ESPN College Football

Time for some links.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that the late Derrick Thomas was a major snub for the College Football Hall of Fame.
• Missouri dismisses safety Tavon Bolden ... again.
• Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and new athletic director Dave Hart laud new Hall of Famer Phillip Fulmer.
• Alabama coach Nick Saban says wide receiver DeAndrew White is "doing fine" after last month's late-night altercation outside of a Tuscaloosa, Ala., bar.
• Georgia coach Mark Richt talks space for the 2013 class.
• Mike Herndon of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Auburn has a chance to be much better in 2012.
• Florida coach Will Muschamp talks Texas A&M and his quarterback situation.
• Florida defensive tackle Leon Orr was cited for knowingly driving with a suspended license.

USA Today's annual study is out on who in college athletics makes the most money and who spends the most money.

Not surprisingly, of the 10 biggest spenders, four are from the SEC: No. 4 Florida ($107.1 million), No. 5 Alabama ($105.1 million), No. 7 Auburn ($100.5 million) and No. 8 Tennessee ($97.6 million).

According to the 2011 figures gathered by USA Today, 13 of the 14 SEC schools operated in the black, meaning they generated enough money to cover all of their athletic expenses. The only one that didn't, according to the USA Today figures, was Missouri, which was in the Big 12 last year, but will be joining the SEC in 2012 along with Texas A&M. The Tigers were extremely close to breaking even. They spent $64,160,358 and generated $64,146,530.

Only 22 Division I public schools generated more money than they spent in 2011.

None of the SEC athletic departments were heavily subsidized, meaning they received very few funds from the school side. Mississippi State had the largest subsidy among SEC schools with 8.2 percent of its revenue ($4,819,653) coming from the school and not generated by the athletic department, according to USA Today.

Below is a breakdown of the total revenue and total expenses for SEC schools in 2011. Vanderbilt is a private institution and not included:

Total revenue

1. Alabama: $124,498,616
2. Florida: $123,514,257
3. LSU: $107,259,352
4. Tennessee: $104,368,992
5. Auburn: $103,982,441
6. Georgia: $92,341,
7. Arkansas: $91,768,112
8. Texas A&M: $87,296,532
9. Kentucky: $84,878,311
10. South Carolina: $83,813,226
11. Missouri: $64,146,530
12. Mississippi State: $58,981,769
13. Ole Miss: $49,180,892

Total expenses

1. Florida: $107,157,831
2. Alabama: $105,068,152
3. Auburn: $100,497,784
4. Tennessee: $97,580,406
5. LSU: $91,796,925
6. Kentucky: $82,840,006
7. Georgia: $80,759,498
8. South Carolina: $80,525,711
9. Arkansas: $79,392,988
10. Texas A&M: $78,310,805
11. Missouri: $64,160,358
12. Mississippi State: $51,588,743
13. Ole Miss: $47,109,301

Tennessee will open the season against NC State on Friday, Aug. 31 in a 7:30 p.m. game that will be televised on ESPNU, while Auburn will face Clemson the next day, Sept. 1, in a 7 p.m. game that will be televised on ESPN.

The two ACC versus SEC matchups are part of the 2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game weekend at the Georgia Dome.

"Over these incredible 48 hours, all eyes will be on Atlanta as we open the season like never before with our first-ever double hosting of Chick-fil-A Kickoff games," said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. "This will be an epic showcase of these four great teams and their fans to a national audience on ESPN and ESPNU."

This marks the first time in college football history where two games of this magnitude have been hosted in the same facility by the same organizer on consecutive days.

Between the two games, more than 145,000 fans are expected to be in Atlanta to celebrate the opening of the 2012 season and be a part of history. All four teams and their fans will be in Atlanta at the same time, creating a college football celebration of epic proportions. The pair of Chick-fil-A Kickoff games is expected to generate more than $60 million in economic impact.

Does anybody really remember spring awards? They don’t hand out any hardware for what goes on in March and April.

Nonetheless, we’re still going to honor the highs and the lows of the spring in the SEC:

Best performance: How sharp was Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson this spring? The Hogs’ offensive coordinator, Paul Petrino, said if anybody had a better spring than Wilson, then he was Superman. In four major scrimmages, including Arkansas’ spring game, Wilson threw 16 touchdown passes and completed 75.5 percent of his passes. He threw for 467 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game on 31-of-41 passing, and 404 of those yards came in the first half.

