ESPN College Football

The SEC's 63 NFL draft selections was a record for any league and blew away every other conference this year.

The next closest was the ACC with 31 draft picks. In fact, the SEC's East produced 32 draft picks and the SEC West 31. The old record for the most draft picks for one conference was 55, set by the Pac-10 in 1983.

The SEC had 32 players selected in the top three rounds. That compares to 16 a year ago. The next closest conference in the top three rounds was the ACC with 12 players selected.

The only school in the SEC that didn't have a player taken in this year's draft was Ole Miss.

Alabama and LSU tied for the most draft picks this year in the SEC. Each had nine. Florida State was tops in the country with 11.

Here's the rundown by SEC team:

• Alabama: 9
• LSU: 9
• Florida: 8
• Georgia: 8
• South Carolina: 7
• Texas A&M: 5
• Arkansas: 4
• Tennessee: 4
• Mississippi State: 3
• Missouri: 2
• Vanderbilt: 2
• Auburn: 1
• Kentucky: 1

And here's a link to the round-by-round listing of all 63 SEC players drafted.

It’s always revealing to go back and see where the top NFL draft picks from the SEC were ranked coming out of high school.

Of the 12 SEC players drafted in Thursday's first round, nine were selected as ESPN 150 prospects. And of those nine, six were ranked among the top 60 prospects nationally when they were going through the recruiting process in high school.

That’s not a shabby percentage by the ESPN recruiting folks.

Last year, six of the nine SEC players going in the first round were unranked nationally by ESPN coming out of high school. So it's never an exact science.

The highest-ranked player this year taken in the first round was Florida safety Matt Elam, who was the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2010 class and the No. 2 athlete. That same year, Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner was the No. 16 overall prospect and the No. 2 cornerback, while Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd was No. 25 overall and the No. 3 defensive tackle.

The lowest-ranked of the SEC’s 12 first-rounders this year was Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, but his issues were academic-related.

Alabama offensive guard Chance Warmack also flew under the radar coming out of high school. He wasn’t even ranked among the top 30 prospects in the state of Georgia by ESPN, and said the home-state Bulldogs didn't offer him a scholarship.

Here’s a breakdown of all 12 SEC players taken in the first round, including their national rank by ESPN coming out of high school, their position rank, other players ranked ahead of them, their grade and where they’re from:

Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (No. 2 to the Jaguars): No. 83 overall in class of 2010, No. 6 offensive tackle. Three of the tackles ranked ahead of Joeckel signed with SEC schools -- No. 2 Ja’Wuan James (Tennessee), No. 3 Ian Silbermann (Florida) and No. 4 Chaz Green (Florida). Grade 81. Arlington, Texas

Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU (No. 6 to the Browns): Unranked nationally in class of 2009, No. 34 outside linebacker. Among the outside linebackers signing with SEC schools that were ranked ahead of Mingo that year were Chase Vasser (Georgia), Greg King (Tennessee), Chaun Gresham (South Carolina), Nigel Mitchell-Thornton (Tennessee), Jerod Askew (Tennessee), Dexter Moody (Georgia) and Tana Patrick (Alabama). Grade 78. West Monroe, La.

Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama (No. 9 to the Jets): No. 16 overall in class of 2010. No. 2 cornerback. The only cornerback ranked ahead of him nationally that year was Lamarcus Joyner, who signed with Florida State. Grade 84. Millbrook, Ala.

Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama (No. 10 to the Titans): Unranked nationally in class of 2009. No. 16 offensive guard. No. 35 in the state of Georgia. Eighteen other players who signed with SEC schools that year from the state of Georgia were ranked ahead of Warmack. Grade 79. Atlanta.

D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (No. 11 to the Chargers): No. 12 overall in class of 2009. No. 1 offensive tackle. Offensive tackle Eric Fisher, who was the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, was also in the 2009 class, but was unranked nationally as a defensive end. Grade 86. Foley, Ala.

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri (No. 13 to the Jets): No. 107 overall in class of 2009. No. 8 defensive tackle. The three defensive tackles ranked ahead of him that year who signed with SEC schools were No. 2 Gary Brown (Florida), No. 4 Josh Downs (LSU) and No. 7 Chris Davenport (LSU). Grade 81. St. Louis, Mo.

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (No. 17 to the Steelers): No. 59 overall in class of 2009. No. 6 outside linebacker. No. 7 in the state of Georgia. Jones signed with USC out of high school before transferring to Georgia. The No. 1 outside linebacker nationally that year was Manti Te’o. Grade 82. Columbus, Ga.

