ESPN College Football

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is rolling out his early top five rankings at each position this week.

Here are the positions he's looked at so far:

• Wide receivers and defensive ends
• Running backs and safeties
• Quarterbacks
• Cornerbacks
• Tight ends

Now, we're checking out the top linebacker prospects for next year's NFL draft. Kiper divided things up to look at outside linebackers and inside linebackers . I'm just combing the two to make things easier for everyone.

When it comes to outside linebackers, Alabama's Adrian Hubbard comes in at No. 2 on Kiper's list. Hubbard led Alabama with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season. He has what it takes to be an elite pass-rusher in the SEC, but he still has some growing to do. He has great speed, but just has to stay consistent with his speed off the edge. He's a player who Nick Saban is very excited about in 2013.

Other draft-eligible outside linebackers I'll keep an eye on this fall:

• Tahj Jones, LSU: An academic issue kept him out of all but one game last year, but Jones should start at one of the outside spots for the Tigers this fall. He's been very productive in the 28 games he's appeared in.
• Ronald Powell, Florida: He's coming off two ACL injuries and will be a hybrid defensive end as well. Powell was the top recruit a couple of years ago and had his best spring last year before his injury. He has all the skill to be a top-notch pass-rusher.
• Steven Jenkins, Texas A&M: He's versatile and experienced enough to play both outside and inside. He grabbed 79 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks last year.
• Deontae Skinner, Mississippi State: He was a little overlooked last year at his position, but Skinner is a player. He grabbed 62 tackles last year, including five for loss and forced a fumble.

As for the inside linebackers, Kiper went SEC-heavy with his top five. Alabama's C.J. Mosley comes in at No. 1 in Kiper's top five, while Trey DePriest ranks second, and Tennessee's A.J. Johnson ranks fourth.

Mosley flirted with leaving early for the NFL this year, but he will likely enhance his draft stock with one more year at Alabama. He can be an extremely aggressive player in the run, but also knows how to drop back into coverage to make plays. He's an extremely smart player and will be relied upon to be the quarterback of Bama's defense.

Joining Mosley in the middle is DePriest, who might be bigger than Mosley but is also pretty good in coverage. He's tough against the run and can get after the quarterback as well. He also puts his strength to good use on the field.

Johnson has really blossomed since arriving at Tennessee in 2011. Last year, he led the SEC with 138 tackles and continued to develop pretty much every area of his game. A lot of people think he could be a first-round draft pick next year.

Other draft-eligible inside linebackers I'll keep an eye on:

• Lamin Barrow, LSU: He's LSU's top returning tackler (104) and he'll take over as the Tigers' defensive captain. He's a very versatile player and can play both inside and outside if needed.
• Chase Garnham, Vanderbilt: He might not have received the same sort of attention as his fellow middle linebackers last year, but Garnham is a solid player. He not only registered 84 tackles last year but he led Vandy with seven sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss.
• Mike Marry, Ole Miss: He's a fierce competitor and worker for the Rebels. He's become a true leader with both his words and play, coming away with 78 tackles, including 10.5 for loss last year.
• Curt Maggit, Tennessee: He's another player who is versatile to play both inside and outside. He's coming off an ACL injury but should be ready to go this fall.
• Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State: The redshirt sophomore was extremely busy during his first year on the field in 2012, collecting 102 tackles. He should be looked at as one of the top inside linebackers in the SEC this fall.
• Andrew Wilson, Missouri: The old man of Mizzou's linebacking corps has a ton of experience -- and tackles -- under his belt. He can make plays against the run and the pass.

GigEmNation
From Sam Khan Jr. : In this week's recruiting notebook, a quarterback narrows his list down and includes Texas A&M, plus more notes.

More from Khan : Three-star running back James White talks about why he signed with the Aggies.

DawgNation
Ask the Scouts : Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill look at some of the evaluations for Georgia’s top targets as well as answer a few questions about the Bulldogs' class.

GatorNation
From Derek Tyson : We open the GatorNation mailbag to look at Florida’s buck DE recruiting board and where the Gators stand with some of the OL targets.

TideNation
From Alex Scarborough : Not every person on Alabama’s No. 1-ranked, 26-member 2012 recruiting class contributed last season. Those who did, like T.J. Yeldon and Deion Belue, certainly made their presence felt.

GeauxTigerNation
From Gary Laney : This week's LSU mailbag answers questions on LSU strategy when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks and wide receivers.

I'll be hanging out with Passion Pitt in Atlanta this weekend. Don't act like you're not impressed.