Best performance by a true freshman: They’re churning out great running backs these days at Alabama. T.J. Yeldon looks like he’s going to be the next one. He was sensational in the Crimson Tide’s A-Day spring game with 179 rushing/receiving yards, including a 50-yard touchdown after catching a short pass, breaking a tackle and then outrunning everybody to the end zone. He certainly caught Nick Saban’s attention this spring. At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, Yeldon can run inside and outside. He catches the ball well, and as Saban noted, is one of those guys who can do everything.

Best explanation: Seven assistant coaches left Tennessee’s staff following last season, and coach Derek Dooley was still hiring replacements just a couple of weeks prior to the start of spring practice. While conceding that it was rare to lose that many assistant coaches in one year, Dooley wasn’t bemoaning the mass exodus. Rather, he said it was a “correction” and equated it to a company starting up and fixing all of the things you don’t get right in the beginning. Then again, maybe all those coaches bolting were doing a little fixing of their own. Dooley clearly needs to show progress in Year 3 if he’s going to be around for Year 4, and the coaches who left made lateral moves.

Best Evel Knievel impersonation: Even though Bobby Petrino’s motorcycle didn’t land at the bottom of Snake River Canyon, it did end up in a roadside ditch -- busting the lid wide open on Petrino’s affair with football staffer Jessica Dorrell. This was a relationship that Petrino wasn’t forthcoming about to Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long. Petrino lost a job that paid him $3.56 million a year. Arkansas lost its head coach, and we’ll find out this fall what all the Hogs might have lost as they attempt to break through in the Western Division race.

Best no-show: Duron Carter wins in a landslide. There have been more questions about this guy, and he’s yet to take a snap for Alabama. No wonder Nick Saban gets riled up every time he’s quizzed about Carter, who was suspended all spring and is obviously not Mr. Accountability in terms of doing everything he needs to do to be a part of Alabama’s team.

Best quote: Steve Spurrier is starting to sound more and more like Spurrier, circa 1996. When asked what he thought about the Georgia game moving from Week 2 to Week 6 this season, he cracked, “I don’t know. I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended.”

Best comeback: Back surgery curtailed what looked to be a promising season for Auburn defensive end Dee Ford last year. This spring, he was back as good as new and heads into the fall as one of Auburn’s starters at end along with Corey Lemonier. The Ford-Lemonier combo coming off the edge won’t be a lot of fun for opposing offensive tackles. Speaking of the offensive line, Missouri left tackle Elvis Fisher was granted a sixth year of eligibility and progressed faster than anybody thought he would this spring after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee prior to last season.

Best spring awakening: LSU went into the spring looking for a middle linebacker, and junior Kevin Minter responded by playing some of the best football he’s played since arriving on campus, according to LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis. South Carolina defensive tackle Byron Jerideau also had a stellar spring and is big enough and athletic enough to wreak some serious havoc. The former junior college transfer didn’t have the impact the Gamecocks had hoped for his first two seasons, but could be poised for a big senior season. Spurrier quipped, “I told him, ‘I hope you’re going to be known for something besides hitting me with the Gatorade bucket after a big win.’ He’s the one who grabs the bucket first, to get his picture in the paper.”

Best position move: Malcolm Mitchell was Georgia’s best deep threat at receiver last season and one of the more impressive true freshmen in the league. But he spent his time at cornerback this spring and looked like a natural. That’s where he’ll play in the fall, although he’ll still get a few snaps on offense. The Bulldogs needed help at cornerback, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham felt all along that Mitchell could be a difference-maker back there. The truth is that he’s a difference-maker anywhere you put him.

Best quarterback battle: Spring came and went without a few starting jobs being settled around the league, but it’s a dead heat at Florida between sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel. Coach Will Muschamp feels like he can win with both players, which is a pretty good indication that both Brissett and Driskel will end up playing in the fall for the Gators. For the time being, Muschamp is content to let it play out this summer and on into preseason practice. Whoever emerges as the best leader over these next three months is going to end up winning the job.

A check of what's shaking in and around the SEC:

Missouri quarterback Corbin Berkstresser is arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

Arkansas receiver Kane Whitehurst has been granted his release and plans to transfer.

Vanderbilt is off to an early start on the 2013 recruiting trail.

Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is looking to stock up at safety.

Auburn's Gene Chizik says his young Tigers are growing up.

The SEC is making officiating adjustments with Missouri and Texas A&M coming aboard.

The Florida influence is apparent in the management style of Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity.

