ESPN College Football

We're putting spring behind us and looking toward the fall with our post-spring power rankings:

1. LSU: The Tigers had one of the best springs around. Things were quiet off the field, and the offense rallied behind quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Coach Les Miles was very impressed with Mettenberger's play and maturity, and expects LSU's offense to be more balanced with him under center. LSU can still use four or five running backs, as well. Defensively, the Tigers are stacked once again, especially up front with two potential first-rounders in ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo. Questions surround the inexperienced linebackers, but Kevin Minter had a tremendous spring in the middle. On paper, LSU is equipped with the talent to make another title run, and gets Alabama at home this year.

2. Alabama: While the defending national champs saw a lot of "new" faces on defense this spring, coach Nick Saban left happy with where his players were -- but not satisfied. There is still work to be done, especially in the secondary, where the Tide must replace three starters. Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw are gone at linebacker, but the coaches were impressed with how Nico Johnson, C.J. Mosley and Adrian Hubbard played this spring. Some think Hubbard, a redshirt sophomore, could be Bama's top pass-rusher. Offensively, quarterback AJ McCarron is back, more mature and surrounded by a very veteran line. He has a group of younger receivers to throw to, but has at least four quality running backs. Alabama's road to repeating is tougher, with games at Arkansas and LSU.

3. South Carolina: A healthy Marcus Lattimore (knee) at RB makes South Carolina an even better contender for the SEC East crown. His status is uncertain, but the pieces around him are pretty impressive. Quarterback Connor Shaw had an impressive spring, and looks ready to be the passer coach Steve Spurrier wants him to be. The defense is once again stacked, especially up front with ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor. There are questions in the secondary, with two new, young starters in Victor Hampton (cornerback) and Brison Williams (safety), while senior Akeem Auguste returns after missing last season with a foot injury. Still, Spurrier is chirping about his SEC counterparts, so you know he thinks he's got a good team this year.

4. Georgia: The Bulldogs should be higher on this list, but when you take into account the suspensions of four defensive starters at the beginning of the season, they slide a little. Georgia returns nine defensive starters, including one of the nation's best linebackers in Jarvis Jones, and some firepower on offense, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Murray, who could get some early Heisman love. It also sounds like enigmatic running back Isaiah Crowell is slowly turning things around. Yet again, the Bulldogs have a favorable SEC schedule, with no games against Alabama, Arkansas or LSU, so their road to the SEC championship is easier than South Carolina's, but keep an eye on that inexperienced offensive line.

5. Arkansas: If not for Bobby Petrino's embarrassing dismissal, the Razorbacks might be ranked higher. Offensively, it doesn't get much better than what Arkansas has. Tyler Wilson returns as arguably the league's best quarterback, and he'll get to work with one of the most complete backs around, Knile Davis, who is returning from a devastating ankle injury. An older and more improved offensive line returns, and so does a talented receiving corps led by Cobi Hamilton. But there are questions. How effective will interim coach John L. Smith be, especially if something goes wrong? Will Marquel Wade's suspension leak into the fall after his spring arrest? And will the defense improve and be more aggressive under new coordinator Paul Haynes? The good news is that Alabama and LSU play in Fayetteville this fall.

6. Florida: The chemistry is much better in Gainesville. Florida returns 10 starters from a defense that ranked eighth nationally in 2011. Matt Elam looks like a budding star at safety, and Florida's linebacking group is solid. Buck/defensive end Ronald Powell could be out after tearing his ACL this spring, but coach Will Muschamp recently said Powell is off crutches. Stud defensive tackle Dominique Easley is also walking fine after tearing his ACL in last year's season finale. The Gators have their third offensive coordinator in three years, and unproven sophomore quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel are still battling. Florida has unproven running backs and receivers, but the offensive line toughened up tremendously.

7. Auburn: The Tigers welcomed two new coordinators, Scot Loeffler and Brian VanGorder, this spring, and by all accounts players were very receptive. Coach Gene Chizik is still dealing with a lot of youth, as close to 70 percent of his roster is made up of underclassmen. One of those underclassmen is quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who made strides as a passer this spring and seems to have the edge in the quarterback race with Clint Moseley, who missed some of the spring with a sore shoulder. The defensive line will be the team's strength, with end Dee Ford exploding this spring and Corey Lemonier returning. There is a lot of depth up front on defense, which will go a long way for the Tigers.

