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As productive as Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks was last season, he was overshadowed by some of the SEC’s other cornerbacks.

That’s going to happen when you play in the same league as Morris Claiborne, Tyrann Mathieu, Dre Kirkpatrick, DeQuan Menzie, Casey Hayward, Stephon Gilmore and Brandon Boykin.

“I felt like I was right up there with those guys, and this year, I know I’m going to be up there,” said Banks, who decided to return for his senior season after weighing his NFL draft options. “But, really, it doesn’t matter what I think. All that matters is how I play and how much I help my team get back to being where we think we should be.”

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Banks did his part a year ago and then some. He finished third in the SEC with 14 passes defended and tied for fourth with five interceptions. He also had 71 total tackles, including eight for loss, and led the Bulldogs with three forced fumbles.

He was the only cornerback in the SEC last season with at least 70 tackles and five interceptions.

“Maybe I can do more this year, if that’s what it takes,” said Banks, who was a second-team All-SEC selection in 2011. “But we have a defense coming back that I think can be even better than we were last year. We’ve got just about our whole secondary back, and it hurts to lose Fletcher (Cox). But I’m excited to see what some of these new guys are going to do on the field. From what I’ve seen, I think Quay Evans and Denico Autry are going to live up to the hype.”

Evans, a 6-3, 305-pound tackle, was an ESPNU 150 member and rated as the No. 13 tackle prospect in the country. He enrolled early and will go through spring practice, which was scheduled to begin Thursday afternoon but has been postponed due to weather concerns. The 6-5, 260-pound Autry was rated as one of the top junior college defensive ends in the country.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who can play football, and that’s one of the reasons I came back,” Banks said. “Some of the redshirt freshmen like (linebacker) Bernardrick McKinney and (cornerback) Taveze Calhoun are going to make an impact on this defense.”

Banks grew up in Maben, Miss., a tiny town about 20 miles west of Starkville. It’s where he learned to ride horses, one of his many interests. He also aspires to be a state highway patrolman once his football career is over, which is appropriate given the way he locks down on receivers.

“Football’s not going to be there forever,” Banks said.

Mississippi State was the only major school to offer him a scholarship. Ole Miss sent him several letters, but Banks is quick to note that the Rebels never offered him a scholarship.

“Mississippi State was the only one, and that means something,” Banks said. “It still does. I want to make sure I give as much back as possible before I leave this place.”

He jokes that the reason no other schools outside the state of Mississippi offered him a scholarship is because nobody could find him. The population of Maben isn’t even 1,000, and Banks played at Class A East Webster High School.

“If you put Maben on a GPS, you still wouldn’t find it,” Banks said. “I didn’t go to a lot of camps, either, so a lot of people just didn’t know about me.”

He was also rail-thin when he came out of high school and looked more like a basketball player than an SEC football player.

But having spent three years now in Matt Balis’ strength and conditioning program, Banks has added weight and strength to his 6-2 frame. His height, not to mention his long arms, comes in handy when he’s shadowing receivers.

Banks also has excellent closing speed and knows what to do with the ball once he gets it in his hands. He’s returned three of his 12 career interceptions for touchdowns. He’s also pretty crafty when it comes to baiting quarterbacks to throw his way.

“I’ve worked hard this offseason to get better at some of the things I wasn’t as good at,” said Banks, who needs five interceptions to pass Walt Harris as Mississippi State’s all-time leader in interceptions. “I still need to be more physical, and I still need to get better at studying tape. I’m going to be a better student of the game.”

Banks also plans on going out the right way.

Even though the Bulldogs won their second straight bowl game a year ago, the first time that’s happened since 1999 and 2000, he was far from satisfied with the 7-6 record. The Bulldogs were 9-4 the year before, sending expectations sky-high.

“We have a chip on our shoulder,” Banks said. “Last year was pretty much a disappointment for us and our fans. We just didn’t have that edge for every game.

“We’ve got that dog back in us now, and I think it’s going to show on the field.”

Mississippi State seeks a victory at the Music City Bowl to record back-to-back winning seasons.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-6) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-6)

Dec. 30, 6:40 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Mississippi State take from SEC blogger Edward Aschoff: After the 2010 season, in which the Bulldogs had their first nine-win season since 1999, the expectations in Starkville skyrocketed.

Third-year coach Dan Mullen appeared to have enough returning on offense to continue riding that momentum. Losing a couple of key members to the front seven on defense was worrisome, but the offense was always supposed to lead the way.

After the first two weeks, the Bulldogs were averaging 588 yards and 46.5 points, but a goal-line stop of quarterback Chris Relf might have changed everything for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State came up less than a foot short of going to overtime against Auburn when Relf was stopped as time expired in a 41-34 heartbreaker.

The Bulldogs were never the same after that, as injuries hurt the offensive line and they lost three of their next five.

Mullen entered the season with only two wins against Western Division opponents, with both coming against Ole Miss. Nothing changed in 2011, as the Bulldogs’ only SEC wins came against Kentucky and the Rebels.

While the offense struggled throughout the season, Mississippi’s defense kept the Bulldogs in games for most of the year. By sweeping the nonconference schedule and blowing out Ole Miss at the end of the year, Mississippi State became bowl eligible for the second straight year under Mullen and will look to win its fifth straight bowl game.

