ESPN College Football

Phil Steele has released his 2012 preseason All-SEC teams [PDF], and the first unit is dominated by Alabama and LSU players.

Of the 28 spots on the first team, 12 are occupied by players from Alabama and LSU, and that counts special teams. Alabama placed six players on the first team and LSU five, although Tyrann Mathieu was named as both a cornerback and punt returner.

The Alabama players making the first team were offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, offensive guard Chance Warmack, center Barrett Jones, noseguard Jesse Williams and linebackers C.J. Mosley and Nico Johnson. In addition to Mathieu, the LSU players earning first-team honors were offensive tackle Alex Hurst, defensive end Sam Montgomery, safety Eric Reid and punter Brad Wing.

The biggest surprise to me in looking over Steele's top four teams was that LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo was only third team. Mingo tied for third in the SEC last season with 15 tackles for loss. Also, Florida defensive end Dominique Easley was only fourth team, but Easley did tear his ACL in the last game of the regular season last year. Tennessee's Tyler Bray was not selected among the top four quarterbacks.

Here's a look at the entire first team:

OFFENSE

QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
RB Marcus Lattimore, S. Carolina
RB Knile Davis, Arkansas
WR Ryan Swope, Texas A&M
WR Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee
WR Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn
C Barrett Jones, Alabama
OG Chance Warmack, Alabama
OG Larry Warford, Kentucky
OT D.J. Fluker, Alabama
OT Alex Hurst, LSU

DEFENSE

DE Sam Montgomery, LSU
DT Jesse Williams, Alabama
DT John Jenkins, Georgia
DE Corey Lemonier, Auburn
LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama
LB Nico Johnson, Alabama
LB Sean Porter, Texas A&M
CB Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
CB Johnthan Banks, Mississippi St.
S Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
S Eric Reid, LSU

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Caleb Sturgis, Florida
P Brad Wing, LSU
KR Tre Mason, Auburn
PR Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

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.

ESPN's K.C. Joyner has ranked his top quarterback-receiver tandems in the SEC going into the 2012 season, and his choice for No. 1 is going to surprise a lot of people.

He has Vanderbilt's Jordan Rodgers and Jordan Matthews at the top of his list.

In choosing his top tandems, Joyner used a list of metrics from the 2011 season that detailed such things as how the combo fared in short pass yards per attempt, vertical yards per attempt and overall yards per attempt.

The No. 2 combo on Joyner's list was Georgia's Aaron Murray and Tavarres King, while Tennessee's Tyler Bray and Da'Rick Rogers were No. 3.

There's no doubt that Matthews really blossomed once Rodgers took over the Vanderbilt starting job last season, and the other guy in that Vanderbilt receiving corps to watch is Chris Boyd, who had eight touchdown catches last season. He and Matthews combined for 13 touchdown catches, and Matthews averaged 19 yards per catch.

Consistency will be the key for Vanderbilt in the fall, and that's something that coach James Franklin said was a priority this past spring -- doing all of the things right that it takes to have a potent passing game.

If I were ranking the SEC's top quarterback-receiver tandems, I'd have Arkansas' Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton at the top, and they're one of the tandems Joyner lists among his honorable mention candidates along with South Carolina's Connor Shaw and Ace Sanders.

I'd also have Tennessee No. 2, but I'd have Justin Hunter (as long as he's all the way back from his injury) in there as the Vols' top receiver.

Hunter and Hamilton would be my picks as the SEC's top two receivers going into the 2012 season. Rogers would certainly be in the top 5, and if junior college newcomer Cordarrelle Patterson lives up to his hype, the Vols could have three of the top receivers in the league in 2012.

From billboards to an untimely joy ride, the SEC has seen a lot of change in recent months.

The black Missouri billboards sprinkled around the South, reading “PROUD TO BE SEC: MIZZOU” coupled with those not-so-discrete Texas A&M/SEC TV adds ushered in the arrival of the SEC’s new families. But their exodus from the Big 12 wasn’t the only big change for the league.

The league said goodbye to a load of defensive talent and lost a couple of head coaches -- and even more assistants. Still, for as much change that has been made, it seems the overall results will be the same.

“You have to give the SEC a lot of credit,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “I tell a lot of people that we played in the Big 12, which is a great conference, but they just have more good team in [the SEC]. It’s remarkably competitive.”

LSU, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, four top-10 defenses from a season ago, return relatively intact this fall. Of those four, all but Florida will be involved in national championship discussions to start the season, especially LSU.

On paper, the Tigers might be the most talented team in the country. The defensive line possesses three potential first-rounders and the Honey Badger (Tyrann Mathieu) is still lurking in a secondary stocked with talent and athleticism.

The offense has to be better with Zach Mettenberger taking over at quarterback. He possesses the skill to throw the ball pretty much whenever he’s asked to, so that will be a major upgrade. He’ll also have plenty of weapons with five able running backs to choose from -- including Michael Ford and Spencer Ware who were both ranked in the top 10 in SEC rushing -- and a talented, young receiving group.

The scary thought is that a lot of people around the program think Les Miles might have a better team in 2012.