8. Missouri: Coach Gary Pinkel and his players have made it clear they aren't intimidated by the move to the SEC. These new Tigers return solid offensive firepower, but there has to be some concern about quarterback James Franklin, who missed most of the spring after having surgery on his throwing shoulder. Plus, Mizzou's backup QB could miss games this fall after his recent arrest, so the Tigers' offensive success will be riding on Franklin's health. The Tigers are replacing a few starters on both lines, but feel confident about both areas. Mizzou will face a Georgia team down a few defensive players in Week 2, but must travel to South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

9. Tennessee: A lot is different in Knoxville, as the Vols welcomed seven new assistant coaches. Coach Derek Dooley insists the changes were for the best, but there's still going to be some adjusting to do this fall. The good news is that Tennessee returns a lot on both sides of the ball, starting with quarterback Tyler Bray and receivers Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers. A healthy trio there makes Tennessee's passing game one of the best in the league. Questions remain on the offensive line and at running back, but improvements were made this spring. New defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri would like to run more 3-4 this fall, but players aren't totally comfortable, leaving some concerns.

10. Mississippi State: Quarterback Tyler Russell finally looks ready to take over as the guy in Starkville, and he'll have a veteran receiving corps to work with. However, that group still has a lot to prove, especially senior Chad Bumphis. The running game looks solid with LaDarius Perkins and Nick Griffin, and the offensive line got help from the junior college ranks. Defensively, there are a few holes to fill up front and in the secondary, but Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield are a solid cornerback tandem and linebacker is set with a few vets back, including stud Cameron Lawrence. Junior college defensive end Denico Autry has to perform early to help a line with a couple of holes.

11. Texas A&M: The Aggies have some holes to fill this year, but the offensive line will be a strength. Left tackle Luke Joeckel, a future first-rounder, leads a line that returns four starters. Star wide receiver Ryan Swope is back, and running back Christine Michael should be healthy (knee) this fall, but quarterback is an issue. Sophomore Jameill Showers has the edge right now, but like all of his competitors, he lacks experience. The defense will lean on linebackers Sean Porter, Steven Jenkins, Jonathan Stewart and converted end Damontre Moore, but the secondary has depth and experience issues, and the team will still be adjusting to a new staff led by coach Kevin Sumlin.

12. Vanderbilt: There is some solid offensive talent in Nashville, starting with running back Zac Stacy and receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, but coach James Franklin is still waiting for quarterback Jordan Rodgers to be more consistent. The offensive line is very thin and could barely get through spring. The defense must replace a handful of starters and leaders, but Franklin felt better about guys like linebacker Chase Garnham, defensive end Walker May and cornerback Trey Wilson. Vandy's schedule will be tough this fall, and if that offensive line doesn't hold up, getting back to a bowl will be tough.

13. Kentucky: Coach Joker Phillips was pleased with how spring practice ended, especially when it came to finding offensive playmakers, like receivers Demarco Robinson and Daryl Collins. Quarterback Maxwell Smith had a solid spring, but struggled during the spring game, meaning the battle with Morgan Newton and freshman Patrick Towles should go into the fall. The offensive line is still trying to get by after losing three starters, and the Wildcats must replace six starters at linebacker and in the secondary. Given the Wildcats' schedule, they will need to sweep their nonconference games to be in bowl shape.

14. Ole Miss: The arrival of coach Hugh Freeze brought a lot of positive change to Ole Miss, especially off the field, but there are still a lot of concerns. There are depth issues at just about every position, especially running back and defensive tackle. Even one of the most experienced groups, the offensive line, has struggled mightily with picking up Freeze's spread offense and is the team's biggest weakness. Academic issues are also worrying Ole Miss' staff, and top running back Jeff Scott and cornerback/receiver Nickolas Brassell are in that group. Quarterback is still up for grabs, but progress was made on defense, especially in the secondary.

