ESPN College Football

Does anybody really remember spring awards? They don’t hand out any hardware for what goes on in March and April.

Nonetheless, we’re still going to honor the highs and the lows of the spring in the SEC:

Best performance: How sharp was Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson this spring? The Hogs’ offensive coordinator, Paul Petrino, said if anybody had a better spring than Wilson, then he was Superman. In four major scrimmages, including Arkansas’ spring game, Wilson threw 16 touchdown passes and completed 75.5 percent of his passes. He threw for 467 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game on 31-of-41 passing, and 404 of those yards came in the first half.

Best performance by a true freshman: They’re churning out great running backs these days at Alabama. T.J. Yeldon looks like he’s going to be the next one. He was sensational in the Crimson Tide’s A-Day spring game with 179 rushing/receiving yards, including a 50-yard touchdown after catching a short pass, breaking a tackle and then outrunning everybody to the end zone. He certainly caught Nick Saban’s attention this spring. At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, Yeldon can run inside and outside. He catches the ball well, and as Saban noted, is one of those guys who can do everything.

Best explanation: Seven assistant coaches left Tennessee’s staff following last season, and coach Derek Dooley was still hiring replacements just a couple of weeks prior to the start of spring practice. While conceding that it was rare to lose that many assistant coaches in one year, Dooley wasn’t bemoaning the mass exodus. Rather, he said it was a “correction” and equated it to a company starting up and fixing all of the things you don’t get right in the beginning. Then again, maybe all those coaches bolting were doing a little fixing of their own. Dooley clearly needs to show progress in Year 3 if he’s going to be around for Year 4, and the coaches who left made lateral moves.

Best Evel Knievel impersonation: Even though Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle didn’t land at the bottom of Snake River Canyon, it did end up in a roadside ditch -- busting the lid wide open on Petrino’s affair with football staffer Jessica Dorrell. This was a relationship that Petrino wasn’t forthcoming about to Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long. Petrino lost a job that paid him $3.56 million a year. Arkansas lost its head coach, and we’ll find out this fall what all the Hogs might have lost as they attempt to break through in the Western Division race.

Best no-show: Duron Carter wins in a landslide. There have been more questions about this guy, and he’s yet to take a snap for Alabama. No wonder Nick Saban gets riled up every time he’s quizzed about Carter, who was suspended all spring and is obviously not Mr. Accountability in terms of doing everything he needs to do to be a part of Alabama’s team.

Best quote: Steve Spurrier is starting to sound more and more like Spurrier, circa 1996. When asked what he thought about the Georgia game moving from Week 2 to Week 6 this season, he cracked, “I don’t know. I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended.”

Best comeback: Back surgery curtailed what looked to be a promising season for Auburn defensive end Dee Ford last year. This spring, he was back as good as new and heads into the fall as one of Auburn’s starters at end along with Corey Lemonier. The Ford-Lemonier combo coming off the edge won’t be a lot of fun for opposing offensive tackles. Speaking of the offensive line, Missouri left tackle Elvis Fisher was granted a sixth year of eligibility and progressed faster than anybody thought he would this spring after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee prior to last season.

Best spring awakening: LSU went into the spring looking for a middle linebacker, and junior Kevin Minter responded by playing some of the best football he’s played since arriving on campus, according to LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis. South Carolina defensive tackle Byron Jerideau also had a stellar spring and is big enough and athletic enough to wreak some serious havoc. The former junior college transfer didn’t have the impact the Gamecocks had hoped for his first two seasons, but could be poised for a big senior season. Spurrier quipped, “I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to be known for something besides hitting me with the Gatorade bucket after a big win.’ He’s the one who grabs the bucket first, to get his picture in the paper.”

Best position move: Malcolm Mitchell was Georgia’s best deep threat at receiver last season and one of the more impressive true freshmen in the league. But he spent his time at cornerback this spring and looked like a natural. That’s where he’ll play in the fall, although he’ll still get a few snaps on offense. The Bulldogs needed help at cornerback, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham felt all along that Mitchell could be a difference-maker back there. The truth is that he’s a difference-maker anywhere you put him.

Best quarterback battle: Spring came and went without a few starting jobs being settled around the league, but it’s a dead heat at Florida between sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel. Coach Will Muschamp feels like he can win with both players, which is a pretty good indication that both Brissett and Driskel will end up playing in the fall for the Gators. For the time being, Muschamp is content to let it play out this summer and on into preseason practice. Whoever emerges as the best leader over these next three months is going to end up winning the job.

Links time!

• Former Texas A&M coaches say Bill Byrne's shortcomings in football overshadowed his other successes as athletic director.
• LSU coach Les Miles said the missing 2011 national championship banner will provide motivation for the Tigers this year.
• LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is eying more success with the Tigers.
• Highly touted quarterback Connor Mitch chooses South Carolina over LSU.
• Some notable Georgia football players are graduating Friday.
• Georgia coach Mark Richt talks safety in college football.
• Alabama coach Nick Saban talks success, Mal Moore and much more during his appearance in Birmingham.
• Auburn coach Gene Chizik is happy with "real competition" on the Tigers' lines.
• Dan Mullen is getting ready for Mississippi State's "Our State" tour.
• Former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and Arkansas State will visit Auburn in 2013.
• Florida's defense is bulking up in 2012.

LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis has proved over the last two decades that he's one of the finest defensive coordinators in college football.

He's now going to be paid like it.

Chavis, who won the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the country last season, is poised to get a new deal that will pay him an average of $1.1 million over the next three years. The contract is still being finalized and will go before the LSU Board of Supervisors for approval this summer.

Chavis was already earning $708,000 annually. But with the way assistant coaches' salaries are skyrocketing, he deserved to reach that million-dollar stratosphere as much as anybody. LSU needed somebody to come in and put a charge into that defense, and that's exactly what Chavis has done ever since arriving in 2009.

"I think what we've done on defense has established LSU as a very dominant mainstay of defensive football for three years," LSU coach Les Miles said. "I think this makes the statement that we will make a commitment to defensive play and excellent coaching, and I think that's exactly what we should do."

As good as the Tigers were last season on defense, they have a chance to be just as good -- and maybe even better -- in 2012.