Eric Reid, S, LSU (No. 18 to the 49ers): No. 71 overall in class of 2010. No. 7 safety. The No. 1 safety nationally that year was Jonathan Dowling, who signed with Florida. Grade 81. Geismar, La.

Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (No. 23 to the Vikings): No. 25 overall in class of 2010. No. 3 defensive tackle. The only two defensive tackles ranked ahead of him that year were No. 1 Dominique Easley (Florida) and No. 2 Taylor Bible (Texas). Grade 83. Philadelphia, Pa.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (No. 29 to the Vikings): Unranked nationally and at his position in class of 2009. Patterson didn’t qualify academically and spent his first year out of high school attending North Carolina Tech and then played two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College before transferring to Tennessee. Rock Hill, S.C.

Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia (No. 30 to the Rams): No. 29 overall in class of 2010. No. 4 safety. Ogletree started out at safety at Georgia before moving to inside linebacker. Grade 83. Newnan, Ga.

Matt Elam, S, Florida (No. 32 to the Ravens): No. 9 overall in class of 2010. No. 2 athlete. Ranked as an athlete that year by ESPN. The No. 1 athlete was Ronald Powell, who also went to Florida. Grade 86. Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Twelve SEC players taken in the first round, huh? What an overrated league ...

• It was a three-for-all for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round of the NFL draft.
• Former Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker says he had nothing to do with a controversial tweet.
• Arkansas anticipates plenty of picks as the NFL draft continues.
• Auburn exits the spring feeling good about its depth and experience at defensive tackle.
• Florida's staff is using social media as a recruiting tool.
• Here's a look at Florida's post-spring depth chart.
• Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray is watching the NFL draft with great interest.
• LSU is now second only to USC with 14 first-round draft picks in the past 10 years.
• Former Mississippi State cornerback Darius Slay is seeing his draft stock rise.
• Missouri coach Gary Pinkel confirms that James Franklin is the Tigers' top quarterback coming out of spring.
• Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace is scheduled to resume throwing in 10 days.
• Former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is worth an NFL draft risk.
• Mike Vollmar has been hired as Tennessee's new associate athletic director for football.

The SEC had 12 players selected in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, tying the record set by the ACC in 2006.

No other conference had more than six first-rounders this year. The ACC had six, and the Pac-12 was next with five.

Six of the top 13 selections were from the SEC, including three in a row from Alabama. Cornerback Dee Milliner went No. 9 to the New York Jets, offensive guard Chance Warmack No. 10 to the Tennessee Titans and offensive tackle D.J. Fluker No. 11 to the San Diego Chargers.

Alabama running back Eddie Lacy did not go in the first round as projected. The Crimson Tide have produced 13 first-round picks over the past four years.

For Alabama coach Nick Saban, that gives him 22 players that he has recruited and signed in his 11 seasons as an SEC head coach who've gone on to become first-round NFL draft choices. Saban was responsible for signing all nine of LSU’s first-round selections from 2004-09, and he signed 13 of Alabama’s 14 first-rounders over the past five years.

LSU had two players go in the first round -- defensive end Barkevious Mingo No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns and safety Eric Reid No. 18 to the San Francisco 49ers. The Tigers have produced five first-round selections over the past three years.

Florida and Georgia also had two players each taken in the first round. All four were defensive players.

In fact, eight of the 12 SEC players taken in the first round this year were defensive players. The only offensive skill player selected in the first round from the SEC was Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson at No. 29 to the Minnesota Vikings. Patterson became the first offensive player from Tennessee to go in the first round since receiver Robert Meachem went No. 27 overall to the New Orleans Saints in 2007.

Here's a quick review from Thursday's first round:

No. 2: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Todd McShay video analysis here.

No. 6: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU to the Cleveland Browns

Todd McShay video analysis here.

No. 9: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama to the New York Jets

Bill Polian video analysis here.

No. 10: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama to the Tennessee Titans

Todd McShay video analysis here.

No. 11: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama to the San Diego Chargers

Bill Polian video analysis here.

No. 13: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri to the New York Jets

Bill Polian video analysis here.

No. 17: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia to the Pittsburgh Steelers

Todd McShay video analysis here.

No. 18: Eric Reid, S, LSU to the San Francisco 49ers

Bill Polian video analysis here.

No. 23: Sharrrif Floyd, DT, Florida to the Minnesota Vikings

Bill Polian video analysis here.