Georgia has 15 total starters returning, including a potential Heisman candidate in quarterback Aaron Murray, and yet again has a favorable schedule. South Carolina looks like it’s a healthy Marcus Lattimore and a more polished Connor Shaw away from making it back to Atlanta.

While defending national champion Alabama is down a handful of defensive starters from last season, the Crimson Tide can’t be counted out. The defense has more than capable players ready to fill holes. Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley are ready to take over at linebacker, while Jesse Williams and Damion Square will lead up front. The secondary still has veterans Dee Milliner and Robert Lester and welcomes junior college studs Deion Belue and Travell Dixon.

“We’re going to be younger on defense. We don’t have as much experience, but we’ve got some good players,” coach Nick Saban said.

“I was pleased with the progress that we made -- not satisfied with where we need to be.”

Then, there’s Arkansas.

After Bobby Petrino's infamous motorcycle ride, the Razorbacks look to bounce back with an offense capable of pushing Arkansas to an SEC title and beyond. We still don’t know how effective interim coach John L. Smith will be, but he’ll have quarterback Tyler Wilson, running back Knile Davis and receiver Cobi Hamilton at his disposal, and that will make things easier.

With an improved offensive line and some talented, young receivers, Arkansas will score points. Now if only the defense can keep up …

There will no doubt be awkward situations ahead in the SEC. Making flights to Kansas City and Houston will seem wrong. Watching an entertaining coach’s news conference at Arkansas will feel unnatural. And not knowing what to expect from a Saban defense will confuse you.

But with everything that has changed, one thing that should remain is another championship run.

There’s still just too much clicking for the SEC.

2011 overall record: 11-2
2011 conference record: 6-2
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners
QB Tyler Wilson, RB Knile Davis, RB Dennis Johnson, WR Cobi Hamilton, TE Chris Gragg, OG Alvin Bailey, LB Tenarius Wright, LB Alonzo Highsmith, S Eric Bennett, P Dylan Breeding

Key losses
WR Jarius Wright, WR Joe Adams, OT Grant Freeman, DE Jake Bequette, LB Jerry Franklin, LB/S Jerico Nelson, S Tramain Thomas

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Dennis Johnson* (670 yards)
Passing: Tyler Wilson* (3,638 yards)
Receiving: Jarius Wright (1,117 yards)
Tackles: Jerry Franklin (101)
Sacks: Jake Bequette (10)
Interceptions: Tramain Thomas (5)

Spring answers

1. Wilson’s Air Show: After throwing for more than 3,600 yards in his first season as a starter a year ago, Tyler Wilson is back for more and looked better than ever in the spring. He’s been through the league gauntlet once now and will have experience on his side. When he gets hot, there are few quarterbacks any better in the college game, and he should be even more consistent as a senior. Wilson can beat you from the pocket, but he’s also capable of moving around and making plays. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, either. In 438 passing attempts last season, he only threw six interceptions.

2. Seniors take charge: One of the most comforting things for everybody in Arkansas this spring following Bobby Petrino’s ouster was the way the leaders on the team rose to the occasion and took charge. Knile Davis, Tenarius Wright and Wilson made sure the focus remained on the field and reminded their teammates, quite pointedly, that none of their goals had changed. It’s that kind of senior leadership the Hogs are going to need in the fall when it starts for real in the SEC.

3. New playmakers: Jarius Wright and Joe Adams combined to score 20 touchdowns last season for the Hogs, so they will definitely be missed. But there wasn’t any shortage of newer faces making big plays this spring. Sophomore Marquel Wade looks like he’s ready to move into Adams’ role as a return specialist and a guy who makes plays after the catch in the passing game. Wade's status could be iffy, though. He was arrested this past weekend and charged with burglarizing dorm rooms along with two other players. Wade has been indefinitely suspended. Senior tight end Chris Gragg might not be new to the Arkansas fans, but he’s another player who’s poised for a big season. He’s a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.

Fall questions

1. Petrino fallout: The players have said all of the right things, and the hiring of John L. Smith was exactly what the players and assistant coaches on this team wanted. They didn’t want to bring in an outsider after Petrino’s firing and have to start all over this summer. Even so, the Hogs still have a huge mountain to climb emotionally and mentally, especially when things get tough, as they seek to navigate their way through the 2012 season without the guy who got them to this point (Petrino) on the sideline.

2. Stopping the inside run: Arkansas finished ninth in the SEC in rushing defense last season, and stopping the power running teams right up the chute was a struggle the whole way. New defensive coordinator Paul Haynes has installed his system, and the Hogs have also moved some people around, most notably Wright going from defensive end to inside linebacker. Linebacker Alonzo Highsmith missed this spring while recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. The Hogs need him to be healthy in the fall, and they also need their interior guys up front to step it up against the run.

3. Breaking through: Nobody in the Ozarks needs to be reminded that the Hogs are just 1-5 against Alabama and LSU the past three seasons. They get both the Crimson Tide and Tigers in Fayetteville in 2012 and are going to need at least a split to have a chance to break through and get to the SEC championship game. Arkansas had Alabama on the ropes two years ago in Fayetteville, but couldn’t finish the job.

