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You can tell spring practice is about to get underway at Mississippi State because the Bulldogs' coveted pre-spring depth chart is out.

Mississippi State kicks things off Thursday and there aren't any surprises on offense, but there's no question that the offensive line will get a ton of attention this spring. The Bulldogs are without tackles James Carmon and Addison Lawrence, so sophomores Blaine Clausell (left tackle) and Damien Robinson (right tackle) will begin the spring in their spots.

With safety Charles Mitchell gone and fellow safety Nickoe Whitley limited with a ruptured Achilles, senior Louis Watson and sophomore Jay Hughes are listed at the starting safety spots to open the spring.

You'll also notice that early enrollee defensive linemen Denico Autry (JUCO defensive end) and Quay Evans (defensive tackle) aren't both listed on Mississippi State's two-deep. Not to fret Bulldogs fans. They aren't in coach Dan Mullen's doghouse. Autry is behind Shane McCardell, but man think he could exit the spring as a starter. They just have to earn their way. Both are highly touted new arrivals and both will have plenty of opportunities to earn spots this spring.

South Carolina practice update

The Gamecocks went through their fourth spring practice Tuesday, but did so without a few players who were dealing with injuries.

Starting center T.J. Johnson sat out Tuesday's practice after suffering a sprained foot last week. Other players out were tight end Rory Anderson (sprained ankle), cornerback Ahmad Christian (concussion), cornerback Cadarious Sanders (hamstring) and linebacker Quin Smith (back).

With South Carolina set to conduct its first scrimmage of the spring Saturday, defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward talked about how some players on defense have looked heading into the weekend.

He complimented the play of the line up front, singling out end Gerald Dixon and tackles Gerald Dixon Jr. and J.T. Surratt. Ward said sophomore safety Kadetrix Marcus is doing well on the perimeter, while fellow safety Brison Williams has shown signs of "being a starter for us at the boundary safety spot."

Ward also said that while cornerback Victor Hampton is doing well at times, he has a tendency to take too many chances at times.

This defense is expected to yet again be one of the top ones in the SEC this fall, but Ward said the unit still has a ways to go and still has a lot to clean up in the coming weeks.

“We still have a long way to go,” Ward said. “We’ve seen some slight improvement by some young guys but not enough improvement to where we can feel good about them helping us win a lot of ball games next season. We’ve still got a ways to go, but still have quite a few practices to get it done.

"I feel good about some of the young guys but we’ve got to get a lot more out of a couple of them.”

South Carolina returns to practice Friday at 4:15 p.m. ET and it's open to the public.

We move to linebackers today in our postseason position rankings.

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

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

And here are our postseason rankings:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Most of the news concerning Ole Miss’ defense -- especially its secondary -- lately hasn’t been great.

The Rebels lost defensive standout -- and emotional leader -- D.T. Shackelford this spring. Then, coach Houston Nutt dismissed linebacker Clarence Jackson and defensive end Delvin Jones just days after both were after arrested for public drunkenness.

Let’s not forget the defense as a whole has a lot of questions surrounding it heading into the 2011 season.
Well, the Rebels’ defense finally got some good news -- and at just the right area, too.

Defensive back Denzel Nkemdiche, which is pronounced kim-DEECH-ee (thank you, Ole Miss), signed a financial aid agreement with Ole Miss and is expected to be available to play for the Rebels this fall.

Nkemdiche, of Loganville, Ga., is a member of Ole Miss’ 2011 class. Originally, Nkemdiche signed with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in February because it was thought that he would be an academic non-qualifier. Earlier this week, Nkemdiche received the news that he had gotten a high enough score on his SAT to be cleared academically.

Due to NCAA rules, Nkemdiche can’t sign a letter of intent because the LOI period ended on April 1, but he was allowed to sign the financial aid agreement. Technically, he won’t officially be counted as an Ole Miss recruit until he attends his first day of classes this summer.

"Denzel helps our numbers in the defensive backfield immensely," Nutt said in a release. "He is physical and very fast. He is a blitzer who tackles fundamentally sound, and most importantly, he finds the football. With his versatility, he provides a lot of options."

