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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.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino will say goodbye to a special group of players Saturday.

Seventeen seniors will take the field for the last time inside Razorback Stadium when Arkansas hosts Tennessee on senior night.

This group was one of the main building blocks responsible for elevating Arkansas’ football program to where it is today and Petrino acknowledged as much Wednesday.

It helped him get through a tough first year in 2008. The Hogs went 5-7, but finished the season with a 31-30 win over LSU in Little Rock, Ark. The season ended without a bowl, but that win helped give this program momentum into Petrino’s second year.

“The greatest thing about this group of seniors that play their last game here on Saturday is that year they were freshmen and they were all playing as true freshmen, they came to practice with positive attitudes and energy to work and get better and eagerness,” Petrino said. “That’s really what carried us through that year was we had great attitude and great work ethic. It’s certainly paid off here in the last three years.

Since 2008, Petrino and the Hogs have gone 26-9. Petrino even took Arkansas to its first BCS bowl last year and are on the doorstep of another BCS birth this season.

Some of the seniors Petrino and the Arkansas fan base will be saying goodbye to include defensive end Jake Bequette, linebacker Jerry Franklin, safety Tramain Thomas, safety/linebacker Jerico Nelson and wide receivers Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright.

Saturday could be even more special for Adams and Wright, who are just a few catches each from breaking the school record for career receptions held by Anthony Eubanks, who finished with 153. Adams currently has 151 career catches, while Wright has 150.

Wright has recorded 2,629 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career, while Adams has recorded 2,274 yards and 17 scores.

Wright has arguably been the top receiver in the SEC this season, leading the league with 48 catches, 812 yards and nine touchdowns. Adams has 41 catches for 516 yards and one score on the year.

Saying goodbye to those two could be especially hard Saturday.

“They’ve both had a tremendous career here, having a great year this year, have really meant a lot to our football team,” Petrino said.

“You can’t say enough about what they’ve done at the University of Arkansas.”

We kick it off in the SEC in 10 days. For now, we'll settle for a little linkage:

• Don Kausler, Jr. of The Birmingham News examines how many true freshmen will play for Alabama this season.
• Cornerback Jonathan Jones of Carrollton, Ga., commits to Auburn. Jones is ranked by ESPN as the No. 22 cornerback prospect in the country.
• Auburn's Trovon Reed is ready to make an impact this season.
• Arkansas' Jerico Nelson is a valuable part of the Hogs' defense no matter where he lines up.
• Florida coach Will Muschamp says he supports receivers coach Aubrey Hill 100 percent. Hill was mentioned in the Yahoo Sports story concerning violations at Miami.
• Melvin Ingram is South Carolina's forgotten man in the defensive line.
• Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf hopes to build on his late surge from a year ago.
• Stuart Hines is the quiet leader of Kentucky's offensive line.
• A former baseball player, Tennessee safety Brent Brewer is becoming the Vols' "power hitter."
• Vanderbilt's players form their own scooter club.
• The lawyer for the four LSU players implicated in last week's bar fight has delayed their meeting with police.
• LSU's Barkevious Mingo is racing to get after the quarterback.
• The early reviews on Alex Ogletree's move to safety are all good for Georgia.

The Razorbacks are ready for some football.

Offseason 7-on-7 workouts are over and the Hogs officially got things started by naming their captains for the upcoming season.

On the eve of fall camp, the team voted on captains, and coach Bobby Petrino released the names of the six captains Thursday -- junior running back Knile Davis, junior quarterback Tyler Wilson, senior wide receiver Jarius Wright, senior defensive end Jake Bequette, senior linebacker Jerry Franklin and senior safety/linebacker Jerico Nelson.

You probably read through that list and didn't stop, but upon further review, when you see "Tyler Wilson," your eyebrows have to rise a little.

For starters, if you're an Arkansas fan, it must feel pretty good to know that the players have that much faith and confidence in the first-year starter. Everyone who knows a lick about the SEC has heard -- or seen -- Wilson's breakout performance when he replaced Ryan Mallett against Auburn last season and threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns. But there was still concern if he'd be able to sustain that type of play with all the pressure on him.

According to his teammates, he should.

"The thing about Tyler is he gets better every day," wide receiver Cobi Hamilton said Wednesday. "It's real funny to go out there and watch him because he gets better every day. You can tell by the vocal leadership and everything he does by his movements every day. I think he'll be all right and he'll have a great season.

"He's opened up a lot since Ryan left, and everybody sees that and everybody knows that he's going to the be the man this year. We're all behind Tyler, and we have his back."

The second thing you should take from this is that Petrino's not-so-well-kept secret is probably out -- that Wilson is Arkansas' starting quarterback.

Still, Petrino insists that Wilson is very much battling it out with sophomore Brandon Mitchell, but he sounds so close to handing the offense off to Wilson.

"Tyler has an opportunity to do a very, very good job for us," Petrino said. "He's been in the offense for four years now. He's done a good job when he's come in games. We all saw what he did in the Auburn game last year. But also the next week, when we had that marathon game with Ole Miss, the two lightning delays, Tyler came in and finished the game and converted some tough third downs and helped us win the ballgame. Been very impressed with the way he's prepared in the offseason, the leadership role that he's working to take over."

And Arkansas is looking to take over the SEC. The expectations are high for the Hogs and they expect to garner elite-level respect this season.

