ESPN College Football

David Ching writes : Richt says concussions issue could change the sport.

DN Roundtable : This week’s DawgNation Roundtable discussion centers on the outstanding players in the SEC who stand between the Bulldogs and another division title. The question: “Which opposing player are you most excited to see this fall?”

Kipp Adams writes : Four-star D-line prospect Antonio Riles maintains that Florida and Georgia are his top two, and he sports enough polarizing gear to keep up the confusion.

Adams : In demand now more than he thought he would ever be, OL prospect Brandon Kublanow says he'll delay his decision and more thoroughly consider all his options.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- With all due respect to much ballyhooed wide receiver signee Dorial Green-Beckham, he wasn't the biggest get for Missouri in 2012.

That title belongs to great grandpa of the program, left tackle Elvis Fisher. While Green-Beckham's commitment and signature caused coaches to do figurative backflips around Missouri's football facility, Fisher's return caused an eruption of even more excitement from the staff.

"That was the best recruit we signed," offensive coordinator David Yost said.

But it didn't come without worry. Fisher ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee during preseason camp of what was supposed to be his final year, causing him to miss all of the 2011 season. He applied for a medical hardship, but already had four years under his belt. He redshirted in 2007 and was a three-year starter afterward.

"There was a slim opportunity for me to be able to get that," Fisher said. "A lot of guys don't get their senior year back."

Let alone a sixth year. Fisher said he spent the early part of 2012 discussing other options with his father and Mizzou coaches. One of those options was actually pursuing the chance of going straight to the NFL. He said he was "sweating bullets" until a trainer approached him in early February with news of a phone call from Mizzou's compliance office.

Fisher called compliance back, received word that the NCAA granted him a sixth year, then called his coaches, who already knew, his father and his girlfriend. Once the chitchat finished, he went right back to work at skill improvement with his teammates.

It was business as usual for Fisher and it will be again this fall.

The 6-foot-5, 295-pounder went through some spring drills at full speed, but took it relatively easy for the most part. It's not like he needs a lot of practice. What he needed was the chance to strengthen his knee.

"I take it as I don't have to take practice as hard as I can," Fisher said. "I just want to go out there and have fun and focus on the little things I need to do to get my knee better. I'm not trying to push myself to hurt myself. I'm trying to push myself to be able to play on Saturdays and perform."

This spring, Fisher said he looked to strengthen his quads and hip flexors in order to be more stable and take pressure off his knee. He still has trouble planting on his knee when he's running, but said that will come with summer running and working with the strength staff.

"I'm actually really darn comfortable with it," he said.

And that's a good thing because Mizzou needs him anchoring its line as the Tigers move to their new home in the SEC. Fisher understands that he and his line mates will be tested more in the SEC and that means that strength and communication are two areas that have to improve up front. This isn't a very big line, so the weight room will be a second home, and three starters from last year are gone. Sure, there's experience, but not a ton.

The biggest thing this line will have to adapt to, Fisher said, is the amount of defensive line talent it will face.

"When you look around a league like the Big 12, every team has like one or two linemen that are really good," he said. "In the SEC, their whole line is stacked."

With that comes some pressure, but Fisher said he's making sure he keeps his teammates play their games and don't listen to all the outside noise.

"You have to go out there and play your game and not worry about all the hype, if they're first-round draft picks, whether they're going to win, or Missouri sucks. You can't listen to all that," Fisher said. "We're just going to keep practicing the way we're practicing and give them hell."

And more hell can be given with a healthy Fisher back.

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

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- On paper, Missouri's group of wide receivers bleeds inexperience.

Outside of veteran T.J. Moe, who will be a senior this fall, Missouri's returning receiving targets have combined for 51 catches for 712 yards and five touchdowns in their careers.

But when you talk to players and coaches at Missouri, those numbers tell a much different story. They say that while the returners aren’t burning up the stat sheet, it hasn't been because of a lack of talent.

"It's only unproven because guys haven't got the chance to do anything yet," Moe said. "We have a lot of good receivers out here and we have a lot of guys out here who have made plays."

