ESPN College Football

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• LSU cornerback Ronnie Vinson leaves LSU for Southeastern Louisiana.
• Raises are coming for Georgia's coaches.
• Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin says Florida coach Will Muschamp needs to worry about his own team before making comments about College Station, Texas.
• The recent pledge from the Fayetteville, Ark., trio has the Razorbacks right were they should be.
• South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney reflects on his first year with the Gamecocks.
• Athlon Sports wonders if Georgia can win the SEC title in 2012.
• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that the ACC once dreamed of challenging the SEC.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Urban Meyer must have misremembered his stance on a college football playoff.

Making the rounds on a Monday:

• How big of a role does social media play in college football recruiting?
• Alabama quarterback commitment Cooper Bateman shines at an Elite 11 camp.
• Alabama lands a commitment from defensive end Jonathan Allen of Ashburn, Va. Allen is an ESPN 150 selection and ranked by ESPN as the No. 5 defensive end in the country.
• Auburn gets a commitment from quarterback Jeremy Johnson of Montgomery, Ala. Johnson is ranked by ESPN as the No. 21 pocket passer among quarterbacks in the country.
• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley supports the plus-one playoff format.
• Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin is set to join the ranks of the racially diverse SEC coaches.
• There's no time to lose when selling Missouri in the SEC.
• Ole Miss is taking its recruiting coast-to-coast.
• Florida sweeps the SEC All-Sports Awards.
• Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long says he has no interest in leaving.

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.

2011 overall record: 7-6
2011 conference record: 4-5

Returning starters

Offense: 8; defense: 6; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners

RB Christine Michael, WR Ryan Swope, OT Luke Joeckel, OT Jake Matthews, DE Damontre Moore, LB Sean Porter, LB Jonathan Stewart, S Steven Campbell

Key losses

QB Ryan Tannehill, RB Cyrus Gray, WR Jeff Fuller, PK Randy Bullock, DT Tony Jerod-Eddie, CB Terrence Frederick, S Trent Hunter

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Cyrus Gray (1,045 yards)
Passing: Ryan Tannehill (3,744 yards)
Receiving: Ryan Swope* (1,207 yards)
Tackles: Jonathan Stewart* (98)
Sacks: Sean Porter* (9.5)
Interceptions: Trent Hunter, Steven Terrell* (2)

Spring answers

1. Manning that line: There’s no mistaking the strength of this team. Even though there’s not a lot of depth in the offensive line, five players with starting experience return. Tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews are future pros, while senior center Patrick Lewis enters his fourth season as a starter. Sophomore Cedric Ogbuehi has made a nice transition from tackle to guard. The Aggies will lean on this bunch all season long.

2. Swope to the rescue: After hauling in 11 touchdown passes a year ago, Swope picked up right where he left off in Kevin Sumlin’s new offense and ended the spring with a pair of touchdown catches in the Maroon & White spring game. He’s going to need some help this fall, but there’s no substitute for a senior receiver who knows how to get open, and more importantly, knows how to find the end zone.

3. Steven Jenkins steps up: One of the defensive stars of the spring for the Aggies was Jenkins, who looked like a natural at weakside linebacker in the new 4-3 scheme. Jenkins was fifth on the team last season in total tackles (61) despite starting in only six games. His spring performance was just what Texas A&M needed on defense, especially at the linebacker position. He and Sean Porter should be quite a tandem in the fall, as both can go get the quarterback.

Fall questions

1. Stopping the run: The Aggies feel pretty good about their ability to get to the quarterback. But when it comes to the middle of that defensive line and stopping the running games they’re going to see in the SEC, that’s where the problem lies. Chances are that some younger players are going to have to come through on the interior of that defensive line, and that’s never the way you draw it up going into the fall.

2. Williams’ eligibility: One of the most dynamic players on the field this spring for Texas A&M was running back Brandon Williams, who transferred from Oklahoma. He has the kind of speed that turns missed tackles into touchdowns. The only problem is that the Aggies probably won’t know until sometime in August if he’ll be eligible this season. The NCAA would have to grant him a waiver, which would allow him to play without sitting out a season.

3. Experience at quarterback: Most in and around the Texas A&M program felt like sophomore Jameill Showers exited the spring as the guy to beat at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel is still in the race, though. However it shakes out in the fall, the Aggies are going to line up with one of the least experienced quarterbacks in the SEC. Showers only played in four games and threw five passes last season in mop-up duty for Tannehill.