No. 29: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee to the Minnesota Vikings

Bill Polian video analysis here.

No. 30: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia to the St. Louis Rams

Todd McShay video analysis here.

No. 32: Matt Elam, S, Florida to the Baltimore Ravens

Todd McShay video analysis here.

If you’re looking at the NFL draft through the perspective of a college football fan, what does it tell you about your school?

I’ve always felt that it magnifies two things -- how efficient a school is at acquiring talent and how efficient it is at developing that talent.

Nobody in college football has been better in those two areas recently than Alabama, which just happens to own three of the past four national championships.

The past three NFL drafts underscore just how talented the Crimson Tide have been. They have had 20 players drafted over the past three years, including 10 first-rounders. In the top three rounds, they’ve produced 14 draft picks over the past three years.

Ten first-rounders is staggering. To put that number in perspective, only one other school in the SEC over the last three years (Florida) has produced more than three first-rounders. The Gators have had four.

With the first round of the 2013 NFL draft set for tonight, Alabama could see its total of first-rounders swell to 14 over the past four years. Cornerback Dee Milliner, offensive guard Chance Warmack, offensive tackle D.J. Fluker and running back Eddie Lacy are all projected to go in the first round.

Florida will also make a reappearance in the first round thanks to defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, who’s projected to be a top 5 pick. Safety Matt Elam could go in the first round as well.

Last year’s draft marked the first time since the 1993 draft -- nearly 20 years -- that the Gators had not produced a pick in the first three rounds.

After Alabama, LSU has the most players taken in the first three rounds (11) over the past three years. Florida is third with nine, and then it drops off to Georgia with five.

This should be a banner draft for the Bulldogs, though, as they could have as many as four or five players taken in the top three rounds this year.

The only four SEC schools who haven't produced a first-round pick over the past three years are Arkansas, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Missouri is next to last in the SEC with the fewest total players drafted over the past three years at five, but three of those have been first-rounders.

Below is a breakdown of the top talent producers in the SEC over the past three years. Included are total number of draft choices, first-round draft choices and total number of players taken in the top three rounds.

The teams are listed in order of their total draft choices:

• Alabama: 20 draft choices, 10 first-rounders, 14 in top three rounds
• Georgia: 18 draft choices, 1 first-rounder, 5 in top three rounds
• LSU: 17 draft choices, 3 first-rounders, 11 in top three rounds
• Florida: 15 draft choices, 4 first-rounders, 9 in top three rounds
• South Carolina: 10 draft choices, 2 first-rounders, 4 in top three rounds
• Mississippi State: 9 draft choices, 2 first-rounders, 3 in top three rounds
• Tennessee: 9 draft choices, 2 first-rounders, 3 in top three rounds
• Arkansas: 8 draft choices, 0 first-rounders, 2 in top three rounds.
• Auburn: 7 draft choices, 2 first-rounders, 3 in top three rounds.
• Kentucky: 6 draft choices, 0 first-rounders, 2 in top three rounds
• Ole Miss: 6 draft choices, 0 first-rounders, 2 in top three rounds
• Texas A&M: 6 draft choices, 2 first-rounders, 2 in top three rounds
• Missouri: 5 draft choices, 3 first-rounders, 4 in top three rounds
• Vanderbilt: 4 draft choices, 0 first-rounders, 2 in top three rounds

The number to beat is 12.

That's how many first-round picks the ACC produced in 2006, which is a record for one conference. The SEC record is 11 first-round picks, which happened in 2007.

Both records could be in jeopardy this year if projections are correct.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has 13 players from the SEC being drafted in the first round in his latest mock draft . The draft gets under way tonight at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN with the first round. The second and third rounds will take place on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.

Kiper has Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel going No. 1 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs, which would mark the fourth time in the last seven drafts that an SEC player has gone No. 1 overall.

According to Kiper's projection, seven of the top 12 picks will come from the SEC. The SEC produced nine first-round picks last year and 10 in 2011.

Below is a rundown of the SEC players Kiper has going in the first round. He has four Alabama players being picked in the first round, which would give the Crimson Tide a whopping 14 first-round selections over the last four years.

• No. 1 -- Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (Chiefs)
• No. 3 -- Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (Raiders)
• No. 6 -- Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama (Browns)
• No. 9 -- Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU (Jets)
• No. 10 -- Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri (Titans)
• No. 11 -- D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (Chargers)
• No. 12 -- Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama (Dolphins)
• No. 15 -- Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (Saints)
• No. 21 -- Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama (Bengals)
• No. 22 -- Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (Rams)
• No. 25 -- Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia (Vikings)
• No. 31 -- Matt Elam, S, Florida (49ers)
• No. 32 -- Kevin Minter, LB, LSU (Ravens)

Former Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker's Twitter account caused quite the stir early this week.

