ESPN College Football

Spring is a time for renewal. In college football, spring is also the time to look ahead to fall and the upcoming season. Saturday, Alabama holds its annual Golden Flake A-Day Game (ESPN3, 3 ET), which will give its fans a first look at the defending national champions.

Alabama captured its record-breaking ninth national championship of the major poll era in January. Once again, the Crimson Tide are expected to be one of the best teams in the country in 2012. But the Tide have been here before. Will history repeat?

In 2010, Alabama was preseason No. 1 in both The Associated Press and Coaches polls with 11 combined offensive and defensive starters returning from the team that had won the 2009 national title. The problem was the retention breakdown. Bama lost eight starters from a defense that allowed the second-fewest yards (244.1) and points (11.7) per game in the bowl subdivision. With quarterback Greg McElroy, the running back tandem of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, and receiver Julio Jones, the belief was that the Tide would score points and win games with their offense, while buying enough time for their defense to jell.

However, all did not go as planned. The defense allowed slightly more PPG than in 2009 (13.5 in 2010, 11.7 in 2009). The Tide allowed more plays of 20-plus yards (13) in 2010 than it did in 2009 (7). They also blew a 24-point lead in a loss to rival and eventual national champion Auburn in the regular-season finale, the biggest collapse in Alabama’s storied history. That was one of three losses for the Tide that season.

Like in 2010, this Alabama team has a quarterback returning for his second season as a starter (AJ McCarron), along with a strong running back (Eddie Lacy). Also like the 2010 team, the Tide will lose several starters on defense including four likely first-round picks (cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, linebacker/defensive end Courtney Upshaw, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and safety Mark Barron).

So how good will Alabama be in 2012? History suggests the Tide will be one of the best teams in college football, but not good enough to win a second straight national championship. Just like 2010.

We've come to the end of our countdown, and the No. 1 player on our list should come as no surprise to anyone. He spent all season running over and by defenders, and was up for college football's most prestigious award. Without him manning Alabama's backfield, the Crimson Tide might not have won its second national championship in three years. He's also expected to be the first running back taken in April's NFL draft.

No. 1: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama, Jr.

Preseason rank: No. 2 in the 2011 preseason countdown.

2011 summary: Richardson led the SEC and was fifth nationally with 1,679 rushing yards on 283 carries (5.93 yards per carry), and became the third player in SEC history to rush for 20 or more rushing touchdowns (21) in a season. He also caught 29 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Richardson was a unanimous first team All-American and All-SEC member. He also won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back, and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Why he's here: In his first season as Alabama's starting running back, Richardson made sure the loss of Mark Ingram wasn't much of a concern for the Crimson Tide. He was the ultimate workhorse for Alabama, and had no problem being the focal point in the Tide's offense. What made him so special was his ability to pack power and speed into his game. He could sprint with track stars, but wasn't afraid to bulldoze his opponents if necessary ... of if he just felt like it. And Richardson certainly wasn't afraid of contact, as 49.7 percent of his rushing yards came after contact during the regular season. Richardson also showcased tremendous agility, and his elusiveness made him even more dangerous when he had the ball in his hands. Just ask Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golson about his moves, because he's sure to be on Richardson's permanent highlight reel after getting shaken to the ground on a ridiculous cutback Richardson made on him last fall. His 2,017 yards from scrimmage accounted for more than 36 percent of Alabama's offense in 2011, and he did that while facing eight teams (LSU twice) that ranked among the top 51 nationally in total defense. No other Heisman contender had played more than five. In his two games against LSU (No. 2 in total defense), Richardson combined for 276 yards from scrimmage and recorded the only touchdown for either team in the series. Richardson registered nine games with at least 100 rushing yards, which tied a school record, and is expected to be a top-1o draft pick in April.

• No. 2: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
• No. 3: Tyrann Mathieu, CB/RS, LSU
• No. 4: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
• No. 5: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
• No. 6: Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
• No. 7: Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama
• No. 8: Mark Barron, S, Alabama
• No. 9: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama
• No. 10: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
• No. 11: Danny Trevathan, LB, Kentucky
• No. 12: William Vlachos, C, Alabama
• No. 13: Joe Adams, WR/RS, Arkansas
• No. 14: Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
• No. 15: Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas
• No. 16: Cordy Glenn, OT, Georgia
• No. 17: Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas
• No. 18: Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia
• No. 19: Bacarri Rambo, S, Georgia
• No. 20: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
• No. 21: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
• No. 22: Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
• No. 23: Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt
• No. 24: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
• No. 25: Michael Dyer, RB, Auburn

Our recruiting folks at ESPN have gone back and re-visited the 2008 signing class and assessed how the marquee prospects in that class fared in college.

It’s one of my favorite exercises, because it’s a reminder that recruiting is anything but an exact science, and that evaluating recruiting classes and prospects on signing day is a dicey proposition.

Everybody is trying to recruit great players, but what matters is what you do with those players once you get them on your campus.

Of the 25 top prospects in the 2008 class, seven signed with SEC schools.

No. 2 on that list was Julio Jones. No. 5 was A.J. Green, and No. 8 was Patrick Peterson.

I’d say the analysts got those three right. They were all great players who earned numerous awards and accolades, and all three were taken among the top six picks in last year’s NFL draft.

But for every Julio Jones, A.J. Green and Patrick Peterson, there’s a Will Hill, Dee Finley, Chancey Aghayere and Burton Scott.

All four were ranked among the top 25 prospects in the nation by ESPN in 2008, but for varying reasons, they never flourished in college.

Hill, a safety who signed with Florida out of West Orange, N.J., was the No. 3 overall prospect in 2008. He had a promising freshman season, but struggled with consistency his next two seasons. He declared early for the NFL draft and wasn’t selected, and wound up playing in the Arena Football League.