You ask for people to write into the mailbag and there's no hint of hesitation.

The mailbag is back this week and we were bombarded with questions. The pages went on for a while, so I'm sorry if I couldn't get to all of them. Keep them coming, though, because there's always next week.

Let's get to this week's questions:

Ethan in Cullman, Ala., writes: With the recent dominance of Alabama and Coach Saban do you see Auburn and Chizik really being relevant nationally? I realize they have recruited fairly well but I think we all know without Cameron Newton the 2010 Auburn Team was a 6-7 7-5 football team and in all honesty I don't see them improving their win-losses as long as Gene Chizik is the head coach. Take away the 14-0 season and Chizik has a total record of 21-29 as a collegiate head coach. Lets just be honest in the world of college football everything runs through Tuscaloosa, Alabama and I don't see that changing anytime soon. RTR (:

Edward Aschoff: Man, Auburn fans will love you now. I'm sure the Christmas cards are being written as we speak. While I don't see Auburn surpassing Alabama this season, or really next season, I don't think Auburn is going to fall off the map without Newton. Like you wrote, Chizik has recruited well and the team he has now is pretty young. It's going to take more time for this team to crawl back up the SEC standings, but I don't think it's going to take years and years. Auburn has the young talent to challenge some teams in the West this year. Yes, even Alabama. I'm one of the few still on the Auburn bandwagon. I see improvement on the offensive line, quarterback Kiehl Frazier really came along stronger this spring with Scot Loeffler's help and the defense can only get better after a lousy 2011 showing. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Auburn made more news nationally in 2013.

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Jmathews in Weslaco, Texas, writes: Do you think Kevin Sumlin is going to surprise some teams this year with his offensive plan?

Edward Aschoff: It's a little unorthodox by SEC standards, for sure, but I'm not sure if SEC defenses will be confused by that air game. Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have to run the ball more in order to catch some defenses off guard. I know that flashy passing game was fun at Houston, but you have to run the ball to survive in the SEC. Balance will be key because we all know that Sumlin is going to want to throw the ball as much as he can. I don't think we'll truly see what all Sumlin wants to do because he's working with such young quarterbacks. That will restrict a lot of it and could make Christine Michael that much more important at running back. Once Sumlin has the right pieces in place then you'll see some offenses have to plan differently. For now, I think it's a work in progress.

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Jimmy in Pikeville, Ky., writes: Do you believe that Joker Phillips will be able to get the Kentucky Wildcats back to a bowl game this season?

Edward Aschoff: Phillips thinks he's found more offensive playmakers this spring, with youngsters such as Demarco Robinson, Daryl Collins and Ronnie Shields stepping up, and that's huge for the Wildcats. They didn't have many at all last year and that was a main reason Kentucky's offense was so bad. But we still need to see what those players can do against SEC competition in October. And a consistent quarterback has to step up. Maxwell Smith has the lead, but the race isn't over. The schedule is going to be tough for the Wildcats, as well. I think Kentucky needs to sweep nonconference play to ensure a bowl birth. That means beating Louisville to start the season. The Louisville loss was a big one for the Cats last year and right now, Louisville is still a better team. Getting those four nonconference wins will go a long way for Kentucky.

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Reed in Beijing, China, writes: Ex-pat hog fan here in Beijing. I wanted to get your opinion on how Arkansas will split carries between Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Dennis Johnson this year. Also, who besides Cobi Hamilton do you think will step up to fill the void at receiver?

Edward Aschoff: If Davis is healthy, he'll get the majority of the carries. I don't think there's any debate there. He is in another league compared to the other backs. After that, I think Arkansas goes Johnson then Wingo. Johnson came on during the second half of the season, while Wingo was inconsistent in my opinion. As for receiver, I think Marquel Wade could have a big year, along with tight end Chris Gragg. Wade is a very good athlete and the coaches loved what he did in practice last year. He's someone who has that dynamic feel in the offense and can make big plays. Gragg is big, athletic and tough. Tyler Wilson will key in on him a bunch this fall. He's probably the top returning tight end in the league.

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Ryan in Anaheim, Calif., writes: Is it safe to say that Vanderbilt will have one of the best offenses in the SEC this year? Returning Rodgers, Stacy, Matthews, and Boyd, while also getting Norman back and explosive freshman in Kimbrow. The only weakness I see is the O-line which will be inexperienced, but will that hold them back that much?

Edward Aschoff: That line barely got through spring practice, so it's a problem. Injuries and numbers really hurt the line. The good news is that six true freshmen will be on campus this summer. The bad news is that they are true freshmen. Jordan Rodgers still has to be more comfortable in the pocket. He can be really sporadic at times and coach James Franklin knows it. If he can't improve on the mental side, this offense will struggle. Brian Kimbrow is someone who can be used all over the field, so that will really benefit this offense. The other playmakers you mentioned are solid, no question, but there are some good offenses to battle near the top, such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

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Kyle in Gainesville, Fla., writes: The Gators haven't had many people drafted in the past two years, but next year will be much better. Who do you think could be drafted in the top 2 rounds next year? Bostic, Jenkins, Powell, Easley, Floyd, Elam, Nixon, Debose, and Reed are all guys I think can if they have a big year.

