ESPN College Football

Now that national signing day is behind us, we'll continue our look back at each position in the SEC. Today, we're ranking the league's running back units:

1. Alabama: Not only did Alabama lead the SEC in rushing (214.5 yards per game) but Alabama's running game led the league with an average of 5.1 yards per carry against SEC teams. Alabama also had the Doak Walker Award winner in Trent Richardson. Projected as a top-10 pick in April's NFL draft, Richardson finished the season with 1,679 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Backups Eddie Lacy and Jalston Fowler combined for 1,059 yards and 11 touchdowns.

2. LSU: The Tigers used a stable of running backs throughout the year and led the SEC with 200.9 rushing yards per conference game. Michael Ford and Spencer Ware each eclipsed the 700-yard mark, while Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue combined for 875 yards. LSU's four regular running backs combined for 30 touchdowns. For 13 games, LSU made its mark on offense by wearing teams out with its running game.

3. Auburn: This group of Tigers might not have gotten a ton of offensive praise this season, but Auburn probably had the best running back duo behind Alabama in Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb. Dyer was the only back other than Richardson to average more than 100 yards rushing against SEC opponents (101.1) and he was second in the league with 1,242 yards. McCalebb put up 641 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

4. South Carolina: The Gamecocks would have been higher on this list if not for the unfortunate season-ending injury Marcus Lattimore suffered in the middle of the year. Lattimore led the SEC in rushing after six games, but was injured a week later, ending the year with 818 yards and 10 touchdowns. Former redshirt candidate Brandon Wilds was a pleasant surprise as he rushed for 486 yards, including gaining 100-plus yards in three of his last five games.

5. Georgia: Like LSU, the Bulldogs used a stable of running backs to get through the season. Freshman Isaiah Crowell led the group and started the season off well, but his play dipped during the second part of the season, as injuries took hold. He was named the SEC's freshman of the year by the Associated Press and gained 850 yards with five touchdowns. Injuries affected Georgia's entire backfield, but the Bulldogs still ranked fifth in the league averaging 169.8 yards in SEC games.

6. Vanderbilt: The Commodores didn't have great depth at running back, but did have an absolute stud in the starting lineup. Zac Stacy came out of nowhere in 2011 to rank third in the SEC with 1,193 yards and second with 14 touchdowns. Freshman Jerron Seymour added 268 yards and five touchdowns.

7. Florida: The Gators had two of the fastest running backs in the country in their backfield in Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Both excelled in space and both ranked in the top 10 in rushing during conference play, as they each averaged more than 59 yards a game and combined for 872 yards. They combined for 1,430 yards, but didn't create a power running game as Florida ranked eighth in the league in rushing.

8. Mississippi State: Vick Ballard had a tremendous season for Bulldogs, rushing for 1,189 and 10 touchdowns in 2011. But the Bulldogs scored just seven rushing touchdowns in SEC play and averaged 131.1 yards per SEC game, ranking ninth in the league. LaDarius Perkins was second on the team with 422 yards and Mississippi State averaged just 3.4 yards per carry against conference teams.

9. Arkansas: The Razorbacks took a major hit when Knile Davis missed the season with an ankle injury. There was depth, but it took a while before Dennis Johnson finally emerged as Arkansas' top back. He finished the season with just 670 yards and three touchdowns. Ronnie Wingo Jr. was second with 458 yards and three scores, as Arkansas ranked ninth overall in rushing in the SEC and seventh in conference play. As a whole, inconsistency plagued Arkansas' backfield.

10. Ole Miss: Houston Nutt prided himself on running the ball, but Ole Miss failed to do it well in 2011. Brandon Bolden's ankle injury at the beginning of the season didn't help. Speedster Jeff Scott received the bulk of the carries, but never really provided a consistent spark and bruiser Enrique Davis was a no-show for most of the year. The Rebels were 10th in the SEC in rushing and their running backs scored just three rushing touchdowns against SEC opponents.

11. Tennessee: If not for Tauren Poole, the Vols would have been dead last on our list. Tennessee was awful running the ball, but Poole gained 693 rushing yards and five touchdowns. However, Tennessee ranked 116th nationally in rushing and last in the SEC, averaging 90.1 yards per game and averaged just 63.5 against conference opponents. Tennessee running backs scored just 11 rushing touchdowns.

