ESPN College Football

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is rolling out his early top five rankings at each position this week.

Here are the positions he's looked at so far:

• Wide receivers and defensive ends
• Running backs and safeties
• Quarterbacks
• Cornerbacks
• Tight ends

Now, we're checking out the top linebacker prospects for next year's NFL draft. Kiper divided things up to look at outside linebackers and inside linebackers . I'm just combing the two to make things easier for everyone.

When it comes to outside linebackers, Alabama's Adrian Hubbard comes in at No. 2 on Kiper's list. Hubbard led Alabama with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season. He has what it takes to be an elite pass-rusher in the SEC, but he still has some growing to do. He has great speed, but just has to stay consistent with his speed off the edge. He's a player who Nick Saban is very excited about in 2013.

Other draft-eligible outside linebackers I'll keep an eye on this fall:

• Tahj Jones, LSU: An academic issue kept him out of all but one game last year, but Jones should start at one of the outside spots for the Tigers this fall. He's been very productive in the 28 games he's appeared in.
• Ronald Powell, Florida: He's coming off two ACL injuries and will be a hybrid defensive end as well. Powell was the top recruit a couple of years ago and had his best spring last year before his injury. He has all the skill to be a top-notch pass-rusher.
• Steven Jenkins, Texas A&M: He's versatile and experienced enough to play both outside and inside. He grabbed 79 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks last year.
• Deontae Skinner, Mississippi State: He was a little overlooked last year at his position, but Skinner is a player. He grabbed 62 tackles last year, including five for loss and forced a fumble.

As for the inside linebackers, Kiper went SEC-heavy with his top five. Alabama's C.J. Mosley comes in at No. 1 in Kiper's top five, while Trey DePriest ranks second, and Tennessee's A.J. Johnson ranks fourth.

Mosley flirted with leaving early for the NFL this year, but he will likely enhance his draft stock with one more year at Alabama. He can be an extremely aggressive player in the run, but also knows how to drop back into coverage to make plays. He's an extremely smart player and will be relied upon to be the quarterback of Bama's defense.

Joining Mosley in the middle is DePriest, who might be bigger than Mosley but is also pretty good in coverage. He's tough against the run and can get after the quarterback as well. He also puts his strength to good use on the field.

Johnson has really blossomed since arriving at Tennessee in 2011. Last year, he led the SEC with 138 tackles and continued to develop pretty much every area of his game. A lot of people think he could be a first-round draft pick next year.

Other draft-eligible inside linebackers I'll keep an eye on:

• Lamin Barrow, LSU: He's LSU's top returning tackler (104) and he'll take over as the Tigers' defensive captain. He's a very versatile player and can play both inside and outside if needed.
• Chase Garnham, Vanderbilt: He might not have received the same sort of attention as his fellow middle linebackers last year, but Garnham is a solid player. He not only registered 84 tackles last year but he led Vandy with seven sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
• Mike Marry, Ole Miss: He's a fierce competitor and worker for the Rebels. He's become a true leader with both his words and play, coming away with 78 tackles, including 10.5 for loss last year.
• Curt Maggit, Tennessee: He's another player who is versatile to play both inside and outside. He's coming off an ACL injury but should be ready to go this fall.
• Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State: The redshirt sophomore was extremely busy during his first year on the field in 2012, collecting 102 tackles. He should be looked at as one of the top inside linebackers in the SEC this fall.
• Andrew Wilson, Missouri: The old man of Mizzou's linebacking corps has a ton of experience -- and tackles -- under his belt. He can make plays against the run and the pass.

Edward Aschoff talks to Florida's Ronald Powell about his injuries that kept him out of last year and his fight to get back on to the field at the Swamp.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It was all about baby steps for Ronald Powell, both as a player and a person.

The two ACL injuries that ended his 2012 season took away his passion, but he also admits it improved who he was as a person.

“It was like God did this to make me a stronger person, a better person,” Powell told ESPN.com earlier this week.

“I’m a better person and a stronger person because of what I’ve had to endure with going through both of these ACL [injuries].”

It’s no secret that Powell, who led Florida with six sacks at Buck linebacker (linebacker/defensive end) in 2011, wasn’t the most personable guy around Florida’s football facility when he first arrived as the nation’s No. 1 high school player in 2010. He was sometimes standoffish and had attitude issues.

There were transfer rumblings after locker room spats with veterans and he wasn’t always receptive to coaching. Powell was a hotshot whose talent did everything for him in high school.

Talent couldn’t help him when he landed awkwardly while making an across-the-field tackle on running back Mike Gillislee during last year’s spring game. Powell was playing arguably the best football of his Florida career that spring until a freak injury ruined everything he’d done to that point.

