ESPN College Football

We're putting spring behind us and looking toward the fall with our post-spring power rankings:

1. LSU: The Tigers had one of the best springs around. Things were quiet off the field, and the offense rallied behind quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Coach Les Miles was very impressed with Mettenberger's play and maturity, and expects LSU's offense to be more balanced with him under center. LSU can still use four or five running backs, as well. Defensively, the Tigers are stacked once again, especially up front with two potential first-rounders in ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo. Questions surround the inexperienced linebackers, but Kevin Minter had a tremendous spring in the middle. On paper, LSU is equipped with the talent to make another title run, and gets Alabama at home this year.

2. Alabama: While the defending national champs saw a lot of "new" faces on defense this spring, coach Nick Saban left happy with where his players were -- but not satisfied. There is still work to be done, especially in the secondary, where the Tide must replace three starters. Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw are gone at linebacker, but the coaches were impressed with how Nico Johnson, C.J. Mosley and Adrian Hubbard played this spring. Some think Hubbard, a redshirt sophomore, could be Bama's top pass-rusher. Offensively, quarterback AJ McCarron is back, more mature and surrounded by a very veteran line. He has a group of younger receivers to throw to, but has at least four quality running backs. Alabama's road to repeating is tougher, with games at Arkansas and LSU.

3. South Carolina: A healthy Marcus Lattimore (knee) at RB makes South Carolina an even better contender for the SEC East crown. His status is uncertain, but the pieces around him are pretty impressive. Quarterback Connor Shaw had an impressive spring, and looks ready to be the passer coach Steve Spurrier wants him to be. The defense is once again stacked, especially up front with ends Jadeveon Clowney and Devin Taylor. There are questions in the secondary, with two new, young starters in Victor Hampton (cornerback) and Brison Williams (safety), while senior Akeem Auguste returns after missing last season with a foot injury. Still, Spurrier is chirping about his SEC counterparts, so you know he thinks he's got a good team this year.

4. Georgia: The Bulldogs should be higher on this list, but when you take into account the suspensions of four defensive starters at the beginning of the season, they slide a little. Georgia returns nine defensive starters, including one of the nation's best linebackers in Jarvis Jones, and some firepower on offense, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Murray, who could get some early Heisman love. It also sounds like enigmatic running back Isaiah Crowell is slowly turning things around. Yet again, the Bulldogs have a favorable SEC schedule, with no games against Alabama, Arkansas or LSU, so their road to the SEC championship is easier than South Carolina's, but keep an eye on that inexperienced offensive line.

5. Arkansas: If not for Bobby Petrino's embarrassing dismissal, the Razorbacks might be ranked higher. Offensively, it doesn't get much better than what Arkansas has. Tyler Wilson returns as arguably the league's best quarterback, and he'll get to work with one of the most complete backs around, Knile Davis, who is returning from a devastating ankle injury. An older and more improved offensive line returns, and so does a talented receiving corps led by Cobi Hamilton. But there are questions. How effective will interim coach John L. Smith be, especially if something goes wrong? Will Marquel Wade's suspension leak into the fall after his spring arrest? And will the defense improve and be more aggressive under new coordinator Paul Haynes? The good news is that Alabama and LSU play in Fayetteville this fall.

6. Florida: The chemistry is much better in Gainesville. Florida returns 10 starters from a defense that ranked eighth nationally in 2011. Matt Elam looks like a budding star at safety, and Florida's linebacking group is solid. Buck/defensive end Ronald Powell could be out after tearing his ACL this spring, but coach Will Muschamp recently said Powell is off crutches. Stud defensive tackle Dominique Easley is also walking fine after tearing his ACL in last year's season finale. The Gators have their third offensive coordinator in three years, and unproven sophomore quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel are still battling. Florida has unproven running backs and receivers, but the offensive line toughened up tremendously.

7. Auburn: The Tigers welcomed two new coordinators, Scot Loeffler and Brian VanGorder, this spring, and by all accounts players were very receptive. Coach Gene Chizik is still dealing with a lot of youth, as close to 70 percent of his roster is made up of underclassmen. One of those underclassmen is quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who made strides as a passer this spring and seems to have the edge in the quarterback race with Clint Moseley, who missed some of the spring with a sore shoulder. The defensive line will be the team's strength, with end Dee Ford exploding this spring and Corey Lemonier returning. There is a lot of depth up front on defense, which will go a long way for the Tigers.

8. Missouri: Coach Gary Pinkel and his players have made it clear they aren't intimidated by the move to the SEC. These new Tigers return solid offensive firepower, but there has to be some concern about quarterback James Franklin, who missed most of the spring after having surgery on his throwing shoulder. Plus, Mizzou's backup QB could miss games this fall after his recent arrest, so the Tigers' offensive success will be riding on Franklin's health. The Tigers are replacing a few starters on both lines, but feel confident about both areas. Mizzou will face a Georgia team down a few defensive players in Week 2, but must travel to South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

9. Tennessee: A lot is different in Knoxville, as the Vols welcomed seven new assistant coaches. Coach Derek Dooley insists the changes were for the best, but there's still going to be some adjusting to do this fall. The good news is that Tennessee returns a lot on both sides of the ball, starting with quarterback Tyler Bray and receivers Justin Hunter and Da'Rick Rogers. A healthy trio there makes Tennessee's passing game one of the best in the league. Questions remain on the offensive line and at running back, but improvements were made this spring. New defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri would like to run more 3-4 this fall, but players aren't totally comfortable, leaving some concerns.

10. Mississippi State: Quarterback Tyler Russell finally looks ready to take over as the guy in Starkville, and he'll have a veteran receiving corps to work with. However, that group still has a lot to prove, especially senior Chad Bumphis. The running game looks solid with LaDarius Perkins and Nick Griffin, and the offensive line got help from the junior college ranks. Defensively, there are a few holes to fill up front and in the secondary, but Johnthan Banks and Corey Broomfield are a solid cornerback tandem and linebacker is set with a few vets back, including stud Cameron Lawrence. Junior college defensive end Denico Autry has to perform early to help a line with a couple of holes.

11. Texas A&M: The Aggies have some holes to fill this year, but the offensive line will be a strength. Left tackle Luke Joeckel, a future first-rounder, leads a line that returns four starters. Star wide receiver Ryan Swope is back, and running back Christine Michael should be healthy (knee) this fall, but quarterback is an issue. Sophomore Jameill Showers has the edge right now, but like all of his competitors, he lacks experience. The defense will lean on linebackers Sean Porter, Steven Jenkins, Jonathan Stewart and converted end Damontre Moore, but the secondary has depth and experience issues, and the team will still be adjusting to a new staff led by coach Kevin Sumlin.

12. Vanderbilt: There is some solid offensive talent in Nashville, starting with running back Zac Stacy and receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, but coach James Franklin is still waiting for quarterback Jordan Rodgers to be more consistent. The offensive line is very thin and could barely get through spring. The defense must replace a handful of starters and leaders, but Franklin felt better about guys like linebacker Chase Garnham, defensive end Walker May and cornerback Trey Wilson. Vandy's schedule will be tough this fall, and if that offensive line doesn't hold up, getting back to a bowl will be tough.

