ESPN College Football

If you could only watch one SEC game next season, which one would it be?

In other words, as we posed in our SportsNation poll, which game in the league next season is the one you absolutely don't want to miss?

The fans have spoken, and the Alabama-LSU contest on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa easily took first prize. With more than 37,000 votes in, the Alabama-LSU game received 49 percent of the vote. A distant second was the annual Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn on Nov. 26, pulling in 20 percent of the vote.

Arkansas' visit to Alabama on Sept. 24 was third with 13 percent, meaning the Crimson Tide were involved in the top three "don't miss" games as voted on by the fans.

It's difficult to pick any other game but that Alabama-LSU affair for the top spot. Both teams will enter the season ranked in the top 5 nationally. Both figure to have outstanding defenses, and think back to some of the classics the two teams have treated us to over the past several seasons.

In each of the past four games, I can pick out one play in the fourth quarter or overtime that was probably the difference in the game. That's how close it's been.

Last season, it was LSU's Deangelo Peterson rambling 23 yards on a reverse on a fourth-and-1 play to set up Stevan Ridley's go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run in the Tigers' 24-21 win.

In 2009, it was Julio Jones' 73-yard catch and run for a touchdown to put Alabama ahead for good, although LSU fans might point to Patrick Peterson's interception on the sideline that was ruled (even with replay) a non-interception in Alabama's 24-15 win.

In 2008, take your pick in what was a 27-21 Alabama win in overtime. Rashad Johnson had three interceptions for the Tide, including one in overtime. But it was Jones' leaping 24-yard catch on the sideline that set up John Parker Wilson's 1-yard touchdown plunge to win it.

And in 2007, LSU survived 41-34 in Tuscaloosa in Nick Saban's first game against his old team. With the game tied, LSU freshman Chad Jones came free on a safety blitz and forced a Wilson fumble that was recovered by the Tigers at the Alabama 3, setting up Jacob Hester's winning touchdown.

Stay tuned for more drama in November.

Linking our way around the SEC:

• The decision on whether to take troubled Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is a "complex issue," according to Ole Miss chancellor Dan Jones.

• Having given up his baseball dreams, 2008 Alabama signee Melvin Ray plans to return to football as part of the Crimson Tide's 2011 class.

• Georgia coach Mark Richt urges the fans to give redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray time.

• The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) is still considering awarding the 2004 national championship to Auburn.

• South Carolina senior receiver Dion LeCorn feels like he's finally back in a groove.

• Coaches take different stances on the value of social networking sites. You know? Facebook, facemask and such.

• LSU gets a commitment from junior college punter Dalton Botts. He's the Tigers' 13th commitment for the 2011 class.

• Former LSU safety Chad Jones is headed home after a month-long stay in a New York hospital.

A few SEC links for your viewing pleasure:

• Georgia athletic director Damon Evans was arrested Wednesday night in Atlanta on suspicion of DUI.
• Vanderbilt defensive tackle Adam Smotherman is recovering quicker than expected from his knee injury and hopes to play in the Sept. 4 opener against Northwestern.
• South Carolina quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus says junior quarterback Stephen Garcia, challenged publicly by head coach Steve Spurrier, is working hard this summer.
• Auburn has 29 of the 32 players it signed earlier this year on campus as the Tigers work closer to that 85-player scholarship limit after playing shorthanded last season.
• Punter Matt Darr takes a winding route to Tennessee, where he will be eligible to play this coming season.
• Former LSU star Chad Jones won't face any additional charges in his car wreck from last week.

Congratulations to the South Carolina baseball team for winning the school's first national championship in a men's sport. Now, it's officially football season:

• Lane Kiffin's fingerprints are all over the Bryce Brown saga, writes David Climer of The Tennessean.

• Tennessee defensive end Chris Walker undergoes arthroscopic surgery to clean up some loose cartilage in his knee.

• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is "doing good" while recovering from a second surgery on his foot, according to Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.

• Alabama coach Nick Saban doesn't support the NCAA proposal to limit support staffs.

• Kyle Veazey of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger takes a look at just how tough Mississippi State's schedule in 2010 will be.

• Former LSU star Chad Jones is flown to a New York hospital as he continues his recovery from last week's car wreck in New Orleans.