Last year, Moe led the Tigers with 54 receptions and 649 yards. Behind him, Missouri had former All-American tight end Michael Egnew (50 receptions) and seniors Wes Kemp (29 receptions) and Jerrel Jackson (17 receptions), who combined for 36 starts.

"It's hard to beat those guys out because they do all the right things," offensive coordinator David Yost said.

While most of the talk concerning Missouri's receivers has revolved around inexperience and numbers, Yost and Co. are excited about what this group can do.

Coaches and players think they have bona fide deep threats in rising juniors Marcus Lucas and L'Damian Washington. Lucas was fourth on the team in receiving last year (23 catches for 414 yards) and tied for first with five touchdowns. Washington was fifth with 20 catches for 364 yards and three scores.

Yost said both received more time as the season went on because of how explosive they were (Lucas has been clocked running a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash). Both ended the year averaging 18 yards per catch.

Washington was banged up this spring, but Lucas said he took full advantage of his time on the field. With more reps, Lucas said he shook the laziness that hurt him last year. His jogging and trudging around the field turned into sprints, his head stopped swimming and he finally learned how to finish plays after getting more comfortable in Missouri's offense.

"It comes with confidence, really," said Lucas, who caught four passes for 81 yards in Missouri's spring game. "When you don't really know exactly [what's going on] and you're guessing on what your exact assignment is it slows you down. Whenever you're out there just playing, you can play at your top-end speed."

Players like Bud Sasser, who worked at the Y position/tight end position, Gahn McGaffie and Jimmie Hunt, who caught an 88-yard touchdown in the spring game, all impressed this spring. So did tight end Eric Waters, who will now take over for Egnew, before he went down with an MCL injury that required surgery. Coach Gary Pinkel said Waters, who has two career catches, will be a key cog in the offense and should be back up to speed in three months.

Upperclassmen Rolandis Woodland, Jaleel Clark and Kerwin Stricker should also contribute more this fall and much ballyhooed recruit Dorial Green-Beckham, known around the program as "the big guy," will be on campus this summer.

"We're in pretty good shape," Pinkel said.

Before spring practice, 7-on-7 sessions helped build receiver chemistry, but what really brought this group together was not having quarterback James Franklin healthy this spring. After being sidelined with a shoulder injury, the receivers were forced to work with backups Corbin Berkstresser, Alex Demczak and Ashton Glaser.

Lucas said it was tough building chemistry with the other quarterbacks at first, but it forced the receivers to be more vocal in film sessions and in the huddle with the QBs

It also helped the receivers learn to take on more responsibility in the offense. They felt as though they were the voices this spring, and Lucas said that will be more beneficial for this group than in past seasons.

"We just want to be dominant," he said.

"We're kind of like the motor for [the offense]. We run the pace out there. If the wideouts are having a good day, it feels like the offense is having a good day."

Newcomers come in all shapes and sizes.

There are freshmen newcomers, junior college transfers and regular transfers. Regardless, they all come in with the expectations of playing immediately. JUCO standouts and transfers maybe more so than rookies, but the days of automatically redshirting true freshmen are over. Like, dead.

Last year, the SEC saw a few newcomers make immediate impacts. A great example is Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, who transferred from USC back in 2010, but didn't play until last fall. All he did was lead the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. There was Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, who came from the JUCO ranks to be one of the Hogs' most productive linebackers.

Freshman Isaiah Crowell had an up-and-down season, but was sixth in the SEC rushing, and was named the SEC's freshman of the year. His classmate, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, wasn't too bad, either. You also can't forget about South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who was seventh in the SEC with eight sacks.

So, as spring practice begins to wind down around the conference, we're taking a look at five newcomers to keep an eye on in 2012. Some are on campuses, some aren't. Some are obvious choices, and you could be surprised by a couple. Top newcomers can be top league players, or players who will make big impacts on their teams at a position of need.