Florida could have as many as nine players selected in next year's NFL draft.

2011 overall record: 8-5
2011 conference record: 4-4
Returning starters: Offense: 7; defense: 9; kicker/punter: 2

Top returners
QB Clint Moseley, QB Kiehl Frazier, RB Onterio McCalebb, WR Emory Blake, TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, DE Corey Lemonier, DE Nosa Eguae, LB Daren Bates, CB Chris Davis, P Steven Clark

Key losses
QB Barrett Trotter, RB Michael Dyer, OT Brandon Mosley, LB Eltoro Freeman, S Neiko Thorpe

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Michael Dyer (1,242 yards)
Passing: Barrett Trotter (1,184 yards)
Receiving: Emory Blake* (613 yards)
Tackles: Daren Bates* (104)
Sacks: Corey Lemonier* (9.5)
Interceptions: Neiko Thorpe (3)

Spring answers

1. Fearsome foursome: The runaway winner as the most impressive unit this spring was Auburn’s defensive line, which is encouraging to everybody on the Plains given the way the Tigers struggled up front last season with injuries and a little bit of everything else. Junior defensive end Corey Lemonier is one of the best pass-rushers in the league. But by all accounts, it was another junior defensive end, Dee Ford, who wreaked the most havoc this spring. Ford missed most of last season with back problems. The Tigers are deep at both end and tackle, and if some of the injured players come back healthy (Gabe Wright, Kenneth Carter and Nosa Eguae), this is a defensive line that could be dominant.

2. Whitehead’s versatility: It didn’t take first-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder long this spring to single out Jermaine Whitehead for his football smarts. The versatile sophomore was good enough that he may end up playing three different positions in the fall -- cornerback, safety and nickel back -- and VanGorder said that kind of versatility should open up all sorts of possibilities for the Tigers on defense.

3. New-look offense: The Tigers weren’t giving away a whole lot this spring as to what first-year coordinator Scot Loeffler’s offense is going to look like. It will certainly be different than what the Tigers did under Gus Malzahn, and the players all left spring practice saying it was a good fit. Tre Mason looks like he’s going to be a big-time player, and several receivers seemed to find a new lease on life in Loeffler’s system. A lot of it’s going to come down to how the Tigers play at quarterback, but there was a quiet confidence on the offensive side coming out of the spring.

Fall questions

1. Thin at linebacker: The only proven commodity is senior Daren Bates, who made a nice jump last season and became more consistent as a tackler. There’s potential in the form of some younger players, but just not a lot of experience or depth. Redshirt freshman Kris Frost is an impressive looking athlete who had his moments, but he’s still learning on the job. Junior Jake Holland may well be the key. He steps in at middle linebacker, and the Tigers need him to develop into a physical run-stuffing presence. Chances are that incoming true freshman Cassanova McKinzy will also have to play some this fall in the middle.

2. Quarterback quandary: The Tigers ended spring practice without naming a starting quarterback. Junior Clint Moseley, who took over the starting duties from Barrett Trotter late last season, was hampered by shoulder problems this spring and missed some practice time. Sophomore Kiehl Frazier picked up some valuable reps and made the most of them. He still needs to become more consistent as a passer, but his ability to extend the play gives him a leg up heading into the fall. The Tigers will need to identify a starter fairly early in preseason practice to start building some chemistry.

3. Regaining the edge on defense: It was a forgettable season on defense for the Tigers a year ago. They gave up yards by the chunk and gave up a ton of big plays. More than anything, they lost their confidence, which was obvious by the way it all fell apart for them during that brutal stretch in November. VanGorder’s greatest challenge was to get this defense playing with an edge again, be it making key stops, taking the ball away or finishing the game the right way.

Another Monday chat is in the books. Here's a little of what you might have missed from earlier:

Brian (Florida)
Ed, What do you think would be the likelihood of Florida leaving the SEC, if they were presented with an option to join a new league by FSU if it decided to create a new league instead of joining the Big 12 or staying in the ACC. My friend was telling me with the WAC being dead the time is ripe for a new conference to be formed and that FSU could be the driving force for it.

Edward Aschoff (12:02 PM)
No with a side of chance. Florida has no reason to leave the SEC and you can bet that Florida State would have no influence on the school. Remember AD Jeremy Foley doesn't like the idea of having FSU or Miami in the same conference as Florida because of recruiting. UF wouldn't follow FSU.