Powell’s mental transformation was already beginning, and it was paying off on the field. It would have been easy for Powell to sulk, and it would have been hard to blame him.

“I saw a guy who handled hardship much better than I would have,” coach Will Muschamp said. “I saw a young man grow up. I saw a young man handle adversity better than I would have ever handled what he went through.

“There were people in the organization that didn’t handle it as well as he did.”

Powell said his ACL injury finally gave him something to get up and attack daily. He wasn’t only learning how to walk again or fire his quads up again for leg exercises, he was learning to have a more positive attitude. His goal was to find a way back on the football field, but he ended up finding more of his human side.

“I had to overcome that stuff and be positive when I wasn’t feeling up,” he said. “I still came in and showed smiles and was positive to my teammates. Still come in here and not be an [expletive].”

But those smiles quickly faded after he re-tore the ACL in his left knee cutting during rehab with his personal trainer before last year’s season opener against Bowling Green. He envisioned playing against LSU on Oct. 6, but that goal vanished in late August.

“After that, it was hard at first because you were at a point where you think you’ve made it out and you see the light at the end of the tunnel and all of a sudden, it’s gone,” he said.

Powell said he didn’t really lean on any specific person after each of his injuries. He felt it was something he had to overcome so he didn’t “cry or complain” to people. He was more motivated to get back on the field.

What helped him stay up after his second injury was interacting with teammates. It was hearing their laughter in the locker room and finding humor in their words, he said.

Even though he couldn’t play, Powell said he took to coaching up freshmen, like fellow Buck Dante Fowler Jr. and defensive end Jonathan Bullard, and admits both are way ahead of where he was at their age.

He also became a role model. When true freshman linebacker Matt Rolin arrived in Gainesville recovering from his own ACL injury, Powell went right to him, Muschamp said. He kept his spirits high, pushed him through training and made sure he wasn’t alone.

“That’s what it’s all about; it’s when you’ve got a peer, a teammate, a friend helping another young man through a tough situation,” Muschamp said. “That’s special.

“I don’t know if he would have done that three years ago. He’s doing it now.”

What Powell hopes to be doing in a few months is putting his pads back on. He’s expected to be cleared by doctors to resume practice on Aug. 1, when the Gators report for fall camp.

Muschamp also wants to make sure Powell, who ran this spring but still isn’t cutting, gets the most out of his future field time. Powell will play Sam linebacker in Florida’s base defense, but Muschamp will have Powell and Fowler (eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks) on the field at the same time in “Rabbit” and pass-rushing formations.

“I tell you, with me and him on the field that’s going to be scary,” Fowler said. “It’s not fair. I feel sorry for the quarterbacks.”

Powell calls playing again “a blessing” but he admits to being impatient. Fowler even said Powell rarely stays still during film sessions because he’s so anxious to play.

But Powell’s return will bring lofty expectations. However, he’s not concerned with hype or production. When asked about his future role, a humbler Powell could only grin and release a boyish giggle before answering.

“I just appreciate being on the depth chart,” he said.

It's Friday, and we're delighted to provide you with a few links:

• Johnny Manziel's focus is on the field.
• South Carolina defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles is working hard to show that he's flexible.
• Bruce Ellington again plans to pull double duty in football and basketball next season for the Gamecocks.
• The future is bright at Florida's "buck" end position with Dante Fowler, Jr. and Ronald Powell.
• Kentucky's Alvin "Bud" Dupree is ready for some work in the trenches.
• Former Tennessee linebacker Eric Westmoreland, who played on the Vols' 1998 national championship team, faces drug charges.
• Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy nearly took the Tennessee job over scheduling concerns.
• Ha Ha Clinton-Dix says the competition in Alabama's secondary is fierce.
• Aaron Brenner of the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer gives his thoughts on practice No. 2 for Auburn.
• Missouri quarterback James Franklin spends part of his spring break working with quarterback guru George Whitfield.
• Patience is critical as Arkansas continues the installation phase of spring.
• Redshirt freshmen Andrew Jelks and Barrett Gouger are pushing for playing time in Vanderbilt's offensive line.

The spring is the first chance to get a glimpse of some players who missed all or part of last season with injuries.

In many cases, a lot of those guys are still limited and aren’t going through contact.

But here’s a look at 10 players to watch in the SEC next season who are recovering from season-ending injuries a year ago, and in a few cases, didn't play at all in 2012:

Michael Bennett, WR, Georgia: Bennett was off to a fast start last season with 24 catches, including four touchdowns, in his first five games. But he tore the ACL in his right knee in practice the week before the South Carolina game and was done for the year. The 6-3, 204-pound junior figures to be one of Aaron Murray’s top targets in 2013.