---

Wake Forest take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: The Deacs had a disappointing finish to the season, losing four of their final five games. Considering they made it to the postseason following last season's 3-9 campaign, 2011 was a success.

Wake Forest was a much-improved team, and put itself in position to win the Atlantic Division title. Even more surprising was the fact that it came down to a last-second, game-winning field goal against Clemson, which clinched the division with the 31-28 win over the Deacs on Nov. 12. Wake Forest beat Maryland the following week to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2008, and will be making the program’s fifth bowl appearance in 11 years under coach Jim Grobe.

Much of Wake’s success this year can be attributed to the maturation of quarterback Tanner Price, and the development of several key players around him like receiver Chris Givens. Cornerback Merrill Noel was named the ACC’s defensive rookie of the year and he has 20 passes defended.

The Deacons have compiled a 6-3 (.667) record in their nine previous bowl appearances and are 3-1 in bowl games under Grobe. The Deacs have won five of their last six bowl games. Wake Forest and Mississippi State will be meeting for the first time.

It's time for a blogger debate! And it doesn't get much better than when we match the SEC and Pac-10.

Our topic: No. 1 Oregon and No. 2 Auburn. Who's better and why?

Both are unbeaten, and if the season ended today, they'd play for the national title.

We've got lots of football left, and probably many more plot twists in the hunt for the national title, but there's no reason we can't engage in a hypothetical, is there?

So the Pac-10 blog -- Ted Miller -- and the SEC blog -- Chris Low -- have decided to meet for some civilized debate on Auburn versus Oregon.

Ted Miller: Chris, since things are so quiet in the sleepy SEC, I think we should spice things up with a Pac-10-SEC blogger debate! It seems like a long time since we last had a debate between our two conferences. How’d that one go? Let’s see I championed Taylor Mays and you celebrated Eric Berry. Wait. Why did I bring that up?

Anyway, our topic is Oregon and Auburn: Who’s better and why.

This is a potential national title game between the No. 1 Ducks and No. 2 Tigers, who are both unbeaten and feature Heisman Trophy candidates leading high-powered offenses.

You get first blood. Tell me about Auburn. It seems like it wasn’t too long ago that Jay Jacobs was getting hounded for hiring Gene Chizik. Guessing that’s died down a wee-bit.

Chris Low: No doubt, Ted. I wonder where that obnoxious guy is now, the one yelling at Jacobs as he was leaving the airport after finalizing the deal with Chizik? Maybe Jacobs knew what he was doing after all. The guy with the 5-19 record at Iowa State has done all right by himself on the Plains. He has a Heisman Trophy-caliber quarterback and the SEC's leading rusher in Cam Newton, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound freak of nature who runs like Bo Jackson and also has an NFL arm. Keep your eyes, too, on freshman running back Mike Dyer, who they haven't had to lean on much this season, but is oozing with talent and has fresh legs for this stretch run. The Tigers' defensive numbers are nothing to write home about, but they do have the kind of dominant interior defensive lineman, Nick Fairley, who can take over games. Georgia coach Mark Richt said Fairley's the closest thing he's seen to Warren Sapp. Auburn's calling card defensively has been making plays at key times in the fourth quarter. The Tigers have been a serviceable defense through three quarters this season, but they've been a championship-caliber defense in the fourth quarter -- which is why they're 10-0.

So tell me about Oregon?

Ted Miller: Speaking of coaches: How about Oregon’s Chip Kelly? How could he possibly expect to top winning the Pac-10 and playing in the Rose Bowl his first season? How about contending for a national title in his second? The Ducks, however, expected to be here when the 2009 season ended because just about everybody was coming back from the Pac-10 champions. That is until a guy you are now familiar with -- quarterback Jeremiah Masoli -- got caught up in some off-field issues and eventual got himself booted from the team. That seemingly left a void behind center, but sophomore Darron Thomas has not only filled Masoli’s shoes, he’s gone up a few sizes: He’s 15th in the nation in passing efficiency and 21st in the nation in total yardage. Meanwhile, speedy running back LaMichael James is the top Heisman alternative to your guy, Newton. As for the defense, it’s like the offense: Extremely fast. It ranks 13th in the nation in scoring defense and it has forced 28 turnovers, second-most in the nation. Folks often underestimate the Ducks' defense because it gives up some yards -- it ranks 29th in the nation in total defense -- but that’s because the offense scores so quickly: The nation’s No. 1 offense ranks 115th in the nation in time of possession. But the Ducks only give up 4.45 yards per play. Our factoid of the day is that number would rank No. 1 in ... wait for it ... the SEC!

Obviously, we're talking about two very good teams that have done impressive things on their way to remaining unbeaten. I know we both have Oregon ahead of Auburn in our power rankings, but give me the case for Auburn.