Chavis isn't one to crave the spotlight. In fact, he runs from it. But he's been a perfect fit at LSU with his blue-collar, nose-to-the-grindstone approach, and the players there love playing for him.

He's extremely proud of what the Tigers accomplished last season, particularly on defense. But like most on the Bayou, it's hard for him to get past that last game.

"There's a hurt there that hasn't gone away, and to be honest with you, I don't know if it will go away," Chavis said earlier this spring. "What we've chosen to do is go back to work. Really, that's all you can do, and that's the way we're always going to operate."

LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis seeks out the cameras and microphones the way a vampire does daylight.

But when it comes to having his players’ backs, Chavis is going to be there all day and every day.

So when he heard the fallout from former LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne's reported score of four on the Wonderlic Test, Chavis was eager to set the record straight.

“I’ve heard what’s out there about that test, but I also know the kid, who he is and what he did for us,” Chavis said. “We run a very multiple scheme. You don’t just line up and play in our scheme. You have to know what’s going on and be able to make adjustments.

“You have to be able to think and move and do those things, and let me tell you: I’ve coached a lot of great players, and Mo Claiborne had no problem picking up anything in our system and doing all the things we wanted him to do.”

Claiborne, who gave up his senior season to enter the draft, is rated as the No. 5 prospect overall on Mel Kiper’s latest Big Board. He won the Thorpe Award last season as the top defensive back in college football.

However, it leaked out earlier this week that he scored a four on his Wonderlic Test at the NFL combine. The NFL average on the test is 21.

“I don’t know how many defensive backs I’ve coached that have gone on and played and been successful in the NFL, and Mo will handle it as well or better than any of them that we’ve had,” said Chavis, who was the defensive coordinator at Tennessee for 14 seasons before moving to LSU in 2009.

Chavis pointed out that two-thirds of LSU’s defensive calls in the season opener against Oregon last season were made on the field. Furthermore, Claiborne moved inside to nickel the week of the Arkansas game after Eric Reid was injured and unable to play.

“If we had asked him to play safety, he would have and could have done that,” Chavis said. “He had three days to get ready at the nickel spot, which is a totally different animal, and was going against some talented Arkansas receivers in the slot and was able to do that with no problem at all.

“The bottom line is that Mo Claiborne can make adjustments and understands concepts, and obviously, people know that he can play the game.”

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu emerged as one of college football’s biggest stars last season.

As a rule, stars are typically branded with nicknames, and Mathieu had a catchy one -- the Honey Badger.

He also had a knack for making game-changing plays and made enough of them that he earned a trip to New York City as a Heisman Trophy finalist, not to mention consensus All-America honors, in leading the Tigers to a 13-1 record and BCS runner-up finish.

But when Mathieu reflects on what was truly a remarkable sophomore season, he uses words like “humbled” and “disappointment” and “hungry.”

He just wishes he could have done more, specifically in that 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. Even in the first game against Alabama, a 9-6 overtime win by LSU, Mathieu concedes he wasn’t at his best.

“My job is making plays for this team, and I didn’t do it in that last game,” said Mathieu, who in 25 career games has created a staggering 14 turnovers. “It’s definitely motivation and something I’ve carried with me. There are a lot of people out there who have talked specifically about both of those games (against Alabama) and me not making plays in those two games.

“So, yes, it’s motivation, but I really didn’t need anybody to talk about what I didn’t do in those two games to motivate me. I already know, and I’ll be a better player next year because of it.”

Mathieu’s teammates say he’s being too hard on himself. Had it not been for him, the Tigers probably wouldn’t have been in New Orleans in the first place.

His defensive touchdown against Oregon in the season opener swung that game. His punt return for a touchdown completely changed the complexion of the Arkansas game in the regular-season finale, and his punt return for a touchdown a week later against Georgia in the SEC championship game woke up a stagnant LSU offense and sent the Tigers on their way to 42-10 rout.

“It wasn’t only Tyrann in that last game. It was everybody, the team as a whole,” said LSU safety Eric Reid, who tied Mathieu for the team lead with 76 tackles last season.

“We know there were a bunch of plays that we could have made that would have helped the team. I know it hurts Tyrann that a couple of passes got caught on him, but that game wasn’t on him. It was on all of us. He’s extremely motivated to get his technique down, and I can’t wait to see what he does this year.”

One of the things Mathieu zeroed in on this spring was being better in man-to-man coverage. The Tigers used him as a rover in their nickel package, and that was his forte.

He has incredible instincts and is always around the ball as evidenced by his six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries last season. He also intercepted two passes.

“All the great players have physical attributes,” Mathieu said. “But the really great ones can play the game in their heads.”

Along those lines, Mathieu has spent even more time in the film room this offseason. As instinctive as he is on the field, he wants to be equally prepared in 2012. He also wants to shoot down one of the few knocks against him, which is that he’s just so-so in man coverage.

“You’re not going to be able to be all over the field every game with the scheme some offenses run,” Mathieu said. “But you’ve still got to make plays at your position, and that’s my focus. If I’m at cornerback, I want to lock my man down. If I’m at nickel, I just want to roam the field and make some plays.

“I want to be great, and where I play, that means being a lock-down cornerback. And with me being 5-9, it gives me even more fire to go out there and prove a lot of people wrong.”

Mathieu said he played right around 180 pounds last season, but finished the spring closer to 190. Of course, he hits like he weighs 250. He also battled through an ankle injury the last few weeks of spring, but was seeing things on the field better than ever.

“The game was kind of slow for me my freshman year and even slower my sophomore year,” Mathieu said. “But, now, I anticipate plays even better, know the down and distances and know what to expect.

“I’m just taking all that in, all the experiences I’ve had, and getting in extra film study and getting even more familiar with the game mentally.”

Mathieu is also getting used to his celebrity status. Even in media interviews, he’s a lot more comfortable and willing to discuss what makes the Honey Badger tick.

He says his one-game suspension last season for reportedly testing positive for synthetic marijuana was something that he learned from and something he wished he could undo.

“It humbles you, because you know you have a responsibility to a lot of people, and I let those people down, especially my teammates,” Mathieu said.

That’s a big part of his motivation going forward. He knows how close LSU was to something special last season, and so do his teammates.

Mathieu said it was difficult to describe the sense of purpose that permeated the practice field this spring.

