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David Ching writes: UGA has beefed up the payroll for its strength & conditioning coaches, and Joe Tereshinski continues to lead the (speedier) charge.

Ching : As Georgia's new associate director of strength and conditioning, former All-American track star Sherman Armstrong's focus will be specific to improving the Bulldogs' speed skills.

Kipp Adams writes : UGA offers California juco TE Beau Sandland.

Kipp Adams writes : Last year, Nike’s The Opening rocketed to 'premier event' status in its debut. Alumni from the Peach State explain why the next round of top-tier players from Georgia should make an invitation their goal.

David Ching writes: Redshirt freshman Devin Bowman makes up for lost time and throws his hat in the ring at cornerback.

Ching : Spring practice report, Day 9.

Ching : Christian LeMay gets comfy at QB.

Aaron Murray would prefer to throw the ball to Malcolm Mitchell rather than by him. But he doesn’t have much of a choice this spring.

Mitchell, who shined during his freshman season at wide receiver with Georgia last year, was moved to cornerback this spring in order to help out with the lack of depth at the position.

“Obviously, it’d be great to have Malcolm play offense and defense, but I don’t think that’s humanly possible to be in that great of shape,” Murray said. “His main goal is to do what’s best for the team, and everyone supports him.”

The move certainly helps the defense, but it takes one of the SEC’s best receiving weapons from one of the SEC’s best passers. Losing Mitchell stings, but Murray thinks the Bulldogs are equipped with the talent to replace Mitchell if he stays on defense this fall.

For starters, Murray will have senior-to-be Tavarres King back on the field. King was expected to be the go-to guy in Georgia’s passing game last season, until Mitchell burst onto the scene. King caught 47 passes for 705 yards and eight touchdowns last season, and had a monster game in Georgia’s bowl loss to Michigan State. King grabbed six catches for 205 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception.

Murray said King’s confidence level has soared since the bowl game, and that King has looked “awesome” in preseason workouts and during spring practice. Murray said he thinks he and King are clicking better than ever right now.

“I don’t think he’s dropped a ball at all in the past two months that I’ve been throwing with him,” Murray said.

But King isn’t the only player standing out to Murray. Rising redshirt sophomore Michael Bennett has picked up where he left off in 2011. After catching 32 passes last season, Bennett has only gotten better, Murray said, with his rout running and field awareness. Chris Conley is dealing with a wrist injury this spring, but Murray said he thinks he’ll improve on his 16-catch, 288-yard performance last season.

Youngster Justin Scott-Wesley also took time between track practice to work with Murray and other receivers before spring practice. He obviously brings more speed to the receiver position, but is starting to get more comfortable with the mental side of things.

Then there are the old guys, who Murray thinks can make one last impact on this team in 2012.

Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten have been in Athens a while, but have yet to really show their full potential in their three years. Murray said Brown is almost a different player with the way he prepares and the way he’s looked during workouts. Wooten is someone who has always had the physical tools to succeed, and Murray can sense that he’s putting everything together.

This spring is big for Murray and his receiving corps when it comes to bonding and creating better chemistry, but Murray doesn’t seem too worried about the crop of players he’s working with.

“We have plenty of weapons that are ready to go,” he said.

Schedule: Georgia begins spring practice March 20 and concludes with the G-Day Game, 2 p.m. ET April 14 at Sanford Stadium.

What's new: For the first time in a long time, the Bulldogs enter spring ball without any coaching changes. Georgia let its coaches know how much the 2011 season meant by giving extensions to head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The Bulldogs also went through mat drills before spring practice, something they didn't do last year. Georgia welcomed three early enrollees in running back Keith Marshall, quarterback Faton Bauta and junior college offensive lineman Mark Beard.

On the mend: Wide receiver Chris Conley could be limited this spring with a wrist injury. Also, outside linebacker/defensive end Sterling Bailey had foot surgery in December and could be limited. Receiver Rantavious Wooten is coming off of a season in which he battled concussion symptoms for most of the year after being in a car accident, but he's expected to be completely recovered this spring.