2011 record: 6-7
2011 conference record: 2-6
Returning starters: Offense: 9; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 3

Top returners:
WR Chris Boyd, WR Jordan Matthews, QB Jordan Rodgers, RB Zac Stacy, OG Ryan Seymour, C Wesley Johnson, LB Archibald Barnes, Chase Garnham, DT Rob Lohr, CB Trey Wilson

Key losses:
TE Brandon Barden, OT Kyle Fischer, DE Tim Fugger, LB Chris Marve, CB Casey Hayward, S Sean Richardson

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Zac Stacy* (1,193 yards)
Passing: Jordan Rodgers* (1,524 yards)
Receiving: Jordan Matthews* (778 yards)
Tackles: Chris Marve (91)
Sacks: Tim Fugger (8)
Interceptions: Casey Hayward (7)

Spring answers

1. Finding more leaders: Vanderbilt coach James Franklin wanted to leave spring with more leaders than started with. By his accounts, a few veterans stepped up with guys like Marve, Fugger, Hayward and Fischer gone. Franklin said that if the Commodores were going to build off of last season's success, some veterans had to step up and take hold of the team. Guys like Jordan Rodgers, Chase Garnham, Walker May, Trey Wilson and Zac Stacy really expanded their roles as leaders and will be leaned on even more this fall.

2. Marve's replacement: Finding someone to take over for Marve in the locker room was one thing, but filling his position on the field is another. Exiting the spring, Franklin thinks he found the perfect player for the job in Garnham. He moved from the outside to the middle and really excelled at Marve's old position. Garnham was one of the Vanderbilt's most consistent defensive players this spring and the coaches expect to perform this fall.

3. More playmakers: The Commodores return much of their offense this season, but it sounds like the coaches found a few more players. People know about Stacy and receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, but a few other players caught the coaches' eyes like redshirt freshmen Josh Grady and Kris Kentera, who were former quarterbacks. Grady showed his versatility by playing all over the field at receiver, running back and as a wildcat quarterback. It looks like Kentera earned some playing time at H-back this fall, helping to take pressure off Matthews and Boyd.

Fall questions

1. Offensive line: Spring practices have not addressed any of the issues the Commodores have on the offensive line. Ryan Seymour and Chase White began spring by rehabbing injuries, leaving Vandy with just nine healthy bodies up front. As spring went on, Franklin said there were times when his team sometimes had just seven linemen to work with. It was bad enough that Vandy rarely went through practices with a full offensive line taking reps. Six true freshmen linemen will enroll at Vandy this fall, but there's no question this unit is the biggest worry for the Commodores.

2. Quarterback consistency: While Rogers made improvements to his game, he still showed the inconsistency that frustrated Franklin last season. There's no question he has the athletic ability to be a solid starter in this league, but he sometimes fails to stand tall in the pocket and deliver solid throws when things collapse around him. That kind of play really hurt Vandy's offense last season. He was pushed by 2009 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year Austyn Carta-Samuels during the spring and the battle is expected to continue through fall camp.

3. Warren Norman's health: After missing all of the 2011 season with a knee injury, Norman returned to the practice field this spring. Though he was non-contact, he showed some improvement in his mobility. It's still unclear how healthy Norman will be and if really complement Stacy in the running game. Rising sophomore Jerron Seymour is the one other returning running back that registered carries last season.

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

Past producers:

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

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

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

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

The SEC returns two more of its top tacklers:

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

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

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

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

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

Seeing a Vanderbilt defense without Chris Marve in the middle at linebacker will be weird, but the Commodores will have to get used to life without him next season.

OUT: LB Chris Marve. From the time he was a redshirt freshman, Marve has been a force in that Vanderbilt defense. He produced on the field and off the field and was one of those leaders that nobody questioned. He led the Commodores with 91 total tackles last season, including 8.5 for loss. Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said one of the reasons the Commodores were so good on defense in his first season was because Marve bought into Shoop, which filtered down to the rest of the players on defense. Any time the Commodores were tweaking things on defense, Shoop said all he had to do was tell Marve what he wanted and that Marve would see to it on the practice field that the Commodores got it down. Marve finished with 80 or more tackles in all four of his seasons and was a three-time All-SEC selection.

