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

There's no doubt that Alabama should be outstanding again in its offensive line this coming season.

College football analyst Phil Steele is certainly a believer. In his "Phil Steele's 2012 College Preview," which will hit newstands June 5, Steele has center Barrett Jones, guard Chance Warmack and tackle D.J. Fluker making up three-fifths of his preseason first-team All-America selections on the offensive line.

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo and Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis were the other SEC players to earn first-team honors. Mathieu was selected at two different positions -- cornerback and punt returner.

The SEC players receiving second-team All-America mention from Steele were:

• Arkansas running back Knile Davis
• Tennessee receiver Da'Rick Rogers
• Arkansas receiver Cobi Hamilton
• Kentucky offensive guard Larry Warford
• Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel
• Texas A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews
• LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery
• Alabama nose guard Jesse Williams
• Georgia nose guard John Jenkins
• Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley
• Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks
• LSU safety Eric Reid
• LSU punter Brad Wing

The third-team All-Americans from the SEC were:

• Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson
• Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen
• LSU offensive tackle Alex Hurst
• Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd
• Auburn defensive end Corey Lemonier
• Alabama linebacker Nico Johnson
• Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter
• Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner
• Alabama safety Robert Lester

The following from the SEC made the fourth team:

• Texas A&M receiver Ryan Swope
• Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg
• Arkansas offensive guard Alvin Bailey
• LSU offensive tackle Chris Faulk
• South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney
• Florida safety Matt Elam
• Texas A&M Dustin Harris

It's never too early to start looking to the future and ESPN NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. did just that Wednesday when he supplied us with a ton of info regarding some very early predictions he has for next year's draft.

Today, we'll look at Kiper's first Big Board for next year's draft . Real shocker at No. 1 with USC quarterback Matt Barkley topping the list, but right behind him is Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones. That happens when you accumulate 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in your first season in the SEC.

Kiper has four SEC players in his top 10, including LSU defensive ends Barkevious Mingo (No. 3) and Sam Montgomery (No. 5). Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker comes in at No. 6. Keep in mind that all four are underclassmen.

Kiper has nine total SEC players inside of his top 25 and only two -- Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson (No. 13) and Mississippi State cornerback Johnthan Banks (No. 22) -- will be seniors this fall.

Here's the list of all nine and a little analysis from Kiper:

No. 2: Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia

"Explosive, relentless edge rusher, profiles well as a 3-4 OLB. Great first step, violent hands, extremely good burst off the snap, tackles well, closes fast."

No. 3: Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU

"Exceptional length, still adding refinement, but he's well past a mere "athlete" label. Very good pass rusher, able to use speed to get up the field and turn the corner."

No. 5: Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU

"Lacks the frame of a 4-3 DE at next level, but could still get there, because his frame can handle it. Athleticism and rush skills are there, underrated against the run."

No. 6: D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama

"Strength is pass-blocking; quick feet for his size and can ride a speed rush up the field. Must improve ability to use size and engage and drive defenders as a run-blocker."

No. 13: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas

"Maybe the best passer in the class right now in terms of his ability to stare down pressure and deliver passes on time, and in stride."

No. 16: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M

"A starter at left tackle since he landed in College Station, Joeckel specializes in pass protection and doesn't get rattled by quickness or secondary moves."

No. 19: Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

"Explosive, tightly-packed player who packs a punch but moves better than a player his size should. Elite if healthy."

No. 22: Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State

"A very good man corner, he's excellent in his backpedal and turns well. Plenty of speed to stay with speedy WRs, has length to battle up high."

No. 23: Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn

"He thrives on quickness, with great burst off the snap and a few counters. A natural pass-rusher, he'll be one to watch."

The 2013 mock NFL drafts are coming out at a dizzying pace now, and ESPN's Todd McShay has pegged Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker as the SEC's top selection next April.

McShay has Fluker going No. 5 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of eight SEC players McShay projects to be drafted in the first round.

Obviously, so much can change between now and next April. For example, in McShay's mock draft this time a year ago, six of the draft-eligible players he picked to go in the first round decided to return to school. There were also six players that he pegged as first-rounders that weren't drafted at all.

So look at this as an early gauge.