Finley, another safety who signed with Florida out of Auburn, Ala., was No. 10. He was sidetracked by injuries and off-the-field issues during his career and announced that he was transferring to North Alabama.

Aghayere, a defensive end who signed with LSU out of Garland, Texas, was No. 14. He’s a rising senior, but has played mostly in a reserve role for the Tigers. He didn’t make any starts this season and finished with three total tackles.

Scott, an athlete who signed with Alabama out of Prichard, Ala., was No. 19. He moved from running back to cornerback after arriving at Alabama, but wound up transferring and played at South Alabama this past season.

Florida signed an SEC-high six players in 2008 that were ranked among the top 55 prospects nationally. The Gators signed 10 players who were ESPNU 150 prospects.

It’s a haul that looked terrific at the time, but four seasons later, the Gators lost six football games and didn’t beat anybody in 2011 (in the FBS ranks) that finished with a winning record.

There’s also the flip side.

Alabama’s 2008 class was ranked No. 3 by ESPN, and it’s a class that was the driving force behind the Crimson Tide’s dizzying run the past few years, which includes two national championships.

So, again, there are always hits and misses in recruiting, and those players who miss sometimes do so for reasons that go well beyond football ability. What’s more, classes that look like a million dollars on signing day don’t always look so good three and four years later.

Just something to remember with national signing day approaching.

Here’s a look at the remaining ESPNU 150 prospects in 2008 who signed with SEC schools:

• No. 30: DE Courtney Upshaw (Alabama)
• No. 31: CB Janoris Jenkins (Florida)
• No. 33: OT Tyler Love (Alabama)
• No. 35: RB Richard Samuel (Georgia)
• No. 37: DT Omar Hunter (Florida)
• No. 41: ATH Joe Adams (Arkansas)
• No. 43: DE William Green (Florida)
• No. 45: DT DeAngelo Tyson (Georgia)
• No. 50: RB Carlton Thomson (Georgia)
• No. 51: WR Chris Tolliver (LSU)
• No. 54: CB Charles Whitlock (South Carolina)
• No. 55: ATH Jeff Demps (Florida)
• No. 70: S Karnell Hatcher (LSU)
• No. 76: RB De’Anthony Curtis (Arkansas)
• No. 80: OLB Lerentee McCray (Florida)
• No. 81: QB Tyler Wilson (Arkansas)
• No. 87: WR Rod Wilks (Tennessee)
• No. 93: ATH Charles Mitchell (Mississippi State)
• No. 99: OLB Jerrell Harris (Alabama)
• No. 108: RB Mark Ingram (Alabama)
• No. 121: OT Matt Patchan (Florida)
• No. 131: DE Toby Jackson (Georgia)
• No. 132: OG A.J. Harmon (Georgia)
• No. 133: ILB Brendan Beal (Florida)
• No. 136: CB Neiko Thorpe (Auburn)
• No. 140: C Ben Jones (Georgia)
• No. 142: CB Jeremy Brown (Florida)
• No. 144: ATH Chris Jackson (Alabama)
• No. 146: WR Tavarres King (Georgia)
• No. 147: RB Eric Smith (Auburn)

Don’t let Trent Richardson fool you.

His humble demeanor is a coach’s dream, and I respect the fact he says “We” and “They” more than “Me” or “I.”

But when you’re talking about the Heisman Trophy, only one person can win it. Only one person can have his named etched into that bronze beauty. Only one player has his photo plastered on the Heisman Hall of Funny Smiles each year.

This year, Trent, your cheesy smile should join the group.

However, someone should have informed Alabama’s mild-manner, bulldozing running back that it’s OK to be a little selfish sometimes when you’re trying to sell your Heisman campaign.

You can’t hate Richardson for his team-first attitude, and it just goes to show you that the award that judges both on-field AND off-field actions should return to Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“It’s an honor just to have my name mentioned in that situation,” Richardson said.

“It means a lot to me. I know it means a lot for the team because they deserve every bit of it.”

Sure, Alabama’s offensive line definitely deserves some credit for Richardson’s spectacular season – a season in which he took over for past Heisman winner Mark Ingram – but Richardson was the battering ram wearing down defenders. Richardson was the one who routinely required a cluster of defenders to bring him down, after about five more big-boy steps.

With Alabama replacing a handful of offensive veterans, Richardson was the offense’s linchpin. There was no game-changing wide receiver. There was no proven quarterback. So, Richardson, who spent two previous seasons as a backup, was left to carry Alabama’s offense on his doublewide shoulders.

Without Richardson, Alabama isn’t even in the conversation for the national championship.

“He does everything for us,” said quarterback AJ McCarron, who gave Richardson some bonus points by calling him a great role model.

Richardson finished the season leading the SEC with 1,583 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. He was also second for Alabama with 27 receptions for 327 yards and three more scores, ranking him second in school and SEC history with 23 total touchdowns.

Against SEC opponents, Richardson averaged 137 rushing yards a game, 6 yards per carry, and his 12 total touchdowns put him second in the league in scoring in conference games (nine points a game).

He rushed for 100-plus yards nine times, eclipsing the 160-yard mark five times.

Against LSU’s second-ranked defense, Richardson gained 169 total yards, dragging a few Tigers along the bumpy ride.

Richardson didn’t get a championship game to showcase his skills one last time before a national audience, but when his last stage was set, he tore the roof off that sucker.

In the season finale at Auburn, Richardson had a career-best 203 yard rushing yards and had a receiving touchdown. He had another dazzling Heisman moment when he pushed aside a few Tigers on his way to a superb 57-yard run.