IN: Chase Garnham. Despite a lingering groin injury that kept him out of three full games and parts of two others, Garnham put together a stellar sophomore season last year. He finished with 51 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss, but moves over from his outside linebacker spot to the middle. Having played alongside Marve last season, Garnham made sure he picked up as many pointers as possible, and the Vanderbilt coaches have been very pleased with the way Garnham has performed in the middle this spring. He's smart, instinctive and a sure tackler. At 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, Garnham is also an excellent athlete and has been timed as fast as 4.6 in the 40-yard dash. Nobody expects Garnham to step right in and be the heartbeat of the defense the way Marve was for the past three seasons, but Garnham has everything it takes to be a very productive middle linebacker in this league.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- I've been on Vanderbilt's campus for much of the day and spent some time with the Commodores' coaches and players.

There's no question a new energy surrounds this program, and there's certainly not a feeling of contentment just because Vanderbilt went to a bowl game last season in James Franklin's first year on the job.

"We were 6-7. We had a losing record," Vanderbilt senior cornerback Trey Wilson said. "We expect a lot more out of ourselves than that, and we're going back to work to make sure we get a lot more out of next season. Nobody around here is satisfied."

Franklin is bringing in the highest-rated signing class in school history. Most of those guys won't be on campus until the summer, but Franklin envisions even more competition for positions than last season.

And he means everywhere.

"We still don't have the depth we need, but we're going to have competition," Franklin said. "I want everybody in the program to feel like there's no favoritism and no politics. Even for the guys who played last year, and they have a leg up, but you're going to have to earn your job every day. That's important, and getting these freshmen in here and allowing them to have an opportunity to compete and play will help us."

One of the hottest battles could be at quarterback. Jordan Rodgers stepped in at midseason a year ago and provided a huge boost to the offense, but Austyn Carta-Samuels is eligible after transferring from Wyoming and is pushing hard this spring.

"The sky's the limit for us with the competitive nature that coach Franklin has created," said Carta-Samuels, whose grandfather, Tom, played baseball at Vanderbilt. "That's why I came here, and you know you're going to get an opportunity to play if you're the best player."

Carta-Samuels had 2,094 yards in total offense in 2010 and started 11 games that season for Wyoming. He said he visited Vanderbilt out of high school and that there's no comparison in the caliber of players here now as compared to 2008 when he was visiting.

Two of the Commodores' priorities this spring, according to Franklin, are throwing the ball more accurately than they did last season on offense and not giving up as many big plays on defense. They completed just 51.7 percent of their passes, and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said they gave up 46 big plays (a running play of at least 15 yards or passing play of at least 25 yards).

Shoop said the Commodores' goal is no more than two big plays per game.

"Where we fell short was we gave up too many big plays," Shoop said. "Five percent of the snaps against us accounted for one-third of the total offense."

Replacing middle linebacker Chris Marve and his leadership will also be a chore. Shoop said a key to the Commodores' success last season (they finished 18th nationally in total defense) was the way Marve bought into Shoop and his defense.

Junior Chase Garnham is moving into Marve's middle linebacker spot, but it will take several players to fill the leadership void created by Marve's departure. Defensive end Walker May, defensive tackle Rob Lohr, safety Javon Marshall and Wilson are all ready to take that step.

"We're light years ahead of where we were last year," Shoop said. "Our first group out there practicing right now ... I like the way they're practicing. Our second group, those guys are a lot of redshirt guys and scout-team guys. They're figuring it out."

Freshman linebacker Darreon Herring is an early enrollee and going through spring practice. Shoop thinks he has an excellent chance to be in the rotation next season. The same goes for freshman linebacker Jake Sealand, who will be on campus this summer.

Schedule: Vanderbilt begins spring practice Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET and concludes with the Black and Gold Spring Game on April 14, in Vanderbilt Stadium. Coach James Franklin has decided to open all 14 of Vanderbilt's spring practices to fans.

What's new: Franklin added two new assistants during the offseason. George Barlow comes over from New Mexico to coach the Commodores' defensive backs and serve as the defensive recruiting coordinator, while Josh Gattis left Western Kentucky to coach Vandy's wide receivers and will serve as the offensive recruiting coordinator. Vanderbilt will also see more of transfer quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who came from Wyoming last season, after being the Mountain West's Freshman of the Year in 2009. After sitting out 2011, Carta-Samuels will compete with Jordan Rodgers for the starting quarterback spot. Joining the battle is early enrollee Patton Robinette.

