ESPN College Football

Some Friday links for your munching pleasure:

• South Carolina's running backs aren't looking over their shoulders in anticipation of Marcus Lattimore's arrival this summer.

• Running back Bryce Brown's departure overshadows Derek Dooley's first spring practice at Tennessee.

• Florida coach Urban Meyer owes us all an explanation, writes Andrea Adelson of The Orlando Sentinel.

• Alex Hurst, who moved from guard to right tackle on LSU's offensive line, has liked what he's seen this spring from the Tigers up front.

• After moving from running back to outside linebacker, Georgia's Richard Samuel is on the move again, this time to inside linebacker in the Bulldogs' new 3-4 defense.

• Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow will decide whether or not he will go to New York for the NFL draft.

Checking on what's making headlines around the SEC:

• Florida coach Urban Meyer is back at spring practice, but says he's actually been back on the job for a few weeks.
• John Brantley, not Tim Tebow, is the real NFL prospect on Florida's campus, writes Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel.
• First-year Tennessee coach Derek Dooley says the Vols have some short-term concerns that "really can't get fixed."
• Dooley says his policy on former players coming to practice is "basic human interaction."
• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett says he's recovering well and hopes to be walking again in the next two weeks.
• Georgia redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray is experimenting with a glove on his throwing hand.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- At 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, Florida coach Urban Meyer jogged through the gate onto the vast practice fields. Every Gator could officially and finally exhale. Their coach really did come back.

The real test of Meyer came a half-hour later, when the punt team began to work on the nearer of the Gators’ two grass practice fields. Meyer actually let his new special teams coordinator, D.J. Durkin, run the drill, with four other assistants helping out. Meyer considered the special teams his baby. He might bring along one assistant to help.

"I didn’t know what to expect," said Meyer. "Usually I’m more involved in the kicking game, little more involved in the offense. And I will be more involved. I think springtime I’m usually like this. Let these guys coach, and everybody do their job and see what we got. We got four new coaches."

At a coaches’ meeting a couple of days ago, Durkin was so thorough that Meyer thought, “OK, I can do this now.”

Do this, as in, stand and watch. During a kick-blocking drill at 5 p.m., Meyer stood a few paces away with his hands clasped behind his back and watched.

“I really like our coaches,” Meyer said. “Our special teams coordinator [Durkin], the eye of the tiger is on him and he did a good job. He did a great job today.”

At one point during practice, Meyer actually stood between the two fields and chatted with Maurkice Pouncey, the offensive lineman who in January declared for the NFL draft. Pouncey had been one of 17 Gators from the 2009 team who worked out for NFL scouts at the Swamp on Wednesday.

“How do you evaluate recruiting?” Meyer asked. “You go out at pro day in four years and see how you did.”

After practice, Meyer was asked how long he had been a full-time coach.

“Twenty-five years, or something like that,” Meyer said with a grin. Then he answered the question. “I’m not sure. I think two weeks, three weeks.”

And with one simple word, he gave the answer every Florida fan wanted to hear. Are you back for good?

“Yeah.”

Making the rounds in the SEC:

• Georgia coach Mark Richt will decide later this week on how to punish redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Mettenberger for his alcohol-related arrest. Georgia athletic department policy mandates that Mettenberger will be suspended for at least one game.
• South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia will be looking to avoid sacks during the 2010 season.
• The Reveiz family knows the value of heart screens, writes Dave Hooker of The Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Florida coach Urban Meyer is set to return to the restocked Gators, writes Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun.
• Former Alabama noseguard Terrence Cody brings a little sunshine to an Alabama fan battling cancer.
• Former Arkansas offensive guard Mitch Petrus continues to raise his draft stock with another solid workout at the Hogs' pro day.

It was difficult to imagine Florida coach Urban Meyer not being around when the Gators open spring practice next Wednesday.

He said back in January that he planned to be back in time for the spring, but nothing was written in stone. Meyer has been on his leave ever since signing day and has kept a low profile.