• Florida picks up its 10th commitment for the 2011 class, kicker Kyle Christy of Brownsburg, Ind.

• The Northridge community in Tuscaloosa copes with the loss of Susan Kines Langston, the daughter of former Alabama defensive coordinator Joe Kines.

As we approach the top selection in our countdown of the SEC’s 25 best players, the No. 4 guy on our list has few peers anywhere in the country when it comes to playing cornerback.

No. 4: Patrick Peterson, CB, Jr., LSU

2009 numbers: Recorded 52 total tackles and intercepted two passes. Ranked fourth in the SEC with 15 passes defended.

Most recent ranking: No. 14 on the 2009 postseason countdown.

Making the case for Peterson: He’s exactly what you’re looking for in a cornerback in every facet. Athletically, he’s off the charts. Just this offseason, he was laser-timed at 4.37 in the 40-yard dash, recorded a vertical leap of 39 inches and squatted 535 pounds. The 6-foot-1 Peterson weighed in at 220 pounds, too. He has great ball skills and the upper-body strength to overpower receivers. You won’t find a better tackler from the cornerback position, either. Go back and watch a few of the plays he made on Tim Tebow in the open field last season. His 43 solo tackles were second on LSU’s team a year ago to middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard’s 50. So when he’s not shutting down the opposing team’s best receiver, he’s equally effective in run support and makes up for a lot of mistakes. The other thing that makes Peterson so great is his undying confidence. He has a genuine belief that he’s going to make every play, and that confidence wears off on his teammates. Heading into last season, Peterson might have been overshadowed some by safety Chad Jones in the LSU secondary. But the Pompano Beach, Fla., product motors into the 2010 season as the SEC’s premier defensive back and a guy who many NFL scouts believe might be the most talented cornerback in all of college football.

The rundown

No. 5: Marcell Dareus, DE, Jr., Alabama

No. 6: Julio Jones, WR, Jr., Alabama

No. 7: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Jr., Alabama

No. 8: Mike Pouncey, C/G, Sr., Florida

No. 9: Pernell McPhee, DE, Sr., Mississippi State

No. 10: Jerrell Powe, NT, Sr., Ole Miss

No. 11: Trent Richardson, RB, So., Alabama

No. 12: Stephon Gilmore, CB, So., South Carolina

No. 13: Kelvin Sheppard, LB, Sr., LSU

No. 14: Randall Cobb, WR/QB, Jr., Kentucky

No. 15: Janoris Jenkins, CB, Jr., Florida

No. 16: Mark Barron, S, Jr., Alabama

No.17: Darvin Adams, WR, Jr., Auburn

No. 18: Alshon Jeffery, WR, So., South Carolina

No. 19: D.J. Williams, TE, Sr., Arkansas

No. 20: Cliff Matthews, DE, Sr., South Carolina

No. 21: Clint Boling, OT, Sr., Georgia

No. 22: Greg Childs, WR, Jr., Arkansas

No. 23: Washaun Ealey, RB, So., Georgia

No. 24: Chris Marve, LB, Jr., Vanderbilt

No. 25: Luke Stocker, TE, Sr., Tennessee

With the South Carolina baseball team one win away from its first national championship in school history, here's a look at what's going on in SEC football land:

• Paul Finebaum has released his annual ranking of the SEC coaches, and Alabama's Nick Saban has replaced Florida's Urban Meyer at the top.
• Florida is now up to nine commitments for the 2011 class after receiver/defensive back Ja'Juan Story of Brooksville, Fla., said Monday he plans to sign with the Gators. The 6-3, 190-pound Story is the sixth ESPNU 150 prospect to commit to the Gators.
• Police say alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in Chad Jones' car accident last week.
• Maudrecus Humphrey, the son of former Alabama great Bobby Humphrey, won't be following in his father's footsteps at Alabama, but he will get a chance in the SEC ... at Arkansas.
• The rest of Florida's freshmen arrive on campus for summer school, including Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley.
• Receiver Todd Campbell leaves Tennessee's team.

Good to be back. The start of preseason practice is only a little more than a month away. Let's see what's shaking out there in SEC land:

Auburn safety Zac Etheridge is confident he'll be able to return to the field this fall following his scary neck injury last season, writes Andrew Gribble of The Opelika-Auburn News.

