The Southeastern Conference was surprisingly dim in offensive star power last year, a fact underscored by the league's lack of a serious Heisman Trophy candidate. (The Heisman, as we all know, only goes to offensive players. Unless there's a vast Yankee/ESPN conspiracy afoot to rob the Tennessee Volunteers.)
Auburn's wrecking ball running back, Rudi Johnson, finished 10th in the Heisman voting. It was the SEC's lowest polling for the little stiff-armer since it was shut out of the Top 10 in 1990.
Now Johnson is in the NFL. Only two returning starting quarterbacks threw more touchdowns than interceptions. And Steve Spurrier again is contemplating QB roulette at Florida. The hunt is on down South for a marquee player.
We'll keep an eye peeled for Eli Manning, but the fact is, most of the biggest names are on the other side of the ball. This looks like a molar-rattling season for defense in the SEC.
Tennessee is loaded with defensive linemen, led by returning Outland Trophy winner John Henderson. LSU is stacked at linebacker, with Trev Faulk and Bradie James. Florida is flush in the secondary, paced by cornerback Lito Sheppard. All three units are among the best in the nation.
It doesn't stop there, either. Mississippi State, South Carolina and Alabama all have multiple All-America defensive candidates and figure to tackle first, score later. Arkansas led the league in total defense a year ago and brings back seven starters. Auburn's most reliable returnees are on defense. Vanderbilt is always better at stopping the other guy than scoring. And Kentucky has to be improved defensively, for the simple fact that it can't be worse than it was in 2000.
This doesn't necessarily mean the days of 10-7 ballgames are back, but track meets might be in short supply. If defense indeed wins championships -- the hoary bromide held true with Oklahoma last year -- the SEC seems well-positioned to produce a title team.
Game of the Year: Florida-Tennessee is the old reliable, but the Gators' trip to Baton Rouge Oct. 6 might actually loom larger. Florida was undefeated and No. 1 in 1997 when LSU upset them there 28-21. Spurrier's team could well be in the same position this trip, and figures to meet the best Tigers team since then.
Offensive Player of the Year: Florida receiver Jabar Gaffney follows Reidel Anthony, Ike Hilliard and other receiving stars of the Fun 'N' Gun offense. He racked up 71 receptions for 1,184 yards and 14 touchdowns last year in his first season of college ball. Didn't matter which of Florida's rotating quarterbacks were doing the throwing, Gaffney was open.
Defensive Player of the Year: Tennessee's John Henderson. Quarterbacks around the league must have sought counseling after Henderson surprisingly bypassed the NFL draft. He could go No. 1 next April. Last season, the 6-foot-7, 290-pound tackle had 12 sacks, nine other tackles for loss and never did find the blocker who could defeat him without help.
Pat Forde covers college football for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
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