The controversial tweet from Fluker's account read: "Yea I took $ n college so wat. I did wat i had to do. Agents was tryin to pimp me so I pimped them. Cast da first stone."

It was quickly deleted and Fluker later claimed that his Twitter account was hacked. His agent, Deryk Gilmore, also said that he knew who was responsible for the tweet.

“We know who did this,” Gilmore said. “This is totally fiction, but I’m waiting to get some proof. I’ve been on the phone with Twitter."

He also added: “I’ll tell you, of course, this wasn’t him. It was [expletive], and it’s a shame. And anyone who believes it was him and wants to believe the worst, you go ahead and do it."

On Wednesday, Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about the tweet on the SEC coaches teleconference and said that Alabama's compliance was still looking into it, but added that he and his staff are very involved in teaching players what's right and wrong in the off-field world of college football.

"We're trying to do things the right way," Saban said. "We've tried to do everything we can to educate our players to do things the right way when it comes to selecting an agent or being involved in the NFL draft."

Saban also said that staff members will even do in-home visits with parents to help educate them as well. He's also very adamant about agents and those associated with agents not contacting players before they've used up their eligibility. Saban said he's been "very involved" with the NFL's Players Association and the NCAA to create some sort of new rules and "cause-and-effect" consequences for those who do attempt to contact players early.

"We want to do anything that we can to prevent any sort of circumstance or situation that could get a player in trouble or an organization in trouble and to get people to manage things the right way."

A look at what's shaking in the SEC:

• D.J. Fluker's agent says he knows who hacked Fluker's Twitter account and sent out the tweet about Fluker taking money at Alabama.
• Former Auburn coach Gene Chizik says he's "100 percent confident" the Tigers did it right on his watch.
• Selena Roberts may be the best thing to happen to Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com.
• Reinforcements should bolster Tennessee's offense, writes Mike Strange of The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Georgia's future football schedules are on hold.
• Former Florida safety Matt Elam is keeping things low key as draft day approaches.
• Former Vanderbilt running back Zac Stacy won't be fixated on the draft.
• LSU's Lamin Barrow says the battle goes on for the middle linebacker spot.
• Brad Locke of The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reveals five things he learned from Mississippi State's spring.
• Taking a look at some of the changes in Missouri's offense.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has put together his latest "Grade A" draft, in which he presents the best pick for every team in the upcoming NFL draft.

He has 12 SEC players going in the first round, which would tie the record for a conference. The ACC produced 12 first-round selections in 2006.

In Kiper's "Grade A" draft, the first three players to come off the board are from the SEC -- Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel and Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd.

Below are the 12 SEC players Kiper has being taken in his "Grade A" draft:

• 1. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama (Lions via a trade with the Chiefs)
• 2. Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (Jaguars)
• 3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (Raiders)
• 7. Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU (Cardinals)
• 9. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (Jets)
• 11. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama (Browns via a trade with the Chargers)
• 12. D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (Dolphins)
• 14. Sheldon Richardson, DE, Missouri (Panthers)
• 19. Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia (Giants)
• 22. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama (Rams via a trade with Redskins)
• 23. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (Vikings)
• 32. Kevin Minter, LB, LSU (Ravens)

Next week's NFL draft could be a special one for the SEC.

If you check recent mock drafts from ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay , the SEC could be in for a record first day in New York City. Kiper's recent mock draft has a record 13 SEC players being drafted in the first round and 21 going within the first two rounds. McShay has 11 SEC players going in the first round.

Here's a look at the 10 SEC players who were invited to next week's draft, which will be televised on ESPN on April 25 at 8 p.m. ET.

• Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
• Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
• Eric Reid, S, LSU
• Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
• Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri
• D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
• Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
• Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
• Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama
• Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

Surprisingly, Georgia linebackers Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree, who are both projected to be first-round draft picks, didn't make the list.

We are getting even closer to this month's NFL draft, so get ready for yet another mock draft.

This time, ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is at it again, but has added a second-round mock as well in his Mock Draft 4.0 . Kiper projects that 21 former SEC players will be taken within the first two rounds, including what would be a record 13 in the first round.