Here are the other seven SEC players that McShay has going in the first round:

No. 8: Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones to the Miami Dolphins
No. 9: LSU DE Barkevious Mingo to the New York Jets
No. 10: LSU DE Sam Montgomery to the Arizona Cardinals
No. 13: Mississippi State CB Johnthan Banks to the Tampa Bay Bucs
No. 22: LSU S Eric Reid to the Dallas Cowboys
No. 23: South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore to the Detroit Lions
No. 29: Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel to the Green Bay Packers

The first batch of big uglies are on the ranking slab Monday. No offense can operate without offensive linemen and the SEC has its share of talented big men.

Here's a look at our preseason rankings when it came to offensive lines. Let's just say we overestimated when it came to a couple of groups.

Here's what we though of after the 2011 season:

1. Alabama: The Crimson Tide line pushed around its opponents all year long. Alabama was first in the SEC in rushing (and had the Doak Walker winner in Trent Richardson) and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Alabama was equipped with Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones, who played just about every position up front and the top SEC in William Vlachos. Alabama got tremendous play out of D.J. Fluker and got a pleasant surprise out of Alfred McCullough. Alabama ranked first in the league by allowing just 17 sacks.

2. LSU: The Tigers' offense went as its running game went. And for 13 games the running game was great. The offensive line should take a lot of credit for that. With two Associated Press All-SEC members -- Will Blackwell and Chris Faulk -- LSU averaged 200.9 rushing yards against conference foes. Alex Hurst should also become a more familiar name in 2012. LSU allowed just 18 sacks and totaled only 234 negative rushing yards.

3: South Carolina: South Carolina put only one player on the All-SEC list, in Rokevious Watkins, but the Gamecocks' line had a pretty good season. Even after losing top running back Marcus Lattimore midway through the season, South Carolina finished the season third in the SEC in total rushing and rushing against conference opponents. South Carolina had to deal with Kyle Nunn's absence for most of the year as well, but found a budding star in A.J. Cann. Pass protection dipped, as South Carolina allowed 30 sacks.

4. Georgia: Before the season, the offensive line seemed to be held together by tape, but this line stayed together nicely through 14 games. The Bulldogs were fifth in the conference in rushing against SEC foes and had two All-SEC performers in Cordy Glenn, who might be a first-round draft pick, and center Ben Jones. Where Georgia's line came up short was in pass protection, as the Bulldogs were 11th in the league allowing 33 sacks.

5. Vanderbilt: The Commodores didn't put anyone on the All-SEC teams, but there's no question that this was the most improved line in 2011. Wesley Johnson proved to be one of the most underrated linemen in the league and the Commodores' offense was much more explosive than past years. Vandy was sixth in the league in rushing and had the league's No. 3 rusher in Zac Stacy. The Commodores gave up 18 sacks in SEC games.

6. Arkansas: The Razorbacks were dealing with a young line, but saw improvements as the season went on. Without Knile Davis in the lineup, the running backs were pretty inconsistent individually, but the Hogs averaged 134.3 yards in conference games. In each of Arkansas' two losses, the Razorbacks averaged just 32 rushing yards. Alvin Bailey was a second-team All-SEC member and should be star in 2012. Arkansas allowed 28 sacks, but also allowed quarterback Tyler Wilson take some punishing hits throughout the year.

7. Auburn: The Tigers could run the ball for most of the year. Auburn was fourth in the league in rushing and averaged 4.1 yards per carry against SEC play. Michael Dyer finished the year second in the league with 1,242 yards. Brandon Mosley was the only returning starter, but the Tigers got solid play out of freshman center Reese Dismukes and saw the reemergence of A.J. Greene after injury cut his 2010 season short. However, Auburn's passing game and pass protection struggled. The Tigers gave up 32 sacks in 2011 and were overwhelmed by more athletic defensive lines.

8. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs had to deal with a rash of injuries along their offensive line in 2011. Tobias Smith went out early and the Bulldogs watched as Quentin Saulsberry and James Carmon deal with injuries toward the beginning of the season. The Bulldogs were able to deliver a 1,000-yard running back in Vick Ballard, but ranked ninth in the league in rushing against SEC teams. Mississippi State gave up just under two sacks a game.

9. Tennessee: This was supposed to be a strong point for the Vols last fall, but Tennessee struggled all year to run the ball. The Vols ranked 116th nationally in rushing and averaged just 63.5 yards per game in SEC play. While Tennessee never generated much of a running game last season, its pass protection was one of the best in the league. The Vols gave up just 18 sacks on the season, despite playing three different quarterbacks.