It wasn’t the 76-yarder he pulled off against Ole Miss, where he cut backward at full speed to juke poor Senquez Golson out of his shoes before waltzing into the end zone.

Ladies and gentlemen, Richardson is your guy. He’s meant more to this Alabama team than Ingram did when he won back in 2009. He’s been tremendously consistent and is the nation’s best running back, if not player.

Not buying that last statement? Well, Ingram told Richardson so.

“That means a lot coming from him,” Richardson said. “He was a Heisman winner.”

And so should you be, Trent.

My Heisman Trophy ballot has changed every week for the last couple of months.

I'm not surprised there are more than three players going to the trophy presentation.

Five players were invited to New York for Saturday night's Heisman Trophy presentation -- quarterbacks Andrew Luck of Stanford and Robert Griffin III of Baylor, tailbacks Montee Ball of Wisconsin and Trent Richardson of Alabama and cornerback Tyrann Mathieu of LSU.

It's a shame the Heisman Trust didn't have room for three more quarterbacks because Houston's Case Keenum, USC's Matt Barkley and Boise State's Kellen Moore were just as deserving.

With five finalists going to New York, it figures to be one of the closer votes in recent Heisman Trophy history.

The closest vote in Heisman Trophy history came just two years ago, when Alabama tailback Mark Ingram edged Stanford's Toby Gerhart by only 28 points. Ingram received 227 first-place votes, Gerhart got 222 and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, the second runner-up, received 203.

Given the number of finalists and their geographical regions, we could have another really close finish on Saturday night.

Luck, the runner-up to Auburn's Cam Newton last season, entered the 2011 season as the Heisman Trophy favorite. His performance didn't slip much this season, as he completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,170 yards with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

I still feel Luck might be the most valuable player on any team in the country. Without him, there's no way the Cardinal is ranked No. 4 in the country and playing No. 3 Oklahoma State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Luck has done more with less, as Stanford lacks the game-changing playmakers that other teams have.

But Luck might still be the second-best quarterback in New York. Griffin, who is widely known as RG3, completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 3,998 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 644 yards with nine touchdowns.

Without him, the Bears wouldn't have beaten TCU, Oklahoma and Texas. Griffin's one drawback: He had a late interception that sealed the Bears' fate in a 36-35 loss at Kansas State on Oct. 1 and threw two picks in a 59-24 loss at Oklahoma State on Oct. 29. But with everything else RG3 has done this season, it's easy to give him a mulligan for the miscues.

I still believe Richardson is the best player in the country. He looked like the best player on the field in No. 2 Alabama's 9-6 loss in overtime to No. 1 LSU on Nov. 5. He had 89 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards in a game where every yard mattered. He finished the season with 1,583 yards with 20 touchdown runs and three touchdown catches. He's also Mr. Dependable, not losing a fumble in his past 520 touches and only once in 614 career touches.

Ball has been a scoring machine for the No. 10 Badgers this season, running for 1,759 yards with 32 touchdown runs and six touchdown receptions. His 38 total touchdowns are one shy of matching former Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record of 39 set in 11 games in 1988. Ball's production helped lead the Badgers to a Jan. 2 date against Oregon in the Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

Mathieu fell off my ballot after he was suspended from playing in the Tigers' 45-10 victory over Auburn on Oct. 22 for smoking synthetic marijuana. But his big plays helped the Tigers overcome deficits in each of their last two victories, over Arkansas and Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Mathieu -- aka the "Honey Badger" -- is the best player on the top-ranked team. He leads the Tigers with 70 tackles and has forced six fumbles and recovered five. He also is the most dynamic punt returner I've seen since Florida State's Deion Sanders. Mathieu has scored four touchdowns -- two on fumble returns and two on punt returns.

To penalize Mathieu for one foolish mistake wouldn't have been right. After all, Newton was briefly ruled ineligible at Auburn last season and 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James of Oregon was suspended from playing in last season's opener.

It’s never easy to say goodbye.

But that’s what Alabama coach Nick Saban and the rest of the Crimson Tide faithful will have to do Saturday when Alabama’s extraordinary 2008 class bids farewell to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

This class that featured the likes of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron, Dont’a Hightower and Barrett Jones will go down in Alabama history as one of the best to step foot in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

For as serious as Saban can be, we might witnesses a softer side of him during Saturday’s senior day.

“A lot of guys in that class played a lot of really good football,” Saban said.

“Those guys to this point have won 45 games. That’s probably as many games as anybody around here has ever won in their career.”

The class has just six losses.

Not everyone stuck around or totally complied, but the ones who did certainly set the tone for Alabama’s football program under Saban. In 2008, the Tide went undefeated during the regular season, before falling to Florida in the SEC championship -- the semifinal for the national championship. It then bounced back masterfully to win 14 straight in 2009 and claim yet another national championship for Alabama.

That same year, Ingram won Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy.

While last season could be considered a disappointment for Alabama, 2011 could still be quite special for the Tide and this class. Their 9-6 loss at home to LSU is currently the only blemish on this team’s record and winning out could put them right back in the national championship game.

Some things still have to work out in Alabama’s favor, but the quest for a second national title in three years continues this weekend against Georgia Southern. Alabama needs style points and after a lackluster performance against Mississippi State last week, you can bet this team will be ready to run all over the Eagles.

But regardless of what happens at season’s end for this team and this class, Saban will always remember the players in this class for their tremendous leadership skills and winning attitude. Alabama might not be where it is right now if not for the 2008 class.

“There’s no doubt that that group was the group that sort of turned the program around, bought in, did the things that we all wanted to do to make it better,” Saban said. “They’ve set the example and certainly have made a more significant contribution than anybody would realize.”

