ESPN College Football

The 2012 College Hall of Fame ballot has been released, and former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and former Florida Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel are on the ballot for the first time.

Both are strong candidates to be selected when the 2012 class is announced in May. The induction ceremonies will be held in New York City in December.

Fulmer had a 152-52 (.745) record from 1992-2008 at Tennessee. He led the Vols to SEC championships in 1997 and 1998, marking the last time a team has won SEC championships in back-to-back seasons. The Vols also went 13-0 in 1998 to win the national championship.

Wuerffel led the Gators to the national title in 1996 and also won the Heisman Trophy that season. He set an SEC record with 114 career touchdown passes.

Here's a look at the other players on the 2012 ballot with SEC ties:

• Charles Alexander, RB, LSU, 1975-78
• Paul Crane, C/LB, Alabama, 1963-65
• Willie Gault, WR/RS, Tennessee, 1979-82
• Bobby Humphrey, RB, Alabama, 1985-88
• Bobby Majors, DB/RS, Tennessee, 1969-71
• Paul Naumoff, LB, Tennessee, 1964-66
• Matt Stinchcomb, OT, Georgia, 1995-98
• Derrick Thomas, LB, 1985-88
• Wesley Walls, TE, Ole Miss, 1985-88
• Scott Woerner, DB, Georgia, 1977-80

Our first quarterback makes the list and this one just knows how to find the end zone:

No. 18: Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia, RSo.

2011 summary: He led the SEC -- and set a Georgia single-season record -- with 35 touchdown passes. He was also second in the league with 3,149 passing yards, throwing for 224.9 yards per game. Murray completed 59.1 percent of his passes and had a quarterback rating of 146.41. Murray was a second team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and the SEC coaches.

Why he's here: Murray followed up his record-breaking freshmen season by leading the Bulldogs to the SEC championship game for the first time since 2005. Murray isn't the biggest quarterback around, but he's not afraid to make the tough plays. He's a gritty player and is deceptively dangerous with his legs, which helps him extend plays with his arm. Murray has the ability to make the tough throws and knows how to read defenses. Murray has taken some criticism for his decision making at times, considering the fact that he threw 14 interceptions with four coming in the Bulldogs' last two losses, but there's no question that Murray should be near the top of the quarterback list in this league. Before Murray's 2011 season, only four quarterbacks -- Tim Couch, Peyton Manning, Danny Wuerffel and Andre Woodson -- threw for more than 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns in a single season. Those were also the only quarterbacks to throw for 35 touchdowns in a season before Murray. Murray -- if he stays healthy and remains at Georgia for all four years of his eligibility -- is on pace to break Wuerffel's SEC touchdown record of 114. He has thrown for 59 touchdowns in his two seasons as Georgia's starter.

• No. 19: Bacarri Rambo, S, Georgia
• No. 20: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
• No. 21: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
• No. 22: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
• No. 23: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
• No. 24: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
• No. 25: Michael Dyer, RB, Auburn

Taking a stroll through the league with some links.

• Jon Solomon of The Birmingham News writes that Ted Roof is getting a soft landing at Central Florida as the onus now shifts to Auburn head coach Gene Chizik.
• Alabama safety Mark Barron is eager to play in the rematch against LSU in the national championship.
• Former Florida star Danny Wuerffel continues his recovery from Guillain-Barre syndrome.
• New Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze earned Sun Belt coach of the year honors.
• An LSU win over Alabama in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game would take chaos out of the equation.
• South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney follows in the footsteps of Marcus Lattimore with his freshman of the year honor.
• Alabama and LSU bring bruising running games to the national championship.
• Tennessee receives a commitment from wide receiver "Pig" Howard.
• Vanderbilt fans snatch up tickets for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Versatile Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones was named the winner of the 2011 Wuerffel Trophy Tuesday.

The award, named after former Florida quarterback, Danny Wuerffel, is presented annually to the FBS player who "best combines exemplary community service with academic and athletic achievement."

“I’m very honored,” Jones said. “It means a lot. I’ve read a little bit about this award and I’m very blessed and honored to be selected.”