"I don't really want to say that anybody fears us, but I do think we are on the level with top-named schools now," Wright said. "When people see Arkansas they are going to game plan a lot and very smart against us."

HOOVER, Ala. -- The stars will be out in force this week at the SEC media days.

Alabama’s Trent Richardson will be here. So will the South Carolina tandem of Marcus Lattimore and Alshon Jeffery, not to mention Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray and Arkansas running back Knile Davis.

The spotlight will be bright for all of those players and probably won’t dim much during the season.

But what about those players who haven’t received the pub they deserve? You know, the guys who are outstanding football players in their own right, but seem to fly under the radar for some reason.

We’ve already sized up the coaches’ preseason All-SEC team. The media’s preseason All-SEC team will be unveiled on Friday.

So while we’re picking teams, here’s our stab at the 10 most underrated players in the SEC:

1. Ole Miss RB Brandon Bolden: He’s one of the most complete running backs you’ll find anywhere in college football. The 5-foot-11, 221-pound senior rushed for 976 yards last season and averaged 6 yards per carry. He also led the Rebels with 32 catches and scored 17 touchdowns. But try finding Bolden’s name on the coaches’ preseason All-SEC team for the 2011 season. He didn’t even make third team.

2. Arkansas LB/S Jerico Nelson: Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson will tell you that Nelson is the guy who sets the tempo for the rest of the Hogs’ defense. He’s small for a linebacker (5-foot-10, 211) and also has some safety responsibilities, but he’s incredibly productive. He was second on Arkansas’ team with 87 tackles last season, including 11 for loss. Nelson is also another player you won’t find anywhere on the coaches’ preseason All-SEC team.

3. Tennessee RB Tauren Poole: There’s no denying that the running back position in the SEC is insanely talented, but Poole rushed for 1,034 yards last season and rarely gets mentioned among the top backs in the league. One of the most respected players on Tennessee’s team, Poole recorded six 100-yard rushing games a year ago, which tied for the SEC lead. Where’s the love?

4. LSU S Brandon Taylor: When the Tigers lost Taylor to that ankle injury in the Alabama game last season, they were never quite the same defensively. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis said Taylor adds a presence to the LSU secondary that’s irreplaceable. The 6-foot, 195-pound senior was also selected to wear No. 18 this season, which is one of the Tigers’ top honors as a player.

5. Vanderbilt S Sean Richardson: The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior has started in 18 consecutive games, including all 12 at free safety a year ago. He’s been overshadowed at times by others in the Vanderbilt secondary, but Richardson is the real deal. He set single-season career highs a year ago in total tackles (98) and tackles for loss (7) and finished fourth in the SEC in solo tackles (5.2 per game).

6. South Carolina C T.J. Johnson: He’s the guy who makes it go up front for the Gamecocks. The 6-foot-3, 314-pound junior has started every game in his first two seasons at South Carolina, all 13 at right guard as a redshirt freshman and all 14 at center last season. He’s tough. He’s smart, and he’s one of the strongest leaders on South Carolina’s team.

7. Georgia CB Brandon Boykin: More pub is starting to flow his way leading into this season. Boykin was a second-team preseason All-SEC selection by the coaches. Of course, he’ll readily tell you that he doesn’t think there’s a better cornerback in the league than him, and he’ll get a chance to prove that this fall. When you throw in his return skills, Boykin rates right up there with any of the SEC’s two-way players.

8. Auburn WR Emory Blake: Here’s a quick trivia question: Who led the Tigers in touchdown catches last season en route to their BCS national championship? Some might be surprised that it was Blake, who had eight touchdown catches. He’s also Auburn’s leading returning receiver and averaged 16.8 yards per catch. So when you start listing the top receivers in this league, don’t forget about Blake.

9. Kentucky OG Stuart Hines: The Kentucky guard getting all the love right now is Larry Warford and deservedly so. He’s an excellent player, but don’t sleep on the Wildcats’ “other” guard. The 6-foot-4, 296-pound Hines is one of the better pulling guards in the league and has made 24 starts during his career. It’s no secret that Kentucky will lean heavily on its offensive line in 2011, and Hines -- rock-solid in every way -- is a big reason why.

10. Mississippi State S Charles Mitchell: He’s been an integral part of the Bulldogs’ secondary since he was a true freshman and has played in all 37 games of his college career. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior is a big-time hitter and collected 93 total tackles a year ago. He’s the Bulldogs’ enforcer in what should be a very productive secondary in 2011.

We head into high-flyer mode as we discuss defensive backs today. They are athletic as ever this season, and some teams return a bevy of secondary talent in 2011.

Here’s how the teams look:

1. Alabama: This was an area of the team that was a problem and it wasn’t so much the yardage given up but the lack of consistency, especially in big games (see the Auburn game). This year, the Tide should have one of the best defensive backfields in the country. Safety Mark Barron could have entered the NFL draft, but stayed. And while he was in a non-contact jersey this spring, he’ll be one of the top safeties around this fall. Robert Lester is another solid safety who is also making everyone’s short list of top safeties for next year’s draft. At corner, everyone knows Dre Kirkpatrick, but DeQuan Menzie could be Alabama’s best weapon in the secondary. Dee Milliner is still in the mix at corner and there is a lot of good young talent as well.