12. Kentucky: As a whole, the Wildcats' numbers were better than Tennessee's. They were 11th in the league in rushing and averaged nearly 40 more rushing yards in conference games, but injuries ravaged this group. Freshmen Josh Clemons looked like he might have a solid season before a knee injury cost him the second half of the season. Raymond Sanders was supposed to be the guy, but played just six games. CoShik Williams ended up being Kentucky's leading rusher, with 486 yards.

There is no case of the Mondays in these SEC links.

• It might be two-horse race from here on out in the SEC East.
• Alabama's epic game with LSU on Nov. 5 might be the biggest game in Bryant-Denny Stadium history since ... well, forever.
• Sacks were an issue for Auburn against LSU, but Clint Moseley handled the pressure well in his first start.
• Will Muschamp is now on the other side of the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party -- the Gator side.
• South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said his flap with local columnist is "history."
• The legend of Alabama's 2011 defense is growing with each week.
• Kentucky running back Raymond Sanders is unlikely to play against Mississippi State this weekend due to a high ankle sprain.
• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley now has options with freshman quarterback Justin Worley.
• Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen says Kentucky's issues are turnovers, not numbers.
• Les Miles has his football team exactly where he wants it.
• Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey gets respect from players and coaches.

Any time is a good time for an open date when you’re struggling like Kentucky is right now.

The Wildcats are off this week after getting crushed 54-3 last week at South Carolina. They’ve lost their last three games by a combined 137-20 margin.

“After a game like that, the majority of it is mental in trying to bounce back,” said Kentucky coach Joker Phillips, who’s using this week to try and find something (or someone) that can spark the Wildcats’ offense.

They’re ranked 119^th out of 120 FBS teams in total offense, and the latest blow is that freshman running back Josh Clemons is out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Clemons was one of the few players on Kentucky’s offense that had shown big-time playmaking ability.

Phillips doesn’t have a lot of options at quarterback, either. Junior Morgan Newton is completing just 46.5 percent of his passes and averaging 110.7 passing yards per game. He’s thrown six touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Freshman Maxwell Smith has also come in and played in the last few games, but hasn’t had much success.

“I don’t think our backup quarterback is as popular as most of them are,” Phillips said.

Having the extra week to get healthier should help, especially in the offensive line. Sophomore running back Raymond Sanders should also be healthier in two weeks against Jacksonville State.

Phillips said it’s important that Kentucky become more of a threat to run the ball at the quarterback position.

“We’re going to try to create more of a running game with the quarterback and give our receivers a chance to get more separation,” Phillips said.

If you thought things couldn't get any worse for the SEC's worst offense, Kentucky will be without one of its brightest young offensive players for the rest of the year.

Wildcats coach Joker Phillips announced after Tuesday's practice that freshman running back Josh Clemons will miss the rest of the season due to a torn meniscus in his knee.

“On Saturday, we recognized that Josh was a little gimpy and he was trying to go,” Phillips said. “On Sunday, he came in for a routine injury report and we got an MRI done yesterday and he had surgery [Tuesday] morning on his knee and is out for the rest of the season.”

Despite Kentucky's offensive woes this season, Clemons was a bright spot and became one of the Wildcats' best players after he replaced Raymond Sanders, who missed three games with his own knee injury. Phillips praised Clemons for being one of the more talented players on the roster, regardless of position. Clemson led Kentucky in rushing with 65 carries for 279 yards and two touchdowns (Kentucky has three total rushing touchdowns). Both of his scores this season turned out to be game-winning plays.

Kentucky will now have to ride Sanders, who the staff hopes is all better after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a slight cartilage tear in his right knee, and inexperienced backs Jonathan George and CoShik Williams.

Against South Carolina, George netted six yards on four carries, while Williams has 17 carries for 62 yards on the year.

This is a tough blow for a Wildcats team with no offensive momentum. Getting Sanders back to 100 percent is going to be key during Kentucky's second-half push, but developing the other two backs will go a long way as well in case Sanders doesn't fully regain his football legs.

Fortunately for Kentucky, this is its bye week, so Phillips and his offensive coaches will have more time to prep these guys for their next game against Jacksonville State on Oct. 22.

