The Southeastern Conference wasn’t very good last year. Fact. Sure, they get credit for having the national champion and another BCS participant, but overall the conference was lacking the depth it has recently been known for. Tennessee was impotent; ditto Auburn; LSU lost one less game in 2008 than they did in the previous three season combined; Georgia was supposed to be unstoppable, but was far from it; you get the idea. This year, the SEC boasts a handful of potentially great teams as long as they don’t cannibalize each other along the way. Yeah, it’s probably Florida and everybody else again, but don’t be surprised if Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, and possibly Georgia make some noise of their own.
Predicted Order of Finish:
East Division:
1.) Florida – They won the national title last season after dumptrucking anybody and everybody they played after an early season loss to Ole Miss. They have 17 starters returning from that team, including all 11 on defense. Their quarterback is probably the best college QB of all time. Are you getting it yet? Florida is unbelievably good. QB Tim Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner in 2007 as a sophomore and finalist last year, is back for his senior year. That alone makes the Gators a contender. Add in the return of RBs Emmanuel Moody, Chris Rainey, and Jeff Demps, and there is plenty of firepower in Gainesville. The question mark is at receiver where all-world Percy Harvin is now gone to the Minnesota Vikings. Harvin was the most dynamic player for the Gators last season and will be greatly missed. WRs Carl Moore, David Nelson, Riley Cooper, and Deonte Thompson are all talented – but they’re not Harvin. Their improvement decides whether Florida is going to be incredible or invincible. Florida must replace both tackles on the line, but there is plenty of talent in place to make sure that protecting Tebow and opening up holes for the backs isn’t an issue. Last year, the Florida defense was supposed to be what was keeping Tebow and Co. from being national-title good. By the end of the year, the dominant unit was a large part of the reason that the Gators were able to win it all. There is talent all over the place, depth at every position, and experience dripping from all sides. In short, expect this defense to be outstanding. After giving up 31 points to Ole Miss in their lone loss of the season, the highest total this group gave up the rest of the year was 21 to LSU…and the offense scored 51, so it was excusable. It all starts on the defense line where DEs Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham make life miserable on opposing quarterbacks. Dunlap had 9.5 sacks this year and is a good best to usurp that total in 2009. The linebackers are ridiculously talented, and are led by Brandon Spikes. Spikes was projected to be a Top 10 NFL Draft choice, but chose to return to school to repeat as national champions. His 93 tackles were the top total on the team, and he should get close to 100 again this year. The secondary is anchored by stud CB Joe Haden and terrific safety Ahmad Black. These two always seem to be around the ball and make it nearly impossible to throw on the Gator defense. Sophomore Will Hill would start at safety at any other school, but will get time as a backup at Florida this year. The Gators’ schedule is relatively easy. The road trip to LSU is obviously a tough game, but the trips to Kentucky, Mississippi State, and South Carolina don’t seem that bad. Watch out for the rivalry game against Georgia in Jacksonville; that should be a good one.
2.) Georgia – Joe Cox, your table is ready. After QB Matt Stafford left early to become a #1 draft choice, Cox was given the reins of the Bulldog offense. He’s used to carrying on tradition, as he was the successor to Chris Leak at Independence High School and kept their winning streak intact during his two years as a starter. Cox will be throwing to a talented group of wide receivers led by the fabulous A.J. Green. As a true freshman, Green caught for 963 yards and 8 TDs. Expect even better numbers this season. The running back situation is cloudy after the departure of Knowshon Moreno, but a host of talented backs are vying for the job. RBs Caleb King and Richard Samuel will share carries to begin with, but look for Samuel to emerge as the featured back as the season wears on. The offensive line returns all 5 starters which is a huge boost to the offense. Cox will have time to throw, and the new running backs should have plenty of space to run. On defense, the Bulldogs have a group that disappointed last year, but should be due for a bounce back season this year. DT Geno Atkins is a hoss and will lead an improved line that should be much better against the run this year than it was last year. LB Rennie Curran makes plays all over the field and led the team in tackles last year with 115. Akeem Dent is a returning starter at linebacker as well, so expect this unit to be very good from the get-go. The secondary gave up some big plays last year and will need to improve to bolster the Georgia D. CB Prince Miller is a very good cover-corner and should match up well with the receivers he faces. S Reshad Jones is a tackling machine, but covers like a linebacker…and I don’t mean that in no nice way. The Georgia schedule is pretty tough, all things considered. The opening weekend game at Oklahoma State is a huge test right off the bat, and conference road games against Arkansas and Tennessee are no gimmes either. Once again, the division crown will come down to the Cocktail Party battle against Florida in Jacksonville.