2. LSU: No Patrick Peterson? No problem. The Tigers are once again loaded in their secondary with corners Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu. Both are All-SEC material and Claiborne led the Tigers with five interceptions last season. Mathieu found a way to get to the ball often last season and both should make it tough for any quarterback to throw on LSU this fall. Sophomore Tharold Simon made strong improvements at corner this spring as well. Safety Brandon Taylor is another top player at his position and he should be fine after suffering a foot injury at the end of last season. Youngsters Eric Reid and Craig Loston look like stars in the making at safety.

3. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs return five players who started at some point in 2010. Johnthan Banks, Corey Broomfield and Nickoe Whitley each recorded three interceptions and had 50-plus tackles last year. Broomfield should be the Bulldogs' top option at corner, while Banks can play both corner and safety. Charles Mitchell returns at safety and was third on the team with 93 tackles last season. All of Mississippi State’s defensive backs not only have a knack for making big plays down field but they can each play efficiently in the box.

4. Arkansas: This group is a little inexperienced, but there is a lot of talent to go around. Things start with safety Tramain Thomas. Thomas was fourth on the team in tackles last season and grabbed four interceptions. Thomas looked even better this spring, making play after play. Fellow senior Elton Ford should get time at safety, and converted corner Eric Bennett should get reps as well. Hybrid linebacker Jerico Nelson enhances the group when he drops back with the safeties and Isaac Madison returns at one of the corner spots and should team up with Darius Winston. The two have 27 career starts under their belts.

5. South Carolina: The Gamecocks’ secondary has to improve after underachieving a year ago, and South Carolina has the weapons to do it. Corner Stephon Gilmore wasn’t at his best last year, but has tremendous cover ability and speed to be tops at his position. Akeem Auguste moved from safety back to his more natural position at corner and should give the Gamecocks one of the top corner tandems in the SEC. DeVonte Holloman moved to the Spur linebacker spot, so there are still questions at safety, but D.J. Swearinger really impressed this spring and some think he’s the most gifted defensive back in Columbia. Replacing Holloman’s spot is going to be tough, and the coaches have yet to find someone to solidify that position.

6. Vanderbilt: This is the strongest part of Vanderbilt’s team. The Commodores return a heap of talent, starting with senior corner Casey Hayward, who was a second-team All-SEC pick a year ago. Hayward led the SEC with 11 pass breakups and had six interceptions. Safety Sean Richardson led the team with 98 tackles and would start on a lot of teams in the SEC. The other safety spot is occupied by Kenny Ladler, who was one of the top safeties in the league last season, even as a freshman. Junior Trey Wilson had a great spring and could move past last year’s starter Eddie Foster on the depth chart.

7. Georgia: Like most positions at Georgia, there’s no shortage of talent. However, there are still questions. Senior Brandon Boykin is solid at one of the corner spots with his natural corner instincts, great speed and is the defensive leader. Sanders Commings is talented and has the best size, but he’ll have to battle Branden Smith at the other corner spot. Smith is a total athlete, but he has to improve his coverage skills. Bacarri Rambo is solid at safety, but he needs to return to the form he had as a freshman. Finding someone to line up next to him is important. With Alec Ogletree moving to linebacker, there is a hole at safety and one of Georgia’s newcomers might have to step in this fall.

8. Florida: The Gators would have been higher on this list had it not been for the dismissal of All-SEC corner Janoris Jenkins. There’s a gaping hole at corner, and the hope is that junior Jeremy Brown can help fill it. He finally played after a severe back injury kept him out for two years, and while he struggled at times, Florida’s coaches were very impressed with his play this spring. Sophomore Cody Riggs was a pleasant surprise at corner last season and is battling unproven senior Moses Jenkins. There is nothing but youth and inexperience behind them. At safety, Matt Elam had a good spring at strong safety, while free safety wasn’t totally locked down by Josh Evans. The good news is that Florida signed six defensive backs this year.

9. Tennessee: This group could be decent, but there are so many questions. We aren’t sure if star Janzen Jackson will return after leaving school this spring. Prentiss Waggner moved from safety to corner last season, where he was an All-SEC performer, and then back to safety when Jackson left. But he might be back at corner this fall. If Waggner is a corner and there’s no Jackson, there’s an enormous hole at safety. If he stays at safety, then there’s one at corner. Fortunately, Brent Brewer, a former minor league baseball player, is a solid safety, and corner Marsalis Teague returns after converting from receiver last season. Incoming junior college transfer Byron Moore should compete immediately for time at corner.

10. Kentucky: There is a lot of experience with four senior starters returning, but the unit has to show that it can be consistent in big games. Safety/linebacker hybrid Winston Guy leads the group with his speed, strength and athleticism, and will move down into the box as the nickel linebacker. Seniors Randall Burden and Anthony Mosley are back at corner after combing for 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. Junior Martavius Neloms began the spring as the starter at corner, but could see more time at safety this fall. Mychal Bailey will line up at safety and was second behind Guy with two interceptions last season. Inexperience behind this group is still a problem.

11. Auburn: Things started off poorly when senior safety Michael McNeil was one of the four players arrested for robbery and later dismissed this spring. McNeil, who started seven games last season, was supposed to be one of the stars of the Tigers’ defense this fall. Now he’s gone and former corner Neiko Thorpe is moving over to safety. The move actually benefits the hit-first defensive back. T’Sharvan Bell is at corner and has the speed and tight cover skills to be one of the best at his position. After that, it’s a free-for-all. Incoming freshman Erique Florence should get an opportunity to come in and play immediately at safety.