“That last game got to everybody,” he said. “You could definitely see it in our offense. Those guys were throwing the ball all over the field, and the receivers, even in perfect coverage, were still coming down with the ball. I know those guys took that last game to heart, but the defense also took it to heart. We didn’t play our best game, either.

“We’re all going into next season with that game in the back of our minds. It hasn’t gone away, and I don’t know if it will. I just know that we don’t want to ever have that feeling again.”

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU held its last practice of the spring Thursday prior to Saturday's spring game, and coach Les Miles opened up the practice to the students.

Following practice, the students were invited inside to the indoor practice facility, where they had a meet-and-greet with the players and coaches.

It's Miles' way of reaching out to the student body, and the students' chance to get an up-close view of the team.

Just like the LSU team that went 13-1 last season, this team certainly passes the look test.

Most of the attention this spring has been on quarterback Zach Mettenberger, and specifically, the Tigers' passing game. Miles said Thursday there's no doubt in his mind that LSU will throw the ball much more efficiently in 2012, and a lot of that has to do with the way everybody on offense has rallied around Mettenberger, entering his junior season.

"He plays the game the way I want all of my players to play it," Miles said. "I enjoy his attitude. He's bringing the passing game to life, and he wants to compete on every single play. He doesn't mind stirring the pot, either."

Already this spring, Mettenberger went after defensive tackle Josh Downs in a scrimmage after Mettenberger felt there had been a late hit, and several in the LSU program said Mettenberger delivered the kind of tackle that even defensive coordinator John Chavis admitted was impressive.

Speaking of Chavis, he's losing two first-rounders off last season's defense. Both cornerback Morris Claiborne and defensive tackle Michael Brockers elected to give up their senior seasons to enter the NFL draft.

They will certainly be missed, but Chavis isn't exactly fretting.

In a lot of ways, he thinks the Tigers will be even faster on defense in 2012. They're two-deep at every position in the defensive line, and even though Brockers is gone, Chavis thinks junior tackle Bennie Logan was one of the more underrated defenders on the team last season. Chavis said sophomore tackle Ego Ferguson had also made a big jump.

Chavis really likes the way Kevin Minter and Tahj Jones have answered the call at linebacker, even though Jones has been out recently with turf toe.

"It's the best Kevin Minter has played since he's been here," Chavis said. "He really looks like an SEC linebacker and is playing like an SEC linebacker."

Two redshirt freshmen making big moves in the secondary this spring have been Jalen Collins at cornerback and Micah Eugene at safety. Chavis likes Collins' size and length. He's 6-foot-1 and 184 pounds, which gives the Tigers a pair of bigger corners. Tharold Simon is 6-3 and 187 pounds.

Chavis said Craig Loston was also playing well at safety until a foot/toe injury slowed him.

"Loston was really grasping things, but with him out, it's given us a chance to work several other kids," Chavis said. "Ever since Eugene got a chance to jump in there and work with the first unit, he got a lot of people's attention really quick. He's still learning the position, but he has a chance to be a really good safety for us."

Chavis said junior Tyrann Mathieu would continue to play both the cornerback and nickel back roles.

"We'll have some young kids that aren't here on campus yet that will come in and help us, too," Chavis said. "We like this class, and the linebacker group has a chance to be special. They have to come in here and do it, but we like the kids we signed there."

Auburn is going to pay first-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder $850,000 for each of the next two seasons.

Remember when $500,000 was considered top dollar for a premier defensive coordinator in the SEC? Not anymore.

Alabama's Kirby Smart was already at $850,000, making him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. Given the way his defense played last season in leading the Crimson Tide to its second national championship in three years, Smart might not be at $850,000 for much longer.

Two other SEC defensive coordinators are also in line for nice raises.

LSU's John Chavis could approach $1 million annually when his new deal is finalized. Chavis was already making $700,000, but has turned down overtures from Texas, Georgia and Clemson, among others, in the last couple of years. With the way he has re-energized the Tigers' defense, he deserves to be in that $1 million stratosphere.

The same goes for Georgia's Todd Grantham, who earned $750,000 last season. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity has already said that the school is working on an extension for Grantham, whose defense finished fifth nationally in total defense last season and was the driving force behind the Bulldogs' turnaround after starting the season 0-2.

At the very least, look for both Chavis and Grantham to go well above the $800,000 mark.

In fact, when it's all said and done, there's likely to be five defensive coordinators in the SEC next season making $800,000 or more. New Tennessee defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri signed a three-year deal worth $2.4 million after coming over from Alabama.

LSU returns one of the top defensive playmakers in football in Tyrann Mathieu.

And not surprisingly, LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis said you're going to see Mathieu in different spots again next season.

The Honey Badger will line up at one of the two cornerback spots when the Tigers are in their base defense. But Chavis likes to play five and six defensive backs, and when the Tigers bring in extra defensive backs, Mathieu will move to the nickel position, which is where he caused most of his damage last season.

With rising junior Tharold Simon penciled in at the other cornerback spot and rising junior Eric Reid returning at one of the safety spots, Chavis said it's important to find at at least two other cornerbacks and two other safeties who are ready to play. The front-runner to replace Brandon Taylor at the other safety is rising junior Craig Loston, who needs a big spring.

It's also a big spring for redshirt freshmen Jalen Collins, Micah Eugene and David Jenkins. Chavis wants to see who has a chance to play both cornerback and safety and where they fit best. Sophomore Ronald Martin moved to safety and played late last season after Reid and Loston suffered injuries, so Martin at least has some game experience. Another guy to keep an eye on in the secondary is sophomore Ronnie Vinson.

When it's all said and done, Chavis wants to come out of the spring with at least seven guys in the secondary that he thinks are ready.

We all know that football season never ends in the SEC. Well, it’s cranking back up in earnest next week, at least the spring version, when LSU opens spring practice Thursday.

As usual, there’s a lot that’s new in the SEC, including coaches and even a pair of new teams. Missouri settles into the Eastern Division and Texas A&M into the Western Division.

And while the league lost its share of star players, plenty of star power returns.

We’ll kick off our SEC spring preview with the West, home to the past three national champions, including Alabama this past season.