Chris Low: Ted, I think what separates Auburn is Newton. Nobody has been able to stop him. If you commit to taking away the run, he's proved he can beat people throwing the ball. And if you come after him and/or don't have enough people in the box, he's been magic running the ball. Keep in mind, too, that we're not talking about a 220-pound guy running the ball. We're talking about a 250-pound guy who's physical, tough and doesn't run out of bounds. In the red zone, he's the great equalizer, because he gains 3 yards when he falls forward and has the size and the strength to push the pile. On top of it all, he's always a threat to throw the ball. Similar to Oregon, Auburn doesn't flinch if somebody puts 30-plus points on the board, because the Tigers' mentality is that they're going to score 50. Their offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, will make you defend everything -- reverses, throwback passes, passes to the backs, even passes to Newton. He caught a touchdown pass two weeks ago against Ole Miss. The Tigers also play at a tempo on offense that has opposing defenses gasping for air in the fourth quarter. But when they have to, they can put teams away and finish games by running the ball. They're fourth nationally (one spot ahead of Oregon) this week in rushing offense with an average of 307.2 yards per game. Auburn's top four rushers -- Newton, Dyer, Onterio McCalebb and Mario Fannin -- are all averaging at least 6.4 yards per carry. Do the Ducks have any answers for that running game?

Ted Miller: That’s what’s so interesting about this as a potential national title game match -- there’s an odd familiarity that both teams will have with each other despite never crossing paths. My guess is Malzahn and Kelly already have studied each other, just in terms of mutual admiration. And both defenses will be familiar with up-tempo, no-huddle, spread-option offenses that can power you and finesse you and throw downfield. Further, the Ducks have played against a number of big, fast, capable quarterbacks with NFL futures: Washington’s Jake Locker, Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor and Stanford’s Andrew Luck. The results have been mixed. Last year, Luck and Pryor got them. Luck beat the Ducks with uncanny downfield accuracy, which is why he’ll go No. 1 in this spring’s NFL draft. Pryor shocked them with the best passing game of his career in the Rose Bowl. Locker missed this year’s game, but he’s never had much luck against Oregon. In general, Oregon has a good run defense: Opponents are averaging 3.38 yards per rush. But the Ducks are undersized. A physical Stanford team had some success, rushing for 177 yards. But one thing about Oregon on both sides of the ball: It is masterful with halftime adjustments. They shutout Stanford, owners of the nation’s No. 5 scoring offense, in the second half, and have given up just 48 points in the second half this year -- just seven in the fourth quarter!

Obviously, two very good teams that have done impressive things on their way to remaining unbeaten. I know we both have Oregon ahead of Auburn in our power rankings, but give me the case for Auburn if it played Oregon in the national title game. How do you see it going?

Chris Low: Well, if that happens, the first thing we all better make sure we have is a calculator. That and make sure there's no danger of a power surge to the scoreboard. You're right about Oregon. Nobody in the country has been better in the second half. The Ducks' ability to score points in bunches is amazing, but the Tigers are equally adept at going on head-spinning scoring sprees. Just ask Arkansas, which saw Auburn roll up 28 points in the fourth quarter in Xbox-like fashion. I have no doubt that an Auburn-Oregon matchup would be played in the 40s. I think the difference, though, would be Auburn's ability to put the breaks on the track meet and run the football in the fourth quarter, especially with Newton being so good at converting on third down. So I'm going Auburn 45, Oregon 41 in a game that rates up there with the Texas-USC classic to decide the 2005 national title.

Ted Miller: That's clearly something we can all agree on: This likely would be a highly entertaining, offensively driven national title game if these two teams manage to get themselves there. Further, I think, after never getting a USC-SEC title game, folks on both coasts would enjoy an SEC-Pac-10 matchup. No trash-talking there, right? And I do see a clear advantage for Auburn: It has been tested. It's played five games decided by eight points or fewer, and three decided by a field goal. The Ducks closest game? An 11-point win at Arizona State. But that's also why I'd pick Oregon in this one. Oregon beat the No. 6 team in the nation, Stanford, by 21 points. It shut Andrew Luck out in the second half. And I look at all of Auburn's close games: Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, Kentucky and LSU, and think: None of them would be within 10 points of the Ducks. Maybe LSU, because any game Les Miles touches is surprising. And I think Vegas would agree with me. So if we ended up with an Oregon-Auburn national title game, my guess is the Tigers would go TD for TD with the Ducks in the first half, then the Ducks would pour it on late for a 50-35 win. But I reserve the right to change my mind, particularly because I think the Tigers' toughest test -- Alabama -- is ahead.

Moreover, both teams should be advised: You probably should get to the Jan. 10 date in Glendale before you start trash-talking each other. At least before you use your best stuff.

Taking a look around the SEC today ...

• Alabama and Florida have separated themselves at the top of the SEC, Ron Higgins writes in The Commercial Appeal. Marcell Dareus stepped up as Alabama's star D-lineman this spring, Dave Curtis and Matt Hayes write in The Sporting News.
• Tennessee's quarterbacks are easier to separate following spring practice, Austin Ward writes in the Knoxville News Sentinel. New Vols coach Derek Dooley is a big hit in Atlanta, Glenn LaFollette writes in the News Sentinel.
• Steve Spurrier is challenging South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia every chance he gets, Joseph Person writes in The State.
• Some Florida superlatives entering the summer, including a heated battle at cornerback, from the Orlando Sentinel's Jeremy Fowler.
• Mississippi State is getting closer to naming a new athletics director, Kyle Veazey writes in The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger.
• Jevan Sneed and Andre Woodson are among the quarterbacks who didn't live up to their hype in the NFL, colleague Bruce Feldman writes.

Greetings from the West Coast. Enjoy your lunch. I may need more coffee.