Jones majored in accounting and graduated in August with a 4.0 GPA and is working toward a masters in accounting. Jones has also been extremely involved in service activities, making two mission trips to Haiti, where he helped build a school and an orphanage. He also participated in tornado cleanup in Tuscaloosa, Ala., following the destructive storms that devastated the city in late April.

We're bouncing around the league to find out what teams are up to as classes get underway.

• John DeShazier of The New Orleans Times-Picayune writes that with the recent off-the-field issues with the Tigers, LSU is stumbling into the season opener against Oregon.
• After all the hype and talk surrounding junior college transfer John Jenkins, it is Kwame Geathers who is making the most noise at Georgia's noseguard position.
• With some help from a scientific study, Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News writes that the state of Alabama belongs to the Tide and Auburn is just living in it.
• Former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel is still struggling with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which he contracted in June.
• Demetruce McNeal is improving inside of Auburn's new-look secondary.
• Fifth-year offensive lineman Grant Freeman is ready for a starting job at Arkansas.
• Kentucky's running back group is looking to fill the playmaking void on offense.
• Vanderbilt punter Richard Kent would actually prefer less playing time this fall.
• Brad Locke of The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal has your guide to covert cowbell operations for the Mississippi State season.
• Freshman Jadeveon Clowney is improving every day at practice.
• Florida's secondary still needs work now that preseason camp is over.
• Tight end depth is a concern at Tennessee.
• Ole Miss' freshman linebackers are in the spotlight heading into the season.

Thanks for all of your responses on the best college players in the SEC who didn’t go on to great or long careers in the NFL.

Several of your nominations were already on my list, and there were several that I hadn’t thought about.

The “Simply Saturday” series that had been running on ESPN.com wrapped up Friday with its top 10 players of all-time who were great college players, but not necessarily great NFL players. Ohio State’s Archie Griffin was No. 1.

Combining everyone’s efforts, I’ve come up with an SEC version of the top 10. One caveat is that these are guys I actually saw play. I know I’m dating myself, but that takes us back to the mid-1970s.

The players are listed alphabetically:

Reidel Anthony, WR, Florida (1994-96): He caught 18 of Danny Wuerffel’s 39 touchdown passes during the Gators’ 1996 national championship season, but was out of the NFL after only five seasons.

Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky (1996-98): Couch threw 73 touchdown passes during the 1997 and 1998 seasons and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He lasted just five seasons in the NFL.

Eric Curry, DE, Alabama (1990-92): The tandem of Curry and John Copeland coming off the edge during that 1992 national championship season was as good you’re going to find in college football.

Major Ogilvie, RB, Alabama (1977-80): I can still hear ABC’s Keith Jackson calling Ogilvie’s name. He was a vintage Bear Bryant player in that wishbone offense and always came through in the big games. Ogilvie carried the ball just 299 times during his career, but scored 25 rushing touchdowns.

David Palmer, WR, Alabama (1991-93): The “Deuce” was one of those players I genuinely expected to score every time he touched the ball. He was that elusive and did a little bit of everything for the Crimson Tide ... and did it well.

David Pollack, DE, Georgia (2001-04): A neck injury prematurely ended Pollack’s NFL career, but he was a terror for opposing quarterbacks in college. Only two players in Georgia history were three-time, first-team All-Americans -- Herschel Walker and Pollack.

Tracy Rocker, DT, Auburn (1985-88): Rocker won both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award during the 1988 season and was the model in those years for what you were looking for in an interior defensive lineman.

Chuck Webb, RB, Tennessee (1989-90): Webb remains the best and most dynamic running back I’ve ever seen play for the Vols. Had he not blown out his knee at the start of the 1990 season, he would have been a star at the NFL level.

Scott Woerner, DB, Georgia (1977-80): He was a great kickoff and punt returner and also finished his career with 13 interceptions. Woerner was one of the rocks on that 1980 national championship team. He only played in 17 NFL games and spent much of his short pro career in the USFL.

Danny Wuerffel, QB, Florida (1993-96): The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner was amazingly accurate, and more importantly, always know where to go with the ball. As far as Steve Spurrier is concerned, Wuerffel will always be the measuring stick.