On the move: One of the biggest moves in the SEC revolves around receiver Malcolm Mitchell. After quite the freshman season, Mitchell will work at cornerback this spring, because Georgia's numbers there are so low. Mitchell was one of the best in the conference at receiver in 2011, but with Georgia needing more help at cornerback, he could see more playing time on defense rather than offense this fall. Bailey was listed as an outside linebacker last season, but there's a chance that he could move to defensive end this spring. Ray Drew will also get more reps at defensive end, after playing outside linebacker last fall. He's likely to get more reps than Bailey, considering he played more and Bailey is recovering from surgery. Richard Samuel, who moved back to running back from linebacker last fall, could get reps at fullback as well.

Questions: The cornerback spot will be very thin heading into the 2012 season. Thanks to attrition, dismissals and suspensions, Mitchell moved to corner. There is starting experience, but depth is an issue, and Sander Commings has been suspended for the first two games. With Commings and Branden Smith the only vets, Georgia will have to rely on youngsters will little experience this spring. Damian Swann, Devin Bowman and Blake Sailors will have to grow up fast. The offensive line lost starters Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Justin Anderson, and returns zero seniors this season. All 14 who will partake in spring practice are underclassmen. The good news is that there is depth, and a lot of players can play different positions, but it's a pretty inexperienced group. Chris Burnette, Kenarious Gates and Dallas Lee all started games last season, but they'll have to coach up a lot of younger players this spring. And you can't forget about the running back spot. Isaiah Crowell has vowed to work harder, and has had the most time since he arrived to be healthy, so a big spring is expected. He'll need it, with Marshall on campus and ready to see a lot some time this fall.

Getting defensive: The Bulldogs return nine defensive starters from a unit that ranked fifth nationally last season. Those returners include the SEC's top sack man in linebacker Jarvis Jones. Complementing Jones on what is arguably the SEC's top linebacking unit are Alec Oglreetree, Cornelius Washington, and Mike Gilliard. The massive John Jenkins is back at nose guard, and Abry Jones, who is coming off a solid 2011, is back at end. There certainly are questions in the secondary, but having starters Bacarri Rambo, Shawn Williams, Smith, and eventually Commings, will help tremendously

Don't forget about: With defense being in Mitchell's future, Georgia's offense will take a hit, but the Bulldogs aren't without bodies at receiver. Mitchell is easily Georgia's best receiver, but there is still some good talent behind him. Tavarres King hopes his bowl performance is a springboard for this season. He didn't put up stellar numbers, but became a more reliable target in the second half of the season. Then you have Michael Bennett, who really came on as a third option at receiver, catching 32 passes and five touchdowns. Conley will be limited, but proved to be a trusted target last season. Of course, Wooten and Marlon Brown are still looking to put everything together, but time is ticking for these two vets. It's time for them to step up this spring, and the coaches feel both have the physical tools and understand the offense enough to make it happen.

Breaking out: Brown appears to be the healthiest he's been since arriving in Athens. The coaches have been waiting and waiting for him to step up and be a force in the passing game, but he's been so off-and-on during his career. He enters the spring with high expectations from the coaching staff, and his quarterback, Aaron Murray, has a lot of confidence in him. Tight ends Jay Rome and Arthur Lynch are players who could break through this spring, especially with Mitchell working on defense. Rome and Lynch will be looking to replace Orson Charles' production. Running back Ken Malcolme is another player to keep an eye on. His attitude has changed, and he will push to be the second or third running back. Defensively, linebacker Cornelius Washington is another players the coaches hope elevates his play this spring and finally reaches his potential.

All eyes on: Murray is coming off two seasons in which he broke Georgia passing records, but the redshirt junior still hears some criticism. His play in big games has been called into question because of the mistakes he's made. Georgia opened the season with two losses against ranked teams, and ended the season that way. In Murray's past four games, he threw eight touchdowns and six interceptions, including two interceptions in the SEC title-game loss against LSU, and two in the Outback Bowl loss to Michigan State. Improving the little things and trusting those around him more will help Murray tremendously this spring. He'll also have the responsibility of making sure this team is mentally ready for all the hype and the spotlight that will come with a team that will surely be a favorite in the SEC East this fall.