• Alabama is looking at some neutral site scheduling options, though a game with Georgia Tech has been postponed. Nick Saban chats with the Birmingham News during the Crimson Caravan.
• Auburn, like many of us, is seeking long-term success.
• Is anyone going to bust up -- to steal a phrase from Chris Low -- the Florida-Alabama duopoly?
• Former Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger might return to Athens -- only in another uniform to stand on the opposite sideline. This is an odd -- and perhaps ill-timed -- mixture of politics and college football.
• Undrafted Kentucky players are picking their NFL teams.
• LSU has suspended center T-Bob Hebert after his arrest for drunken driving early Saturday morning. Redshirt freshman defensive end Sam Montgomery is already winning awards.
• Life is good for this former Ole Miss Rebel.
• South Carolina hands out raises for assistant coaches.
• My old buddy Ron Higgins writes that Tennessee coach Derek Dooley has some concerns, a lack of playmakers and a lack of experience being chief among them. Maybe this commitment will help.
• A media hero! Photographer saves a former Vanderbilt coach (this is two-days old, but it's hard to pass up anything positive about the media).

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

We'll wrap up our preview of the SEC with a few preseason awards and predictions:

1. Offensive Player of the Year: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. If you had one pick of any current player in the SEC, Tebow would be the guy. He's a force throwing the ball. He's a force running the ball and he's the quintessential leader.

2. Defensive Player of the Year: Tennessee safety Eric Berry. The Vols are promoting Berry for the Heisman Trophy, and why not? He's intercepted 12 passes his first two seasons and hits like a linebacker. Just ask Knowshon Moreno.

3. Newcomer of the Year: Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett. He has one of the strongest arms in college football, talented playmakers around him and a firm grasp of Bobby Petrino's system. It all adds up to a big debut season at Arkansas.

4. Freshman of the Year: South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Steve Spurrier has already said Gilmore is one of the best freshmen he's ever signed. He's going to start at cornerback for the Gamecocks and will also get a few snaps at quarterback in the Wildcat formation.

5. Comeback Player of the Year: Mississippi State linebacker Jamar Chaney. A second-team All-SEC selection two years ago, Chaney broke his left fibula and tore ligaments in his ankle in the season opener last year. He's back in the middle this season, though, and in the best shape of his career. Look for him to anchor what should be a terrific Mississippi State linebacker corps.

6. Breakout Player of the Year: Alabama linebacker Dont'a Hightower. His transformation from one of the best freshmen in the league to one of the best players in the league will be on full display this season. The Crimson Tide will use him in different roles, and he's much more in tune with the complexities of the defense. His best is yet to come.

7. Most exciting player: Ole Miss running back/receiver Dexter McCluster. Percy Harvin wasn't the only member of the 600/600 club last season. A threat in the running game, passing game and maybe even the return game, the speedy McCluster rushed for 655 yards and also had 625 yards receiving in 2008. He's one of those guys you expect to score every time he gets in the open field.

8. Coach of the Year: Arkansas' Bobby Petrino. With road games at Alabama, Florida, LSU and Ole Miss, if Petrino can figure out a way to win seven or eight games this season, then he can go ahead and clear out a spot on his mantle for the trophy. The Hogs will be much improved in Petrino's second season.

9. Game of the Year: Florida at LSU, Oct. 10 in Baton Rouge. This is actually one of two huge games in the league the second weekend in October. Alabama also travels to Ole Miss. But if you look down Florida's schedule, the trip to Tiger Stadium looms as the Gators' toughest challenge. And if LSU can knock off Florida, you've got to like the Tigers' chances in the West race.

10. Team that will surprise: Georgia. The pick here is based largely on the Bulldogs being an afterthought in the East race, only a year removed from being everybody's preseason No. 1. Georgia isn't good enough to unseat Florida in the East, but the Bulldogs behind a strong offensive line and a defense out to avenge last season's poor showing will be a lot better than people think.

11. Team that will disappoint: Alabama. Breaking in a new quarterback the same year you're revamping your offensive line is never a good mix. The Crimson Tide won't fall off completely. Their defense will be too good. But remember that Nick Saban has never won 10 or more games in back-to-back seasons in his head coaching career.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

We took a closer look at the SEC East race last Friday, although it's hard to find anybody who thinks it will be much of a race.

Today, we turn our attention to the West race, which is just the opposite. Throw Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss into a sack and pick out a winner. It's that close, and don't be surprised if Arkansas has some say in who wins it.

Here are five things to watch in the West:

1. Jevan Snead's blind side: For all that Ole Miss has going for it, there is the left side of the offensive line, specifically left tackle. Michael Oher was Snead's bodyguard a year ago, but is now counting his money in the NFL. Sophomore Bradley Sowell will enter the season as Oher's replacement. He's plenty athletic enough and actually played some tight end last season, but hasn't been as consistent as the coaches would like. They demoted him at one point in the spring to send a message, but he's had a better preseason camp and is coming off his best week. Freshman Bobby Massie isn't ready yet to step in at left tackle, so the Rebels really need Sowell to take this job and run with it.