13. Kentucky: Coach Joker Phillips was pleased with how spring practice ended, especially when it came to finding offensive playmakers, like receivers Demarco Robinson and Daryl Collins. Quarterback Maxwell Smith had a solid spring, but struggled during the spring game, meaning the battle with Morgan Newton and freshman Patrick Towles should go into the fall. The offensive line is still trying to get by after losing three starters, and the Wildcats must replace six starters at linebacker and in the secondary. Given the Wildcats' schedule, they will need to sweep their nonconference games to be in bowl shape.

14. Ole Miss: The arrival of coach Hugh Freeze brought a lot of positive change to Ole Miss, especially off the field, but there are still a lot of concerns. There are depth issues at just about every position, especially running back and defensive tackle. Even one of the most experienced groups, the offensive line, has struggled mightily with picking up Freeze's spread offense and is the team's biggest weakness. Academic issues are also worrying Ole Miss' staff, and top running back Jeff Scott and cornerback/receiver Nickolas Brassell are in that group. Quarterback is still up for grabs, but progress was made on defense, especially in the secondary.

ESPN's K.C. Joyner has ranked his top quarterback-receiver tandems in the SEC going into the 2012 season, and his choice for No. 1 is going to surprise a lot of people.

He has Vanderbilt's Jordan Rodgers and Jordan Matthews at the top of his list.

In choosing his top tandems, Joyner used a list of metrics from the 2011 season that detailed such things as how the combo fared in short pass yards per attempt, vertical yards per attempt and overall yards per attempt.

The No. 2 combo on Joyner's list was Georgia's Aaron Murray and Tavarres King, while Tennessee's Tyler Bray and Da'Rick Rogers were No. 3.

There's no doubt that Matthews really blossomed once Rodgers took over the Vanderbilt starting job last season, and the other guy in that Vanderbilt receiving corps to watch is Chris Boyd, who had eight touchdown catches last season. He and Matthews combined for 13 touchdown catches, and Matthews averaged 19 yards per catch.

Consistency will be the key for Vanderbilt in the fall, and that's something that coach James Franklin said was a priority this past spring -- doing all of the things right that it takes to have a potent passing game.

If I were ranking the SEC's top quarterback-receiver tandems, I'd have Arkansas' Tyler Wilson and Cobi Hamilton at the top, and they're one of the tandems Joyner lists among his honorable mention candidates along with South Carolina's Connor Shaw and Ace Sanders.

I'd also have Tennessee No. 2, but I'd have Justin Hunter (as long as he's all the way back from his injury) in there as the Vols' top receiver.

Hunter and Hamilton would be my picks as the SEC's top two receivers going into the 2012 season. Rogers would certainly be in the top 5, and if junior college newcomer Cordarrelle Patterson lives up to his hype, the Vols could have three of the top receivers in the league in 2012.

2011 record: 6-7
2011 conference record: 2-6
Returning starters: Offense: 9; defense: 7; kicker/punter: 3

Top returners:
WR Chris Boyd, WR Jordan Matthews, QB Jordan Rodgers, RB Zac Stacy, OG Ryan Seymour, C Wesley Johnson, LB Archibald Barnes, Chase Garnham, DT Rob Lohr, CB Trey Wilson

Key losses:
TE Brandon Barden, OT Kyle Fischer, DE Tim Fugger, LB Chris Marve, CB Casey Hayward, S Sean Richardson

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Zac Stacy* (1,193 yards)
Passing: Jordan Rodgers* (1,524 yards)
Receiving: Jordan Matthews* (778 yards)
Tackles: Chris Marve (91)
Sacks: Tim Fugger (8)
Interceptions: Casey Hayward (7)

Spring answers

1. Finding more leaders: Vanderbilt coach James Franklin wanted to leave spring with more leaders than started with. By his accounts, a few veterans stepped up with guys like Marve, Fugger, Hayward and Fischer gone. Franklin said that if the Commodores were going to build off of last season's success, some veterans had to step up and take hold of the team. Guys like Jordan Rodgers, Chase Garnham, Walker May, Trey Wilson and Zac Stacy really expanded their roles as leaders and will be leaned on even more this fall.

2. Marve's replacement: Finding someone to take over for Marve in the locker room was one thing, but filling his position on the field is another. Exiting the spring, Franklin thinks he found the perfect player for the job in Garnham. He moved from the outside to the middle and really excelled at Marve's old position. Garnham was one of the Vanderbilt's most consistent defensive players this spring and the coaches expect to perform this fall.

3. More playmakers: The Commodores return much of their offense this season, but it sounds like the coaches found a few more players. People know about Stacy and receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, but a few other players caught the coaches' eyes like redshirt freshmen Josh Grady and Kris Kentera, who were former quarterbacks. Grady showed his versatility by playing all over the field at receiver, running back and as a wildcat quarterback. It looks like Kentera earned some playing time at H-back this fall, helping to take pressure off Matthews and Boyd.

Fall questions

1. Offensive line: Spring practices have not addressed any of the issues the Commodores have on the offensive line. Ryan Seymour and Chase White began spring by rehabbing injuries, leaving Vandy with just nine healthy bodies up front. As spring went on, Franklin said there were times when his team sometimes had just seven linemen to work with. It was bad enough that Vandy rarely went through practices with a full offensive line taking reps. Six true freshmen linemen will enroll at Vandy this fall, but there's no question this unit is the biggest worry for the Commodores.

2. Quarterback consistency: While Rogers made improvements to his game, he still showed the inconsistency that frustrated Franklin last season. There's no question he has the athletic ability to be a solid starter in this league, but he sometimes fails to stand tall in the pocket and deliver solid throws when things collapse around him. That kind of play really hurt Vandy's offense last season. He was pushed by 2009 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year Austyn Carta-Samuels during the spring and the battle is expected to continue through fall camp.

3. Warren Norman's health: After missing all of the 2011 season with a knee injury, Norman returned to the practice field this spring. Though he was non-contact, he showed some improvement in his mobility. It's still unclear how healthy Norman will be and if really complement Stacy in the running game. Rising sophomore Jerron Seymour is the one other returning running back that registered carries last season.

You ask for people to write into the mailbag and there's no hint of hesitation.

The mailbag is back this week and we were bombarded with questions. The pages went on for a while, so I'm sorry if I couldn't get to all of them. Keep them coming, though, because there's always next week.

Let's get to this week's questions:

Ethan in Cullman, Ala., writes: With the recent dominance of Alabama and Coach Saban do you see Auburn and Chizik really being relevant nationally? I realize they have recruited fairly well but I think we all know without Cameron Newton the 2010 Auburn Team was a 6-7 7-5 football team and in all honesty I don't see them improving their win-losses as long as Gene Chizik is the head coach. Take away the 14-0 season and Chizik has a total record of 21-29 as a collegiate head coach. Lets just be honest in the world of college football everything runs through Tuscaloosa, Alabama and I don't see that changing anytime soon. RTR (:

Edward Aschoff: Man, Auburn fans will love you now. I'm sure the Christmas cards are being written as we speak. While I don't see Auburn surpassing Alabama this season, or really next season, I don't think Auburn is going to fall off the map without Newton. Like you wrote, Chizik has recruited well and the team he has now is pretty young. It's going to take more time for this team to crawl back up the SEC standings, but I don't think it's going to take years and years. Auburn has the young talent to challenge some teams in the West this year. Yes, even Alabama. I'm one of the few still on the Auburn bandwagon. I see improvement on the offensive line, quarterback Kiehl Frazier really came along stronger this spring with Scot Loeffler's help and the defense can only get better after a lousy 2011 showing. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Auburn made more news nationally in 2013.