But a source close to the situation tells ESPN.com this week that Meyer is doing well and will definitely be out there for spring ball. It still remains to be seen how involved he'll be and what all he delegates to his assistants.

The mere fact that he's going to be out there is good news for the Gators. This is obviously a crucial spring for them with John Brantley taking over at quarterback, Teryl Austin taking over as defensive coordinator and so many new faces moving into leading roles on defense.

The real test for Urban Meyer is still several months away. The real test begins when the games do.

But on a lesser scale, his first opportunity to dive back into it is next Wednesday when Florida opens spring practice. It’s still going to be interesting to see if Meyer can truly delegate more responsibilities to his assistants, which in theory would alleviate some of the burden on him.

Anybody who’s ever been around Meyer or worked under him in any capacity will tell you that delegating doesn’t come natural to him. Getting it done comes natural, and he’s as hands-on as any head coach in America.

The area I’ll watch closest is special teams, which has been Meyer’s baby since he arrived in Gainesville. He coaches special teams the way Dale Earnhardt once drove a race car.

It’s the reason the Gators have had few peers when it comes to special teams play over the past few years.

Can Meyer genuinely give up those duties and just sort of assist? We’re going to find out.

Better yet, if he is less hands-on, will the Gators lose some of their edge in the kicking game?

The good news is that it sounds like Meyer is receiving positive news from his doctors and a clean bill of health. He’s vacationed in Hawaii and even been spotted playing some golf.

It sounds like he’s handed off some of his speaking engagements to assistants and hasn’t lived in the office this offseason.

Meyer is still a young man. He turns 46 this July. But five years of coaching in today's SEC has a way of turning into dog years.

I still doubt that Meyer will be coaching 10 years from now, maybe not even five years from now. I think he gets out before that.

He’ll probably know for sure once he gets through this season, once he tries out his “modified” approach to what has been his passion.

There’s been very little stress in his life ever since Florida walloped Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl back on Jan. 1. The stress comes when you have to convert third-and-3 late in the third quarter on the road at Alabama ... and without Tim Tebow.

The stress comes when you have to live up to the dizzying standards Meyer has set the past five seasons at Florida.

We’ll see how he manages it all now that he’s had the kind of scare that would jolt anybody back to reality, even taking Meyer to the doorstep of walking away for good.

One thing I do know is this: Guys as driven and focused as Meyer don’t change easily, and they don’t change overnight.

And more times than not, they don’t change at all.

It’s one of the qualities that makes him the coach that he is. It’s also one of the qualities that makes coaching in this league the pressure-cooker that it is.

Making the rounds in the SEC:

• President Barack Obama's gift from Alabama -- a No. 13 Crimson Tide helmet -- will forever be linked to Cory Reamer, who wore No. 13 his entire career at Alabama.
• Junior college newcomer Matt Simms is back to normal after hand surgery and plans on making his presence felt in Tennessee's quarterback battle this spring.
• Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino says Ryan Mallett's broken toe on his left foot was the result of previous stress-related injuries.
• Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow would love to stay home and play for his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars.
• Florida coach Urban Meyer is passing off some offseason speaking engagements to interim coach Steve Addazio.
• LSU coach Les Miles is still investigating before making any decision on the punishment for senior receiver Terrance Toliver, who was arrested last weekend.

The content in my mailbag comes in all forms -- questions, comments, complaints, corrections, pearls of wisdom, not-so-nice tirades and even a few compliments.

I want to let you know that I appreciate them all, and moreover, appreciate your keeping me straight.

That said, let’s empty out the mailbag:

Lee in Fort Knox, Ky., writes: Chris, with all the expansion talk across the country, I've heard one or two analysts mention Arkansas as a likely candidate to fill the void left by a departing Big 12 school. How likely is it that the Hogs would give up the cash and prestige of the SEC for an easier path to conference championships in the Big 12? Obviously, Petrino's system would be effective in that league. However, would it really be worth it considering that a nine-win SEC season sounds as good as a 10-win Big 12 season?