3.) Tennessee – Well, Lane, show us what you’ve got. After running his mouth all offseason about various coaches/teams in the SEC, new Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin hasn’t made any friends. However, his energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a peerless work ethic, have given Tennessee fans reason to believe he’s the right man to pull them out of their Phillip Fulmer-induced malaise. QB Jonathan Crompton returns for his 11th year at Tennessee and hopes to produce in his senior year. He’s got physical ability out the wazoo, but is very inconsistent. Kiffin has a track record of producing fine passers, so expect Crompton to improve this season. His wide receivers are talented, but inexperienced. Freshman Nu’Keese Richardson, an SEC name of the year nominee, is expected to start from the get-go, and former Freshman All-America tight end Brandon Warren is switching to wideout. Denarius Moore, a junior, has some experience and can stretch the field with his blazing speed. The running back situation is up in the air. RB Montario Hardesty has played relatively well in the past when he’s gotten time, but super-recruit Bryce Brown, the crown jewel of Kiffin’s first class, will likely get the most carries. Good speed and good vision set Brown apart from his peers and he should get to show what he can do from opening day. The right side of the line must be replaced, but expect the unit to play well under Kiffin’s tutelage. On defense, Monte Kiffin, Lane’s fater and the architect of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ‘Tampa 2’ scheme, takes over. Considering this group was one of the absolute best in the country last year, expect no drop-off in 2009. Safety Eric Berry is the star, and rightfully so as he always seems to be around the ball no matter if it’s a running play or a pass play. Keep your eye on #14, he does special things on the field. The defensive line is very strong on the interior with DTs Dan Williams and Wes Brown. DE Chris Walker has good speed on the edge and should be able to apply plenty of pressure to opposing quarterbacks. The linebackers are a young group with little experience, but returning starter Rico McCoy should be able to cover up some of their mistakes. Outside of Berry, the secondary could be an issue. CBs Brent Vinson and Art Evans have experience, but don’t always make good plays on the ball. Tennessee’s schedule is littered with tough games. At Florida, at Ole Miss, and at Alabama are games that will require a little bit of good fortune for Tennessee to win. I like what Kiffin is doing in Knoxville, though; so a surprise season could be in store.
4.) South Carolina – Fresh off a 7-6 year, the Gamecocks are looking to once again become competitive in the SEC. The problem is that only 10 starters return to a team that wasn't very good last year. The quarterback situation was a mess last year, but through attrition, it may be better this year since coach Steve Spurrier will most likely settle on QB Stephen Garcia. He's still Spurrier, so backup Reid McCollum may get some time. Lining up behind Garcia will be RB Brian Maddox, a bruising runner with good speed. South Carolina had the worst rushing attack in the conference last year, so don't expect much from the ground game. WR Kenny McKinley is gone, so the Gamecocks need a new go-to guy. Jason Barnes is a returning starter and the most likely guy to take on that role, but Moe Brown is the leading returning receiver, so he should get some catches as well. TE Weslye Saunders (no typo) is dependable and should be a valuable commodity for Garcia. The offensive line returns 3 starters, so time shouldn't be an issue for the new quarterback. On defense, South Carolina has some interesting pieces. They finished 13th last year in total defense nationally, so look for this unit to lead the way this season. DT Nathan Pepper and DE Cliff Matthews lead the defensive line, which should continue to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks this season. At linebacker, Eric Norwood is a beast. He initially declared for the NFL Draft, but decided to come back for his senior year. The leading returning tackler and sack man, Norwood is crucial to this defense. In the secondary, FS Chris Culliver is the lone returning starter. He makes plays all over the field, and will have to until the young corners grow up. South Carolina's schedule is a tough one. Road trips to Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas will be difficult to navigate. Home dates with Florida and Ole Miss won't be fun either, although they could jumpstart a surprise season with an early season upset of the Rebels.