10. Florida: The Gators experienced another year of sub par line play in 2011. With a relatively young group up front, Florida really struggled to provide much comfort in the pocket for its quarterbacks and rarely outplayed opposing SEC defensive lines. Florida's line was also flagged a bunch last fall. Florida gave up just 23 sacks, but 21 came in SEC play and Florida averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and scored nine rushing touchdowns against SEC defenses.

11. Kentucky: Before the season, we thought the Wildcats would be much higher on this list, especially considering the fact that they returned four starters. However, injuries ruined Kentucky up front. Larry Warford was Kentucky's best lineman, but for the first part of the season, the Wildcats failed to play its five original starters because of injuries. Kentucky gave up 21 sacks through the first five games and gave up a league-high 35 sacks on the year. The Wildcats also ranked 11th in the league in rushing.

12. Ole Miss: Here's another line that returned so much but did so little last fall. We look pretty silly now after ranking Ole Miss' line second in our preseason rankings because the Rebels' line didn't do much protecting all year. Ole Miss' line didn't have the injury issues that Kentucky had and was still 10th in the SEC in rushing and scored just four rushing touchdowns in league play. The Rebels also gave up 31 sacks on the season, with a league-high 26 coming against SEC defenses.

The votes have been tallied and we have a winner in the category of the SEC's top returning lineman.

It wasn't even close, as Alabama's Barrett Jones took home 52 percent of the vote with more than 7,500 votes being cast in last week's poll.

I'd like to say I'm shocked, but I'm not. Jones not only won the Outland Trophy in 2011, as the nation's top interior lineman, but he was one of the most versatile linemen in the country. He played just about every position on the offensive line last fall and never really saw any sort of drop off in his production.

Jones might be known as a scholar (and certified nerd) off of the field, but he's an animal on it. Don't let his very polite demeanor fool you. He isn't always so nice to opposing defensive linemen. Jones could have easily left for the NFL after his junior year, but decided to return to Tuscaloosa for one last season with the Crimson Tide.

Arkansas' Alvin Bailey came in second, earning 29 percent of the vote. Bailey was very impressive during his sophomore season. He had a solid freshman year in 2010, but really improved in 2011 and earned All-SEC second team honors. Bailey should enter the 2012 season as a first-team selection.

Kentucky's Larry Warford and Alabama's D.J. Fluker both grabbed single-digit percentages, while our "Other" category received 13 percent of the vote.

We said farewell to plenty of talented SEC offensive linemen after the 2011 season, but it's not like the conference will lack in line talent next year. There are a few big boys that will make sure all of your favorite quarterbacks are as comfy as they can be in 2012.

We're continuing to look at the future, as we take a glance at some of the big uglies returning in 2012.

The guys who get things started on offense and protect all those fragile quarterbacks deserve a little credit, don't ya think?

The SEC might be saying goodbye to a pretty good crop of offensive linemen, but next season won't lack much talent up front, either.

But who is the best one returning in 2012?

First, you have arguably the most versatile lineman in the country in Alabama's Barrett Jones, who found a way to play just about every position on the offensive line during Alabama's national championship run in 2011. Jones, who decided to return for his senior season, won the Outland Trophy last year as the nation's top interior lineman.

Jones is great, but one of his teammates might challenge him for the moniker of the SEC's top lineman. That lineman is tackle D.J. Fluker, who started 12 games at right tackle last season. At 6-6, 335 pounds, Fluker makes it hard for defensive linemen to get by him. Without Fluker anchoring the right side of the line, Alabama's offense wouldn't have had the success it did in 2011.

What about fellow SEC Western Division standout Alvin Bailey? Arkansas' young lineman really improved as the season went on. He was named to the All-SEC second team after a solid sophomore season with the Razorbacks and showed that he's one of the more athletic lineman around.

You also have Kentucky guard Larry Warford. The veteran has had a stellar career and was an All-SEC second team member in 2011. Kentucky's offense struggled mightily last season, but any team would love to have Warford blocking for it.

You also have youngster Chaz Green at Florida. The rising sophomore tackle was arguably Florida's most consistent lineman in 2011. While Florida's line struggled, Green made strides throughout the year and was named the No. 9 freshman overall by ESPN NFL draft analyst Todd McShay.