The 5-foot-11, 198-pound athlete could wind up playing safety for the Rebels, but there was a shortage of cornerback numbers this spring. He recorded 101 tackles, including 18 for loss, eight sacks and three interception returns for touchdowns as a senior. On offense, he rushed for 192 yards and three scores on 39 carries.

The addition of Nkemdiche brings some much-needed help to the Rebels’ secondary. Ole Miss worked with just three scholarship cornerbacks this spring. The Rebels have better depth at safety, but as a whole, the unit is still unproven.

The Rebels do return senior starter Damien Jackson at free safety, and sophomores Brishen Matthews and Frank Crawford are also back. Ole Miss also got some good production out of junior college transfers Ivan Nicholas and Josh Shipp this spring.

2010 overall record: 4-8

2010 conference record: 1-7

Returning starters

Offense: 9; Defense: 5; Kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

RB Brandon Bolden, RB Jeff Scott, OT Bradley Sowell, OG Alex Washington, WR Melvin Harris, DE Kentrell Lockett, CB Marcus Temple, S Damien Jackson


Key losses

QB Jeremiah Masoli, WR Markeith Summers, DT Jerrell Powe, DT Ted Laurent, LB Jonathan Cornell, LB Allen Walker, S Johnny Brown, CB Jeremy McGee

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Bolden* (976 yards)

Passing: Masoli (2,039 yards)

Receiving: Summers (575 yards)

Tackles: Cornell (80)

Sacks: D.T. Shackelford (5)

Interceptions: Charles Sawyer*, Fon Ingram (2)

Spring answers

1. Complete running game: The one sure thing in Oxford is that the Rebels will be able to lean on their running game this fall. Senior Bolden continued to impress during spring, earning the most outstanding offensive player of spring drills award, and backups Scott and Enrique Davis each had very solid springs. Scott is the slicer and dicer out of the backfield, while Bolden is a pure power runner. With Davis, Ole Miss gets a little of both. The Rebels will need everything they can churn out of the running game because inexperience is the backbone of the quarterback and wide receiver positions.

2. Offensive line strength: Making that running game even better will be a veteran offensive line. Ole Miss returns All-SEC caliber tackles Sowell and Bobby Massie and has seven players that started two or more games each on the offensive line in 2010. While there was some movement on the line this spring, the position should be one of the strengths this fall for the Rebels. Senior left guard Washington is back, while Arkansas junior transfer Matt Hall, who split time with Jared Duke, saw action last fall at right guard.

3. Legendary Lockett: The Rebels suffered a devastating blow this spring when linebacker D.T. Shackelford went down with a knee injury that will likely cost him his senior season. However, Ole Miss was fortunate enough to get senior defensive end Kentrell Lockett back, who was granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA after suffering a season-ending knee injury at the beginning of last season. Lockett was a preseason All-SEC pick a year ago and has 22.5 career tackles for loss. Lockett brings not only the presence of a relentless pass rusher to the defense but he’ll be one of the leaders of the team. The Rebels will need him as a force on the field and in the locker room this fall.

Fall questions

1. Young guns: While Ole Miss’ coaches were pretty pleased with the play of their quarterbacks this spring, the Rebels will enter fall camp with a trio of inexperienced signal callers. Redshirt junior Randall Mackey left spring with a slight edge over West Virginia transfer Barry Brunetti and junior college transfer Zack Stoudt. The good news was that Brunetti was granted a waiver by the NCAA to play immediately, but he’s got minimal experience. Mackey and Stoudt have none. Regardless of who starts, the winner will have to go through some tough growing pains this season.

2. Unproven receivers: Not making the quarterback situation any better is the fact that the Rebels have yet to find a true playmaker in the receiving corps. Offensive coordinator David Lee said during the spring that the most consistent thing his receivers were doing was dropping the ball. That improved toward the end of spring, but Ole Miss is still looking for someone to break out of the group and take hold of the position. The Rebels still have junior Melvin Harris, who was second on the team a year ago with 30 catches and 408 yards. Redshirt freshman Vincent Sanders, who had a spring game-high 96 yards on four catches, could have the most natural athleticism at the position, but will have to sure up his inconsistencies as well.