5.) Vanderbilt – Fresh off their first bowl appearance in over 20 years, the Commodores will attempt to repeat their success. Returning 8 starters on offense and 9 starters on defense gives them a great shot of doing so. The entire offensive line returns intact, which is huge considering the quarterback situation is troubling. The offense finished 117th in total yardage last season, so improved play at the position is a must. Sophomore Larry Smith appears to have gone ahead of senior Mackenzi Adams, but neither has taken a stranglehold on leading Vandy's new no-huddle attack. RB Jared Hawkins returns after averaging over 4 yards per carry last season. Though Hawkins is steady, look for freshmen Zac Stacy, Warren Norman, and Wesley Tate to get looks in hopes of unearthing a home run threat at the position. The wide receivers are all new starters, but there is some experience available. WRs Terrence Jeffers and Alex Washington are good targets who should provide the quarterback with dependable options. Defensively, Vanderbilt had a very good year in 2008, finishing 21st in the nation in scoring defense. Returning starters are the name of the game here, and the Commodores have plenty. DT Greg Billinger is the leader of a defensive line that returns in full. The unit isn't going to take your breath away, but it's a solid group that will produce. The linebackers are a very talented bunch, led by Patrick Benoist, who earned 2nd team all-conference honors last season. The secondary returns 2 starters, including CB Myron Lewis, a senior who should challenge for All-SEC honors this fall. Vandy's schedule should get them off to a good start before the meat of SEC play kicks in. In order to qualify for a second straight bowl game, the 'Dores must likely upset Georgia or Georgia Tech in Nashville.
6.) Kentucky – In his time at Kentucky, Rich Brooks has made the Wildcats respectable. However, he hasn't quite gotten to the point where they can be competitive year in and year out. This year, there are some problems facing Kentucky, namely the quarterback position. QB Mike Hartline is the returning starter, but did little to impress last season. He must improve his play if UK is to make any noise this year. Former quarterback Randall Cobb is now split out wide and will look to help stabilize the position. If he can emerge as a go-to guy, ironically, he'll help the guy who took his job last season. In addition to Cobb, wideout and SEC name of the year nominee Kyrus Lanxter will try to give the Wildcats the deep threat they've been missing since the days of Keenan Burton. The running back position lacks experience, but look for Alfonso Smith, who played well as a backup last year, to emerge as the starter. The offensive line has some holes to fill, but that is low on the priority list in comparison to settling the quarterback position and finding a go-to receiver. On defense, Kentucky should be good. DE Jeremy Jarmon is the star of a very good defensive line that will not get pushed around by anyone. The linebackers are a very talented group, but don't have much depth. LB Micah Johnson is a good bet to lead the team in tackles this season. The secondary is very good, and could surprise people with their play this season. CB Trevard Lindley is among the best in the conference, and will most likely be playing on Sundays a year from now. Kentucky's schedule is hard. Florida and Alabama come to Lexington early in the season, which gives UK two losses right off the bat. Road trips to South Carolina, Auburn, and Georgia will also cause problems. A bowl game would be a great accomplishment for Rich Brooks this year.
West Division:
1.) Alabama – Roll Tide. Alabama lost a lot from last year's almost-undefeated, almost-SEC-champion team. T Andre Smith, QB John Parker Wilson, and RB Glen Coffee, just to name a few. An offense that looked lost in the Sugar Bowl without Smith will have to find its way with only 4 starters returning. QB Greg McElroy replaces Wilson and will have to be ready from the get-go. He won't need to win the Tide a lot of games, but he certainly can't afford to throw away any, either. RB Mark Ingram is back after a stellar freshman campaign in which he rushed for 728 yards in limited duty. Behind an evolving offensive line, he may not find as much space as he did last year, but he'll certainly compensate for that with his shiftiness. Also keep an eye on freshman Trent Richardson, whom everyone seems to love. McElroy's biggest asset is going to be WR Julio Jones, who impressed everyone with 924 yards receiving as a true freshman last year. With a year of experience under his belt, Jones should be among the best wide receivers in the SEC this year. On defense, Alabama should be stout. Not that coach Nick Saban ever has bad defenses, but this one could be special. NT Terrence Cody is enormous and is a one-man run stuffer. DE Brandon Deaderick will miss some time after being shot in an attempted robbery, but will provide quality play upon his return a few games into the season. Linebacker is a good position for the Tide, with 4 starters returning to their 3-4 alignment. The star is Rolando McClain, who is one of the best linebackers in the country. An NFL future awaits him, but he has unfinished business in Tuscaloosa first. The secondary will sorely miss Rashad Johnson and his peerless leadership, but plenty of talent remains. CBs Javier Arenas (Gilbert's cousin) and Kareem Jackson form one of the top cornerback duos west of Gainesville. Good luck throwing on this group. Alabama's schedule doesn't include Florida, which is a good thing this year. The season opener against Virginia Tech is a biggie, as is the road trip to Ole Miss. That game should decide the SEC West.