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.

We're just one day closer to the college football season, so enjoy some links!

• Jon Solomon of the Birmingham News writes that the SEC will soon get a nice pay bump from TV deals.
• For Alabama athletic director Mal Moore, championships have been the norm.
• A few SEC players make CBSSports.com's Freak List.
• Texas A&M hires a firm to search for new athletic director.
• Kevin Sumlin is one of two coaches that Texas A&M's new athletic director needs to have succeed.
• Georgia coach Mark Richt anticipates a little "vinegar" for Vanderbilt this fall.
• Florida's Tevin Westbrook is moving from defensive end to tight end, and Graham Stewart is headed to UConn.
• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley talks transition for the Vols.

Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne will announce his retirement Tuesday at a news conference in College Station, Texas, a source told The Associated Press.

Byrne, 66, was hired in December of 2002 and helped guide the Aggies to the SEC from the Big 12. Byrne's contract is up on Aug. 31, 2013, but Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin said last month that Byrne's future at the school would be discussed between the two of them.

For the most part, Aggies sports flourished while Byrne was the school's AD. During his tenure, Texas A&M sports won 17 national championships and 46 Big 12 championships.

However, Texas A&M's football program hasn't been as successful. It went 58-54, won just one bowl game and finished only one season ranked. Now, it's taking new coach Kevin Sumlin, who came from Houston, to the SEC.

The move to the SEC, effective July 1, brings what Byrne believed would be a much more stable situation for Texas A&M, but it didn't come without controversy. The move has put a once-great rivalry with Texas on hold for the foreseeable future and it appeared to set in motion all the recent expansion movement taking over college football.

There certainly were mixed feelings about Byrne's tenure at Texas A&M, but his departure right before the move to the SEC will no doubt put a lot of pressure on his successor and Loftin.

Check back to the blog later to read more about Byrne's departure and what's next for Texas A&M.

The Kevin Sumlin touch was on display for all to see last Saturday in Texas A&M's spring game, as the White (offense) outlasted the Maroon (defense) 48-44 in the Aggies' annual Maroon & White spring game at Kyle Field before more than 15,000 fans.

The offense, showcasing the up-tempo style that short-circuited a lot of scoreboards while Sumlin was at Houston, ran more than 100 plays in the first half. Senior receiver Ryan Swope had two long touchdown catches of 63 and 50 yards. Swope, who had 11 touchdown catches last season, finished the spring game with eight catches for 156 yards.

Both quarterbacks had their moments, but there were also times when the offense stalled once it crossed the 50. Overall, sophomore Jameill Showers probably had the better spring, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said he wasn't ready to make a decision and that redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel remained in the hunt. Swope caught one of his touchdown passes from Showers and the other from Manziel. Showers also hooked up with Malcome Kennedy on a 63-yard scoring toss.

Texas A&M's first-team offensive line looked dominant, and even though top tailback Christine Michael was on the sideline recovering from ACL surgery, the Aggies still racked up more than 230 rushing yards among their top three tailbacks in the game.

The defense was without two of its mainstays -- senior tackle Jonathan Mathis and senior safety Steven Campbell. And while the first-team defense held its own for much of the game, the second unit gave up way too many big plays and committed several mental errors. Depth's going to be a problem for Mark Snyder's defense, and the Aggies are especially thin at safety.

Protecting leads was a huge problem for Texas A&M a year ago, and while the starting front seven looks like it's going to be able to effectively pressure the quarterback, the Aggies still have some tightening up to do on the back end. They simply can't afford many injuries back there. The good news is that the Aggies were more physical in the secondary this spring.

For more on Texas A&Ms spring game, fans can go here.

Texas A&M is the last of the SEC teams to finish up its spring, as the Aggies play their annual Maroon & White spring game on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET at Kyle Field.

Here are a few things to watch:

Answers at quarterback: It sounds like it’s down to sophomore Jameill Showers and redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel for now, and Showers has the edge going into the spring game. It’s not an insurmountable edge by any means, and here’s Manziel’s chance to show what he can do in front of a crowd in a game-type situation. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin is still waiting for somebody to lay claim to the job and make this his team.