Former LSU star Chad Jones faces a long recovery following his car wreck, writes Glenn Guilbeau of Gannett Louisiana Newspapers.

Tommy Hicks of The Mobile Press-Register takes a look at what might have been had Oklahoma and Texas A&M come aboard in the SEC.

Tennessee quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw is living his dream again, writes John Adams of The Knoxville News-Sentinel.

In his move to the receiver position, Georgia's Logan Gray will probably start out with the flankers, reports Marc Weiszer of The Athens Banner-Herald.

Joker Phillips' first challenge at Kentucky is making sure the program doesn't take a step backward, writes Mark Story of The Lexington Herald-Leader.

Kentucky has 14 known commitments for the 2011 class, but could have trouble holding onto some of those, writes Chip Cosby of The Lexington Herald-Leader.

Andy Bitter of The Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer ranks the nonconference schedules for the SEC teams in 2010.

We look closer today at the Tigers’ strengths and weaknesses coming out of the spring.

Strongest position: Secondary

Key returnees: Junior cornerback Patrick Peterson (52 tackles, two interceptions, 15 passes defended), senior safety Jai Eugene (26 tackles, one interception), junior safety Brandon Taylor (41 tackles, two interceptions), junior cornerback Ron Brooks (nine tackles), sophomore cornerback Morris Claiborne (seven tackles)

Key departures: Safety Chad Jones (74 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions), cornerback Chris Hawkins (43 tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defended), safety Danny McCray (49 tackles)

The skinny: LSU coach Les Miles commented recently that the Peterson-Claiborne cornerback combo might be as good as any in the country. We know Peterson returns as perhaps the best cornerback in college football with his blend of size, speed and superb tackling ability. He can take away one whole side of the field. The LSU coaches think Claiborne is also on his way to being equally complete as a cornerback. He’s not real big (171 pounds), but has outstanding speed. The Tigers certainly won’t lack for speed in the secondary next season. Eugene has moved to safety, and Taylor has also played cornerback in the past. So, in effect, LSU will have four cornerbacks on the field, which should help improve the Tigers’ pass defense. They ranked eighth in the SEC last season in defending the pass. One of their challenges will be in run support, although defensive coordinator John Chavis will have some options. Redshirt freshman Craig Loston could also be a factor. The Tigers want to see him become more physical and more consistent, but he has all the physical tools to be a top-notch safety in this league.

Weakest position: Quarterback

Key returnees: Junior Jordan Jefferson (182 of 296, 2,166 yards, 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions), junior Jarrett Lee (16-of-40, 197 yards, two touchdowns, one interception)

Key departures: None

The skinny: This one changed a bit after the spring simply because Jefferson didn’t take the job and run with it like most on the LSU staff thought he would. In fact, Lee outplayed him a lot of the time in the spring. Jefferson will have this summer and the preseason to re-establish himself. He’s still the starter, but Miles has said on numerous occasions now that he wouldn’t have a problem playing Lee if that’s how it all shakes out. Lee played in a backup role last season. But it’s hard for LSU fans to get out of their minds the 16 interceptions (seven returned for touchdowns) that Lee threw as a redshirt freshman two years ago. Jefferson didn’t play poorly last season. At times, he held onto the ball too long and was also a victim of an offensive line that didn't do a good job of protecting him. But he completed 61.5 percent of his passes and only threw seven interceptions. Against the best defenses, though, he was ineffective. He needs to play more instinctively in 2010 and has the talent to do so. If he doesn’t, it could be one of those situations where the Tigers are going back and forth among quarterbacks. Sophomore Russell Shepard could still line up some at quarterback in special situations, but he’s a full-time receiver now, and that’s where he will spend his time practicing.

LSU’s Patrick Peterson has never been short on confidence, which is a prerequisite if you’re going to play cornerback at the level he does in the SEC.

“I’m always talking out there on the field. That’s a huge part of my game,” Peterson said. “I just love to talk, and I love to talk trash and back it up. Every receiver I guard will tell you that I’m going to talk. I don’t care if we’re losing. I’m going to be talking until the clock has zeros on it.”

Entering his junior season, Peterson returns as perhaps the premier cornerback in the country. He’s already been tabbed as one of the top 10 defensive prospects for the 2011 draft by ESPN’s Todd McShay.