So without further ado …

ALABAMA

Spring practice starts: March 9
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• McCarron takes charge: As a first-year starter this past season, quarterback AJ McCarron was more of a caretaker on offense for the Crimson Tide and performed well in that role. But next season, he will be asked to do more and will also need to take on more of a leadership role. He played his best game on the biggest stage in the BCS National Championship Game, so he enters this spring with a lot of momentum. If he takes the kind of step Alabama fans hope he will, the Tide will be a load on offense again in 2012.
• Shuffling the deck up front: Replacing veteran center William Vlachos won’t be easy. He’s been a rock in the middle of that offensive line for the past three seasons. Alabama could end up replacing him with another rock. Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones will get a long look at center this spring after playing left tackle this past season and left guard the season before that. One of the keys for the Tide up front is Cyrus Kouandjio, who had his freshman season cut short by a knee injury. Physically, he’s exactly what you’re looking for at left tackle. However it shakes out, the Tide will get their best five on the field.
• Reloading on defense: Most of the marquee playmakers on defense are gone, and the Tide were gutted in the secondary. But junior college cornerbacks Travell Dixon and Deion Belue are on campus and will be tossed into the mix this spring. It’s also a big spring for rising sophomore safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, and Alabama will be looking for a few more finishers when it comes to rushing the passer and a nose guard to replace steady Josh Chapman. One option may be sliding Jesse Williams inside, although the Alabama coaches like what he gave them at end during his first season on campus.

ARKANSAS

Spring practice starts: March 14
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Getting defensive: There’s a reason Paul Haynes is now calling the shots on defense for Arkansas. The Hogs simply had not made the kind of strides on that side of the ball that coach Bobby Petrino felt like they needed to make if they were going to break through and play for a national championship. Haynes comes over from Ohio State and brings with him an attacking approach. Arkansas fans liked what they saw in the Cotton Bowl, but replacing departing seniors Jake Bequette, Jerry Franklin, Jerico Nelson and Tramain Thomas won’t be easy.
• Ask and you shall receive: The Big Three are gone -- Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs. They comprised the heart of the Hogs’ talented receiving corps for the past three seasons and made a lot of plays. Now, it’s Cobi Hamilton's time to be the leader with a whole cast of less familiar faces jockeying to get into that starting equation this spring. It’s a chance for guys like Marquel Wade, Quinta Funderburk, Julian Horton and Javontee Herndon to show what they can do. Don’t forget about Chris Gragg, who returns as one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the SEC.
• Jewel of the Knile: There were some rumblings that Knile Davis was going to give it a go at the end of last season after fracturing his ankle in the preseason. It didn’t make sense to rush things, though, and Davis should be fully healthy for the 2012 season. How much he does this spring remains to be seen, but you know it’s important for him to at least be out there and getting back into the feel of football. He was doing some things at the end of practice last season. Obviously, the most important thing is to make sure he’s ready to go come September when the season begins, but the spring will provide a glimpse of where he is with his recovery. If he returns to the same form as the 2010 season, Arkansas fans are salivating at the thought of that offense with Tyler Wilson slinging it and Davis running it.

AUBURN

Spring practice starts: March 21
Spring game: April 14

What to watch:

• Defensive restructuring: It was a nightmarish season a year ago for Auburn’s defense, making it no surprise to anybody that Gene Chizik overhauled things on that side of the ball. Only defensive line coach Mike Pelton remains in the same position. Everything else will be new on defense, including Brian VanGorder taking over as coordinator. Willie Martinez joins the staff as the secondary coach, and Tommy Thigpen moves from coaching safeties to coaching linebackers. The Tigers return most of their key players on defense, and youth was certainly an issue last season. But VanGorder’s challenge is getting this unit to play with more consistency and to be more fundamentally sound, particularly when it comes to tackling.
• Quarterback quandary: Scot Loeffler steps in as the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator, and right off the bat, he has to settle on a starting quarterback. In the past, Auburn has taken its time with that decision. We’ll see if that changes with Loeffler. Clint Moseley has the most experience and finished last season as Auburn’s starter, but rising sophomore Kiehl Frazier has been around long enough now that he should have his first legitimate chance to win the job. One of the things Frazier has to prove this spring is that he can throw the ball well enough to be the every-down starter. True freshman Zeke Pike is also on campus and will practice this spring.
• Making plays: With Michael Dyer now at Arkansas State, the Tigers have to find somebody else to lean on offensively. Dyer was the Tigers’ offense last season. There are plenty of candidates. Onterio McCalebb would be at the top of that list, and Tigers are also keeping their fingers crossed that receivers Emory Blake and Trovon Reed can stay healthy this season. But finding roles for guys like Tre Mason and Quan Bray will be equally important this spring. Both are supremely talented with the ball in their hands, and the Tigers need to find ways to get them both a lot of touches next season.

LSU

Spring practice starts: March 1
Spring game: March 31

What to watch:

• Forgetting the past: As memorable as last season was for LSU, the way it ended has been difficult for anybody on the Bayou to forget. The 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game was a serious downer after 13 straight wins against a killer schedule and still has a lot of LSU fans fuming. The best thing for the Tigers is simply getting back onto the practice field and putting the past behind them once and for all. This will be an extremely talented team once again, but a team that everyone will expect to be right back in the championship race in 2012. Developing the right kind of chemistry and leadership will be critical, and that starts this spring.
• Passing fancy: LSU coach Les Miles has already said that the Tigers will throw the ball more next season, and a big reason is because Zach Mettenberger steps in at quarterback. The Tigers have been spotty in the passing game each of the past two seasons, but throwing the ball downfield and hitting big plays in the passing game is what Mettenberger does best. This spring will be his first chance to be “The Man” for the Tigers, and a big part of that is gaining the trust, confidence and faith in all of the players around him on offense. With all the pieces in place to be a strong running team again, LSU could really take off offensively if Mettenberger has a big season throwing the ball.
• Looking for linebackers: Go back and look at LSU’s signing class, and it’s obvious the Tigers felt like they needed to reload at linebacker. There will be a ton of competition for starting spots this spring at linebacker with a lot of new faces in that mix. Defensive coordinator John Chavis puts a premium on speed, which means you don’t have to be 240 pounds to play linebacker for him. He’s also proven that he’s not afraid to play young guys if they’re ready. This will be a big spring for rising junior Tahj Jones, who has the speed and athleticism to be a perfect fit in Chavis’ system.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Spring practice starts: March 22
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• Tyler Russell’s time: With Chris Relf gone, it’s Russell’s time to show what he can do as the Bulldogs’ full-time starter. He made four starts toward the end of this past season, and throwing the football from the pocket is his forte. Russell still needs to polish up on all of the other things it takes to be a good quarterback in this league, and the Bulldogs also need to create some depth at the position. Look for Dak Prescott to get a lot of work this spring, especially with Russell still nursing the knee he banged up during bowl practice. Prescott redshirted last season and will be a redshirt freshman.
• Drawing a line: The Bulldogs are eager to get junior college newcomers Dylan Holley and Charles Siddoway on the field and see where they fit in up front in the offensive line and if they’re going to be ready to go in the season opener. Holley projects as a center, but could also play guard. Siddoway will get a shot at the Bulldogs’ left tackle job. Sorting out things across the board on the offensive line will be a priority for Mississippi State this spring.
• Safety valve: The good news is that Mississippi returns two experienced cornerbacks in Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield, but veteran safety Charles Mitchell is gone. What’s more, Nickoe Whitley tore his Achilles tendon in the Alabama game and won’t be full strength this spring. So finding some reinforcements at safety will be important. Some of the younger guys like Jamerson Love, Dee Arrington and Jay Hughes will have big opportunities to show what they can do, and cornerback Darius Slay could also get a look at safety.

OLE MISS

Spring practice starts: March 23
Spring game: April 21

What to watch:

• The big Freeze: First-year Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze wants to run a power spread similar to what Arkansas State ran on offense last season. One of the toughest parts of that transition will be getting the offensive line up to speed. Freeze isn’t sure what Ole Miss has returning in the offensive line is tailor-made for a power offense, which means the Rebels’ coaches have some coaching and some recruiting to do. Addressing the offensive line, period, will be a big priority this spring, especially with offensive tackle Bobby Massie deciding to turn pro.
• Wallace on display: One of the things that held the Rebels back last season on offense was that they were never able to get any consistency at the quarterback position. There are still a couple of different options, but junior college newcomer Bo Wallace is probably the front-runner to win the job. He’s on campus and will go through spring practice and isn’t a stranger to Freeze’s offense. Wallace started his career at Arkansas State and redshirted in 2010 when Freeze was the offensive coordinator there. More than anything, Freeze is looking for some real competition at the position with Randall Mackey, Zack Stoudt and Barry Brunetti all returning.
• Recovering on defense: It was a rough season for the Rebels defensively a year ago, and a lot of that was because they were on the field for much of the season. Getting a healthy D.T. Shackelford back at linebacker is huge after he missed all of last season with a torn ACL suffered last spring. It will be interesting to see how much he does in this spring practice. Either way, just having him back out there should help from a leadership standpoint and getting that edge back defensively. The Rebels need to find more finishers up front defensively after finishing 110th nationally with just 13 sacks in 12 games. Creating more turnovers is also a must. Ole Miss finished with 17 a season ago, which was tied for 95th nationally.

TEXAS A&M

Spring practice starts: March 31
Spring game: April 28

What to watch:

• Sumlin takes over: First-year coach Kevin Sumlin takes over in College Station, and the spring will be his first real chance to place his stamp on the program. He’s already said that all jobs are open and purposely didn’t watch any film from the 2011 regular season. He wants to make his own evaluations on the field, which means there will be some serious auditions going on this spring. Sumlin ran a wide-open spread offense at Houston because that’s the kind of personnel he had. He’ll certainly modify his system to fit his personnel this first season at Texas A&M, which likely means running the ball more given the Aggies’ returning experience in the offensive line and their stable of backs.
• Quarterback hunting: One of Sumlin’s first orders of business is finding a quarterback, and there’s at least four candidates on campus. The only guy with any game experience (and it’s not much) is rising sophomore Jameill Showers, who backed up Ryan Tannehill last season. The other two returnees are Johnny Manziel and Matt Joeckel, both of whom will be redshirt freshmen. Manziel is more of a runner, while the 6-4, 230-pound Joeckel is a pocket passer. Sumlin knows at least a little bit about Showers, Manziel and Joeckel. He recruited all three at Houston. There’s also true freshman Matt Davis, who’s already enrolled and will go through spring practice.
• Finishing the drill: As all Texas A&M fans are well aware, the Aggies weren’t what you could call a second-half team last season. In fact, they were far from it, and time and time again wilted in the second half. Sumlin has made it known that one of his goals is for the program to toughen up both physically and mentally. In five of the Aggies’ six losses last season, they were ahead at halftime or at some point in the second half. The defense absorbed much of the blame and definitely has to improve as Texas A&M makes the jump to the SEC, but Sumlin wants to make sure this spring that he instills a programwide toughness that carries over into the fall.

Now that we’ve gone through our position rankings in the SEC for the 2011 season, the only thing left is the coaches.

The head coach is obviously a big part of these rankings, but we’re taking into account the total staff and the job all of the coaches did this season in developing players, developing the team and getting the team to play its best in the biggest moments.

Here goes:

1. Alabama: The only blemish for the national champions was the LSU game in the regular season, and that was an overtime loss. Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain did an excellent job bringing along quarterback AJ McCarron, and it was hard to beat the Tide’s balance on offense. What more can you say about Kirby Smart and the defense? It’s a group that rates up there among the best in Alabama history, and when Nick Saban gets to the title game, he’s money. Alabama was easily the most prepared team on Jan. 9 in the Big Easy.

2. LSU: For 13 games, Les Miles and his entire staff did as good a job as any staff in America. There were several off-the-field issues that Miles handled well, and through it all, he kept his team on point against a killer schedule. Defensive coordinator John Chavis did a masterful job all season and won the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the country. But in the end, the Tigers were poorly prepared offensively in the title game and never made any significant adjustments. Miles’ refusal to at least try another quarterback remains a mystery.