“That’s football,” Phillips said. “We understand the game and injuries happen. We feel for Josh and feel for the other guys also because he is a special player to the guys on this team. We have to get the other guys better now. They have had some reps because of Raymond [Sanders'] absence and they should have some experience."

Kentucky will be without sophomore running back Raymond Sanders for the next two to three weeks after he aggravated a knee injury in practice.

Sanders, who started the first two games, had surgery Thursday morning to repair a sight cartilage tear, meaning a door that had already been opened for true freshman Josh Clemons just got a lot wider. Clemons will move in as the Wildcats' starting running back Saturday against Louisville.

The Wildcats are looking for any help they can get on offense. They're 11th in the SEC in total offense, averaging 267 yards per game, and have scored just five touchdowns in their first two games.

One of the few highlights has been Clemons, who had an 87-yard touchdown run last week against Central Michigan. He's averaging 6.6 yards per carry, and coach Joker Phillips is committed to getting him more touches from here on out. Clemons carried the ball 14 times for 126 yards last week and might be adding some special teams duties this week. Sanders was also the Wildcats' kickoff returner.

"He's a guy we're going to continue to give a bigger role in our offense, and we're going to ask him to play some on special teams in the return game," Phillips said. "I haven't locked in on who our return guy will be this week, and we may give him an opportunity. His role needs to expand, definitely. He's a guy who can catch the ball out of the backfield, and we need to do a little more in that area with him. He's a talented guy and very mature for a freshman."

After Louisville, Kentucky faces Florida at home the next week. The earliest Sanders would probably be able to return is the trip to LSU on Oct. 1.

LSU's game with Mississippi State is only hours away, so to keep you from leaving work too early, we've got some links from around the SEC to keep you busy.

• Mike Herndon of The Mobile Press-Register writes that South Carolina's pass defense doesn't match the Gamecocks' national ranking.
• Redshirt freshman Blaine Clausell will start at left tackle for Mississippi State in place of James Carmon, who left last week's game with a knee injury.
• Despite a 2-0 start for Auburn, the Tigers' schedule still provides the biggest obstacle for this young team.
• Ole Miss freshman C.J. Johnson is making the move from linebacker to defensive end and he's fine with it.
• Florida's recent arrest issues and a coffee table incident played a factor in freshman linebacker Curt Maggitt picking Tennessee over the Gators.
• Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun writes that Florida-Tennessee is still a big game, just not on the national scale.
• Wide receiver transfer Duron Carter is taking reps on Alabama's practice squad, but there still isn't any update on his playing status.
• Georgia linebacker Chase Vasser hopes that his football career prepares him for a future in acting.
• Georgia safety Shawn Williams is catching on at inside linebacker for the Bulldogs.
• Raymond Sanders' father says the Kentucky running back won't play against Louisville after injuring his knee.
• LSU expects a physical game with Mississippi State tonight in Starkville, Miss.
• Brandon Marcello of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger wonders if Mississippi can put an end to its 11-game losing streak to LSU tonight.
• Even after a solid start for Arkansas' defense, the Razorbacks are still looking to generate more turnovers.
• Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct, while tight end Jamal Mosley's charge of public drunkenness was dropped.
• South Carolina is still seeking a second option at wide receiver.

Can you hear that?

It’s the sound of jerseys being carefully hung and neatly placed in lockers. It’s the sound of last-minute helmet shines and play card lamination.

More importantly, it’s the sound of the return to college football. Maybe, just maybe, these silly shenanigans that have taken our minds off the actually game will cease for a while.

That sound is now transforming into the horns blaring and snares chopping. Soon, these sounds will be overwhelmed by that sticky, sweet smell of game day barbecue with a hint of fine fried snacks.

Let’s get to what you should watch for in the SEC this week before I drool on my keyboard:

1. LSU’s passing game: Jordan Jefferson's suspension for his involvement in a bar fight and Russell Shepard being ruled ineligible for discussing an NCAA inquiry with a teammate have the Tigers in a bit of an offensive bind to start the season. Veteran Jarrett Lee takes over for Jefferson, and while coach Les Miles believes Lee has what it takes to lead the Tigers against No. 3 Oregon, Lee has had a very rocky five years at LSU. Expect junior college transfer Zach Mettenberger, who has all the skill to be a special player, to get snaps as well. As far as receivers go, Rueben Randle will be the primary target and DeAngelo Peterson is a playmaking tight end. Miles said this week that freshman Odell Beckham could start, so expect the Tigers to use plenty of options.