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Jmathews in Weslaco, Texas, writes: Do you think Kevin Sumlin is going to surprise some teams this year with his offensive plan?

Edward Aschoff: It's a little unorthodox by SEC standards, for sure, but I'm not sure if SEC defenses will be confused by that air game. Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have to run the ball more in order to catch some defenses off guard. I know that flashy passing game was fun at Houston, but you have to run the ball to survive in the SEC. Balance will be key because we all know that Sumlin is going to want to throw the ball as much as he can. I don't think we'll truly see what all Sumlin wants to do because he's working with such young quarterbacks. That will restrict a lot of it and could make Christine Michael that much more important at running back. Once Sumlin has the right pieces in place then you'll see some offenses have to plan differently. For now, I think it's a work in progress.

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Jimmy in Pikeville, Ky., writes: Do you believe that Joker Phillips will be able to get the Kentucky Wildcats back to a bowl game this season?

Edward Aschoff: Phillips thinks he's found more offensive playmakers this spring, with youngsters such as Demarco Robinson, Daryl Collins and Ronnie Shields stepping up, and that's huge for the Wildcats. They didn't have many at all last year and that was a main reason Kentucky's offense was so bad. But we still need to see what those players can do against SEC competition in October. And a consistent quarterback has to step up. Maxwell Smith has the lead, but the race isn't over. The schedule is going to be tough for the Wildcats, as well. I think Kentucky needs to sweep nonconference play to ensure a bowl birth. That means beating Louisville to start the season. The Louisville loss was a big one for the Cats last year and right now, Louisville is still a better team. Getting those four nonconference wins will go a long way for Kentucky.

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Reed in Beijing, China, writes: Ex-pat hog fan here in Beijing. I wanted to get your opinion on how Arkansas will split carries between Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Dennis Johnson this year. Also, who besides Cobi Hamilton do you think will step up to fill the void at receiver?

Edward Aschoff: If Davis is healthy, he'll get the majority of the carries. I don't think there's any debate there. He is in another league compared to the other backs. After that, I think Arkansas goes Johnson then Wingo. Johnson came on during the second half of the season, while Wingo was inconsistent in my opinion. As for receiver, I think Marquel Wade could have a big year, along with tight end Chris Gragg. Wade is a very good athlete and the coaches loved what he did in practice last year. He's someone who has that dynamic feel in the offense and can make big plays. Gragg is big, athletic and tough. Tyler Wilson will key in on him a bunch this fall. He's probably the top returning tight end in the league.

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Ryan in Anaheim, Calif., writes: Is it safe to say that Vanderbilt will have one of the best offenses in the SEC this year? Returning Rodgers, Stacy, Matthews, and Boyd, while also getting Norman back and explosive freshman in Kimbrow. The only weakness I see is the O-line which will be inexperienced, but will that hold them back that much?

Edward Aschoff: That line barely got through spring practice, so it's a problem. Injuries and numbers really hurt the line. The good news is that six true freshmen will be on campus this summer. The bad news is that they are true freshmen. Jordan Rodgers still has to be more comfortable in the pocket. He can be really sporadic at times and coach James Franklin knows it. If he can't improve on the mental side, this offense will struggle. Brian Kimbrow is someone who can be used all over the field, so that will really benefit this offense. The other playmakers you mentioned are solid, no question, but there are some good offenses to battle near the top, such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

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Kyle in Gainesville, Fla., writes: The Gators haven't had many people drafted in the past two years, but next year will be much better. Who do you think could be drafted in the top 2 rounds next year? Bostic, Jenkins, Powell, Easley, Floyd, Elam, Nixon, Debose, and Reed are all guys I think can if they have a big year.

Edward Aschoff: Well, if Ronald Powell doesn't come back from his knee injury don't count on him heading to the draft. NFL scouts love Dominique Easley's potential. He's so strong and athletic and just pounds his way through offensive lines. He did suffer that knee injury, so his health will be monitored closely. Elam will compete to be the top safety in the SEC, but his name hasn't been thrown out as much as someone like Eric Reid. Jelani Jenkins is someone scouts like because of his speed and strength. He isn't the biggest linebacker, but he's extremely smart and that will help him a lot. Jon Bostic is getting some attention and a big year will boost his stock for sure. Xavier Nixon has to improve on a bad 2011 and Andre Debose and Jordan Reed have to be more consistent. Of all of them, I think Easley and Jenkins are Florida's top pro prospects.

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Brad in Longview, Texas, writes: If you could take one player from the SEC, outside of a QB, who would it be?

Edward Aschoff: Last year, the answer was easy: Trent Richardson. This year, it's a little more difficult. I don't think I'd go with another offensive player, so I'm going to go with Georgia's Jarvis Jones. He was one of the best players in the nation last year and was the SEC's top defensive player, after getting 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He's a superb athlete, has tremendous speed and has a relentless attitude. He's also a great leader. He commands respect in the locker room and on the field. It's hard to find a better linebacker out there.

Spring practice is officially over in the SEC and the NFL draft is behind us. We've ushered in the new and pushed out the old. As we count down the hundred-something days until college football's 2012 season officially begins, we thought it'd be a good idea to look at the most productive players coming back at their respective positions.

We'll look at the top passers, running backs, wide receivers, defenders, etc., over the next few days and judge things on statistical categories, such as yards for quarterbacks and skill players.

Note: No offensive linemen are on this list because we aren't counting pancakes. This isn't EA Sports' NCAA Football. Also Missouri and Texas A&M players aren't here, either, because they weren't in the league last season, but that won't keep us from talking about them.

We'll start things off with the quarterbacks, and unlike 2011, this year's crop has a little bit more experience and name power. That's because hardly any starters departed, so that means the race to be crowned the SEC's top signal caller is up for grabs in 2012.

Here's a look at the top statistical quarterback returning this season, and the others who finished 2011 in the top 10 statistically:

Tyler Wilson, Arkansas: Wilson threw past the competition in 2011, leading the SEC with 3,638 yards, which was 489 yards more than the No. 2 statistical passer, Georgia's Aaron Murray. He also led the SEC with a rating of 148.4. He was second in the league with 24 touchdown passes, but threw just six interceptions. He probably also led the league in times he was leveled by opposing defenders without the ball in his hands. Somehow, that tough guy just kept getting up. Wilson led the SEC with 261.3 passing yards per game against conference foes, and was second with 14 passing touchdowns in league games. Wilson had three NFL receivers and one of the league's most talented tight ends at his disposal, but he has cannon for a right arm, and when he's settled in the pocket, his delivery is as pretty as it gets.