With Alabama's William Vlachos and Georgia's Ben Jones departing, LSU center P.J. Lonergan will likely enter the year as the SEC's top center. He was banged up at times in 2011, but his teammates agreed that LSU's line is much better when he's in and healthy.

Then there's his teammate, rising junior Chris Faulk, who ranked third on the team with 73.5 knockdowns in 2011. He was a second team All-SEC member. He started 12 games at left tackle for the Tigers this season.

South Carolina guard A.J. Cann had a great freshman season for the Gamecocks and should become a bigger name among SEC offensive linemen during the offseason and next season.

And you also can't forget Vanderbilt's Wesley Johnson. He isn't the biggest lineman out there, but he certainly held his own on the Commodores' line in his second season. Johnson is another one of those youngsters who should really make some noise in 2012.

Here are some SEC links to munch on while you take a break from Christmas shopping:

• LSU fullback J.C. Copeland uses his back side fully, writes Glenn Guilbeau of Gannett Louisiana News.
• D.J. Fluker is Alabama's biggest player, and the junior offensive tackle has played big this season.
• Despite the SEC's dominance, the plus-one model remains on SEC commissioner Mike Slive's mind.
• New Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze hopes to take a page out of Ed Orgeron's recruiting book.
• Former Tennessee commitment Imani Cross has no hard feelings for Derek Dooley and the Vols.
• South Carolina offensive tackle Kyle Nunn is working his way back.
• Junior college safety Kory Brown signs with Kentucky and will enroll in school in January.
• Six true sophomores could end up starting the bowl game for Florida.
• Mike Bobo's 1998 Outback Bowl lives on in the SEC bowl record books.

The big uglies up front on the offensive side are our focus today. There are some quality veterans out there, but teams all across the league are looking to replace some quality linemen in the trenches.

Here's how we see the league stacking up:

1. Alabama: Four of Alabama’s five linemen from a year ago return, making this one of the team’s strongest units. The returners have combined for more than 70 starts at Alabama. Barrett Jones is the star of the show. The junior has been the Tide’s starting right guard each of the past two seasons, but took reps at left tackle and could be asked to move. William Vlachos is back at center and could be the best at his position in the league. Fellow starters D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack are back and took reps at left tackle this spring.

2. Ole Miss: The Rebels’ offense isn’t getting much respect this offseason, but its offensive line returns All-SEC candidates in tackles Bradley Sowell and Bobby Massie. Seven of Ole Miss’ linemen started two or more games each on the offensive line in 2010. Last season, the Rebels were first in the league in sacks allowed, giving up just 14. Alex Washington should stay at left guard after starting eight games there and A.J. Hawkins will likely get the nod at center after playing eight games there as well. Arkansas transfer Matt Hall will compete for time at center.

3. LSU: Joseph Barksdale might be gone, but the Tigers have a very talented group of linemen returning. Tackle Alex Hurst seems primed to be a star in the league and senior Josh Dworaczky is arguably the Tigers’ top lineman with 25 career starts. Patrick Lonergan is solid at center, while T-Bob Hebert is valuable at both center and guard. Sophomore Chris Faulk has the tough assignment of replacing Barksdale, but made quite the impression on his coaches this spring.

4. Kentucky: The Wildcats return four starters on their line. Right guard Larry Warford headlines the group after gaining second-team All-SEC honors a year ago. Kentucky also returns two-year starter Stuart Hines at left guard and Matt Smith at center, who was solid in his first year there. Left tackle Chandler Burden missed spring practice, but is expected back by fall practice. Finding a suitable right tackle is the next step for Kentucky.

5. Tennessee: This group could be one of the most impressive units for the Volunteers this season. It’s deeper and more experienced in Derek Dooley’s second year and he was very pleased with its performance this spring. Junior Dallas Thomas is solid at left tackle, and sophomore Ja’Wuan James really came on strong in his first year and is one of the top linemen in the SEC. James Stone also returns at center. The surprise of the group was true freshman Marcus Jackson, who held down the left guard spot for most of the spring.

6. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs must replace All-American left tackle Derek Sherrod, but most of the line is somewhat on point. Center Quentin Saulsberry will anchor the line and is versatile enough to play just about every position on the line. Left guard Gabe Jackson and right tackle Addison Lawrence return and the Bulldogs will have junior Tobias Smith lining up at right guard. Blaine Clausell and James Carmon, who moved from defensive tackle, will compete at left tackle.

7. Georgia: This was supposed to be one of the strongest offensive line units in the league, but the Bulldogs lost tackle Trinton Sturdivant to a season-ending knee injury this spring and fellow tackle A.J. Harmon transferred. Georgia’s most-reliable options are Cordy Glenn, who moved from guard to left tackle and Ben Jones at center. Kenarious Gates is at left guard, but he’s athletic enough to play tackle if needed. Former defensive lineman Justin Anderson will start off at right tackle. Right guard is the next area of business and the depth all around is a problem.

8. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have questions here, but there is talent across the line. Rokevious Watkins is one of the most talented guards in the league and he’ll be assisted by returning starter at center T.J. Johnson. Senior Kyle Nunn has made strides at left tackle and redshirt freshman A.J. Cann took over duties at left guard this spring. Still, the younger linemen will be counted on to contribute this fall.

9. Arkansas: The Razorbacks must replace three starters on the offensive line. Center Travis Swanson and left guard Alvin Bailey are the only returning starters. Just a sophomore, Bailey impressed his coaches last season and will be one of the top linemen in the league this fall. After that, the Hogs will have to turn to youth for help. True freshman Brey Cook could be thrust into the starting role at right tackle, while sophomore Anthony Oden could get the job at left tackle.

10. Florida: Florida’s offensive line struggled throughout the 2010 season -- and that was with a senior-laden group. This fall, the Gators will start over with a ton of inexperience. Right guard Jon Halapio and right tackle Xavier Nixon are the only returning starters. Halapio struggled at times last season and Nixon battled injuries. Florida’s line spent most of the spring in the infirmary, so little is known about the overall talent. Freshman Chaz Green left spring as the starter at left tackle, Jonotthan Harrison will battle former Notre Dame lineman Dan Wenger at center. He transferred in after spring, but has health concerns.

11. Auburn: The Tigers will go from having one of the top offensive line groups in the country to having a major work in progress in 2011. Senior Brandon Mosley is the lone returning starter, and while he was solid on Auburn’s line last season, he came from junior college as a defensive end/tight end. The good news is that tackle A.J. Greene should be fine this fall after sustaining a season-ending leg injury last year. The rest of Auburn’s linemen are very young and inexperienced. Don’t expect many redshirts from this group.

12. Vanderbilt: The Commodores might return all five starters, but this unit had trouble keeping things together last year. The offense needs this group to improve mightily. Wesley Johnson is Vanderbilt’s best option, despite only being a sophomore at left tackle. There will be size on the right side, with 300-plus pounders Kyle Fischer and Ryan Seymour over there. Simply put, this unit has the experience, but it requires a lot of improvement.

Some of what's making news in the SEC:

• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett returned to practice Tuesday and says he's 100 percent.
• Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun takes a look at all the different theories on what's happened to Florida this season.
• Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is concerned about all the hard hits redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray is taking.
• Kentucky's Randall Cobb apologizes for ripping negative fans on Twitter and asks for their forgiveness.
• Alabama is dealing with a laundry list of injuries. Right offensive tackle D.J. Fluker is questionable with a groin pull.
• Good team chemistry forms the winning edge for Auburn, writes Andy Bitter of The Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer.
• Tennessee linebacker Nick Reveiz is hyped about the battle with Alabama's running back tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.
• Center Logan Stewart looks like he'll be the next freshman thrown into Vanderbilt's starting lineup.
• With Leon Berry out for the season, Mississippi State is looking for reinforcements at receiver.
• Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate writes that there's no doubt the West is best this season.

Schedule: Practice starts Thursday at 10:30 a.m. ET for the first group and 8:30 p.m. ET for the second group. The first day in full pads is Monday (Aug. 9).

What’s new: After James Willis left to be Tommy Tuberville’s defensive coordinator at Texas Tech, Alabama coach Nick Saban promoted Jeremy Pruitt to a full-time assistant from his role as director of player development. Pruitt will work with the secondary.