2. McCarron vs. Sims: This is one of the most exciting quarterback battles to keep an eye on this season. AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims are young and neither has separated himself from the other. However, teammates have said they wouldn’t mind either one starting and trust both to lead the offense. But this isn’t just any offense; it’s the offense of a team that is a true national championship contender. Taking the reigns of this machine is a big deal, and the winner should be prepared for a load of pressure dumped into his lap. This is the first step toward someone pushing past the other, but this battle could bleed deeper into the season.

3. Fresh new faces: There are two new head coaches making their SEC debuts this weekend. Will Muschamp takes over at Florida, after leaving Texas as its defensive coordinator, and James Franklin is in charge at Vanderbilt after being Maryland’s offensive coordinator. Fortunately for both, their teams are favored this weekend, with Florida taking on Florida Atlantic and Vanderbilt squaring off against Elon. Muschamp has the tough task of replacing two-time national champion Urban Meyer, while Franklin has brought some much-needed excitement and confidence to a slumping program. Both programs are in need of some early excitement and both should provide plenty of that this weekend.

4. Marquee QB battle: When Georgia and Boise State square off inside the Georgia Dome; they’ll do so with two highly touted quarterbacks. Boise’s veteran Kellen Moore, who has a thirst for big games, will look to keep his team in the national championship picture. Moore enters 2011 as the nation’s active career leader in passing efficiency (166.74) and wins (38). He ranks second on the active career list in completion percentage (68.17), passing yards (10,867), passing touchdowns (99) and completions (831). Last season, Murray passed for a Georgia freshman record 3,049 yards (second in SEC history by a freshman) and 24 touchdowns. His 3,216 total offensive yards ranks him first in Georgia freshman history and second in SEC history. He also tied for first in school history for touchdown responsibility in a season with 28. Watching these two compete will be a lot of fun.

5. Wild runners: The SEC brings back a stable of running back talent as five of the top 10 rushers from the 2010 season return. It would have been six, but Arkansas’ Knile Davis suffered a season-ending ankle injury before the season. The SEC is loaded at running back, with South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore and Alabama’s Trent Richardson making early Heisman Trophy lists. The scary thing is that Lattimore is only a sophomore and Richardson was a backup for two years. Auburn brings back the best rushing combo in Mike Dyer and Onterio McCalebb, who both have the potential to reach 1,000 yards. Ole Miss’ Brandon Bolden is very underrated and should finally eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, while Mississippi State’s Vick Ballard is one of the toughest runners around and is looking to pass his touchdown mark of 19 a season ago. Tennessee’s Tauren Poole is another unheralded rusher, but he surpassed 1,000 yards in 2010. Expect others, like LSU’s Spencer Ware and Kentucky’s Raymond Sanders, to step up as well.

6. QBs getting their first shot to be the man: The first week of football will feature a handful of new quarterbacks looking to prove they can lead their respective teams. McCarron and Sims will be battling it out against Kent State, while Barrett Trotter is taking over for Heisman winner Cam Newton at Auburn. Barry Brunetti makes his SEC debut at Ole Miss. Heck, Lee will have to prove he can be a solid short-term option for LSU, as well. There will be some growing pains and struggles around the league with these players, but they’ll all be eager to get out there and show what they can do.

7. Houston Nutt as the underdog: If history is an indicator, Houston Nutt does well when his team is counted out. Look at the 2006 Arkansas Razorbacks, who made it to the SEC championship game and in 2008, Nutt’s Ole Miss Rebels won their last six games, including the Cotton Bowl. Well, Nutt and his Rebels are being overlooked yet again and Ole Miss starts the season against a tough BYU team. Ole Miss isn’t favored and it’s fielding a slew of youngsters, including a new quarterback in Brunetti. A win would generate some valuable momentum for this team.