12. Ole Miss: This group had to hear about how it was the goat of last season’s 4-8 campaign after allowing 246 passing yards a game. It was a motivational tool this spring, but there’s a lot of work to do. New defensive backs coach Keith Burns was pleased with the spring progress and really liked how JUCO transfer Wesley Pendleton played at corner. He’s competing to take one of those spots from either Marcus Temple, who missed spring with injury, or Charles Sawyer, who had to be pushed at times this spring. The reliable Damien Jackson is back at safety and could line up next to Brishen Mathews, who got good playing time last season, but is still unproven. JUCO transfer Ivan Nicholas and freshman Cliff Coleman will compete for time at safety and corner, respectively.

We had technical difficulties with the video side of our position breakdown series Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get our side of why we put players where.

Ah, the power of the keyboard.

We started our player rankings with Alabama’s Dont'a Hightower leading the way. We felt that with him back to 100 percent and being so versatile in Alabama’s defense, by playing both inside and out, he’s going to be a ferocious linebacker for the Tide this fall. He’s extremely athletic and has great football smarts.

Hightower is already one of the top linebacker prospects for next year’s NFL draft, but is still trying to prove that he deserves that distinction.

Behind him, things got tough. We really like Jerry Franklin at Arkansas and he’s proved for three years now that he’s a special player. He’s led the Razorbacks in tackles the past three seasons and should be the center of the defense yet again this fall.

But we went with Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw at No. 2 because he’s healthy again and is another one of those tremendously athletic linebackers that is going to gives the Tide another scary weapon on the outside.

We knew there would be controversy with our decision to put Florida sophomore Ronald Powell and Georgia’s Jarvis Jones on the list.

Powell could have been a defensive end or a linebacker on our lists. We went with him as a linebacker because he played more there last season and might be standing up more this season. Powell has all the measurables to be a star and he’s finally coming around mentally. He battled for playing time during his first year, but at the new hybrid Buck position, he’ll be a terror off the edge and he’s fast enough to keep up with top tight ends in coverage. Powell could be a very special player in this league.

Jones has the same sort of upside. While he’s not as physically gifted as Powell, he’s a great athlete and most around Georgia think he might have a little more upside than previous linebacker star Justin Houston. Christian Robinson and Alec Ogletree were close to making the top 10, but Jones slipped in at the last second.

As for players that could pop up on this list during the season, Robinson and Ogletree immediately come to mind. Robinson became more of a leader this spring and Georgia’s staff has a lot of trust in him in the middle. Ogletree is the most athletic of Georgia’s linebackers and should be all over the field with his speed after moving from safety to middle linebacker.

Arkansas’ Jerico Nelson should also have a big year, playing that hybrid linebacker/safety position. He’s got great closing speed and hits with the best of them.

Finally, we had trouble leaving Alabama sophomore C.J. Mosley off the list. He was great during his freshman season last year, ranking third on the team with 67 tackles. He plays in the middle and while Hightower and Upshaw might overshadow him a little, he’ll get a ton of playing time yet again this fall.

Today we take a look at the SEC linebackers. The front sevens in this league are always good and 2011 shouldn't be any different.

Here's how the teams stacked up:

1. Alabama: There are a lot of strengths on this Alabama team, but the linebackers should be very fun to watch this fall. Courtney Upshaw and Dont’a Hightower are back to full speed and are considered top players at their positions. With them back, the Tide should have a much more aggressive pass rush. Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley improved even more this spring and will get time in the middle when Hightower is outside at the "Jack" position. Mosely blossomed as a freshman and could be a star in the making. Jarrell Harris seems to finally be coming around and Chris Jordan gives them another body in the front seven.

2. Florida: This group struggled to stay consistent at times last fall, but the new coaching staff was pleased with the progress it made this spring. There is a lot talent out there and now there are two distinct leaders in Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic, who should occupy the middle when the Gators go to the 3-4. Both are tremendous athletes and should be a solid duo this fall. Florida also has former No. 1 high school prospect Ronald Powell playing that linebacker/defensive end hybrid spot called the Buck. He’ll stand up a lot this season and should elevate himself near the top of the SEC pass-rushing list. Cal transfer Chris Martin earned a ton of praise last year on the practice squad and will be a hybrid as well. Converted safety Dee Finley will play outside and there is some good, but young, depth in the wings.

3. Arkansas: This area of the team improved a lot during the season and this spring. It’s headlined by Jerry Franklin, who has led the Razorbacks in tackles the last three seasons. He has 271, including 21.5 for loss in his career. Strongside hybrid Jerico Nelson was second on the team in tackles and has the speed to get all over the field. Nelson will occasional drop back and play safety as well. This linebacker tandem will be one of the best out there this fall. The major plus for the Razorbacks is that there is finally some really good depth at the position. Bret Harris, Jarrett Lake and Terrell Williams came on strong on the outside this spring, while Ross Rasner was making strides until he was arrested and suspended indefinitely this spring.

4. Georgia: There is no shortage of athleticism in Georgia’s linebacker corps. Alec Ogletree moved down from safety and while he’s bulked up, he’s still got tremendous closing speed and will make a ton of plays at middle linebacker. Next to him is defensive leader Christian Robinson, who left spring as one of Georgia’s most consistent linebackers. On the outside, USC transfer Jarvis Jones will occupy the weak side and the coaches feel he might be more of a complete player than Justin Houston. On the other end, Cornelius Washington might not be getting a ton of publicity, but he’s no slouch and can run with the best of them.