Now that you've seen the recruiting needs for the SEC Western Division teams, it's time to check what teams in the East needed to focus on when it came to recruiting for the 2012 class:

FLORIDA

Offensive line: There's no getting around how much Florida's offensive line struggled in 2011. Florida doesn't lose a lot from its line, but the Gators need more talent. There are a lot of questions surrounding this position and getting qualities bodies is a must.

Running back: Florida loses seniors Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, and will enter the fall with unproven players in Mike Gillislee and Mack Brown. As Florida continues to move closer to a more traditional/pro-style offense, the Gators also need to add size to the position.

Wide receiver: Again, this is a position in which the Gators need to improve in the talent category. Florida lost just one senior from last year's squad, but unproven players lurk. What Florida needs to get in this class is a true playmaker at receiver. There is hope that Quinton Dunbar, Andre Debose and Frankie Hammond can step up, but some solid competition won't hurt.

GEORGIA

Offensive line: Georgia loses three starters in Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones and Justin Anderson. The Bulldogs would like to add a few more big bodies up front in this class to help with all that unproven depth.

Linebacker: In Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense, linebackers are extremely important. The Bulldogs will likely lose a couple bodies at outside linebacker next year, including star Jarvis Jones, and would like to add a couple of true playmakers at that position in this class.

Wide receiver: Come 2013, Georgia will have taken some hits at its wide receiver depth. There is young talent in Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Conley and Michael Bennett, but veterans like Tavarres King, Marlon Brown and Rantavious Wooten will be gone. Adding a couple standouts at wide receiver in this class would be nice.

KENTUCKY

Offensive playmakers: Whether it comes at quarterback, wide receiver, running back or tight end, the Wildcats need to find players who can make plays when they get the ball in their hands. Kentucky's offense was hard to watch all season because there was no one who could consistently move the ball.

Offensive line: Kentucky loses three starters -- Chandler Burden, Stuart Hines and Billy Joe Murphy -- from its offensive line and needs to load up here in this class. There is a handful of young players at each offensive line position, but the Wildcats need to think about adding more for the future.

Defensive back: Veterans are leaving the Wildcats' secondary, so it's time to stock up. Winston Guy, Taiedo Smith, Randall Burden and Anthony Mosley will all be gone, meaning the Wildcats are in need of adding some depth to both the cornerback and safety positions.

MISSOURI

Running back: Leading rusher Henry Josey suffered a severe knee injury toward the end of the 2011 season and the Tigers have some veterans jam packed at the top of the depth chart at the position. Getting help to add to future rosters would really help this offense as it moves to the SEC.

Defensive line: The Tigers are losing three starters along the defensive line and 10 players from 2011 will be gone by the end of next season. There are some youngsters there, but it's time to getting into restocking mode along the defensive line. Also, this is where games are won and lost in the SEC. Finding more athleticism here is crucial.

Offensive line: Like the defensive line, Missouri will lose three starters here. There are some bodies to fill in for now, but you can never have too many offensive linemen and now that the Tigers are headed to the SEC, getting some bigger, more athletic linemen will be key to survival in this jungle.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Defensive line: The Gamecocks have gotten a ton of production from here lately, but South Carolina will lose two starters in Melvin Ingram and Travian Robertson. South Carolina might want to add to defensive end the most, with Ingram leaving and Devin Taylor getting ready to depart in a year.

Linebacker: Over the next two years, the Gamecocks will lose some quality players at linebacker and even the spur position. A handful of veterans occupy the depth chart at linebacker, so that means South Carolina needs to add a few quality bodies for the future.

Defensive back: South Carolina's depth in its defensive backfield could be considered thin. The Gamecocks are down two starters at cornerback and will lose solid players in D.J. Swearinger and DeVonte Holloman in 2013.