Chris Black, WR, Alabama: Black, not Amari Cooper, was the star of the spring last year after enrolling early as a true freshman. Black went on to have a great summer, according to coach Nick Saban, but injured his shoulder in preseason practice and missed the entire season. There was talk of bringing him back for the SEC championship game, but the Tide elected not to burn his redshirt. The Black-Cooper tandem ought to be something to see in 2013.

Alfred Blue, RB, LSU: Having rushed for 100 yards in each of his first two games last season, Blue tore his ACL in the third game against Idaho. The Tigers are deep in the offensive backfield, and Jeremy Hill blossomed last season as a freshman. But Blue has outstanding speed and also catches the ball well. He should complement Hill nicely and has extensive SEC experience.

Josh Clemons, RB, Kentucky: Clemons was leading the team in rushing as a true freshman in 2011 when he tore up his right knee and was lost for the season. The knee didn’t respond as well as hoped from surgery, and Clemons redshirted last season. The Wildcats are being careful with him this spring and hope his return in the fall can help put a charge into a running game that ranked 11th in the SEC last season.

Henry Josey, RB, Missouri: After not playing at all last season, Josey is back on the practice field this spring. He was one of the most explosive running backs in the Big 12 before tearing the ACL, MCL and patellar tendon in his left knee late in the 2011 season against Texas. The injury required two surgeries, but he recently ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and is looking to regain the form that saw him rush for nearly 1,200 yards in 2011.

Ronald Powell, DE/OLB, Florida: Powell isn’t going through any contact this spring. He had a setback with his rehab from an ACL tear in his left knee during the season last year, ending any hope of playing in 2012. He suffered the injury during the spring game last year. The Gators are optimistic he’ll be fully healthy in the fall, and Powell gives them another marquee pass-rusher off the edge from his hybrid defensive end/linebacker “buck” position.

Brian Randolph, S, Tennessee: The Vols’ best defensive back before he went down with a torn ACL in the third game last season against Florida, Randolph will provide some-much needed stability in the Tennessee secondary. He earned Freshman All-America honors in 2011 and was second on the team with 55 total tackles. He’s also had experience playing the nickel position.

D.T. Shackelford, LB, Ole Miss: No player in the SEC has had tougher luck the past two seasons than Shackelford. He hasn’t played since 2010 after blowing out his knee in spring practice prior to the 2011 season. He had a second surgery last summer and wouldn’t have been anywhere close to 100 percent had he played in 2012. He now appears to be healthy and remains one of the Rebels’ strongest leaders. Shackelford led the team with five sacks in 2010.

Maxwell Smith, QB, Kentucky: Smith is practicing this spring and trying to win his job back after starting the first four games last season and completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and throwing for 975 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. His season was cut short by an ankle injury. Smith, now a junior, is vying this spring with Patrick Towles and Jalen Whitlow to be the Wildcats’ starter.

Brandon Wilds, RB, South Carolina: A severe ankle sprain plagued Wilds last season, and he took a redshirt season. But as a true freshman in 2011, he stepped in for the injured Marcus Lattimore and demonstrated that he was plenty capable of being the feature back. The 6-2, 218-pound Wilds is expected to share the carries in 2013 with sophomore Mike Davis, who also helped fill in last season when Lattimore went down.

Schedule: The Gators open spring practice today at 4:30 p.m. ET and will conclude the spring with their annual Orange & Blue Debut on April 6 at 1 p.m. ET inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

What's new: Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn left to become the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Will Muschamp then promoted D.J. Durkin from linebackers/special teams coach to defensive coordinator. Brad Lawing was hired away from South Carolina to help coach Florida's defensive line and was given the title of assistant head coach. Interim wide receivers coach Bush Hamdan was replaced by former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips.

On the mend: Redshirt junior offensive lineman Chaz Green will miss all of spring after undergoing ankle surgery following Florida's bowl game. Redshirt junior defensive end/linebacker Ronald Powell will also miss the spring while he continues to rehab his ACL injury that he suffered last spring. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Ian Silberman is out for the spring, as he recovers from shoulder surgery that he had before the bowl game. Freshman linebacker Matt Rolin is also out, recovering from ACL surgery. Senior offensive lineman Jon Halapio (knee scope), senior wide receiver Solomon Patton (broken arm), redshirt junior linebacker Neiron Ball (ankle) and punter Kyle Christy (shoulder) will all be limited this spring.