Edward Aschoff: Well, if Ronald Powell doesn't come back from his knee injury don't count on him heading to the draft. NFL scouts love Dominique Easley's potential. He's so strong and athletic and just pounds his way through offensive lines. He did suffer that knee injury, so his health will be monitored closely. Elam will compete to be the top safety in the SEC, but his name hasn't been thrown out as much as someone like Eric Reid. Jelani Jenkins is someone scouts like because of his speed and strength. He isn't the biggest linebacker, but he's extremely smart and that will help him a lot. Jon Bostic is getting some attention and a big year will boost his stock for sure. Xavier Nixon has to improve on a bad 2011 and Andre Debose and Jordan Reed have to be more consistent. Of all of them, I think Easley and Jenkins are Florida's top pro prospects.

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Brad in Longview, Texas, writes: If you could take one player from the SEC, outside of a QB, who would it be?

Edward Aschoff: Last year, the answer was easy: Trent Richardson. This year, it's a little more difficult. I don't think I'd go with another offensive player, so I'm going to go with Georgia's Jarvis Jones. He was one of the best players in the nation last year and was the SEC's top defensive player, after getting 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He's a superb athlete, has tremendous speed and has a relentless attitude. He's also a great leader. He commands respect in the locker room and on the field. It's hard to find a better linebacker out there.

On Wednesday, ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper released his first 2013 draft Big Board, which lists his top 25 players heading in to next year's draft.

Today, we're taking a look at some of the players who just missed his board . Kiper broke it down by juniors and seniors and there are a few SEC players lurking around, especially when it comes to juniors.

SENIORS

Cobi Hamilton, WR, Arkansas: "Hamilton has what [Jarius] Wright and [Joe] Adams lacked -- elite size for the position."

• With Hamilton's speed and playmaking ability, something tells me he'll be in there when all is said and done. Hamilton might have been overlooked at times nationally by his teammates, but he'll be front and center this fall.

One question: Where in the world is Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones? He was the Outland Trophy winner last year and is easily the league's top returning offensive lineman. He's versatile enough to play a few positions at the next level and might end up at center. He might not be as physically gifted as some of the other linemen on Kiper's list, but it's hard for me to see him not going in the first two rounds next year.

Keep an eye one: Texas A&M running back Christine Michael. Though he tore his ACL last year, Michael should be back and healthy this fall for the Aggies. Michael led the Aggies in rushing before his injury, registering 899 yards (6 yards per carry) and scoring eight touchdowns. A good year in the SEC could propel him into or near the first round.

JUNIORS

Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee: "Bray has continued to improve his accuracy and is the definition of a developing, high-ceiling QB prospect."

• There will be a lot of debate around here about if he or Arkansas' Tyler Wilson is a better pro prospect. Both have big arms and can be very accurate. But Wilson has a more intangibles on the mental side for now. Let's let 2012 decide this one for us.

Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas: "An injury derailed his 2011 season, but Davis should come back explosive and could push his way into the discussion as the top running back in the draft."

• Davis will compete with South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore as the SEC's top back, and maybe as the country's top back this fall. Both are great when healthy, but pro scouts are concerned about Davis' two injuries to the same ankle. A solid, injury-free year should help ease that worry.

Bennie Logan, DT, LSU: "Really brilliant when it comes to using his hands to shed. I can see him as a 3-tech at the next level if he plays at this size."

• Logan is another player who was overlooked at times because of those around him. He registered 57 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and three sacks, last year, and defensive coordinator John Chavis thinks he's ready to really break out this fall.

Eric Reid, S, LSU: "He is quietly the best player in the LSU secondary, and he'll get a lot of opportunities on errant passes if the LSU pass rush is as good as it looks on paper."

• Reid was best known for his tremendous, game-changing interception he made in the first Alabama game last year, but he did so much more for that LSU defense. He can play all over the field and makes it so difficult for quarterbacks to throw deep on the Tigers when he's in center field.

Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU: "The knack for big plays is clear, but Mathieu must overcome questions about his size and develop his cover skills."

• He might have been the most exciting player to watch last season and he has an amazing ability for finding the ball, but he is undersized at the next level. Playing with a chip on his shoulder is nothing new for Mathieu and I'm sure the size knocks will be in the back of his head all fall.

Keep an eye on: Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter. Yes, Da'Rick Rogers had a much better year in 2011, but if Hunter doesn't suffer that knee injury against Florida, I think we have a much different story. He's a physical freak and has tremendous speed. A good year from him could send him bolting to the NFL.

Also: Look out for Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley. Pro scouts really like his athleticism and his tremendous ability to break through opposing lines. If he didn't hurt his knee against Florida State, he'd be getting a lot more attention this spring. If he comes back healthy and is as dominant as scouts think he can be, he'll make Kiper's list.

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 continues with wide receivers.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back

The SEC returns five of the top 10 statistical wideouts from a year ago. Top statistical receiver Jarius Wright has departed, but the No. 2 receiver in the SEC is back, which means he'll have a chance to claim the crown as the league's top wideout in 2012.