3. Defensive marks: The Rebels’ defense has a lot of question marks at the moment. The secondary improved this spring, but it is still young and the group was a major issue last fall. Lockett is back at defensive end, but, as a whole, the defensive line is still pretty green. Making matters even worse was the loss of Shackelford. There is not only a gaping hole at linebacker but Ole Miss lost the soul of its team. Replacing both aspects of what made Shackelford unique won’t be easy. The Rebels worked Mike Marry, Clarence Jackson and Ralph Williams in Shackelford’s spot, but incoming freshman C.J. Johnson could end up with the spot this year. Regardless, the defense has a ton of maturing to do this year.

Everywhere Ole Miss’ secondary turns, it’s there: 4-8.

It’s a simple reminder -- or punishment -- of the Rebels’ disappointing 2010 record and it’s something the secondary takes seriously.

The secondary knows the word around town is that it was the reason for last season’s debacle. And players read how the defensive backs squandered chances at comebacks.

It’s hard to argue.

The Rebels surrendered 246.3 passing yards per game, which ranked 11th in the SEC and 103rd nationally. Ole Miss collected just six interceptions, but allowed 24 touchdowns though the air.

For that, Ole Miss’ secondary understands why it must live with its damning label and why the only way it will vanish is with its own transformation.

“Every day we go out onto the field, we carry that on our back -- 4-8,” junior college transfer cornerback Wesley Pendleton said. “Every day in the huddle we tell ourselves we are not going 4-8 again, no matter what.”

But shaking that stigma won’t be easy.

The Rebels entered spring sparse at the cornerback spot, with just three having any field experience with last season‘s team. Reserve Julian Whitehead also left the team before spring.

However, one of those three, senior Marcus Temple was already out for the spring after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia.

Pendleton, who arrived in January, was immediately thrown into the regular rotation with sophomore Charles Sawyer, who started four games in 2010, and youngsters Cliff Coleman and Frank Crawford.

As for safety, the Rebels’ only experience comes from senior Damien Jackson, who started eight games in 2010, and sophomore Brishen Mathews, who played in all 12 games, recording 15 tackles.

Helping out at safety is JUCO transfer Ivan Nicholas, who has impressed at times this spring.

The numbers aren't ideal, but Burns isn’t worried.

“I can take thin as long as there’s talent,” Burns said. “The guys we have are very talented. They’re eager to be coached and they want to be good and that’s a combination that gives you a chance to be successful.”

It’s quite the rebuilding process for Burns, who joined the Rebels after coaching Kansas State’s secondary in 2010. With the Wildcats, safety Ty Zimmerman was a Freshman All-American, while defensive backs Stephen Harrison and Terrance Sweeney earned All-Big 12 honors.

But it’s not coverage schemes or fancy formations that Burns teaches. His basic rule is to have his players go into each practice with the goal of getting something out of it, whether it’s improving one’s stance or learning to finish plays.

One motivational story Burns tells is about coaching long-time New York Giants safety Jason Sehorn at USC. Sehorn got beat by a receiver on a double move and while he was frustrated and embarrassed, he got back in line, went again, and batted the ball away.

Sehorn’s willingness to get back up has motivated Burns’ current players and he thinks they are getting the message.

“I’ve been real impressed with their work ethic and attitude,” Burns said. “If we continue to work together, stick together, stay together, we have a chance of being really good.”

That work ethic has spilled over into 6 a.m. walk-throughs, where the secondary is improving its communication skills. And one instance of attitude adjustment came when Burns benched Sawyer for falling behind in practice. Burns said Sawyer’s demeanor immediately changed and is finally showing quality reps in order to stay away from the back end of the depth chart.

But spring practice isn’t going to magically reshape this unit. It’s a starting point, but there is much more for it to learn.

The thing Burns wants his players to take from spring is developing confidence and learning to finish plays. The Rebels got caught looking a lot in 2010 and Burns doesn’t want that epidemic plaguing them this time around.

“You gotta believe you can finish and make the play,” he said.