• Auburn legend Terry Beasley's spirits are lifted by the outpouring of support as he battles health problems in Birmingham.
• Auburn's battle at right tackle between Patrick Miller and Avery Young will heat up this fall.
• Kevin Scarbinsky of AL.com writes that while coaches are going after Nick Saban, he's going about his business.
• Rising junior wide receiver DJ Neal commits to South Carolina.
• Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart is already a big Butch Jones fan.
• Florida coaches Will Muschamp and Tim Davis stirred things up this week while on the booster club circuit.
• Can Kentucky's Air Raid 2.0 produce a one-year offensive turnaround for Cats?

Edward Aschoff talks with Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is rolling out his early top five rankings at each position this week.

Here are the positions he's looked at so far:

• Wide receivers and defensive ends
• Running backs and safeties
• Quarterbacks

Now it's time to take a look at Kiper's top five cornerback prospects heading into the 2013 season. The SEC is full of talented defensive backs, and the corner spot is pretty deep this year. Kiper has Florida's Loucheiz Purifoy No. 2 on his list. Teammate Marcus Roberson made his "Next up" list, along with Vanderbilt's Andre Hal.

Purifoy is still a little raw, but he has great cover ability and is one of the more physical corners around. He also has tremendous speed and athleticism, which is why the coaches have put him on the return team and want to use him on offense as well. He still has to work on technique here and there and can get a little too aggressive, but the coaches think he has All-American skill.

Helping Purifoy out this fall will be Roberson, who has made an impact at the position since his freshman season. Roberson already has the technique down and has been great in one-on-one situations. He isn't as physical as Purifoy, and needs to improve in that area, but he could be more than just an All-SEC performer this season.

Hal really turned into an impressive cover corner last season. He grabbed two interceptions and defended 16 passes last fall. He also earned second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press. He also has a ton of athleticism and was the Commodores' top kick returner in 2011.

Other draft-eligible cornerbacks I'll be keeping an eye on this fall:

• Deion Belue, Alabama: He was thought to be the Crimson Tide's best corner before last season. He might not be as gifted in coverage as Dee Milliner was, but he'll certainly hold his own this fall.
• Deshazor Everett, Texas A&M: He was best known for his goal-line interception that sealed the Aggies' upset win over No. 1 Alabama, but Everett generated some good buzz during spring practice. He was a little overshadowed last season, but has a chance to be a star this fall.
• E.J. Gaines, Missouri: He was one of the top cover men in the Big 12 in 2011 and then didn't miss much of a beat during his first season in the SEC, defending 12 passes. He isn't the biggest corner, but he isn't afraid to match up with bigger receivers.
• Charles Sawyer, Ole Miss: He moved from safety to corner and really excelled at his new position. He's the quarterback of the Rebels' defensive backfield and has the speed to cover a lot of ground.
• Damian Swann, Georgia: The resident "old" man of the Bulldogs' secondary, Swann proved his worth by keeping his starting job when Sanders Commings returned from suspension last season. He's doing a lot more teaching than learning this year.

DawgNation
From Kipp Adams : 2014 safety Cortez McDowell was prepared to make a decision this summer but is now willing to wait, especially if it means more involvement from Georgia.

GatorNation
From Michael DiRocco : After signing the No. 2 recruiting class in 2013, Florida has a number of freshmen champing at the bit to play. But which will make the biggest impact?

GeauxTigerNation
From Gary Laney : Breaking down LSU's Class of 2013 recruits and where they could fit in with the Tigers this fall.

Also from Laney : Four-star QB prospect Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway) provides an update on his recruitment, including the news that he plans to unveil his top six schools on Thursday.

GigEmNation
From Sam Khan Jr. : Texas A&M DT signee Jordan Points talks about why he chose the Aggies and more.

TideNation
From Bob Przybylo : ESPN 150 QB David Cornwell has seen his recruiting run at warp speed. As he prepares for summer camps at Alabama and elsewhere, there’s no slowing down now.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is rolling out his early top five rankings at each position this week.

Here's what he's looked at so far:

• Wide receivers and defensive ends
• Running backs and safeties

Now, we're taking a look at Kiper's top quarterback and cornerback draft prospects. We'll start with the quarterbacks and look at the corners later today.

Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel ranks third on Kiper's list, while Alabama's AJ McCarron comes in at No. 5. Ole Miss' Bo Wallace made Kiper's "Next up" list, while Georgia's Aaron Murray made his "More I like" list.

Manziel is getting all sorts of draft attention after his record-breaking, Heisman-winning season. He's the most talked about quarterback in the country and while he doesn't have an elite arm, he's extremely athletic and slippery. He's looking to develop more into a passer, but his ability to improv will continue to help him when his arm can't.