Chris Low: I think most of that talk stems from Arkansas’ old Southwest Conference ties. The key in all this expansion chatter is what Texas does -- or if Texas decides to do anything. The Longhorns’ athletic director said last week the Big 12 has been a good fit. But over and above where Texas might land, I can’t see a scenario where Arkansas would even want to leave the SEC, especially when you look at the money flowing in from the television contracts and the way the national spotlight shines down on the SEC. I think being in the SEC also helps the Hogs’ recruiting. Players want to play against the best, and they want to play where they think they have the best chance of getting to the NFL. There’s no better proving ground in college football than the SEC. So, no, I don’t see the Hogs going anywhere.

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Bryan in Nashville, Tenn., writes: Lane Kiffin has said he left the Tennessee program in better shape than he found it. Do you agree?

Chris Low: Not particularly, especially with his leaving the way he did during the middle of the recruiting period and then his recruiting coordinator trying to take Tennessee recruits with them to USC. In fairness, I thought Tennessee was a well-coached team last season in most areas between the white lines. But his organization and overall management of the program was lacking, and some of the things he did to supposedly bring attention to the program ended up bringing embarrassment instead. He also inherited a lot more talent than he claimed he did. The Vols will have two players go in the first round of the NFL draft in April and may have as many as six drafted. We’ll also see how his only recruiting class at Tennessee pans out. Two players from that class (Nu’Keese Richardson and Mike Edwards) have already been sent packing because of off-the-field issues and another one (Janzen Jackson) was close. That class was also light on offensive linemen and didn’t include a quarterback. Those were huge need areas for the Vols that weren’t addressed. The bottom line was that Tennessee lost six games last season after losing seven the previous season. There were clearly gains in how competitive the Vols were in losses to Florida and Alabama. But when you look at the total picture, I can’t say the program is in significantly better shape right now than it was when Kiffin strolled into town back in December of 2008.

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Duce in Tampa, Fla., writes: Good afternoon, CL. I am venturing over from the ACC to ask you a question. Being that I am a huge FSU fan, how careful should UF be this year playing FSU at home. FSU is a young and growing team and should be tougher this year. Should UF be on early upset alert?

Chris Low: Put it this way: As I survey the Gators’ schedule right now, I think the trip to Tallahassee is probably the second or third toughest game on their schedule. I would also put it in the top three of the toughest nonconference games facing SEC teams in 2010. As I’m sure you’re aware, Urban Meyer has never lost to Florida State. In fact, only one of the five games since he arrived in 2005 has been closer than 27 points. I’m not ready to predict a Florida State win in 2010, but I do believe this will be the Seminoles’ best chance of beating the Gators in the Meyer era.

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Isaac in Parts Unknown writes: Come on Chris, (Trindon) Holliday ran a 4.22 and set a combine record, not a 4.34.

Chris Low: You’re referring to my update of SEC players at the NFL combine. I saw the same thing you did. And, yes, the first report was that he ran in the 4.2’s, which was unofficial. But his official time was later listed at 4.34 and can be found on NFL.com. That’s still an extremely fast time, the second fastest official time of any player at the combine this year. For what it’s worth, the official times are typically a little slower than the times that are reeled off when we’re watching them live.

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Aaron in Little Rock, Ark., writes: Of the wide receivers that made your top 30 list, I still can't believe Greg Childs wasn't the second overall, if not highest ranked. He led all receivers in SEC conference play in total receiving yards, yards per game, touchdowns and yards per reception. Every touchdown he scored this season was in conference play only, so his numbers weren't inflated at all during nonconference games. Granted, he didn't make first or second team all-SEC, which was a gross oversight by the AP and coaching staffs. How can you lead all SEC wide receivers in every stat category except for receptions in conference play and not get mentioned anywhere?

Chris Low: Now that you put it that way, I’d have to say that it’s hard to argue with your point. What you do against SEC competition should always outweigh everything else, and Childs was outstanding in conference games. In addition to the numbers you point out, I checked with the folks at Arkansas, and Childs also led the SEC in catches of 25 or more yards (13) and catches in the fourth quarter (16). Here’s another one for you: He led the nation in receiving yards against Top 25 teams (402). So he was more than deserving of being on that top 30 list, and I can promise you he will be on the one I do this summer leading into the 2010 season. Unfortunately, there are always oversights when you start ranking players, especially in this league. Thanks for your input.