The SEC returns five more of the top 10 statistical passers from a year ago:

• Aaron Murray, Georgia: He passed for 3,149 yards, a league-high 35 touchdowns with 14 interceptions, and had a rating of 146.4
• AJ McCarron, Alabama: He passed for 2,634 yards, with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions, and had a rating of 147.3
• Tyler Bray, Tennessee: Though he was injured for the middle part of the season, he passed for 1,983 yards, with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions, and had a rating of 144.8.
• Jordan Rodgers, Vanderbilt: He passed for 1,524 yards, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions, and had a rating of 113.8.
• Connor Shaw, South Carolina: He passed for 1,448 yards, with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions, and had a rating of 148.3.

Missouri's James Franklin could find himself high on the list of SEC quarterbacks this fall, as well. He was sixth in the Big 12 with 2,865 passing yards, throwing 21 touchdown passes with 11 interceptions, but also rushed for 981 yards and 15 more scores. He said this spring that he's looking to be much more of a throw-first quarterback in 2012.

SEC passing games were bashed left and right last season, but I don't think that will be the case in 2012. The players mentioned above are one reason, and the other is that there is a solid cast of unheralded players heading up offenses this fall. Auburn's Kiehl Frazier made strides this spring under new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, and his battle with Clint Moseley should be pretty fun this fall. Florida's sophomores-to-be -- Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel -- improved a lot under new coordinator Brent Pease.

You also can't forget about juniors Zach Mettenberger at LSU and Tyler Russell at Mississippi State. Mettenberger has the potential to be a top passer in this league, and will be a major upgrade for the Tigers' offense. Russell was much more confident at quarterback this spring at Mississippi State.

This will always be a run-first league, but the quarterbacks should earn more respect in 2012.

There was a lot of coaching movement in the SEC last year, but the league entered the 2011 season with just two new head coaches in Florida's Will Muschamp and Vanderbilt's James Franklin.

Both won six games during the regular season, while Muschamp's Gators won their bowl game. Franklin's 6-7 debut was considered far more successful than Muschamp's 7-6 year because of both programs' history and the talent difference.

What's in store for both coaches in 2012? Well, ESPN colleague Ryan McGee took a look at 10 second-year coaches and both Franklin and Muschamp made his list. McGee graded their debuts, looked at needs for 2012 and gave a little analysis. Take a look:

FRANKLIN

Record: 6-7
Grade: B
2012 needs: Offensive traction, kicking game

Franklin attacked his first two national signing days with such vigor he became a Vandy YouTube sensation. He also went after his SEC rivals, including Tennessee, and his players on the sidelines.

Keep in mind, this is Vanderbilt. The Commodores aren't used to that kind of intensity, just as they aren't used to going to bowl games, which the Commodores did for just the second time since 1982 and the fifth time ever.

The biggest immediate needs are offensive consistency and kicking it between the uprights. Solving the first problem comes down to two fixes: A) Getting quarterback Jordan Rodgers (Aaron's little brother) to be more patient and complete more passes, and B) Finding help for senior tailback Zac Stacy, who ran for 1,193 yards one year ago but was visibly gassed late in games.

MUSCHAMP

Record: 7-6
Grade: D
2012 needs: Offensive leadership, turnovers

Here's the thing about screaming and yelling and slobbering all over everyone on your sideline, especially the refs. It's kind of like Crash Davis' explanation of fungus on one's shower shoes. If you win, people think such rants are just part of your colorful personality. If you fail to beat an FBS team with a winning record and spend all season flirting with your school's first losing season since 1979, however, it comes off as a little thin.

There's no doubt that injuries on offense hurt, but it's not as if the Gators' roster was suddenly barren of athletes. Muschamp, heralded as a defensive guru, watched his D give up 133 rushing yards per game, ranked 40th nationally.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has departed for Kansas. That might not be a bad thing. Neither is the number of seniors who have departed -- only 11. But a roster packed with youth needs to buy into what the coach is selling. If they don't soon, The Swamp will get ugly in a hurry.

My thoughts:

• What Franklin did in 2011 was very impressive, but it wasn't good enough for him. He wasn't happy with the close losses or the bowl loss. He wasn't happy with the losing record. He has made that perfectly clear this spring and is looking for Vandy to take the next step right now. There are some veteran leaders that aren't around anymore, but Franklin recently said that he's found a few players on both sides of the ball who stepped up more as leaders this spring. The expectations are going to be higher and teams won't overlook the Commodores this fall.
• Making sure Stacy has a solid, consistent running partner will be key for Vandy's offense. I think you'll see Warren Norman take that role. Remember, he was once Vandy's top running back until he was injured. The coaches feel he'll be 100 percent this fall and if he plays like he did as a freshman, he'll add another talented offensive weapon for the Commodores.
• Franklin has a lot of support from Vandy's program and community. A dip in Year 2 won't totally hurt him, but if he wants to keep the momentum going, making another bowl is the goal. He's recruited well, but prospects want to continue to see progress. A sub-par season might turn recruits off.
• Muschamp got sort of a mulligan in-house when Urban Meyer told bigwigs at Florida that he left the Gators' new coach a "broken" program. But that won't help him in Year 2. Spring went much better for the coaching staff and players, as more guys bought in. That might be more important than players improving on technique at this point in Gainesville. The Gators had major discipline issues when Muschamp first arrived and it took some time for those issues to be squashed.
• Florida has to find out who is going to be the guy at quarterback, but what might be more important is how the offensive line performs and how downhill the running game can be. Florida's line was below average for most of last season, making it tough for anything to happen on offense. Though it was just 15 practices, Florida's line looked better, Muschamp said, because guys were more mature and tougher.
• Muschamp says he's happier with this team and sees a ton of improvement. However, no 2011 mulligan will help another losing record in conference play.

With spring practice over for all 14 SEC schools, there’s still some question about who the starting quarterback will be in the fall at six of those schools.

In some cases, it’s wide open. And then there are a couple of situations where the prohibitive favorite simply needs to finish nailing it down come preseason practice.

Here’s my take on how it will all shake out around the league at the most important position on the field.

AUBURN

The matchup: Even though sophomore Kiehl Frazier seemed to make a move this spring, offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler wasn’t ready to make a decision. Junior Clint Moseley has the edge in experience after starting toward the end of last season, but was hampered by shoulder problems this spring. This is an extremely close race, and it sounds like Loeffler wants to see what a healthy Moseley can do before making the call.

The winner is: Frazier’s ability to extend the play gives Loeffler the kind of versatility he’s looking for on offense. Still, Frazier has to go win the job in the fall and prove he’s ready to be the every-down starter. It’s really too close to call, but we’ll go with Frazier because of his overall athleticism.

FLORIDA

The matchup: The only thing Florida coach Will Muschamp was giving up exiting spring was that the Gators had two quarterbacks he felt like they could win with. Sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel were both forced into action as true freshmen last season. Both took their lumps, but both improved this spring under first-year coordinator Brent Pease.

The winner is: The guess here is that it comes down to who shows the best leadership qualities this summer and then carries those qualities over to preseason practice. Like the Auburn race, this one is neck-and-neck. We’ll go with Brissett as the starter to open the season, but both quarterbacks will end up playing meaningful snaps this season.

KENTUCKY

The matchup: Senior Morgan Newton was recovering from shoulder surgery and didn’t go through the spring, meaning it was wide open for sophomore Maxwell Smith to make his move. Even though he threw a pair of interceptions in the spring game, Smith had a good spring and was able to build on the playing time he received last season as a true freshman.