We're going in alphabetical order, so here's our list:

• Denico Autry, DE, JUCO, Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are looking to replace Sean Ferguson at one of the defensive line spots, and Autry was brought in to do just that. The coaches have been extremely impressed with how the former East Mississippi Community College standout has looked in spring practice. People around the program have simply described Autry as a "beast," and the thought is that he'll enter the fall starting at one of the end spots.
• Travell Dixon, CB, JUCO, Alabama: Dixon has had a pretty successful spring, and has had the honor of playing at Alabama's "star" (nickel) cornerback spot. That shows you just how much coach Nick Saban respects Dixon's game. Saban usually puts his most complete defensive backs at the star. That's where Javier Arenas played, and DeQuan Menzie after him. With Alabama losing Menzie and Dre Kirkpatrick at cornerback, Dixon has a chance to come in and start immediately.
• Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Fr., Missouri: It was hard to find another 2012 recruit who received the attention that Green-Beckham did. He has drawn comparisons to A.J. Green, Julio Jones, and Calvin Johnson. That's pretty good company, and Missouri is expecting DGB to contribute immediately. DGB stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds, making him a huge, physical target for quarterback James Franklin. DGB might arrive this summer as Missouri's most talented receiver. It also helps that he has top speed, and could be the deep threat that Missouri's offense needs.
• Latroy Pittman, WR, Fr., Florida: Haven't heard of him? Don't worry, not many have. Pittman committed to Florida so long before national signing day, his recruitment wasn't too exciting or noticeable. However, Pittman, who was ranked the No. 24 wide receiver by ESPN recruiting services, has been very productive in spring practice. He isn't the fastest receiver, but with Florida struggling to find a true go-to receiving target, Pittman has really shined by being one of the Gators' most consistent receivers this spring. Word around Florida's program is that Pittman will definitely see playing time this fall. Receiver is wide open in Gainesville, so Pittman could play his way into quality time.
• Shaq Roland, WR, Fr., South Carolina: With Alshon Jeffery gone, South Carolina is searching for a wide receiver to step up and become a primary target for quarterback Connor Shaw. Right now, Ace Sanders and Bruce Ellington will get the first shots, but a lot of players at the position are pretty unproven. Roland was one of the top high school receiving targets last year, and has the playmaking ability that could really spark the Gamecocks' passing game. Roland could be a deep threat or make plays over the middle. He wasn't afraid of contact in high school, and that mentality should carry over to the college level. Adding some weight will be key, but coach Steve Spurrier should have fun working him into the offense.

Missouri has some offensive weapons returning in 2012, but it will be without one of its top receiving targets from a year ago:

OUT: TE Michael Egnew: His stats weren't eye-popping last season, but he was one of Missouri's most reliable pass catchers. A year removed from being a Mackey Award finalist after catching 90 passes for 762 yards and five touchdowns, Egnew was second on the team with 50 catches for 523 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers went down in 2011, but that didn't mean he wasn't important to the Tigers' offense. He made his mark catching the ball, but he was also a decent blocker and helped open up things in both the passing and running game. Missouri's offense is still looking for a big-play threat in its passing game and Egnew showed that ability at times with the Tigers. Missouri's offense has always thrived with a solid tight end in its offense, so losing Egnew is a big hit for this team.

IN: Eric Waters, Bud Sasser, Jaleel Clark, Steve Drain, Kyle Peasel or Brandon Colbert: The Tigers have a handful of players vying for time at tight end this spring, but Waters is the one that most expect to step right into Egnew's spot. He mostly played special teams last season and only caught two passes, but one went for a 42-yard touchdown. Quarterback James Franklin said earlier this spring that he had seen a ton of improvement out of Waters during preseason passing sessions. His routes looked crisper and Franklin said he started developing better chemistry with Waters before spring practice began. At 6 feet 4 inches and 240 pounds, the junior tight end is equipped with a big frame for defenders to handle, but also has quality speed to be a matchup issue through the middle of the field. Clark and Sasser are getting some work at tight end this spring in the Y-position. Incoming freshman Dorial Green-Beckham could get work there as well when he arrives. Sasser should get more playing time this fall with him getting more reps at tight end. He caught three passes last season and has the speed to stretch the field as more of a hybrid player. Clark worked primarily on special teams last year, recording seven tackles. Drain, Peasel and Colbert have yet to register stats during their Missouri careers.