Helping the quarterback: While so much attention has been on the quarterback battle this spring, it’s equally important that the Aggies find a few more playmakers on the perimeter and play more consistently around whoever wins the quarterback job. Senior Ryan Swope is a proven playmaker after catching 89 passes last season, including 11 touchdowns. Senior Kenric McNeal and sophomore Malcome Kennedy have been battling for the slot job opposite Swope. Redshirt freshman Mike Evans has made a move this spring and might have passed junior Nate Askew on the right side.

Getting physical: The Aggies’ spring game will be an offense vs. defense scrimmage, so there should be some good battles up front. The strength of the team should be an experienced, talented offensive line, so it will be interesting to see how much success the front seven on defense has in putting pressure on the quarterbacks and getting penetration.

Making the move: The Aggies shifted from a 3-4 to a 4-3 under new defensive coordinator Mark Snyder this spring, and several guys are learning new positions. Junior Damontre Moore has been a natural at defensive end after playing the “Joker” hybrid position last season in the 3-4. Also, junior Steven Jenkins has had an excellent spring at weak side linebacker, and sophomore Donnie Baggs has been equally impressive in that same spot. Senior linebacker Sean Porter, who led the Aggies with 9.5 sacks last season, is still adjusting to playing inside when they go to their nickel package.

Thin at safety: It would be nice if the Aggies could trade a few cornerbacks for safeties. They like their depth at cornerback, but injuries have again left them shorthanded at safety. Senior Steven Campbell’s foot problems forced him to miss his second straight spring. Junior Toney Hurd, Jr. has lined up as the nickel cornerback this spring, but he could be a candidate to move to safety in the fall.

As Texas A&M wraps up spring practice this week, it sounds like sophomore Jameill Showers and redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel are out front in the quarterback derby.

“Those guys have been around longer than the young freshman (Matt Davis),” Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said Tuesday.

Still, Sumlin expects the battle to continue into preseason practice in August.

“We haven’t changed much (offensively),” Sumlin said. “We’ve thrown a lot at them, and they’ve had their moments. They’re young and have got to learn that there are other people on the field besides themselves and that they don’t have to make every play. I still think they’ve progressed a little faster than I thought they would.”

While most in Texas have kept a close eye on the quarterback battle this spring, the part of the offense that has given Sumlin the most comfort is the offensive line.

“Our most experienced group on our football team is the offensive line, and we only have one senior there,” Sumlin said. “Those guys have led us this spring and adapted to what we’re doing. They’re experienced and tough, and we’re going to count on them heavily this fall.”

We make our Monday rounds in the SEC:

• Arkansas is waiting patiently for Jeff Long's call.
• Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin says running back Brandon Williams is "as advertised."
• Former Maryland offensive lineman Max Garcia plans to transfer to Florida.
• Kentucky coach Joker Phillips is pleased with his depth at tight end.
• Brandon Marcello of The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger looks at answers coming out of the spring for Mississippi State.
• Hugh Kellenberger of The Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger looks at answers coming out of the spring game for Ole Miss.
• Toomer's for Tuscaloosa still giving back a year later.
• It should be a banner NFL draft for LSU.
• After a solid spring, Vanderbilt has a few more answers heading into Year 2 under James Franklin.
• Tennessee's defense makes some progress with its new 3-4 scheme.
• Missouri coach Gary Pinkel and his wife separate after nearly 40 years of marriage.
• South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore tops Athlon's SEC running back ratings for 2012.

National signing day is officially a distant memory.

The 2012 class is all signed up, and while recruiting diehards no doubt turned their attention to 2013 even before signing day was over, it's time to take a deeper look at the next high school stars that high-profile schools will try to woo.

Tuesday, the initial ESPN150 for the 2013 class was released, and there are plenty of SEC verbal commitments. Twenty-eight of the 150 prospects are committed to SEC schools. Five SEC schools have commitments from 150 athletes.

Florida leads the SEC, and is tied for second nationally, with seven 150 members. Michigan leads the country with 11. Florida's top commits are Crescent City (Fla.) defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (No. 18 overall/No. 4 defensive tackle), and Belle Glade (Fla.) Glades Day running back Kelvin Taylor (No. 22 overall/No. 1 running back).

Alabama and Georgia are second in the conference with six 15o commitments.