2. Running to glory: The running games in the West should all be potent. Everybody has at least one big-time running back, and there's also quality depth. LSU's Charles Scott, Arkansas' Michael Smith and Mississippi State's Anthony Dixon are the top three backs in the league, but they will have company. Ben Tate figures to be the workhorse in Auburn's new offense. Ole Miss goes about four deep at tailback, and Alabama can't wait to unveil freshman Trent Richardson in a backfield that already includes Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch. If you like to watch teams run the football, keep an eye on the West this season.

3. Julio's high-wire act: Tim Tebow is a lock to be a College Football Hall of Famer, and Eric Berry is the best defensive player in the league. But the guy I'd pay the most money to watch play is Alabama's Julio Jones. Watching him break tackles, stiff-arm defenders and go up and take the ball away from cornerbacks with his rare blend of strength, great hands and uncanny body control never gets old. I keep waiting for the first person who hits Jones to bring him down. He never quits competing and is as tough as they come. The guy played through a hernia, cracked wrist and bum shoulder and was still one of the best receivers in the league as a freshman. What's in store for his sophomore season?

4. Hail to the Chief: After 14 years at Tennessee, John Chavis is now barking orders to the LSU defense, which might have been the most underachieving unit in the league a year ago. Chavis, a.k.a. "Chief" to those who've coached with him and played under him, hopes to incorporate the same kind of attacking defense at LSU that was the backbone of some of Tennessee's best teams under Phillip Fulmer. In nine of Chavis' 14 seasons at Tennessee, the Vols ranked in the top three in the SEC in total defense. He's already said that talent won't be a problem at LSU, and the players love his style. We'll see if it all translates into the Tigers getting back to playing championship defense this season.

5. High on the Hogs: The folks in the Ozarks might want to have their calculators ready. Arkansas in Year No. 2 under Bobby Petrino has the pieces in place offensively to do some serious damage to scoreboards. Quarterback Ryan Mallett, a transfer from Michigan, is a perfect fit for this offense, and the collection of talent around him is equally impressive. The Hogs are deep enough at the running back and receiver positions that it may be somebody different every week making the big plays. The two things working against the Hogs are a defense that still has to prove it can keep every game from being a shootout and a killer schedule that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Here's a roundup from all the scrimmages over the weekend:

• Big plays highlight Alabama's final scrimmage. Junior quarterback Greg McElroy throws for 295 yards and two touchdowns, but also throws two interceptions.

• Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino comes out of Saturday's scrimmage feeling good that this offense can be explosive.

• Auburn closes in on finalizing its depth chart in its final scrimmage.

• Junior college newcomer DeQuin Evans shows up all over the place at defensive end in Kentucky's scrimmage.

• LSU freshman Russell Shepard is impressive at several different positions. It looks like the Tigers may throw it to him some and hand it to him some this season.

• Mississippi State uses scrimmage as a dress rehearsal. Even the cheerleaders show up at Scott Field.

• Quarterback Jevan Snead is extremely sharp in Ole Miss' scrimmage. Tight end Gerald Harris pulls his hamstring.

• The defense gets the best of the offense in Saturday's scrimmage, according to South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. Freshman receiver Alshon Jeffery catches two touchdown passes.

• Tennessee's running game gets into rhythm in Saturday's scrimmage, and Jonathan Crompton takes a big step toward locking down the starting quarterback job.

• Vanderbilt backs off some in Saturday's scrimmage, but coach Bobby Johnson still likes what the Commodores were able to get done.

Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit preview the SEC heading into 2009 season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

We'll take a look at the SEC receivers today. Included in this group are the tight ends:

1. Ole Miss: It was a tough call between Ole Miss and Arkansas, but the Rebels get the nod based on the one-two punch of Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge. McCluster will line up all over the field, but Hodge is one of the more underrated players in the league. He had eight touchdown catches last season. Ole Miss fans (not to mention quarterback Jevan Snead) are going to love freshman Pat Patterson. He can really go get the football.

2. Arkansas: The Hogs are so complete at all the pass-catching positions. Junior D.J. Williams is one of the best playmaking tight ends in the country. He caught 61 passes last season. The sophomore threesome of Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs is outstanding. The one downer is Lucas Miller breaking his collarbone this week in practice and being out for the next four to six weeks.

3. Florida: One of the few question marks surrounding the Gators is who will step forward in the spots vacated by Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy. No worries. There's still plenty of talent to go around. Deonte Thompson, Riley Cooper, David Nelson and freshman Andre Debose will be just fine. And what a dimension junior tight end Aaron Hernandez provides with his versatility.

4. LSU: Brandon LaFell is one of most complete receivers in the league. He's got speed, good size and has been extremely productive, but the Tigers have several other pieces around him. Richard Dickson is one of the better tight ends in the league, while true freshmen Rueben Randle and Russell Shepard are both special talents.

5. Alabama: Julio Jones is so good that he vaults the Crimson Tide into the SEC's Top 5 simply by himself. He's healthier after fighting off several issues last season and has a better grasp of the offense. Alabama will also move him around more this season. Keep an eye on tight end Colin Peek. He's a transfer from Georgia Tech who will be a big part of the passing game.

6. Georgia: Just like Julio Jones, A.J. Green is so dynamic that he makes everybody else around him better. Green led the SEC with 963 receiving yards last season as a freshman and tied for the league lead with eight touchdown catches. Redshirt freshman Tavarres King, and true freshman Marlon Brown are two guys to watch.