Keeping up with the comings and goings in the SEC:

• Alabama's Barrett Jones is adjusting to another new position.
• Georgia's Mark Richt gets a new five-year contract that extends his deal through the 2016 season.
• If former Kentucky linebacker Ronnie Sneed doesn't make it in pro football, he'll give law enforcement a try.
• Hugh Kellenberger of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger has some results from Ole Miss' pro day.
• Backup Missouri quarterback Ashton Glaser was arrested on two warrants stemming from unpaid speeding tickets.
• Prized signee Dorial Green-Beckham takes in Missouri's first full-pads practice over the weekend.
• LSU and Tulane are in discussions about facing each other at the Superdome in 2013.

James Franklin understands that from the outside, Missouri's wide receiver corps doesn't appear to be very polished.

Three starting pass-catchers from 2011 are gone and the leading returning receiver (T.J. Moe) caught 54 passes last year. After that, Missouri's returners have just 77 career catches combined.

But for Franklin, who enters his second year as Missouri's starting quarterback, he's fine with the personnel he's passing to. Players might not have excelled in games, but he saw the talent and potential just about every day in practice last fall.

"Thankfully, it's been good to have so much depth at receiver," Franklin said.

"There's just not enough positions on the field to play them all."

There will be plenty of room in 2012.

Moe already has his place carved out in Missouri's starting lineup, but he isn't the only one defenses will have to account for. Junior Marcus Lucas showcased his deep threat skills last year and will see his role expand on the outside this fall, Franklin said. He's also expecting bigger things from outside threat L'Damian Washington, who caught 25 passes in 2011.

But those are names that people are familiar with. Franklin said there is still a heap of players who should gain more attention this fall.

There's Bud Sasser, who Franklin said really caught his eye during 7-on-7 drills but is dealing with a hamstring injury, Jimmie Hunt, who caught one pass for a 54-yard touchdown and has the ability to challenge as one of Franklin's deep-threat targets, and tight end Eric Waters, who is now out of Michael Egnew's shadow.

Franklin said he was impressed by the way his receivers and tight ends performed during 7-on-7s, but he was also thrilled by how fast the chemistry started to develop with them. Chemistry, Franklin said, will boost Missouri's passing game going after losing key components from a year ago.

"Obviously, we don't have telepathy," Franklin said, "but we know what the other guy is going to do in any given situation."

What else will help is having a big, talented youngster in top wide receiver prospect Dorial Green-Beckham coming in this summer. The hype machine has been pumping away when it comes to Green-Beckham and Franklin can't help but be excited about the chance to work with the 6-foot-6, 220-pounder.

Franklin said bringing Green-Beckham in will improve Missouri's passing game in multiple ways. First, he's a bigger, faster target for him to use vertically. Secondly, he's going to grab a lot of defensive attention. He can be used as a decoy at times, which should help open things up for other players.

"Really, it opens up everyone on the field to where [the defense] is going to have to start playing each side evenly, as if everyone were the same, and that's going to open up those opportunities because we have a lot of good route runners and a lot of good playmakers," Franklin said.

It's also going to push the handful of receivers already on campus. Franklin said there are some players who are a little worried about Green-Beckham coming in and taking playing time, but he's seen that motivate players to work just a little harder.

The Tigers will face a few more questions as they make the transition to the SEC, but Franklin assures the passing game won't be an issue this fall.

Schedule: Missouri opens practice Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. ET and concludes the spring with its Black & Gold Spring Game on April 14 at 2 p.m. ET. The Tigers will hold scrimmages on March 17 at 10 a.m. ET and April 7 at 10 a.m. ET.

What's new: Well, Missouri will train this spring for its first season in the SEC. The Tigers left the Big 12 last fall and will officially join their new conference at July 1. The Big 12 logo is no longer at Missouri's football facility and there shouldn't be any shortage of SEC gear floating around the Tigers' practice field this spring. There will no doubt be some changes to how the Tigers operate in practice and in the weight room as they get ready for their new conference foes.