8. John Brantley’s confidence: The spread offense is gone in Gainesville and quarterback John Brantley couldn’t be happier. He never fit in the spread, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns, but Muschamp and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis have rescued Brantley with a pro-style offense. Brantley set all sorts of records in high school -- some even held by former Florida star Tim Tebow -- but he was never able to play with much confidence in 2010. Now, Brantley has a chance to reinvent himself. Word out of Gainesville is that Brantley has more command in the pocket and has won his teammates over again. Saturday won’t be a major test for Brantley, but it is a chance for him to play with confidence and maybe even some moxie, which should benefit him the rest of the season.

9. Kentucky’s run defense: Kentucky coach Joker Phillips made it perfectly clear that stopping the run is of the utmost importance when the Wildcats face Western Kentucky. When these two got together last season, the Wildcats’ rush defense received what Phillips described as a “slap in the face” from Western Kentucky’s Bobby Rainey, who ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns. For the rest of the season, Kentucky’s rush defense struggled immensely, surrendering 177.1 yards per game and allowing a league-high 30 rushing touchdowns. For the Wildcats to develop some defensive confidence they’ll have to shut down the Hilltoppers’ running game.

10. Black bear sightings!: Those of you who live in Oxford, Miss., or are traveling there for the weekend should be on the look out for black bears in the vicinity. Whether they’re harmful or not is yet to be seen. Ole Miss is breaking in a new mascot in the “Rebel Black Bear” seven years after the university got rid of “Colonel Reb.” The new mascot has received mixed reactions and expect Colonel Reb supporters to be out in full force for the bear’s first home game. A loss to BYU could send this cuddly creature back into hibernation.

Edward Aschoff discusses Kentucky running back Raymond Sanders' importance in the Wildcats' offense this fall.

We turn our attention today to the running back position in the SEC, which is always loaded.

The 2011 season will be no different:

1. Auburn: Who do you put No. 1? How about the team with the best tandem in the league. Sophomore Mike Dyer can do it all -- run with power, run with speed and break tackles. He’s coming off a 1,093-yard rushing season as a true freshman. The Tigers can also throw their version of “Lightning” at you in junior Onterio McCalebb, who’s one of the SEC’s best breakaway threats. He rushed for 810 yards last season, averaging 8.5 yards a pop, and his 70-yard touchdown run against LSU was the difference in that game.

2. Alabama: Trent Richardson alone gets the Crimson Tide into the No. 2 spot. He’s that good and that dynamic, and he’s going to make up for all those carries he didn’t get the past two seasons while playing in the shadow of Mark Ingram. Simply, he’s the kind of running back who can carry an offense. Sophomore Eddie Lacy would be a starter at a lot of places, and true freshman Dee Hart turned a lot of heads in the spring with his ability to make plays a number of different ways.

3. Arkansas: The Hogs’ depth is outstanding and would have been even better had the bruiser of the group, Broderick Green, not suffered a season-ending knee injury in the spring. Junior Knile Davis demonstrated just how special he was a year ago with 1,322 rushing yards. Bobby Petrino also thinks this might be the year that junior Ronnie Wingo Jr. truly blossoms after showing flashes the past two years, and do-it-all junior Dennis Johnson is back after missing all of last season with an injury.

4. South Carolina: Sophomore Marcus Lattimore is right up there with Richardson when it comes to game-changing running backs who can carry a football team. Willing to tote it 35 and 40 times a game, Lattimore is an entire running back corps unto himself. But he will need some help, and that’s where junior Kenny Miles comes in. Miles had an excellent spring, and it looks like junior Eric Baker is healthy again.

5. Florida: From a pure speed standpoint, nobody can top Florida’s backfield. The Chris Rainey-Jeff Demps combo figures to be a blur in 2011, and new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is going to see to it that both players get plenty of work. Don’t forget about junior Mike Gillislee, either, and sophomore Mack Brown was one of the highest-rated backs in the country when Florida signed him. The reason the Gators aren’t ranked a little higher is that it remains to be seen if they have that power back who can get the tough yards in this league.

6. Mississippi State: It’s a crime to put the Bulldogs this low, but it goes to show you just how deep and talented the running position is in the SEC. Senior Vick Ballard just missed 1,000 yards last season and scored 20 touchdowns. Sophomore LaDarius Perkins has great speed and is also versatile. He had three receiving touchdowns in 2010. Senior Robert Elliott also returns, and coach Dan Mullen said freshman Nick Griffin might be the best of the bunch once he gets healthy.

