackle, too. Workouts confirmed what we believe -- powerful yet plenty nimble for his huge frame."

Thoughts: Glenn has the athleticism to have success at the next level. Plus, his versatility should really help him because he can play multiple positions, which is certainly a plus for teams. He has the ideal size to play inside, but teams know he can play outside, which could help him rise in this draft, as Kiper said. I don't see him falling out of the first round.

Defense

Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State: "Solidified a mid-first grade. It won't say a lot about what he does on the field, but a 4.79 at 298 pounds is a pretty freaky number for a DT. Good week for Cox."

Thoughts: I knew Cox was quick and fast on his feet, but I didn't know he was 4.7 fast. He's powerful and showed last season that he can really wreak havoc in opposing defensive backfields. If not for a tremendous showing by Memphis' Dontari Poe, Cox might be slated as the top defensive tackle available in the draft.

QUESTIONS

Offense

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: "He checked in at 216 following three years of being listed about 13 pounds heavier. If he doesn't run at about 4.5, we'll certainly wonder if he has enough athleticism to separate. He's a big target and it'd be hard to see him falling past the second round, but he has work to do."

Thoughts: I've seen Jeffery play time and time again and I've always come away impressed when he's in one-on-one situations. He's incredibly physical and really makes a corner's job much harder in jump-ball situations. He's not the fastest receiver out there and last year's dip in his production could hurt, but you can't forget about his ability to manhandle defenders.

Defense

Michael Brockers, DT, LSU: "Up to 322 pounds, Brockers is still seen as a 3-technique tackle in a 4-3. But the weight seemed to drag on his explosiveness, and the strength numbers were also less than average. He may want to drop a little weight before his pro day. Still a safe Round 1 guy, but needs to find that comfort zone."

Thoughts: He wasn't very impressive at the combine, but like Jeffery, he showed how well he can play during his college days. His field speed was certainly better than what he showed at the combine. I think his stock has fallen, but you have to think that what he did in 2011 will make sure he stays in the first round. He certainly can't falter again during his pro day.

Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama: "He's a high-motor guy who can rush the quarterback, but he didn't run in Indy and will need to show enough explosiveness that teams think he won't get engulfed by NFL tackles."

Thoughts: Whenever you skip out on workouts questions will arise, but from everything I've heard, he will probably be the first outside linebacker taken in April's NFL draft. He showed all year that he has the speed to be dangerous on the outside.

Now that you've seen what to watch in the SEC Western Division, let's check out the East:

FLORIDA

Spring practice start date: March 14
Spring game: April 7

What to watch:

Finding offensive playmakers: Year 2 of the Will Muschamp era begins with the team trying to find someone who can make a few plays for this fall. New offensive coordinator Brent Pease has a host of unproven offensive talent to work with. Wide receiver Andre Debose was Florida's best deep threat last year, and the coaches raved about receiver Quinton Dunbar's potential, but neither was consistent enough in 2011. Maybe Florida can finally turn to bigger backs Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown in the playmaking department.

Toughening up the offensive line: The Gators' line struggled throughout the 2011 season. It wasn't always at 100 percent, but Florida's line also just wasn't tough enough -- mentally or physically. The Gators couldn't get the tough yards on the ground and didn't exactly protect quarterback John Brantley enough. The line should get a boost with early enrollees D.J. Humphries, who was the top offensive line prospect in the 2012 class, and Jessamen Dunker, but Florida will have to get improvement from players who return to a line that lost just one starter from last season.

Quarterback battle: Brantley is gone, leaving rising sophomores Jacoby Brissett, Jeff Driskel and Tyler Murphy. Brissett replaced Driskel as Florida's No. 2 quarterback last year, while Murphy has yet to take a college snap. Brissett and Driskel had plenty of down moments last fall but should get a chance to reinvent themselves this spring with new leadership and more practice reps. This spring will be extremely important for all three quarterbacks as they try to improve a position that struggled mightily the past two years.

GEORGIA

Spring practice start date: March 20
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Isaiah Crowell's toughness: Crowell has the talent to be a star in this league. He has the size and athletic ability to cause a lot of headaches for opposing defenses. However, his inability to stay healthy -- and in games -- became more of a headache for Georgia's coaches and fans in 2011. Crowell needs to get tougher and be more reliable. He said as much after last season, but it's time to make good on his word. Crowell could get a push from early enrollee Keith Marshall this spring, and we know coach Mark Richt isn't afraid to play multiple backs.

Position changes: Richt made headlines recently when he said he'd be open to considering moving star freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell to cornerback now that the Bulldogs are thin there. Maybe he'll play both ways. Also, rising sophomore Ray Drew could switch from outside linebacker to defensive end. He played both in high school. Georgia's offensive linemen also could play multiple positions up front.