“I’ve had a lot of corners that could cover. I’ve had a lot of defensive backs that could hit. But the guy that you really remember is the guy who could finish on the ball.”

It’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season in the SEC, and we’ll start on defense.

Here’s a rundown of who returns most of their top tacklers from this past year.

We’ll start with the Western Division since it owned the Eastern Division this season.

ALABAMA

The Crimson Tide return 18 of their top 20 tacklers from this season, including their top seven tacklers. The entire secondary will be back, including All-SEC safety Mark Barron, who led the team with 75 tackles. Free safety Robert Lester led the SEC with eight interceptions. Outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss, and middle linebacker Dont’a Hightower was second on the team with 69 tackles. Eight of the 11 players who started on defense in the Capital One Bowl return for the Tide.

Key losses: Defensive ends Marcell Dareus (11 tackles for loss) and Luther Davis (three tackles for loss).

ARKANSAS

The Hogs return 15 of their top 20 tacklers from this season, including their top three tacklers. Linebackers Jerry Franklin (13.5 tackles for loss) and Jerico Nelson (11 tackles for loss) are both back along with safety Tramain Thomas, who led the Hogs with four interceptions. Defensive end Jake Bequette had a team-leading seven sacks, while fellow defensive end Tenarius Wright had six sacks.

Key losses: Linebacker Anthony Leon (12.5 tackles for loss), safety Rudell Crim (three interceptions) and cornerback Ramon Broadway (team-leading six pass breakups).

AUBURN

The Tigers return 10 of their top 20 tacklers from this season, losing five of their top seven tacklers. Only four of the 11 players who started on defense in the BCS National Championship Game return. In the secondary, cornerback Neiko Thorpe and safety Mike McNeil return. Thorpe was third on the team with 64 tackles and also had a team-leading nine pass breakups. McNeil led the Tigers with 14 tackles in the title game and was sixth during the season with 56 tackles. Defensive end Nosa Eguae had 7.5 tackles for loss.

Key losses: Defensive tackle Nick Fairley (24 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks), defensive end Antoine Carter (11 tackles for loss), linebackers Josh Bynes (team-leading 73 tackles) and Craig Stevens (62 tackles) and safety Zac Etheridge (69 tackles, three interceptions).

LSU

The Tigers return 15 of their top 20 tacklers from this season, including seven of their top 10 tacklers. Outside linebacker Ryan Baker was second on the team with 87 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss. Baker led the team with seven sacks. Cornerbacks Morris Claiborne (five interceptions) and Tyrann Mathieu (8.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions) are back along with defensive end Sam Montgomery, who had six tackles for loss before he was hurt midway through the season.

Key losses: Cornerback Patrick Peterson (four interceptions), defensive tackle Drake Nevis (team-leading 13 tackles for loss) and middle linebacker Kelvin Sheppard (team-leading 116 tackles).

MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Bulldogs return 14 of their top 20 tacklers from this season, but lose their top two tacklers in linebackers Chris White and K.J. Wright. Returning are safety Charles Mitchell (93 tackles) and tackles Fletcher Cox (6.5 tackles for loss) and Josh Boyd (7.5 tackles for loss). The entire starting secondary is back, including cornerbacks Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield. Each had three interceptions this season.

Key losses: White (110 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss), Wright (98 tackles, eight for loss) and defensive end Pernell McPhee (10 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries).

OLE MISS

The Rebels return 12 of their top 20 tacklers from this season, but four of their top five tacklers are departing. Safety Damien Jackson is back after finishing second on the team with 68 tackles. Linebacker D.T. Shackelford had 9.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback Charles Sawyer had two interceptions. Defensive end Kentrell Lockett has applied to the NCAA for a sixth season after injuring his knee and playing in only three games this season.

Key losses: Linebacker Jonathan Cornell (team-leading 80 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss), linebacker Allen Walker (7.5 tackles for loss), nose guard Jerrell Powe (8.5 tackles for loss) and safety Johnny Brown (third on the team with 66 tackles).