It’s that time of year when the answers are starting to outnumber the questions.

Here’s a look at what we learned in the SEC in Week 7:

1. The gap is getting wider: We already knew that Alabama and LSU had separated themselves from the rest of the SEC, but the truth is that they’re in their own league, maybe even on their own planet. LSU pummeled Tennessee 38-7 on the road Saturday, and LSU coach Les Miles conceded afterward that the Tigers didn’t play their best game and were especially suspect to open the game. Alabama squashed Ole Miss 52-7 on the road after also getting off to a so-so start. Even when these two teams give up a rare play on defense, they adjust and finish the game with a vengeance. LSU has given up a total of 25 points in its past three games. Alabama has given up just 17 points in its past three outings. And on offense, they both have the kind of running games that pound teams into submission in the second half. Who’s ready for Nov. 5 to go ahead and get here?

2. Richardson for Heisman: It’s starting to have that same feel as 2009 when Mark Ingram made his move. Alabama junior running back Trent Richardson is now front and center in the Heisman Trophy race and should be. If there’s a better player in college football (and, yes, that includes Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck), let’s see him. Richardson has been sensational in his past six games, rushing for 100 yards in all six and putting on a show in the rout of Ole Miss with 183 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Go back and watch his 76-yard touchdown run. Finding a better one this season in college football will be a chore. Richardson now has 912 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and is ahead of Ingram’s pace in 2009. If Richardson has a big game against LSU on Nov. 5 and the Crimson Tide win, the Heisman will (and should) be his to lose.

3. Two-team race in the East: It’s Georgia and South Carolina in the Eastern Division, and neither would be classified as a great football team right now. The Bulldogs just barely survived at Vanderbilt in a 33-28 win despite a glut of personal foul penalties, not being able to finish drives on offense and a total meltdown on special teams. The Gamecocks held on to win 14-12 at Mississippi State, and while their defense is playing its best football, there are real issues on offense. Star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a sprained knee in the game, and the Gamecocks will know more about the severity of his injury on Monday. If he’s out for a few weeks, this is a very beatable football team. Both teams have their warts, but they’re also two games ahead of everybody else in the East. Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Vanderbilt all have three SEC losses.

4. Plain resourcefulness on the Plains: Nobody expected this Auburn football team to be a championship-caliber football team again this season with all the Tigers lost a year ago. But this is definitely an Auburn football team that still knows how to win. It’s also an Auburn football team that’s on its way back when you look at all the youth on the roster. It’s not a secret that the Tigers are struggling at the quarterback position right now, but they’re finding ways around those issues and winning games. They’ve made vast improvement on defense. Their punter, Steven Clark, has been clutch, and they’ve committed to running the football. Their 17-6 victory against Florida on Saturday was a clinic in resourceful football, and that’s a credit to the Tigers’ coaches and their players. They’ve won five games now, and eight wins or more aren’t out of the question this season. The Florida game was a huge swing game for both teams. While Auburn is far from a dominant team, it’s a team that has mastered the art of winning.

5. Batting .500: At this rate, we might have as many as six teams in the SEC that finish no better than .500 overall in the regular season. Kentucky (2-4, 0-3) and Ole Miss (2-4, 0-3) are both headed for losing seasons. It’s going to be a struggle for Tennessee (3-3, 0-3) to finish above .500, especially with trips to Alabama and Arkansas looming. The Vols also get South Carolina at home on Oct. 29. Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3) certainly hasn’t been a pushover this season, but six overall wins in James Franklin’s first season would be considered a huge success. Mississippi State (3-4, 0-4) needs to get busy if it's going to have a winning season. The Bulldogs are winless in SEC play and will have to upset either Alabama or Arkansas to finish above .500 in the regular season. Even Florida isn’t a lock to have a winning record in the regular season. The Gators (4-3, 2-3) have lost three in a row and still have to face Georgia in Jacksonville in two weeks while also having to travel to South Carolina on Nov. 12 and wrapping up the regular season with a home game against Florida State.

For someone handed the keys to one of the most visible football programs in America, Trent Richardson isn’t too worried about his production.

The third-year Alabama running back paid his dues for the past two years, sitting behind Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Now he owns the Tide’s backfield, but he’s not looking to match Ingram’s career or carve his name into any record books.

Three games into his first season as "the guy," Richardson is running like he’s on a mission for some postseason accolades (he’s fourth in the SEC, averaging 105 yards a game and leads the league with eight rushing touchdowns), but he insists his only goal is winning.

“I don’t care if people are trying to shut me down or not. As long as my team is having a good time and we’re winning, it’s OK with me,” Richardson said.

The last two defenses have failed miserably in shutting him down. Two weeks ago at Penn State, he carried the ball 26 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. A week later, he ran just 11 times against North Texas for 167 yards and three touchdowns. He has two or more touchdowns in all three games this season.

Still, Alabama’s bullish back is humble in his approach and leads more with his mouth than his actions.

“In the past, he knew his role and he knew he wasn’t our primary back, but this year he knows the responsibility that comes with that position and he’s really stepped up leadership-wise and really become a leader for us,” offensive lineman Barrett Jones said.

Jones said it’s been a joy working with Richardson. Physically, Jones said Richardson is “better than ever” because of the shape he’s in and his ability to absorb hits better this season.

Richardson’s attitude has also been a blessing. It would have been easy for him to give up in the past as one of the most talented backups around, but he didn’t. It also would have been easy for Richardson to come in with a “get mine” attitude this season, but he hasn’t.

“Not many guys could have done what Trent did the past two years here -- playing behind Mark,” Jones said. “Most people would say that Trent probably would have started anywhere else in the country. He waited his turn and supported Mark and really was the ultimate teammate.”