Obviously, there are countless other players who could have made this list.

Here’s a sampling of some others who were nominated:

• Charles Alexander, RB, LSU
• Shawn Andrews, OT, Arkansas
• Jay Barker, QB, Alabama
• Aundray Bruce, LB, Auburn
• Ed Chester, DL, Florida
• Rohan Davey, QB, LSU
• Robert Edwards, RB, Georgia
• Brent Fullwood, RB, Auburn
• David Greene, QB, Georgia
• Tommy Hodson, QB, LSU
• Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn
• Matt Jones, QB, Arkansas
• Keith McCants, LB, Alabama
• Dewayne Robertson, DT, Kentucky
• JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
• Heath Shuler, QB, Tennessee
• Odell Thurman, LB, Georgia
• Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina
• Tim Worley, RB, Georgia
• Eric Zeier, QB, Georgia

The "Simply Saturday" series currently running on ESPN.com features three former Auburn players in the latest installment.

Aundray Bruce was No. 29, Tracy Rocker No. 27 and Pat Sullivan No. 23 in the countdown of those players who had great college careers, but didn't have memorable NFL careers.

I'm going to come up with my own list later this week of the greatest SEC players of my lifetime (dating back to the early 1970s) who didn't go on to stardom in the NFL for various reasons.

I could use your help, too.

So send me your memories of those SEC players who were great at the college level, but not necessarily great NFL players.

There are a few obvious ones: Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, Georgia defensive end David Pollack, Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch and Tennessee quarterback Condredge Holloway.

That's just a start.

Send me your lists and we'll put together the SEC version of "Simply Saturday" later this week.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- During halftime of Florida's Orange and Blue Debut, statues of Florida's three Heisman Trophy winners were unveiled outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Bronze, life-sized statues of former quarterbacks Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996) and Tim Tebow (2007) are standing outside The Swamp, ready and willing to pose for pictures with fans.

Naturally, Tebow's statue shows him running the ball. After all, he was the first player to score at least 20 touchdowns rushing and passing.

Ryan Mallett had a record-breaking season a year ago in his first season as Arkansas’ starting quarterback.

He passed for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns on his way to setting or tying 16 school records.

Needless to say, he’s raised the bar when it comes to expectations in Fayetteville, both for him and the team.

I’ve had a lot of Arkansas fans ask if Mallett can get into the Heisman Trophy race this season, and whether he can make a run at some SEC passing records.

Both are doable, but won’t be easy – not against SEC defenses.

For Mallett to become a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, the Hogs would have to win at least 10 games, and he would have to put up big numbers in high-profile games (Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU).

If he makes a run at 4,000 yards this season, that would put him in exclusive company.

Only one other quarterback from this league has done it. Kentucky’s Tim Couch threw for 4,275 yards in 1998. Florida’s Rex Grossman is No. 2 on the list with 3,896 yards in 2001. Couch threw for 3,884 yards in 1997. Tennessee’s Peyton Manning passed for 3,819 yards in 1997, and Kentucky’s Andre Woodson threw for 3,709 yards in 2007.

The 3,624 yards that Mallett passed for last season ranks him No. 8 on the SEC’s single-season list for passing yards.

Only one SEC player has thrown 40 touchdown passes in a season. Woodson did it in 2007, breaking the mark held by former Florida Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, who threw 39 touchdown passes in 1996.

Only 10 players in SEC history have thrown 30 or more touchdown passes in a season, although a couple of those players did it on multiple occasions.

The SEC record for most touchdown passes thrown in back-to-back seasons is 74, which was set by Wuerffel in 1995 and 1996. Mallett would need to throw 45 touchdown passes this season to break that record, which is one of those marks that might stand for a while.