Taking a look around the SEC as we say hello to March:

• Tim Tebow defends Florida coach Urban Meyer, who is getting some criticism for not correcting Tebow's elongated delivery and throwing motion while Tebow was in college.

• LSU coach Les Miles expects more offensive line production in 2010, writes Randy Rosetta of The Baton Rouge Advocate.

• It's Big Money Monday for Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, writes Gentry Estes of The Mobile Press-Register.

• Kyle Veazey of The Jackson Clarion-Ledger checks in on former Mississippi State star Anthony Dixon at the NFL combine.

• Former Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes discusses his eye-gouging incident at the NFL combine, writes Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun.

• Former Tennessee safety Eric Berry wants to leave no doubt that he's the best player in the draft, writes Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

• Rennie Curran says one of the reasons he left Georgia early was because all of his defensive coaches were fired.

• Todd Grantham's new 3-4 scheme energizes Georgia's defense, writes David Hale of The Macon Telegraph.

Checking on what's making headlines around the SEC:

• Former Alabama linebackers Eryk Anders and Zeke Knight are taking different paths to the NFL, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of The Birmingham News.
• It's not Urban Meyer's job to make Tim Tebow NFL-ready, writes Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel.
• Former South Carolina defensive lineman Clifton Geathers is out to prove his brand-name skills at the NFL combine.
• South Carolina's Chris Culliver and Akeem Auguste will swap positions in the defensive backfield this spring.
• Former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin doesn't agree with Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton's assertion that Kiffin wasn't a good cultural fit for Tennessee.
• Ole Miss students vote by a nearly 3-to-1 count for a new on-field mascot to replace Colonel Reb.
• Georgia settles a lawsuit with former player Decory Bryant out of court and will pay Bryant a $400,000 settlement.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the issues facing each SEC East team heading into the spring:

FLORIDA

Spring practice starts: March 17

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Meyer’s involvement – Florida coach Urban Meyer says he will be refreshed enough to be back in time for the start of spring practice. That means his leave of absence will have lasted all of a month. It will be interesting to see how involved he is, because Meyer has always been such a hands-on coach in the past. In particular, does he back away from his role as special teams coordinator? Since Meyer arrived at Florida in 2005, the Gators have had some of the best special teams in the country. And with so many new faces on offense next season, special teams and/or field position will be more important than ever. The Gators will lose something if Meyer’s not running the show in the kicking game.

• Brantley takes the reins – The Tim Tebow era is over, and now it’s John Brantley’s turn to put his stamp on Florida’s offense. This will be the second spring that he’s gotten a lot of the work with the first-team offense. He was extremely impressive last spring when Tebow was taking it easy with his shoulder. Obviously, Brantley is a different kind of quarterback than Tebow. He’s a pure passer who’s going to beat teams with his arm and not his legs. That’s not to say he’s a statue in the pocket, but he’s also not going to be bulling over safeties on third-and-2. As much as anything, Brantley needs to establish himself as one of the leaders this spring. With Maurkice Pouncey, Riley Cooper and Tebow all gone, new leaders have to emerge on offense.

• Finding more playmakers – An even more important story this spring than Brantley taking over is who’s going to have his back on offense. In other words, who can he count on to make plays? Redshirt freshman Andre Debose is certainly a guy the Gators are counting on at receiver after undergoing hamstring surgery last year. Running back Emmanuel Moody will get a chance to be the workhorse on the ground, and Chris Rainey is moving to the slot position, meaning he’ll line up some at running back and some at receiver. Replacing Aaron Hernandez at tight end isn’t going to be easy. Freshman Gerald Christian enrolled early, and he will push redshirt freshmen Jordan Reed and Desmond Parks.