Instead of resenting Ingram, Richardson listened and learned from him. He tried to mimic Ingram’s cutting ability and quickness.

He learned how to read defenses better with extensive film sessions with Ingram and most of all; he learned to be humble as the go-to -guy. Ingram left Richardson with the wisdom of expecting to get a defense’s best each week and to overprepare in order to keep from getting complacent.

This weekend, complacency would hurt Richardson and Alabama’s offense. The Tide faces its toughest test thus far when No. 14 Arkansas comes to town. The Razorbacks have yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season and are allowing 87.7 rushing yards a game and 3.3 yards per carry.

Richardson said he expects to get the kitchen sink thrown his way from Arkansas’ defense. Not just because of the West implications or the overall talent Arkansas’ defense has, but the Hogs know firsthand how talented he is.

Richardson has averaged 75 yards in two games against Arkansas. Richardson knows this Arkansas team will be accounting for him on every play and come Saturday afternoon, he’ll be ready for it.

“I know they’re going to bring everything to me Saturday,” he said. “I know I have to be prepare because they’re going to be ready for me.”

It's time to take a look at the award in college football and who from the SEC might be up for that bad boy toward the end of the 2011 season.

That's right, folks, the SEC blog is tackling the Heisman Trophy. Don't worry, it's fine; it has a mean stiff-arm.

Three of the past four winners have come from the SEC. Three of the past four have been sophomores. Also, the SEC produced its first Heisman Trophy winners in back-to-back years when Cam Newton took home the award last season.

So what does that tell us? Pick a youngster from the South, and you should be fine in your Heisman pool.

Obviously, there is a lot of talent -- young and old -- in the SEC and a few players who have what it takes to win college football's most prestigious award.

Here are our five preseason SEC Heisman candidates (in alphabetical order, of course):

• Knile Davis, RB, Arkansas: Davis burst onto the scene with a stellar second half in 2010. After rushing for 294 yards on 44 carries through his first six games, Davis kicked it up considerably, averaging 146.9 yards per game in the final seven games. He dipped below the 100-yard mark just once in that span, and his next-lowest outputs were 110 and 139 yards. Davis can flat-out fly, and he showed at times that he can slip though with enough wiggle room or break a tackle here and there. Although Arkansas has a very pass-friendly offense, Davis will be a major part of the Razorbacks' game plan.
• Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: Jeffery proved to be the toughest receiver in the country to guard in one-on-one situations. At 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, he's like covering a fast linebacker out there. Jeffery was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to nation's top receiver, after leading the SEC with 88 receptions for 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns. Coach Steve Spurrier and quarterback Stephen Garcia said the thing that makes Jeffery so good is his ability to catch pretty much anything thrown his way. He has exceptional hands and a very impressive vertical that allows him to manhandle smaller defensive backs.
• Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina: Well, we have our sophomore from the SEC. I guess we can stop looking now. Lattimore had a monster freshman season. He was third in the league with 1,197 rushing yards and third with 17 rushing touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions for 412 yards and two more scores. Oh, and he was the unanimous choice for National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year, and was a first-team All-SEC member. He bulked up to 231 pounds heading into the spring but cut his 40 time down to 4.5. He wants to pack more of a punch for defenders while keeping his speed, and although boxes are likely to be stacked for him, he has the power and speed to break down defenses, no matter the numbers against him.
• Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia: Another sophomore makes the list and like Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford before him, he's a quarterback back -- and a darn good one at that. Murray has more touchdown passes from a year ago (24) than any other returning starter in the SEC and passed for a Georgia freshman record 3,049 yards (second in SEC history by a freshman) in 13 starts. He also rushed 87 times for 167 yards and four more scores, giving him the school and conference record for most total offensive yards (3,216) for a freshman. Murray will be without the talents of A.J. Green, but tight end Orson Charles and receiver Tavarres King should provide solid passing targets, plus Murray hopes to get use out of a few younger receivers as well.
• Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: Richardson finally takes the reins in Alabama's backfield, and in his first year as a starter, a lot will be expected of him. He has a rare combination of strength and speed, making him a tank of a track athlete. With a young, inexperienced quarterback joining him in the Tide's backfield, Richardson's number will be called on more than maybe Mark Ingram's was. As a backup for two seasons, Richardson rushed for 1,451 yards and 14 touchdowns, and there are people around the program who think Richardson might be a better all-around back than Ingram, who won the Heisman in 2009.

ESPN colleague Bruce Feldman took a stroll down Memory Lane Wednesday when he re-ranked the top 10 players in the 2008 recruiting class. The SEC had five members inside Feldman's top 10.

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck took the top spot after being ranked No. 61 overall by ESPN and the seventh-best quarterback prospect back in 2008. With what he did in his last two years, I don't think many will argue with Feldman there.

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson was the highest of the SEC players, coming in at No. 2 after ranking eighth when he came out of high school.

Peterson took away half of the field when he lined up at corner and was a dynamic kick returner. He might end up playing safety in the NFL, but he'll be a game changer on defense for years to come.

Here's Feldman's take:

A real freak athlete, the 6-1, 220-pound corner was the nation's No. 8 recruit and he more than lived up to that hype. Peterson won a starting job by the end of his freshman season in 2008, was all-SEC and made some All-America teams as a sophomore. He then won the Jim Thorpe and Chuck Bednarik awards and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010. The Cardinals drafted him fifth overall in April.

Next was Alabama running back Mark Ingram, who was third, moving all the way up from 109th.

The Heisman trophy winner was a total work horse in Tuscaloosa and his numbers would have been even better last season if he hadn't have suffered a knee injury before the year.