Sidelined: Saban announced Wednesday that sophomore safety Rod Woodson has left the program and plans to transfer. Signees Ronnie Carswell and Wilson Love will grayshirt and enroll in January. A third signee, Deion Belue, has yet to qualify academically and won’t start camp with the Crimson Tide, who are still holding a spot for Blake Sims assuming he gets final approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse. Junior defensive end Marcell Dareus will practice with the team while he awaits word from the NCAA on whether he will be suspended for any games as a result of his trip to Miami in the spring. The NCAA is investigating to see if any part of that trip was funded by agents.

Key battle: With the exception of Mark Barron at strong safety, every job in the secondary is up for grabs. Dre Kirkpatrick is the probable starter at one cornerback, but B.J. Scott will fight it out with junior college newcomer DeQuan Menzie and true freshmen DeMarcus Milliner and John Fulton for the other starting spot. Robert Lester has a beat on that second safety job, but true freshmen Jarrick Williams and Nick Perry could also be factors.

New on the scene: In addition to all the new faces in the secondary, a pair of true freshmen may be doing the kicking for the Crimson Tide this fall -- Cade Foster as the place-kicker and Jay Williams as the punter. Redshirt freshman D.J. Fluker is the favorite to win the right tackle job on the offensive line. True freshman receiver DeAndrew White has been impressive with his speed during summer workouts.

Breaking out: Alabama has stockpiled talent at the linebacker position over the last few years. Don’t be surprised if junior Courtney Upshaw emerges as the next All-SEC linebacker for the Crimson Tide.

Don’t forget about: Dont’a Hightower was on the field last season for less than four full games. Imagine how good that defense would have been had he been there all season. He’s back healthy now after recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and will step into Rolando McClain’s middle linebacker spot in Alabama's base defense and shift over to the “Jack” linebacker spot on passing downs.

All eyes on: Junior running back Mark Ingram. What’s he do for an encore after winning the Heisman Trophy? One thing’s for sure. He won’t have to do it by himself. His backup, Trent Richardson, might be just as good, meaning there could be a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Tuscaloosa this fall.

Quoting: “A lot of people ask, ‘How are you being motivated?’ The way I look at it is that if you’ve been to the mountain top, why would you settle for anything less?” -- Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- One of the rocks on Alabama's football team this season will undoubtedly be senior offensive lineman Mike Johnson.

He and senior Drew Davis are the only holdovers from an offensive line last season that was one of the best in the country.

Whenever the Crimson Tide got in trouble on offense, they turned to their guys up front.

Johnson isn't ready to say this group is ready for that same kind of responsibility, not after just eight practices and not with Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell currently in NFL camps, but he's confident they will get there.

"It's one of those things where cohesiveness is so big for the offensive line," said Johnson, who's back at his left guard spot after playing left tackle in the Sugar Bowl last season when Smith was suspended.

"It's five guys who all have to be on the same page. When you've got three newcomers plugged into the offensive line, it's not going to just happen overnight. It's time together that's going to let us get to that level. Those guys last year, we all spent a lot of time together. I think we definitely have the ability. It's just going to take some time.

"We're on our way. One day, it's going to click, and we're going to be just like we were."

It sounds like Alabama is pretty set with four guys. The left side has junior college newcomer James Carpenter at tackle and Johnson at guard. Junior William Vlachos has been a fixture at center, but the right side could include any number of combinations.

Right now, the Crimson Tide have been working true freshman D.J. Fluker at right tackle. If he's good enough to win that job, then Davis could slide inside to guard. Davis started all 14 games at right tackle last season. Sophomore Alfred McCullough and junior Brian Motley are also possibilities at right guard if the Tide choose to keep Davis at right tackle.

Regardless of how it shakes out, Johnson thinks the Crimson Tide will be more balanced on offense this season.

And he's not interested in analyzing how far the program has come under Nick Saban in just two short years. He'll have time to reflect on down the road.

"The main thing we have to realize as a team is not to stop and look at what we've done," Johnson said. "It's one of those things where if we stop and look, we're going to slow down. If we keep learning and Coach Saban keeps pushing us the way he is, then we'll be where we want to be."

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The Crimson Tide are looking for stability at left offensive tackle, and a pair of newcomers are in line for the job. Look for a freshman running back to play a key role for the second straight season, too.