2.) Ole Miss – Houston Nutt likes to bill his team as underdogs and then overachieve. However, when his team has expectations, like the 2009 Rebels, it's tough for him to meet them. This year may be different, however, because Ole Miss is loaded this year. Everyone knew former coach Ed Orgeron could recruit; he just couldn't scheme at all. Everyone knows Houston Nutt can scheme with the best of them. This indirect partnership results in a dizzying array of talent on both sides of the ball. QB Jevan Snead is so good that he stole a vote from Tim Tebow on the preseason All-SEC team. Granted, that has nothing to do with anything, but it shows you how he's regarded around the league. 26 TDs in his sophomore year last season may just be the tip of the iceberg. His favorite wide receiver is Dexter McCluster, a versatile talent who can line up at a number of positions. In addition to wideout, you're likely to see McCluster lined up at running back and quarterback in certain packages. The most dependable receiver on the team is Shay Hodge, the active SEC leader in receptions, yardage, and touchdowns. Quite the one-two punch on the edge for Ole Miss. The running game should be stout, as three returning players rushed for at least 500 yards last season. Brandon Bolden is the likely starter, but will share carries with McCluster and Cordera Eason as well. On defense, the Rebels return 8 starters to a group that was 19th in the nation in total yardage last season. DE Greg Hardy is a sackmaster and should help give Ole Miss one of the best defensive lines in the conference. The linebackers are experienced, but there isn't a whole lot of depth there. LBs Jonathan Cornell and Allen Walker are skilled and should make a ton of tackles. S Kendrick Lewis is the leading returning tackler on the team and pairs with CB Marshay Green to give the Rebels a talented, if inconsistent, secondary. Ole Miss' schedule is another reason to be excited if you're a Rebel fan. The conference road games are against South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn, and Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. If they handle their business at home (read: beat Alabama and LSU), an SEC West crown should be in the cards.
3.) LSU – After an uncharacteristically poor season, coach Les Miles hired former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis to clean things up. His unit is led by DE Rahim Alem, a pass-rush specialist who led the team with 8 sacks last season, good for All-SEC honors. Look for Alem to, once again, be among the conference's elite. LBs Perry Riley and Kelvin Sheppard are good at getting to the ball and should make a lot of plays this year. Harry Coleman brings an added athleticism to the group and should be featured in a number of different ways. The secondary is led by CB Chris Hawkins, the only returning starter in the group. Safeties Chad Jones and Karnell Hatcher are talented, but need to make plays on the ball more consistently. On the other side of the ball, QB Jordan Jefferson needs to be great if the Tigers are to go anywhere. In his limited freshman season, Jefferson showed the ability to make plays with his legs, but also an inconsistent arm. He must progress as a passer to make the LSU offense work properly. His top target will be WR Brandon LaFell, who seems like he's been at LSU for 8 years now. His hands are somewhat iffy, but his speed and ability to break open a short passing route are unquestioned. RB Charles Scott had a very productive year last season, and looks to improve upon tthe 1,174 yards he amassed in 2008. Running behind a big offensive line that features T Ciron Black and SEC name of the year nominee T-Bob Hebert, he should be able to do so. LSU's schedule features some tough games. In addition to Florida coming to Death Valley, the Tigers must go on the road to play Georgia, Ole Miss, and Alabama. Good luck with that.
4.) Arkansas – Bobby Petrino has the people skills of a drill sergeant. However, he also produces results like a drill sergeant so he's worth keeping around...until he leaves for his next job, that is. At Arkansas, he is building something that should arrive neatly wrapped in 2010, but may rear its head a bit earlier. After transferring from Michigan, QB Ryan Mallett gives Petrino the big arm he needs to run his diverse, multiple sets playbook. Think of a distance in your head and I can almost guarantee you that Mallett can throw it that far. Yes, touch passes are somewhat of an issue, but Petrino is smart enough to limit those for his quarterback. Behind Mallett, RB Michael Smith returns after rushing for 1,000 yards last year. He's a very quick back with big play ability, but has a history of injury problems. Former USC tailback Broderick Green will also play this year after getting a waiver from the NCAA to play immediately after transferring due to health issues in his family. WRs Joe Adams, London Crawford, and Jarius Wright form one of the deepest groups of pass-catchers in the nation. They are a talented bunch that will only enhance Mallett's play this season. The best of the receivers may be TE D.J. Williams, a pro prospect with tremendous hands. Defensively, the Hogs return 9 starters to a group that was great at times, but inconsistent as well. The entire defensive line returns intact, and DT Malcolm Sheppard should lead the way after leading the team in sacks last season. At linebacker, Jerry Franklin covers sideline-to-sideline and should lead the team in tackles for the second year in a row. The secondary was solid for the defense last year and returns 2 starters. CB Isaac Madison is very physical and should show improvement this year. SS Jerico Nelson is good in run support, but must improve his coverage. Arkansas' schedule is about as bad as it gets for an SEC team. They have road games at Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, and LSU. Remember how I said Razorback fans may have to wait until 2010 to be happy? Now you know why.