GEORGIA

Spring practice starts: March 4

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Quarterback competition – With 10 starters coming back on offense, the quarterback race will be where all the drama is this spring at Georgia. Nobody has any meaningful experience to speak of. Junior Logan Gray played in spots last season. He’s a terrific athlete and may be better suited to play another position at some point, but he’s not giving up on quarterback. The two redshirt freshmen, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, both have their strengths. Murray is the more versatile of the two, while Mettenberger is a bigger pocket passer who can really throw it. We’ll see if anybody separates himself this spring or if the competition goes into preseason practice. Because of his versatility, Murray is probably the favorite. Mettenberger might still be a year away.

• Implementation of the 3-4 – New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham takes over a Georgia defense that gave up big plays and points in bunches the last two seasons. The Bulldogs will shift from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 this spring, meaning some defensive ends will be moving to outside linebacker. The Bulldogs lost three senior defensive tackles, so somebody needs to step forward at nose tackle. DeAngelo Tyson may be the guy there. Justin Houston, who had 7.5 sacks last season, looks like a good fit at outside linebacker after playing end a year ago. Cornelius Washington is another guy who could blossom in the 3-4 as a pass-rusher. He has great speed and was always a bit thin at defensive end.

• Replenishing the secondary – The Bulldogs lost three starters in the secondary, including both safeties. The decision by Reshad Jones to turn pro early really hurt their depth. This is a big spring for sophomore cornerback Branden Smith, who made more of an impact last season on offense. The top candidates at safety are Baccari Rambo and Jakar Hamilton, a junior college transfer who enrolled early and will go through spring practice. Down the road, top 2010 signee Alec Ogletree will be a factor somewhere, either at safety or linebacker. After finishing 10^th in the SEC in pass defense last season and allowing a league-high 25 touchdown passes, the Bulldogs have to improve across the board when it comes to defending the pass.

KENTUCKY

Spring practice starts: March 31

Spring game: April 24

What to watch:

• Settling on a quarterback – All eyes will be on the quarterbacks this spring. Morgan Newton finished last season as the starter and struggled through the normal growing pains any true freshman goes through in the SEC. Newton wasn’t very consistent throwing the ball, but the Wildcats were also careful in what they asked him to do. Senior Mike Hartline opened last season as the starter, but went down with a knee injury. He clearly has the most experience. We’ll see how his knee holds up. The third guy in the Wildcats’ quarterback derby is redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski. He tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder toward the end of his senior season in high school and wasn’t healthy enough to compete for the starting job last fall. He is now, though, and might be further along mentally at this stage of his career than any quarterback the Wildcats have had, according to first-year coach Joker Phillips.

• Big shoes to fill on defense – Freshman linebacker Qua Huzzie will make his debut after injuring his shoulder in the preseason a year ago. He could be Micah Johnson’s replacement in the middle. Sophomores Ridge Wilson and Ronnie Sneed and redshirt freshman Will Johnson are three others who will get a lot of work at linebacker, especially with Sam Maxwell gone. Junior college safety Josh Gibbs is already in school and will get a shot right away in the secondary. Corey Peters was a force at tackle last season. But now that he’s gone, the Wildcats need Shane McCord and Mark Crawford to step up and be every-down players in the middle.

• Rebuilding the offensive line – The Wildcats have to replace four starters on the offensive line. The only returning starter is junior guard Stuart Hines, who has All-SEC potential. The good news is that there are seven lettermen returning, so there is some experience. Junior Billy Joe Murphy will probably get first crack at left tackle. He started three games in 2008. Senior Brad Durham, who’s started seven games over the last two seasons, is the front-runner at right tackle. Sophomore Larry Warford played some last season as a true freshman and is a good bet to start at the other guard opposite Hines. The center position will be a battle between senior Marcus Davis and sophomore Matt Smith, although junior Jake Lanefski could move to center when he returns from a knee injury in August. Lanefski has starting experience as a guard.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Spring practice starts: March 16

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Sorting it out in the offensive line – For all the issues that have hounded Steve Spurrier since he took over at South Carolina in 2005, none have plagued him more than the Gamecocks’ inability to consistently get it done in the offensive line. Heading into next season, there’s enough talent in place for the Gamecocks to make a run in the East if they play better up front. Shawn Elliott, who comes over from Appalachian State, steps in as Spurrier’s third offensive line coach in the last three years. He inherits three returning starters, but nothing is set in stone. Some new faces to watch are tackle Rokevious Watkins and guard Nick Allison, both of whom redshirted last season. There’s a chance T.J. Johnson could move to center. However it shakes out, this is the telltale area for the Gamecocks in 2010.