Taking a stroll around the SEC:

• Florida coach Urban Meyer says Chris Rainey is on track to play Saturday against Georgia.
• Tennessee fullback Kevin Cooper will sit out the South Carolina game after being suspended for academic reasons.
• Auburn's players say they will stay the course as the No. 1 team in the BCS standings.
• NCAA statistics show that Alabama has the toughest remaining schedule, writes Izzy Gould of The Birmingham News.
• Derrick Locke, Kentucky's leading rusher, will miss his third straight game with a shoulder stinger and won't travel with the team to Mississippi State on Saturday.
• South Carolina freshman running back Marcus Lattimore pronounces himself "100 percent" and ready to go against Tennessee.
• Mississippi State is zeroing in on its defensive mistakes from a week ago with Kentucky coming to town.
• Ole Miss safety Damien Jackson, the Rebels' second-leading tackler, appears doubtful with a knee injury for Saturday's game against Auburn.
• The NFL draft stock of Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston is soaring.
• Vanderbilt starting defensive back Jamie Graham underwent knee surgery Wednesday and may be lost for the rest of the season.

It was obvious back in the spring that junior college newcomer Damien Jackson was going to be a key component of Ole Miss' defense.

Defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix couldn't stop talking about Jackson's knack for being around the ball and making plays.

With senior free safety Fon Ingram scheduled to have arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday, Jackson becomes even more important to the Rebels. He was already pushing to be a starter, but now it's a given. Ingram could miss up to four weeks after injuring his knee in Saturday's scrimmage.

Get ready to see a slew of new faces in the Ole Miss secondary this fall. The good thing with Jackson is that he's older and had a chance to go through spring practice. The backups, though, at safety are true freshman Brishen Matthews and redshirt freshman Dele Junaid, at least with Ingram sidelined. Matthews has been especially impressive during fall camp.

Redshirt freshman Charles Sawyer is also pushing to be a big part of the rotation at cornerback and is essentially a third starter right now.

The only holdover from last season in the Ole Miss secondary is senior strong safety Johnny Brown. Everybody else will be a first-time starter, and at least four of the players expected to be a part of the secondary rotation will be playing their first snaps in a major college game.

Schedule: Practice starts Sunday at 5:25 p.m. ET. The first day in full pads is Thursday (Aug. 12).

What’s new: With Kent Austin leaving for the Cornell head coaching job, Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt brought in Dave Rader to be his co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. It’s still Nutt’s offense, so don’t look for the Rebels to change much on that side of the ball.

Sidelined: Defensive back Tig Barksdale has been dismissed from the team after being suspended for the spring. The Rebels are still waiting to hear on whether five signees made it academically -- receivers Vincent Sanders and Quadarias Mireles, defensive linemen Bryon Bennett and Delvin Jones and cornerback Tony Grimes.

Key battle: The Rebels feel pretty good about senior Markeith Summers as their starting split end, but they still need to settle on their other featured receivers. Senior Lionel Breaux, sophomore Jesse Grandy, redshirt freshman Ja-Mes Logan and sophomore Melvin Harris will be fighting it out for those spots.

New on the scene: Three junior college newcomers could play key roles this season. Damien Jackson made a ton of big plays in the spring and will push to be the starter at free safety. Wayne Dorsey enters the preseason as the starter at defensive end opposite Kentrell Lockett, and Nutt wants to get Randall Mackey the ball in several different spots on offense. Mackey was a quarterback in junior college, but may bounce around a little bit for the Rebels. Redshirt freshman Charles Sawyer will compete for a starting cornerback job. True freshman Mike Marry should play some at linebacker, while true freshman Carlos Thompson may be hard to keep off the field at defensive end.

Breaking out: Sophomore linebacker D.T. Shackelford showed enough flashes as a freshman that you knew it was just a matter of time before he became a marquee player in this league. That time may be now.

Don’t forget about: Senior nose tackle Jerrell Powe gets most of the publicity on Ole Miss’ defensive front and rightfully so. He’s one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league. But senior Ted Laurent is equally imposing in the middle of that defensive line and was named the Rebels’ most improved defensive player in the spring.