On the move: Junior cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy will start the first seven practices at the "Z" receiver spot. Redshirt freshman Quinteze Williams moved from defensive tackle to offensive tackle. Sophomore Antonio Morrison moved from Will to Mike linebacker, while redshirt junior linebacker Michael Taylor has moved from Mike to Will. Redshirt freshman Rhaheim Ledbetter moved from safety to fullback. Redshirt junior Gideon Ajagbe also moved from linebacker to fullback. Redshirt junior Cody Riggs has moved from cornerback to safety, where he's listed as a starter.

Question marks: Heading into the spring, the biggest questions remain on offense, where the Gators were incredibly inconsistent last year. Workhorse running back Mike Gillislee is gone, and while the Gators should feature a stable of running backs this fall, throwing the ball has to improve or this offense will go in reverse. Quarterback Jeff Driskel says he's more confident and offensive coordinator Brent Pease expects to open things up more in the passing game, but the Gators also have to get better protection up front and develop some more reliable receivers and replace top target, tight end Jordan Reed. Florida's defense has a lot of experienced youngsters, but it won't be easy to replace the production that guys like Sharrif Floyd, Matt Elam and Jon Bostic had last year. Florida is also looking for someone to replace kicker Caleb Sturgis. Redshirt freshman Austin Hardin and senior Brad Phillips will compete for that spot.

New faces: Rolin, running back Kelvin Taylor, linebackers Alex Anzalone and Daniel McMillian, defensive lineman Joey Ivie, and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson all enrolled early as true freshmen. Florida also welcomed Nebraska offensive lineman transfer Tyler Moore (sophomore) and junior college transfer Darius Cummings (DT). Offensive lineman Max Garica also transferred from Maryland and sat out last season.

Key battle: Florida has to find a reliable receiving target at either tight end or receiver. The athletic Kent Taylor figures to be the favorite at tight end, but he'll have to compete with Colin Thompson, Clay Burton and Tevin Westbrook. At receiver, it's a free-for-all, and there isn't a ton of experience. Purifoy will certainly get his shot, but vets Quinton Dunbar and Andre Debose have to make significant strides. So does rising sophomore Latroy Pittman, who fell off last year after a successful spring. Sophomore Raphael Andrades will be back and forth between football and baseball, while Patton will be limited. Keep an eye on Robinson, who was the top receiver in the Gators' 2013 class and is a downfield threat and someone who can be elusive through the middle of the field.

Breaking out: Florida needs to replace Gillislee, and sophomore Matt Jones has already had a solid offseason, according to coaches. He progressed as last season went on and has both speed and strength to work with. The plan is for him to be a 20-plus-carry player this fall. Morrison's role now expands, and after having a very solid freshman year, even more is expected from him now that he's at the Mike. If he improves his coverage ability, he could be a big-time player for the Gators. Also, keep an eye on junior safety Jabari Gorman. He covers a lot of ground and isn't afraid to play in the box.

Don't forget about: Ball and Riggs have dealt with injuries in the past, but as they get healthy, Florida's coaches are excited about what they could do in 2013. Ball will play some Buck and provides Florida with another solid third-down pass-rusher and should help the Gators put more pressure on opposing backfields this fall. Riggs played in just two games last year before fracturing his foot, but he's a very physical defensive back. With his speed, moving to safety should provide him a chance to make more plays in Florida's secondary. He was also the starter at safety when Elam went to nickel last year.

This marks the final year of the BCS, and you better believe the SEC would love to close the BCS era with eight straight titles. It would also ensure that the league has even more momentum going into the playoff, which starts during the 2014 season.

Colleague Travis Haney took a look at which conference has the best playoff path starting next year. He makes a pretty good case for the SEC, which should be able to get its conference champion in every year.

But who can wait for 2014 title talk? Yeah, me either, so why not take a look at SEC teams with the best BCS title paths in 2013? Spring practice begins this month, so we might as well throw out some very, very early thoughts on teams' championship hopes.

Let's take a look at which SEC teams have real BCS title shots in 2013:

ALABAMA

Pros: The Crimson Tide still have Nick Saban. That should be reason enough to make Alabama the odds on favorite to win its third straight national championship and fourth in five years. But there are many other reasons why Alabama tops our list. The offensive line might have to be rebuilt, but Alabama returns the nation's most efficient quarterback in AJ McCarron, who could have easily opted for the NFL after his junior year, a beast at running back in rising sophomore T.J. Yeldon, a host of talent -- and explosiveness -- at wide receiver, and most of the pieces to last year's top-ranked defense. Some big names have to be replaced on both sides, but this team really is reloading in 2013. Also, if the Tide can escape Virginia Tech (in Atlanta) and Texas A&M (in College Station) early, Alabama could go through the year unscathed, with road games coming against Kentucky, Mississippi State and Auburn.