Greg /Atl, Ga. [via mobile]
Ed, I have seen Mel hypers 2013 mock draft. Please help me understand how it includes D. J. Flicker as 1st rounder but does not include the Barrett Jones who won the Outland Trophy last year and can play every position across the O line. Baffled!!! Please shed some light!

Edward Aschoff (12:05 PM)
I was surprised at first too, but when you talk to NFL scouts they all like Fluker's upside more and think he'd be a better pro prospect than Jones. But the funny thing is that neither might have as much upside as Chance Warmack. Scouts seem more interested in him right now and if he has a good year I wouldn't be surprised if he was taken before either Jones or Fluker.

Shane (Athens)
Hey Dash, you think this year's vandy-uga game is gonna be exciting enough for me to skip music midtown?

Edward Aschoff (12:06 PM)
It'll be pretty good for sure. There is some bad blood there (see James Franklin and Todd Grantham) and Vanderbilt will be hungry to get a signature win the SEC. It's tough turning down good music, until the SEC comes around.

Clay (Birmingham, AL)
Ed, things just went from bad to worse in Arky. Is it lack of discipline from the Petrino era or a lack of control from Smith?

Edward Aschoff (12:08 PM)
It's way to early to say that Smith doesn't have control. He acted quickly and correctly when he suspended those players. Now, going forward will be interesting. How long with the suspension last? how severe will it be? It's all going to depend on the legal side. This is just another poor decision made in Fayetteville that has put this football team in a bind. Marquel Wade is expected to be a big-time contributor this fall. Not having him will hurt the offense, in my opinion, because he's so versatile.

Jeff (VA)
What do you think is the real reason Sims left Bama for UVA? Family or lack of play time? You think he'll make UVA a better squad?

Edward Aschoff (12:10 PM)
I think he saw the writing on the wall. This is AJ McCarron's team. Sims is a talented player, but he isn't up there with McCarron when it comes to being a more complete QB. He knew he wasn't going to beat out McCarron, so it was time to move on. The guy wants to play.

Dawgfan012 (atlanta ga)

Is Jim Delaney affraid of his beloved B1G 10 consistantly not being represented in a new championship scenerio or just an avid fan of the BCS automatic bid system and desperately trying to save it?

Edward Aschoff (12:12 PM)
I think he fears the SEC takeover just like the rest of college football. He knows that a system that doesn't require conference champions will give the SEC more chances to get two teams in. I understand where he's coming from, but his approach is way off. Belittling Alabama is a weak move. He knows how good that team was and most people know Alabama deserved to be in the title game.

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 continues with a look at the top tacklers.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Tight end
• Sacks

The SEC returns three of the top 10 tacklers from 2011, but don't let that fool you. There's still a lot of quality out there on those SEC defenses. Last season's tackling king, Kentucky linebacker Danny Trevathan, is gone, and so are his 143 tackles. But the league's No. 2 tackler is back.

Here's a look at the top tackler returning in the SEC:

Cameron Lawrence, LB, Mississippi State: He was second in the SEC with 123 tackles and had 50 solo stops. He also averaged 9.5 tackles per game. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder found ways to take down opposing offensive players by roaming all over the field for the Bulldogs. Lawrence started on the outside, but made his presence known on many different areas of the field with his speed and relentless attitude. Lawrence picked up right were he left off this spring, and the coaches expect him to be just as valuable this fall. It'll be tough to stop Lawrence from taking the tackling crown in 2012.

The SEC returns two more of its top tacklers:

• Daren Bates, LB, Auburn: He registered 104 tackles, including 59 solo, and averaged eight tackles a game.
• Jonathan Bostic, LB, Florida: He registered 94 tackles, including 60 solo, and averaged 7.2 tackles a game.

Those three will certainly get their chances to fight for the crown, but there are other players to keep an eye on as well this fall. Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw are gone at Alabama, but that means Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley will have the chance to take some of that lost production.

Missouri linebacker Andrew Wilson was a stud last season with his team-high 98 tackles, so he'll definitely be in the race this season. So will South Carolina's Devonte Holloman, as he moves back to the Spur position that he lost last season to Antonio Allen, who led the Gamecocks in tackles. Georgia's Jarvis Jones will also take a crack at it. He was the best when it came to making plays behind the line of scrimmage last season, but you better believe offenses will look to protect the backfield more against him. That means he'll have more opportunities to make plays past the line, and he's just as deadly when he isn't rushing the passer.