Alabama has the top committed player in country in inside linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala.), who is the No. 2 prospect overall in the ESPN150, and the No. 1 inside linebacker. For more on Foster and a whacky few months for him, read ESPN recruiting analyst Jamie Newberg's story on him. (There are also some other pretty good recruiting tidbits from around the country in there as well.)

Here's a look at the ESPN150 members committed to SEC schools:

ALABAMA (6)

2. Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala), ILB
43. O.J. Howard (Prattville, Ala./Autauga Academy), TE-H
54. Altee Tenpenny (North Little Rock, Ark.), RB
76. Tyren Jones (Marietta, Ga./Walton Senior), RB
143. Andy Dodd (Lindale, Ga./Pepperell), OG
146. ArDarius Stewart (Birmingham, Ala./Fultondale), ATH

AUBURN (4)

5. Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton), DE
8. Dee Liner (Muscle Shoals, Ala.), DT
122. Earnest Robinson (Pinson, Ala.), WR
134. Trey Johnson (Lawrenceville, Ga./Central Gwinnett), ILB

FLORIDA (7)

18. Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, Fla.), DT
22. Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Day), RB
38. Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast), OLB
44. Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny), WR
58. Nick Washington (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian), S
64. Keanu Neal (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter), S
109. Quinton Powell (Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland), OLB

GEORGIA (6)

45. Derrick Henry (Yulee, Fla.), ATH
47. Tramel Terry (Goose Creek, S.C.), ATH
86. Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek), CB
110. Brice Ramsey (Kingsland, Ga./Camden County), QB
116. Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga.), S
148. Johnny O'Neal (Dublin, Ga./West Laurens), ILB

TEXAS A&M (5)

28. Derrick Griffin (Rosenberg, Texas/Terry), TE-H
50. LaQuvionte Gonzalez (Cedar Hill, Texas), ATH
51. Kohl Stewart (Houston, Texas/St. Pius X), QB
101. Joas Aguilar (N. Richland Hills, Texas/Birdville), OG
103. Jamar Gibson (Baytown, Texas/Goose Creek), WR

Some thoughts:

• The first that that comes to mind when I look at this list is that LSU isn't on it. The school that recruits with the best of them currently doesn't have any ESPN150 members. Sure, it's really, really early, but I was very surprised that none of LSU's nine commitments aren't a part of this list. I'm sure that will change for the Tigers, and I'm sure that staff will continue to haul in some of the best talent around. Still, I'm a little surprised.
• Another interesting thing you'll see is that SEC coaches still know how to pick 'em. Four of the five schools with 150 members have one player who is No. 1 at his respective position:

No. 1 RB: Kelvin Taylor (Florida)
No. 1 TE Derrick Griffin (Texas A&M)
No. 1 DT: Dee Liner (Auburn)
No. 1 ILB: Reuben Foster (Alabama)

• Also, notice that Texas A&M quarterback commit Kohl Stewart is labeled as a pocket passer. The Aggies had more athletic quarterbacks before Kevin Sumlin arrived, but as he tries to install his more pass-heavy offense, the Aggies appear to be changing styles under center.
• Speaking of the Aggies, four of their five 150 members are labeled as offensive players, while one -- Gonzalez -- is listed as an athlete. You win with defense in this league, but Sumlin is making sure he gets the parts he needs on offense first. That's going to be his strength, and Sumlin is making sure he stocks up correctly.
• Auburn is tied with Texas for having the most top-10 members. Two Auburn commitments -- Lawson and Liner -- reside in the top 10.

Texas A&M linebacker Sean Porter told me he wasn’t so much nervous about adjusting to the Aggies' coaching staff as he was curious.

“It’s always fun to see what guys want, what different ways each coach coaches you,” the senior said. “I even like to observe other teams, to see what that guy is like.”

Porter likes that new strength coach Larry Jackson doesn’t tell the players how many cross-field runs they will have to do. Jackson’s only rule is that you run fast. The theory is that no player knows when or how often in a game he will be called on to sprint. But that player better be ready to go full-speed.

Porter said head coach Kevin Sumlin’s emphasis on body language is important for a team that lost its mojo during last season, when it led 12 games in the second half and finished 7-6.

“Your posture can show how confident you are,” Porter said. “A man who stands straight up is more confident than a man who slouches and looks down when he talks to people. ... The more that we can improve that kind of stuff, the body language, the better we will play.”