The target on the Bulldogs' backs: There will be a lot more attention paid to the Bulldogs this spring, as they will probably enter the 2012 season as the favorites in the SEC East. Georgia returns just about everyone from a team that reeled off 10 straight wins on its way to the SEC championship game. The Bulldogs aren't just considered the East front-runners -- they also are being viewed as national championship contenders. But the Bulldogs can't let the hype get to them. We've seen this team underachieve when the expectations were high before.

KENTUCKY

Spring practice start date: March 21
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

Offensive line auditions: The Wildcats must replace three offensive linemen this year. That process will begin this spring, and the good news is that veterans Larry Warford and Matt Smith return. Left guard Kevin Mitchell, who will be a junior this fall, started one game last year, while soon-to-be sophomore right tackle Darrian Miller started two games last fall, so there is some experience coming into the open spots. Trevino Woods, who didn't start a game last year, should be the favorite to play left tackle this spring, but he also can play guard. There's also a lot of depth to work with.

Defensive makeover: Danny Trevathan is gone, so Kentucky must find someone else to run the defense this season. There's no question that Trevathan was the heart of this defense, so replacing him won't be easy, but the Wildcats must find someone who can step up and be a player others can look up to. The Wildcats also lost six starters from their linebacking corps and secondary, meaning Kentucky will have to fill holes with youngsters. Mikie Benton and Ridge Wilson are the only returning starters not on the defensive line.

Maxwell Smith: With fellow quarterback Morgan Newton sidelined this spring as he recovers from shoulder surgery, all eyes will be on Smith. He struggled at times last year, but Kentucky's offense was better when he was under center. Now, he'll have to make even bigger strides this spring if he wants to create a sizable lead in the race before Newton returns. Smith needs to work on his consistency, clean up his mistakes and develop better chemistry with his receivers.

MISSOURI

Spring practice start date: March 6
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Offensive adjustments: Missouri might return some key pieces at skill positions, but the Tigers must replace three offensive linemen and will have to tweak some things to make their spread offense efficient enough to face SEC defenses. It helps that quarterback James Franklin is a runner and Missouri has speed and depth at receiver and running back, but the team must make subtle changes to combat the improved speed Missouri will see on defense, especially off the edge.

Rebuilding up front: The Tigers will be without three starters on the offensive and defensive lines. That isn't exactly what any SEC team would like, considering games are won in the trenches in this league. Fortunately for Missouri, both sides saw multiple guys get playing time last season. Keep an eye on defensive end Brad Madison. He was viewed as a defensive player of the year candidate in the Big 12 last year but was limited by a shoulder injury.

Wide receivers: Franklin had a heck of a 2011 season, but as he gets ready for 2012, he's still looking for a big-play threat in his receiving corps. T.J. Moe returns as the Tigers' leading receiver, while Marcus Lucas was fourth in receiving last year. Both have the potential to be elite in this league, but can one leave spring with the title of playmaker? Lucas showed flashes last year, but flashes only go so far. Missouri needs to find a definitive receiving threat.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Spring practice start date: March 12
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Marcus Lattimore's health: His knee injury took place at the halfway point of the season, so he won't be 100 percent for a while. Still, the word is that he's ahead of schedule when it comes to rehabbing his knee. ACL injuries can be tough to manage, but with Lattimore's determination, he'll do everything possible to come back sooner than expected. He likely won't take contact this spring, but it'll be interesting to see whether the Gamecocks get much use out of him before summer.

Finding receiving options: Now that Alshon Jeffery is gone, there's more pressure on South Carolina's receiving corps. Outside of Jeffery, the Gamecocks didn't have consistently reliable options in 2011. That has to change this year, and it starts with a productive spring. Ace Sanders should get more reps, and the coaches are excited about the big-play ability that speedster Damiere Byrd possesses. Also, keep an eye out for Shamier Jeffery, Alshon's little brother.

Connor Shaw's development: Things couldn't have ended any better for South Carolina's quarterback last season. After an up-and-down start, he rebounded in the final three games with 896 combined yards passing and rushing and 11 touchdowns. Now, it's time for him to sharpen his passing skills and develop more confidence in his passing ability. Accomplishing that will help his receivers as well.

TENNESSEE

Spring practice start date: March 26
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

New coaching feel: The Vols enter spring practice with some new faces on the coaching staff. Six new assistant coaches will make their spring debuts this year. The most important might be defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri and running backs coach Jay Graham. Sunseri is working to make Tennessee more multiple in its approach, adding more 3-4 looks, while Graham will have to fix a struggling running game. Tennessee players will need to adjust to new coaching styles and buy in quickly this spring.