Here’s a breakdown of the 30-touchdown club in the SEC:

40 – Andre Woodson, Kentucky, 2007

39 – Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1996

37 – Tim Couch, Kentucky, 1997

36 – Peyton Manning, Tennessee, 1997

36 – Tim Couch, Kentucky, 1998

35 – Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1995

34 – Rex Grossman, Florida, 2001

32 – Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007

31 – Eli Manning, Ole Miss, 2001

31 – Andre Woodson, Kentucky, 2006

31 – Erik Ainge, Tennessee, 2007

30 – Steve Taneyhill, South Carolina, 1995

30 – Tim Tebow, Florida, 2008

30 – Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, 2009

Checking on what's making headlines around the SEC:

• Auburn's Aairon Savage fights for another chance to play football after getting a sixth year of eligibility, writes Andy Bitter of The Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer.
• The Nick Saban Rule comes back to bite Will Muschamp, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News.
• Alabama looks to add a second Kouandjio in the 2011 signing class, writes Gentry Estes of The Mobile Press-Register.
• Former Tennessee defensive back Brent Vinson is arrested as part of a murder investigation.
• Plans are in the works at Florida for three bronze life-sized statues of the Gators' Heisman Trophy winners -- Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow.
• Tebow will be in Daytona to give the command for drivers to start their engines in the first of two qualifying races for the Daytona 500.
• Authorities have charged a Mississippi State student with assault for hitting another student with a cowbell after the Egg Bowl win over Ole Miss in November.
• New Georgia linebackers coach Warren Belin received a one-year contract and will earn $190,000. Belin comes to Georgia from Vanderbilt.

And we thought last season’s SEC championship game was the biggest thing we’d see in this conference in a long time.

Well, we had to wait all of a year for a game that’s even bigger.

In my book, it’s not even close. Saturday’s game will be the biggest game the SEC has seen, certainly since the split and league expansion in 1992.

If you want to go back further, I’d say Bear Bryant’s last game in the 1982 Liberty Bowl would rate way up there, just seeing an icon coaching in his final game.

Here are some others that come to mind. Again, these are SEC games going in that you knew would be epic in some form or fashion, and/or games that ended up being memorable:

1. 2008 SEC championship game: Boy, the game for the ages didn’t disappoint. Both teams played excellent football for three quarters, and then Tim Tebow took over in the fourth to will the Gators to a 31-20 win, propelling them to their second national championship in the last three years. Alabama only had the football for six offensive plays in the final quarter.

2. 1992 SEC championship game: The inaugural SEC championship game was a classic, and it was only fitting that Alabama and Florida would be the participants. The game was played at Legion Field. Alabama’s Antonio Langham returned an interception 27 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the final minutes, keeping the Crimson Tide unbeaten in a thrilling 28-21 win. They went on to destroy Miami in the Sugar Bowl and win the national title.

3. 1994 SEC championship game: The two heavyweights met for the third straight year in the title game, and Florida held on for a 24-23 win. Danny Wuerffel engineered an 80-yard touchdown drive to win it for the Gators, who intercepted an Alabama pass on the final drive to seal their second straight SEC title. It was the first SEC championship game played in the Georgia Dome. Alabama came into the game unbeaten and ranked third nationally.

4. 1998 Tennessee 28, Arkansas 24: The Hogs were on the doorstep of going to 9-0 in Houston Nutt’s first season in Fayetteville, but Arkansas quarterback Clint Storner stumbled and fumbled in the final minutes, paving the way for the Vols to miraculously escape and go on to win their first national title in 47 years.

5. 2006 Florida 17, South Carolina 16: Steve Spurrier made his first trip back to the Swamp as an opposing coach and had the Gators beat. But Jarvis Moss blocked a field goal on the final play of the game, and Florida survived after losing to Spurrier and the Gamecocks the year before in Columbia. The Gators went on to win their first national championship under Urban Meyer.

6. 2001 Tennessee 34, Florida 32: The game was moved to December because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Florida was No. 2 and Tennessee No. 5. The Vols, who were 18-point underdogs, got 226 rushing yards from Travis Stephens and had to survive a two-point conversion pass attempt by Rex Grossman in the final minute to hold on.

7. 2001 SEC championship game: Nick Saban won his first SEC title, as LSU overcame injuries to its starting quarterback and starting running back to upset No. 2 Tennessee 31-20. The Vols were poised to play in the Rose Bowl for the national championship had they won.

8. 1994 Auburn 23, Georgia 23: Auburn was ranked No. 3 nationally and had won 20 straight games, but an unranked Georgia team in Ray Goff’s next to last year came into Jordan-Hare Stadium and played the Tigers to a stunning tie.