The winner is: Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said Smith would be the starter if the season started right now. We’ll see where Newton is physically come August, but it’s obvious that the plan now is to go with Smith. It’s hard to imagine anything at this point keeping him from being the starter in the opener, although Newton has played a lot of football for the Wildcats.

OLE MISS

The matchup: This battle was whittled to two early on this spring, and junior college newcomer Bo Wallace took the early lead thanks to his knowledge of first-year coach Hugh Freeze’s offense. But junior Barry Brunetti, who’s very comfortable in the spread, fought back to make this a close race, close enough that Freeze said coming out of the spring that he could see both Wallace and Brunetti playing in the opener.

The winner is: The good thing for the Rebels is that Wallace and Brunetti are different kinds of quarterbacks, so playing both of them makes sense. The guess here is that Wallace is the first one to see the field, but the competition in preseason practice will be intense.

TEXAS A&M

The matchup: Kevin Sumlin took over a Texas A&M program that had virtually no experience at the quarterback position. Sophomore Jameill Showers threw all of five passes last season while backing up Ryan Tannehill. Johnny Manziel redshirted last season. It’s down to those two players, although true freshman Matt Davis could be a factor down the road.

The winner is: Showers seemed to separate himself to close the spring and played well in the spring game. Sumlin still wants to see the quarterbacks protect the ball better and repeated that the Aggies don't have a starter yet. That said, it would be an upset at this point if Showers weren’t the starter to open the season.

VANDERBILT

The matchup: Jordan Rodgers helped to energize the Vanderbilt offense when he replaced Larry Smith as the Commodores’ starter last season. He’s a dual-purpose threat with the ability to make big plays down the field. Wyoming transfer Austyn Carta-Samuels is equally capable of making plays with his arm and legs and makes this a lot closer race than anybody might have imagined heading into November a year ago.

The winner is: Vanderbilt coach James Franklin emphasized that the starting job would remain open through the summer. It’s still Rodgers’ job to lose, but the Commodores would like to see him cut down on his interceptions. It’s likely that Rodgers will hold onto the job, but Carta-Samuels is good enough and has enough experience to make it a legitimate battle.

Making the rounds on a Monday:

• Scott Rabalais of The Baton Rouge Advocate examines the answers and questions for LSU coming out of spring practice.
• Sophomore safety Brian Randolph is maturing right before Tennessee's very eyes.
• There's no such thing as too many running backs for Kentucky.
• South Carolina's passing game comes alive in its spring game.
• Tight end Malcolm Johnson is poised to become a big part of Mississippi State's offense.
• Ole Miss' two quarterbacks combine for eight touchdowns in the Rebels' scrimmage.
• Security is big business in the SEC.
• David Climer of The Tennessean writes that Vanderbilt's Jordan Rodgers has matured into a leader.
• Georgia ends its spring and needs a quiet summer, writes Jeff Schultz of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Recruits are buzzing following their visit to Tuscaloosa for Alabama's A-Day spring game.
• Auburn's A-Day spring game offers only token insight.
• Arkansas' Tyler Wilson, who chose to come back for his senior season, isn't looking back.
• Jameill Showers and Johnny Manziel could be battling for the Texas A&M quarterback job for a while.
• Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun ranks Florida's positions of strength exiting the spring.

It wasn't even close in Vanderbilt's spring game. The Black team clobbered the Gold 33-0 in front of a crowd of 8,500 at Saturday's Black and Gold Spring Game at Vanderbilt Stadium.

The Black team, headed by quarterback Jordan Rodgers and most of Vandy's first-team, went pass-heavy against the Gold. Rodgers completed 14 of his 29 passes for 126 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Rodgers' best option was the top receiving target of the day in junior Jordan Matthews, who caught seven passes for 105 yards and two scores.

"I thought the scrimmage went well, thought spring ball went well," Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said. "Most importantly, we stayed healthy. We were able to get a bunch of reps. All though we have some depth issues at certain positions, there are some positives and negatives to that. It affected how we could practice sometimes, but some of those guys got a bunch of rep, which is going to help them in the long haul."

One player who certainly stayed healthy was star running back Zac Stacy. After ranking third in the SEC in rushing last season, Stacy was basically left alone Saturday, as he carried the ball just twice for 1 yard.

Better safe than sorry.

Franklin said he's still waiting to see how the quarterback situation will play out. While Rodgers threw the most, Austyn Carta-Samuels, who transferred from Wyoming last year, is still very much in the race to take Vandy's starting quarterback job. He completed 6 of 12 passes for 47 yards and an interception Saturday.

"I'm interested to see how this quarterback thing is going to play out once Austyn Carta-Samuels has got a better feel and he can compete come summer camp," Franklin said. "Jordan's doing some really nice things. I thought it was interesting, we're putting an emphasis this spring on the passing game (because) we're a little dependent on running the ball. There are going to be times (in the SEC) where you're not going to be able to run the ball, and you're going to have to be able to throw the ball for a higher percentage."

Commodores fans also got a good glimpse of freshman wide receiver Josh Grady, who lined up as Vandy's wildcat quarterback. The former quarterback passed for 58 yards, including connecting with Matthews on a 54-yard touchdown pass. He also ran for 35 yards and an 8-yard score.

You can see more from the Commodores' spring game on Vandy's official website.

A Friday stroll around the SEC:

• Arkansas' Knile Davis has no plans to leave, and has already spoken to athletic director Jeff Long about the search for Bobby Petrino's replacement.
• Alabama's Nick Saban is excited to see his first teams go head-to-head in Saturday's spring game.
• Auburn's Trovon Reed is learning to manage big expectations.
• Antonio Goodwin's defense rests without calling Gene Chizik or Trooper Taylor to the stand.
• Darrington Sentimore has been hard to miss this spring at Tennessee.
• Athlon ranks the SEC quarterbacks in 2012, and Georgia's Aaron Murray is at the top of the list.
• Georgia's Mark Richt voices support for his offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo.
• Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity defends the school's strict drug testing policy for athletes.
• Missouri running back Kendial Lawrence welcomes good health.
• The Vanderbilt players select quarterback Jordan Rodgers and defensive end Walker May as team captains for the 2012 season.
• Florida strength and conditioning coach Jeff Dillman seeks to keep the Gators' momentum going in the offseason.
• Ole Miss' coaches think C.J. Johnson is destined for greatness at defensive end.
• Mississippi State's offense is looking for revenge in Friday night's scrimmage.

A quick recap of the weekend scrimmages around the SEC:

ALABAMA

It looks like junior quarterback AJ McCarron has picked up where he left off in the BCS National Championship Game. McCarron finished 25-of-43 for 290 yards, three touchdowns and an interception last Saturday in the Crimson Tide's first full scrimmage of the spring.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said McCarron was "very commanding" under center, and Saban said he's been impressed with how the receivers have been able to get onto the same page with McCarron. Sophomore Christion Jones had a pair of touchdown catches. Kevin Norwood also caught a touchdown pass. The freshman receiver who's caught Saban's eye is Amari Cooper. Sophomore DeAndrew White also got off to a good start this spring, but is now battling a pulled hamstring.