Ole Miss linebacker Mike Marry had a solid season in 2011, accumulating 81 total tackles. He's turned into a better player, and with the Rebels lining up in all sorts of different defensive formations, he'll be moving all around the field to make plays. Also, keep tabs on Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith and defensive end/linebacker Tenarius Wright. Highsmith had a tremendous 2011 season, racking up 80 tackles, and with the team's top tacklers gone, expect his production to increase. And if Wright stays at linebacker, he'll have more opportunities to add to his tackling numbers.

Two other players to watch out for are Texas A&M linebacker Jonathan Stewart and Vanderbilt linebacker Chase Garnham. Stewart led the Aggies with 98 tackles last season, and Garnham moves into Chris Marve's spot in the middle. A spot where Marve registered a team-high 91 tackles.

Some Monday linkage for your viewing pleasure:

• Former Alabama linebacker Eryk Anders is making hits in mixed martial arts.
• Former Georgia safety Terreal Bierria begins trial on Monday and is accused of killing his childhood best friend in a bloody fight over drugs.
• The Big Ten's Jim Delany needs to get over his SEC obsession, writes David Climer of The Tennessean.
• College football isn't done yet with realignment, writes Tommy Hicks of The Mobile Press-Register.
• The 2013 signing class for Georgia will be one of the Bulldogs' larger ones, as they have room to back-count some players.
• Mike Strange of The Knoxville News-Sentinel wonders who will be the top-ranked college football coaches in 2022.
• The three Arkansas players that were arrested and charged with felony residential burglary are released from jail on bond.
• Auburn receiver Trovon Reed is arrested and charged with failing to appear in court in his hometown of Thibodaux, La.
• Will Muschamp leads the revival of Florida football.
• Former Kentucky quarterback Mike Hartline is trying to make the most of his time learning under Tom Brady.
• What will become of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry when the games end?

The 2012 nonconference slate involving SEC teams isn't as attractive as a year ago.

There just aren't as many marquee matchups with schools from other BCS conferences. That's something that will change if strength of schedule is given more weight in the selection process for the teams participating in the proposed national playoff.

Here's a look at our top five nonconference games involving SEC teams for the 2012 season:

1. Alabama vs. Michigan, in Arlington, Texas, Sept. 1: Nick Saban likes the idea of playing a big-name opponent at a neutral site. The Crimson Tide get the Wolverines in Cowboys Stadium to open the season in what will likely be a matchup of preseason top-10 teams. Alabama will be somewhere in the top 5 after winning its second national championship in three seasons a year ago, and Michigan appears to be on the move after Brady Hoke led the Wolverines to 11 wins, including a victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, in his debut season a year ago.

2. South Carolina at Clemson, Nov. 24: The Gamecocks have won three in a row over the Tigers, the first time that's happened since 1968-70, and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has made sure everybody is well aware of the Gamecocks' current winning streak in a rivalry that has historically been dominated by the Tigers. The game is in Death Valley this season, and the last thing Dabo Swinney and Co. want to endure is another loss to South Carolina. The Gamecocks haven't won four in a row in this series since 1951-54.

3. Auburn vs. Clemson, in Atlanta, Sept. 1: The second part of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game weekend, the Auburn-Clemson tilt will mark the third straight year that these two teams have met. Auburn has a new offensive coordinator and new defensive coordinator, and Clemson has a new defensive coordinator. The winner of this game the last two years has gone on to play in a BCS bowl. The game will be played on Saturday in the Georgia Dome. NC State and Tennessee will meet the day before in the Georgia Dome.

4. Florida at Florida State, Nov. 24: Yes, these two teams play every year. But, yes, it's still one of the best rivalries in college football, especially now that Jimbo Fisher has the Seminoles back in the national spotlight. It's a big second season for Florida coach Will Muschamp, and one of the things he's going to be judged on is how he does against Florida's two biggest rivals. The Gators lost to both Georgia and Florida State a year ago, which hadn't happened since 1989. Look for this rivalry to get really spicy again.

5. Washington at LSU, Sept. 8: LSU has scaled back this season after facing Oregon at a neutral site and West Virginia on the road a year ago. The Huskies venture into Tiger Stadium the second week of the season, which should give us some early answers about this LSU defense. Can the Tigers be even better on that side of the ball than they were last season? Washington quarterback Keith Price will put them to the test. He threw 31 touchdown passes last season as a sophomore and completed 67 percent of his passes.