Cons: Forget the pressure. Saban doesn't allow pressure to eat at his players. What Alabama has to do is replace three studs on that offensive line. Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker are all gone. Winning the battle in the trenches is essential to competing in the SEC, so Alabama's less experienced linemen have to grow up in a hurry. Also, no team can do it three times in a row, right?

TEXAS A&M

Pros: Johnny Manziel is back and last year proved that the Aggies are tough enough to compete in the big, bad SEC. Kliff Kingsbury might not be calling the plays anymore, but there is a lot of young talent on offense, including wide receiver Mike Evans and running backs Brandon Williams and Trey Williams, that should still give SEC defenses fits. A&M gets Alabama at home in Week 3 and trade Florida for Vanderbilt.

Cons: The Aggies lost a lot from their 2012 team. Left tackle Luke Joeckel is gone, along with receivers Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu, who combined for 98 catches for 1,398 yards and 15 touchdowns. The front seven has a lot to replace, including All-American defensive end Damontre Moore and linebackers Jonathan Stewart and Sean Porter. Kingsbury's sideline work with Manziel will be missed, and the Aggies have to play LSU, Ole Miss and Arkansas on the road.

GEORGIA

Pros: Georgia will be down wide receiver Tavarres King on offense, but it shouldn't be too hard to find someone to help make up for the loss of his production with all those talented receivers. "Gurshall" returns and so does quarterback Aaron Murray, who could become the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in each of his four years on campus. Bringing back the entire starting five on offense will also keep this offense trending upward.

Cons: The Bulldogs lost 12 players who either started or saw significant time on defense. Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree and Bacarri Rambo are just a few of the big names that are gone. There certainly is talent remaining, but replacing all those players would be tough for anyone. Also, look at that schedule. The Dawgs start the year with Clemson, South Carolina and LSU before September even arrives. Losing more than one game during that stretch could all but end Georgia's title hopes.

FLORIDA

Pros: The Gators lost some key players on defense, but coach Will Muschamp is bringing back a host of defensive talent that should do just fine in 2013. Marcus Roberson could be an All-SEC performer at cornerback, and incoming freshman Vernon Hargreaves III has the talent to start opposite him immediately. Ronald Powell returns to help out a young but very talented front seven that includes rising sophomores Dante Fowler Jr. and Jonathan Bullard. Also, the Gators should be very deep at running back and have a more complete offensive line in 2013.

Cons: No one is quite sure what to make of that offense. Sure, the Gators should be able to run the ball, even without workhorse Mike Gillislee, but what about throwing it? Jeff Driskel really struggled last year, and the Gators lost their best receiving option in tight end Jordan Reed. Florida will have to rely on five true freshmen to help at receiver, but Driskel has to increase his confidence and become a better presense in the huddle for this offense to improve at all. Florida also takes on Miami, LSU and South Carolina on the road.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Pros: The Gamecocks might be without Marcus Lattimore and Ace Sanders, but they should be very balanced on offense in 2013. South Carolina has two very capable quarterbacks to work with in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson, a talented group of running backs returning, led by rising sophomore Mike Davis, and more experience at receiver. One-man wrecking crew Jadeveon Clowney is back, and could be a legit Heisman candidate. South Carolina also spends the final month of the season at home.

Cons: Replacing Sanders will be tough because he did so much on offense and special teams. Clowney will have help up front, but South Carolina must replace its two-deep at linebacker. That's going to be quite the chore. Also, stud safety D.J. Swearinger, Spur DeVonte Holloman and cornerback Akeem Auguste all have to be replaced. Right now, this staff will have to rely on a handful of youngsters to help out this spring. The Gamecocks must also go to Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas.

LSU

Pros: The offense has to be more well-rounded in 2013. Cam Cameron is in at offensive coordinator, and quarterback Zach Mettenberger made major strides during the last month of the season. All of his receiving weapons are back, the offensive line should be better and there is a wealth of talent still at running back. The Tigers also get Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas at home.

Cons: The defense was gutted after the 2012 season. The defensive line has to be rebuilt, someone has to step in for Kevin Minter at middle linebacker and the secondary must fill in the holes left by Eric Reid and Tharold Simon. There is a lot of young talent on defense, but guys have to grow up quickly in Baton Rouge this year. Playing Alabama and Georgia on the road will be very tough as well.

Will Muschamp didn't waste much time filling the lone hole on his coaching staff.