On the mend: Running back Warren Norman sat out all of the 2011 season with a knee injury and will be limited for most of the spring. Offensive linemen Ryan Seymour and Chase White, safety Javon Marshall, fullback Marc Panu, linebacker Tristan Strong, and running back Jerron Seymour won't go through contact this spring. Offensive lineman Mylon Brown, who was suspended due to violation of team rules and wide receiver Brady Brown, who decided not to return to the team, are not on the spring roster.

Questions: Vanderbilt must replace four key starters and leaders from last year's defense. Gone are linebacker Chris Marve, cornerback Casey Hayward, defensive end Tim Fugger and safety Sean Richardson. Marve, Richardson and Hayward were Vandy's top three tacklers last year, while Fugger led the Commodores with eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Hayward is also tied for first in school history with 15 career interceptions. Vandy will also enter spring with a thin offensive line, with only nine healthy bodies to work with up front. With Seymour and White rehabing and Brown suspended, the Commodores likely won't have two full lines to work with. Also, can the Commodores continue to play and practice with the new confidence Franklin instilled in last year's team? That will be key for Vandy because the Commodores will likely receive more attention this spring, so keeping that edge will go a long way.

On the move: Outside linebacker Chase Garnham is expected to move inside and play at Marve's spot at middle linebacker. Josh Grady is moving from quarterback to wide receiver, while Kris Kentera is also moving from the quarterback spot and will work at tight end/H-back this spring.

Key battle: Rodgers had his ups and downs last year as the Commodores' quarterback, but his downs stuck out in Vandy's bowl loss to Cincinnati. He completed 4-of-14 passes and threw an interception in the first half. Now, Rodgers will have a fight on his hands this spring with Carta-Samuels and Robinette. Carta-Samuels proved he has the talent to push Rodgers after some success at Wyoming, while Robinette will certainly benefit from enrolling early. Vanderbilt returns most of its offensive production from last season, including running back Zac Stacy and wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, but the quarterback play has to be more consistent in 2012. Rodgers made the offense go for most of the year, but his struggles held Vandy back at times.

Don't forget about: Vandy has one of the most productive running backs in the SEC from a year ago lining up in its backfield once again. Stacy was third in the league in rushing last season (1,193) and was second with 14 rushing touchdowns. He was Vandy's most consistent offensive player last year and really helped add big-play ability when the Commdores had the ball. Stacy broke Vandy's single-season rushing record in the final game of the regular season when he rushed for 184 yards against Wake Forest. He will enter the season eighth on the school's list in career rushing yards (2,002) and trails career leader Frank Mordica by 630 yards.

Breaking out: The Commodores have a few players who could turn some heads this spring. Sophomore defensive tackle Barron Dixon has a big lower body and is built like your typical SEC defensive tackle. He didn't play much last year, but with holes up front, he'll have a chance to grab a spot this spring. Also, redshirt freshman Derek King has a chance to really compete in Vanderbilt's secondary. He sat out last season, but with Hayward and Richardson gone, he has a shot to earn some playing time. Keep an eye on offensive guard Jake Bernstein because Vandy needs a lot of help on the offensive line and the redshirt freshman will be called upon often this spring.

All eyes on: There will be a lot of attention paid to the quarterback spot this spring. Rodgers is the favorite heading into spring, but he'll really have to show improvement in his composure and his decision-making in order to leave spring as the starter. He's extremely talented and athletic, but he has to get the mental side down in order to develop heading into the 2012 season. The good thing is that Vanderbilt returns enough weapons to help in that department. Also, Norman should get more attention paid his way as well. He was one of Vandy's best offensive and special teams weapons when he was healthy, so making sure he makes improvements in his speed this spring will be key. Adding him back to the offense this fall will be big for the Commodores.

We move to linebackers today in our postseason position rankings.

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

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

And here are our postseason rankings:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

The second time around is always pretty telling.

In keeping with that theme, we take a look at the 10 best true sophomores in the SEC this season.

These are guys who played as true freshmen last season in the league and are now in their second seasons, which eliminates transfers and third-year sophomores who had the benefit of a redshirt season.

Keep in mind that several of the top second-year players in this league suffered injuries earlier this season, forcing them to miss significant playing time and keeping them off this list. Among them: Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree, Tennessee receiver Justin Hunter, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore and Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley.