On the mend: The Tigers enter the spring with a handful of names on the injured list. The biggest name, of course, is running back Henry Josey, who is still recovering from that devastating knee injury he suffered last season. Josey is supposed to undergo another surgery this spring, so he won't be available to practice and no one is sure if he'll be back this fall, either. Defensive end Brad Madison and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson are both rehabbing from shoulder surgery and are expected to miss most of spring practice. Defensive tackle Marvin Foster is out for the spring after tearing his ACL during offseason conditioning. The offensive line is also banged up, as Anthony Gatti is recovering from ACL surgery, while Mark Hill is coming off of a procedure to repair a blood clot. Lineman Connor McGovern is also recovering from surgery.

Question marks: Missouri's offensive and defensive lines both lost three starters from 2011. That's six starting linemen gone on a team making the move to a true line-of-scrimmage league. The offensive line will be banged up this spring, but a positive is that four returning linemen have starting experience. There's a chance that Missouri will have just one first-year starter up front this fall (left guard Mitch Morse). Still, replacing three quality starters on a solid line will be tough. Defensively, Missouri is very thin at defensive tackle. Richardson is recovering from surgery, so the Tigers will throw out four tackles with six combined starts -- all coming from senior Jimmy Burge, who saw his production dip in 2011. Madison is also recovering from surgery at defensive end, but that position is in better shape, as Brayden Burnett, Kony Ealy and Michael Sam have played in 63 combined games.

Key battle: The Tigers said goodbye to three starting pass catchers from 2011, meaning this area of the team should be intense to watch this spring. Most notably, tight end Michael Egnew is gone. T.J. Moe returns as the Tigers' leading receiver, while the coaches are hoping for big things from Marcus Lucas, but after that there are a lot of questions. There are bodies to throw out there, but there isn't a ton of past production to go with those bodies. Outside of Moe and Lucas, Missouri's returning receiving threats have combined for 51 catches for 712 yards and five touchdowns in their careers. L'Damian Washington should continue to be used as a deep threat with Lucas, while Eric Waters should replace Egnew at tight end. Keep an eye on upperclassmen Jaleel Clark, Gahn McGaffie, Kerwin Stricker and Rolandis Woodland, who could challenge for time this spring as well. All of these players should be working extra hard before top recruit Dorial Green-Beckham arrives this summer.

Don't forget about: Missouri might be thin up front defensively, but the linebacker spot is loaded. Starters Andrew Wilson, who led the Tigers with 98 tackles in 2011, and Zaviar Gooden, who was third in tackles last year, are both back. The Tigers also return Will Ebner, who was granted a fifth year. Those three have combined for 484 career tackles. Redshirt junior Donovan Bonner should be Missouri's top reserve with his ability to play all three linebacker positions. Redshirt sophomore Darvin Ruise played mostly special teams, but should get more reps at linebacker this spring.

Breaking out: Lucas didn't haul in a ton of catches last season, but he showed that he can be that big-play wide receiver Missouri is searching for. He caught 23 passes for 414 yards and five touchdowns. That's an average of 18 yards per catch. He should receive more reps this spring and should improve on his 2011 numbers. He will likely play on the outside for the Tigers and will likely be Missouri's top deep threat this spring.

All eyes on: As Missouri prepares to make the transition to face SEC defenses week in and week out, quarterback James Franklin will receive even more attention. He had a true breakout season in 2011, passing for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns, while adding 981 rushing yards and 15 more scores. But he and his coaches will have to make some adjustments to the offense in order to combat the SEC speed they'll see this fall. Franklin enters the year as one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC, but in order to build off of his 2011 season, he'll have to improve on some parts of his game, including accuracy and his downfield passing. There's even more pressure on Franklin with Josey out and with questions still surrounding the receiving corps. Franklin has all the talent to succeed in the SEC, but you have to believe that tweaks need to be made to Missouri's offense to help him along the way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The readers have once again spoken and Dorial Green-Beckham was picked in our poll to have the biggest impact of this year's crop of true freshmen.