7. LSU: Losing a 1,000-yard rusher the caliber of Stevan Ridley is never ideal, but there’s no shortage of returning talent in the LSU backfield. It starts with sophomore Spencer Ware, who’s poised for a huge season. He was one of the best players on the field in last season’s Cotton Bowl. Les Miles likes to use multiple backs, and sophomores Michael Ford and Alfred Blue will also be a big part of the rotation.

8. Ole Miss: There’s not a more versatile (or underrated) running back in the SEC than senior Brandon Bolden. The NFL scouts have had him in their sights for some time. He just missed 1,000 yards rushing a year ago and led the Rebels with 32 receptions. At 221 pounds, he also has a nose for the end zone and scored 17 touchdowns last season. The Rebels have a perfect complement to go with him, too, in speedy sophomore Jeff Scott, while senior Enrique Davis also returns.

9. Georgia: Take Washaun Ealey out of the equation. He’s decided to transfer. It’s now or never for senior Caleb King, who’s a more talented runner than he’s shown to this point. Junior Carlton Thomas is still hanging around, and redshirt freshman Ken Malcome is one to keep an eye, too. But the running back everybody wants to see in Athens is incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell, who has all the tools to be a great one. He’s going to get a chance to show what he can do right away and may get 15 to 20 carries in the opener.

10. Tennessee: Despite Tauren Poole rushing for 1,034 yards last season, coach Derek Dooley came away saying the Vols left too many yards on the field. They finished last in the league in rushing. Nonetheless, Poole is a tough runner who’s proved he can be productive in this league. Sophomore Rajion Neal came on in the spring, and the Vols hope incoming freshmen Marlin Lane and Tom Smith can help provide a few more explosive plays in the running game. Also, don’t sleep on sophomore Channing Fugate, who’s one of the better fullbacks in the league.

11. Vanderbilt: The Commodores have the talent and the depth to really move up this list during the season. Of course, so much of what they do in their running game will hinge on how well the guys develop up front along the offensive line. Injuries derailed Warren Norman and Zac Stacy last season. Neither player topped the 500-yard mark. Both should be healthy in 2011, though, and first-year coach James Franklin was really impressed with sophomore Wesley Tate’s blend of size, power and speed in the spring.

12. Kentucky: Derrick Locke had been the heart and soul of the Wildcats’ running game the past couple of seasons, and now he’s gone. The good news is that sophomore Raymond Sanders was one of the Wildcats’ most-improved players in the spring and looks like he’s more than capable of being their go-to back. Several other younger guys are also waiting for their chance, including redshirt freshman Brandon Gainer, and the Kentucky coaches are extremely high on incoming freshmen Marcus Caffey and Josh Clemons.

Workout numbers are always nice to look at, and he who wins the bench-press battle, usually wins a heap of respect.

But while cranking out the reps and stacking the weight might be the top priority for some athletes when they step into the gym, Ray “Rock” Oliver, who is in his first year with the Kentucky Wildcats as the director of strength and conditioning, likes to add emphasis to another area when the workouts begin.

The size he’s most concerned about is the girth of is athletes’ necks.

A neck doesn’t help you run faster, jump higher or throw farther, but it does provide some extra safety in the violent game that is football.

“The No. 1 mechanism that’s absorbing a lot of the shock is the neck, so we need to get that bigger,” said Oliver, who joined Kentucky’s strength staff after spending the past six seasons as the associate strength and conditioning coach with the Cincinnati Bengals. “We’re really proud of that. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have ever been talking about that. Ten years ago, I would have been talking about our bench [press] and our vertical jumps.”

But Oliver -- and the rest of his staff -- is more concerned with protecting his players during head-on collisions.

Kentucky’s staff makes the neck a gym priority by working it out every other day with lateral raises, shrugs and flexing exercises.

Oliver said his goal is to add one-half to three-fourths of an inch to each player’s neck in the span of a year. That might sound silly to some, but Oliver said there’s nothing foolish about wanting to strengthen and thicken the cylinder that holds the head.

“It’s the No. 1 concern of mine,” he said.

Oliver also prides himself on the amount of lean muscle mass his athletes have been able to put on each year during offseason training sessions.