With defensive coordinator Dan Quinn taking his talents to the NFL, Muschamp added South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing, who will be the Gators' assistant head coach and coach the defensive line along with Bryant Young. D.J. Durkin was promoted to defensive coordinator after Quinn left to be the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator.

The plan is for Lawing to coach Florida's defensive ends, like Quinn did, while Young will continue to coach the defensive tackles. Lawing brings 33 years of coaching experience, including 29 on the defensive line, to Gainesville. He also brings a solid list of players he's coached, including all-world end Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin Ingram.

Lawing coached the Gamecocks' defensive from 2006, and during his last two years in Columbia, Gamecocks ends have terrorized opposing backfields. Ingram turned into a first-round draft pick after a very impressive 2011 campaign, while Clowney made a huge leap from Year 1 to Year 2.

The Gators are hoping Lawing can have the same sort of impact on their ends, especially Ronald Powell, who is coming off of a major knee injury. Powell was the nation's No. 1 recruit back in 2010, but has yet to have the impact most expected him to have on Florida's defense. He might not be Clowney, but he has a tremendous amount of skill and made great strides last spring before his ACL injury. He won't go through contact during the spring, but should get some very good teaching from Lawing in the meantime.

Earlier, we took at look at five SEC Eastern Division players from the offensive side of the ball to keep an eye on in 2013 when it comes to potential breakout seasons.

Now, we're taking a stab at breakout defensive players to watch out for this fall (in alphabetical order):

Caleb Azubike, DE, Vanderbilt: With a defensive end spot up for grabs, Azubike has a chance to make a real name for himself in 2013. With limited snaps last fall, Azubike finished the year with 21 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, including four sacks. He's athletic and fast and with even more snaps this year should grow into a fine player for defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. The Commodores will need Azubike to step up and take some pressure off of other end Walker May.

Jordan Jenkins, LB, Georgia: Jenkins found himself in a starting position for most of the second half of the season and was quite the performer for the Bulldogs. While Jarvis Jones grabbed all of the attention, Jenkins made a handful of plays for the Bulldogs and finished the season with eight tackles for loss, five sacks and 22 quarterback hurries. He has good speed on the outside, which helps him cover a lot of ground and make it tough for teams in both the running and passing game. With Jones gone, Jenkins has a chance to put up some fine numbers in 2013.

Randy Ponder, CB, Missouri: With Kip Edwards departing, Ponder has a chance to start opposite E.J. Gaines at the other cornerback position. Ponder, who showed a lot of potential with some nice plays in the win over Tennessee, logged 29 solo tackles and broke up two passes with an interception. Losing Edwards hurts, but Ponder, a former walk-on, has promise and learned a lot from watching his teammates the past couple of years.

Ronald Powell, DE/LB, Florida: Last year was supposed to be Powell's breakout year, but he tore his ACL during Florida's spring game and had a setback during the fall. But Powell will sit out the spring and should be healthy for the upcoming season. With the Gators losing some quality talent on the defensive side of the ball, Powell's return is very important. He had a tremendous spring last year and if he returns to that form, he could be one of the top pass-rushers in the SEC. He arrived in Gainesville with a ton of hype, but has yet to live up to it. He's much more invested now, and that's a good thing for Florida.

Brian Randolph, S, Tennessee: Another player who is returning from an ACL injury. He suffered his early last fall, and should be ready for next season. Randolph had a big freshman year and was set up to have a big second year, but his injury stopped that. If Randolph comes back at full strength, he could cause a lot of problems for opposing quarterbacks. He's extremely smart in the defensive backfield and covers a ton of ground for the Vols. He has a ball-hawk mentality and isn't afraid to get in the box and make plays.

Michael DiRocco writes: A defense full of returning starters coupled with a buzzworthy new Brent Pease offense have the Gators looking up after a dismal few seasons, and Will Muschamp knows that nothing less than a December game in the Georgia Dome will be enough.

Derek Tyson writes : With nine teams in the top 25 of the 2013 recruiting class rankings, including Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU all sitting in the top 10, SEC schools are making their presence felt on the recruiting trail. Scary thing? They’re not done yet.

DiRocco writes: Florida might not have end/linebacker Ronald Powell for another month or so as he continues his rehab from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, but defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is still encouraged that the Gators' pass rush will improve.

Lerentee McCray has been through and seen a lot during his long Florida career.

The fifth-year senior linebacker/defensive end has seen the highs of winning a national championship and the lows of the school’s first losing record in conference play since the 1980s.

As he prepares to suit up for his final season in Gainesville, McCray wants to be a major component in what he hopes is a revival for the program in 2012.