3. South Carolina: It’s been a while since Steve Spurrier has been this happy about a football season. The Head Ball Coach and his staff have a lot to be happy about. The Gamecocks won 11 games for the first time ever, beat rival Clemson for the third straight season and did so despite their best player, running back Marcus Lattimore, going down with a knee injury during the middle of the season. It was one of Ellis Johnson’ best defenses at South Carolina, and after he left to take the Southern Miss head job, Lorenzo Ward saw to it that the Gamecocks didn’t miss a beat defensively in their Capital Bowl win over Nebraska.

4. Arkansas: With Tyler Wilson taking over for Ryan Mallett at quarterback, the Hogs were as potent as ever offensively, and that’s a credit to both Bobby Petrino and his right-hand man, Garrick McGee, who left at season’s end to take the UAB head job. Special teams were very good all season, although the Hogs gave up punt returns for touchdowns in their two biggest games of the season against Alabama and LSU. The disappointment was on defense, where Arkansas took a step backward from 2011, which is why Petrino parted ways with Willy Robinson and brought in Paul Haynes.

5. Georgia: Mark Richt and his staff get serious props for recovering from an 0-2 start and steering the Bulldogs to the SEC championship game. A lot of teams would have folded after that South Carolina loss. In particular, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was invaluable with the mental toughness he brought to a unit that finished fifth nationally in total defense. The only real disappointment for the Bulldogs was how poorly they played on special teams, and the way Richt managed that first overtime in the Outback Bowl loss to Michigan State is another reason Georgia’s staff isn’t ranked a little higher.

6. Vanderbilt: The Commodores’ best win came in the regular-season finale when they routed Wake Forest on the road to qualify for a bowl game. And even though they lost their bowl game and wound up with a losing record, first-year coach James Franklin and his staff breathed new life into a program that had only gone to four bowl games previously in school history. The Commodores lost four of their six SEC games by a total of 19 points, and they improved dramatically on offense, especially in the offensive line. As much as anything, Franklin brought an edge to the program that it had been lacking.

7. Auburn: It’s never easy to go from a 14-0 national championship season to a ho-hum season where you lose three of your last four SEC games by a total of 101 points. The Tigers’ defense was dreadful for most of the season, and other than former tailback Michael Dyer, there wasn’t a lot to get excited about on offense, either. Nonetheless, Gene Chizik and his staff still found a way to carve out eight victories, including wins over five teams that finished the season with winning records.

8. Mississippi State: Maybe the expectations for Mississippi State at the start of the season were a tad unrealistic, but Dan Mullen helped create those expectations by winning nine games in his second season and spanking Michigan in the bowl game. Chris Wilson’s defense came around the second half of the season, but the Bulldogs didn’t take the step most thought they would on offense. They were a couple of plays away from winning nine games again, and it’s the first time Mississippi State has put together back-to-back winning seasons since Jackie Sherrill had four in a row from 1997-2000.

9. Florida: The first year was a mulligan of sorts for Will Muschamp, who inherited some issues off the field he needed to solve. He made a tough (and the right) decision by kicking off his best player, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, after multiple drug arrests. The Gators also held their ground defensively. But the Charlie Weis experiment as offensive coordinator wasn’t a good fit, and the Gators were as bad offensively as they were the year before during Urban Meyer’s last season.

10. Kentucky: Had the Wildcats played just 11 games in 2011, Joker Phillips and his staff might have been ranked even lower. But then came the finale against Tennessee and the end of the 26-game losing streak to the Vols. Not only that, but the Wildcats figured out a way to win with receiver Matt Roark playing quarterback. It was a struggle the whole way offensively during the season, but first-year defensive coordinator Rick Minter deserves credit for bringing a more aggressive approach to the defense and forcing more turnovers.

11. Tennessee: A very average season for the Vols turned into a forgettable season thanks to their lackluster 10-7 loss to Kentucky. The Vols were slowed by key injuries to Justin Hunter and Tyler Bray and were playing a lot of younger players, but Derek Dooley has been the first to say that they also need to coach better going forward. The running game was a no-show in 2011, and there was a serious problem with team chemistry as the season wore on, something Dooley must correct if he’s going to be around long-term on Rocky Top.

12. Ole Miss: It was a tough end to a 14-year SEC coaching run for Houston Nutt. Some poor recruiting classes at the start of his Ole Miss tenure caught up to him, and so did some crippling injuries. There were no answers at quarterback, and even though the numbers were ugly on defense, defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix is a much better football coach than the numbers would suggest. The reality is that when you lose 14 straight conference games over two seasons, you’re not going to be ranked very high in any rankings.

LSU is returning plenty of star power from its 2011 defense next season, but linebacker was the one area where the Tigers needed help.

They lost all three starters from a year ago, which makes the addition of Kwon Alexander a huge pickup.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Alexander is ranked as the No. 3 outside linebacker prospect in the country and became the sixth ESPNU 150 prospect to choose LSU when he announced Wednesday that he would sign with the Tigers. Alexander, who's from Oxford, Ala., picked LSU over Auburn.

LSU now has at least six players in this class that could end up playing linebacker in college. Alexander has the skill set to be an every-down linebacker. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis puts a premium on speed at the linebacker position and wants guys who can cover in space, and Alexander is athletic enough to do that.

NEW ORLEANS – Thoughts race through Tyrann Mathieu’s brain as his piercing stare finds the opposing offense’s huddle.

For only a split second his eyes wander, as he scans his surroundings. He checks to see what down it is. Glances at the yard marker to calculate the precise distance needed for the first down, then communicates with his teammates.

LSU’s superstar sophomore cornerback finds some sort of order with his defensive comrades before fixing his eyes back on the huddle. In real time, it’s been only a matter of seconds, maybe shorter, but in Mathieu’s brain it’s been an eternity.

Before the unassuming quarterback even receives the snap, Mathieu already has a pretty good idea of where the ball is headed.

In fact, he knows before the huddle is broken.

The Honey Badger is well into hunter mode as he waits for the exact moment to strike.

Once the quarterback has the ball, he assumes it’s his decision on where to send it and how to avoid Mathieu, but usually it isn’t. Usually, the Honey Badger’s instincts direct him toward where the ball should go. If they fail, he’s usually too fast for anyone to notice.

“You kind of see the play before it happens and put yourself in position to make a play,” Mathieu said.

“Practicing plays and seeing it in real speed is one thing, but to know what formation they may line up in before the snap, just off down and distance, that gives you an advantage.”