Here is the conference's top returning producer at receiver:

Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee: While Rogers dealt with some issues last season that didn't pertain to football, he was still one of the best receiving threats in the SEC. He lead the league with 67 catches and was second with 1,040 receiving yards. He was also second in the conference with nine receiving touchdowns. Rogers finished the season averaging 15.5 yards per catch and hauled in six 100-yard receiving games, including having three in Tennessee's last four games. When he's totally invested, Rogers is a handful for defenders to stop. He's not only fast and can break away from defenders in a hurry but with his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame, he's a much bigger load for defensive backs to handle.

The SEC returns four more of the top 10 statistical receivers from a year ago:

• Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt: He caught 41 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns, and averaged 19 yards per catch.
• Tavarres King, Georgia: He caught 47 passes for 705 yards and eight touchdowns, and averaged 15 yards per catch.
• Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia: He caught 45 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns, and averaged 14.8 yards per catch.
• Emory Blake, Auburn: He caught 36 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, and averaged 17 yards per catch.

Rogers will have his hands full trying to take the title of the SEC's best receiver, and it'll start in his own backyard, as big-time deep threat Justin Hunter is back from his ACL injury. Hunter might be the most gifted receiver in the league and he's showed in the past that it's hard to find a better deep threat with the speed and length he possesses. Quarterback Tyler Bray is no doubt salivating at the thought having both of these guys completely healthy for the fall.

Arkansas might have lost three NFL receivers from last year, but don't forget about Cobi Hamilton. Though he's been overshadowed at times, the senior-to-be has 85 career catches for 1,519 yards and 13 scores. He's fast and physical and with Tyler Wilson throwing the ball, he'll have plenty of chances to make a strong run as the league's best.

Odell Beckham at LSU came on strong as a true freshman last season, catching 41 passes for 475 yards and two touchdowns, and now that Rueben Randle is gone, Beckham should be LSU's top receiving target this fall. Florida's Andre Debose has yet to have a complete season at receiver, but he's the Gators best deep threat. If he can finally focus in a little more, he'll get more touches. Kentucky's La'Rod King was 11th in the league in receiving last year, and that was with major issues at the quarterback spot. A more settled QB situation in Lexington should help him move up the receiving chart.

As for some newcomers, Ryan Swope at Texas A&M is the first name you have to consider. He was third in the Big 12 in receiving, catching 89 passes for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns. He could have easily left for the NFL after last season. At Missouri, T.J. Moe returns as the Tigers' top receiver, but deep threat Marcus Lucas and incoming freshman Dorial Green-Beckham could also do some damage this fall. Lucas is a guy the coaches can't wait to let loose, but if Green-Beckham is as good as the coaches hope, he could be an instant star.

A record 45,250 showed up to watch Arkansas' Red team defeat the White 65-0 in Saturday's Red-White Spring Game in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Coaching controversy didn't stop Arkansas fans coming out in full force, and it didn't stop the Razorbacks from being focused or putting on quite the offensive show.

Quarterback Tyler Wilson didn't hold back at all, as he completed 31 of 41 passes for 467 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his touchdowns went to tight end Chris Gragg. One was for a 6-yard score early in the first quarter, while the second was a 60-yard score that came with 19 seconds left in the first quarter. Gragg finished the game with nine catches for 130 yards.

Wilson's top receiving target was rising senior Cobi Hamilton, who ended the day with 11 catches for 156 yards. Marquel Wade was third on the Red team in receiving, catching six passes for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Knile Davis was held out of the game, giving Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Dennis Johnson the limelight. Wingo had a game-high 88 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries, while Johnson carried the ball 12 times for 71 yards and another score.

As for the White team, Brandon Mitchell led the way with 72 passing yards on 8 of 13 passing. He also took snaps with the Red team, passing for 30 yards and a 15-yard touchdown to Wade early in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Keante Minor led the White team with 53 yards on six receptions.

Defensively, White team linebacker Robert Atiga recorded a game-high 12 tackles. Teammates Houston Pruitt and Alan Turner both finished with 11 tackles. Defensive ends Trey Flowers and Chris Smith each registered two sacks for the Red team. Cornerback Kaelon Kelleybrew led the Red team with five tackles and also grabbed the only interception in the game, which he returned for 44 yards.

For more on Arkansas' spring game go to the school's official website.

While there were six SEC spring games this weekend, six other teams also took part in scrimmages over the the weekend:

ARKANSAS

Quarterback Tyler Wilson had yet another big scrimmage for the Razorbacks. Wilson completed 39 of 49 passes for 448 yards and three touchdowns during Friday's scrimmage. Wilson completed 20 consecutive passes at one point.

Wilson has yet to throw an interception in Arkansas' three spring scrimmages. He led the offense on scores on seven of the offense's 11 possessions Friday.

The good news for Wilson is that his production has come against the first-team defense. The bad news for Arkansas is that his production has come against the first-team defense. But maybe Wilson is just playing that well this spring.

Wide receiver Marquel Wade led Arkansas with nine receptions for 98 yards, while tight end Chris Gragg caught eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown on Friday. Receiver Javontee Herndon added five receptions for 73 yards and two scores.