“Whatever it takes to win, I’m ready to do it,” McCray said.

He’ll certainly get his chance, as he fills in for the injured and ever-popular Ronald Powell at the Buck position. Powell, who was the nation’s top recruit two years ago, had his best spring as a Gator this year before suffering an ACL injury during the spring game that should keep him out for most of the fall. While McCray missed all of spring recovering from shoulder surgery, Florida’s coaches didn’t hesitate to name him as Powell’s replacement.

And why would they? McCray is basically a bona fide hybrid. He began his career as an outside linebacker, but has since moved back and forth between linebacker and defensive end. He even got some action at Buck last year when Powell went down with an injury against Auburn.

He doesn’t have the name or hype Powell does, but McCray might have a little more fire and hunger, considering the up-and-down career he’s had in his four-plus years at Florida.

The former U.S. Army All-American participant and ESPN 150 member made the 50-plus-mile journey from Dunnellon, Fla., to Gainesville with lofty expectations. Along with just about everyone in his hometown, McCray expected to immediately compete for a starting spot and certainly expected a healthy amount of playing time as a freshman. But things didn’t exactly work out, as the 202-pound frosh played in just eight games, mostly on special teams, during the Gators’ national championship run. He played in just three games in 2009, receiving a medical redshirt.

Even with frustration mounting, McCray took time to learn from veteran playmakers such as Brandon Spikes, Ryan Stamper and Jermaine Cunningham. Sitting and watching motivated him and created a fierier attitude when it came to working out and practice.

But to make the kind of impact he wanted, McCray had to get bigger, so he was placed in Florida’s famed “Breakfast Club” where he turned into a real eater, inhaling as much steak, lobster and shrimp as he could during team feeding hours.

“I wasn’t a big eater before I got here, but they made me eat,” said McCray, who is at a comfortable 253 pounds that he hopes to maintain this fall.

Now that McCray has the will and the size, he’s looking to make a statement. He’s enjoyed a national championship and has seen Florida defenses rack up accolades, but he feels empty knowing he hasn’t been a tremendous help to his team yet.

“It’s been a high and low experience,” McCray said. “That’s life.”

That could change this fall, as McCray, who was named to the Butkus Award watch list, sees his role increase. He’s only appeared in 30 career games with just five starts, but had his best season yet in 2011, recording 24 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, giving coach Will Muschamp the impression that McCray could shine in 2012.

“I’m expecting a big year out of him,” Muschamp said. “I really am.”

Senior linebacker Jon Bostic feels the same way, but he’s always expected McCray to be a star. The first sign was during his freshman year, when Bostic recalls watching a scrawny McCray consistently put offensive linemen on their backs in practice.

“Regardless of what weight he was, he wasn’t going to back down from anybody,” Bostic said. “He’s one of those hard-nosed guys that’s going to run right down the middle at people.

“He makes somebody feel the pain before he does.”

McCray hopes to inflict even more pain this fall. And he isn’t concerned about any added pressure that will come with replacing Powell, who led Florida in sacks last year. He embraces the test and plans to finally make a name for himself.

“I’m a person who likes to take on challenges,” he said. “I came from the bottom. I’d like to get to the top. That’s what I’m looking to achieve, so I really don’t feel any pressure because I’m already the underdog.”

We continue our "One good reason" series looking at the Florida Gators.

Good reasons:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Auburn

Let's see what the Gators could have in store for 2012:

Florida will win the SEC Eastern Division: The Gators' defense is stacked.

We all know that defense wins championships, and Will Muschamp has a group that could be one of the country's elite defensive units this fall. Led by All-SEC safety Matt Elam, the Gators return 10 starters from last year's squad. Buck Ronald Powell, who had an exceptional spring, could miss most of the season after suffering an ACL injury during the spring game, but the staff is confident that senior Lerentee McCray will fill in nicely in Powell's absence. Even without Powell, Florida's front seven is stacked. Defensive tackle Dominique Easley should be healthy after his ACL injury in last year's season finale, and Sharrif Floyd will be at his more natural position of tackle much more this fall. Veteran tackle Omar Hunter is back and junior college transfer Damien Jacobs had a solid spring at tackle.

The linebackers are experienced, starting with All-SEC candidates Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins, and rookie Antonio Morrison was a real spark for the defense this spring. The secondary should be decent as well, with sophomore Marcus Roberson back after a solid freshman season. Fellow sophomore Loucheiz Purifoy could be a budding star.

This unit finished the season ranked eighth in total defense and still didn't play up to its full potential. Muschamp came out of spring more excited and happier with his defense, which wasn't even at full strength. If the Gators can cut down on the mental mistakes and play with more attitude, this defense will be even better in 2012 and will be tough for East's top offenses to beat.