Running backs: No group at Tennessee struggled quite like Tennessee's running backs last fall. The Vols were ranked 116th nationally in rushing offense and recorded just 11 rushing touchdowns (nine from running backs). Tauren Poole is gone, which means Graham will first turn to Marlin Lane and Rajion Neal, who combined for just 414 yards and four touchdowns last year. Devrin Young and Tom Smith will have to step up, while Tennessee will get some use out of early enrollee Alden Hill.

Justin Hunter's health: Losing Hunter was the first of a few blows Tennessee's offense took last year. He's arguably Tennessee's best receiver and one of the best deep threats in this league. He suffered his ACL injury at the beginning of the season, and he's reportedly ahead of schedule but won't take any contact this spring. The goal is to have him running and cutting well at the end of the spring.

VANDERBILT

Spring practice start date: March 16
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

Jordan Rodgers' confidence: He enters spring as the quarterback for the Commodores, but he has to improve the mental part of his game. He let it get the best of him at times last year, especially in last season's bowl game. He can lose his rhythm quickly at times. He needs to work on improving his confidence and take more command of Vandy's huddle this spring. He has the skill to be a top quarterback in this league, but his head has to follow.

Warren Norman's health: A knee injury forced the running back to redshirt last year, but the good news is that he spent the fall strengthening his leg by participating in each practice. The hope is that he'll be ready to go this spring, but you'd imagine that since this is his second knee injury, the coaches won't push him too much. Getting him to sprint and cut with ease will be important to his rehab this spring.

Keeping the edge: James Franklin's first year as a head coach was a success, but it's important that the attitude and personality that made Vanderbilt so confident last year roll over to the spring. The loss in the bowl game might have stunted that personality growth a bit, but it's important that the Commodores get it back. It will go a long way toward keeping the progress going.

ESPN's Todd McShay has updated his list of the top 32 NFL draft prospects heading into the combine workouts this weekend, and nine of the top 20 prospects are from the SEC.

McShay also has former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins in his top 20 at No. 15. Jenkins played last season at North Alabama after being dismissed from the Florida team by Will Muschamp. Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill is No. 18.

The top SEC prospect, according to McShay, is Alabama running back Trent Richardson at No. 4, but right behind him is LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne at No. 5.

One of the fastest rising SEC prospects is South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram, who really helped himself with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. Another guy who's climbing is LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who gave up his senior season to enter the draft. Ingram is No. 8 on McShay's list, while Brockers is No. 9.

It looks like Alabama is poised to have four players drafted in the first round for the second straight year.

Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox would give the Bulldogs back-to-back selections in the first round. That's after the Bulldogs went 15 years without a first-round pick before offensive tackle Derek Sherrod was taken with the 32nd and final pick of the first round last year by the Green Bay Packers.

One of the SEC players who's reportedly slipped some is South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery, who's not on McShay's list of the top 32 prospects. The concern with Jeffery is his conditioning, and whether or not he's gained too much weight. Jeffery was still plenty productive at South Carolina with 23 touchdown catches during his three seasons in Columbia.

Here's a look at all of the SEC players on McShay's list:

• No. 4 -- Alabama running back Trent Richardson
• No. 5 -- LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne
• No. 7 -- South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram
• No. 8 -- LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers
• No. 11 -- Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw
• No. 13 -- Alabama safety Mark Barron
• No. 16 -- Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick
• No. 17 -- Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox
• No. 20 -- Georgia offensive tackle Cordy Glenn

How about a little mailbag action to end the week?

Patrick in Hillsboro, Ore., writes: In regards to Kiper predicts SEC-heavy NFL draft, Alshon Jeffery really not going in the first round? I find that hard to believe. Any insight? Thanks, Patrick

Edward Aschoff: No real insight because Kiper is a draft guru and I trust his word, but I think that Alshon's 2011 season might hurt him in the draft somewhat. Remember, after his sophomore year everyone was talking about how he might challenge Justin Blackmon in this year's draft as the top wide receiver. However, by Jeffery's standards, he had a pretty pedestrian year … and he was still sixth in the SEC in receiving. Still, Jeffery is a tremendous athlete and should impress teams with his workouts before the draft. He's tough for just about any defensive back one-on-one and has underrated speed. Jeffery might be listed outside of the first round now, but scouts know what he can do and I think he'll find his way into the first round come draft day.

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Troy in Anniston, Ala., writes: I understand that it takes about 2 years to learn Saban's defensive scheme. Do you think that with all the talent that Saban has brought in with recruits for the past 2 years will they be able win back to back NC. in 2012, or will it in up like the 2010 season with NO LEADERSHIP!!???