• Getting a clear plan on offense – This encompasses so many things, including finding some continuity in the offensive line and getting continued improvement from junior quarterback Stephen Garcia. But the other big component is establishing who the principal play-caller is going to be this fall and getting the chemistry down on the offensive staff. Spurrier has talked about getting better in the running game, but the Gamecocks have to commit to being a better running team, part of which means calling more running plays. Steve Spurrier Jr. has called the bulk of the plays the last two years. And while play-calling on game day can often times be overrated, the guy the South Carolina fans would like to see calling all of the plays is the Head Ball Coach.

• Replacing Norwood and Geathers -- Between them, Eric Norwood and Clifton Geathers made their share of big plays for the Gamecocks last season, particularly Norwood. Shaq Wilson will likely move from middle linebacker to Norwood’s weak side spot. Wilson can blitz like a safety, and South Carolina will put in some special blitz packages for him. Reggie Bowens and Tony Straughter are two other guys to watch at that spot. At Geathers’ end position, redshirt freshman Chaz Sutton and sophomore Devin Taylor both have a ton of potential. And with Cliff Matthews on the other side, the Gamecocks have a chance to be really good on the defensive line if Sutton and Taylor come through.

TENNESSEE

Spring practice starts: March 18

Spring game: April 17

What to watch:

• Quarterback competition – If experience in the program counts for anything, then senior Nick Stephens will have a leg up this spring in Tennessee’s starting quarterback competition. But for the third straight year, the Vols will have a new guy calling the shots on offense. Derek Dooley takes over the Vols’ program, and Jim Chaney will be his offensive coordinator. Chaney was under-utilized on the previous staff. One of the things Chaney will be looking for from Stephens is increased accuracy. Freshman Tyler Bray will also get a chance to show what he can do this spring. A heralded prospect from California, Bray is already enrolled in school. His first order of business is bulking up and getting stronger. The Vols also brought in junior college newcomer Matt Simms, the younger brother of NFL quarterback Chris Simms.

• Finding offensive linemen – The anchor of Tennessee’s offensive line is sophomore tackle Aaron Douglas, who was a Freshman All-American in 2009. The only problem is that last season was his first on the offensive line after playing tight end in high school, and he’s the so-called veteran of the unit. He’ll probably shift to left tackle this spring after playing on the right side last season. After Douglas, it’s a scramble. Freshman Ja’Wuan James, who enrolled early and will go through spring practice, will get every chance to win a job. It’s critical for the Vols that JerQuari Schofield and Dallas Thomas have big springs. Tennessee’s going to need both of them to play next season. The center position is a huge mystery. Victor Thomas moved over from defense and could be the answer.

• Finding leaders on defense – The backbone of Tennessee’s defense is gone in the form of Eric Berry, Dan Williams and Rico McCoy. All three were defensive playmakers and leaders. As new defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox takes over, he’ll be looking for both playmakers and leaders this spring. Senior defensive ends Chris Walker and Ben Martin fit the bill in both areas. Getting Nick Reveiz back at middle linebacker after he tore his ACL last season is also a big lick for the Vols, although he’ll be limited this spring. The secondary is wide open. Not only is Berry gone, but Dennis Rogan turned pro, too. Sophomore safety Janzen Jackson is the most talented guy back there. Taking care of business off the field may be his greatest challenge. This is also a big spring for sophomore safety Darren Myles Jr., who could be a breakout player for the Vols.