A few others to watch:

• Louisiana Tech vs. Texas A&M, in Shreveport, La., Aug. 30
• North Carolina State vs. Tennessee, in Atlanta, Aug. 31
• Kentucky at Louisville, Sept. 2
• Vanderbilt at Northwestern, Sept. 8
• Texas at Ole Miss, Sept. 15
• Arizona State at Missouri, Sept. 15
• Rutgers at Arkansas, Sept. 22
• Georgia Tech at Georgia, Nov. 24
• Vanderbilt at Wake Forest, Nov. 24

It's Monday, so that means we're chatting. You know the drill. Come with all of your SEC football questions at noon ET. It might be the offseason, but there's plenty to talk about when it comes to the SEC.

You ask for people to write into the mailbag and there's no hint of hesitation.

The mailbag is back this week and we were bombarded with questions. The pages went on for a while, so I'm sorry if I couldn't get to all of them. Keep them coming, though, because there's always next week.

Let's get to this week's questions:

Ethan in Cullman, Ala., writes: With the recent dominance of Alabama and Coach Saban do you see Auburn and Chizik really being relevant nationally? I realize they have recruited fairly well but I think we all know without Cameron Newton the 2010 Auburn Team was a 6-7 7-5 football team and in all honesty I don't see them improving their win-losses as long as Gene Chizik is the head coach. Take away the 14-0 season and Chizik has a total record of 21-29 as a collegiate head coach. Lets just be honest in the world of college football everything runs through Tuscaloosa, Alabama and I don't see that changing anytime soon. RTR (:

Edward Aschoff: Man, Auburn fans will love you now. I'm sure the Christmas cards are being written as we speak. While I don't see Auburn surpassing Alabama this season, or really next season, I don't think Auburn is going to fall off the map without Newton. Like you wrote, Chizik has recruited well and the team he has now is pretty young. It's going to take more time for this team to crawl back up the SEC standings, but I don't think it's going to take years and years. Auburn has the young talent to challenge some teams in the West this year. Yes, even Alabama. I'm one of the few still on the Auburn bandwagon. I see improvement on the offensive line, quarterback Kiehl Frazier really came along stronger this spring with Scot Loeffler's help and the defense can only get better after a lousy 2011 showing. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Auburn made more news nationally in 2013.

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Jmathews in Weslaco, Texas, writes: Do you think Kevin Sumlin is going to surprise some teams this year with his offensive plan?

Edward Aschoff: It's a little unorthodox by SEC standards, for sure, but I'm not sure if SEC defenses will be confused by that air game. Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have to run the ball more in order to catch some defenses off guard. I know that flashy passing game was fun at Houston, but you have to run the ball to survive in the SEC. Balance will be key because we all know that Sumlin is going to want to throw the ball as much as he can. I don't think we'll truly see what all Sumlin wants to do because he's working with such young quarterbacks. That will restrict a lot of it and could make Christine Michael that much more important at running back. Once Sumlin has the right pieces in place then you'll see some offenses have to plan differently. For now, I think it's a work in progress.

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Jimmy in Pikeville, Ky., writes: Do you believe that Joker Phillips will be able to get the Kentucky Wildcats back to a bowl game this season?

Edward Aschoff: Phillips thinks he's found more offensive playmakers this spring, with youngsters such as Demarco Robinson, Daryl Collins and Ronnie Shields stepping up, and that's huge for the Wildcats. They didn't have many at all last year and that was a main reason Kentucky's offense was so bad. But we still need to see what those players can do against SEC competition in October. And a consistent quarterback has to step up. Maxwell Smith has the lead, but the race isn't over. The schedule is going to be tough for the Wildcats, as well. I think Kentucky needs to sweep nonconference play to ensure a bowl birth. That means beating Louisville to start the season. The Louisville loss was a big one for the Cats last year and right now, Louisville is still a better team. Getting those four nonconference wins will go a long way for Kentucky.

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Reed in Beijing, China, writes: Ex-pat hog fan here in Beijing. I wanted to get your opinion on how Arkansas will split carries between Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, and Dennis Johnson this year. Also, who besides Cobi Hamilton do you think will step up to fill the void at receiver?

Edward Aschoff: If Davis is healthy, he'll get the majority of the carries. I don't think there's any debate there. He is in another league compared to the other backs. After that, I think Arkansas goes Johnson then Wingo. Johnson came on during the second half of the season, while Wingo was inconsistent in my opinion. As for receiver, I think Marquel Wade could have a big year, along with tight end Chris Gragg. Wade is a very good athlete and the coaches loved what he did in practice last year. He's someone who has that dynamic feel in the offense and can make big plays. Gragg is big, athletic and tough. Tyler Wilson will key in on him a bunch this fall. He's probably the top returning tight end in the league.