Eleven players were drafted out of the SEC in the 2007 draft, and the record for the most taken from one conference in the first round belongs to the ACC, which had 12 taken in 2006.

Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel is still projected to be taken No. 1 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here's a look at where Kiper has SEC players in the first two rounds:

FIRST ROUND

No. 1: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M (Kansas City Chiefs)
No. 3: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida (Oakland Raiders)
No. 5: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama (Detroit Lions)
No. 9: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU (New York Jets)
No. 10: Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama (Tennessee Titans)
No. 12: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama (Miami Dolphins)
No. 14: Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri (Carolina Panthers)
No. 15: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia (New Orleans Saints)
No. 21: Alec Ogletree, ILB, Georgia (Cincinnati Bengals)
No. 23: Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee (Minnesota Vikings)
No. 25: Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU (Minnesota Vikings)
No. 26: Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama (Green Bay Packers)
No. 29: Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee (New England Patriots)

SECOND ROUND

No. 34: Matt Elam, S, Florida (San Francisco 49ers)
No. 44: D.J. Swearinger, S, South Carolina (Carolina Panthers)
No. 48: Cornelius Washington, OLB, Georgia (Pittsburgh Steelers)
No. 50: Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama (Chicago Bears)
No. 53: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State (Cincinnati Bengals)
No. 57: John Jenkins, DT, Georgia (Houston Texans)
No. 58: Damontre Moore, DE, Texas A&M (Denver Broncos)
No. 59: Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU (New England Patriots)

• Alabama leads the way with five players projected to go within the first two rounds.
• Moore has really seen his draft stock fall since his dismal showing at the NFL combine in February. He went from a top-five pick to out of the first round. Now, he's projected to go 58th to the Broncos. LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery, who was viewed as a first-round pick before last season, has also seen his stock plummet.
• Swearinger is rising up the draft charts. His impressive workouts this spring and keen field instinct make him a very attractive prospect to teams looking for a ball hawk in the second round. While Swearinger is moving upward, LSU safety Eric Reid is falling. Another projected first-rounder before last season, Kiper doesn't even have him in the first two rounds, despite a solid workout at the combine.
• Mathieu looked to have played himself out of the first couple of rounds because of his off-field issues, but after impressing scouts this spring, he's back in the good graces of the draft. He might not be an every-down cover corner, but there's no denying Mathieu's athleticism and game-changing ability.

Middle of the week, and here are some links.

• Georgia isn't over-hyping its season opener with Clemson.
• John Theus and Georgia's offensive line are playing musical chairs.
• Florida is making its spring game an open practice because of a rash of injuries.
• Florida coach Will Muschamp is struggling to find reliable safeties during spring practice.
• Wide receiver Bruce Ellington is back on the field for South Carolina this spring.
• Missouri's quarterback battle rages on as practice resumes for the Tigers.
• Butch Jones likes the Vols' focus at practice after spring break.
• Tennessee's Marlon Walls says his hospital visit to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital last week changed his life.
• Many Alabama teammates get a seal of approval from playmaker C.J. Mosley.
• Dee Milliner, D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack will represent Alabama at this month's NFL draft.
• Texas A&M kicker Taylor Bertolet is making changes this spring.
• Auburn was consistent on Day 5 of spring practice.
• Even Auburn's kickers are practicing at a faster pace this spring.
• Randy Shannon is leading the linebacker construction at Arkansas this spring.
• Here are four thoughts from Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney courtesy of Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News Bureau.
• Young Rebels are fighting for a spot in Ole Miss' backfield.
• Mississippi Stat's Kaleb Eulls is adjusting to his move from defensive end to defensive tackle.
• Former LSU and Notre Dame quarterback Gunner Kiel could be eyeing Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- At a certain point, there's too much work to be done on the football field. So much so that the idea of competition goes out the window. With three vacant starting positions on the Alabama offensive line this spring, the idea of actually battling for playing time is unthinkable, at least to left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.

The depth chart, he noted, is still open.

"Everybody is just working," Kouandjio said following Wednesday's practice. He and guard Anthony Steen are the only two returning starters on the line. "At this time, we're not even thinking about competition."

They might be the only ones, though.

If Alabama is going to have anywhere near the success it had last season, the offensive line must come together, and in a hurry. Kouandjio might have the luxury of feeling good about his position on the depth chart, but he's the exception to the rule, as Alabama must replace three NFL-caliber offensive linemen in Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker. That's not to mention the other seven former starters now plying their trade elsewhere.

At least Kouandjio would admit that practice felt different without his former teammates around.