Here's Feldman's take:

It's fascinating to go through the collection of backs that ESPN had ranked higher in '08: Jermie Calhoun, Darrell Scott, Jamie Harper, Ryan Williams, Richard Samuel; Andre Ellington; Aundre Dean; Carlton Thomas; De'Anthony Curtis and Jonas Gray. A few transferred (Scott and Dean). A few now play other positions (Samuel and Curtis) and if you take out Williams, who had an outstanding 2009 season, you have a group that combined has run for around the same amount of yards and TDs -- 3,300 yards and 42 touchdowns -- as Ingram did in his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, in addition to winning the Tide's first Heisman Trophy. Not bad for the 12th ranked back or 109th overall recruit.

"That wasn't a great running back class," Luginbill said. "With Ingram, his style of play and the school he chose with the scheme they play couldn't have been more of a fit. It was a perfect marriage."

Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green kept the SEC streak alive, coming in at No. 4, which is one spot higher than his 2008 ranking.

What more can be said about Green? He never shied away from double teams and made awkward catches look easy. Despite missing the first four games of the season in 2010, he led the Bulldogs in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Here's Feldman's take;

The lanky South Carolina native had three QBs in three seasons at Georgia and he excelled with each of them, despite some nagging injuries and a four-game NCAA suspension in 2010. Green was equally adept at making the spectacular catch and the routine go-to play for the Dawgs. The Bengals just drafted him fourth overall.

Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus ranked sixth after being ranked the No. 39 defensive tackle prospect coming out of high school in 2008.

Dareus arrived on the mainstream college football scene when he had that nasty interception returned for a touchdown in the national championship. He was drafted No. 3 overall in this year's NFL draft and some thought he could have easily gone No. 1.

Here's Feldman's take:

The Crimson Tide had the No. 3 recruiting class, according to ESPN (behind Miami and Clemson), but Dareus wasn't a major reason for the lofty status. He was only touted as the No. 39 defensive tackle prospect in the country. Even die-hard college football fans probably hadn't heard of him until the BCS title game against Texas, when he knocked Colt McCoy out of the game and proceeded to dominate the Longhorns en route to winning MVP honors. Dareus was one of the few proven players on the 2010 Tide D, but when he was on the field he was a big impact guy. In his career, he finished with 20 tackles for loss and 11 sacks before leaving as the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Finally, Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones came in at No. 9 on Feldman's list, which is seven spots lower than where he was coming out of high school.

Jones was a freakish athlete during his three seasons with the Tide and while some questioned his on-field work ethic at times, he was easily Alabama's best receiver in each year he was in Tuscaloosa. His work ethic certainly wasn't challenged when he went through the NFL combine with a broken foot this year.

Here's Feldman's take:

A big, strong wideout with every bit as much athleticism as Green, Jones was ranked a tad higher than Green, coming in at No. 2 overall in 2008. Jones became the first true freshman receiver to ever start the opener for the Crimson Tide. In 2009, he helped Bama to a national title. Last season, he had his best year, catching 78 passes for 1,133 yards. At the NFL combine he put on quite the display, notching the longest broad jump and the third-fastest 40-yard dash time among the receiver group and did so despite having a broken bone in his foot. The Falcons traded the kitchen sink to get him at No. 6 in the draft.

In the case of Alabama junior running back Trent Richardson, weight room numbers tell just part of the story when you start to dissect what a freak of nature physically he truly is.

Ask his teammates about him and watch them gasp in amazement.

“You ever seen him with his shirt off?” asks Alabama center William Vlachos. “It’s scary.”

Offensive guard Barrett Jones adds, “You look at him, and the guy is a freak. You watch him work out, and he’s one of the strongest human beings I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to see what he does this year on the field.”

Richardson, who steps in as Alabama’s feature back now that Mark Ingram has departed for the NFL, doesn’t necessarily want to be known as a “Workout Warrior.” He wants to be known as one of the best players in college football and somebody who helped lead his team to championships.

That said, he concedes that the weight room in a lot of ways is his sanctuary.

“I feel lost if I don’t work out,” Richardson said. “It’s a part of me. It’s who I am. I’ve got to do something extra every day. I don’t care what it is. Maybe it’s wrestling my brother, but I’ve got to do something. If I don’t, I feel like something’s missing.”

Richardson’s exploits in the weight room are the stuff of legend at Alabama.

For starters, you’re talking about a 225-pound guy who’s run a 10.4 in the 100 meters and a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash.

If he sees a sliver of daylight, he’s gone.

But he combines that speed with brute strength and explosive power.

You see, Richardson doesn’t know for sure how high he could go on some of the weight-room lifts at Alabama.

He said the Alabama strength staff stopped him at 465 pounds on the bench-press.

“They didn’t want me straining anything,” Richardson explained. “But I wonder what I could do for real.”

The same goes for squats and the power clean. Richardson said he wasn’t allowed to go higher than 600 pounds on squats and “did that easy.”

He’s gone all the way up to 365 pounds on the power clean, but added, “I was doing right around that in high school.”

He said his vertical jump is 36 inches, and he possesses just 6 percent body fat.

“I don’t feel like I’m a weight-lifter,” Richardson said. “I’m a football player who has natural strength, crazy strength, really. I’ve got a lot of God-given talent, and it’s up to me to build on that talent and get the most out of it.

“That’s why you never stop working, and you never think you’ve done enough.”

Even though he was banged up with an assortment of injuries last season, Richardson averaged 6.2 yards per carry and was second only to Kentucky’s Randall Cobb in the SEC in all-purpose yards per game (145.5).

One of the things that makes Richardson such a specimen is his blend of power and speed. He’s a bruising runner who’s adept at making yards after contact, and yet, he’s also a burner when he gets on the outside.