For all the talk about how physically gifted Mathieu is, it’s his brain and his eyes that do the lifting. What you don’t see are the brain waves zipping around, helping him determine where to position himself. What you don’t see are his eyes zeroing in on a player, a part of the field or the ball.

Because of countless hours Mathieu puts in during game weeks meticulously dissecting each play, each player tendency, how long it takes for a quarterback to release the ball, what receivers’ favorite routes are and each trend of every team he faces, Mathieu has an acute sense of vision and exemplary timing that make him the nation’s most exciting – and feared – defensive player.

“Tyrann has an unusual view,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “His eye gets a little bit big and he says, ‘We’re fixin’ to do something,’ and generally it happens.”

Mathieu should obviously credit his ability to good genes, but he mostly attributes his mental advantages to his homework. While he can have a very big personality out on the field, Mathieu is quietly a nerd of the game. He puts just as much time into honing his ball skills and shaping his body as he does studying his opponents.

Junior corner Morris Claiborne couldn’t come close to counting the hours the two spend watching game film. It’s almost second nature for both to wander into the film room at odd times of the day.

Claiborne and Mathieu constantly pick each other’s brains for new material and not a film session goes by where both don’t learn something new about a player or formation.

Mathieu’s speed and athleticism played a major role in his ability to lead LSU with 70 tackles, grab seven takeaways, force six fumbles and defend nine passes this season, but he’d be nowhere without his awareness.

“Some people can make plays, but they don’t know actually what to do,” Claiborne said. “When you can put both of them together, it’s amazing.”

Another important ingredient in Mathieu’s game is his confidence. The Honey Badger feeds off his mettle. Mathieu said he tries to play within the defensive scheme as much as he can, but there’s no escaping his need for improvisation. If he thinks he can get to the ball, he’ll make a break for it.

“He thinks he can make every play,” defensive coordinator John Chavis said.

Added Mathieu: “The things you see, you have to believe in it. You can’t second-guess yourself. When you see something that looks familiar, just go ahead on and make the play.”

Mathieu’s array of talents will be put to the test one last time this season in the Allstate BCS National Championship Game on Monday — against an Alabama team he says he played poorly against the first time.

Mathieu didn’t exactly take what he wanted back on Nov. 5 … but the Honey Badger is a relentless animal.

“Oh, he always finds a way to get to the ball,” cornerback Brandon Taylor said.

NEW ORLEANS -- John Chavis isn’t afraid to admit that his exit from Tennessee was a low point in his life.

After spending 14 seasons as the Vols’ defensive coordinator, Chavis was let go when head coach Phil Fulmer was fired in 2008.

“I’d never been let go from a job before,” Chavis said Thursday. “That’s not fun for anybody.”

What hurt the most was that Chavis was saying goodbye to people who had basically become family to him. As he briefly remembered those moments Thursday in front of the media huddled around him inside one of the ballrooms at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, Chavis got choked up when talking about how much he cared for the players he worked with in Knoxville, Tenn.

“I love them, I really do,” Chavis said before pausing 13 seconds to regain his voice and wipe a few tears from his eyes. “That’s what keeps me going every day is the opportunity to coach great talent and great kids. When I quit feeling that way, then it’s time for somebody else to do it.”

For Chavis, coaching isn’t just about teaching players the proper form in the three technique. It’s about helping to instill life lessons that should carry over into life away from the football field.

Chavis, who has a reputation for being pretty hard on his players at times, showed a very vulnerable side, but also showed just how important leading in all phases of his players’ lives is to him.

“I want to be that example for them,” he said.

“I want to have a relationship with our players off the field as well as on the field.”

Honey Badger wearing 24

In a classic switch-a-roo, LSU cornerbacks Tyrann Mathieu and Tharold Simon switched jerseys in practice Thursday, leaving photographers eager to catch the REAL Honey Badger in action disappointed.

But while the switch was only temporarily, the number does hold some significance to Mathieu, who has truly honored the No. 7 jersey Patrick Peterson left.

The number 24 belongs to New York Jets corner Darrelle Revis, who is just as feared by quarterbacks in the NFL as Mathieu is in college football.

“He can take the best receiver out of the game,” Mathieu said of Revis.

So will “Revis Island” have to share time with “Honey Badger Island?"

“I wouldn’t go as far as saying that,” Mathieu said with a chuckle.

SEC quarterbacks would probably beg to differ.

Claiborne happy with his switch

Jim Thorpe Award winner Morris Claiborne wasn’t always destined for defensive greatness.

He actually began his LSU career as a wide receiver, after accounting for more than 2,000 all-purpose yards on offense and had 30 touchdowns as a senior at Shreveport, La./Fair Park.

But after some coaxing from Peterson, Claiborne began switching between receiver and defensive back before settling in the secondary a week into fall camp.

“One day when I went over, I loved it,” Claiborne said. “I felt like I was making plays over there and I decided to stay and the coaches were cool with it.”

They’re probably a little more than “cool with it” now.

Vlachos not fond of Big Easy memories

Alabama coach Nick Saban left his team with some sobering words about the Crimson Tide’s last trip to New Orleans when he said players wouldn’t remember what they did individually but how the game ended.

That game was a 31-17 loss to Utah in the Allstate Sugar Bowl after the 2008 season. It was a game in which Alabama really failed to show up and it’s something that still eats at players.

Senior center William Vlachos said things have certainly improved for the Tide since then, but there’s still some disgust that creeps up when he thinks about his last trip to the Crescent City.

“That was a long time ago. We’ve won a national championship since then, but it was certainly a disappointing experience,” he said. “As far as the city of New Orleans, for me, I don’t really have a positive outlook on New Orleans because of that.”

LSU passed with flying colors during the regular season, so it's no wonder the Tigers are a win away from taking home the national title.