"It feels weird," he said. "I've been with those guys for a long time."

But he's been with his brother, Arie, longer. And with Warmack gone, Arie has a chance to start alongside his twin at left guard. He'll have to fend off Kellen Williams for the spot, but so far he's the favorite to win the starting nod.

Chemistry, the glue of any good offensive line, is already set on the left side. After playing together in high school, the Koundajios don't have to say a word to communicate to one another.

"It's my brother" Cyrus said, "of course we already have camaraderie. We already understand each other.

"I love playing with my brother. He's always pushing me, and I'm always pushing him."

The camaraderie of the line as a whole won't come from either Kouandjio, though. Ryan Kelly, the man charged with replacing Jones at center, is looking to make his stamp as the leader of the unit now. And as Cyrus put it, he brings a lot to the table, rivaling Jones in at least one respect.

"He's the most professional person I know," Cyrus said of Kelly. "He's really serious, and that's the perfect center right there. Most centers have to be really tough, and I trust him 100 percent. I trust him as much as I trusted Barrett Jones last year.

"I think things are looking good for him."

Cyrus also singled out rising sophomore Brandon Greene for his improvement this offseason. He, Williams, Isaac Luatua, Alphonse Taylor and newcomers Leon Brown and Brandon Hill have added depth to the offensive line.

"He's doing so much better from last year," Cyrus said of Greene. "He got so much better over the break. His hands are where they're supposed to be, his footwork is good, he is where he's supposed to be right now."

Head coach Nick Saban, for his part, downplayed the transition taking place on the offensive line. He said new position coach Mario Cristobal is doing a "really good job" at coaching and connecting with the players.

"He’s done a good job teaching them," he said. "He’s got good energy and enthusiasm. He brings some new ideas. That’s always welcome when you have new coaches join the staff. So everything about this so far from a transition standpoint has been positive."

And like everything with the offensive line, Saban's remarks came with a caveat.

"But that's a work in progress, too," he said.

With the NFL draft getting closer and closer, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is making sure he feeds everyone with as much info as possible.

More than a month after showcasing his second mock draft, Kiper has updated things in his Mock Draft 3.0 . It should come as no surprise that his latest mock draft is loaded with SEC talent, as he has 13 players going in the first 32 picks.

His top 10 has five SEC players in it. Kiper has Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel going first overall to Kansas City, while Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd is set to go third to the Oakland Raiders. Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner is slotted to go fourth to the Philadelphia Eagles, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones is picked to go eighth to the Buffalo Bills and LSU defensive end/ outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo is heading to the New York Jets at No. 9.

Here's where Kiper sees SEC players going in next month's NFL draft:

1. Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M -- Kansas City Chiefs

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida -- Oakland Raiders

4. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama -- Philadelphia Eagles

8. Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia -- Buffalo Bills

9. Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU -- New York Jets

12. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee -- Miami Dolphins

15. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri -- New Orleans Saints

18. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama -- Dallas Cowboys

20. D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama -- Chicago Bears

21. Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia -- Cincinnati Bengals

22. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee -- St. Louis Rams

26. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama -- Green Bay Packers

32. Matt Elam, S, Florida -- Baltimore Ravens

The NFL draft is creeping closer and closer, and now that pro days are sprouting up all around the country, it's time to check in on what resident draft guru Todd McShay has to say about next month's draft.

His new mock draft is out and the SEC has quite a few familiar faces inside the first 32 picks of the draft, especially within the top 10.

Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel is the highest-slotted SEC player, checking in at No. 2 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. A word of advice for Joeckel: Sunscreen!

The SEC then takes picks No. 3 and No. 4, with Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, who really has shot up draft boards in recent weeks, going No. 3 to the Oakland Raiders, and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner going fourth to the Philadelphia Eagles. And he has LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo going ninth to the New York Jets.

Former SEC players took 12 of the the first 32 picks in McShay's mock draft.

Here's where SEC players landed:

2. Luke Joeckel, LT, Texas A&M -- Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida -- Oakland Raiders

4. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama -- Philadelphia Eagles

9. Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU -- New York Jets

14. Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri -- Carolina Panthers

15. Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia -- New Orleans Saints

17. Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia -- Pittsburgh Steelers

18. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama -- Dallas Cowboys

20. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee -- Chicago Bears

21. D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama -- Cincinnati Bengals

26. John Jenkins, DT, Georiga -- Green Bay Packers

27. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee -- Houston Texans