5. LSU: Like most of the Tigers’ positions, this one might not have a ton of in-game experience, but the athleticism is too good not to praise. LSU lost leading tackler and monster in the middle Kelvin Sheppard, but there should be enough able bodies to make this unit one of the tops in the league this fall. Ryan Baker is now the leader out there and can keep up with some of the best offensive weapons out there. He’ll play on the weak side, while converted safety Karnell Hatcher moved down from safety and took reps at middle linebacker, but could find his home outside. Sophomore Kevin Minter spent his spring trying to fill Sheppard’s void and has made vast improvements. Senior Stefoin Francois provides veteran depth for the Tigers on the outside, while there are a few young, able bodies ready to contribute as well.

6. Kentucky: Things start with one of the nation’s best in Danny Trevathan. He led the SEC with 144 tackles a year ago and the word out of Lexington is that he’s looking to be even better this fall and wants to move around the field a lot more. Ronnie Sneed returns as the starter in the middle, after grabbing 61 tackles a year ago. He made some nice improvements this spring. Ridge Wilson will be another hybrid on the outside, and will occasionally lineup as a rush end for the Wildcats. The talented Winston Guy, who has played just about everywhere on Kentucky’s defense has finally settled into his home at linebacker and should play closer to the line of scrimmage and be a nickel linebacker.

7. South Carolina: The Gamecocks got an immediate upgrade to this position with the return of Shaq Wilson, after he missed last year with a hamstring injury. Wilson is known as the quarterback of the defense and led South Carolina in tackles in 2009. The player that could really make noise in this unit is DeVonte Holloman, who is moving from safety to the hybrid Spur position. He’ll drop back into coverage and rush from the outside to give the Gamecocks another weapon in the pass rush. Upperclassmen Reggie Bowens and Rodney Paulk will get some reps in the middle this fall, while Damario Jeffery and Quinn Smith will compete for time outside.

8. Tennessee: The Volunteers are still trying to find out what this group is made of. Junior Herman Lathers will be back after he heals from an ankle injury this spring and he’s the most experienced player at the position. He had 75 tackles last season and will man the weak side for the Vols when he returns. Senior Daryl Vereen should get time at strong side, but he still has some developing to do. Senior Austin Johnson, a converted fullback, will get time in the middle with All-SEC freshman pick John Propst. The jury is still out on this unit and youngsters like A.J. Johnson, Curt Maggitt and Christian Harris will have to develop quickly.

9. Auburn: The Tigers are almost back to the drawing board at linebacker. Both Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens are gone, leaving Daren Bates as the lone returning starter. Bates is a converted safety, but settled nicely into the linebacker position well last fall. Inexperience looms after that as sophomore Jake Holland is a projected starter in the middle and junior Jonathan Evans will get time at weakside. Former junior college standout Eltoro Freeman, has the potential to be a menace, but has yet to truly step up for the Tigers. They’ll need that light bulb to go on this year.

10. Mississippi State: First thing’s first -- the Bulldogs must replace three starting linebackers this season. That won’t be easy or fun in Starkville. But help could be on the way in Clemson transfer Brandon Maye, who was a three-year starter with the Tigers. Coach Dan Mullen said he’s a player they expect to come in and take one of those openings at linebacker. Mississippi State still has senior leader Brandon Wilson, who players fed off of this spring. Chris Hughes and Cam Lawrence also made strides, but expect a lot of rotation from new defensive coordinator Chris Wilson.

11. Vanderbilt: Chris Marve is one of the top linebackers in the nation. He’s got great field instincts and matches his skill with the best of them. Just having him on the field makes this group better. But after him, the Commodores have a lot of questions. Vanderbilt must replace outside linebackers John Stokes and Nate Campbell, and though there are six candidates, they have just start among them. Coming out of spring, juniors Tristan Strong and Archibald Barnes and sophomore Chase Garnham are the leading candidates to see valuable playing time.

12. Ole Miss: Losing D.T. Shackelford was an enormous blow to the Rebels. Not only was he Ole Miss’ best defensive player but he was the emotional leader of the team. He was going to carry this team as far as he could go. Now, the Rebels have a wealth of inexperience to deal with. Things got even worse when sophomore linebacker Clarence Jackson was dismissed following his arrest for public drunkenness. The pressure is now on incoming freshman C.J. Johnson, who was the top prospect coming out of the state of Mississippi. He could jump right into Shackelford’s spot. Mike Marry and Ralph Williams worked in Shackelford’s spot this spring and Joel Knight returns as a starter outside.

Wednesday's blog about the Pony Express Award Watch List certainly garnered a lot of attention from SEC fans.

No one seemed overly upset with the tandems listed. It was more about the tandems that were left off that got some fans all hot and bothered.

There were a few combos that I thought would make the list, but not everyone can. It just doesn't work that way.

But that's the beauty of this blog. You people have expressed your frustration and I've looked at the numbers. So here are some other tandems around the league that you should keep your eyes on this fall:

Arkansas: LB/S Jerico Nelson, LB Jerry Franklin -- Franklin and Nelson led the Razorbacks in tackles last season, combining for 187, including 24 for loss. Franklin was second on the team with 6.5 sacks, while Nelson had 2.5.

Florida: DE/LB Ronald Powell, DT Sharrif Floyd, DT Dominique Easley -- This young group could be the heart of Florida's defense this fall. Powell should be the Gators top pass rusher off the edge, while Floyd and Easley should plug holes and frustrate offensive linemen when they line up next to each other.