On defense, Vinnie Sunseri and junior college newcomer Deion Belue both returned interceptions for touchdowns. Belue is competing for a starting cornerback job. Saban said John Fulton is also having a good spring and in that mix. Another junior college newcomer to watch is Travell Dixon, who's working at both cornerback and the "star" position, which is the nickel back role when the Crimson Tide go to five defensive backs.

Some of the best news for the Crimson Tide last Saturday was that their kickers were a combined 7-of-8 on field goals. Jeremy Shelley was 4-of-4, and Cade Foster was 3-of-4. Foster's only miss was from 54 yards and was blocked by Nico Johnson.

Here's a report from the scrimmage on Alabama's official web site, and it includes stats and pictures.

ARKANSAS

There wasn't any shortage of offense in the Hogs' scrimmage last Friday, and not surprisingly, senior quarterback Tyler Wilson was the catalyst. He passed for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Star running back Knile Davis was held out of contact, but Dennis Johnson was plenty productive in his absence with 75 yards on 12 carries. Johnson also scored three touchdowns.

Senior Cobi Hamilton had a big day catching the ball and so did sophomore Marquel Wade, who caught seven passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns.

The first-team offense scored on seven of its first 10 possessions. The Hogs' defense struggled to stop the run at times, which was a problem last season. Sophomore cornerback Tevin Mitchel didn't participate in the scrimmage after suffering a hamstring pull earlier in the day.

AUBURN

The Tigers' first scrimmage of the spring featured a couple of long touchdown passes by sophomore quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who connected with Emory Blake and Travante Stallworth. Clint Moseley didn't participate in the scrimmage. He's been plagued by a sore throwing shoulder.

The running back job is wide open, and Corey Grant made his case Saturday with several nice runs. His teammates were raving about his explosiveness through the hole.

On defense, first-year coordinator Brian VanGorder felt like his guys made a positive step, although giving up the big play continues to be a problem.

"You can't do that and be a good defense," VanGorder said.

VanGorder was pleased with Kris Frost's improvement at linebacker and also liked what he saw from Jawara White at middle linebacker.

GEORGIA

The defense has been the story for much of this spring for the Bulldogs, and that was again the story Saturday in their first full scrimmage.

While piling up 12 sacks, the defense also saw the offense break through with a few plays, namely redshirt freshman tight end Jay Rome. He caught a 30-yard touchdown pass and had another scoring grab down on the goal line where he made an acrobatic play in the corner of the end zone.

Several of the Georgia players also had high praise for freshman running back Keith Marshall.

Safety Shawn Williams had 4.5 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception to lead the defense.

LSU

Zach Mettenberger threw two second-quarter touchdown passes to lead the White to a 24-17 win over the Purple on Saturday in LSU's National L Club spring game.

Mettenberger finished 14-of-25 for 270 yards and threw touchdown passes of 49 yards to Odell Beckham, Jr. and 18 yards to Russell Shepard. Alfred Blue led all rushers with 73 yards on nine carries.

Mettenberger also threw a pair of interceptions, one of those returned 74 yards by freshman linebacker Lamar Louis for the Purple's final touchdown.

Safety Eric Reid also returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown to put the White ahead 21-0 in the second quarter.

OLE MISS

There weren't any iron-clad answers at quarterback for the Rebels in their scrimmage last Friday.

Barry Brunetti had the best day. He was 7-of-10 for 80 yards and threw touchdown passes of 30 yards and 15 yards to Ja-Mes Logan.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said evaluating the quarterbacks was even more difficult because the Rebels continue to struggle in the offensive line.

After a slow start, Bo Wallace finished strong. He was also able to run the ball with some success.

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Gamecocks held their second major scrimmage last Saturday, and Steve Spurrier wasn't thrilled with the passing game.

"I hope we don't have to run the ball all the time next year, but if we can't throw it very well, that's what we'll do," said Spurrier, who was especially frustrated by the sacks his offense allowed.

He said Connor Shaw has to get better at throwing the ball away and not taking sacks.

"Connor (Shaw) must have had four sacks today in 10 passes," Spurrier said. "He’s got to throw the ball somewhere and get it out of his hands a little quicker. The other quarterbacks were not real accurate at times, but we hit a few here and there.”

Star running back Marcus Lattimore, still recovering from knee surgery, didn't scrimmage.

Jared Shaw returned a Dylan Thompson interception 38 yards for a touchdown.

VANDERBILT

Vanderbilt coach James Franklin was pleased with the way his first-team offense performed in the red zone in last Saturday's scrimmage, but said the Commodores have work to do between the 20's. He also wants to see his defense do a better job with its back to the goal line.

""There's a feeling sometimes, especially with a young team, that when you get in the red zone, it's OK to give up points, and offensively, it should be easier to score," Franklin said. "We need to make sure that we have the same mentality on offense, whether we are on the minus five or the plus five, and defensively, whether we are on the minus one or plus one, that we have the mentality that we're going to stop them."

Quarterback Jordan Rodgers was 11-of-17 for 83 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- I've been on Vanderbilt's campus for much of the day and spent some time with the Commodores' coaches and players.

There's no question a new energy surrounds this program, and there's certainly not a feeling of contentment just because Vanderbilt went to a bowl game last season in James Franklin's first year on the job.

"We were 6-7. We had a losing record," Vanderbilt senior cornerback Trey Wilson said. "We expect a lot more out of ourselves than that, and we're going back to work to make sure we get a lot more out of next season. Nobody around here is satisfied."

Franklin is bringing in the highest-rated signing class in school history. Most of those guys won't be on campus until the summer, but Franklin envisions even more competition for positions than last season.

And he means everywhere.

"We still don't have the depth we need, but we're going to have competition," Franklin said. "I want everybody in the program to feel like there's no favoritism and no politics. Even for the guys who played last year, and they have a leg up, but you're going to have to earn your job every day. That's important, and getting these freshmen in here and allowing them to have an opportunity to compete and play will help us."

One of the hottest battles could be at quarterback. Jordan Rodgers stepped in at midseason a year ago and provided a huge boost to the offense, but Austyn Carta-Samuels is eligible after transferring from Wyoming and is pushing hard this spring.

"The sky's the limit for us with the competitive nature that coach Franklin has created," said Carta-Samuels, whose grandfather, Tom, played baseball at Vanderbilt. "That's why I came here, and you know you're going to get an opportunity to play if you're the best player."

Carta-Samuels had 2,094 yards in total offense in 2010 and started 11 games that season for Wyoming. He said he visited Vanderbilt out of high school and that there's no comparison in the caliber of players here now as compared to 2008 when he was visiting.

Two of the Commodores' priorities this spring, according to Franklin, are throwing the ball more accurately than they did last season on offense and not giving up as many big plays on defense. They completed just 51.7 percent of their passes, and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said they gave up 46 big plays (a running play of at least 15 yards or passing play of at least 25 yards).

Shoop said the Commodores' goal is no more than two big plays per game.

"Where we fell short was we gave up too many big plays," Shoop said. "Five percent of the snaps against us accounted for one-third of the total offense."

Replacing middle linebacker Chris Marve and his leadership will also be a chore. Shoop said a key to the Commodores' success last season (they finished 18th nationally in total defense) was the way Marve bought into Shoop and his defense.