All eyes on: Senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Nobody in the SEC, maybe the country, will have more eyes on him than Masoli, the star of the Oregon team until he was dismissed following his second run-in with the law. Nutt said Masoli’s on a zero-tolerance leash. But if he stays out of trouble and plays the way he did at Oregon, he’s just the kind of playmaker the Rebels are looking for on offense. Masoli still has to beat out sophomore Nathan Stanley for the job. Stanley exited the spring as the starter, although he doesn’t have any meaningful experience. Nutt’s probably not going to thrust Masoli to the top of the depth chart right away, but he also didn’t roll the dice on a player with Masoli’s baggage to have him sit on the bench and serve as a backup all season.

Quoting: “Nobody gave us a chance when coach Nutt first came in. I think we do really well when we don’t have a lot of expectations.” -- Ole Miss nose tackle Jerrell Powe

The SEC lost a bevy of great defensive backs from a year ago.

In fact, 12 were taken in the NFL draft, and seven went in the first three rounds. Gone are Eric Berry, Joe Haden, Kareem Jackson, Major Wright, Javier Arenas, Chad Jones, Myron Lewis, Walt McFadden, Marquis Johnson, Kendrick Lewis, Reshad Jones and Trevard Lindley.

What’s that leave in the way of the top defensive backfields in the SEC for 2010?

Here’s a look:

1. Florida: It’s a testament to how well the Gators have recruited that they own the top secondary in the SEC even after losing Haden and Wright early to the NFL. Janoris Jenkins is one of the top cornerbacks in the league, and good luck in finding a better safety tandem than Will Hill and Ahmad Black. Talented freshmen are waiting in the wings, too, like Matt Elam and Joshua Shaw.

2. South Carolina: The Gamecocks were second in the league last season in pass defense and should be even harder to throw the ball on in 2010. Sophomore Stephon Gilmore is one of the best young cornerbacks in college football, and his former high school teammate, safety DeVonte Holloman, may be one of the breakout players in the league. Senior Chris Culliver, a second-team All-SEC selection last season, also returns and is switching from safety to cornerback.

3. LSU: If you’re looking for the fastest secondary in the SEC, look no further than the unit the Tigers will put on the field this season. Patrick Peterson is the best cornerback in the country -- period -- and his running mate on the other side, Morris Claiborne, has been turning heads since the spring. They may end up being the best cornerback tandem in the league. Jai Eugene has moved from cornerback to safety, while Brandon Taylor returns at the other safety. He, too, is a former cornerback.

4. Auburn: There’s nothing like adding three veteran leaders back to the mix, and that’s what Auburn will do with senior safeties Zac Etheridge, Aairon Savage and Mike McNeil. All are returning from serious injuries. One of the priorities this season is to get junior cornerback Neiko Thorpe more help. He played too many snaps a year ago. Demond Washington is returning to his cornerback position after filling in at safety last season.

5. Vanderbilt: Don’t blink. Vanderbilt has consistently played some of the best pass defense in the SEC under Jamie Bryant, who oversees the Commodores’ secondary. Safety Sean Richardson and cornerback Casey Hayward are returning starters, and both have what it takes to be All-SEC players. Junior Jamie Graham has settled in at the other cornerback after playing receiver earlier in his career. Nickelback Eddie Foster also returns, and the Commodores liked what they saw this spring from freshman safeties Jay Fullam and Kenny Ladler.

6. Alabama: The only guy who won’t be new for the Crimson Tide this season in the secondary is junior safety Mark Barron, who led the SEC with seven interceptions a year ago. Everybody else who was in the rotation is gone. Alabama still has plenty of young talent in its defensive backfield, but there could be some growing pains early. Sophomore cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick has unlimited potential. There’s also a chance that junior college cornerback DeQuan Menzie could be back after tearing his Achilles tendon in the spring.

7. Georgia: The Bulldogs gave up far too many big plays in the secondary last season and allowed a league-high 25 touchdown passes. They should be better in 2010, particularly with the addition of junior college safety Jakar Hamilton, who was one of the stars of the spring. Junior cornerback Brandon Boykin has the skills to be one of the league’s top cover guys, but the Bulldogs are still thin at the cornerback position. They can’t afford any injuries.