Here’s what we came up with. The players are listed alphabetically:

Arkansas safety Eric Bennett: After playing cornerback as a true freshman, Bennett has settled in at safety this season for the Hogs. He’s fourth on the team with 53 tackles and is tied for the team lead with three interceptions. As Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said, Bennett has played big in big games.

Auburn running back Michael Dyer: He’s been the centerpiece of the Tigers’ offense all season and is 11 yards away from his second straight 1,000-yard season. Dyer ranks second in the SEC in rushing with 989 yards and leads the league with 186 carries. If he stays healthy, he's going to break a ton of records.

Florida safety Matt Elam: The Gators were frighteningly young in their secondary coming into the season, but Elam has been a stabilizing presence. He’s always been a big hitter and has gotten better in coverage. He’s second on the team with 53 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, and also has two interceptions.

Vanderbilt linebacker Chase Garnham: He’s missed the last two games with an abdominal strain, or his numbers would be even more impressive. Garnham is tied for second on the team with 44 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, and has also forced a fumble. He’s a three-down linebacker who covers in space as well as he plays the run.

Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier: He showed flashes a year ago, but has emerged this season as one of the SEC’s premier big-play defenders. Lemonier is second in the league with 6.5 sacks and also ranks among the league leaders with 10.5 tackles for loss.

Ole Miss linebacker Mike Marry: The Rebels have been decimated by injuries on defense, and even though Marry’s only a sophomore, he’s had to step up and be a leader. He’s also been plenty productive with 69 total tackles, tying him for seventh in the SEC. His 40 solo stops rank him third in the league.

LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu: The Honey Badger has slowed down a little bit since his red-hot start, and there was also the one-game suspension a few weeks ago. But there’s no denying his ability to make plays. He’s tied for the SEC lead with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, two of which he’s turned into touchdowns.

LSU safety Eric Reid: The No.1 Tigers are loaded with talented young players, and Reid is yet another. He’s second on the team with 49 total tackles. His interception last week where he took the ball away from Alabama tight end Michael Williams was the play of the year so far in the SEC.

Tennessee receiver Da’Rick Rogers: It’s hurt him to lose both Bray at quarterback and Hunter on the other side at receiver, but Rogers still leads the league in catches (50) and is tied with two other players for second in the SEC with seven touchdown receptions. He's averaging 15.6 yards per catch.

LSU running back Spencer Ware: The Tigers have a deep backfield stable, but Ware has been the workhorse. His suspension against Auburn may end up costing him a chance at 1,000 yards, but he’s a perfect fit for LSU’s offense with the way he runs with power and the way he punishes defenders.

Here are the players of the week in the SEC:

SEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

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

SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

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

SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

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

SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK

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

SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK

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

SEC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

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

OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES FROM WEEK 4

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

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier might not know the name of Vanderbilt’s defensive coordinator, but the Head Ball Coach has seen enough of the Commodores on tape to know that they’re well-coached.

“I don’t know the guy that well. I think he came from William & Mary, but he’s doing a super job,” Spurrier said.

That guy is Bob Shoop, and he did indeed come from William & Mary.

He also has a defense that’s coming from just about everywhere. At least, it seems that way.

“We want teams to think we’re playing with 13 or 14 guys on defense,” said Vanderbilt junior cornerback Trey Wilson, who has three of the Commodores’ FBS-leading 10 interceptions this season. “You never know where we might come from. We might drop in from the sky.”

One of the reasons Vanderbilt first-year coach James Franklin went and got Shoop from William & Mary was how creative Shoop had been, not to mention how successful he’d been.

Shoop is one of the few guys on Franklin’s staff that he didn’t know that well. But Franklin knew the caliber of ball-hawking defenses Shoop had put on the field in his four seasons at William & Mary when he transformed the Tribe into one of the top-rated defensive clubs in the FCS.

“He had a year where he was a defensive coordinator where they finished No. 1 in almost every single defensive category,” Franklin said. “I don’t care what league you’re in. That’s hard to do.”

Granted, the Commodores have only played one SEC game under Shoop, but the results have been the same as they were during his time at William & Mary.