Junior Chase Garnham is moving into Marve's middle linebacker spot, but it will take several players to fill the leadership void created by Marve's departure. Defensive end Walker May, defensive tackle Rob Lohr, safety Javon Marshall and Wilson are all ready to take that step.

"We're light years ahead of where we were last year," Shoop said. "Our first group out there practicing right now ... I like the way they're practicing. Our second group, those guys are a lot of redshirt guys and scout-team guys. They're figuring it out."

Freshman linebacker Darreon Herring is an early enrollee and going through spring practice. Shoop thinks he has an excellent chance to be in the rotation next season. The same goes for freshman linebacker Jake Sealand, who will be on campus this summer.

Schedule: Vanderbilt begins spring practice Friday at 5:15 p.m. ET and concludes with the Black and Gold Spring Game on April 14, in Vanderbilt Stadium. Coach James Franklin has decided to open all 14 of Vanderbilt's spring practices to fans.

What's new: Franklin added two new assistants during the offseason. George Barlow comes over from New Mexico to coach the Commodores' defensive backs and serve as the defensive recruiting coordinator, while Josh Gattis left Western Kentucky to coach Vandy's wide receivers and will serve as the offensive recruiting coordinator. Vanderbilt will also see more of transfer quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, who came from Wyoming last season, after being the Mountain West's Freshman of the Year in 2009. After sitting out 2011, Carta-Samuels will compete with Jordan Rodgers for the starting quarterback spot. Joining the battle is early enrollee Patton Robinette.

On the mend: Running back Warren Norman sat out all of the 2011 season with a knee injury and will be limited for most of the spring. Offensive linemen Ryan Seymour and Chase White, safety Javon Marshall, fullback Marc Panu, linebacker Tristan Strong, and running back Jerron Seymour won't go through contact this spring. Offensive lineman Mylon Brown, who was suspended due to violation of team rules and wide receiver Brady Brown, who decided not to return to the team, are not on the spring roster.

Questions: Vanderbilt must replace four key starters and leaders from last year's defense. Gone are linebacker Chris Marve, cornerback Casey Hayward, defensive end Tim Fugger and safety Sean Richardson. Marve, Richardson and Hayward were Vandy's top three tacklers last year, while Fugger led the Commodores with eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. Hayward is also tied for first in school history with 15 career interceptions. Vandy will also enter spring with a thin offensive line, with only nine healthy bodies to work with up front. With Seymour and White rehabing and Brown suspended, the Commodores likely won't have two full lines to work with. Also, can the Commodores continue to play and practice with the new confidence Franklin instilled in last year's team? That will be key for Vandy because the Commodores will likely receive more attention this spring, so keeping that edge will go a long way.

On the move: Outside linebacker Chase Garnham is expected to move inside and play at Marve's spot at middle linebacker. Josh Grady is moving from quarterback to wide receiver, while Kris Kentera is also moving from the quarterback spot and will work at tight end/H-back this spring.

Key battle: Rodgers had his ups and downs last year as the Commodores' quarterback, but his downs stuck out in Vandy's bowl loss to Cincinnati. He completed 4-of-14 passes and threw an interception in the first half. Now, Rodgers will have a fight on his hands this spring with Carta-Samuels and Robinette. Carta-Samuels proved he has the talent to push Rodgers after some success at Wyoming, while Robinette will certainly benefit from enrolling early. Vanderbilt returns most of its offensive production from last season, including running back Zac Stacy and wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, but the quarterback play has to be more consistent in 2012. Rodgers made the offense go for most of the year, but his struggles held Vandy back at times.

Don't forget about: Vandy has one of the most productive running backs in the SEC from a year ago lining up in its backfield once again. Stacy was third in the league in rushing last season (1,193) and was second with 14 rushing touchdowns. He was Vandy's most consistent offensive player last year and really helped add big-play ability when the Commdores had the ball. Stacy broke Vandy's single-season rushing record in the final game of the regular season when he rushed for 184 yards against Wake Forest. He will enter the season eighth on the school's list in career rushing yards (2,002) and trails career leader Frank Mordica by 630 yards.

Breaking out: The Commodores have a few players who could turn some heads this spring. Sophomore defensive tackle Barron Dixon has a big lower body and is built like your typical SEC defensive tackle. He didn't play much last year, but with holes up front, he'll have a chance to grab a spot this spring. Also, redshirt freshman Derek King has a chance to really compete in Vanderbilt's secondary. He sat out last season, but with Hayward and Richardson gone, he has a shot to earn some playing time. Keep an eye on offensive guard Jake Bernstein because Vandy needs a lot of help on the offensive line and the redshirt freshman will be called upon often this spring.

All eyes on: There will be a lot of attention paid to the quarterback spot this spring. Rodgers is the favorite heading into spring, but he'll really have to show improvement in his composure and his decision-making in order to leave spring as the starter. He's extremely talented and athletic, but he has to get the mental side down in order to develop heading into the 2012 season. The good thing is that Vanderbilt returns enough weapons to help in that department. Also, Norman should get more attention paid his way as well. He was one of Vandy's best offensive and special teams weapons when he was healthy, so making sure he makes improvements in his speed this spring will be key. Adding him back to the offense this fall will be big for the Commodores.

The quarterback position in the SEC is looking up in 2012 after a so-so season a year ago.

With spring practice set to begin for several teams, we'll take our shot at ranking the projected starters heading into the spring.

This list may and probably will change by the time we get to September. There are always surprises, and you never know how the new guys are going to respond.

A few of the quarterbacks are coming off of injuries, and several of the starting jobs are still up for grabs.

So look at this ranking as a pecking order of who you would pick to be your quarterback in the fall based on what you know right now about that player, his prior experience in the college game, his projected impact in the fall and how much progress you expect him to make over the next six months leading up to the season.

Here's what we came up with pre-spring:

1. Tyler Wilson, Sr., Arkansas: He seriously considered turning pro, and a lot of the analysts felt like he would have gone in the top two rounds. Wilson threw for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns and was intercepted just six times in his first season as a starter last year. His best football is ahead of him.

2. Aaron Murray, Jr., Georgia: The only knock on Murray is his interceptions. He threw 14 picks last season, but he also set a school record with 35 touchdown passes. Most of his receiving corps is back in 2012, so look for him to take it to another level next season and break even more records.

3. James Franklin, Jr., Missouri: Granted, he'll be going against SEC defenses for the first time in the fall, but Franklin has proven that he can be effective both running and passing. He just missed 1,000 yards rushing last season (981) and passed for 2,865 yards. He accounted for 36 touchdowns and is the essence of a multi-purpose threat.

4. AJ McCarron, Jr., Alabama: McCarron was outstanding at protecting the ball all of last season, and when the Alabama coaches asked him to step up his game, he delivered in the BCS National Championship Game with an MVP performance. He has all the physical tools to have a breakout season in 2012, and he now has the experience, too.

5. Tyler Bray, Jr., Tennessee: Bray got off to a super start last season before breaking his thumb against Georgia in the fifth game. He's still looking for his first marquee win, but has the arm strength to make the kind of throws few quarterbacks can. His receiving corps should be excellent, although the jury is still out on Bray as a leader.

6. Connor Shaw, Jr., South Carolina: One of the most improved quarterbacks in the league, Shaw closed the 2011 season on fire. He's never going to be a big pocket passer, but he's good on the move and always a threat to take off and run. The Gamecocks have the whole offseason to gear what they do offensively around Shaw's strengths and expand their zone read package.

7. Zach Mettenberger, Jr., LSU: Everybody on the Bayou is eager to see Mettenberger's big arm. LSU coach Les Miles says the Tigers are going to put that big arm to good use next season and throw the ball more. Mettenberger has waited his turn. Once he gains a little experience, he has a chance to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.

8. Jordan Rodgers, Sr., Vanderbilt: Once he took over as Vanderbilt's starter last season, the Commodores took off offensively. In particular, they were able to hit more big plays down the field. Rodgers makes things happen with his ability to run and can also throw it. He needs to cut down on his interceptions.

9. Clint Moseley, Jr., Auburn: With first-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler taking over, Moseley's ability to throw the ball from the pocket should give him an edge. He still has to beat out Kiehl Frazier for the job, and that's going to be a battle. But the experience of starting toward the end of last season should help Moseley.

10. Tyler Russell, Jr., Mississippi State: Russell banged up his knee in bowl practice back in December, so he could be limited this spring. He got his chance to start some in the second half of the season a year ago, and there's no question that he can throw it. But he still has to prove he can do all the other things it takes to be a good quarterback in this league.

11. Jacoby Brissett, So., Florida: Talk about being thrown into the fire. Brissett was forced into action against Alabama and then started the next two games against LSU and Auburn last season as a true freshman. He'll have a battle on his hands this spring with Jeff Driskel, and it's a battle that will probably go into the preseason.

12. Bo Wallace, So., Ole Miss: His junior college numbers last season were eye-popping, and he still has to go out and win the job this spring. But Wallace knows Hugh Freeze's system, and at 6-5, has the arm and the presence in the pocket to put up big numbers. Even so, there's a learning curve in this league for all first-year quarterbacks.

13. Maxwell Smith, So., Kentucky: After Morgan Newton struggled with injuries and inconsistency last season, Smith got his chance to see if he could jump-start Kentucky's offense late in the season. He showed some promise before getting banged up and having to miss the Tennessee game. Newton is out this spring after undergoing shoulder surgery, but will challenge for the job in the fall.

14. Jameill Showers, So., Texas A&M: Kevin Sumlin takes over in College Station with a group of quarterbacks that have virtually no college experience. Showers played in four games last season while backing up Ryan Tannehill and threw only five passes. He's the front-runner going into the spring, but Sumlin has made it clear that the competition will be wide open.

It’s sort of like the old "chicken and the egg" debate.

Was the quarterback play in the SEC as spotty as the numbers reflected last season, or were the defenses in this league simply that good?

The answers vary wildly depending on who you ask.

But within the realm of the SEC, it’s not much of a debate at all.

“This past season, there weren’t a lot of proven guys [at quarterback],” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “But when you play great defensive football teams, it’s harder for anybody on offense to look better. The quarterback’s the guy who’s getting harassed by the defensive linemen and all those edge rushers. He’s the guy trying to throw it in a tighter window because cornerbacks are covering a little bit tighter.

“The best quarterbacks in the world don’t look quite as sporty when they’re dealing with some defenses like we do.”

It wasn’t a complete disaster at the quarterback position last season in the SEC. Georgia’s Aaron Murray threw a school-record 35 touchdown passes, and Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson passed for 3,638 yards with 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions and played well enough in his first season as a starter that he seriously contemplated turning pro.

Still, it was a league known for its defense -- something that’s not going to change any time soon --and a league also known for its pedestrian quarterback play.

The latter may be changing some in 2012, especially when you consider the caliber of quarterbacks returning in the SEC, not to mention a couple of talented newcomers.

Murray and Wilson are the top two, but Alabama’s AJ McCarron proved emphatically in the BCS National Championship Game that he’s ready to become an elite quarterback. He’s the most physically gifted quarterback the Crimson Tide have had under Nick Saban and was as good as anybody in the league last season in terms of taking care of the ball.

Tennessee’s Tyler Bray was on his way to a huge season a year ago before he broke his thumb against Georgia. He had 14 touchdown passes and only two interceptions in the first four games, and the way South Carolina’s Connor Shaw ended the season gives Gamecocks fans some hope that they’re finally going to see some real consistency at the position.

Shaw’s never going to wow anybody as a pocket passer. But in South Carolina’s new zone read package, he’s a perfect fit with his ability to run and make plays on the move.

The newcomer everybody is waiting to see is LSU’s Zach Mettenberger, a 6-foot-4 pocket passer who has a big-time arm and just may be the missing piece for the Tigers.

And if you’re looking for the best multi-purpose quarterback next season in the SEC, look no further than Missouri’s James Franklin. The rising junior passed for 2,865 yards and 21 touchdowns last season in the Big 12 and rushed for 981 yards and 15 touchdowns. The 6-2, 225-pound Franklin finished the season with 217 rushing attempts.

Even at Vanderbilt, the Commodores have a guy under center returning who immediately added some pop to that offense once he became a starter last season. Jordan Rodgers, in his first season of action after undergoing shoulder surgery, started the last seven games in 2011, and the Commodores averaged 31 points in those contests.

So while nobody is predicting that SEC quarterbacks will all of a sudden start putting up Xbox-like numbers next season similar to what you see in other conferences across college football, it does have a chance to be one of the most talented crops of quarterbacks the league has put on the field in some time.

“I think it’s just the nature of the beast. This conference is known for defense, so a lot of times the quarterbacks’ ratings aren’t going to be way up there because you’re going against the best defenses in the country,” said McCarron, who earned offensive MVP honors in the BCS National Championship Game by going 23-of-34 for 234 yards and no interceptions.

“Not degrading the other conferences, but if you look at their [quarterback] stats, their defenses just aren’t as good as ours are in this league. They’re going to put up more numbers and probably get a little more notoriety. But with our defenses, the offenses and quarterbacks in the SEC are going to be overlooked and underestimated.”

When Wilson was growing up in Arkansas, it was at a time when Steve Spurrier and his Fun ‘n’ Gun offense were wreaking havoc in the SEC. Wilson has also been around an Arkansas offense the past two seasons that has produced 62 touchdown passes.

So forgive him if he’s not ready to concede things to the defenses in this league.

Plus, he’s like anybody else and looks around at the returning quarterback talent and thinks the playing field may be leveling some in the SEC.

“I think we have a much more offensive conference than maybe some people realize,” said Wilson, who set an Arkansas school record last season with his 510-yard performance in a 42-38 comeback win over Texas A&M. “I think this is going to be a much better year for all of the quarterbacks coming up, so maybe we’ll give the defenses a little test."

Mettenberger, who started his career at Georgia, has great respect for SEC defenses, but said that should never be an excuse for why quarterbacks aren’t getting it done in this league.

“Guys in the NFL go against great defenses every Sunday and make it look easy at times,” Mettenberger said. “It’s all about preparing and getting down the mental aspect of what a defense is trying to do to you, and in any situation, what you’re going to do with the ball.

“That’s where you gain an edge. It’s not always about how hard or how far you can throw it, and the more you’re around this league, the more you realize it.”