McCarron is someone who could have left for the NFL this year, but decided to stay in school. He makes great decisions with the ball (he threw 30 touchdowns to three interceptions last season) and certainly knows how to win. He has two national championship rings and is going for his third straight. He hasn't been asked to do a lot at Alabama, but he's put up some pretty good numbers and is easily the most talented quarterback Saban has had at Alabama.

Wallace has a tremendous amount of athleticism, but he had a lot of decision-making issues last year. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards, but threw 22 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. Fixing his turnover issue is the biggest thing Wallace has to work on this fall. He has good arm strength and can get out of trouble situations with his feet.

Then you have Murray, who isn't getting a lot of draft love. He flirted with heading to the NFL, but also decided to stay in school. Murray's height (listed at 6-1) has hurt his draft status, but he has a solid arm, moves around well with his feet and has really improved his decision making. He had the stigma of not coming up in big games, but showed improvements in 2012 with his second-half effort in the Dawgs' win against Florida and with the way he played against Alabama in the SEC championship game. He'll probably end the 2013 season with a handful of SEC/Georgia records and should become the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in four straight seasons.

Other draft-eligible quarterbacks I'm keeping an eye on this fall:

• Jeff Driskel, Florida: He wasn't great last year, but there's no denying Driskel has talent. He's more comfortable with the playbook, and he has a lot more confidence. He must have more command and develop better chemistry with his receivers this fall.
• James Franklin, Missouri: He spent most of last season battling injuries, but finally isn't dealing with excruciating shoulder pain. His confidence was up this spring and that will go a long way this fall.
• Zach Mettenberger, LSU: He really came along in November and has all of his receiving targets back. People at LSU feel like he's much more comfortable with Cam Cameron's guidance.
• Tyler Russell, Mississippi State: He's had an up-and-down career with the Bulldogs, but when he was on last year he was extremely efficient. He lost all of his receivers from last year and can't press like he did late last season.
• Connor Shaw, South Carolina: It's hard to find a tougher quarterback out there. Shaw has dealt with a lot of injuries, but when he's been on the field, he's had a lot of success. Here's a chance for him to really improve his draft stock.

What a great "New Girl" season finale!

• Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham responds to Will Muschamp's vow to end the Gators' losing streak to the Bulldogs.
• Grantham talks growing scholarship numbers on defense and more.
• Muschamp says new quality control coach Chris Leak will work with the defense.
• Athlon Sports wonders if Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel is a top-five quarterback in the SEC.
• Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee talks quarterbacks, offense and more.
• Former Tennessee cornerback Daniel Gray chooses Utah State.
• Former Wyoming punter Tim Gleeson announces that he plans to enroll at Tennessee this year.
• Former Ole Miss quarterback Tom Luke joins Hugh Freeze's football staff.
• Kentucky quarterback commit Drew Barker and fellow UK recruits band together on Twitter.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Early in the 2012 season, Florida coaches discovered something puzzling about running back Matt Jones.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound freshman, who was built more like a linebacker, wasn’t playing to his size. Instead of barreling through the middle of the field, Jones tried to either dance or run around his opponents.

It was ineffective and frustrating. Jones had throw out his old high school tactics and learn to put his foot in the ground and go north and south. So head coach Will Muschamp and running backs coach Brian White sat Jones down midway through the season for a meeting about change.

He had to pay more attention to his coaches, be more alert in meetings, and most of all he had to play to his strength: being a power runner.

“You don’t make your fastball pitcher throw changeups,” Muschamp said. “Let’s throw the fastball, and let’s make them tackle the fastball.”

Jones, who played backup to Mike Gillislee, didn’t have spectacular stats last season, but there was a definite change to how he prepared in the second half of the season. To him, his meeting with the coaches changed his entire perspective on his play, and things really started to click during the Jacksonville State game.

Jones ran for 65 yards on eight carries that game, staying in the middle of the field as much as possible. He then turned around with 81 yards and a touchdown on eight carries in the Gators’ 37-26 win at Florida State.

For Jones, his mentality and work ethic transformed. While he understood his role as Gillislee’s backup, he aimed to prove that he wanted carries. He wanted his coaches to think twice about taking him off the field.

“I was so hungry that I was going to show the coaches that I really wanted to play,” Jones said. “I knew I wasn’t going to start, but it was expected that if [Gillislee] went down I was going to be ready at any time.”