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Ryan in Anaheim, Calif., writes: Is it safe to say that Vanderbilt will have one of the best offenses in the SEC this year? Returning Rodgers, Stacy, Matthews, and Boyd, while also getting Norman back and explosive freshman in Kimbrow. The only weakness I see is the O-line which will be inexperienced, but will that hold them back that much?

Edward Aschoff: That line barely got through spring practice, so it's a problem. Injuries and numbers really hurt the line. The good news is that six true freshmen will be on campus this summer. The bad news is that they are true freshmen. Jordan Rodgers still has to be more comfortable in the pocket. He can be really sporadic at times and coach James Franklin knows it. If he can't improve on the mental side, this offense will struggle. Brian Kimbrow is someone who can be used all over the field, so that will really benefit this offense. The other playmakers you mentioned are solid, no question, but there are some good offenses to battle near the top, such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.

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Kyle in Gainesville, Fla., writes: The Gators haven't had many people drafted in the past two years, but next year will be much better. Who do you think could be drafted in the top 2 rounds next year? Bostic, Jenkins, Powell, Easley, Floyd, Elam, Nixon, Debose, and Reed are all guys I think can if they have a big year.

Edward Aschoff: Well, if Ronald Powell doesn't come back from his knee injury don't count on him heading to the draft. NFL scouts love Dominique Easley's potential. He's so strong and athletic and just pounds his way through offensive lines. He did suffer that knee injury, so his health will be monitored closely. Elam will compete to be the top safety in the SEC, but his name hasn't been thrown out as much as someone like Eric Reid. Jelani Jenkins is someone scouts like because of his speed and strength. He isn't the biggest linebacker, but he's extremely smart and that will help him a lot. Jon Bostic is getting some attention and a big year will boost his stock for sure. Xavier Nixon has to improve on a bad 2011 and Andre Debose and Jordan Reed have to be more consistent. Of all of them, I think Easley and Jenkins are Florida's top pro prospects.

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Brad in Longview, Texas, writes: If you could take one player from the SEC, outside of a QB, who would it be?

Edward Aschoff: Last year, the answer was easy: Trent Richardson. This year, it's a little more difficult. I don't think I'd go with another offensive player, so I'm going to go with Georgia's Jarvis Jones. He was one of the best players in the nation last year and was the SEC's top defensive player, after getting 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He's a superb athlete, has tremendous speed and has a relentless attitude. He's also a great leader. He commands respect in the locker room and on the field. It's hard to find a better linebacker out there.

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 continues with a look at the sack artists.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver
• Tight end

The SEC returns six players that ranked in the top 10 in sacks in 2011. Three of the top four sack men from a year ago are gone, but Mr. Sack himself, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones, is back. Defenses will key in on Jones more this fall, but it'll still be hard to stop him, so expect him to battle to keep his crown.

The obvious top performer when it came to sacks:

Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia: Jones led the SEC with 13.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. He did all of this in his first season playing in the SEC after transferring from USC in 2010. Jones really made SEC tackles suffer, as 12.5 of his sacks came in league play. Jones played like a freight train chugging off of the line. He showed tremendous speed and agility and was nearly unstoppable at times, registering 49 quarterback hurries. His best performance came in a pivotal game against Florida, where he recorded four sacks. Jones is already getting a ton of NFL draft love, as ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. rates him as the No. 2 player on his first Big Board . Jones was also second on the team with 70 tackles.

The SEC returns five more of its top sackers:

Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn: He recorded 9.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hurries.

Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU: He recorded nine sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry.

Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU: He recorded eight sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hurries.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina: He recorded eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries.

Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina: He recorded six sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries.

It feels like the SEC produces pass rushers likes trees produce leaves. Jones leads the pack right now, but those LSU ends are going to put up quite the fight because it'll be tough for anyone to block both at the same time. Clowney was good as a freshman, but people expect bigger and better in 2012.