His interest in how a coach coaches is such that Porter, a sociology major, sounds as if coaching is in his future. He said he is thinking about it.

“I coach a sixth-grade team now,” Porter said.

So how do you reach a sixth-grader?

“You can’t really,” Porter said, laughing. “You just do your best with them. They’re fun. You have to keep them from looking at the kites being flown, looking at the bugs. You’ll be all right.”

Porter is part of a big senior class. How quickly the older players buy into a new coach’s program often determines the success of the coach’s first season. Porter’s reasoning has less to do with Sumlin than it does with logic.

“This is my senior year,” he said. “I can’t mess it up. I can’t afford to have a bad season individually or as a team. I don’t want a bad memory to be my last year in college. You only get to go to college one time. No matter what goes on around me, it needs to be a good year.”

While there were six SEC spring games this weekend, six other teams also took part in scrimmages over the the weekend:

ARKANSAS

Quarterback Tyler Wilson had yet another big scrimmage for the Razorbacks. Wilson completed 39 of 49 passes for 448 yards and three touchdowns during Friday's scrimmage. Wilson completed 20 consecutive passes at one point.

Wilson has yet to throw an interception in Arkansas' three spring scrimmages. He led the offense on scores on seven of the offense's 11 possessions Friday.

The good news for Wilson is that his production has come against the first-team defense. The bad news for Arkansas is that his production has come against the first-team defense. But maybe Wilson is just playing that well this spring.

Wide receiver Marquel Wade led Arkansas with nine receptions for 98 yards, while tight end Chris Gragg caught eight passes for 83 yards and a touchdown on Friday. Receiver Javontee Herndon added five receptions for 73 yards and two scores.

Defensive tackle Robert Thomas led the defense with four sacks, while defensive end Austin Flynn added three sacks.

Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, linebacker Tenarius Wright and tight end Austin Tate all sustained injuries Friday, but coaches didn't feel they were serious.

Check out more from Arkansas' scrimmage here and here.

KENTUCKY

The Wildcats took part in a very spirited scrimmage Saturday. It was one that left coach Joker Phillips proud of both the offense and defense.

The 90-minute scrimmage featured the first-, second- and third-team offense and defense. The offense started things well, with quarterback Maxwell Smith leading a 70-yard drive on 13 plays. He capped the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver La'Rod King.

Smith finished the scrimmage completing 25-of-38 passes for 227 yards and four touchdowns. King also led the offense in receiving with seven catches for 76 yards and two scores.

Kentucky's defense stepped up considerably after that, allowing just one touchdown and a field goal on the next 10 possessions, including seven three-and-outs.

You can find more info on Kentucky's scrimmage here.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Despite a fast start by the offense, the defense won Mississippi State's scrimmage Friday after forcing five turnovers late.

The first- and second-team defense held the offenses to four touchdowns and a field goal on 27 possessions. They also registered seven sacks and four interceptions.

After quarterback Tyler Russell led touchdown drives of 75 and 80 yards on the offense's first two possessions, the defense stepped up, forcing a few three-and-outs for the first- and second-team offense.

Russell had an impressive outing inside Davis Wade Stadium, passing for 310 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Wide receiver Joe Morrow had arguably the play of the day when he caught an 83-yard touchdown pass. He sprinted 50-plus yards to the house after spinning off of cornerback Corey Broomfield about 30 yards up field. Morrow finished with 103 receiving yards, while tight ends Malcolm Johnson and Brandon Hill registered 110 and 75 receiving yards, respectively.

The player of the day might have been senior cornerback Darius Slay, who intercepted three passes.

Head coach Dan Mullen missed the practice after the birth of his daughter Friday.

For more on Mississippi State's scrimmage, check here and here.

OLE MISS

It was an air affair in Oxford, as Ole Miss quarterbacks combined for eight touchdowns in the Rebels' Saturday scrimmage.

Barry Brunetti finished the day with 119 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed seven times for 41 yards and two more scores.

But he didn't do much to separate himself from junior college transfer Bo Wallace, who threw for 113 yards and three touchdowns. He also carried the ball five times for 32 yards and another score.

However, both had their hiccups, as Wallace completed less than 45 percent of his passes and Brunetti threw two interceptions. Coach Huge Freeze told reporters after the scrimmage that he had mixed emotions about both, but felt Wallace played a little better Saturday.