Jones’ hunger comes from very humble beginnings. The youngest of three football-playing brothers, Jones grew up in a small, pink, single-family home in Tampa, Fla., never knowing his father. His mother, Barbara Singleton, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when Jones was 16. She’s now cancer-free.

Jones was so embarrassed by his small, crowded house that he would only do in-home visits with coaches at his girlfriend’s house. Florida coaches went by for a traditional Sunday meal -- complete with chicken, pork chops and rice -- before Jones enrolled, but he never showed them his real home.

Leaving that home behind stands as a major motivator for Jones.

“Coming from that, man, it just made me hungry,” Jones said. “I just wanted to get my mom out [of] that situation, and it definitely makes me humble.

“[His mom] wants one of her boys to make it (to the NFL).”

First, Jones had to get through spring practice as the Gators’ new starting running back. With the 1,000-yard shoes of Gillislee to fill, there was a bit of pressure on Jones, who rushed for just 275 yards and three touchdowns last season.

But he entered spring with the mentality of, well, running away with the starting spot. After spending his high school days running a similar offense, Jones said he felt very comfortable with Brent Pease’s playbook. He absorbed it quickly last fall, then locked himself in the film room this spring, studying everything from his movements to defensive sets, safety rotation, blitzes and defensive line tendencies.

He even helped fellow backs Mack Brown and Kelvin Taylor with their film work and wanted to make sure Muschamp wasn’t uncomfortable with the makeup of the running back position.

“He has attacked the offseason, and I use the word ‘attacked’ in bold letters,” Muschamp said. “He’s has gone after the offseason, and he had an outstanding spring. He’ll carry it a bunch this fall.”

Ask quarterback Jeff Driskel about Jones and he interrupts with one word: freak.

“He’s tough, and that’s what you need at running back,” Driskel said. “He’s not scared to pick up the extra few yards and put his head down, rather than try to bounce it outside.”

Jones is using his fastball, and he’s ready to put this team on his shoulders. He understands that this offense revolves heavily around the running game, and that he’s now the face of the position.

Jones embraces that and oozes confidence, as he wants 1,500 yards and more than 12 touchdowns.

That attitude has Jones’ teammates thrilled about working with him.

“You definitely get excited as an O-Lineman when you have a running back that’s running the ball like that with so much heart and passion,” guard Max Garcia said. “He’s going to be a problem (for defenses) this fall.”

Nick Saban is getting picked on again.

Alabama's head coach just can't seem to catch a break this spring when it comes to name-calling. First, Vanderbilt coach James Franklin called him "Nicky Satan" during a high school banquet. Now, Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis, who coached under Saban while with the NFL's Miami Dolphins, called Saban "the devil himself" at a booster club meeting Tuesday.

Here's what Davis said about Saban:

"I've always wanted to work with Will [Muschamp]," Davis said. "Will's got a plan. Will coached under the devil himself for seven years. I only did three. He did seven. And his DNA is not any different than Nick."

So, really, he was trying to compliment Muschamp by comparing him to the top coach in college football. Maybe referring to Saban as the Prince of Darkness is a little extreme, but we all know that coaches will say just about anything to get the home crowd going at booster club meetings. It's part of the act. It's all in fun.

Franklin apologized for his remark -- which I really don't think he needed to -- and made it clear that he was joking. When you're on top, everyone is going to take shots. Picking at Saban is harmless because he has no reason to be upset about what's said about him.

He's on top. He's looking down at everyone, and he's too busy preparing his team for a third straight national title run. I'm sure he laughs these kinds of comments off. He may even enjoy them a little bit.

Davis also went after Saban's personality, which is always a topic of conversation:

"[Muschamp]'s like the other guy, but he's got a personality," Davis said. "He'll smile at you. He'll talk to you. You understand? That's what he's all about. That's Will. I'm proud to work for him."

It's all sticks and stones with Saban, and I'm sure he couldn't care less about what any coach playfully says about him.

DawgNation
From Kipp Adams : Young players getting offers early is nothing new, but several 2016 players in Georgia already have a number of high-profile offers.

GatorNation
From Derek Tyson : Safety Trey Marshall has a litany of big-name offers, but it’s the programs in his own backyard leading the pack.

From Michael DiRocco : Jadeveon Clowney tops the list, but the Gators face a number of elite defensive players in 2013.

GeauxTigerNation
From Gary Laney : ESPN 150 WR Trey Quinn bucked a trend when he chose football at baseball-crazy Barbe (La.) High.

Also from Laney : After getting a commitment from juco WR D'haquille Williams, LSU sets its sights on an ESPN 150 defensive end.