In Peterson’s mind, there’s no “perhaps” to it when talking about college football’s best corner.

“I believe I’m the best corner right now in the country, but I definitely have to go out there and prove myself and prove it to anybody who thinks they’re better than me,” said Peterson, who led all SEC cornerbacks with 15 passes defended last season. “I just have to go out there every single day with a chip on my shoulder, knowing that I want to be the best and what I want out of this career.”

What makes the 6-1, 211-pound Peterson so special is that he can just as easily manhandle a receiver physically as he can swoop in with blazing closing speed to knock a ball away.

In the open field, few corners are better tacklers. Peterson had 43 solo stops last season, which was second on LSU"s team to linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.

Peterson also scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a 37-yard interception return against Mississippi State and another on a 53-yard return of a blocked field goal.

“People talk about explosive playmakers,” Sheppard said. “He’s our explosive playmaker on defense.”

Even with the early departure of safety Chad Jones to the NFL, the Tigers return a secondary that could be one of the best in the league in 2010. Jai Eugene has moved from cornerback to safety, and sophomore Morris Claiborne looks like he’s following in Peterson’s footsteps as the Tigers’ next great cornerback.

“I think we’ll have two corners, Peterson and Claiborne, that may be as good a corner tandem as there is,” LSU coach Les Miles said.

Peterson said it’s definitely the most speed the Tigers have put on the field in the secondary and across the board defensively since he’s been in Baton Rouge.

“We might be a little smaller, but there’s a lot of toughness out there,” Peterson said. “You win games in the fourth quarter with toughness.”

For Peterson, he’s still haunted by the fourth quarter/overtime from the Alabama game each of the past two seasons.

As a freshman, Peterson had the coverage on Julio Jones when he made a sensational 24-yard catch at the 1 to set up the game-winning touchdown for Alabama in overtime.

And then last season, Peterson had to leave the game briefly with cramps. Up until that point, he’d clamped down on Jones. But with Peterson getting treatment on the sideline, Jones gathered in a receiver screen on the left side, shook off an LSU defender and raced 73 yards for a touchdown that changed the complexion of the game and put Alabama ahead to stay.

There was even more heartache for Peterson later in the fourth quarter. He appeared to intercept a pass on the sideline that would have given LSU a chance to reclaim the lead. But the officials on the field ruled that Peterson was out of bounds. It looked like on the replay that he did get one foot down with possession, but that’s not the way the replay official saw it -- and the call wasn’t overturned.

“It’s still tough,” Peterson said. “My freshman year, I was on the field when (Jones) had the big catch. He made a great play. When I went in this year, I was like, ‘I can’t let him catch one on me,’ and he didn’t catch a ball on me the whole game.

“I don’t want to blame it on anything, but I had the flu the week prior and wasn’t getting fluids inside of me. But that play goes through my head every single day. I kid you not.

“This year, I’m going in thinking, ‘No catches and no cramps.’ ”

One thing Peterson insists he’s not thinking about, not yet anyway, is whether or not this will be his final season at LSU.

He’s exactly what the NFL is looking for, that big, physical corner who can cover.

“There’s too much to do here before I start thinking about that,” Peterson said. “We’ll just have to see. I still need to improve on the little things, and I also have to take care of some unfinished business on the field.”

Today, we take a look at what should be the strongest and weakest positions for LSU entering the 2010 season:

Strongest position: Secondary

Key returnees: Patrick Peterson, Jai Eugene, Morris Claiborne, Brandon Taylor, Ron Brooks

Key departures: Chad Jones, Chris Hawkins

The skinny: Jones was a playmaker for the Tigers at safety, but defensive coordinator John Chavis thinks they will be even faster in the secondary next season. Essentially, they will be playing four cornerbacks back there when you consider that Eugene is moving from cornerback to safety. Peterson is the best cornerback in the country and a future star in the NFL. He’s good enough to take away one whole side of the field. The Tigers’ defensive coaches think Claiborne will be their next great cornerback. He’s had a terrific spring and will step in at the other cornerback position opposite Peterson. Taylor’s a returning starter at the other safety position, and Ron Brooks gives them quality depth as the third cornerback. If redshirt freshman Craig Loston keeps coming, this has a chance to be one of the best defensive backfields in the league.

