SEC Preview

by Matthew Hunter, In The Hunt with Matt Hunter

We've been giving our conference previews here at the Carnival, and today we'll look at the Southeastern Conference. Today's guest blogger is Matt Hunter from In the Hunt.

The Southeastern Conference is poised to once again be the toughest conference to play in week in and week out. Along with the titans of the last few years (Florida, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee) South Carolina is improving with Spurrier bringing in his own players, and Alabama should be improved with the acquisition of Nick Saban. Saban brings a strong defensive minded approach to the game, and is a tough recruiter, who won a National Championship at LSU in his last college job. The SEC is home to some of the finest recruiting classes in the country over the last few years and some of those young players are ready to fill major roles on their teams. It should be an exciting year down south that is for sure.

East Winner: Florida
West Winner: LSU
SEC Champ: LSU

SEC All-Conference Team
QB- Andre Woodson (Kentucky)
RB-Darren McFadden (Arkansas)
RB-LaMarcus Coker (Tennessee)
WR-Marcus Monk (Arkansas)
WR- Andre Caldwell (Florida)
WR- Earl Bennett (Vanderbilt)
TE- Jacob Tamme (Kentucky)
T- Andre Smith (Alabama)
T- Ciron Black (LSU)
G- Jim Tartt (Florida)
G- Herman Johnson(LSU)
C- Antoine Caldwell (Alabama)

DL-Quintin Groves (Auburn)
DL-Derrick Harvey (Florida)
DL-Glenn Dorsey (LSU)
DL-Tyson Jackson (LSU)
LB- Jonathan Goff (Vanderbilt)
LB-Jasper Brinkley (S. Carolina)
LB- Freddie Fairchild (Arkansas)
S- Jonathan Hefney (Tennessee)
S-Tony Joiner (Florida)
CB-Simeon Castille (Alabama)
CB- Jonathan Zenon (LSU)

Offensive Player of the Year- Darren McFadden
Defensive Player of the Year- Glenn Dorsey

Alabama:
Biggest Gain: Nick Saban
Usually a spot reserved for a player, I’m pretty sure the news of Saban coming to town was bigger than any other player that signed with Alabama this past winter.

Biggest Loss: Ken Darby; Leron McClain
Although the Alabama rushing attack was less than potent for most of last year these guys could really play the game of football and knew how to get four yards and a cloud of dust. Jimmy Johns was supposed to replace Darby but was suspended.

QB John Parker Wilson showed last year that he is the real deal, and gets his favorite target D.J. Hall back for another go-round. He has an experienced and talented offensive line in front of him, and another year to grow and mature. The Alabama rushing attack will be suspect, but I doubt many teams will be able to put 8 or 9 in the box so it may free up some room for whoever is getting the handoffs in the backfield. The defense should get better under Saban. Nearly every defense Saban has ever coached has gotten better, and despite some major losses on that side of the ball including Ramzee Robinson, they should be in just about every game. They also have three very winnable non-conference games.

Arkansas:
Biggest Gain: Getting rid of Mustain and friends
The Springdale Mafia as they have been coined were a drain on Houston Nutt and his coaching staff. Parents, players, fans, and the media were pressuring the team to throw the ball more when they have the two best running backs in the entire conference with McFadden and Felix Jones.

Biggest Loss: Jamaal Anderson
Fast pass rusher off the edge who went in the upper part of the first round will be hard to replace.

Houston Nutt has become so wounded from what went on with the Springdale kids, the media, etc. I don’t know how he even goes into work every day. But the good news is that they return the best backfield in the country, and Casey Dick is the clear starter and doesn’t have to look over his shoulder anymore. I expect a good season but I doubt they will get anywhere near the success they had last year.

Auburn:
Biggest Gain: Micheal McNeil
Top safety in the country should make an already potent defense even better.

Biggest Loss: Offensive skill players.
Go to receiver Courtney Taylor, and Kenny Irons both depart as useful weapons for the Tiger’s offense. How Auburn replaces these players may determine their fate.

Brandon Cox, the signal caller for the Auburn Tigers is supposed to be healthy from all reports that I have read. This is an important thing for them, because he really makes this offense go. Brad Lester will not have a hard time replacing Kenny Irons, he actually shared time last year and averaged more yards per carry. The Tigers have a glaring weakness at WR, but the defense should be just as good as it was a year ago when many people picked them to go to the National Title game. I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat LSU and took the West, if they can shore up some small holes they can compete on a very high level.

Florida:
Biggest Gain: Torrey Davis
Florida had the best recruiting class in the country, so there are plenty of names to choose from. I’ll take Davis because I think the defensive tackle can come in and have an impact right away

Biggest Loss: Chris Leak
They lost a lot, including All-American Reggie Nelson and great DE Jarvis Moss. The leadership and poise Leak showed over the entirety of last season were too hard to pass up here.

The Gators are the fastest team I have ever seen. They have more offensive weapons than any team in the country, and a coach who knows how to use them. They should score a lot of points in Tim Tebow’s first year under center. They have no running back, but that never really seemed to hurt them last year. However, they have a lot of holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball. All-Americans, seniors, first, second, and third round draft picks are all gone from one of the top five defenses from a year ago. This team is probably a year away from making another run at a National title, but a top 10 finish is clearly in reach.

Georgia:
Biggest Gain: Israel Troupe
Adds a young threat to combine with Matthew Stafford as he progresses.

Biggest Loss: Paul Oliver
Oliver was their best player, and a really good cornerback. He was named ineligible this spring because of academics.

Georgia’s season relies heavily on how much Matthew Stafford and his receivers have matured. Stafford struggled at times in his freshman campaign, but came on at the end of the season when Marc Richt took over play calling. The offensive line will be rebuilt, and the defense has some major holes for the first time in a while. Stafford may be asked to do a lot more for the wins this season than last. They will be a much better team in 2008 than 2007.

Kentucky:
Biggest Gain: Experience
They had their best year in a very long time last year and a lot of those guys gained invaluable experience.

Biggest Loss: Three OL
Three starting OL are gone from an explosive offense from a year ago. They must protect that arm they’ve got.

Andre Woodson, Rafeal Little, and that special teams gang can score some points. Woodson is the best QB in the SEC, and won’t lose games for his team. The problem is, how many points will they give up. If Kentucky scores 22-24 points a game and gives up 27 none of the offensive stuff matters. I think they get back to a bowl on the arm of Woodson.

Louisiana State University:
Biggest Gain: Returning the Defense
Glenn Dorsey and the rest of the heap of returning starters should be a good unit

Biggest Loss: Jamarcus Russell
#1 pick in the NFL Draft is tough to replace

LSU has had an army for quite a while, but just seemed a year away ever since they shared the national title 5 years ago. The defense should be the best that the conference has seen in quite a while. Les Miles has a ton of returning stars, as seen in the All- SEC team here in this preview. However, they also are replacing the #1 pick in the NFL draft. Jamarcus Russell anchored a team that lost only 2 games, including one to the eventual nation champion. This year Matt Flynn will try to recreate the success he had in the bowl game two years ago against Miami. This team is probably the most talented in the SEC and should be the favorite coming into the season. How these players and coaches handle the pressure put on them in big games will determine if hey play for a national title or not. In my humble opinion I believe they will be the best team in the country this year.

Mississippi:
Biggest Gain:Jarrell Powe
Huge recruit finally acedemically eligible to play after being out a whole year.

Biggest Loss: Probably 40-50 Points to LSU
I had to do it.

The flux in the state of Mississippi is of serious concern to Rebel fans right now. They lose the only elite player on their roster, Patrick Willis. Brent Shaeffer is capable of making a ton of plays, but will the rest of his team make that possible, and will they keep anybody under 30 ppg? I think Ed Oregeron’s team probably fineshes last in the SEC West.

Mississippi State:
Biggest Gain:Erik Richards
One of the best kickers in the country out of high school

Biggest Loss: See Above.

Sly Croom’s team may actually more in flux than the Ole Miss Rebels. This team that beat Florida just a few years ago seems to be going the wrong way in the last few years. Recruiting has been tough and so has been the games. I doubt this team wins more than 4 games this year, although I think they will win the Egg Bowl, which is some consolation I guess.

South Carolina:
Biggest Gain: Confidence
Spurrier has got his team talking SEC East title.

Biggest Loss: Sidney Rice
Great WR weapon for the offensive minded coach.

What a year for the Ol’ Ball Coaches’ team down in Columbia. If there ever was a year for them to win the SEC East it is this year. Florida should be good but has serious holes on defense, and a young QB. Georgia and Tennessee can be beaten by Spurrier at any time. Jasper Brinkley leads a defense that can really compete, and if Blake Mitchell can be a Passing QB and put his Holtz reputation in the wind then USC should be a serious factor in the SEC East. Personally I figure them into the mix second in the East, and going to a good bowl.

Tennessee:
Biggest Gain: Eric Berry
Best freshman in the country?

Biggest Loss: Meacham/Swain
Both of Eric Ainge's biggest weapon's are gone now.
Who is Erik Ainge? Is he the Sophomore problem child? IS he the Junior stud? Is he the senior question, absolutely. Ainge loses all of his biggest targets, along with Coker as I write this article. Without the rest of his weapons I doubt he will be nearly as effective as last season. The defense will be good, but just that and UT is probably looking at another 3rd finish in the SEC East. They have some of the tools in place, but they go on the road to Florida, and I just don't see them being better than Georgia.

Vanderbilt:
Biggest Gain: Chris Nickson returning
Exciting QB returns to run the offense he already knows.

Biggest Loss: Cassen Jackson-Garrison
Main RB just graduated.

Vandy will be an improved last place in the SEC East. with Kentucky coming off a huge year where it made the jump, Vandy wishes it could do the same. However they are still the 6th most talented team in a 6 team division, which is a problem. They will give teams some problems for a half or so, but I doubt they can hang around for the whole thing. Sorry Nashville you'll be watching a bunch of losses in pearls and prom dresses.