Georgia: QB Aaron Murray, WR Tavarres King, TE Orson Charles: These will be Murray's main playmakers to start the season. King moved to A.J. Green's flanker spot and showed this spring that he's ready to be the guy. Charles is athletic enough to flex out and play receiver and should be even better in his third season. Both combined for 926 yards and five touchdowns last fall.

Georgia: LB Christian Robinson, LB Jarvis Jones, LB Alec Ogletree -- Alabama might have the most intimidating group of linebackers, but Georgia could have the fastest, most athletic. Robinson is the leader in the middle and Ogletree will be a tackling machine alongside him. Jones should help lessen the blow of losing Justin Houston outside and could be a more complete player than Houston.

Mississippi State: QB Chris Relf, RB Vick Ballard -- Relf showed last fall that he's one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league, rushing for 713 yards and five touchdowns while passing for 1,789 and 13 more scores. That second number should increase this fall. Ballard rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored 19 rushing touchdowns in 2010. These two should be quite the combo this fall.

Mississippi State: CB Johnthan Banks, CB Corey Broomfield, S Charles Mitchell, S Nickoe Whitley -- The Bulldogs might have the most athletic defensive backfield around. This group is a big play waiting to happen. Banks, Broomfield and Whitley each had three interceptions last season, while Mitchell was third on the team with 94 total tackles in 2010.

Ole Miss: RB Brandon Bolden, Jeff Scott -- Bolden was one of the SEC's top rushers a year ago, gaining 976 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns. Scott added 429 yards and three scores and he's the home run threat in the Rebels' backfield. He and Bolden will get a lot more action this fall with Ole Miss throwing an inexperienced quarterback onto the field this fall.

Tennessee: QB Tyler Bray, WR Justin Hunter, WR Da'Rick Rogers -- This group grabbed the most votes from fans out there. Hunter showed he’s a playmaker by turning his 16 receptions into 415 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010. Rogers had a very impressive spring and will start opposite Hunter. Rogers can play both receiver and in the backfield, so expect his touches to dramatically increase this fall. Bray went 4-1 as a starter and set Tennessee freshman records for passing yards (1,849) and touchdowns (18).

Vanderbilt: RB Warren Norman, RB Zac Stacy, RB Wesley Tate -- This group didn't put up monster numbers in 2010, but it will be the strength of the Commodores offense this season. Norman should be fully healthy this fall and will be the lead horse, while Stacy should continue to put up solid numbers. Tate might be the most athletic of the bunch and he's bigger than Norman and Stacy.

For the second straight year, hope springs eternal in the Arkansas camp, but there’s also reason for concern.

Biggest reason for hope: A defense with all the right pieces

To win championships in this league, you have to play championship-caliber defense. Everybody knows the Hogs have the firepower on offense to score points in bunches. Now, they have that same kind of firepower on defense to create turnovers, come up with key stops and keep teams out of the end zone. The defensive front should be one of the deepest in the league, and the addition of junior college tackle Robert Thomas (6-3, 325 pounds) this spring only added to the Hogs’ athleticism and size. Senior linebackers Jerry Franklin and Jerico Nelson are back after finishing No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in tackles last season, while senior Tramain Thomas returns as one of the best all-around safeties in the league. It’s easily the most speed the Hogs have had on defense since Bobby Petrino has been in Fayetteville, and it’s also an experienced defense. Arkansas was able to lean on its defense in spots a year ago. This coming season, it may be that the Hogs set the tone defensively in just about every game.

Biggest reason for concern: Youth in the offensive line

The Hogs were a veteran offensive line last season, particularly at tackle, and that was a big reason for their offensive success. It will flip the other way in 2011 when Arkansas is expected to field one of the youngest offensive lines in the league. True freshman Brey Cook worked much of the spring as one of the starting tackles after enrolling early. He’s mature beyond his years and already one of the strongest players on the team, but it’s always a thrill a minute in this league when a true freshman is starting at offensive tackle. Sophomore Anthony Oden could be the starter at the other tackle spot after redshirting last season. Oden was suspended for the opener and was then forced to withdraw from school in the fall because of complications from mononucleosis. The Hogs will be equally young inside, although talented. Sophomore center Travis Swanson and sophomore guard Alvin Bailey both started as freshmen last season.

It’s become routine for Arkansas safety/linebacker Jerico Nelson to walk into the film room these last few months and find Knile Davis sitting there.

Davis, who had a breakout season a year ago for the Hogs with 1,322 rushing yards, isn’t leaving anything to chance as he points toward his junior season.

He flew in under the radar last season. Nobody really knew who he was, including opposing SEC defensive coordinators.

They know now.

“You can’t rest on your laurels,” Davis said. “Everybody else is working to get that edge. What are you going to do to get that edge?”

In addition to bulking up to 230 pounds and getting a lot stronger, Davis has done his best to become more of a student of the game.

“The thing about Knile is that he’s already a great back, but he’s working to get even better,” Nelson said. “Every time I go in to watch extra film, he’s there. He knows people are going to be gunning for him next season.”

Davis doesn’t just watch SEC defenses, either. He watches other running backs and feels like he’s picked up several things that will help his game.

Among those he’s studied: Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Adrian Peterson, Deuce McAllister and Fred Taylor.

Obviously, all of those guys have different styles and different strengths. What’s important to Davis is becoming a complete running back.