“If you want to really want to find out if you’re doing your job, put 15 to 16 pounds of lean muscle mass on a kid in a year,” Oliver said. “That’s where me and my staff take great pride in.”

With a late bowl game, Kentucky’s football team started lifting together four weeks before spring practice began, Oliver said. But when spring ball began, he could tell the gym work was paying off.

Some examples include defensive end Collins Ukwu making vast improvements to his playing shape, running back Raymond Sanders adding some needed bulk and center Matt Smith has increased his weight in 75 percent of his workouts.

As a whole, Oliver said the Wildcats entered spring in much better shape. That was a good and bad thing to Oliver. He was both happy and irked by the fact that 95 percent of the team passed the conditioning test.

The good news was that almost the entire team was able to beat the time needed to pass a test consisting of 16 grueling gassers -- that’s 10 more than Oliver was told the majority of the team could get through a year ago.

The bad news was that the Wildcats were starting to become immune to Oliver’s rigorous training.

“I was pissed off because we only wanted 5 percent to pass,” he joked. “But we worked them extremely hard.”

The Wildcats are undergoing a lot of changes in Lexington, and Oliver wants to make sure he does his part by making this one of the most well-conditioned and strongest teams in the SEC.

“The most important thing for us is to get guys to buy into a certain way of working and take pride in everything that we do and to take pride into the others that excel, as well as yourself,” he said.

“We work extremely hard to make sure each individual gets his maximum full potential based off his varied potential.”

2010 overall record: 6-7

2010 conference record: 2-6

Returning starters

Offense: 6, defense: 9, kicker/punter: 2

Top returners

QB Morgan Newton, WR La’Rod King, OG Stuart Hines, OG Larry Warford, DE Collins Ukwu, LB Danny Trevathan, LB Ronnie Sneed, S/LB Winston Guy

Key losses

QB Mike Hartline, RB Derrick Locke, WR Randall Cobb, WR Chris Matthews, DE DeQuin Evans

2010 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Derrick Locke (887 yards)

Passing: Mike Hartline (3,178 yards)

Receiving: Randall Cobb (1,017 yards)

Tackles: Danny Trevathan* (144)

Sacks: Danny Trevathan* and Luke McDermott* (3)

Interceptions: Winston Guy* (3)

Spring answers

1. Strength up front: Despite being gutted at the skill positions on offense, Kentucky should be able to match up with just about anybody in the league on the offensive line. Four starters return, and the Wildcats will also have some flexibility with players capable of playing a couple of different positions. The guard tandem of Larry Warford and Stuart Hines has a chance to be dominant.

2. Morgan Newton takes control: After filling in for Mike Hartline as a spot starter each of the past two seasons, Newton took the reins this spring as the Wildcats’ full-time starting quarterback and showed the kind of consistency coach Joker Phillips has been looking for from the 6-foot-4, 235-pound junior. Newton was much more in command of the offense and also improved his accuracy. The trick now is playing that way in games.

3. Making the transition on defense: First-year defensive coordinator Rick Minter installed his multi-look defense designed for getting the Wildcats’ best athletes in a position to make more plays and help create more turnovers. Two of those players – Ridge Wilson and Winston Guy – will play hybrid roles next fall. Wilson will alternate between linebacker and a pass-rushing end position, while Guy will move up and play some linebacker in addition to his safety duties.

Fall questions

1. Who’s going to make plays on offense? Randall Cobb, Derrick Locke and Chris Matthews accounted for 32 of the Wildcats’ 53 touchdowns last season. They’re all gone now, leaving a huge void in the playmaking department. Sophomore running back Raymond Sanders was one of the stars of the spring and looks like he’s ready to step in for Locke, but there were as many dropped passes as there were big plays from the receivers this spring.

2. Will there be a big learning curve on defense? Phillips likes the aggressive approach on defense and is confident the new scheme will pay dividends. Along the way, though, there’s sure to be some busts and mental errors while everybody adjusts and works to get on the same page.

3. Can Kentucky get to the quarterback? The Wildcats managed just 21 sacks in 13 games last season, finishing tied for 10^th in the SEC. They were also 10^th in the league in opponents’ third-down conversions. The bottom line: Kentucky needs to do a better job of harassing the quarterback. The Wildcats could sure use big seasons from junior end Collins Ukwu and sophomore tackle Mister Cobble.