7. Tennessee: Lane Kiffin did a nice job in this first recruiting class of going out and adding some weapons at receiver. Freshmen Marsalis Teague and Nu'Keese Richardson will both play key roles this season. Gerald Jones should flourish in this offense, and it looks like the Vols will get Denarius Moore back earlier than expected from a foot injury.

8. Auburn: The Tigers are thin in a lot of spots, and receiver is one of them. Tim Hawthorne broke his foot and is expected to miss the first four game. Montez Billings has the most experience, but freshmen DeAngelo Benton and Emory Blake will probably both have to play. Mario Fannin in the slot should make a big difference.

9. South Carolina: The Gamecocks are lacking a go-to guy and didn't have one last season. Senior Moe Brown is steady, but isn't a home-run threat. They really need sophomore Jason Barnes to put it all together this season, and the guy that's really coming is heralded freshman Alshon Jeffery.

10. Kentucky: Like a lot of other teams in the league, the Wildcats have one dynamic receiver in Randall Cobb and not much else in the way of proven players. Junior college newcomer Chris Matthews looks like he's the real deal.

11. Mississippi State: There's talent on the roster at receiver for the Bulldogs. It's just young talent. They may end up playing as many as four first-year players at receiver this season, led by freshman Chad Bumphis.

12. Vanderbilt: When Connecticut transfer Terence Jeffers-Harris didn't get eligible, that was a big blow for the Commodores. Remember, they'd already lost Justin Wheeler in the spring to a knee injury. There just aren't any proven playmakers right now at receiver, although both of the tight ends are good players.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

We turn our attention to the running backs in the league. There's not one great one, but there's a bunch of good ones:

1. LSU: Bruising Charles Scott is back after rushing for 1,174 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, and he'll have plenty of support. Keiland Williams and Richard Murphy are both quality backs in their own right, and Trindon Holliday is one of the fastest players in college football.

2. Arkansas: The Hogs have running backs (good ones) coming out of their ears. Michael Smith is back after rushing for 1,072 yards last season. He'll have a lot more help, too. Broderick Green, a 245-pound transfer from Southern California, gives them a bigger option in short-yardage situations, while freshmen Knile Davis and Ronnie Wingo can do a little bit of everything. Don't forget about Dennis Johnson and De'Anthony Curtis, either.

3. Florida: The Gators don't have a bunch of conventional tailback types, but Jeffery Demps and Chris Rainey are perfect for that offense. Give them a step, and they're gone. Throw Brandon James into that mix as well. If Emmanuel Moody can get over his injury blahs, he also has a chance to play a big role this season.

4. Alabama: One of the keys is Roy Upchurch being healthy. If he is, and freshman Trent Richardson comes through the way the coaches are hoping, the Crimson Tide will have another three-pronged attack. Mark Ingram rushed for 728 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season as a freshman.

5. Mississippi State: Don't sleep on the Bulldogs. Anthony Dixon has looked great in the preseason He's the SEC's active career leader in rushing with 2,603 yards. He's in the best shape of his career and has some guys behind him -- Christian Ducre and Robert Elliott -- who will help keep him fresh.

6. Auburn: Ben Tate is one of the best workhorses in the league. You can run him until he's dragging, and he's still going to be running over people. True freshman Onterio McCalebb is a pure speed back, and the wildcard for the Tigers is Mario Fannin, who will bounce around to different spots.

7. Ole Miss: It will be interesting to see how the rotation shakes out at Ole Miss. Brandon Bolden is the No. 1 guy right now, but Cordera Eason has looked a step faster in the preseason. Enrique Davis has a world of talent, and the coaches really like sophomore Devin Thomas and true freshman Tim Simon.

8. Tennessee: The Vols have the potential to be outstanding in the backfield, but there are a couple of ifs. As in if senior Montario Hardesty can stay healthy and if freshmen Bryce Brown and David Oku are as good as they've looked in the preseason. The Vols are also pretty strong at fullback.

9. Georgia: Caleb King has yet to live up to his billing. For one, he can't seem to stay healthy. Richard Samuel enters the season as the starter, and Carlton Thomas will be the third-down back. True freshman Washaun Ealey may end up being the best of the bunch.

10. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have several guys with promise, but nobody who's really done it consistently. Freshman Jarvis Giles went through spring practice and may be that home run-hitter South Carolina has lacked in its backfield the last few seasons.

11. Vanderbilt: Jared Hawkins is coming off foot surgery and will get some help in the form of three freshmen. Zac Stacy, Wesley Tate and Warren Norman have all made bids to play this preseason and probably will.

12. Kentucky: Starter Alfonso Smith has been plagued by a foot injury that won't seem to go away, and there are no guarantees with Derrick Locke as he tries to come back from a serious knee injury. Get ready to see one or both of the freshmen the Wildcats signed -- Donald Russell and Jonathan George.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Now that most SEC teams are more than two weeks into preseason camp, I'll kick off my position rankings in the league.

We'll start with the quarterbacks.

One thing to keep in mind about these rankings is that past performance, production in key situations and depth are weighted most heavily. But potential and the way a particular unit has improved over the offseason will also be considered.