“I take a lot of pride in being a running back that can do whatever you need him to do,” said Davis, who also caught 19 passes last season, including the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Mississippi State.

“I was never a guy who could play two positions. I couldn’t play defense. I didn’t return punts. I just loved the running back position and felt like I needed to be good in every aspect of it, whether it’s short yardage, breaking a long one down the sideline, catching, blocking, everything.”

Davis, who’s the first to admit that he still needs to work on his blocking, was just about all of those things for the Hogs last season even though he really wasn’t turned loose until a month had gone by in the season.

Everybody in the state of Arkansas, including coach Bobby Petrino, still wonders what would have happened in that Alabama game had Davis been the force he was during the second half of the season.

No longer were the Hogs an offense that had to beat teams strictly through the air. With Davis’ emergence, they were also able to grind it out on the ground, and even more importantly, protect leads.

Once he got going, Davis was incredibly consistent.

He led all SEC running backs in rushing, racking up six 100-yard rushing games. His 6.48 yards-per-carry rushing average was the highest in the NCAA among running backs that carried the ball at least 200 times.

“I think there’s still more out there … for the whole team and not just me,” Davis said.

So does Petrino, who’s been particularly impressed with how Davis has handled success.

“What I like so much is that he wants to take over the leadership role,” Petrino said. “When we tested in the weight room, he was there for every group. Two groups ahead of him, he was there helping out. And then two groups after he went, he was still there. He stayed the entire time.

“That means a lot to me. That shows he’s ready. He cares, and he knows he needs everybody around him.”

Chris Low talks to the safety/linebacker about the upcoming season.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- One of the first speeches Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino shared with his team last season centered around holding the proverbial rope.

Everybody takes a shot at holding that rope -- the offense, defense and special teams.

When one unit is struggling, the other may have to hold it a little bit longer.

That’s just part of being a team.

Don’t be surprised in 2011 if Arkansas' defense ends up holding that rope as much or more than the offense, which will be more a reflection of how much the Hogs have progressed on defense than it is a warning of any slippage on offense.

“Everybody believes on defense now, and we have guys who’ve been in this system for a long time,” said senior Jerico Nelson, who doubles as safety and linebacker for the Hogs.

“We got better on defense last year and stepped up in some games. But in the games we needed to step up in, we didn’t. We lost all three of those games -- Alabama, Auburn and Ohio State. We have to learn to start fast and continue to play fast, and that’s what we’ve done this spring.”

When Petrino first arrived at Arkansas, spring practice was one big fireworks show for his offense.

There were big plays all over the field, quick-strike touchdowns and not a lot of defense.

This spring has been different. The defense has won a lot more battles than it has lost, which is the way it is at most championship-caliber programs in the spring -- particularly in the SEC.

“A lot of it is the maturity of the guys here and going through what we did together when we were younger,” said senior middle linebacker Jerry Franklin, who had a career-high 100 tackles last season and is bidding to become the first player in Arkansas history to lead the team in tackles for four straight seasons.

“We’re older now and have blended together into a good defense. But we don’t just want to be a good defense. We’re trying to become a top-10 or top-five defense in the country. We have the guys to do it and the game plan to do it. We just have to go out and get it done.”

Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, who took his share of heat those first two seasons, deserves a lot of credit for staying the course. He put his entire system in and didn’t deviate from that system even when the Hogs were giving up points in bunches.

That first season, the Hogs went one three-game stretch against Alabama, Texas and Florida in which gave up a combined 139 points.

Even during the second season, the Hogs finished 89th nationally in total defense and went eight straight games in which they allowed a touchdown play of 60 yards or longer.

But last season, a lot of those defenders grew up, and Arkansas improved to 36th nationally in total defense. Just about all of those guys are back, too.

“It’s gratifying to see them so confident with each other and playing faster,” Robinson said. “We stuck with our system. We didn’t try and change our system. It wasn’t like there was a discontinuance for them, so they were able to get better at what they were doing.”

Robinson went into this venture with his eyes wide-open.

Soon after arriving from the St. Louis Rams, even his wife, Susan, could tell the defensive personnel wasn’t anywhere close to what it needs to be to compete for championships in the SEC.

“Our first spring here, my wife, who had grown up in Pennsylvania and knew a lot about football, sat down there and said, ‘You guys look like a high school football team. That doesn’t look like a college team. I don’t know how you’re going to compete in the SEC because I’ve seen those people, too,’” Robinson recounted.

“We just had to work our rear ends off, and our strength staff has done a great job.”

The Hogs now look like an SEC championship-caliber defense in terms of the size of the front seven and depth on the defensive line and the athleticism and speed at linebacker.

That’s keeping in mind, too, that the two best defensive tackles, Byran Jones and DeQuinta Jones, were out this spring while recovering from injuries.

“You see in those championship teams that they all have good offenses, but what separates them is that every one of them has a great front seven,” said senior defensive end Jake Bequette, who led the team with seven sacks last season.

The Hogs also possess experience and skill in their secondary, although Robinson said he thinks they might be a cornerback or two short in terms of depth.

“Without a doubt, we feel like we can be playing for our conference championship in Atlanta,” Robinson said. “We feel that in all of our hearts. We’ve taken a step every year, and our kids are really driven to do that. We had so many freshmen playing for us our first year on defense. That was scary, but it helped us on down the line.

“Our offense has carried us for so long. We’re at a point now, though, where our defense should be able to hold the rope for a lot longer.”