Trent Richardson, RB: A year ago, it was Mark Ingram bursting onto the scene as a true freshman and rushing for 728 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Now it's Richardson's turn. He's a 5-foot-11, 220-pound speedster who could have gone anywhere in the country. Alabama coach Nick Saban called Richardson a great player when he signed, and that's not the kind of praise Saban randomly hands out every February when his signing classes are complete. With Glen Coffee leaving early for the NFL, look for Richardson to step into Coffee's role and emerge as one of the more productive true freshman running backs in the country.

James Carpenter, OT: Who's going to replace Andre Smith at left tackle? It sounds like Carpenter will get the first shot. The junior college newcomer went through spring practice and won the Bart Starr Award as one of the most improved players on the team. His junior college coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College called him the most complete offensive tackle he's ever coached. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Carpenter showed signs of being a dominant run-blocker in the spring, but still needs to polish up his pass protection skills some. Somebody's going to have to make a big push in the preseason to beat him out.

D.J. Fluker, OT: If anybody's going to beat out Carpenter, it will probably be Fluker. One of the most heralded prospects in this signing class, Fluker was on every prep All-America team. He's massive (6-foot-6 and 350 pounds) and certainly looks the part of a starting left tackle in the SEC. But so much of playing that position is mental and revolves around experience. Smith did it as a true freshman, but he was the exception. The best news for the Crimson Tide is that they will have options. Carpenter and Fluker will be able to push each other, and if one goes down, Alabama won't necessarily have to shuffle the whole line around to find a replacement.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

How Alabama's starting offensive line will shake out in the fall is still anybody's guess.

Senior Mike Johnson's a lock somewhere, probably at left guard, and so is senior Drew Davis, probably at right tackle. Junior William Vlachos is also a good bet to be the starting center when the Crimson Tide open the season against Virginia Tech on Sept. 5 in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff in Atlanta.

But as the final pieces are put into place when preseason practice starts in August, there's bound to be a few surprises.

The unknown of it all is also bound to make for a few sleepless nights in Tide Land.

There's no debating that the offensive line was Alabama's rock last season. Those five guys were the reason the Crimson Tide were able to control games, control the clock and jump out front against just about everybody they played.

As Vlachos noted this spring, "We put a lot of stock in our O-line."

Yes, they do. But it remains to be seen if they will be able to lean on the offensive line as much as they did a year ago with Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis all gone.

"We obviously have high expectations," said Johnson, one of the better returning offensive linemen in the league. "Just because you lose a few guys here and there, we still gotta plug those guys in and focus on having a good team next year and playing to the best of our ability.

"We lost some great guys. I look back to my true freshman year. We lost three NFL guys on the offensive line and came back and won 10 games. It's just something you've got to piece together and come together as a team, and every school goes through it every spring or so. It's something we've got to work with."

But it's not as simple as putting your five most dominant or five most talented guys out there. Solid offensive line play is all about chemistry, cohesiveness and know-how.

"It's not the five best guys. It's the five who make the best team," Johnson said.

Joe Pendry, Alabama's veteran offensive line coach, knows that as well as anyone. This is not his first rodeo. A former NFL offensive coordinator, he's put together a few offensive lines in his time after losing great players.

And, really, talent shouldn't be an issue.

The Crimson Tide have stocked up on highly rated offensive line prospects.

Junior college newcomer James Carpenter exited spring as the likely starter at left tackle, but heralded incoming freshman D.J. Fluker might also have something to say about who protects Greg McElroy's blind side. The 6-7, 350-pound Fluker is massive. He's bigger than Smith was when Smith arrived on campus. But Smith was mentally sharp enough to handle that position as a true freshman and was a quick learner. We don't know that yet about Fluker.

Fluker is also coming off arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder in April, which could possibly stunt his development.

The right guard spot would appear to be wide open. Junior Brian Motley started there in the spring game, but sophomore John Michael Boswell will be one to watch once preseason practice starts. True freshman Chance Warmack (6-3, 325) also looked good in the spring after enrolling early.

Junior David Ross and sophomore Barrett Jones are guys who could factor in at both guard and center.

"There's a standard that we have as an offensive line, and that standard was met last year," Ross said. "We're going to have to meet it again. I mean, we're going to run the ball between the tackles. There's no question. That's our offense. So we're going to do whatever we have to do to be successful at that."

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

We start a week-long primer today that should further get you ready for the start of spring practice in the SEC.