Here goes:

1. Florida: Big surprise here, huh? Tim Tebow might be the best college player of this era, and his backup, John Brantley, is a big-time passer who Urban Meyer says will play this season. Brantley would be a starter for at least three-fourths of the teams in this league.

2. Ole Miss: Another easy choice. Jevan Snead should be even better in Year 2 in Kent Austin's offense. The guy never gives up on a play.

3. LSU: This is where it gets tough. Talk about a drop-off after the first two. Jordan Jefferson just has that look about him that he's ready to take off this season. True freshman Russell Shepard will be a dynamic playmaker in the Wildcat formation, and Jarrett Lee is also still around.

4. Arkansas: Can Ryan Mallett be to the SEC what Snead was last season? His arm strength is legendary, and he really has a nice feel for Bobby Petrino's offense after being around it and sitting out last season. Tyler Wilson has also looked good, although he's still making the adjustment to playing under center.

5. Georgia: I guess I'm a little higher on fifth-year senior Joe Cox than some people. I think he'll be just fine, and I also like the younger quarterbacks in the Bulldogs' program. Logan Gray with his athleticism gives them some flexibility back there.

6. Kentucky: The big question with Mike Hartline is: How much has he improved as a passer? Coach Rich Brooks says he's been extremely accurate this preseason. Hartline just sort of managed things last year. The Wildcats get a few extra points here because they still have Randall Cobb to step in if they need him.

7. Alabama: The situations at Alabama and Georgia are pretty similar. Junior Greg McElroy gets his shot as the full-time starter, but has yet to see any meaningful snaps in college. His leadership to this point has really been impressive, and the Alabama coaches love true freshman A.J. McCarron.

8. South Carolina: The Gamecocks would be ranked a little higher if they had anybody behind Stephen Garcia. If he goes down or stumbles off the field again, they're in real trouble. That said, I think Garcia has a chance to be one of the most improved quarterbacks in the league.

9. Vanderbilt: It's hard to look at anything the Commodores did in the passing game a year ago and feel good about their quarterback situation. Sophomore Larry Smith is the likely starter because of his ability to throw the ball, but senior Mackenzi Adams is one of those guys who's always ready when his number is called.

10. Tennessee: Coach Lane Kiffin said earlier this week that the race between Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens was too close to call. Maybe they're more comfortable in this offense, but neither looked like an SEC quarterback last season.

11. Auburn: Chris Todd came from nowhere to win the Tigers' starting job. Shoulder problems have held him back in the past, but he says he's healthy now. We'll see. Kodi Burns has moved to receiver.

12. Mississippi State: Senior Tyson Lee will probably get the start in the opener, but Dan Mullen has said he can see two quarterbacks playing in the first half of the first game. True freshman Tyler Russell is a talent, but he's not ready mentally.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Some SEC linkage for your reading enjoyment:

• LSU defensive end Pep Levingston isn't trying to be the next Tyson Jackson. He's just trying to be himself.

• The attorney for Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon has entered a guilty plea on his behalf for his DUI charge. Coach Dan Mullen has been mum on what Dixon's punishment will be.

• Suspended Florida linebacker Dustin Doe is expected to rejoin the team this fall.

• After forcing just 16 turnovers last season, Georgia's defense vows to get more takeaways in 2009.

• Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer plans to be back on the "big stage" next season.

• South Carolina outside linebacker Eric Norwood could miss a week with a sprained wrist, but the injury isn't believed to be serious.

• Kentucky true freshman Larry Warford is pushing for playing time at one of the offensive guard spots this season.

• Paul Gattis of The Huntsville Times writes that the SEC nonconference schedules are an absolute joke.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Without villains, would there be any such thing as heroes?

College football has spawned its share of legendary villains, those players, coaches, officials, anybody or anything that has made a living out of making life miserable for your team.

I've put together a team-by-team look in the SEC at some of the most "dastardly" villains this conference has ever known. Keep in mind that the word "villain" can be a relative term.

As you might imagine, the viewpoints on something like this are extremely varied. So let's hear your input, too, and I'll produce another list Tuesday based on who you think has caused your team the most grief.

Here are my picks:

ALABAMA
Current villain: Tim Tebow. If Tebow doesn't take matters into his own hands and make one clutch play after another in last season's SEC championship game, Alabama would have been the team facing Oklahoma in the BCS Championship Game.

All-time villain: The NCAA rulebook. Alabama finds itself on NCAA probation ... again. It's the third time the Crimson Tide have been in the NCAA's doghouse since 1995. They're appealing their latest sanctions, which vacated 21 victories from 2005-2007.

ARKANSAS
Current villain: Houston Nutt. Never mind that he's one of their own and coached the Razorbacks for 10 seasons, taking them to two SEC championship games. The divorce was a messy one, and he's now heading up Western Division rival Ole Miss.

All-time villain: James Street. Arkansas fans still wince when they think back to the 1969 showdown in Fayetteville featuring No. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Arkansas. The Hogs built a 14-0 lead and looked to be on their way to a national championship, but Street rallied the Longhorns thanks to a pair of improbable plays, sending the Hogs to a crushing 15-14 defeat.

AUBURN
Current villain: Nick Saban. In a little more than two years, Saban has completely changed the landscape in that state. The Crimson Tide are recruiting like gangbusters and ended Auburn's six-game winning streak in the Iron Bowl with a 36-0 rout last season, which wound up being the final blow for Tommy Tuberville at Auburn.