Defensive tackle Robert Thomas led the defense with four sacks, while defensive end Austin Flynn added three sacks.

Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, linebacker Tenarius Wright and tight end Austin Tate all sustained injuries Friday, but coaches didn't feel they were serious.

Check out more from Arkansas' scrimmage here and here.

KENTUCKY

The Wildcats took part in a very spirited scrimmage Saturday. It was one that left coach Joker Phillips proud of both the offense and defense.

The 90-minute scrimmage featured the first-, second- and third-team offense and defense. The offense started things well, with quarterback Maxwell Smith leading a 70-yard drive on 13 plays. He capped the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver La'Rod King.

Smith finished the scrimmage completing 25-of-38 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns. King also led the offense in receiving with seven catches for 76 yards and two scores.

Kentucky's defense stepped up considerably after that, allowing just one touchdown and a field goal on the next 10 possessions, including seven three-and-outs.

You can find more info on Kentucky's scrimmage here.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Despite a fast start by the offense, the defense won Mississippi State's scrimmage Friday after forcing five turnovers late.

The first- and second-team defense held the offenses to four touchdowns and a field goal on 27 possessions. They also registered seven sacks and four interceptions.

After quarterback Tyler Russell led touchdown drives of 75 and 80 yards on the offense's first two possessions, the defense stepped up, forcing a few three-and-outs for the first- and second-team offense.

Russell had an impressive outing inside Davis Wade Stadium, passing for 310 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Wide receiver Joe Morrow had arguably the play of the day when he caught an 83-yard touchdown pass. He sprinted 50-plus yards to the house after spinning off of cornerback Corey Broomfield about 30 yards up field. Morrow finished with 103 receiving yards, while tight ends Malcolm Johnson and Brandon Hill registered 110 and 75 receiving yards, respectively.

The player of the day might have been senior cornerback Darius Slay, who intercepted three passes.

Head coach Dan Mullen missed the practice after the birth of his daughter Friday.

For more on Mississippi State's scrimmage, check here and here.

OLE MISS

It was an air affair in Oxford, as Ole Miss quarterbacks combined for eight touchdowns in the Rebels' Saturday scrimmage.

Barry Brunetti finished the day with 119 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed seven times for 41 yards and two more scores.

But he didn't do much to separate himself from junior college transfer Bo Wallace, who threw for 113 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball five times for 32 yards and another score.

However, both had their hiccups, as Wallace completed less than 45 percent of his passes and Brunetti threw two interceptions. Coach Huge Freeze told reporters after the scrimmage that he had mixed emotions about both, but felt Wallace played a little better Saturday.

"Standing out there it's real clear to me our quarterbacks, our personnel, we don't quite understand the game," Freeze said. "Third-and-2 we don't know those things. We have very little awareness of those at times. We get in second-and-5s and we get negative plays because we try to do more than we can do. Then it puts you in third-and-8, instead of just keeping it third-and-5. There's so many things that we have to understand."

Brunetti threw two 20-yard touchdowns, one to wide receiver Ja-Mes Logan and one to receiver Vince Sanders. Logan also caught two touchdown passes from Wallace, who also hit receiver Terrell Grant for another score.

For more on Ole Miss' scrimmage, you can go here and here.

TENNESSEE

Justin Hunter picked up right where he left off the last time he played inside Neyland Stadium.

After missing most of last season with an ACL injury, Hunter caught three passes for 70 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass in his return to Neyland.

Quarterback Tyler Bray completed his first seven passes of the day and finished with 180 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-23 passing.

While Hunter had a solid outing, sophomore wide receiver Jacob Carter was the top receiver of the day, catching four passes for 102 yards.

Marlin Lane, who has improved a lot this spring, had the big day that he needed with his 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Defensively, the Vols got sacks from defensive linemen Jordan Williams, Willie Bohannon and Steven Fowlkes. Defensive backs Justin Coleman, Izauea Lanier and Rod Wilks added six tackles.

For more on Tennessee's scrimmage, go here.

TEXAS A&M

As the quarterback race continues in College Station, redshirt sophomore Jameill Showers stood out in Texas A&M's scrimmage over the weekend. He threw for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception, but only after it was dropped by a receiver.

Showers played in seven series with both the first- and second-team offense.

Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel split snaps with Showers, throwing for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns as well, but he threw two interceptions, with one that was returned for a touchdown by junior defensive back Toney Hurd Jr.

None of the offenses' possessions reached double digits in plays. Turnovers, sloppy play and penalties hurt the offense in the Aggies' first open scrimmage of the spring.

"We just have to be more consistent in our play on both sides of the football, and that's why we're here," coach Kevin Sumlin said. "For the quarterbacks to go operate the way they did, checking plays and moving around, it's encouraging. It gives us a real starting point."

Sophomore linebacker Donnie Baggs, junior linebacker Charlie Thomas, junior linebacker Domonique Patterson and senior linebacker Jonathan Stewart all registered sacks in the scrimmage.

For more on the Texas A&M's scrimmage, go here and here.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As a former star pitcher in his hometown of Greenwood, Ark., Tyler Wilson understands the importance of finishing what you started.