With more than 6,500 votes cast, Missouri's top signee ran away with it by grabbing 41 percent of the vote. It's hard to go against the readers on this one. DGB has been compared to A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones, and he seems to have the intangibles to be the Tigers' deep threat they're still searching for in the offense. Recent history has shown us that freshmen receivers can make instant impacts, so that's good news for Missouri and DGB.

Next was South Carolina receiver Shaq Roland, who received 26 percent of the vote. Like DGB, he looks to have the ability to make very early contributions to his future team. The Gamecocks will be without Alshon Jeffery and are looking for a standout at the position. They didn't see anyone not named Jeffery step up last year, so this is an open race and you better believe Roland will be heavily involved.

Georgia running back Keith Marshall placed third with 23 percent of the vote. Marshall showed in high school that he can be quite a headache for defenders when he's in space. He's already on campus, so the hope is that he'll push Isaiah Crowell from the start. He's getting a head start on Georgia's playbook and that's always a plus for freshmen.

Florida offensive tackle D.J. Humphries was next with 6 percent of the vote, while Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles received just 4 percent. I thought Towles' numbers would be higher in this poll because he has a real shot to take over at the quarterback spot if he has a successful offseason.

Georgia cornerback Sanders Commings will sit out the first two games of the 2012 season after he was arrested Jan. 21 and charged with simple battery and domestic violence after an early-morning incident with a girlfriend in downtown Athens.

Mark Richt's suspension of Commings means the rising senior will miss the season opener against Buffalo and the SEC opener at Missouri on Sept. 8.

Commings started all 14 games for the Bulldogs last year, tied for fourth on the team in tackles (55), broke up 12 passes and recorded an interception.

The cornerback position has taken a few hits in 2012. Richt already dismissed freshmen Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders. Georgia also said goodbye to three other defensive backs in Jakar Hamilton, Jordan Love and Derek Owens at the beginning of last season.

The Bulldogs likely won't feel the loss of Commings in Week 1 against Buffalo, but come the second week of the season, Georgia will have to face a Missouri team that likes to sling the ball around a bit and returns veterans T.J. Moe and Marcus Lucas. Plus, incoming freshman Dorial Green-Beckham will probably add something to that passing game.

Now that we've fully digested national signing day, it's about time we put a little pressure on some of the incoming freshmen.

Today, we're asking you to determine which true freshman will have the biggest impact for his team this fall. In the past, this would have seemed like a pretty silly poll, but more and more we're seeing true freshmen make immediate impacts for their teams. There's nothing that tells us that 2012 will be any different.

The headliner of the 2011 SEC signees is Missouri's Dorial Green-Beckham (Springfield, Mo./Hillcrest). He was the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the 2012 class and caught 119 passes for 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior. He's been compared to A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones, and is expected to compete for a good chunk of playing time in the Tigers' offense this fall. Missouri is looking for a consistent deep threat in its passing game and it appears DGB has the tools to be that player, but there will certainly be a learning curve.

Another wide receiver to keep an eye on is South Carolina's Shaq Roland (Lexington, S.C.). The Gamecocks are losing Alshon Jeffery and will need someone to step up at wide receiver. South Carolina failed to find a consistent receiving threat in its offense outside of Jeffery last year. There are some qualified players on South Carolina's roster, but Roland might have the most potential and could be quite the player for the Gamecocks. We've seen freshmen receivers succeed in this league in the past and Roland appears to have enough talent to get on the field early.

Then there's Georgia's Keith Marshall (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook). The nation's No. 2 running back enters a pretty crowded backfield in Athens, Ga., but he enrolled early and will get a head start on the offense this spring. Marshall needs to work on his inside game, but when he's in space there is nothing easy about getting a hold of him because of his elusiveness and speed. With Marshall coming in early, he'll get to compete side-by-side with Isaiah Crowell and could give him the push he needs.