8. Tennessee: The dismissal of starting safety Darren Myles Jr. following his arrest and involvement in a bar brawl drops the Vols down a spot or two. They don’t have a lot of depth behind him. The leader of the unit is sophomore free safety Janzen Jackson, who can be one of the best defensive backs in the league if he stays out of trouble off the field. Junior cornerback Art Evans is underrated and will be the Vols’ top cover guy.

9. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs got big performances from freshmen last season in their secondary, which means their pass defense should improve considerably from their No. 11 showing in the SEC a year ago. Sophomore cornerback Corey Broomfield had six interceptions, and sophomore Johnthan Banks had four interceptions. Banks is moving from free safety to cornerback this season. Also look for a big junior season from strong safety Charles Mitchell, who is Mississippi State’s enforcer back there.

10. Kentucky: With Lindley missing four full games last season with a high ankle sprain, the rest of the Wildcats’ defensive backs were forced to step up their games. Three starters return, including budding star Winston Guy at free safety. Cornerbacks Paul Warford and Randall Burden are also back, as Kentucky started five defensive backs in most games. Finding another safety will be key this preseason.

11. Ole Miss: The lone returning starter is senior safety Johnny Brown, who’s coming off his best season. The Rebels’ other safety a year ago, Kendrick Lewis, was one of their mainstays on defense, and replacing him won’t be easy. Junior college newcomer Damien Jackson will draw that job, and he was extremely impressive in the spring. Ole Miss will be both inexperienced and thin at the cornerback positions.

12. Arkansas: The Hogs gladly welcome back junior cornerback Isaac Madison, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Their pass defense suffered with Madison out of the lineup, and they finished last in the league, allowing 401.2 yards per game. They also gave up 22 touchdown passes. To get more speed on the field, Arkansas moved Rudell Crim to safety during the spring. Ramon Broadway returns at the other cornerback and Elton Ford at the other safety.

2009 overall record: 9-4

2009 conference record: 4-4

Returning starters

Offense: 3; Defense: 6; Kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

RB Brandon Bolden, WR Markeith Summers, WR Jesse Grandy, OT Bobby Massie, DE Kentrell Lockett, DT Jerrell Powe, LB Jonathan Cornell, S Johnny Brown

Key losses

QB Jevan Snead, RB Dexter McCluster, WR Shay Hodge, OG John Jerry, C Daverin Geralds, DE Marcus Tillman, LB Patrick Trahan, S Kendrick Lewis

2009 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Dexter McCluster (1,169 yards)

Passing: Jevan Snead (2,632 yards)

Receiving: Shay Hodge (1,135 yards)

Tackles: Kendrick Lewis (84)

Sacks: Marcus Tillman and Emmanuel Stephens (5.5)

Interceptions: Kendrick Lewis, Cassius Vaughn, Patrick Trahan and Fon Ingram* (2)

Spring answers

1. Front seven dominance: The Rebels return six of their seven players in a front seven that should be as good and as experienced as any in the league. Senior end Kentrell Lockett and senior tackle Jerrell Powe are All-SEC caliber players, and if junior college newcomer Wayne Dorsey continues on the pace he set this spring at the other end, the Rebels again should rank right up there near the top nationally in tackles for loss. Senior linebackers Allen Walker and Jonathan Cornell are both underrated and have played a lot of quality football for the Rebels.

2. Sophomores to the rescue: The Rebels’ sophomore class looked poised this spring to really break out. Nathan Stanley takes over at quarterback. Receiver Patrick Patterson will be a key in the passing game, assuming he returns from suspension. Jesse Grandy is that big-play guy on offense and special teams that Ole Miss will need now that Dexter McCluster is gone, while Rodney Scott is Houston Nutt’s kind of running back. Offensive tackle Bobby Massie returns as the anchor up front, while linebacker D.T. Shackelford has star potential written all over him.

3. A Davis sighting: The Rebels don’t have anybody that can do what McCluster did for them at running back last season, but one of the more encouraging parts of spring practice was the way junior Enrique Davis ran the ball. He’s elusive, has breakaway speed and can make people miss. He’s been a disappointment so far after coming to Ole Miss with so much hype, but maybe the light has come on and it’s his time. Davis would be a nice complement to Brandon Bolden, who’s lost weight and also looks poised for a big season.