His sport of choice these days is football, and Wilson is more determined than ever to make his final season as Arkansas’ quarterback one they’ll remember in the Ozarks for a long time to come.

It’s not a season that will be measured in touchdown passes or passing yards, either.

It’s a season that will be measured in wins, and more precisely, in whether the Hogs can finally get over the hump in the Western Division and play for an SEC championship.

That quest begins in earnest on Wednesday, when Arkansas opens spring practice, and Wilson says with conviction that unfinished business is the primary reason he’s back for his senior season.

“This run the last couple of years where we’ve given our fans a lot to cheer about excites me,” said Wilson, who led the SEC with 3,638 passing yards last season. “But I’m even more excited to finish it up strong and leave my stamp on the program and get it to where it needs to be and where it needs to stay going forward into the future.”

Wilson sought feedback from the NFL draft advisory committee following last season and seriously considered turning pro. Some analysts have said that he could have gone in the second or third round.

“There definitely was some contemplation, probably more so than I ever thought there would be,” Wilson said. “But we have a great team, and I think, the right chemistry, to go beyond even what we did last year. That’s what I kept coming back to when I was making my decision.”

Wilson, in his first year as the starter last season, became the first Arkansas quarterback to earn first-team All-SEC honors. He led the league in passing yards, total offense, passing efficiency and completions.

What’s more, he did it without star running back Knile Davis, who missed the entire season after fracturing his ankle in the preseason.

Davis is scheduled to return for the 2012 season, and if healthy, will no doubt put a charge back into the Hogs’ running game.

Wilson is losing three of his top receivers, including a pair of All-SEC selections in Jarius Wright and Joe Adams.

But senior receiver Cobi Hamilton is back along with senior tight end Chris Gragg, and Wilson warned not to sleep on some of the Hogs’ other receivers who simply haven’t had much of a chance to play the past couple of years because they were behind Greg Childs, Wright and Adams.

“People mention the young guys, but some of these guys have been around,” Wilson said. “It’s just that they’re stepping into bigger roles now and have been there behind Joe Adams and Jarius Wright and Greg Childs and are super talented as well and finally getting their opportunity.

“It’s their time now, and I’m excited about what I’ve seen. There’s always a curve there when you go from being a backup to a starter, but they’re ready to make their mark. You have Marquel Wade, Javontee Herndon and Julian Horton. They’re all big-time players. It just goes down the line. There are a lot of players who’ve been overshadowed, and I’m extremely exited to get them the ball and let them make plays for us.”

Wilson already owns nine school records. He and his predecessor, Ryan Mallett, are the only two Arkansas quarterbacks in school history to put together 3,000-yard passing seasons.

Not only that, but in 2011 Wilson led the Hogs to their first 11-win season since 1977, and they finished No. 5 in the polls.

The resurgence of the program under Bobby Petrino has electrified the entire state.

Nonetheless, the Hogs haven’t been able to break through and play in the SEC championship game and are just 1-5 against Alabama and LSU the past three seasons.

“Coach Petrino has used the term a number of times, but you just have to keep beating on the door, and one day, that door’s going to fall in,” Wilson said. “That’s the attitude I’ve taken and one our team needs to adopt.

“We just have to be there year in and year out establishing ourselves, and we’ll get the respect we need. Obviously, we have to win the big games, and once we do that, we’ll be where we need to be. I think we’re really close.”

Wilson is also quick to note that Arkansas gets both Alabama and LSU in Fayetteville in 2012.

“That’s another positive and sets us up on the path to be where we want to be at the end of the year,” he said.

Having been exposed to just about every defensive look imaginable in his first season as the starter, Wilson wants to use this offseason to become an even better student of the game.

In his mind, that’s where he can best help his team and go from an All-SEC quarterback to a quarterback who leads his team to a championship.

“You’re a year ahead of where you were last year and there are a lot of things you understand, but there’s a constant learning curve for any quarterback,” said Wilson, who threw just six interceptions in 438 passing attempts last season.

“My ability to execute the running game increased tremendously in the month that I had to prepare for the bowl game. If I can expand on that knowledge in the run game and on how to get our offense in a better position as far as the looks the defense is giving us and get us into a positive play when a negative play is called ... that’s the next step for me.

“We’ve got to eliminate the negative plays on first and second down, and a lot of that is on the quarterback and making sure we’re running the right plays against the right looks.”

There's a new go-to receiver at Arkansas, and it's somebody who's already left his mark.

Rising senior Cobi Hamilton steps into that role and does so after catching a career-high 34 passes last season for 542 yards and four touchdowns. He's always been a big-play guy, but sometimes got lost in the shadows of Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs.

That record-setting threesome is now gone, though, which means Hamilton will command even more attention from opposing defenses next season.

He has 85 receptions for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career and ranks ninth all-time at Arkansas with four career 100-yard receiving games, 11th in school history in receptions and 15th all-time at Arkansas in career receiving yards. He enters the 2012 season with a streak of 22 consecutive games with at least one reception.

Hamilton ranked fifth in the SEC last season by averaging 15.9 yards per reception.