NEW ORLEANS -- Arkansas knew exactly how it was going to start the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Throughout postseason practice, the team had worked on the opening play, in which quarterback Ryan Mallett faked a handoff to running back Knile Davis and then hit receiver Joe Adams on a seam down the middle.

"We've been working on that for a long time in practice, and it worked pretty much every time," receiver Jarius Wright said.

When they lined up for the first snap from scrimmage, the Razorbacks saw the exact coverage they hoped Ohio State would present. The play went off as scripted until the throw, when Mallett's pass to a streaking Adams was just a bit off. Had Adams been hit in stride, Arkansas might have begun the game with a touchdown.

Instead, it served as a sign of things to come. The crisp, efficient scoring machine down the stretch of the regular season sputtered early and late in the Superdome. That's why Arkansas had to battle back from a huge first-half deficit, and why its manic second-half comeback effort fell just short in a 31-26 defeat.

"We couldn't have played any worse in the first half," defensive end Jake Bequette said. "We played our butts off in the second half, but it wasn't enough."

Big Easy described Ohio State's offense in the first half. The Buckeyes rolled out to a 28-7 lead and had their choice between long Dan Herron runs or Terrelle Pryor passes to wide-open receivers. They had 338 yards at halftime and converted six of their eight third downs.

Big Ten teams are supposed to be slower than SEC squads, but Ohio State ran a high-tempo, no-huddle offense that surprised the Razorbacks. On one third down, three Arkansas defenders were still jogging off the field when Pryor took the snap. Jim Tressel had turned into Chip Kelly overnight.

Arkansas players admitted they weren't prepared for that. But at halftime, they adjusted. Ohio State had just 108 yards and one field goal in the second half.

"In the first half, we couldn't get our plays in and couldn't get our checks in time for the snap," linebacker Jerico Nelson said. "We never really saw them do that [on film] and we didn't really practice for it. In the second half, we did a better job of communicating the call and keeping things simple. We played to our keys and moved around faster."

That defensive turnaround set the stage for the comeback attempt. But the offense couldn't quite pull it off.

A Razorbacks team that averaged 42.5 points per game in the final six regular-season outings managed only two touchdowns in the Sugar Bowl. The last two drives began on the Ohio State 38 and the Buckeyes' 18, but neither ended in points. Mallett threw for 277 yards but needed 47 attempts and barely completed half of them.

A normally reliable receiving corps dropped six passes, many of them in crucial situations. Head coach Bobby Petrino said the 38-day layoff might have contributed to the problem.

"Our last game against LSU was at the end of November," offensive lineman Ray Dominguez said. "We were trying to get the rust off this week in practice, but we could see a little bit of it. During the first half, it really showed."

Ohio State also gave a different look with its defensive front, doing more moving and stunting on first and second down than the Razorbacks said they had seen on film. It took another halftime adjustment to get used to that.

Arkansas played like a team making its first BCS appearance and its first Sugar Bowl since 1980, while Ohio State looked like the one that makes BCS trips an annual rite. The Hogs had six penalties to two for the Buckeyes, and that included a few false start miscues despite having the crowd and the noise heavily in their favor.

"Nerves had a lot to do with it," Wright said. "We didn't calm down until the second half, and by then it was a little bit too late."

Arkansas had the perfect start scripted but couldn't execute. Then it had a miraculous comeback story written. The ending just didn't work.

The SEC league office has announced its top performers for Week 13:

OFFENSE

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton: He completed 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed for 39 yards on 22 carries and another touchdown in leading Auburn from 24 points down to rally past Alabama for a 28-27 win.

DEFENSE

Arkansas linebacker Jerico Nelson: He led the Razorbacks with 11 total tackles, including two for loss, a sack for a loss of 5 yards and one quarterback hurry in Arkansas’ 31-23 win against LSU in Little Rock. The Hogs limited the Tigers to just 71 yards of total offense in the second half.

SPECIAL TEAMS

South Carolina punter/place-kicker Spencer Lanning: He was 3-of-4 on field goal attempts, hitting from 46, 25 and 37 yards, and punted seven times for a 42.7-yard average in South Carolina’s 29-7 win at Clemson. Four of his seven punts started Clemson drives inside its own 20-yard line.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod: He helped pave the way for the Bulldogs to amass 498 total yards, including 210 on the ground, in Mississippi State's 31-23 victory at Ole Miss. Sherrod graded out at 92 percent with six knockdowns, his eighth 90 percent score of the season.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Auburn tackle Nick Fairley: He finished with four tackles, including two sacks, in Auburn’s 28-27 win at Alabama. Fairley now has 20 tackles for loss on the season. He forced and recovered a fumble on the same play, which stopped an Alabama drive at the Auburn 8-yard line just before halftime.

Georgia tackle Abry Jones: He exploded for a career-high 16 tackles -- one of three Bulldogs with 16 -- and had two tackles for loss and forced a fumble in Georgia’s 42-34 win over Georgia Tech.

FRESHMAN

Mississippi State running back LaDarius Perkins: He tallied 319 all-purpose yards, the second-highest total in school history, in Mississippi State’s 31-23 win at Ole Miss. Perkins caught three passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 98 yards on 13 carries and had 65 kick return and 16 punt return yards.

Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray: He completed 20 of 38 passes for 354 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Tennessee’s 24-14 win against Kentucky. He threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as the Vols established a 14-7 halftime lead.