9. 1997 Florida 33, Tennessee 20: Peyton Manning got one final shot at the Gators, but the result was a familiar one for Tennessee fans. The No. 2 Gators pulled away from the No. 4 Vols in the Swamp thanks in large part to Tony George’s interception of a Manning pass and 89-yard return for a touchdown.

10. 2003 Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63: The longest game in NCAA history. The Hogs prevailed in the seventh overtime when DeCori Birmingham scored on a 25-yard touchdown run. They then stopped the Wildcats on fourth down. The game lasted nearly five hours.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is the lone SEC player among the 16 finalists for the Campbell Award, which goes annually to the top scholar-athlete in college football.

Some of the players who've won the award in the past include Peyton Manning, Chad Pennington and Danny Wuerrfel.

The Campbell Award was known as the Draddy Trophy until this year and is often referred to as the "Academic Heisman."

Wuerffel is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy and "Academic Heisman" in the same year when he took home both trophies in 1996.

Texas' Colt McCoy is also a finalist this year.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

The SEC has basked in its share of championship moments over the past 25 years.

My colleagues at ESPN.com, Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach, have put together a package on the magic moments of each national championship team during that span.

Who can forget Alabama's 13-0 run in 1992 and trouncing of Miami in the Sugar Bowl? The Crimson Tide, though, almost didn't make it past Mississippi State that season in Starkville.

No. 2 Alabama (9-0) took a 19-game winning streak into Mississippi State, took a 20-3 lead and then blew it. Trailing 21-20 in the fourth quarter, with a chorus of cowbells clanging on a cold Saturday night, the Tide had a third-and-7 at the Bulldogs' 40. Sophomore quarterback Jay Barker completed a pinpoint pass to Prince Wimbley for 24 yards to set up the go-ahead field goal. Alabama won 30-21 and later won its sixth AP national championship.

Other key moments include Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel recovering from a wicked beating in the regular-season loss to Florida State and the Gators routing the Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl rematch to win their first national title in 1996. There's also the Stoerner Stumble, which kept Tennessee unbeaten and propelled the Vols to the 1998 national title. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

A glance at what others are saying and writing about SEC football:

• Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel are both former Heisman Trophy winners at Florida, but they're bound by their Christian faith.

• Thanks to Charles Goldberg of The Birmingham News, here's some video of Bo Jackson's commencement speech at Auburn last Saturday.

• Tim Tucker of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has some leftovers from Georgia coach Mark Richt's speaking engagement in Columbus, Ga., last week.

• There were no real surprises on Arkansas' post-spring depth chart, Nate Allen of The Northwest Arkansas Times writes.

• Former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson is just hoping for a chance with the Atlanta Falcons.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Now that he's back for another season, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is obviously eyeing another BCS national championship and perhaps another Heisman Trophy.

Not only does he have a chance to become the second two-time winner of the Heisman (joining former Ohio State great Archie Griffin), but he also can become the third player in history to win a Heisman and three national titles, joining John Lujack and Leon Hart of Notre Dame from the 1940s.

Statistically, though, Tebow now has an opportunity to do things in the SEC that nobody really thought were possible before he showed up in Gainesville.

Consider some of these numbers that our ESPN Research department came up with: If Tebow stays healthy next season, he should finish his career with the most rushing touchdowns in SEC history. He currently has 43, while the record-holder, Georgia's Herschel Walker, has 49. It should be noted that Walker amassed his total in three seasons.

But in addition to possibly setting the SEC record for most touchdown runs, Tebow has a chance to move into second place in the SEC in career touchdown passes. He currently has 67 and is 22 behind Tennessee's Peyton Manning, who threw 89 during his career. The SEC record for most touchdown passes in a career is out of Tebow's reach. Florida's Danny Wuerffel threw a staggering 114 from 1993-96.

Anyway, think about that for a minute. Tebow has a chance to finish his career first in the SEC in touchdown runs and second in touchdown passes.

Count me as one of those who thought I'd never see a player come close to doing that in this conference ... or any conference, for that matter.