Weakest position: Offensive line

Key returnees: Joseph Barksdale, Alex Hurst, Josh Dworaczyk, Will Blackwell

Key departures: Ciron Black

The skinny: It was a brutal season for the LSU offensive line a year ago. The Tigers were 11^th in the league in rushing offense and gave up 37 sacks, which tied South Carolina for the league high and ranked 105^th nationally. The Tigers have shuffled some people around up front with the hope of finding the right combination. Coach Les Miles likes the way the offensive line has responded this spring, but the real test will come in the fall. Barksdale will be moving from right tackle to left tackle for the departed Black, who had a disappointing senior season. Hurst, a sophomore, has moved from guard to right tackle. There are signs that the Tigers will be better in the offensive line in 2010, but they have to prove it on the field first.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Even though LSU lost two starters from a year ago, including All-SEC safety Chad Jones, LSU coach Les Miles thinks the Tigers will be even better in the secondary next fall.

“This year, we’re younger than we’ve been, but I think we’ll be better at corner and better in the secondary overall,” said Miles, adding that the Tigers will also have more speed back there.

Much of Miles’ optimism revolves around the way sophomore cornerback Morris Claiborne has played this spring. He’s physical, tackles extremely well and locks down his man in coverage.

Of course, the other cornerback is manned by junior Patrick Peterson, who returns as one of the best cornerbacks in the country.

Junior cornerback Ron Brooks has also played well this spring, which is key. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis likes to play five and sometimes six defensive backs.

Claiborne’s development made it a lot easier to move senior Jai Eugene to safety, and junior Brandon Taylor returns at the other safety spot.

The Tigers got some good news this week on safety Craig Loston, who received a medical redshirt by the NCAA and will be classified as a redshirt freshman for next season.

Loston, one of the top-rated safety prospects in the country last year, has shown big-play ability in spots this spring. But the LSU coaches would still like to see him be more physical on a consistent basis.

LSU safety Chad Jones thinks he helped himself Monday at LSU's pro day and is hopeful of going in the second round of the draft.

The same goes for LSU receiver Brandon LaFell.

Ideally, they would like to climb into the latter part of the first round, but that's probably not realistic, which means a streak could be ending for LSU.

The Tigers have gone six straight years with a first-round selection in the NFL draft, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

Jones came back from a so-so showing at the NFL combine and ran a 4.54 in the 40-yard dash at LSU's pro day after running a 4.57 in Indianapolis. That's a decent time for a safety of his size. But his bench-press numbers were still puzzling. He did improve to 11 reps of 225 pounds. That's after doing just nine reps at the combine.

For comparison, 170-pound Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster did 20 reps.

LaFell improved his 40 time from a 4.59 to a 4.55. He said he was limited at the combine because he was still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the bowl game.

Cornerback Chris Hawkins had the fastest 40 time at LSU's pro day (4.40). Safety/linebacker Harry Coleman helped himself by running a 4.45, while running back Charles Scott was clocked at 4.53.

The NFL combine wraps up on Tuesday, and a flood of former SEC players have left their mark -- both good and bad.

The defensive backs were the last to run the 40-yard dash, and a lot of eyes were on Tennessee safety Eric Berry.

Unofficially, his two 40-yard dash times were 4.46 and 4.40. Earlier, the 5-11, 211-pound Berry did 19 reps on the bench-press, so he certainly didn’t do anything to hurt himself and figures to be a top 10 pick.

Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas tweaked his hamstring running the 40 and didn’t go a second time. He ran a 4.52 unofficially on the first one.

Florida cornerback Joe Haden turned in a disappointing 4.57 in the 40. Again, these are unofficial times, and we’ll try to get you the official times once they’re posted later Tuesday.

Vanderbilt cornerback Myron Lewis helped himself with a 4.45 in the 40 and also weighed in at more than 200 pounds. The NFL loves big corners who can cover.

LSU safety Chad Jones ran a 4.54, but only did nine reps on the bench-press.

Georgia safety Reshad Jones was second among the safeties with 24 reps.

