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A lot of votes were cast and it came down to the wire, but the fans have spoken and South Carolina has won the poll battle of the defenses.

With nearly 12,000 votes cast, South Carolina barely claimed first place with 24 percent of the vote. Alabama was second with 23 percent, while LSU grabbed 21 percent. Georgia got 13 percent of the vote while the category of "Other" received 19 percent.

South Carolina is a solid pick when you look at who returns. Defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor are back alongside tackle Kelcy Quarles. Clowney and Taylor combined for 20.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. Quarles really progressed as the season went on and provided a nice big, disruptive body against the run.

Veterans return at linebacker, with seniors Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens in the middle and DeVonte Holloman is back at the Spur, where he's at his best. Seniors D.J. Swearinger (safety) and Akeem Auguste (cornerback) are back in the secondary, as well.

Most of the questions for this defense lie in the secondary, with sophomores-to-be Victor Hampton (cornerback) and Brison Williams (safety) expected to start this fall. Williams collected a start against Florida last year, while Hampton did most of his damage on special teams. Expect offenses to key in on them early.

At this moment, I'd have to go with LSU. The Tigers return one of the best defensive lines in the country, with two potential first-rounders in ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery. And LSU's staff is very excited about what Bennie Logan and Anthony Johnson can do at the tackle spots. This line should be the strength of this team and it will make it hard to run and throw on the Tigers. It'll take pressure off the linebackers, which lose two starters.

The secondary loses Morris Claiborne and Brandon Taylor, but the Honey Badger (Tyrann Mathieu) is back and so is Eric Reid, who might be the league's top safety. Keep an eye on Tharold Simon at cornerback. He should be a solid cover corner this fall.

Alabama is down a handful of starters from last year, but don't think that will send this unit into a tailspin. Defensive tackle Jesse Williams is an animal and linebackers C.J. Mosley, Nico Johnson and Adrian Hubbard aren't slouches by any means. Yes, the secondary is a little green, but corner Dee Milliner and Robert Lester should help provide some stability. JUCO standouts Deion Belue and Travell Dixon impressed this spring and youngsters Vinnie Sunseri and Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix look ready to be big contributors.

And with nine starters returning for Georgia, the Bulldogs should have another solid defensive squad this fall. There has to be some worry with four starters suspended for the beginning of the season, but at full strength, this defense will be a handful, especially with one of the best linebacking corps in the country that includes All-American Jarvis Jones, speedster Alec Ogletree and work horse Michael Gilliard. Once Bacarri Rambo, Sanders Commings, Shawn Williams and Branden Smith are all back and together, Georgia's secondary will be potent.

We all know that defense wins championships and the SEC is very much a testament to that. Alabama possessed the nation's No. 1 defense last season and now possesses another national championship. Runner-up LSU ranked second nationally.

Alabama ran away with the crown as the nation's and the SEC's best defense, but that title is for the taking in 2012. Alabama is down key players from last year's squad, like linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive tackle Josh Chapman, and defensive backs Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, and DeQuan Menzie.

Alabama's defense isn't as green as the 2010 group, but it's still drawing some comparisons to it. That's exactly what the Tide wants to hear. Nico Johnson seems primed to be a true leader at linebacker, while Adrian Hubbard could be a budding star at Upshaw's old position. Defensive backs Robert Lester and Dee Milliner are back and will be joined by a couple of JUCO standouts and talented sophomores Vinnie Sunseri and Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix. Jesse Williams could be a real force at defensive tackle along with end Damion Square.

Then you have LSU. The Tigers lost All-World cornerback Morris Claiborne to the NFL draft and two starting linebackers. Michael Brockers is gone at defensive tackle as well. But LSU is still loaded. The Tigers return Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon, who should be fine with an expanded role at cornerback. Junior Kevin Minter really stepped up at linebacker last year and should pick up right where he left off. Even without Brockers, the line is solid with future first-rounder Sam Montgomery at one end position and the underrated Barkevious Mingo at the other. The two combined for 17 sacks last season.

Bennie Logan and Anthony Johnson should provide some meat nastiness in the interior, while the very talented Eric Reid is back at free safety.

Georgia and South Carolina both finished the 2011 season ranked in the top five nationally in total defense. South Carolina was third, while Georgia was fifth, respectively. The Gamecocks lost first-round defensive end Melvin Ingram, but return freshman standout Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor, who many thought would be better than Ingram last season. Kelcy Quarles is back at defensive tackle and the coaches think he'll be even better in his second year.

Shaq Wilson and Reginald Bowens, who combined for 96 tackles last year, will grab time at linebacker again, while the very athletic DeVonte Holloman returns to the Spur for his senior year. There are questions in the secondary, but seniors D.J. Swearinger (safety) and Akeem Auguste (cornerback) return.

Georgia returns nine defensive starters. Brandon Boykin is gone at corner, and the Bulldogs will enter the fall with a lot questions in the secondary, especially with starters Branden Smith, Sanders Commings and Bacarri Rambo suspended to start the season. Star freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell moved to corner this spring and fits right in, but there are depth issues at the position.

Other than that, the Bulldogs are still pretty stacked. Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree will serve a suspension to start the year, but Georgia will fill his spot by committee. Mike Gilliard, Cornelius Washington, Christian Robinson, Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson provide Georgia with a very solid linebacking unit alongside star Jarvis Jones, who racked up 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. Georgia's defensive line should also be pretty stout with the massive John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers battling in the middle. Abry Jones really progressed at end as well this spring.

Or maybe someone else will step up and take the crown ...

Anyone that wants an example of LSU's success at the defensive tackle position need only have tuned into the first round coverage of this year's NFL draft on Thursday night.

The Tigers' success at creating next level defensive tackles was on display in New York City, and the evidence was hard to miss in the form of 6-foot-6, 322-pound Michael Brockers, who was selected No. 14 overall by the St. Louis Rams.

Brockers' success, fueled largely by his dominant play on LSU's path to the BCS title game, is only the most recent story in what is becoming quite a tradition of success for defensive linemen. LSU is currently getting plenty of publicity for being Defensive Back U, as it is the home of first round picks and Thorpe Award winners Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne, as well as Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu.

The DBU hype is deserved. But consider this stat: the Tigers have had at least one defensive lineman taken in the NFL draft in nine consecutive years, including Brockers' selection Thursday. Nine straight years -- that is not a typo.

Of course not all of those have been defensive tackles, but the point remains the same. LSU has captured two national championships and four SEC championships in the past decade with a lot of help from dominant defensive fronts, and that onfield success has translated well to the professional level.

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For those of you hoping you’ve heard the last of Les Miles and his LSU Tigers, think again.

While LSU came up short with a poor performance in its 21-0 loss to Alabama in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game Monday, the Tigers won’t be going anywhere.

In fact, they might be right back in the national title picture next season.

LSU returns most of the talent that helped the Tigers get to New Orleans, so that trip to South Beach for next year’s championship game is very much in play.

The quarterback position should receive an upgrade with Zach Mettenberger taking over, top receiving threats Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham return and LSU’s defense should return mostly intact.

“When you look at that you think we pretty much have the same team,” said sophomore defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who had 54 tackles, including 10 for loss last season. “There are little voids in our team, but they can be filled. That’s the best part about it.”

What might be the scariest part about LSU is the fact that along with Brockers, defensive linemen Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo and Bennie Logan were sophomores in 2011. So were defensive backs Tyrann Mathieu and Eric Reid, along with linebacker Kevin Minter.

Offensive players around the SEC all just shuddered at once at the thought of that, but it gets worse. Cornerback Tharold Simon, who defended 12 passes and had two interceptions, will be a junior, and defensive linemen Anthony “Freak” Johnson, Ego Ferguson and Jermauria Rasco will only be sophomores.

Offensively, LSU brings back all four members of its bullish running team. Spencer Ware, Michael Ford and Alfred Blue were all sophomores last season and combined for 2,002 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. Oh, and freshman Kenny Hilliard might have the most talent of any of his running back partners. He came on late and rushed for 336 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season.

Beckham appears to be a real budding star in the SEC. He was second on the team with 41 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns. He showed deep threat ability along the way, but has tremendous hands. He can really go up and get passes.

Also, keep an eye on rising sophomore receiver Jarvis Landry. He only caught four passes this season, but he flashed some pretty good speed at times in 2011 and with his 6-foot, 190-pound frame, he’ll be able to get pretty physical with opposing defensive backs.

With the recruiting class Miles hauled in 2011, there will naturally be more names that emerge in 2012, and this year's recruiting class looks to be another stellar one for The Hat.

Monday was rough for the Tigers, but Mathieu said there is hope for the immediate future. There is certainly motivation in the loss to the Crimson Tide after what was turning into a truly historic season, but the Tigers will have no problem picking their heads up in 2012.

“Those guys are ready to get on the field, ready to make their mark,” Mathieu said. “That’s something to lean on right now.”

“We gotta get the ball back rolling and be in the same position next year and hopefully win it.”

It looks like the youth movement in the SEC is pretty strong.

According to Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay, the future truly is now as eight players from the SEC made his list of the top 25 freshmen . The SEC led all conferences in participants, while the Pac-12 had the second-most with five.

For a conference known more for its defense, McShay had five offensive players to just three defensive players from the SEC.

Also, real shocking that LSU led the SEC with three members. Georgia was second with two.

Here is how the SEC fared and some added analysis from McShay:

2. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: Clowney will continue to get bigger and stronger, but he already looks like a grown man in pads, has an outstanding frame and is well-proportioned for his age. He's not an elite speed rusher but shows the versatility to rush off the edge as well as inside.

4. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia: Crowell shows quick feet and the ability to stop and start quickly, and his patience and feel for running lanes is impressive for such a young back. He lacks elite top-end speed but has burst through the hole and can bounce inside runs to the sideline once he hits the second level. Crowell also runs hard and with good balance, but he'll need to get stronger to break more tackles in the future.

8. Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia: A tall, lean player with confidence and big-time talent, Mitchell shows great body control and can climb the ladder in jump-ball situations. He is a bit robotic in his routes at times, but he's a playmaker who should become more savvy with experience and already knows how to adjust to the football. He excels on back-shoulder fades and comeback routes, and he gets upfield quickly after the catch.

9. Chaz Green, OT, Florida: Green possesses a thick, massive frame along with natural strength. Once in position he flashes the ability to get movement as an inline blocker in the running game, and he's an above-average athlete who packs a powerful punch in pass sets.

10. Odell Beckham, WR, LSU: Beckham's size is just average and he didn't show breakaway speed on film, but a combination of above-average hands, ability to produce after the catch and toughness lands him on this list. Though he dropped a bullet on a quick-hitter in the Tennessee game, Beckham extends his arms and plucks the ball out of the air more often than not.

14. Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU: Johnson needs to play with more consistent pad level and is still developing in terms of finding and reacting to the play. However, he is on this list because he has a very high ceiling. He is physically mature beyond his years and possesses a well-proportioned frame, shows natural brute strength and flashes exceptional power to shock and control blockers.

17. A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee: Johnson is a tough between-the-tackles run stuffer who uses his hands to keep blockers from getting to his frame. He shows above-average discipline and rarely is caught out of position. While he's an average athlete and is exposed in space on occasion, he's a strong wrap-up tackler who doesn't let ball-carriers slip though his grasp once he's latched on.

25. Kenny Hilliard, RB, LSU: Hilliard is a bruiser who came on late in the season. While he lacks elite top-end speed and elusiveness, he does have nimble feet and runs with upper-echelon power and balance. Hilliard consistently shows the ability to absorb hits, stay on his feet and churn out hidden yardage. He is effective in short-yardage situations and can be a nightmare to bring down when he gains a head of steam in the open field.

The coaches have spoken with their own SEC All-Freshman team, so we here at the SEC blog decided to come up with our own team.

We couldn't fit all of the youngsters on the list, and some tough cuts had to be made.

Honestly, our list wasn't much different from the coaches' list. There were a couple of changes, but nothing extreme.

One tough cut we made was Vanderbilt wide receiver Chris Boyd. He was Vandy's second wide receiver, catching 29 passes for 404 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a very solid first year in Nashville, Tenn., but we decided to go with LSU's Odell Beckham, who caught seven more passes and had 33 more yards. Although, Boyd had five more touchdowns. In the end, we felt he was more valuable to LSU's offense this season.

LSU also led the way with five selections, while Tennessee was second with four selections.

Here's our freshman team:

OFFENSE

QB -- Maxwell Smith, Kentucky
RB -- Kenny Hilliard, LSU
RB -- Isaiah Crowell, Georgia
WR -- Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia
WR -- Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU
TE -- Malcolm Johnson, Mississippi State
OL -- Chaz Green, Florida
OL -- Marcus Jackson, Tennessee
OL - A.J. Cann, South Carolina
OL -- Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama
C -- Reese Dismukes, Auburn

DEFENSE

DL -- Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DL -- Anthony Johnson, LSU
DL -- Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina
DL -- Trey Flowers, Arkansas
LB -- A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
LB -- Curt Maggitt, Tennessee
LB -- Serderius Bryant, Ole Miss
CB -- Marcus Roberson, Florida
CB -- Tevin Mitchel, Arkansas
S -- Brian Randolph, Tennessee
S -- Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS

K -- James Hairston, LSU (He handled kickoff duties for the Tigers.)
P -- Brad Wing, LSU
RS -- Tre Mason, Auburn

Thanks to ESPN Recruiting, here's a look at how the 2011 ESPNU 150 prospects signing with SEC schools did during their first year on campus.

We'll start with the top 75 prospects:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: Despite some November hurdles, Clowney lived up to his billing as the top prospect in the 2011 class. The five-star defensive end suffered a mild concussion in November and was cleared to play one week later versus Clemson, but missed the first quarter due to a violation of team rules. Clowney was second on South Carolina in two categories: tackles for loss (10) and sacks (6). He also had a team-leading five forced fumbles.

2. Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU: Adjusting to playing defensive tackle in the SEC is no easy feat, yet Johnson did a more than commendable job. It's also not easy for a freshman to work himself into LSU's deep rotation, yet Johnson did that too. He played in all 12 games, registering 10 tackles, including three for loss and a sack.

3. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama: Kouandjio was playing well in reserve duty until he suffered a knee injury against Tennessee in October. He was forced to have surgery the next week. Alabama coaches have high expectations for Kouandjio, who is expected to be the left tackle of the future in Tuscaloosa.

4. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia: Crowell lived up to the billing on the field, giving Georgia an explosive back when he was in the lineup. Crowell started seven games, leading the Bulldogs in rushing with 894 yards and a 4.7-yard average on 182 carries. While there have been flashes of greatness, Crowell has had two suspensions for violations of team rules, fumbling issues and some injury concerns.

6. Christian Westerman, OT, Auburn: Westerman redshirted, but Auburn coaches are said to be high on the offensive lineman and his ability to contribute in the future.

8. La'El Collins, OT, LSU: Collins saw limited action at offensive guard in 2011. That experience should help him next season, in which coaches expect him to be a starter.

10. Jeff Driskel, QB, Florida: With senior John Brantley firmly entrenched at the quarterback position, it was tough for Driskel to get snaps. Still, when Brantley was injured, Driskel completed 16 of 34 passes for 148 yards with two interceptions. Driskel was Brantley's backup before the freshman suffered an ankle injury that opened the door for fellow freshman Jacoby Brissett, who held on to the second spot even after Driskel was healthy again.

13. Ray Drew, DE, Georgia: Considering his lack of playing time, Drew showed signs he can be a solid -- if not standout -- defensive end in the SEC. Playing in just six games, Drew registered 2½ tackles for loss, including a half-sack, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

18. Jay Rome, TE, Georgia: Rome redshirted and will play basketball this season. His football playing time in 2012 will depend largely on whether junior tight end Orson Charles decides to return for his senior season. Otherwise, Rome will likely be on the back burner again until 2013.

19. Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama: Clinton-Dix played in all 12 games and registered 11 tackles, mostly on special teams, where he certainly caught his coaches' attention. Safety Mark Barron will be gone after this season, but there are more upperclassmen above Clinton-Dix on the depth chart. It would take quite a leap for Clinton-Dix to become a starter, but playing in the nickel or dime package is a possibility

22. Xzavier Dickson, DE, Alabama: Dickson is one of only seven true freshman to play this season for Alabama. He played in six games and registered two tackles (1½ for loss). His brightest moment of the season came when he shared a sack against Ole Miss.

26. Gabe Wright, DT, Auburn: Wright has had a solid freshman season, getting spot duty early on before winning the starting job in Week 9. Wright finished the season with 11 tackles, two for loss, and forced one fumble while playing in all 12 games for the Tigers.

37. Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU: Landry broke his foot last July and the injury definitely slowed the receiver down early in the season. He was expected to make an immediate impact for the Tigers but found himself behind several other receivers when he made it back to the field. Landry still finished with four catches for 43 yards and added 11 tackles on special teams.

38. Trey DePriest, OLB, Alabama: DePriest enrolled early at Alabama and made an immediate impact, totaling 10 tackles and earning SEC freshman of the week in the Tide's season opener. The athlete finished the season with 23 tackles in a reserve role at linebacker, although he did start on special teams in all 12 games for the Tide.

40. Quan Bray, ATH, Auburn: Bray played in all 12 games for the Tigers this season, catching 14 balls for 81 yards. Bray also saw action returning punts for the Tigers and finished with 96 yards on 12 attempts with a long of 24 yards.

41. Bradley Sylve, WR, Alabama: Sylve came into the program as a receiver but was moved to defensive back by the Tide. He redshirted this past season and could stay at corner or switch back to receiver depending on the depth charts.

43. Ja'Jaun Story, WR, Florida: Story redshirted this season for Florida. The colorful receiver has excellent size and reportedly had a good fall with the scout team.

45. Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia: Mitchell made a big impact for the Bulldogs, leading the team in receiving yards, despite missing three games with a hamstring injury. The receiver caught 38 balls for 614 yards and four touchdowns while averaging more than 16 yards a reception.

47. Kiehl Frazier, QB, Auburn: Frazier saw time in all 12 games this season and was used much more as a running threat than as a thrower. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 34 yards and two interceptions. He rushed for 272 yards on 60 carries and one touchdown and is still regarded as the signal-caller of the future for the Tigers.

52. Erique Florence, S, Auburn: Florence played a key role in Auburn's secondary as a freshman, seeing a lot of time at safety. He played in all 12 games and finished the regular season with 23 tackles for the Tigers.

53. Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama: Pagan saw time sparingly as a true freshman with the Tide in 2011. He played mop-up duty in six games and finished with four tackles.

56. Reese, Dismukes, C, Auburn: Dismukes made an immediate impact for the Tigers at center, starting all 12 games as a true freshman.

57. DeAnthony Arnett, WR, Tennessee: Arnett was a key player on the Vols' offense this season, finishing third on the team in catches (24) and fifth in receiving yards (242). His biggest game came against arguably the Vols' biggest rival, Florida. Arnett had 59 yards on eight catches, which was the most for a freshman since Kelley Washington had 11 catches in 2001.

61. A.C. Leonard, ATH, Florida: Leonard began to see more playing time as the season progressed and played in eight games. He had seven grabs for 95 yards. He should be an integral part in the Gators' offense next season.

63. Curt Maggitt, OLB, Tennessee: Maggitt was an immediate impact player for the Vols, starting eight games and playing in 11. His 56 tackles rank fourth in Tennessee history among freshmen. It is believed he and teammate A.J. Johnson are the first to start at linebacker for Tennessee as freshmen.

66. Mitch Smothers, OG, Arkansas: Smothers became the first true freshman in Arkansas history to start the season along the offensive line. Smothers started the first four games for the Razorbacks before losing his starting job.

73. Marcus Jackson, OG, Tennessee: The 6-foot-3, 315-pound guard had a successful freshman season, playing in all 12 games and starting the last five for the Vols. He was out of shape early but worked his weight down and has been a consistent contributor for Tennessee, mostly on special teams before breaking into the starting lineup at guard.

The SEC coaches announced their selections for the 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team Thursday.

LSU led the way with five selections, while Tennessee and Arkansas both had four selections.

The coaches also made Arkansas tight end Garrett Uekman, who died suddenly last month, Honorary Captain.

South Carolina placed three on the team, including SEC Freshman of the Year Jadeveon Clowney.

Here is the 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team:

OFFENSE

HONORARY CAPTAIN
Garrett Uekman, Tight End, Arkansas

TE - Malcolm Johnson, Mississippi State
OL - A.J. Cann, South Carolina
OL - Marcus Jackson, Tennessee
OL - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama
OL - Chaz Green, Florida
C - Reese Dismukes, Auburn
WR - Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia
WR - Odell Beckham Jr., LSU
QB – Maxwell Smith, Kentucky
RB – Isaiah Crowell, Georgia
RB – Kenny Hilliard, LSU
AP - Bruce Ellington, South Carolina

DEFENSE

DL - Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DL - Trey Flowers, Arkansas
DL - Anthony Johnson, LSU
DL - Kaleb Eulls, Mississippi State
LB - A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
LB - Curt Maggitt, Tennessee
LB - Serderius Bryant, Ole Miss
DB - Brian Randolph, Tennessee
DB - Vinnie Sunseri, Alabama
DB - De'Ante Saunders, Florida
DB - Tevin Mitchel, Arkansas

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK - James Hairston, LSU
P - Brad Wing, LSU
RS – Marquel Wade, Arkansas

• I'm actually surprised to see Saunders get the nod over teammate Marcus Roberson. Roberson was easily Florida's best cornerback this season. He has the makings of being a talented cover corner, but he did get overly aggressive throughout the season. I guess coaches paid attention to flags he earned.
• It had to be tough when the coaches looked at the quarterback position. Smith was probably the best of the bunch, and even he threw just four touchdowns to four interceptions. Still, Kentucky's offense moved down the field much better when he was on the field.
• Remember when all the talk in Oxford, Miss., before the season centered around how great true freshman linebacker C.J. Johnson was going to be? Well, he had a solid first year, but it was Bryant who really came on as one of the young guys on defense. He saw tremendous playing time and was fourth on the team with 61 tackles.

Everybody’s already talking about Alabama vs. LSU on Nov. 5.

We still have a few more weeks of football to play before we get to that showdown, and a lot can still happen.

So let’s put on the brakes and take a look at what to watch in the SEC in Week 6:

1. Young talent: The debate rages as to which defense is better and which is more talented – Alabama or LSU? But when it comes to young talent, the Tigers don’t have any peers. Of the 22 players in their defensive two-deep, 13 are sophomores or younger, including starters such as cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, defensive end Sam Montgomery, safety Eric Reid and both tackles –- Bennie Logan and Michael Brockers. True freshman tackle Anthony Johnson isn’t starting, but he’s a big part of the rotation and is the most talented of the bunch up front.

2. Gators getting offensive: While a lot of the attention will be on true freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel making his first start for the Gators in place of the injured John Brantley, the real key for Florida against LSU will be generating some semblance of a running game. The Gators have to find a way to get Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps on the perimeter, which is where they had been so dangerous until last week’s loss to Alabama. Rainey and Demps combined for just 3 yards on six carries outside the tackles against the Crimson Tide. That’s after averaging 9 yards per carry outside the tackles in their first four games.

3. Third-down excellence: If you like watching teams go at it on third down, be sure to tune in for the Georgia-Tennessee game. The Vols are tied for the lead nationally in third-down conversion offense. They’re 36-of-58 (62.1 percent) and have converted 10 third downs in three of their four games this season. In their only loss to Florida, they were 4-of-12. Georgia has been equally good at stopping teams on third down. The Bulldogs are second nationally in third-down defense. Opponents are just 18-of-71 (25.4 percent) against the Bulldogs this season. So third down could be mighty interesting come Saturday night in Neyland Stadium.

4. Neyland’s curse: Georgia coach Mark Richt is 35-10 in an opponent’s stadium, which includes an 11-5 mark against nationally-ranked foes. But Neyland Stadium has been a house of horrors lately for Richt and the Bulldogs, who’ve been blown out during their last two trips to Knoxville. Tennessee won 45-19 in 2009 and 35-14 in 2007. The Vols weren’t ranked in either game, but the Bulldogs were ranked No. 12 in 2007. Since taking over as Georgia’s coach in 2001, Richt has never lost three straight games in an opponent’s stadium.

5. Least of the East: It’s only five weeks into the season, and all six Eastern Division teams already have at least one conference loss. There’s a pretty good chance that four of the teams could have two losses after this week’s games. Georgia and Tennessee play each other, while Vanderbilt has to play at Alabama and Florida travels to LSU. Kentucky already has two losses. South Carolina won the East last season with three losses. At this rate, we could be headed for another three-loss East champion, and it’s very likely all six teams in the division will finish with at least two losses again.

6. Shaw’s second chance: After opening the season as South Carolina’s starting quarterback, sophomore Connor Shaw gets another chance to lead the Gamecocks. Coach Steve Spurrier said this week that Shaw will get the chance to finish out the game against Kentucky and show what he can do barring an injury or some other unforeseen circumstance. Spurrier stuck with fifth-year senior Stephen Garcia as long as the Gamecocks kept winning. But his passing woes caught up with them last week in a 16-13 loss to Auburn, and now it’s Shaw’s turn to see if he can jump-start the passing game. Garcia was completing just 51.7 percent of his passes and had thrown four touchdown passes and nine interceptions.

7. Defensive awakening: Auburn has played better on defense the last two weeks. Arkansas has gone in the other direction. Their matchup this Saturday at Razorback Stadium had all the makings of an offensive shootout when the season began and still may play out that way. But the Tigers tackled better and were in better position to tackle last week in a 16-13 win at South Carolina. Obviously, Arkansas’ high-powered passing game presents a much different challenge. The flip side to that is that the Hogs have given up 104 points in their last three games. They’re also saddled with some key injuries on defense and haven’t been able to stop anybody since blowing out New Mexico the second week of the season.

8. A crimson wall: Every week, Alabama’s defense gets a little more menacing. The Crimson Tide smothered Florida last week in a 38-10 win on the road and are now third nationally in total defense. They’re allowing just 191.6 yards per game and lead the country in limiting opponents to 3.06 yards per play. Alabama’s defense has also given up just five touchdowns in five games, which doesn’t bode well for a Vanderbilt team that’s ranked 117^th nationally in total offense. The Commodores, who’ve taken three interceptions back for touchdowns this season, are probably going to need a defensive score or two to keep this one close.

9. Now or never for Bulldogs: If Mississippi State is going to turn this season around, it needs to start Saturday against UAB. The Bulldogs, who’ve lost all three of their SEC games, don’t just need to win. They need to win impressively, and more importantly, find some consistency and rhythm on offense. Injuries in the offensive line have been a huge problem, but the Bulldogs also haven’t made a lot of big plays offensively since the rout of Memphis in the opener. There are some winnable games coming up for Mississippi State, which gets South Carolina at home next week before getting a bye. But a disappointing season could become an utterly forgettable season if the Bulldogs don’t take care of business Saturday in Birmingham.

10. Offensive ineptitude: The SEC has long been known for the quality of defense played in this conference. But some of the offenses through five weeks have been hard to watch. In fact, three of the worst five offenses among the 120 FBS teams reside in the SEC. Granted, some of that probably has to do with the caliber of defenses in the SEC, but Ole Miss is ranked 116^th nationally in total offense, Vanderbilt 117^th and Kentucky 118^th. Even No. 1-ranked LSU is ranked 90^th. In fact, if you count Mississippi State (70^th), South Carolina (78^th) and Auburn (79^th), seven of the 12 SEC teams are ranked in the bottom half of the country right now in total offense. That’s downright offensive, or defensive, depending on how you look at it.

The mailbag is making a return this week. Three weeks in and things are really heating up in the SEC.

Something big is supposedly going down in Tuscaloosa, Ala., this weekend and Columbia, S.C., should have some sort of event that should be pretty fun as well. And Morgantown, W. Va., will be rocking when the Bayou Bengals come to town.

Oh, and expansion has bogged everyone’s mind since, well, the summer. Stay tuned next week and maybe Wisconsin will be interested in joining the SEC West.

We might as well get to the questions now:

Jesse Sewell in Columbia, S.C. writes: Christian Fauria put Marcus Lattimore at the top of his Heisman list. Is this a trend or just a reaction to watching him run over Navy? As the SEC beat writer/blogger do you feel the stage gives Lattimore an undue advantage over potentially better candidates? Kellen Moore it seems is slipping onto the back page now that his team is taking on lesser teams. Landry Jones is in a similar position as he gets into the meat of his schedule. Would like to see you do a Heisman Race update and highlight the games that will make or break the frontrunners. Thanks for all your great work. JS

Edward Aschoff: I think Lattimore deserves to be near, if not at the top of the Heisman list. He leads the nation in rushing attempts (87) and yards (534). He leads the country, averaging 178 yards a game and he also has seven touchdowns. Lattimore certainly showed up in South Carolina’s toughest game when he carried the ball 27 times for 176 yards and had a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown in a nail-biting win against Georgia. Last week against Navy, the Gamecocks might not win without the legs of Lattimore. He carried the ball 37 times for 246 yards and three scores. Right now, it doesn’t look like he can be stopped and you might not think the talent South Carolina has played to this point has been great, but the Gamecocks haven’t really looked like the East frontrunners they entered the season as and without Lattimore, things might not have gone so well through three weeks.

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JT Burke Pittsburgh, Pa., writes: Complex problem, simple solution. Could we please end this realignment shenanigans once and for all? Mizzou, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma to the SEC West with LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Arkansas. The SEC East would be UGA, Florida, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Cackalacky (Carolina), Tennessee, and Alabama. The SEC Championship game could rotate between the Superdome, Georgia Dome, EverBank Field, and Cowboys Stadium. The balance would be fair and rivalries would be kept intact.

Edward Aschoff: Well that was a lot to process. Listen, I would love nothing more than for all of this to end. It really is like an episode of "Jersey Shore." Actually, it might be worse because there aren’t any blowouts. One minute this team is coming here and that team is going there, but nothing is really concrete. Is the Pac-12 really done with expansion? Probably not, but kudos for the people over there deciding on not letting Texas push them around. As for the SEC, I still think Texas A&M makes it over before the 2012 season, but I don’t see the SEC getting Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. First of all, I don’t think OU would really want any part of the SEC and I don’t think the SEC is keen on Oklahoma State. You can’t have one without the other. The Big 12 seems stable now, but it sounds like Missouri hasn’t completely ruled out leaving and having the SEC as a possible destination. Oh, and you aren’t moving the SEC championship game from the Georgia Dome. That place is locked up through the 2017 season.

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Dave C. in Columbia, S.C. writes: West Virginia would seem to be a perfect fit with the SEC Eastern Division - both geographically and in play of game. Why aren't they getting any SEC loving? P.S. Plus, Auburn could stay in the West, thus avoiding the awkward possibility of playing twice in a row at the end of the season.

Edward Aschoff: Another expansion question? Will it ever end? This is like the incredibly lame act of planking! I kid, Dave. I kid because I love. The West Virginia talk really heated up during the past two weeks, but reports surfaced recently that the SEC rejected West Virginia. Charles Bloom of the SEC said that Texas A&M remains the only school the conference has reached out to. Honestly, I think the SEC has better options. West Virginia’s football and basketball programs are good and would add to those sports, but I think the SEC wants to stretch out somewhere that will also help the conference outside of just the major sports. You would only get part of the Pittsburgh and Northeast markets with West Virginia. A school like Missouri gives you the St. Louis and Kansas City markets, plus you bring in another AAU member. Even a Virginia Tech (despite the many hurdles the SEC and Virginia Tech would have to go through to join) would be a better option. You’d get the D.C. market and the Virginia recruiting area. If the SEC expands to 14 in the near future, I think West Virginia is on the outside.

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Tim in Alexandria, La., writes: Do you think LSU's defense essentially playing two deep at every position has minimized their risk to injury? To my knowledge, outside of cramps, LSU has been fortunate not to have experienced a major injury on that side of the ball that usually has an impact on any teams national championship aspirations.

Edward Aschoff: That team stays fresh out on the field because of the talent in the two-deep. You are right about that. And with the way this team flies around and just crashes into folks, you’d think there would be more injuries. But this team is in tip-top shape and its ability to rotate guys in and out on defense is a major advantage. Just look at true freshman Anthony Johnson. He’s been all over the field and looks like one of the most disruptive young defensive tackles in the league. LSU doesn’t really rebuild on defense, it reloads. Maybe there is something in the grass down there …

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Derek in Caddo Gap, Ark., writes: Aschoff say's Hogs gonna lose to Bama. LOL. Had Auburn and Bama down last year with a terrible defense and no running game. Now we have a defense and can run some. What is he thinking? Going on the road is more difficult than home games but man... the players have tuff road games all the time in SEC. Road games are way overrated. Roll HOGS!!!!

Edward Aschoff: I love the confidence. You’re right, Arkansas does have the talent to not only compete but beat Alabama this weekend. I won’t argue about that one bit. However, the running game has to be way more consistent. Not having Knile Davis has really shown through three games. Ronnie Wingo Jr. looked good in the past couple of weeks, but this is his first REAL test of the season. Can that offensive line that is missing three starters from a year ago hold up against Alabama’s linebackers? Remember, Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower said he and the rest of the defense are going to go after freshman tackle Mitch Smothers Saturday. I hope he’s ready. I have to go with defense in this one and while I really like Arkansas’, Alabama’s is just old-school nasty. Plus, that home crowd is going to make a difference and help the Tide.

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Jonathan in Atlanta, Ga., writes: I know they lost a lot of talent, but Kentucky seems to have taken a major step backwards when it comes to execution and coaching. They have looked about as bad as any SEC team I have ever seen -- this year's Ole Miss team being close behind. How much patience will the UK administration have with Joker?

Edward Aschoff: I thought Kentucky would struggle without playmakers like Randall Cobb, Mike Hartline, Derek Locke and Chris Matthews, but I didn’t think it would look like this. The Wildcats are 11th in the league in total offense (274.7 yards per game) and are tied for 100th nationally in scoring (19.3). This team has seen injuries hurt its offensive line, but Phillips isn’t using that as an excuse. He has said the execution has been awful so far and I think this team is lucky to be 2-1. Freshman Josh Clemons has been fun to watch at running back, but he needs help. Raymond Sanders came in as the starter, but he’s been average at best so far. And don’t get me started on a passing game riddled with drops and miscommunication. The one bright spot is the defensive improvement, but Kentucky has to get the offense going or the postseason might not happen. If this team doesn’t make it to a bowl game, I think Phillips starts to feel a lot of heat in Lexington.

Steve Muench of ESPN.com's Scouts Inc. reviewed tape of LSU's season-opening win over Oregon and came away impressed with how many potential NFL players the Tigers have on defense.

Prior to the season, junior cornerback Morris Claiborne and junior linebacker Ryan Baker already graded as NFL prospects, but Muench also liked what he saw from defensive ends Lavar Edwards, Barkevious Mingo, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, cornerback Tharold Simon and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson.

Muench breaks down how some of these defenders might fare Thursday night against Mississippi State.

Just on defense, LSU has at least eight players who are sophomores or younger that will have a chance to play in the NFL.

Well, Chris, we meet again. The SEC and Pac-12 can’t seem to quit each other, eh?

You actually were a good sport about not gloating too hard over your correct prediction that Auburn would outlast Oregon and win the SEC’s fifth consecutive national championship. My prediction? I can’t recall, but I’ll admit a vague recollection of wrongness.

But here we go again: No. 3 Oregon versus No. 4 LSU in Cowboys Stadium. As good a season-opening matchup as we’ve had in decades. Kudos to both programs for having the courage to give college football fans something to look forward to during this dreary, controversy-laden offseason, from which these teams are not exempt by any means. Lots of intrigue in this one -- on and off the field.

But let’s start with the football part of football. Tell me about LSU: What are the Tigers' strengths and what are their question marks?

Chris Low: Honestly, Ted, the SEC has won so many national championships in a row now that it's not as much fun to talk smack. I guess we're sort of used to it here in SEC land. We do rings and NCAA investigations in these parts.

As for the game Saturday night in Arlington, Texas, I can't wait to see the collection of talent and speed on that field. This LSU defense should be the fastest John Chavis has had, and he's always put a premium on speed dating back to his days as Tennessee's defensive coordinator. Not only are the Tigers fast on defense, but they're deep. They have defensive ends, Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery, who run like safeties, and Chavis loves to use multiple defensive backs. Just about everybody in LSU's secondary is a former cornerback. The best of the bunch is Morris Claiborne, who can fly. The Tigers are going to play Tyrann Mathieu at nickel and let him roam, which is what he does best. They'll bring him on the blitz one play and drop him into coverage on the next. He had 8.5 tackles for loss as a freshman and forced five turnovers.

While defense will clearly be LSU's strength, the Tigers still have their share of guys on offense capable of making big plays even with quarterback Jordan Jefferson and receiver Russell Shepard sitting this one out. Sophomore running back Spencer Ware is poised to be one of the SEC's top breakout players this season. A former quarterback in high school, he weighs 225 pounds, has great moves and accelerates with the best of them. Senior guard Josh Dworaczyk will miss this game with a knee injury, and that's a blow. He's one of LSU's top offensive linemen. The one thing you don't know about this team is how equipped it would be to have to play from behind. Jarrett Lee is a senior and threw the ball well when he was called upon last season, but it's his show now with Jefferson sidelined. Lee's going to have to be more than just a situational player. I think you'll also see junior college newcomer Zach Mettenberger in this game. He has one of the strongest arms in the SEC, but he hasn't played at this level in a game. The Tigers will certainly have to throw it some to win this game. What I don't think they want to happen is to be in a position where they're having to throw it.

Ted Miller: Everyone is pretty focused on the matchup of the LSU defense and the Oregon offense, which makes sense. Most everyone knows the SEC plays defense at a different level than the rest of the country, though some snarky sorts out West wonder if that’s because those defenses play against SEC offenses. We’ll get to that. I’m just as curious about the Ducks' defense against the LSU offense, even more so with Jefferson out. The Ducks' defense was underrated last year. While it ranked only 34th in the nation in total defense, it gave up just 4.67 yards per play and ranked 20th in third-down defense. For comparison, LSU yielded 4.86 yards per play and ranked 16th in third-down defense.

But that is last year. Oregon is replacing five starters from its front seven. While the defense has been stout during preseason camp -- the feeling is it’s less experienced but bigger and more physically talented than last year -- we really don’t know what it will do against Ware and a run-first attack. As for defending the pass, the Ducks felt like they’d have one of the best secondaries in the country -- not unlike LSU -- heading into the season, but that included All-America cornerback Cliff Harris. Harris, you might have heard, is suspended because he was in a 118 mph hurry to get back to Eugene one offseason night.

But back to that Ducks offense versus LSU's defense matchup. The Ducks' up-tempo, spread-option has been stymied in big games of late when opposing defenses had extra time to prepare and loads of NFL talent in their front seven.

What have you heard about the Tigers' preparation and how does their front-seven personnel compare to Auburn's in 2010?

Chris Low: The best news for the Ducks is that Nick Fairley won't be suiting up for LSU on Saturday. He was the difference out in Glendale, Ariz., back in January, and my contention is that interior line play defensively has been what's set the SEC apart from everybody else the past several years. LSU is extremely talented up front with terrific athletes at the end positions and some promising young talent at tackle. They call true freshman tackle Anthony Johnson "Freak" for a reason. He's big, bad and usually bearing down on whoever has the ball. LSU doesn't have a proven difference-maker up front the caliber of Fairley, but LSU is deeper in the defensive line than Auburn was last season. At linebacker, Ryan Brown is an All-SEC caliber player on the weak side, but the Tigers will sorely miss Kelvin Sheppard in the middle. It looks like converted safety Karnell Hatcher is going to play a bunch in the middle.

Not to take anything away from Auburn's performance last season in the BCS National Championship Game, but LSU is a more talented defense across the board, particularly in the secondary, than the Auburn defense Oregon faced last season.

This also isn't John Chavis' first rodeo. His defenses were the backbone of some of Tennessee's best teams in the late 1990s, and with this being his third season in Baton Rouge, look for the Tigers to play even faster and more instinctively in that system this season. They've been working overtime to make sure they're getting the calls in quick enough, but I'd say you're going to see at least five defensive backs on the field for much of the game.

Ted Miller: All right, so we’ve talked about who will be there. The elephant in the room is who won’t be. The Ducks have two suspended players in cornerback Cliff Harris and middle linebacker Kiko Alonso. (We're guessing with Alonso; Chip Kelly won't say for sure.) More than a few folks saw the suspension of Shepard making the loss of Harris a push -- two all-conference types who also are special-teams stars. Alonso is the Ducks' most physical linebacker, so his loss is significant. Dewitt Stuckey has seen action, but his backup is a walk-on. The Ducks seem fairly healthy heading into the game, though there are questions about receiver Josh Huff, who had been walking around in a boot until recently.

Still, all of this seems less important than the loss of Jordan Jefferson. First, what does losing Jefferson mean to LSU, both as a player and leader? Second, tell us a bit about Lee.