Spring game: 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Questions answered: Even though Jake Lanefski had his spring cut short after suffering a shoulder injury, the Wildcats are set in the offensive line, an area that should be the strength of the team next season. Four starters return from a year ago, and Lanefski is a fifth lineman with experience who should be back in time for fall camp. He’ll be the utility guy and can play center, guard or tackle. Left tackle Chandler Burden was thought to be out for the spring after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but returned for the last part of practice. The Wildcats will be big and experienced up front and should also have some options with a couple of guys who can play different positions. Billy Joe Murphy will settle in at right tackle, but has played every position but center. The only downer was losing reserve guard Dave Ulinski, who had had to give up football after a series of concussions. It’s also been a productive spring for junior quarterback Morgan Newton, who’s been more consistent and thrown the ball with increased accuracy.

Questions unanswered: Kentucky coach Joker Phillips has been outspoken about wanting to see more guys step up at receiver, and he called out junior La’Rod King following last weekend’s scrimmage. The truth is that replacing somebody as talented and versatile as Randall Cobb is never easy, and the Wildcats also lost Chris Matthews, who led the team with nine touchdown catches last season. Brian Adams, who’s splitting time between baseball and football, showed that he will be able to help, and Gene McCaskill should be healthy in the fall after missing this spring and all of last season while recovering from major knee surgery. All in all, there were too many drops and not enough plays made to suit Phillips, and it sounds like the Wildcats will look to some of those incoming freshmen at receiver to help replenish the passing game.

Spring stars: Sophomore Raymond Sanders stepped right into Derrick Locke’s role as one of those running backs who can do a little bit of everything. Phillips said Sanders has bulked up 10 pounds from last season and actually gained a step. Sanders has also emerged as one of the Wildcats’ leaders on offense. Junior offensive guard Larry Warford just keeps getting better and is poised to be one of the top offensive linemen in the SEC next season. He’s penciled in at right guard, and at 6-3 and 330 pounds, will be the guy Kentucky runs behind next season in a lot of key situations. On defense, junior Collins Ukwu has been a force from his end position, while senior Winston Guy has made even more plays than he did a year ago now that he’s closer to the line of scrimmage in a linebacker/safety hybrid role.

Of note: The Wildcats’ spring game will consist of an offense vs. defense scrimmage with each side generating points based on a pre-determined scoring system. … Defensive tackle Mister Cobble underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum last week and will be out for four months. He’s expected to be back in time for the start of preseason practice in August. … Phillips kicked two players off the team this spring after they violated team rules – tight end Alex Smith and linebacker Jewell Ratliff. … Similar to Guy, the Wildcats also moved Ridge Wilson into a hybrid role on defense. He’s a cross between a linebacker and defensive end. … Phillips said Rick Minter’s new defensive scheme will be more aggressive and is designed to create more turnovers. Kentucky was 11^th in the SEC last season with only 16 forced turnovers in 13 games.

Losing do-everything wide receiver Randall Cobb was a major blow to Kentucky’s offense, but running back Derrick Locke’s departure stung a bit as well.

If not for a shoulder injury, Locke would most likely have surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2010 and he was a perfect complement to Cobb and quarterback Mike Hartline.

The good news for the Wildcats is that they should be able to plug someone right into Locke’s position.

Sophomore Raymond Sanders entered the spring as Kentucky’s starting running back, and with the spring game looming, he figures to leave that way.

Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said Sanders gained 10 pounds before the spring and actually got faster. He’s the type of running back who can carry the ball on any down and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Phillips said Sanders will be relied upon to not only run inside and out, but he’ll have to pick up blitzes and act like another receiver -- all things Sanders should be fine with.

“You have to be that type of back when you play in our offense,” Phillips said.

Sanders really started impressing coaches last summer when he came in and quickly picked up the offensive scheme and enhanced his footwork after working with Locke.

With the fundamentals down, Sanders saw time as a reserve, carrying the ball 68 times for 254 and three touchdowns.

Even better news for the Wildcats? Phillips said Sanders isn’t just a quality back, but he already has captain-like qualities.

“Raymond is a natural leader, so we expect him to be one of the leaders of our offense,”