Edward Aschoff: While I do think that Alabama will have to find new leaders for this defense, I don't see this defense looking much like the 2010 squad. That defense had a knack for giving up the big play. I don't see that happening this time. It helps that most of the returners on this defense will be juniors and seniors. I'm not sure if I'll go as far as to say that Alabama repeats (it's just so dang hard to do that these days), but I think that Nick Saban will make sure this team is more prepared than the 2010 team.

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Kyle in Gainesville, Fla., writes: How many games do you think the Gators win next year? I am predicting a 9-3 regular season with a bowl victory to get to 10 wins. I am also going to predict that the Gators defense finishes among the top 5 in the nation with Matt Elam winning the Jim Thorpe award (barely beating out the honey badger). Thoughts?

Edward Aschoff: You have some lofty expectations in there, but I like the confidence. The first two SEC games are on the road at Texas A&M and Tennessee, and neither of those will be easy. LSU is the other West opponent, while Georgia and South Carolina should be at the top of the SEC this season. Then there's Florida State on the road. We aren't sure what this Florida team is made of, but we know the offense has to have a complete makeover. If that doesn't happen, it could be another long year in Gainesville. I think the defense will be even better and that will go a long way to help the offense. Another top-10 defensive ranking quite possible and right now I'll go with eight wins in the regular season. Elam for the Thorpe? Don't see it, but he's probably Florida's best player.

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Alex in St. Louis, Mo., writes: Where would you rank James Franklin on the list of SEC quarterbacks?

Edward Aschoff: Well, he enters as arguably the most talented dual-threat quarterback. After all, he did pass for 2,865 yards and ran for 981 yards. But that was in the Big 12. This is grown man football with big boy defenses. Based on his numbers he has to be near the top of the SEC, but it's hard to properly evaluate him because he didn't face SEC defenses week in and week out last year. People will hold that against him, but I think he can compete at this level. I'm pretty sure there would be more than a handful of SEC teams that would love to have him. With his athletic ability, playmaking skill and 2011 stats, I'll put him up there with the top quarterbacks heading into the season. It's up to him to stay up there once conference play starts.

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John in Louisville, Ky., writes: Is there any hope that UK can compete in the SEC, football not basketball? It seems to me that the administration is content with football being a below average football team as long as they dominate in basketball. If that's the case shouldn't they switch conferences with UofL?

Edward Aschoff: I don't think there is any administration out there that doesn't care if the football program suffers. That's just silly. You have to realize that college football is the money maker for athletic departments. Yes, Kentucky football brings in more revenue than Kentucky basketball. So, I seriously doubt the administration will just watch as the football program decays. It's all about recruiting on a much higher level and changing the atmosphere around the program. Some confidence and leadership needs to be injected into that program. The culture isn't great there, but Kentucky can win games (look at 2007). The Wildcats made bowls for five straight years before last year, so it's not like this program hasn't done anything recently. As for switching … yeah, that's not happening. Expansion isn't all about football.

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Wilbur in Cordova, S.C., writes: Based on what last season brought, do you think that the South Carolina Gamecocks have a chance to win the BCS Championship this year? And if they do, what is the chance of that happening?

Edward Aschoff: I think that if the defense stays on par with last year's performance and the offense improves, the Gamecocks have a chance to make some real noise in the SEC this year. And if you make noise in the SEC, you're probably making noise nationally, too. That means South Carolina will have to get by Georgia, Arkansas, LSU and maybe even Alabama. That's asking a lot, but it can be done. There certainly are questions. Will Connor Shaw build off the end of last season? Will Marcus Lattimore be his old self? Will a receiver step up? Get a yes out of those and there's no way you can count South Carolina out of making a special run. The Gamecocks can be viewed as a dark horse in 2012.

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Skip in Pineville, Mo., writes: Low, you're a hack at best. The Arkansas coaching staff is number two in conference behind Bama. Les Miles is Houston Nutt with better players. Spurrier is a has been and could not beat Arkansas no matter where we played the game. Get your facts straight.

Edward Aschoff: To penalize Miles for having better players is just plain silly. So he had nothing to do with getting those better players? I guess he should have told all those studs to go somewhere else … Miles has 75 wins in seven seasons with LSU (10.7 per year), two SEC championships and has a national championship. He had his team on a historic run last year and his team beat eight ranked teams, even with all that drama surrounding LSU. Steve Spurrier took the Gamecocks to their first SEC championship in 2010 and guided South Carolina to its first 11-win season in 2011, without its original starting quarterback and one of the best running backs around in Lattimore. He also led South Carolina to its first bowl win in three tries. Arkansas has been very good under Bobby Petrino, but has no SEC titles and hasn't even been to Atlanta. The Hogs had a solid season last year, no question about it, but even you can admit that South Carolina was more competitive in its two losses than Arkansas. It's not like this was easy, but we felt Miles and Spurrier did more for their programs in 2012.