All-time villain: Bear Bryant. The guy with the Houndstooth hat was hard on a lot of teams in the SEC, but he really did a number on Auburn. Bryant was 19-6 against the Tigers as head coach at Alabama and won nine in a row from 1973-81.

FLORIDA
Current villain: Lane Kiffin. The day he was introduced as Tennessee's coach, Kiffin called out Urban Meyer and the Gators. But he became Public Enemy No. 1 in Gainesville when he accused Meyer of cheating ... and was wrong.

All-time villain: Lindsay Scott. It's debatable what galls Florida fans more, the footage of Scott running down the sideline in that 1980 game on his way to the winning 92-yard touchdown or Larry Munson's legendary call?

GEORGIA
Current villain: Urban Meyer. The Bulldogs won the SEC championship in 2002 and again in 2005, but they've gone the last three years without getting to Atlanta. Meyer's arrival at Florida has changed the landscape in the Eastern Division. Think he may save a few timeouts for the final seconds this season?

All-time villain: Steve Spurrier. Not only did Spurrier beat up on the Bulldogs when he was at Florida, but he rubbed it in. Who could ever forget the 52-17 debacle in 1995? Bulldog Nation sure won't. The game was played in Athens that year, and Spurrier tacked on a late touchdown just for good measure. He only lost once to the Bulldogs in 12 meetings.

KENTUCKY
Current villain: Eastern Division rivals. Rich Brooks has done a terrific job of getting Kentucky's program up to respectability with the three straight bowl victories. But there's been little progress against the Wildcats' East counterparts. They are just 1-23 against Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee since Brooks arrived in 2003.

All-time villain: Kentucky hoops. There's just no way around it. No matter how well the football program does, it will always be dwarfed by Kentucky basketball. They grow up dreaming of playing hoops in the Bluegrass. Their heroes are former UK basketball players. And if they have time, they might check in on the football team.

LSU
Current villain: Nick Saban. The guy just keeps on showing up on different villain lists, which tells you that he must be pretty good at what he does. They once loved him on the Bayou after he won a national title at LSU in 2003. But now that Saban is at Alabama, he's perceived as nothing more than a traitor.

All-time villain: Archie Manning. Back when the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry was at its peak, Manning beat the Tigers two of his three seasons in school and went on to become a legend in the state of Louisiana after a long career with the Saints. But when it came time for Peyton and Eli to go to college, neither chose LSU.

MISSISSIPPI STATE
Current villain: Jevan Snead. The Bulldogs are probably still seeing footballs flying through the air in their sleep. Snead threw four touchdown passes last season in Ole Miss' 45-0 shellacking of Mississippi State, the most lopsided Egg Bowl since Ole Miss' 48-0 rout in 1971.

All-time villain: Rich Johanningmeier. He was the lead NCAA investigator in the case against Mississippi State, which ultimately sent Jackie Sherrill packing following the 2003 season and landed the Bulldogs on four years' of probation. Sherrill accused Johanningmeier of unethical conduct in his investigation.

OLE MISS
Current villain: Atlanta travel agencies. "Huh," you say? The chatter around Ole Miss about getting to the SEC championship game this season in Atlanta is deafening. The Rebels just need to make sure they don't spend more time talking about it than doing something about it. In other words, hold off on the reservations.

All-time villain: Billy Cannon. His legendary punt return for a touchdown on Halloween night in 1959 ruined what would have been a perfect season for John Vaught's Rebels. They only gave up three touchdowns all season, and Cannon's was one of them in that 7-3 loss to LSU. It remains the most infamous play in Ole Miss history.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Current villain: That other school in the state. Clemson might not be in the SEC, but the Tigers have and continue to be the Gamecocks' biggest pain in the you know where. Since 1980, Clemson is 21-7-1 against South Carolina, and Spurrier is just 1-3 against the Tigers

All-time villain: The Chicken Curse. Ask anybody who's remotely tied to South Carolina football, and they will fill you in on the dreaded Chicken Curse. Basically, it's a curse that has doomed the Gamecocks to mediocrity, which explains why they've won more than eight games in a season only twice in school history.

TENNESSEE
Current villain: In-state talent. Unlike the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana, Tennessee isn't loaded with great high school football talent. It's gotten better, but pales in comparison to some of the Vols' rivals. What's more, some of the best players have gotten away the last few years.

All-time villain: Steve Spurrier. The Head Ball Coach might have grown up in Johnson City, Tenn., but he's anything but a
favorite son. Remember the "You can't spell Citrus without a U and a T" jokes? He owned the Vols when he was at Florida and delighted in needling them.

VANDERBILT
Current villain: Admissions office. Coach Bobby Johnson would never use the rigid academic standards at Vanderbilt as an excuse. In fact, he embraces them. But getting players into school at Vanderbilt is a whole different animal compared to the rest of the SEC, meaning the Commodores are forced to recruit from a different pool.

All-time villain: Gen. Robert Neyland. Before Neyland was named head coach at Tennessee in 1926, Vanderbilt had dominated the rivalry with its neighbor from the eastern part of the state. But Neyland was hired to beat Vanderbilt, and that's what he did. It hasn't turned around much for the Commodores ever since.