Chris Low: The Tigers will miss Jefferson's ability to scramble and extend the play. He didn't throw it very well last season, but he made several big plays with his legs. In Lee, you get a pure pocket passer who's not going to move around much and look to run.

Lee's story is a good one. He had a brutal redshirt freshman season in which he threw 16 interceptions, including seven that were returned for touchdowns. But he persevered and hung around, and here he is with a chance to lead LSU to a special season as a senior. Lee came off the bench several times last season to save the Tigers, and I don't think there's any question that there's a renewed sense of confidence in him among his teammates.

Shepard is another playmaker you take out of the equation for LSU and a guy who can turn missed tackles into touchdowns, and the other key piece on offense the Tigers will be missing is senior guard Josh Dworaczyk, who's out with an injured knee. He was one of the anchors of that offensive line, so that's three key players missing on offense.

If the Tigers are going to win this one, they have to keep the Ducks from dialing up a bunch of big plays.

Enough talking, though. Let's play. How do you see this one shaking out, Ted?

Ted Miller: Chris, after watching Oregon lose games like this to Boise State, Ohio State and Auburn, I’ve got to admit I see a pattern. Further, I think LSU’s front seven is at least as good as Auburn’s was and the LSU secondary is much better. I think the Ducks' defense will hold down the LSU offense fairly well, but I also think it will feel like a road game for Oregon because of a two-to-one Tigers advantage in the stands. I see a good game, but one in which the Tigers prevail 24-21.

Chris Low: I'm picking the Tigers, too. Imagine that. I tried to convince you to pick Auburn out in Arizona back in January, but you were blinded by those Oregon uniforms. The Ducks play fast, but so does the LSU defense. I also think the Tigers will be able to run the ball well enough to keep that Oregon offense off the field. Get ready for Spencer Ware to formally introduce himself to the college football world in a 28-24 LSU win that soothes a few wounds on the Bayou.

The first two SEC games of the 2011 season are just 16 days away.

Kentucky faces Western Kentucky and Mississippi State takes on Memphis on Sept. 1, both Thursday night games.

With football in the air, anybody ready for a few predictions?

Here’s my best college try:

SEC champion: Alabama

I’m sure it sounds redundant to a lot of you since I incorrectly picked Alabama a year ago, but I’m sticking with the Crimson Tide again this season. They’re going to be nasty on defense and will ride Trent Richardson on offense. They get their toughest two opponents, Arkansas and LSU, at home, and there’s a certain edge that was missing at times a year ago that has returned. So look for Alabama to return to Atlanta for the third time in four years and defeat South Carolina for its 23^rd SEC championship.

Player of the year: Alabama RB Trent Richardson

Tough decision here, because South Carolina receiver Alshon Jeffery and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore are both primed for big seasons. But Richardson is going to get as many carries as he can handle (he never carried it more than 145 times in either of his first two seasons), and his blend of power and speed make him the ultimate offensive weapon.

Freshman of the year: South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney

We’ll keep it to true freshmen, and something says several in the league will make significant impacts. Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell comes to mind, as do LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, Tennessee linebacker Curt Maggitt and Auburn quarterback Kiehl Frazier. None of the incoming freshmen, though, are as physically ready to come in and wreak havoc as the 6-foot-6, 252-pound Clowney. He’s going to be a force rushing the passer.

Most improved player: Florida DE Ronald Powell

His actual position is listed as “Buck,” which is a cross between outside linebacker and defensive end in the Gators’ new defensive scheme. Powell, who came in with all sorts of hype last year, will go a long way toward living up to that hype this season. He’ll play standing up most of the time and is a blur getting to the football. His attitude and approach to the game are also a lot better. The Gators are counting on him to be a game-changer after a freshman season that fell well below expectations.

Breakout player of the year: Georgia LB Alec Ogletree

It was obvious last season that Ogletree was on his way to being an outstanding player in this league. He earned Freshman All-SEC honors by the coaches and made five starts at safety. Now pushing 240 pounds, Ogletree has shifted to inside linebacker and has been one of the best defenders on the field for the Bulldogs this preseason. He’s a fierce hitter and a perfect fit for Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme at inside linebacker. There’s no shortage of great linebackers in this league. Ogletree will be knocking on that door by season’s end.

Comeback player of the year: LSU WR Russell Shepard

A year ago, Shepard was still making the adjustment to being a full-time receiver after coming to LSU as a quarterback. He didn’t always run the best routes, and he didn’t always run the right routes. But now that he has a full season under his belt at receiver, look out. Shepard is one of the most dynamic players in the SEC in the open field and a big play waiting to happen. He’ll make a lot more of those big plays in 2011.

Game of the year: LSU at Alabama, Nov. 5

It’s not the only game that will decide the Western Division race (and possibly who in the SEC gets a chance to make it six straight national championships), but it’s the game everybody will point to from the time they kick it off on Sept. 1. No game in the league has been as consistently compelling as this one the last four years. It always goes down to the final few possessions. It always has a bearing nationally, and it always epitomizes what SEC football is all about. That first weekend in November can’t get here soon enough.

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

Now, for some links:

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

Checking out some links around the SEC.

• Arkansas fullback Kiero Small is making a big impact for the Razorbacks during preseason camp.
• Alabama running back Eddie Lacy is ready to show what he can do this season.
• Florida coach Will Muschamp is pleased with the Gators' progress, but is having to deal with depth issues at the same time.
• LSU wide receiver Russell Shepard isn't concerned with his housing controversy, only his performance on the field.
• Freshman defensive tackle Anthony Johnson's freakish ability should give a chance to see the field early at LSU.
• With D.T. Shackelford out, Joel Kight is being put on the spot in Ole Miss' defense.
• Mississippi State's defensive ends might lack size and experience, but they certainly don't think they lack talent.
• South Carolina is looking to improve it's secondary during preseason camp.
• Defensive tackle Maurice Couch is relishing his new opportunity at Tennessee.
• Vanderbilt's offense features playmakers at the tight end position.