TENNESSEE

Running back: The Vols never figured out how to run the ball last year and will now turn to a group of unproven running backs. Marlin Lane has the talent to excel, but he needs to be more consistent. Finding a couple talented backs in this class would help this position tremendously.

Defensive tackle: The Vols need some help inside, and now that they are moving to the 3-4, getting quality nose guards is a must for Tennessee. Adding some girth inside will be very important in order to improving this position.

Defensive back: Tennessee will say goodbye to quite a bit of their defensive backs in the next couple of years, so getting a head start on adding to players to both safety and corner would be a plus.

VANDERBILT

Offensive line: The Commodores return the bulk of their offensive line next year, but after that, Vanderbilt will be pretty thin and very young up front. Adding four or five bodies to the offensive line would go a long way for Vanderbilt.

Linebacker: Vanderbilt loses one starter, in Chris Marve, here for next season, but the year after will see a lot of turnover at the position, with four rising seniors on the roster.

Defensive end: Two starters — Tim Fugger and T.J. Greenstone — are gone and Vanderbilt will lose a handful more after the 2012 season. Getting some help at this position is another must for coach James Franklin.

Checking out the SEC with some links.

• LSU safety Eric Reid is almost back to full speed after partially tearing his quadriceps against Ole Miss on Nov. 19.
• Mississippi State's coaches are still counting on quarterback Tyler Russell to play in the Music City Bowl against Wake Forest, despite his knee injury.
• Arkansas wide receiver Jarius Wright is close to wrapping up his record-setting season and career.
• Alabama's injured roster is slowly returning back to form just in time for the Allstate BCS National Championship Game.
• Ole Miss associate head coach and wide receivers coach Gunter Brewer is leaving to join Larry Fedora's staff at North Carolina.
• Running backs coach Brian White is using Florida's bowl game as an audition for the Gators' offensive coordinator job.
• Auburn coach Gene Chizik indicates that he might wait until after the Chick-fil-A Bowl to hire his new offensive and defensive coordinators.
• After growing up a fan of Michigan State, Georgia wide receiver Michael Bennett is dropping his fandom for the bowl game against the Spartans.

In keeping with our freshmen theme, here's a look at the 10 best redshirt freshmen this season in the SEC.

They're listed alphabetically:

Michael Bennett, WR, Georgia: Bennett tied for second on Georgia’s team with five touchdown catches and had 31 catches overall.

Chris Boyd, WR, Vanderbilt: He used his 6-4, 205-pound frame to haul in a team-leading seven touchdown catches for the Commodores.

A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina: After a productive offseason in the weight room, Cann emerged this season as a fixture at left guard for the Gamecocks.

Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina: On loan from the Gamecocks’ basketball team, Ellington was second on the football team with 707 all-purpose yards.

Kaleb Eulls, DE, Mississippi State: A big part of the Bulldogs’ rotation up front, Eulls collected three tackles for loss, including a sack.

Chaz Green, OT, Florida: A starter in eight games, Green played both left tackle and right tackle for the Gators.

DeAndrew White, WR, Alabama: The best is yet to come for the speedy White, who caught 14 passes this season, including a pair of touchdowns.

Jawara White, LB, Auburn: White was one of several young linebackers seeing action for the Tigers. He had 23 total tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

Ralph Williams, LB, Ole Miss: Part of an extremely young Ole Miss defense, Williams was seventh on the team with 49 total tackles, including four for loss.

Brad Wing, P, LSU: One of the top punters in the country, Wing averaged 44.1 yards per kick and had 23 of his 50 punts downed inside the 20. He was the difference in LSU’s 9-6 overtime win against Alabama.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Florida leads No. 22 Georgia 17-10 at the half Saturday at EverBank Field.