And while Richardson doesn’t think there are many players in the SEC who could beat him in a straight-up race, he jokes that there’s one who definitely could.

“I thought I was pretty fast, and then I went up against my boy, Jeff Demps, in a high school track meet,” Richardson said. “The race started, and I kept up with him for a couple meters and was thinking, ‘He doesn’t look that fast. I’m in this race.’

“But just like that, he pulled away and was celebrating before he finished. Now, that is one fast dude.”

Indeed he is, but Richardson is one freakish dude in his own right.

2010 overall record: 10-3

2010 conference record: 5-3

Returning starters

Offense: 7; Defense: 9; Kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

RB Trent Richardson, OG Barrett Jones, C William Vlachos, OT D.J. Fluker, WR Marquis Maze, LB Courtney Upshaw, LB Dont’a Hightower, S Mark Barron
Key losses

QB Greg McElroy, RB Mark Ingram, OT James Carpenter, WR Julio Jones, TE Preston Dial, DE Marcell Dareus, LB Chavis Williams

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Mark Ingram (875 yards)

Passing: Greg McElroy (2,987 yards)

Receiving: Julio Jones (1,133 yards)

Tackles: Mark Barron* (75)

Sacks: Courtney Upshaw* (7)

Interceptions: Robert Lester* (8)

Spring answers

1. Trent’s time: Mark Ingram is gone, so Alabama’s backfield belongs to junior Trent Richardson. While Ingram might have won a Heisman Trophy two years ago, there are some who feel Richardson might be a better all-around running back. He’s a step faster than Ingram and is one of the Tide’s strongest players, regardless of position. This spring, Richardson made it a point to not only improve his game on the field but became more of a leader. With Alabama breaking in a young quarterback this season, Richardson showed everyone that he felt comfortable putting the offense on his shoulders. Richardson is more than ready to be the feature back in the Tide’s offense.

2. Linebacker revival: Everyone knew how talented Alabama’s linebacker corps was in 2010, but there were times when the group showed its inexperience and looked confused. This spring, the linebackers appeared to be one of the strengths of the defense. Making things better for the Tide – and worse for opponents – is the health of Courtney Upshaw and Dont’a Hightower. Upshaw’s nagging ankle injury disappeared and Hightower seems to finally be back to 100 percent after suffering a serious knee injury in 2009. Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosely looked even better this spring and will get solid time in the middle when Hightower is on the outside. Vast improvements were made by Chris Jordan, and Jerrell Harris should get playing time as well this fall.

3. Receivers don’t miss a beat: If you haven’t figured it out by now, Julio Jones is gone. That evidence was made a harsh reality when the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. Fortunately for the Tide, there is still some talent left at the wide receiver position. Seniors Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks had solid springs. Neither can fully replace Jones’s ability on the field, but each should be a formidable matchup for defenders. Fellow senior Brandon Gibson is looking to finally breakout on offense, while newcomers Kenny Bell and Keiwone Malone made strong impressions this spring. Alabama will add junior college transfer Duron Carter before fall camp.

Fall questions

1. Youth at quarterback: It’s not the worst situation for the Tide to be in because both contenders to direct the offense are talented. Sophomore A.J. McCarron and freshman Phillip Sims battled it out this spring, but neither took the edge heading into the offseason. Both showed they were talented enough to command the offense and pretty strong leadership skills. However, they're inexperienced. Sims redshirted last fall, while McCarron played sparingly. Talent is one thing, but no one is quite sure how each will respond when they line up against opposing SEC defenses away from Tuscaloosa.

2. Sore secondary: Alabama’s secondary suffered in 2010. Though Mark Barron and Robert Lester return, the Tide secondary had trouble staying healthy this spring. Barron, Jarrick Williams, Dre Kirkpatrick and Nick Perry all dealt with injuries. The coaches and players expect experience and maturity to fuel the secondary, but it’s hard to say how the unit will perform without seeing what it could do as a whole this spring. There’s no doubt this group is equipped with future NFL talent, but without going through most of spring drills, we’ll have to wait and see what happens when everything is live.

3. Putting it all together: I’m sure coach Nick Saban isn’t going to let the hype get to his football team this season. Last season, Alabama was expected to make back-to-back trips to the national title game, but three losses kept the team in sunny Florida during bowl season. This season, the expectations are greater, and the Tide’s veteran quarterback and Heisman-winning running back aren’t even around. Will this team be as good as advertised? This team still has to play LSU and Arkansas, who will be contending for the West title. Fortunately, Alabama gets both at home. Obviously, everyone in the SEC is gunning for the Tide, but will Alabama have enough stamina (mentally and physically) to hold up this time?

Now that the NFL draft is over, I thought it'd be fun to take a look at how last year's first-round predictions turned out.

Shortly after the 2010 NFL draft, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay predicted the SEC would have eight selections in the first round in his first 2011 mock draft . He ended up being pretty close as the SEC had 10 players go in the first round.

He also had Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck going first, which probably would have been the case if he had decided to enter the draft. Instead, he opted to stay in school and Auburn's Cam Newton was taken by the Carolina Panthers with the first pick.

McShay was close with his Marcell Dareus pick. He wrote that the Alabama defensive tackle would go second to the St. Louis Rams, but Dareus went third to the Buffalo Bills.

He also had Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallet going 15th to the San Francisco 49ers and Ole Miss defensive tackle Jerrell Powe landing with the Denver Broncos at No. 13. Mallett was taken by the New England Patriots in the third round, while Powe was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in sixth.

Making these predictions isn't easy, so it's pretty impressive that he was able to predict six of his eight players to go in the first round.