5.) Auburn – Well, I'll be watching this...along with thousands of other people. After canning former coach Tommy Tuberville for reasons unknown, the Tigers went out and hired former defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, who'd moved on to coach Iowa State with very little success. Now he's back at Auburn and looking to show everyone that it wasn't a silly move after all. His best move may have come in the spring when he hired former Tulsa offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to run his offense. If he lets Malzahn operate, the scoring issue could go away quickly. Running Malzahn's offense will be...well, um, we're not sure. Kodi Burns has a strong, but inconsistent, arm and good wheels, so he's probably the best bet to start. However, Neil Caudle is more of a traditional dropback passer who could thrive in Malzahn's wide-open system. This battle could go on for a few games before someone finally emerges. RB Ben Tate has had some injury problems in the past, but showed some talent last year as a backup. He could challenge for 1,000 yards rushing this season. WR Mario Fannin the wild card for the Tiger offense. He catches, runs, throws, basically doing a little bit of everything. Malzahn will use him in a number of ways. The leading returning receiver is WR Montez Billings, who could emerge as a go-to receiver for the new quarterback. On defense, Auburn should be just fine. The unit was great last year and Chizik has a reputation for developing stingy groups. DE Antonio Coleman provides lots of pressure off the edge, and DT Jake Ricks should provide plenty of help against the run. Linebacker is a position where Auburn could use an upgrade, and it could come in the form of juco recruit and SEC name of the year nominee Eltoro Freeman. Great name. He has shown some ability in practice and should start right away. The secondary is led by safeties Mike McNeil and Zac Etheridge, both guys who can find the ball and get to it in a hurry. The Tigers face a pretty challenging schedule. Road games at Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU, and Georgia will test their mettle, but a home date against West Virginia could decide whether or not Auburn is a bowl team in 2009.
6.) Mississippi State – After firing Sylvester Croom (no matter what his "resignation" may have been phrased like), the Bulldogs look to start over with former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen. Mullen brings the style and discipline of Urban Meyer to Starkville, which should be a welcome addition to MSU's fans. Scoring points in the Croom era was pretty much impossible for the Bulldogs, so at least this year's version should be vaguely watchable. The triggerman for the offense will be QB Tyson Lee, a former juco player who started most of the Bulldogs' games last season. He's a solid player, but certainly will not take MSU to the next level. His targets will be WRs Brandon McRae and Delmon Robinson, but neither is a playmaker. New blood may be required from this year's freshman class to solve the issues at receiver. Running back Anthony Dixon is a good player. Despite the ineptitude of the offense, Dixon ran for 869 yards and 7 TDs. Mullen's system should get him plenty of carries, making it likely that he'll improve upon those numbers. 4 starters return to the offensive line, which is good news for Lee and Dixon. On defense, Mississippi State has the talent in place to field a very good unit. DT Pernell McPhee is a solid player who may also be used at defensive end to increase the pressure that was non-existent last season. At linebacker, K.J. Wright has great quickness and is a sure-tackler. He leads a surprisingly deep group that should help the young line deal with any problems. In the secondary, CB Marcus Washington returns after starting every single game for the Bulldogs last season. His consistency sets the tone for the defensive backs. S Charles Mitchell has a lot of talent, and could emerge as a game-changer in the secondary. Mississippi State's schedule only features a few winnable games, but that's somewhat irrelevant. The good news is that the Bulldogs should show some improvement this year, and have a coach in place who can take them back to being the SEC West contenders that they used to be.
Disappointing Team: Ole Miss
Surprise Team: Arkansas
Top Players: QB Tim Tebow, Florida; QB Jevan Snead, Ole Miss; WR Julio Jones, Alabama; LB Brandon Spikes, Florida; S Eric Berry, Tennessee
Players to Keep An Eye On: WR Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss; QB Jordan Jefferson, LSU; RB Bryce Brown, Tennessee; QB Ryan Mallett, Arkansas; QB Greg McElroy, Alabama
Key Games: Florida at LSU, October 10th; Alabama at Ole Miss, October 10th; Florida vs. Georgia, October 31st; LSU at Alabama, November 7th; LSU at Ole Miss, November 21st
Coolest Jerseys: Ole Miss Rebels
~~ Lank