Here's a quick halftime analysis:

Turning point: Florida looked like it might go into the half up 17-3 and had dominated the game up until that point. But Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree, playing in his first game since the opener, forced Chris Rainey to fumble, and Bacarri Rambo recovered at the Florida 25. The Bulldogs capitalized when Aaron Murray lobbed one up for Michael Bennett on a fourth-and-5 play, and Bennett pulled in a 20-yard touchdown with 1:28 to play.

Stat of the half: Florida quarterback John Brantley, making his return to the lineup, threw for 226 yards in the first half. That's 2 yards fewer than the Gators threw in their last two games combined.

Stat of the half II: Each team lost a turnover in the first half. But in the previous three games in this series, all Florida wins, the Gators held a 12-1 advantage in turnover ratio.

Player of the half: Brantley was 10-of-20 passing for 226 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Reed.

Best call: After missing a field goal on its opening possession, Florida decided to go for it on fourth-and-19 in the first quarter, and Brantley hit Reed on a 31-yard touchdown pass.

A pair of SEC players -- Alabama quarterback Phillip Sims and LSU defensive lineman Ego Ferguson -- made ESPN colleague Bruce Feldman’s national list of impact redshirt freshmen for next season.

I’ve come up with 12 more redshirt freshmen in the SEC to keep an eye on for 2011. They’re listed alphabetically:

Michael Bennett, WR, Georgia: With A.J. Green and Kris Durham departing, the Bulldogs are looking for more playmakers at receiver, and the 6-3, 202-pound Bennett is a terrific athlete with the ability to go up and get the football.

Ferlando Bohanna, LB, Mississippi State: All three starting linebackers from a year ago are gone, including the Bulldogs’ two tackle leaders, Chris White and K.J. Wright. The 6-foot, 235-pound Bohanna has the size and speed to step in and be a starter.

A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina: Steve Spurrier talked like Cann might have a chance to play as a true freshman. The Gamecocks are losing four senior offensive linemen who made starts last season, which means Cann will get his shot in 2011.

Ed Christian, OG, Auburn: Four spots are up for grabs in the Tigers’ offensive with the four senior starters departing. Christian may end up battling another redshirt freshman, Eric Mack, for one of the starting guard jobs.

Chris Dunkley, WR, Florida: The Gators are looking for anybody on the perimeter who can make plays, and Dunkley showed a lot of promise last season and would have played as a true freshman had he not been saddled with hamstring problems.

Brandon Gainer, TB, Kentucky: The weight room has been good to Gainer, who’s bulked up to more than 215 pounds. He was pushing to play last season, but was slowed by injury. With Derrick Locke gone, the Wildcats need Gainer to make a move next season.

Victor Hampton, CB, South Carolina: Ellis Johnson, South Carolina’s assistant coach for the defense, is putting out an APB for anybody who can help improve the Gamecocks’ pass coverage. Hampton had some issues off the field before he got to South Carolina, but is plenty talented.

Chris Martin, LB, Florida: After originally signing with California, the 6-4, 240-pound Martin decided to transfer to Florida and was required to sit out and redshirt last season. He was a terror on the Gators’ scout team and will be a big addition to their defense in 2011.

Trovon Reed, WR, Auburn: A knee injury that followed him from high school was the only thing that kept Reed off the field last season. He drew rave reviews during the preseason when he did practice and is a perfect fit for Gus Malzahn’s offense.

Vincent Sanders, WR, Ole Miss: One of the Rebels’ highest profile signees a year ago, the 6-3, 180-pound Sanders will be counted on to add some pop to the deep passing game. Ole Miss needs its receivers to make more plays down the field next season, especially with Markeith Summers gone.

Ronnie Vinson, CB, LSU: An injury sidelined Vinson after playing in the first three games last season, and LSU is listing him as a redshirt freshman in 2011. The Tigers have a bundle of young talent in their secondary, and Vinson is right there at the top.

DeAndrew White, WR, Alabama: In offseason workouts a year ago, White impressed several of his older teammates. With Julio Jones turning pro, the Crimson Tide will be looking for help for Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks, and White is ready to provide that help.