Why it won't: The offense is just too unproven.

While the defense is equipped with plenty of star power, the offense is lacking ... considerably. The players seem to be pretty excited about new offensive coordinator Brent Pease, and not much will change from Charlie Weis' offensive scheme, but the pieces in place are very unproven. Florida will throw out two sophomore quarterbacks -- Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel -- who struggled in relief last year. At this point, neither has separated himself from the other in the race for the starting spot. Chance are that both will play this fall, but finding consistent throwing targets is concerning. The Gators have talent at wide receiver, but it's either unproven or inconsistent. Andre Debose has shown flashes of being a solid playmaker, but he's had a tendency to fade away during games. Quinton Dunbar was supposed to break out last year, but caught just 14 passes. And Frankie Hammond Jr. just hasn't turned the corner like the coaches have wanted. Tight end Jordan Reed could be the answer, but he has to stay more focused on the field.

At running back, Mike Gillislee gives the Gators their first true downhill threat since Tim Tebow, but he's been inconsistent when given his chances. Redshirt sophomore Mack Brown has barely done anything and Omarius Hines is moving from tight end. The offensive line has struggled mightily for the past two seasons, but the staff feels it made considerable strides this spring.

Florida was 105th in total offense last year, 89th in passing, 73rd in rushing and lacked toughness across the board. Most of the components from that unit return, so a lot of pressure is on this group to improve in Muschamp's second year.

Florida's football team got some very good news Friday.

A little more than a year after an arteriovenous malformation was found on linebacker Neiron Ball's brain, forcing him to miss all of the 2011 season, the sophomore linebacker was medically cleared to play this fall.

The 6-foot-2, 222-pound Ball played in all 13 of Florida's games in 2010, mainly on special teams, and registered 10 tackles. Ball started working out and running again this spring.

Ball will compete at the weakside linebacker spot behind Jelani Jenkins with freshmen Antonio Morrison and Jeremi Powell. Coach Will Muschamp said during the 2012 SEC spring meetings that if Ball were to return to Florida's football team, he could also get some work at the Buck position with Lerentee McCray and Gideon Ajagbe, since starter Ronald Powell is still questionable for the 2012 season while he recovers from an ACL injury he suffered during Florida's spring game.

Getting Ball back into the lineup not only provides more depth at linebacker for the Gators but it will bring a spark to that side of the ball. When Ball was on the field for Florida he was a very energetic figure for the Gators. Florida returns 10 starters to a defense that ranked eighth nationally in 2011.

DESTIN, Fla. -- Florida coach Will Muschamp isn't going to bet against Ronald Powell coming back this fall.

Despite the rising junior defensive end/linebacker undergoing ACL surgery on April 23, Muschamp said he's still holding out hope that Powell will return at some point during the fall.

“I think so. I really do," Muschamp said during the 2012 SEC spring meetings Tuesday. "I’m not going to bet against him. He’s working extremely hard. His range of motion is way ahead of where it should be at this time. His strength levels are good. Everything points really good."

By all accounts, Powell, who led the Gators with six sacks and recorded nine tackles for loss in 2011, had a tremendous spring and showed a lot of improvement in the maturity department before his injury during Florida's spring game.

Earlier this month, Muschamp said that Powell was off crutches and appeared to be ahead of schedule, but he's still in wait-and-see mode.

"Like I’ve said, I think the last 30 percent of an ACL is the hard part," he said. "That’s when you start cutting, that’s when you start to take on people, the weight, all of that that you’ve got to deal with. Those are the things that I think will decide (when he returns) as we move closer and when we get into August and September and that four-month timeframe. Our (medical) people do a great job and the surgery went very well. We’re pleased with how the surgery went and how the swelling and all things hold up.”

Redshirt senior Lerentee McCray backed Powell up at the Buck position last fall, but missed spring while recovering from shoulder surgery. Muschamp also said that sophomore linebacker Neiron Ball could compete at Buck or the Sam linebacker position this fall if he's medically cleared to play. Ball missed all of the 2011 season because of the arteriovenous malformation found in his brain in February of 2011, but Muschamp said Ball has recently started lifting and running again.

“He’s got one more appointment with the doctor,” Muschamp said. “I think he should be fine. He’s in Gainesville.

“You never know, something might pop up at the end. But he’s going back for one more deal to make sure he’s really cleared. Our medical people would not clear him if they thought there was an issue of any sort.

“I totally trust their opinion. Nor would he want to play if there was any chance for anything happening.”