Florida lost Ronald Powell this spring, but Lerentee McCray is a player to keep an eye on. He missed spring with a shoulder injury, but coach Will Muschamp is very excited about what McCray can do on the outside with his speed and relentlessness. Also, watch out for linebackers Alonzo Highsmith at Arkansas and Adrian Hubbard at Alabama. Highsmith suffered a pec injury this spring, but he should be fine for the fall after leading the Razorbacks with 12.5 tackles for loss. Hubbard replaces Courtney Upshaw at the Jack linebacker position and people at Alabama left spring impressed with the youngster.

Texas A&M has a couple of players that could compete for the sack title this fall in linebacker Sean Porter and end Damontre Moore, who combined for 18 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. Porter is a player who is already garnering a lot of draft attention and will enter the fall as one of the SEC's top linebackers.

And don't forget about Ole Miss linebacker/defensive end C.J. Johnson. He only registered one sack last year, but the coaches in Oxford feel very good about how much he improved this spring. He'll be used as more of a pass rusher this year, and if he adds some weight he'll be the cause of a lot of headaches for opposing tackles.

Mother's Day is just days away, so take the time to thank the most important women in your life. In the meantime, check out some SEC links.

• Missouri coach Gary Pinkel has standing among SEC coaches.
• Here is a 40-year-old letter from Bear Bryant to an incoming freshman.
• The SEC wants wireless communication for football officiating crews in 2012.
• Former Auburn offensive lineman Brandon Mosley signs a four-year deal with the New York Giants.
• Brad Locke of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal takes a look at Mississippi State's safeties post-spring.
• Nick Saban still isn't a fan of only conference champions playing in a four-team playoff.
• Italy is a hot spot for Georgia players.
• Former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Our look at the SEC's most productive returning players in 2012 continues with tight ends.

Past producers:

• Quarterback
• Running back
• Wide receiver

The SEC returns six of the top 10 statistical tight ends this season. Orson Charles led all tight ends in yardage with 574 yards and had five touchdowns on 45 catches. The No. 2 tight end returns this fall, and this race might be the most wide open of all the top returners by position.

Here's the conference's top returning producer at tight end:

Chris Gragg, Arkansas: He was second among tight ends in catches (41) and receiving yards (518) last season, and had two touchdowns. Gragg also averaged 12.6 yards per catch last season. In an offense obsessed with throwing the ball, there was no way Gragg wouldn't get a good amount of passes thrown his way. But it's not like Gragg didn't deserve all the attention. The 6-foot-3, 236-pounder is an ideal target for any quarterback, and while he's a big body, he has good speed and is quite agile for his position. With all the receiving talent leaving Fayetteville, Gragg should get even more looks from quarterback Tyler Wilson, and there probably aren't too many people around that program upset by the thought of that.

The SEC returns five more of the top 10 statistical tight ends from a year ago:

Mychal Rivera, Tennessee: He caught 29 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown, and averaged 11.9 yards per catch.

Jordan Reed, Florida: He caught 28 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns, and averaged 11 yards per catch.

Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn: He caught 24 passes for 238 yards, and led all tight ends with seven touchdowns. He averaged 9.9 yards per catch.

Malcolm Johnson, Mississippi State: He caught 11 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, and averaged 18.7 yards per catch.

Michael Williams, Alabama: He caught 16 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and averaged 11.9 yards per catch.

This race really is wide open. While Gragg is probably the most physically gifted of the returning tight ends, it's not a foregone conclusion that he'll take home prize of top SEC tight end. Reed, who is a freak athlete, is someone who the coaches at Florida think will be a major factor in the Gators' offense this fall because young quarterbacks tend to shorten throws, and Reed is a solid underneath target. Williams will get more attention with Brad Smelley gone, and Johnson, who won't share time with Marcus Green this year, drew comparisons to past Mackey Award winner Aaron Hernandez in spring camp.

Keep an eye on South Carolina rising senior Justice Cunningham. He played alongside fellow tight end Rory Anderson, who had more yards and touchdowns, but Cunningham doubled Anderson's catch count last season, and gained 142 yards and one score. With Alshon Jeffery gone, expect Cunningham to get more looks this fall.

If Missouri's Eric Waters comes back 100 percent from his MCL injury this spring, he could have a pretty productive season in that offense. Waters is replacing one of the best in Michael Egnew, but one reason Egnew was so successful was because Mizzou loves using its tight ends.

Texas A&M uses its tight ends a lot as well. Nehemiah Hicks is probably the most gifted tight end for the Aggies and started seven games, but is recovering from shoulder surgery. Michael Lamothe and Hutson Prioleau combined to catch 28 passes for 244 and four touchdowns last season.