VANDERBILT

Spring practice starts: March 17

Spring game: April 10

What to watch:

• Larry Smith has some competition – Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson hasn’t given up on Smith, not in the least bit. Most of the time last season, Smith simply didn’t have enough help around him to be successful. But what Johnson does want is for somebody to push Smith, which is the reason the Commodores brought in junior college quarterback Jordan Rodgers in January. Smith missed the final three games a year ago after tearing his hamstring and will have to play well to hold off Rodgers, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The best scenario would be for one of those guys to win the job in the spring so that decision isn’t still hovering out there throughout the summer and into preseason practice.

• Offensive line continuity – The Commodores have to replace the left side of their offensive line as well as center Bradley Vierling, who was a two-time captain. Left tackle Thomas Welch played in the Senior Bowl, so that tells you that Vanderbilt is losing some talent at that position. James Williams returns at right tackle after breaking his ankle in the second game a year ago and missing the rest of the season. Sophomore Ryan Seymour is the favorite to replace Welch at left tackle. This will be an important spring for him after moving over from defense last spring. Junior Kyle Fischer can play guard or tackle and is one of the most talented offensive linemen on the roster. Four younger guys to watch are redshirt freshmen Justin Cabbagestalk, Wesley Johnson and Mylon Brown along with sophomore Jabo Burrow.

• Passing game – Johnson moved some duties around on his offensive coaching staff this offseason. Quarterbacks coach Jimmy Kiser will now be calling all of the offensive plays. His most pressing duty will be trying to establish some semblance of a passing game, which starts with identifying receivers. Anybody who shows the ability to make a play down the field this spring will get a chance come fall. The Commodores, who will continue to try and develop their no-huddle offense, have several promising young running backs and look set back there. It will be interesting to see how they incorporate redshirt freshman Wesley Tate into the offense. But overall, they desperately need to build some confidence and some momentum in the passing game this spring if they’re going to improve offensively in 2010.

No matter how you slice it, some familiar faces in the SEC are gone.

In fact, some might say the league has lost its star power, especially when you consider the likes of Tim Tebow, Rolando McClain, Eric Berry, Brandon Spikes, Joe Haden, Javier Arenas, Dexter McCluster, Anthony Dixon, Eric Norwood and Terrence Cody are all now embarking on their professional careers.

Can any league, even one that captured four straight BCS national championships, sustain such deep personnel losses and expect to stay atop the college football mountaintop?

“I don’t think it will be any different,” said Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, entering his third season in the SEC. “You’re going to see those other guys step up and be good players and be leaders. Hopefully, we have a few on our team.”

No doubt, and a good place to start is a marquee quarterback. Arkansas has one of the best passers in the country in junior Ryan Mallett, who threw 30 touchdown passes a year ago and is the ideal building block.

If the Hogs can plug the holes on defense, they might end up being one of the new faces of the league.

The last couple of years, it’s pretty much been an Alabama/Florida stranglehold.

The Crimson Tide haven't lost a regular-season game in two years. They were 14-0 in winning their first national championship in 17 years last season.

The Gators had a 22-game winning streak snapped last season by the Crimson Tide. Prior to last season’s breakthrough by Alabama, Florida had won two of the last three national titles.

And the one in that stretch that wasn’t won by Florida was won by LSU in 2007.

The odds of the SEC making it five straight with so many new faces playing starring roles?

Well, that depends on how you look at it.

The league does have a chance to be more balanced in 2010. A year ago, there was a pretty clear separation between Alabama and Florida and everybody else.

But with the Gators losing five juniors to the NFL in addition to Tebow, Spikes and the other seniors, they’re going to have their work cut out merely getting out of the East alive.

As soon as you say that, you look around the East and realize there’s not a clear-cut challenger. Everybody has their warts, and everybody has major question marks to address this spring.

South Carolina has 19 starters returning, but this is South Carolina we're talking about. The Gamecocks have made a living of stumbling all over themselves any time they face real expectations.

Georgia has 10 starters coming back on defense, but will be guided by a first-year starter at quarterback, probably a redshirt freshman who will be taking his first college snap. The Bulldogs are also overhauling their defense, as Todd Grantham takes over for Willie Martinez as coordinator.

Georgia last played in the SEC championship game in 2005, which was also the last time the Bulldogs won an SEC title.

The door might not be cracked open this much again in the East for a long time when you examine how relentlessly and how well Meyer has recruited at Florida -- regardless of how bizarre the whole resignation/leave of absence flip-flop was.

New stars will emerge for the Gators, and don’t be surprised if junior quarterback John Brantley is one of those stars next season.

There’s a reason nobody has repeated as champion in this league since Tennessee did it in 1997 and 1998. It’s the same reason this league has been so cyclical over the last two decades.

On any Saturday, the eighth best team can beat the best team. And when the tide turns in this league, it turns quickly.

Just ask Tennessee.

Speaking of the Tide, the class of the league remains defending national champion Alabama, which has a chance to be even better on offense in 2010.

The defense loses nine starters, but that’s deceiving. The young talent Nick Saban stockpiled on that side of the ball has simply been waiting its chance.

Marcell Dareus, Nico Johnson, Dre Kirkpatrick, Kerry Murphy, Dont’a Hightower and the rest of their cohorts get a chance to step into leading roles this fall.

Arkansas isn’t the only team in the West capable of taking down Alabama. Auburn and LSU are both talented enough to make a run. Like Arkansas, Auburn has to prove it can take that step defensively to play championship-caliber football. LSU has to rediscover itself after finishing 11^th in the league in total offense a year ago.

Looking for a surprise?

Mississippi State is poised to be one of the league’s most improved teams. The Bulldogs might not be ready to contend for a championship, but it would be a huge disappointment in Starkville next season if they’re not in a bowl game.

They also have one of those fresh, new faces that should become familiar to just about everybody next season.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is counting the different ways to get the ball in Chad Bumphis’ hands after a promising debut season in the SEC.

So sit back and enjoy. It all cranks back up on Friday when LSU opens spring practice.

If recent history is any indication in this conference, it will all end on Jan. 10 in Glendale, Ariz., site of the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.

Florida won't have Gary Brown as part of its defensive tackle rotation this fall.

The Gators dismissed Brown from the team after he was arrested and charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery during a dispute at a party last weekend. Brown is accused of striking two women who were trying to kick people out of a party, according to the police report.

Florida coach Urban Meyer made it clear in the past that he does not tolerate violence against women.

Brown was one of the most highly recruited defensive linemen in the country last year, but redshirted in 2009. He would have been a factor at tackle this coming season had he been able to stay out of trouble.

Some SEC links for your viewing pleasure:

• Georgia coach Mark Richt turned 50 on Thursday, and Mark Weiszer of The Athens Banner-Herald takes a look at 50 facts we may or may not have known about the dean of SEC coaches.
• Chip Towers, who covers recruiting for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, weighs in on the tragic death of Vanderbilt signee Rajaan Bennett, who played high school football in Powder Springs, Ga.
• Florida running back Chris Rainey is moving to the hybrid slot position this spring, better known to Florida fans as the Percy Position. It's the dual role former star Percy Harvin played during his career with the Gators.
• With Urban Meyer on leave, Florida's new assistant coaches are settling in, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is no stranger to injuries, writes Brandon Marcello of WholeHogSports.com

Making the rounds in the SEC:

• Boise State coach Chris Petersen is glad to see Derek Dooley gone from the WAC and says Dooley hired a gem in former Boise State defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox.
• Paul Finebaum of The Mobile Press-Register writes that Gene Chizik has ripped the Nick Saban template right out from under the Tide Nation.
• Florida coach Urban Meyer is finally stepping away from the program, writes Jeremy Fowler of The Orlando Sentinel.
• Pat Dooley of The Gainesville Sun wonders if the NCAA's Football Rules Committee has more important things to do than to worry about what players are writing on their eye black.
• Alabama's 2009 national championship team could be headed to the White House later this month or the first of March to be honored.

• The conference expansion dominoes could fall toward Clemson joining the SEC, writes Bart Wright of The Greenville News.