OFFENSE: B

When LSU wasn't throwing the ball, the Tigers were nearly impossible to stop. LSU's multi-headed rushing monster combined for 215.2 yards per game, including a league-high 35 rushing touchdowns. Against SEC opponents, LSU was even better, leading the conference with 220.4 rushing yards per contest. Sophomore Michael Ford led LSU with 755 yards and seven touchdowns. Spencer Ware, Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue added another 1,559 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. Passing was another story for LSU. The Tigers started by losing offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe, who became quarterbacks coach after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. LSU then lost starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson for the first four games to a suspension that stemmed from a bar fight. But Jarrett Lee stepped right in and led this team. He was never flashy, but he was incredibly efficient. He lost his starting job after the Alabama game, but finished the year with 1,306 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Jefferson took his job back late, and while he looked completely overwhelmed at times, he threw just one interception and six touchdowns. He also didn't lose a game. Despite an average passing game, LSU led the SEC in scoring (38.5) and was fifth in total offense (375.3).

DEFENSE: A+

LSU might have entered the season with a handful of defensive youngsters, but the Tigers never let it become an issue. LSU was fantastic on defense, finishing the regular season second nationally in total defense, allowing 252.1 yards per game and giving up just 3.96 yards per play and 14 offensive touchdowns. Defensive coordinator John Chavis really earned his pay check down in Baton Rouge. LSU was not only fierce but the Tigers were disciplined. Up front, LSU caused major headaches by overpowering offensive lines. With players like Sam Montgomery, Barkevious Mingo, Michael Brockers and Bennie Logan owning the trenches, LSU finished the regular season with 98 tackles for loss, including a league-high 37 sacks. Opponents also rushed for 85.5 yards per game. LSU led the SEC with 30 takeaways, including getting 18 interceptions. That was helped by arguably the nation's best secondary. First, you had do-everything cornerback -- and Chuck Bednarik winner -- in Tyrann Mathieu, who grabbed seven takeaways and forced six fumbles. Then there was Jim Thrope Award winner Morris Claiborne, who was the nation's best cover corner and snatched six interceptions and defended 12 passes.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Not only did LSU lead the SEC in net punting average (41.6) and allow just six return yards but Mathieu led the league with 420 punt return yards. He also had two touchdowns, both coming in the last two weeks, and tied for first in the SEC averaging 16.2 yards per return. Punter Brad Wing might have been the league's most accurate punter, planting 23 inside the 20-yard line and launching 18 that went for more than 50 yards, including that 73-yard beauty against Alabama. He also had a touchdown run called back for taunting. LSU also got a kickoff returned for a touchdown by Claiborne, who averaged 26.1 yards per return. LSU led the SEC in field goal percentage (.889) after hitting 16-of-18. In kickoff coverage, the Tigers struggled at times, ranking seventh in the league with a net average of 44.1 yards.

COACHING: A

If not for the passing issues against better defenses, LSU probably would have gotten an A+ here. Coach Les Miles had to deal with a handful of issues before and throughout this special season. The Associated Press' coach of the year saw his offensive coordinator step down and had to deal with a handful of off-the-field issues that led to suspensions. Still, he was able to lead LSU to its first 13-0 season, with 12 coming by double digits and seven by 30 or more points. The Tigers also beat eight ranked opponents, with seven of them coming by double digits. He kept order when Jefferson returned and is a win away from his second national title at LSU. Then you have Chavis, who did a masterful job with LSU's young defense. It was hard to find a faster, more athletic defense around, as LSU allowed 20-plus points just twice during the regular season.

USA Today has conducted its annual study of salaries in college football, including head coaches and assistant coaches.

Once again, Alabama’s Nick Saban was the SEC’s highest paid coach, earning $4,833,333 this season, according to USA Today.

Saban was second nationally to Texas’ Mack Brown, who made $5.19 million.

According to USA Today’s research, of the 10 highest paid head coaches in the country (at public institutions), six were from the SEC.

LSU’s Les Miles was fourth at $3,856,417. Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino was sixth at $3,638,000, while Auburn’s Gene Chizik was seventh at $3,500,000, Florida’s Will Muschamp ninth at $3,221,000 and Georgia’s Mark Richt 10^th at $2,939,800.

Auburn’s nine assistant coaches earned $4.2 million this season, making the Tigers the highest paid staff in college football.

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who’s leaving to take the head-coaching job at Arkansas State, was the country’s highest paid assistant at $1.3 million.

There were six $3 million staffs in college football this season, and the SEC had five of them. In addition to Auburn, LSU paid its assistants $3,782,869, followed by Alabama at $3,686,350, Tennessee at $3,200,800 and Florida at $3,120,500.

Seven of LSU’s nine assistant coaches made more than $300,000 this season, including three who made more than $500,000.

Obviously, not everybody in the SEC could afford to pay that kind of cash. At Mississippi State, defensive coordinator Chris Wilson was the highest paid assistant at $300,000.

Even at South Carolina, five of the Gamecocks’ nine assistants made less than $200,000.

Here’s a look at what the SEC head coaches made this season. Vanderbilt is a private institution and doesn’t release its salary figures:

• Alabama’s Nick Saban – $4,833,333
• LSU’s Les Miles – $3,856,417
• Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino – $3,638,000
• Auburn’s Gene Chizik – $3,500,000
• Florida’s Will Muschamp – $3,221,000
• Georgia’s Mark Richt – $2,939,800
• South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier – $2,828,000
• Ole Miss’ Houston Nutt – $2,771,750
• Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen – $2,500,000
• Tennessee’s Derek Dooley – $2,330,591
• Kentucky’s Joker Phillips – $1,702,489
• Vanderbilt’s James Franklin – N/A

Here's a look at what each SEC school paid its staff in 2011, including the head coaches:

• Alabama -- $8.5 million
• Auburn -- $7.6 million
• LSU -- $7.6 million
• Florida -- $6.3 million
• Arkansas -- $5.9 million
• Georgia -- $5.6 million
• Tennessee -- $5.5 million
• Ole Miss -- $5.2 million
• South Carolina -- $5.2 million
• Mississippi State -- $4.5 million
• Kentucky -- $3.9 million
• Vanderbilt -- N/A

Here's a look at the 10 highest paid assistant coaches in the SEC this season. Four of the 10 (Malzahn, Weis, Johnson and McElwain) recently took head coaching jobs at other schools:

• Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn – $1,309,600
• Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis – $875,000
• Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart – $851,500
• Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham – $755,900
• LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis – $708,000
• South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson – $705,180
• LSU quarterbacks coach Steve Kragthorpe – $700,000
• Tennessee defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox – $625,000
• Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney – $525,000
• Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain – $516,000