Here's what McShay predicted in 2010:

• No. 2, St. Louis Rams: Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus
• No. 7, New England Patriots: Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green
• No. 13, Denver Broncos: Ole Miss defensive tackle Jerrell Powe
• No. 15, San Francisco 49ers: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett
• No. 19, New York Giants: Alabama running back Mark Ingram
• No. 24, Cincinnati Bengals: Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones
• No. 27, Baltimore Ravens: LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson
• No. 31, Indianapolis Colts: Florida offensive guard/center Mike Pouncey

And here's how the first round turned out:

• No. 1, Carolina Panthers: Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
• No. 3, Buffalo Bills: Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus
• No. 4, Cincinnati Bengals: Georgia receiver A.J. Green
• No. 5, Arizona Cardinals: LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson
• No. 6, Atlanta Falcons: Alabama receiver Julio Jones
• No. 13, Detroit Lions: Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley
• No. 15, Miami Dolphins: Florida offensive guard/center Mike Pouncey
• No. 25, Seattle Seahawks: Alabama offensive guard James Carpenter
• No. 28, New Orleans Saints: Alabama running back Mark Ingram
• No. 32, Green Bay Packers: Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod

The first round of the 2011 NFL draft on Thursday night had a definitive SEC flavor to it.

It opened with an SEC player being selected and then closed several hours later with an SEC player being selected.

All told, there were 10 players from the SEC taken in the first round, which was one shy of the league record set in 2007.

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was the No. 1 pick overall and went to the Carolina Panthers. It’s the third time in the past five drafts that the SEC has produced the top overall pick. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford went No. 1 overall to the Detroit Lions in 2009, and LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell went No. 1 overall to the Oakland Raiders in 2007.

Here’s a quick rundown of the 10 SEC first-round selections:

• No. 1, Carolina Panthers – Auburn quarterback Cam Newton
• No. 3, Buffalo Bills – Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus
• No. 4, Cincinnati Bengals – Georgia receiver A.J. Green
• No. 5, Arizona Cardinals – LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson
• No. 6, Atlanta Falcons – Alabama receiver Julio Jones
• No. 13, Detroit Lions – Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley
• No. 15, Miami Dolphins – Florida offensive guard/center Mike Pouncey
• No. 25, Seattle Seahawks – Alabama offensive guard James Carpenter
• No. 28, New Orleans Saints – Alabama running back Mark Ingram
• No. 32, Green Bay Packers – Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod

The SEC has had five picks in the top 20 of the first round five straight years now.

Newton became the eighth SEC quarterback to be drafted in the first round in the past 10 years.

One of the biggest surprises of the first round was Carpenter going 25^th to the Seahawks. Carpenter played left tackle at Alabama the past two seasons and was thought to be more of a second-round selection. But he helped himself at the Senior Bowl by showing that he could also play guard.

Fairley, the No. 5 prospect on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper’s Big Board, dropped to 13^th and was taken by the Lions. Fairley will be paired in Detroit with 2010 rookie of the year Ndamukong Suh.

Sherrod had to wait until the final pick of the first round to hear his name called. But in going 32^nd overall to the Packers, he ended a long drought for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs had gone 14 straight years without a first-round pick.

Alabama became the first team in the SEC to produce four first-round NFL draft selections since Auburn did it in 2005.

Over the past three years, Alabama has produced seven first-rounders, the most in the SEC. That’s after going eight years in a row without any first-round selections.

Nick Saban has now recruited and signed 15 players during his nine seasons as an SEC head coach who’ve gone on to become first-round selections. He was responsible for signing all nine of LSU’s first-round choices from 2004-09 and signed six of Alabama’s seven first-rounders over the past three years.

Tennessee was shut out of the first round for the first time since 2005. The Vols were the only team in the SEC that had produced a first-rounder each of the past five years prior to Thursday night’s festivities.

The draft resumes on Friday night with the second and third rounds.

Among those SEC players expected to get a call Friday are Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb, Georgia outside linebacker Justin Houston, Georgia inside linebacker Akeem Dent, Georgia offensive guard Clint Boling, LSU inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, Auburn offensive tackle Lee Ziemba, Florida offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and Tennessee tight end Luke Stocker.

ESPN's Mel Kiper has unveiled his final NFL mock draft, and if he's right, get ready to hear a bunch of SEC players' names right away on Thursday night from Radio City Music Hall.

Kiper is predicting that five of the first six picks in the draft will be SEC players, led by Auburn quarterback Cam Newton going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers.

The only non-SEC player in Kiper's top six is Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller going No. 2 to the Denver Broncos.

After that, Kiper has Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus going No. 3 to the Buffalo Bills, Georgia receiver A.J. Green going No. 4 to the Cincinnati Bengals, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson going No. 5 to the Arizona Cardinals and Alabama receiver Julio Jones going No. 6 to the Cleveland Browns.

Also in the top 10, Kiper projects that Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley will go No. 8 to the Tennessee Titans.

That would be six SEC players in the top 10 picks, which would be a record.

The SEC has produced four of the top 10 players in the draft on two different occasions. In 2008, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden went No. 4, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey No. 5, Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey No. 8 and Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo No. 10. In 2005, Auburn running back Ronnie Brown went No. 2, Auburn running back Cadillac Williams No. 5, South Carolina receiver Troy Williamson No. 7 and Auburn cornerback Carlos Rogers No. 9.

Overall, Kiper has nine SEC players going in the first round this year. The SEC record for first-rounders is 11, which was set in 2007.

Rounding out the SEC players projected to go in the first round, Kiper has Florida offensive center/guard Mike Pouncey going No. 15 to the Miami Dolphins, Alabama running back Mark Ingram going No. 28 to the New England Patriots and Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod going No. 29 to the Chicago Bears.