He's raring to go for what comes next and talks about his role as the senior leader of the Hogs' receivers in this video previewing the Hogs' spring practice, which starts March 14.

After a drama-filled, late signing day for ESPNU 150 athlete Davonte Neal (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral), the nation's No. 8 prospect finally made a decision.

He picked Notre Dame over Arizona, Arkansas and North Carolina, ending what had turned into quite the spectacle.

Now that Neal's recruitment is officially over, Arkansas' coaching staff can officially put the 2012 recruiting class to bed. And while Neal would have been a tremendous addition to the Razorbacks' class, it's not the end of the world that Arkansas didn't land him. In fact, missing out on both Neal and top receiver Dorial Green-Beckham won't set Bobby Petrino's team back.

Also, after the "show" that Neal put on with his recruitment, there are definitely questions about his mindset. We don't know every single detail concerning his recruitment, but from what I know about Petrino's offense, a me-first attitude doesn't work within a scheme that tries to spread the ball around as much as possible.

Arkansas lost three future NFL draft picks in Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright, but returns a handful of receiving targets in 2012. Two of those returning -- tight end Chris Gragg and receiver Cobi Hamilton -- ranked third and fourth, respectively, in receiving for the Hogs.

Hamilton, who will probably see his name near the top of the list of returning SEC receivers this fall, caught 34 passes for 542 yards and was second on the team with four touchdowns. Gragg, one of the top returning tight ends in the league, caught 41 passes for 518 yards and two scores.

That's a good foundation, but it doesn't end there for the Hogs. Arkansas' deep receiving corps hasn't accumulated a ton of stats, but that's because these players haven't had much of a chance with those vets in front of them. They've shown that to the coaches in practice, but haven't had the chance to do it for the public.

One of those players expected to make a big leap in 2012 is rising sophomore Marquel Wade. He only caught eight passes last fall, but the coaches are expecting big things from him in Year 2. Wade has big play ability, is shifty and the coaches think he resembles Adams in his movements and returning ability. He should receive a lot more attention from quarterback Tyler Wilson and opposing defenders. However, with his speed and elusiveness, he should be able to make a play or two next fall.

Juniors-to-be Javontee Herndon and Julian Horton, who combined for 17 catches in 2011, are also back and from what the coaches have seen in practice, they expect them to step right in this fall.

Also, keep an eye out on incoming juco transfer receiver Demetrius Wilson and freshman tight end Demetrius Dean. Wilson should certainly get a chance to compete early because coaches don't exactly bring in juco players to sit and watch. Dean (6-foot- 3, 240 pounds) could come in and line up opposite Gragg and has the ability to split out wide if needed.

Striking out with both Neal and DGB wasn't exactly part of Petrino's recruiting plan, but his teams have led the SEC in passing the past three years for a reason, so don't expect him to pout too much about losing these two.

Mel Kiper, ESPN's NFL draft expert, has compiled his list of the top 5 players by position of the returning seniors in college football for the 2012 season.

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

TOP RETURNING SENIORS BY POSITION

• Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, No. 3 quarterback
• Arkansas' Knile Davis, No. 2 running back
• Arkansas' Cobi Hamilton, No. 4 wide receiver
• Arkansas' Chris Gragg, No. 1 tight end
• Alabama's Michael Williams, No. 2 tight end
• LSU's Alex Hurst, No. 3 offensive tackle
• Tennessee's Dallas Thomas, No. 4 offensive tackle
• Alabama's Barrett Jones, No. 1 offensive guard
• Kentucky's Larry Warford, No. 2 offensive guard
• Alabama's Chance Warmack, No. 3 offensive guard
• Georgia's Abry Jones, No. 4 defensive end
• South Carolina's Devin Taylor, No. 5 defensive end
• Alabama's Jesse Williams, No. 2 defensive tackle
• Georgia's John Jenkins, No. 3 defensive tackle
• Texas A&M's Sean Porter, No. 4 outside linebacker
• Missouri's Zaviar Gooden, No. 5 outside linebacker
• Mississippi State's Johnthan Banks, No. 1 cornerback
• Georgia's Sanders Commings, No. 5 cornerback
• Georgia's Bacarri Rambo, No. 2 safety
• Alabama's Robert Lester, No. 4 safety
• Florida's Caleb Sturgis, No. 2 kicker
• Ole Miss' Tyler Campbell, No. 4 punter

Thoughts: Look at the returning firepower for Arkansas on offense. The Hogs have a player in the top 5 at quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end. Gragg has a chance to be one of the breakout players in the league next season. He was third on Arkansas' team this past season with 41 catches. Barrett Jones is Kiper's No. 1-rated senior prospect at guard, but could end up playing center for the Crimson Tide next season. Jones has already earned All-SEC honors at both tackle and guard and was the Outland Trophy winner in 2011. Banks thought about turning pro this year, but made a good decision in returning to Mississippi State. He has a chance to be one of the top cornerbacks in the country next season. Even though Alabama is losing a lot of talent from its 2011 national championship team, the Crimson Tide still lead the way in the SEC with five players on Kiper's list. Arkansas and Georgia are next with four apiece.