Mississippi State’s Jamar Chaney posted the fastest 40-yard dash time among linebackers, a 4.54. He also did 26 reps on the bench-press and recorded a 39-inch vertical jump. Chaney solidified himself as a solid mid-round pick, possibly as high as the third or fourth round.

Todd McShay of ESPN’s Scouts Inc. also felt like South Carolina outside linebacker Eric Norwood helped himself by running a 4.71 40-yard dash. At 245 pounds, Norwood also showed good lateral movement, quick feet and demonstrated all the qualities that make him an explosive pass-rusher.

A pair of former SEC linebackers that didn’t impress McShay were Kentucky’s Micah Johnson and Florida’s Brandon Spikes. Johnson (258 pounds) ran a 4.99 and didn’t change directions very well. Spikes didn’t run the 40, but looked stiff in drills.

Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap turned in a fast 40 time (4.71), but according to scouts McShay talked with, Dunlap didn’t come across well in interviews and was characterized as lazy.

Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams continues to look like a first-round pick. Weighing 326 pounds, he ran a 5.17 40-yard dash and did 26 reps on the bench. He also moved fluidly during drills.

McShay thinks Alabama nose guard Terrence Cody will probably be a second-rounder. Cody shed some pounds and was down to 354, but ran a 5.68 40, the slowest among the defensive linemen.

I appreciate your input on the top 30 players in the SEC from this past season, and here are two more entries that I received from you.

The first one is from William in Jackson, Miss., and the second one is from Steve in Atlanta. William has Mark Ingram No. 1, while Steve has Rolando McClain No. 1. Some of the new names on their lists include LSU safety Chad Jones and Vanderbilt running back/return specialist Warren Norman. Both are strong lists.

William's top 30:

No. 1: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

No. 2: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

No. 3: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

No. 4: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

No. 5: Anthony Dixon, RB, Mississippi State

No. 6: Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama

No. 7: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

No. 8: Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Ole Miss

No. 9: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

No. 10: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina

No. 11: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

No. 12: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida

No. 13: Antonio Coleman, DE, Auburn

No. 14: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida

No. 15: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

No. 16: Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State

No. 17: Randall Cobb, QB/WR, Kentucky

No. 18: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

No. 19: Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama

No. 20: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

No. 21: Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee

No. 22: Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia

No. 23: Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss

No. 24: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn

No. 25: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

No. 26: Malcolm Sheppard, DT, Arkansas

No. 27: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

No. 28: Chad Jones, S, LSU

No. 29: Terrence Cody, NG, Alabama

No. 30: Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Steve's top 30:

No. 1: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

No. 2: Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

No. 3: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

No. 4: Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Ole Miss

No. 5: Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas

No. 6: Anthony Dixon, RB, Mississippi State

No. 7: Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama

No. 8: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

No. 9: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

No. 10: Antonio Coleman, DE, Auburn

No. 11: Aaron Hernandez, TE, Florida

No. 12: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina

No. 13: Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida

No. 14: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

No. 15: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

No. 16: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

No. 17: Ben Tate, RB, Auburn

No. 18: Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee

No. 19: Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama

No. 20: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

No. 21: Rennie Curran, LB, Georgia

No. 22: Randall Cobb, QB/WR, Kentucky

No. 23: Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss

No. 24: Terrence Cody, NG, Alabama

No. 25: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

No. 26: Pernell McPhee, DE, Mississippi State

No. 27: Malcolm Sheppard, DT, Arkansas

No. 28: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

No. 29: Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

No. 30: Warren Norman, RB, Vanderbilt

As expected, several SEC underclassmen have been added to the list of NFL combine invitees. Also, Auburn senior defensive end Antonio Coleman was added after inexplicably being omitted on the initial list.

Here are the newest invitees broken down by team:

ALABAMA

CB Kareem Jackson

LB Rolando McClain

AUBURN

DE Antonio Coleman

FLORIDA

DE Carlos Dunlap

CB Joe Haden

TE Aaron Hernandez

C Maurkice Pouncey

S Major Wright

GEORGIA

LB Rennie Curran

S Reshad Jones

DT Jeff Owens

LSU

S Chad Jones

MISSISSIPPI STATE

LB Jamar Chaney

OLE MISS

QB Jevan Snead

SOUTH CAROLINA

DE Clifton Geathers

TENNESSEE

S Eric Berry

CB Dennis Rogan