The first topic: Who are the five players or coaches in the SEC that will be the toughest to replace in 2009?

Let's face it. There are some big shoes to fill in this league.

Here goes:

	Charles Sonnenblick/Getty Images
	It won't be easy for Florida to replace Percy Harvin.

1. Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith: This was an easy choice for the top spot. For one, Smith is one of the best left tackles to come through the SEC in the last decade. He was dominant in every way. But go back and look at what the Crimson Tide did (or didn't do) without him last season in the two games he missed. They struggled mightily against Tulane and were torched by Utah in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Retooling the offensive line will be a major undertaking for Alabama. Also gone are All-America center Antoine Caldwell and steady guard Marlon Davis. A couple of first-year players could be in line to replace Smith -- junior college newcomer James Carpenter and highly rated true freshman D.J. Fluker, who won't be on campus until this summer. If neither are ready, Alabama might have to move Mike Johnson over to left tackle from his guard spot. Johnson filled in for Smith in the bowl game before leaving with an ankle injury.

2. Florida running back/receiver Percy Harvin: How do you replace the most explosive player in the SEC, maybe the explosive player in all of college football? Harvin was a threat to go the distance as a running back and a receiver, and it didn't matter where you lined him up. The only knock on him was that he was prone to injury. He was coming back from a nasty sprained ankle in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game, but still managed to rush for 122 yards on nine carries, catch five passes for 49 yards and score a touchdown in the 15th straight game in which he'd played. Without him, Florida probably doesn't beat Oklahoma. Don't feel too sorry for the Gators, though. They still have plenty of speedy playmakers -- just nobody quite like Harvin. Some of the guys to watch are Deonte Thompson, David Nelson and incoming true freshman Andre Debose. Florida also redshirted three receivers last season who were all highly rated coming out of high school.

3. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford: As great as running back Knowshon Moreno was, strong-armed quarterbacks like Stafford, who've started since their freshman season, are invaluable. His leaving early for the NFL draft also means Georgia will be going with somebody at quarterback (whoever it is) that has little or no experience in SEC competition. With Stafford's ability to make every throw, he kept defensive coordinators honest. He could beat you a number of different ways. Some of the Georgia fans got down on him at times because of untimely interceptions, but he led the SEC with an average of 266.1 passing yards per game last season and was second with 25 touchdowns, while completing 61.4 percent of his passes. Those numbers won't be easy to replace. Taking his shot will be fifth-year senior Joe Cox, who rallied Georgia past Colorado as a redshirt freshman in 2006. True freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are already on campus and will go through spring practice, and sophomore Logan Gray is one of the best all-around athletes on the team.

4. Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers: If you've been keeping up with the NFL combine, you're getting a feel for what kind of talent Ayers is. He was the second-best player on Tennessee's team last season behind All-American safety Eric Berry. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Ayers was the kind of defensive lineman coaches love. He could play inside or outside and finished third in the SEC with 15.5 tackles for loss. Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith said Ayers was the best player he faced last season and was equally good as a pass rusher and against the run. The other thing that makes Ayers so difficult to replace is that the Vols are scary thin on the defensive line, and they certainly don't have a proven difference-maker at this point in Ayers' mold. This is a big spring for junior defensive ends Ben Martin and Chris Walker, but neither are big enough to slide inside and help. Senior Wes Brown may get a look inside after having a solid 2008 season at end. But other than senior tackle Dan Williams, there's not much there on the interior for the Vols.

5. Ole Miss defensive tackle Peria Jerry: The only reason Jerry's not a little higher up on this list is because Ole Miss does have some quality depth in its defensive line. Former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron had recruited extremely well in the defensive line, and Jerry was the gem of that group. He was the SEC's most dominant defensive tackle during the last half of the 2008 season and completely took over games at times. He wrecked opposing teams' plays before they ever had a chance to get started and lifted the play of everybody else around him. Jerry was a first-team All-American who led the SEC with 18.5 tackles for loss from his tackle position, and that kind of player doesn't come around every day. He was also one of the leaders of the Rebels' defense. Ole Miss returns Ted Laurent, Lawon Scott and Jerrell Powe in the middle. Laurent and Scott both have star potential, and if the 335-pound Powe can keep his weight down, he also has a chance to be a real factor next season.