They lead the SEC with 12 forced turnovers and eight sacks and rank 10^th nationally in total defense, allowing 250 yards per game.

In three games, the Commodores have scored as many touchdowns on defense (three) as they’ve given up on defense.

Shoop, a former head coach at Columbia, is the epitome of the analytical type. He earned his economics degree at Yale and loves crunching numbers.

But he said the secret to Vanderbilt’s success on defense thus far doesn’t boil down to scheme. Rather, it’s how hard the Commodores have played, how smart they’ve played and how opportunistic they’ve been.

“I give credit to the players,” Shoop said. “The players have made the plays when the opportunities have presented themselves. When the ball’s in the air, we’ve attacked it really well. We’ve gone up for it and challenged for it.”

In the very first meeting Shoop had with his players this season, he showed them a 20-play highlight tape of defenses returning interceptions for touchdowns. There were clips on there from his William & Mary days. There were also clips on there from past Super Bowls.

“Turnovers are the great equalizer,” Shoop said. “They can turn a mediocre defense into a good one, a good one into a great one and a great one into a championship one. That’s something we’ve preached and emphasized.”

The players love playing in his system, too.

“We come from all over the place,” said sophomore linebacker Chase Garnham, who's tied for third on the team in total tackles with 13. “I’m sure it’s really tough on the offense, all the different angles we come from. It’s very aggressive, unique and creative. I like it a lot.”

Wilson, part of a secondary that rates right up there with any in the SEC, said Shoop is continually pounding home the importance of doing the little things right.

“That’s what separates the championship defenses,” Wilson said.

As impressive as the Commodores have been through three games, Shoop is well aware that the stakes are about to go up.

It starts this week against South Carolina and the Gamecocks’ twosome of Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery.

Shoop joked that it hit him last Thursday night in watching LSU’s 19-6 victory over Mississippi State on television that he no longer gets to just watch the SEC’s collection of premier athletes from afar.

“I’d always watched the SEC on the Thursday night games as a casual observer, but not actually thinking, ‘Holy crap, I’m playing against these guys,’ ” Shoop quipped. “I watched that game and said, ‘Oh my God, I’m right in the thick of this.’

“I watched those guys play and said, ‘This ain’t William & Mary anymore.’ ”

No, it’s not, but it’s also not the same old Vanderbilt.

The Commodores are talented and active in their defensive front, have one of the most productive inside linebackers in the league in Chris Marve and a secondary that allows Shoops to bring an assortment of pressure. They're also experienced on defense.

The Commodores have a saying on defense before every game.

“We always say three-and-out first series and first-quarter shutout,” Shoop said. “Through three games, that’s where we are. We’re on schedule. We’re not ahead, not behind, but we’re right on schedule.

“Now, we get the meat of the schedule, and we’ve got to get going. All we’ve done is get that first-quarter shutout, and we have to continue to go from there.”

Spring is over with in the SEC and as we head into what will feel like an endless offseason, we figured we wouldn't waste any time looking toward the upcoming season.

Today we start our "Hope and Concern" series where we look at each team and analyze why that team has reason for hope and why it has reason for concern in 2011.

Pretty self-explanatory stuff, right?

We're changing things up this time going in reverse order so we'll start with Vanderbilt:

Biggest reason for hope: Experience and an energetic new coach

The Commodores return 51 letterwinners, including 21 starters. Making things that much sweeter for Vanderbilt is that 15 of those starters are upperclassmen. One of them is senior linebacker Chris Marve, who was a 2010 All-SEC selection. With a new coaching staff in place, having veteran leadership to help guide this team will be key in the fall. Speaking of coaches, new head coach James Franklin brought some much-needed juice with him from Maryland. The Commodores have been to two bowl games in the past 30 years and were 2-10 last season, but Franklin doesn't seem concerned with that. Franklin, who was one of the top recruiters in the ACC during his time with the Terps, embraces his new challenge and has said he plans to do something special at Vanderbilt.