Kentucky needed to find playmakers in its class and athlete Patrick Towles (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) could be a perfect fit for the Wildcats' offense. He was a solid dual-threat quarterback at the high school level and is expected to come in and immediately compete with current Kentucky quarterbacks Maxwell Smith and Morgan Newton. Neither was great last season, although it seems as though Smith has moved ahead on the depth chart. Still, nothing is set in stone and Towles will get his shot to run Kentucky's offense, where his athleticism should go a long way.

Finally, we look to the offensive line for another potential impact player for the fall. Arguably the top player in Florida's 2012 class was offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (Charlotte, N.C./Mallard Creek). He was rated the nation's top offensive tackle and now that he's on campus early, he'll not only compete for playing time at a position that needs help but his body will get a taste of a college regimen early ... and that's always good for linemen. The Gators were shaky at tackle last season and Humphries could help early. Improving the O-line would help that offense tremendously in 2012.

From the moment Dorial Green-Beckham put that black-and-yellow Missouri ball cap on his head, the expectations for him at Missouri went through the roof.

Actually, the former Springfield, Mo., Hillcrest High star probably would have had relatively high expectations no matter where he signed. He's a special talent, who caught 119 passes for 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns as a high school senior. The No. 1 receiver prospect stands 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 220 pounds, making him an ideal target for any quarterback in any type of offense. And even with his size, he still has the speed to be a legit deep threat at the college level.

Stop drooling James Franklin. You'll get to start working with him before you know it.

But will DGB be a star on the field from the word "go?" Will he immediately be that top-flight receiving threat that Missouri is still searching for in its offense? Will he take the SEC East by storm and help propel the Tigers toward the top of the division?

The hype machine says yes and he should benefit from having Franklin as his quarterback and being able to learn from vets, like T.J. Moe, who was Missouri's leading receiver last year, and Marcus Lucas, who emerged as a top receiving threat for the Tigers in 2011. However, he's never played on the level of the SEC or seen anything like what he'll see from SEC defenses.

Still, if DGB can nail Missouri's playbook down early and get pretty comfy in the Tigers' offense during the offseason, he could move from watcher to doer very quickly next season.

With his measurables and skill set, DGB could be a very special player in this league and if recent history is an indicator, he could very well make that immediate impact that Mizzou fans expect him to.

We don't have to go far to see success from rookie receivers in this league. Just last season Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell proved to be the Bulldogs' most talented pass catcher. He led Georgia, and was fourth in the SEC, in receiving, hauling in 45 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns. He did that only playing 11 games, as a hamstring injury cut into his playing time during the middle part of the season.

There was also LSU's Odell Beckham Jr., who was second on the team in receiving and grabbed 41 catches as a frosh. Ole Miss' Donte Moncrief and Vanderbilt's Chris Boyd also made big impacts in their respective offenses, as Moncrief led the Rebels in receiving and Boyd led the Commodores with eight touchdown receptions.

Over the years, we've seen other freshmen come in and make their presences well known in passing games. Percy Harvin was one of the most exciting players to watch in 2006 at both a wide receiver and a running back, as he registered 855 total yards of offense and five touchdowns for Florida. In 2009, SEC All-Freshman mates Alshon Jeffery and Chad Bumphis led their schools in receptions and yards.

And who could forget what A.J. Green did at Georgia and what Julio Jones did at Alabama in their first seasons? Both could have just jumped to the NFL at the end of the seasons if they were allowed to. Coincidentally, DGB is being compared to both, so that's nice.

We've only seen a glimpse of what DGB can do as a football player and if the experts are correct, he has a bright future ahead of him. And Mizzou's faithful is hoping he can have the early success of some of those receivers who have come before him in this league.

Mitch Sherman of ESPN RecruitingNation writes that Missouri signee Dorial Green-Beckham may have established the blueprint for future big-time recruits with the way he and his family handled the whole recruiting process.

We've all heard recruiting horror stories where players fall into the trap of thinking they're rock stars because that's the way they're being treated. But when it comes time to make a decision, they have a hard time pulling the trigger, often times committing to multiple schools along the way.

In Green-Beckham's case, as Sherman points out in his article, the country's top high school prospect was able to stay secretive about the whole process and never allowed it to swallow him.