"Standing out there it's real clear to me our quarterbacks, our personnel, we don't quite understand the game," Freeze said. "Third-and-2 we don't know those things. We have very little awareness of those at times. We get in second-and-5s and we get negative plays because we try to do more than we can do. Then it puts you in third-and-8, instead of just keeping it third-and-5. There's so many things that we have to understand."

Brunetti threw two 20-yard touchdowns, one to wide receiver Ja-Mes Logan and one to receiver Vince Sanders. Logan also caught two touchdown passes from Wallace, who also hit receiver Terrell Grant for another score.

For more on Ole Miss' scrimmage, you can go here and here.

TENNESSEE

Justin Hunter picked up right where he left off the last time he played inside Neyland Stadium.

After missing most of last season with an ACL injury, Hunter caught three passes for 70 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown pass in his return to Neyland.

Quarterback Tyler Bray completed his first seven passes of the day and finished with 180 yards and a touchdown on 13-of-23 passing.

While Hunter had a solid outing, sophomore wide receiver Jacob Carter was the top receiver of the day, catching four passes for 102 yards.

Marlin Lane, who has improved a lot this spring, had the big day that he needed with his 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Defensively, the Vols got sacks from defensive linemen Jordan Williams, Willie Bohannon and Steven Fowlkes. Defensive backs Justin Coleman, Izauea Lanier and Rod Wilks added six tackles.

For more on Tennessee's scrimmage, go here.

TEXAS A&M

As the quarterback race continues in College Station, redshirt sophomore Jameill Showers stood out in Texas A&M's scrimmage over the weekend. He threw for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception, but only after it was dropped by a receiver.

Showers played in seven series with both the first- and second-team offense.

Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel split snaps with Showers, throwing for more than 150 yards and two touchdowns as well, but he threw two interceptions, with one that was returned for a touchdown by junior defensive back Toney Hurd Jr.

None of the offenses' possessions reached double digits in plays. Turnovers, sloppy play and penalties hurt the offense in the Aggies' first open scrimmage of the spring.

"We just have to be more consistent in our play on both sides of the football, and that's why we're here," coach Kevin Sumlin said. "For the quarterbacks to go operate the way they did, checking plays and moving around, it's encouraging. It gives us a real starting point."

Sophomore linebacker Donnie Baggs, junior linebacker Charlie Thomas, junior linebacker Domonique Patterson and senior linebacker Jonathan Stewart all registered sacks in the scrimmage.

For more on the Texas A&M's scrimmage, go here and here.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas. -- Kevin Sumlin is big on branding, which means an agricultural school in Texas may be the ideal place for him to coach football.

Oh, OK, not that kind of branding. He is big on putting the logos of Texas A&M and the SEC together every chance he gets. So big that in a one-hour conversation in his office, Sumlin used the word “branding” or “rebranding” eight times. He wants everyone in the state -- especially everyone who is 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and runs a 4.6 40 to see that the Aggies are members of the best conference in college football.

Take the windscreens on the fence around the practice field. Sumlin made sure he had new ones before spring football; installation took place on March 30, the day before the first practice. The new windscreens are maroon, and in big white letters they say, “Home of the 12th Man.” They also have that SEC logo.

“You wouldn’t believe what that looked like when we got here,” Sumlin said. “The windscreens around the field were green. It was just a bag around there. Something that simple just dressed up the place like that. It’s branding. It’s messaging.”

And it’s something that media video and photographs will show every time the Aggies practice. That’s not the case with the Bright Football Complex, which may be why its décor is stuck in 2011. Or 2003, when the three-story, $27 million building opened.

High on the wall in the atrium lobby, there still hangs a Big 12 Conference logo. The same logo also still hangs on the wall of Sumlin’s office. It turns out that both are going to be redesigned. In fact, the lobby soon will be expanded to help deal with the crush of recruits in all sports who descend on College Station on a game day.

“The Bright complex is a great building,” Sumlin said. “It’s gotten to where the meeting rooms are, the auditorium, the coaches’ offices, the players’ lounge, the academic [center], it’s great. From a branding standpoint, we just need to make it pop a little bit more for recruiting.”

And as far as Sumlin’s branding is concern, the livestock is safe.