Fall questions

1. Stanley’s time to shine: Nathan Stanley came out of spring practice as the Rebels’ starter at quarterback. He threw the ball well, made good decisions and was effective in moving the team. Can he hold onto the job? A lot of that will depend on redshirt freshman Raymond Cotton’s shoulder issues. He also looked good at the end of the spring, but is battling a partially torn labrum and is trying to hold off from having surgery until after the 2010 season.

2. Protecting the passer: Nobody struggled more last season for the Rebels up front than left tackle Bradley Sowell. His nightmarish outing against South Carolina’s Eric Norwood just seemed to set an ominous tone. To his credit, he hung in there and did get better as the season progressed. His experience a year ago should prove valuable in 2010. The biggest question now for the Rebels in their offensive line is solidifying their inside positions.

3. Help in the secondary: The Rebels lost three of their four starters in the secondary, including both cornerbacks. Defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix liked what he saw in the spring in some of the new faces, but it’s never ideal to go into a season with so much inexperience in the secondary. Redshirt freshman Charles Sawyer had a big spring at one cornerback, while UCLA transfer Jeremy McGee may be the answer at the other cornerback. Safety Johnny Brown is the lone returning starter, but junior college newcomer Damien Jackson may end up being the best of the bunch.

Junior college players are a crap shoot. That’s a given all across college football.

Every school in the SEC (maybe with the exception of Vanderbilt) can recount a story of some junior college newcomer who arrived with all sorts of hype, only to be a bust on the field.

Keeping that in mind, I can’t help but think that junior college players will play a key role for Ole Miss next season.

Defensive end Wayne Dorsey has already made his presence felt this spring and is vying for the starting job opposite Kentrell Lockett. The 6-foot-7, 255-pound Dorsey was a junior college All-American, and his athleticism and burst off the edge make him an imposing complement to an already stout Ole Miss defensive line.

If Dorsey takes off next season and plays the way he has for much of this spring, Ole Miss’ defensive line will have few peers in the SEC.

Damien Jackson, Dorsey’s former teammate at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, has been equally impressive this spring from his safety position. He’s pushing senior starters Johnny Brown and Fon Ingram and has really blossomed in Tyrone Nix’s attacking defense.

The 6-2, 200-pound Jackson is a big hitter, but he’s also shown a lot of discipline even though he’s still learning the defense and always seems to be in the right spot.

The third key junior college performer for the Rebels has yet to arrive.

Quarterback Randall Mackey of East Mississippi Community College hopes to be on campus sometime in May. He gives the Rebels a multidimensional threat and could take the Wild Rebel formation to a whole different level because he’s a legitimate passer. In junior college, Mackey passed for more than 3,100 yards last season and also rushed for nearly 600 yards.

Sophomore Nathan Stanley has moved out front this spring in the Rebels’ quarterback race, especially with Raymond Cotton’s continuing arm problems.

But with Mackey’s versatility, he’s a strong bet to come in and play at least a supporting role at quarterback next fall. And if the Rebels struggle on offense early, don't be surprised if Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt goes to Mackey full time.

Some SEC links for your Friday reading pleasure:

• Florida fans aren't exactly gobbling up Allstate Sugar Bowl tickets. The Gators still have about 5,000 of their allotment remaining, and the game's only two weeks away.

• Defensive back Ryan White of Tallahassee, Fla., says he will sign with Auburn in February. He's the Tigers' 23rd commitment.

• South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is more focused for this year's bowl game, writes Joe Person of The State newspaper.

• The numbers add up for Auburn receiver Darvin Adams, writes Charles Goldberg of The Birmingham News.

• Billy Gonzales and Frank Wilson are cleared to coach for LSU, and Larry Porter will not be coaching in the bowl game.

• Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin dismisses junior defensive back Brent Vinson from the team.

• Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution takes a look at how Georgia's 10 graduating seniors rate as recruits.

• Ole Miss signs safety Damien Jackson from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, reports David Brandt of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger.