Texas A&M Aggies

The SEC had a record 63 players selected in last month's NFL draft, including 12 in the first round.

I'm not sure it's realistic to expect that kind of haul next year, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to the 2014 draft class.

So, similar to a year ago, I've come up with our list of the SEC's top 20 draft prospects for 2014.

This isn’t a mock draft. Likewise, it’s not a ranking of who I think will be the best players in the SEC next season. Rather, it’s a projection of who will be the most coveted NFL prospects from the SEC when the 2014 draft rolls around in April. In coming up with this list, I’ve talked to several draft analysts as well as NFL personnel, SEC coaches and others who are clued in to the whole draft process.

Some players will obviously play their way onto this list next season, while others will play their way off it. Injuries undoubtedly will be a factor, and then occasionally, guys will come from nowhere to be first-round picks.

Among the prospects I nailed this time a year ago were Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, Alabama offensive guard Chance Warmack, LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo and LSU safety Eric Reid.

Among those I missed the boat on were Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd and Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker.

I had Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson No. 1 overall and South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore in my top five. So it never goes exactly the way anybody predicts, especially 11 months before the draft.

Here goes with our 2014 list. Again, we’re not suggesting all 20 will go in the first round or even the first two rounds. It’s simply the order we think they will come off the board in next April’s draft and includes only draft-eligible players:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina, Jr.: The ultimate game-changer on defense, Clowney would have been a first-rounder had he been draft-eligible after his freshman season. Clowney then excelled in 2012, elevating his status as the 2014 No. 1 favorite.

2: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama, Jr.: A potential top-five pick in next year's draft, the 6-foot-6, 310-pound Kouandjio is everything you're looking for in a left tackle.

3. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M, Sr.: We know Matthews has the bloodlines, but he also has the game. He's shifting over from right tackle to left tackle for his senior season.

4. Antonio Richardson, OT, Tennessee, Jr.: The man they call Tiny has the size and athleticism to be a franchise left tackle. Clowney said Richardson was one of the best tackles he faced a year ago.

5. Anthony Johnson, DT, LSU, Jr.: There's a reason they call him Freak. They just seem to breed great defensive linemen at LSU, and Johnson is next in line.

6. Loucheiz Purifoy, CB, Florida, Jr.: He's a pure cover cornerback with good size and an explosive athlete to boot. The Gators also will play him at receiver next season.

7. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M, RSo.: Yes, Manziel is shorter than the NFL typically likes its quarterbacks, but do measurables really matter when you make as many plays as Johnny Football does?

8. Dominique Easley, DT, Florida, Sr.: Easley is fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered at the end of the 2011 season. He's sliding inside to tackle next season and will be a force for the Gators.

9. Adrian Hubbard, OLB, Alabama, RJr.: We saw his ability to get to the quarterback in flashes last season. Look for Hubbard to take that next step in 2013 and become a premier finisher.

10. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama, Sr.: As the saying goes, he's a football player. Mosley is a sure tackler. He's excellent in coverage and is always money whenever Alabama needs a big play.

11. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama, Jr.: In the past four drafts, Alabama has produced four first-round selections in the secondary. Clinton-Dix could be the top safety off the board next year.

12. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M, RSo.: In his first season in the SEC, the 6-5, 225-pound Evans was sensational with 82 catches and 1,105 yards. He'll be even better his second time through.

13. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama, Sr.: Sure, he's been surrounded by great talent, but McCarron also has an NFL arm, delivers in the clutch and takes care of the football.

14. Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt, Sr.: The 6-3, 205-pound Matthews is so smooth that he makes it look easy. And talk about productive. He averaged 109.6 receiving yards in eight SEC games.

15. Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss, Jr.: One of the more underrated players in the SEC, the 6-3, 215-pound Moncrief has a knack for finding the end zone with 14 touchdowns in his first two seasons.

16. Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee, Sr.: This mountain of a man (6-8, 360 pounds) is still developing, but he should make an imposing nose tackle for a team that uses a 3-4 defensive scheme.

17. Marcus Roberson, CB, Florida, Jr.: The "other" Florida cornerback also has big-time skills and was second in the SEC in passes defended last season with 14.

18: Chaz Sutton, DE, South Carolina, RJr.: Clowney will get most of the attention next season, but don't be surprised if Sutton blows up and has a monster senior season.

19: Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State, Sr.: Jackson thought about coming out early this year. He returns as one of the top offensive guards in college football.

20: Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia, Sr.: The opinions are mixed on Murray, who's bearing down on several SEC records. His numbers speak for themselves, and so does the way he approaches the game.

With Texas A&M's clash against the nation's No. 1 team, Alabama, fast approaching, we'll take a closer look at the Aggies opponent with Alex Scarborough, who covers the Crimson Tide for ESPN's TideNation. Here are five questions for Scarborough and his takes on the Tide and the upcoming matchup:

1. Alabama yielded a season-high 435 yards to LSU on Saturday. What worked for LSU against the Crimson Tide and is it something that you think other teams could replicate, including Texas A&M?

LSU was able to effectively run the ball downhill and capitalize on missed assignments in the secondary. Throw in a few missed tackles and it made for a long day for the Alabama defense. While I'm not sure the Aggies can run the ball in quite the same way, I do believe the area of missed tackles and blown assignments should be a concern for Alabama fans. As I've said all week: if you think LSU turning a 2-yard gain into a first down was bad, watch out for what a real offense like Texas A&M's can do. That said, I think there's a fundamental difference in the two opponents. LSU went pro-style all night and effectively kept C.J. Mosley and the nickel and dime defenses off the field, which are Alabama's strengths. Obviously that won't be the case when Johnny Manziel trots out there with three, four and five receivers at a time.

2. I know that Nick Saban said he doesn't have anybody that can help simulate Johnny Manziel for his scout team, but how do you see the Tide trying to attack the redshirt freshman?

I expect to see Alabama go straight containment on defense a la Michigan in the season opener. Saban isn't a guy that harps on getting sacks or tackles for loss. He'd rather pressure the quarterback in a controlled way as to not let Manziel use his feet, whether that's running around the tackles or straight through the box. I think we'll see Saban spy Manziel throughout the game and force him to beat Alabama with his arm rather than his legs.

3. Much was made about Saban's comments on the no-huddle offense after the Ole Miss game. Did the pace really give the Tide that much trouble and could it be an area of concern for Alabama heading into Saturday?

Yes and yes, but take it with a grain of salt. Alabama's defense did have trouble exchanging personnel and getting play calls in when the Rebels went uptempo, but it wasn't like Ole Miss put up 40 points. The game was never in doubt. That said, Texas A&M's offense is far more advanced than Ole Miss'. If Manziel and the Aggies can convert on a few third downs, it can get the defense on its heels. When that happens, it's anyone's game.

4. For those who have never been, describe what a typical game-day atmosphere is like at Bryant-Denny Stadium and what kind of advantage it is for the Tide over visiting opponents.

It's an all day affair in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The quad will be jam-packed and the streets crowded before many of us in the media wake up and get a cup of coffee. The stadium itself is one of the louder venues in the SEC with more than 100,000 fans right on top of you. Expect to hear a lot of "Sweet Home Alabama" and a steady chorus of "Roll Tide."

5. Give me a name of an Alabama player that Texas A&M fans might not know today, but will know by the end of Saturday's game and why.

Adrian Hubbard. Alabama's sophomore outside linebacker is the key to keeping Manziel contained. At 6-foot-6, 248 pounds, he's athletic enough to stay in front of Manziel and more than strong enough to pull him down. He leads the team in tackles for loss, and while he may not end Saturday with a full stat line, his ability to hold the edge and force the action back up the middle will be key to Alabama's success on defense.

Some of my best childhood memories go back to the Major League All-Star Game and sitting around and watching the Midsummer Classic with family members.

That’s what we did last week at our house.

So in keeping with the All-Star theme, we’ll select a preseason SEC All-Star team with the East going up against the West.

Who would win?

EAST

Offense

• QB: Aaron Murray, Georgia
• RB: Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina
• RB: Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt
• WR: Justin Hunter, Tennessee
• WR: Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee
• TE: Jordan Reed, Florida
• OL: Elvis Fisher, Missouri
• OL: Larry Warford, Kentucky
• OL: Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt
• OL: Dallas Thomas, Tennessee
• C: T.J. Johnson, South Carolina

Defense

• DE: Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
• DE: Devin Taylor, South Carolina
• DT: Dominique Easley, Florida
• DT: John Jenkins, Georgia
• LB: Jarvis Jones, Georgia
• LB: Jelani Jenkins, Florida
• LB: Alec Ogletree, Georgia
• CB: E.J. Gaines, Missouri
• CB: Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee
• S: Bacarri Rambo, Georgia
• S: Matt Elam, Florida

Special Teams

• PK: Caleb Sturgis, Florida
• P: Richard Kent, Vanderbilt
• RS: Andre Debose, Florida

WEST

Offense

• QB: Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
• RB: Knile Davis, Arkansas
• RB: Christine Michael, Texas A&M
• WR: Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
• WR: Ryan Swope, Texas A&M
• TE: Chris Gragg, Arkansas
• OL: Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
• OL: D.J. Fluker, Alabama
• OL: Chance Warmack, Alabama
• OL: Chris Faulk, LSU
• C: Barrett Jones, Alabama

Defense

• DE: Sam Montgomery, LSU
• DE: Barkevious Mingo, LSU
• DT: Bennie Logan, LSU
• DT: Jesse Williams, Alabama
• LB: Sean Porter, Texas A&M
• LB: C.J. Mosley, Alabama
• LB: Nico Johnson, Alabama
• CB: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
• CB: Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State
• S: Eric Reid, LSU
• S: Robert Lester, Alabama

Special Teams

• PK: Drew Alleman, LSU
• P: Brad Wing, LSU
• RS: Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

There won’t be any shortage of outstanding linebackers in the SEC this season, and a few of the teams are absolutely loaded.

In this era of hybrid roles, sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish whether somebody is a defensive end or an outside linebacker. The same goes for that outside linebacker/safety position we’re seeing so much of these days.

Here’s a look at how we would rank the linebacker units in the SEC heading into the 2012 season. It’s clearly a position of strength, which means even those teams ranking in the bottom half of the league are plenty stout:

1. Georgia: It starts with senior outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who led the SEC in sacks (13.5) and tackles for loss (19.5) last season. Junior Alec Ogletree is just as disruptive on the inside, and the Bulldogs have quality depth inside with seniors Michael Gilliard and Christian Robinson. Senior Cornelius Washington could end up playing some at both end and outside linebacker.

2. Alabama: Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw are both gone, but senior Nico Johnson and junior C.J. Mosley return as two of the top linebackers in the SEC. Mosley might be the best coverage linebacker in the league. The Crimson Tide have also recruited like mad, and younger players such as sophomore Jack linebacker Adrian Hubbard are ready to make their move.

3. Florida: Senior Jon Bostic and junior Jelani Jenkins are back to form the nucleus of a Florida defense that should again be one of the top units in the league. They racked up a combined 169 tackles last season. Senior Lerentee McCray missed time with a shoulder injury last season. With Ronald Powell recovering from an ACL tear, McCray factors in at the hybrid Buck position on the outside.

4. Texas A&M: The Aggies are moving to a 4-3 defense this season under new coordinator Mark Snyder. The star of the group is senior Sean Porter, who had 17 tackles for loss, including 9.5 sacks, last season. He’ll have plenty of support with leading tackler Jonathan Stewart returning for his senior season, not to mention senior Steven Jenkins, who was the star of the spring.

5. South Carolina: The Gamecocks are deep and experienced. Five seniors return, including four of the top 10 tacklers on the team last season. DeVonte Holloman plays the hybrid Spur position and is poised for his most productive season yet. Shaq Wilson is back at middle linebacker, while Reginald Bowens, Damario Jeffery and Quin Smith are three more seniors who’ve played a lot of football.

6. Tennessee: The Vols boasted some of the best young talent at linebacker in the league last season with A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt, both of whom were named Freshman All-SEC. With the Vols moving to a base 3-4 this season, Maggitt’s a guy who can play a couple of different roles. The Vols will also get back senior Herman Lathers, who missed all of last season with a fractured ankle.

7. Missouri: Three proven starters return at linebacker for the Tigers, including seniors Zaviar Gooden and Will Ebner. The 6-2, 230-pound Gooden has the size-speed combination to be an All-SEC player. Ebner just needs to stay healthy. He’s been beset by injuries the last two seasons. Junior Andrew Wilson led the team with 98 tackles last season. After filling in for Ebner in the middle, Wilson will move to strong side this season.

8. LSU: Some of the best news for the Tigers this spring was the way junior Kevin Minter played in the middle. As a second-year starter in 2012, he’s primed to take a big step. Defensive coordinator John Chavis also liked what he saw out of junior Tahj Jones. There won’t be much experience and some younger guys will have to come through, but talent shouldn’t be a problem.

9. Arkansas: The big move for the Hogs this spring was senior Tenarius Wright shifting from end to middle linebacker. It’s imperative that Arkansas holds up better against the inside run, and Wright has been a playmaker throughout his career. Senior Alonzo Highsmith had a big debut season for the Hogs after coming over from junior college. He led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss in 2011, but missed the spring with a torn pectoral muscle.

10. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs probably deserve to be ranked a little higher, but such is life in the SEC. Senior Cameron Lawrence returns after finishing third in the league last season with 123 tackles. Establishing a presence in the middle will be key. Redshirt freshman Benardrick McKinney and sophomore Ferlando Bohanna both have a ton of talent. They just don’t have much experience.

11. Ole Miss: It would be huge for the Rebels if they can get junior D.T. Shackelford back this fall. He’s trying to make it back from two ACL surgeries. He’s a terrific leader and can play any of the linebacker spots. Junior Mike Marry is back after leading the team with 81 tackles last season. Serderius Bryant also returns after earning Freshman All-SEC honors a year ago.

12. Auburn: Senior Daren Bates might be undersized at 205 pounds, but he was a rock for Auburn’s defense last season at weak side linebacker. He’s going to need some help in 2012 if the Tigers are going to improve on that side of the ball. Jake Holland battled injuries last season in the middle and should be more consistent as a junior. The guy to watch is redshirt freshman Kris Frost, who’s freakishly athletic.

13. Vanderbilt: The unquestioned leader of the Commodores’ defense, middle linebacker Chris Marve, is gone. Junior Chase Garnham will move into Marve’s spot in the middle after showing a ton of promise at outside linebacker in 2011. Senior Archibald Barnes is also back after finishing fourth on the team in tackles last season, and the staff is excited about getting freshmen Darreon Herring and Jake Sealand on the field.

14. Kentucky: The Wildcats were gutted at linebacker. Gone are Danny Trevathan, who led the SEC in tackles the last two seasons, and Winston Guy, who was right behind Trevathan last season in his hybrid safety/linebacker role. Ridge Wilson was also dismissed from the team following his arrest. Junior Avery Williamson is the only returnee with any real experience, and the Wildcats will need several younger players to come through.

The SEC has a nation-leading 19 players on the 2012 preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player. Alabama leads the SEC with five players on the list, while LSU is second with four.

Here are all 19 SEC players on the Nagurski Trophy list:

• Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State
• Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina
• Matt Elam, S, Florida
• Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
• John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
• Nico Johnson, LB, Alabama
• Jarvis Jones, LB, Georgia
• Corey Lemonier, DE, Auburn
• Robert Lester, S, Alabama
• Rob Lohr, DT, Vanderbilt
• Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU
• Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama
• Barkevious Mingo, DE, LSU
• Sam Montgomery, DE, LSU
• C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama
• Eric Reid, S, LSU
• Devin Taylor, DE, South Carolina
• Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

For the complete Nagurski Trophy watch list, go here.

The SEC also leads the country with 19 players on the 2012 preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is presented annually to the nation's top interior lineman. Alabama leads the SEC with four players on the list, including reigning Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones.

Here are all 19 SEC players on the Outland Trophy watch list:

• Alvin Bailey, OG, Arkansas
• Josh Boyd, DT, Mississippi State
• Chris Faulk, OT, LSU
• Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
• D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama
• Alex Hurst, OT, LSU
• Gabe Jackson, OG, Mississippi State
• John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
• Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M
• T.J. Johnson, C, South Carolina
• Wesley Johnson, OT, Vanderbilt
• Barrett Jones, C, Alabama
• Bennie Logan, DT, LSU
• Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
• Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas
• Dallas Thomas, OG, Tennessee
• Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky
• Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama
• Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

For the full Outland Trophy watch list, go here.