Biggest reason for concern: Inexperience at linebacker and thin offensive line

Marve might be one of the top linebackers in the SEC, but he can't get the job done alone. Vanderbilt must replace outside linebackers John Stokes and Nate Campbell from last season's team. There are six candidates, but they have one start among them. Coming out of spring, it appears as though juniors Tristan Strong and Archibald Barnes and sophomore Chase Garnham are the leading candidates to play with Marve. Offensively, there's some solid speed at the skill positions, but the offensive line is inexperienced. Vanderbilt was never completely healthy along the line this spring and there were a few position changes along the way. If Vanderbilt wants to get the best use out of its playmakers, the offensive line has to mature quickly.

There are holes to be plugged for all teams -- some bigger than others.

In the SEC those holes might seem gigantic until you look at the talent teams are able to reload with, considering the enormous talent pool these schools pick from.

Still, there are shoes to be filled and spring practice is the first step to getting those areas restored.

Here’s a look at some of the shoes that need to be filled and who stepped up this spring:

Alabama
Shoes to fill: QB Greg McElroy
Spring standout: There are actually two guys vying for a shot to replace McElroy. Redshirt sophomore A.J. McCarron is battling freshman Phillip Sims. McCarron entered as the favorite, but Sims hasn’t made it easy. Both totaled more than 200 yards passing and had at least two touchdowns in the most recent scrimmage.

Arkansas
Shoes to fill: QB Ryan Mallett
Spring standout: Tyler Wilson filled in for Mallett during the first half against Auburn last season and finished with 332 yards and four touchdowns. He threw for more than 400 yards in the Hogs’ latest scrimmage, and it doesn’t look like this offense will look much different.

Auburn
Shoes to fill: QB Cam Newton
Spring standout: It’s been a tough spring for Auburn’s quarterbacks. Clint Moseley and Barrett Trotter are splitting reps with the first team, but have had to learn from plenty of their mistakes. Both will have to compete with incoming freshman Kyle Frazier this fall.

Florida
Shoes to fill: S Ahmad Black
Spring standout: Rising sophomore Matt Elam is physically better and has shined at strong safety this spring, but he isn’t the leader Black was. Coach Will Muschamp has challenged the soft-spoken Elam to become that leader.

Georgia
Shoes to fill: WR A.J. Green
Spring standout: Tavarres King has moved over to Green’s flanker spot and he’s done well under the microscope. He caught three passes for 77 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown in Saturday’s scrimmage.

Kentucky
Shoes to fill: WR Randall Cobb
Spring standout: La’Rod King was third on the team in receiving last season, and started off the spring as the go-to-guy for quarterback Morgan Newton. King has been the most consistent receiver for the Wildcats this spring and should draw teams’ top defensive backs.

LSU
Shoes to fill: CB Patrick Peterson
Spring standout: Tyrann Mathieu found ways to get to the ball as a freshman, causing three fumbles, recovering two and recording 50 tackles. And that was all as a backup. He’s been the team’s top corner and has been flying around the field down in Baton Rouge this spring.

Mississippi State
Shoes to fill: DE Pernell McPhee
Spring standout: So far, it’s been tough finding a replacement. No one has set himself apart as rising juniors Trevor Stigers and Shane McCardell are battling for McPhee’s spot. The two combined for 23 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss in 2010.

Ole Miss
Shoes to fill: DT Jerrell Powe
Spring standout: This one has been a battle. Senior Justin Smith and sophomore Corey Gaines have had to fight off redshirt freshmen Bryon Bennett and Carlton Martin. All have spent time with the starters, but the freshmen seem to be making quite the push as spring winds down in Oxford.

South Carolina
Shoes to fill: P/K Spencer Lanning
Spring standout: Like Lanning, senior Jay Wooten can placekick and punt. He’s leading as the Gamecocks’ kicker. He nailed a scrimmage-winning field goal this spring and also appears to be ahead of freshman punter Patrick Fish.

Tennessee
Shoes to fill: S Janzen Jackson (left school for personal reasons)
Spring standout: Prentiss Waggner moved from cornerback to free safety with Jackson gone. Waggner arrived at Tennessee as a free safety. Though he suffered a hand injury last week, Waggner still took reps in practice.

Vanderbilt
Shoes to fill: LB John Stokes
Spring standout: The Commodores are looking to find someone to play alongside All-SEC linebacker Chris Marve who not only has the talent but can be a leader. There are six candidates, but it appears juniors Archibald Barnes and Tristan Strong, along with sophomore Chase Garnham have emerged as the top candidates.