GigEmNation
From Sam Khan Jr. : ESPN 150 receiver Armanti Foreman is stress-free after decommitting from OU, and is piling up offers.

Also from Khan Jr. : The Aggies are making sure to comb the state for linebackers now that one of their top targets at the position is committed elsewhere.

TideNation
From Greg Ostendorf : For Tide linebacker commit Shaun Dion Hamilton, working toward a state title, earning valedictorian honors and enjoying the notoriety of being a Bama commit are all in a day’s work.

So the SEC and the Big 12 have decided to go at it on the basketball court this fall. The new SEC-Big 12 Challenge that the two leagues announced on Tuesday has to be pretty exciting for college basketball fans. Kudos to the two leagues for joining on the hardwood.

But how cool would it be if these two conferences joined in the football realm as well? Sure, these two have the new Sugar Bowl, but just imagine these two conferences, which have a little beef between them right now, facing each other during the regular season.

All that offense against all that defense.

It's likely just a pipe dream, but a boy can dream, right? Well, I'm dreaming right now and I've come up with my top five SEC-Big 12 matchups I'd like to see in my future SEC-Big 12 Challenge:

Alabama vs. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops gets to face Nick Saban in a game that would be preceded by plenty of talk about both coaches' comments about the SEC -- and Saban's about Stoops. On the field, you'd see a lot of speed from both sides, but would the Sooners have enough up front to stop the pounding that the Crimson Tide has given pretty much every nonconference opponent in the last few years?

Florida vs. Texas: Will Muschamp was supposed to be the head coach of the Longhorns, but he was tired of waiting around. I feel like there would be some awkwardness beforehand between Muschamp and Mack Brown that could escalate during the game. That just makes for a way more entertaining game. Plus, the Gators would finally leave the southeast!

Texas A&M vs. Texas: Well, duh. This one is too obvious, but there is so much bitterness and history between these two schools that there's no way it wasn't going to make my top five. Plus, the Aggies are trying to prove that they aren't looking up at the Longhorns anymore. The fan interaction might be more entertaining than the actual game.

LSU vs. Oklahoma State: Les Miles seeing his old team? Yes, please! The Cowboys know how to sling it around with the best of them, while LSU always has a ton of speed on defense. The Tigers aren't strangers to Big 12 ball, but I just have a feeling this would be really fun to watch, considering these two were so close to playing a couple of years ago.

Georgia vs. West Virginia: I love to see great defense -- I really do -- but I'm sucker for blowing scoreboard lights out. I'm pretty sure we'd get exactly that if these two met in the near future. Since this game would be played after this season, the Dawgs might have a little more bite from their defense, so expect some more exciting play calling from WVU.

What matchups would you like to see in my awesome SEC-Big 12 challenge?

Now that we've looked at draft guru expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s early list of the top wide receivers and defensive ends for the 2014 NFL draft, it's time to check out two more positions.

Today, we're on to running backs and safeties . The interesting thing about the SEC is it's extremely deep at running back, but most of the top returning backs aren't draft eligible. No SEC backs made Kiper's top five, but Auburn rising junior Tre Mason made his "Next up" list.

Mason was Auburn's best overall player last year, rushing for 1,002 yards and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 5.9 yards per carry. Mason should have even more room to move around in Gus Malzahn's spread offense. He has a pounding nature about him, but has the ability to break the big one and has the agility to make defenders miss at times.

Other draft-eligible running backs I'd keep an eye on in the SEC this fall:

• Jeremy Hill, LSU: Now, this one is interesting because he's dealing with legal trouble. If he makes it back to the playing field, he'll be one of the best running backs in the league with his strength, size and speed. He's a sophomore, but is three years removed from his graduating high school class.
• Henry Josey, Missouri: The redshirt sophomore back from that devastating knee injury he suffered halfway through the 2011 season. Josey says he's finally back to 100 percent, which is scary because he was one of the top backs in the country before his injury.
• Ben Malena, Texas A&M: He surprised some when he shot to the top of A&M's depth chart, but he's an extremely hard worker and can be a bear to take down. He'll be challenged by younger players, but he proved last year that he isn't intimidated by competition.
• LaDarius Perkins, Mississippi State: He can be a solid downhill runner or a weapon in the passing game. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark last year and returns as Mississippi State's top offensive player.
• Jeff Scott, Ole Miss: He isn't the biggest back in the league, but he has great speed and his very shifty. He won't be a viewed as an every-down back, but he's solid in open space and in the return game.

When it comes to safeties, there are a few more SEC faces on Kiper's list. Headlining his top five is Alabama's Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. He's such a rangy player and covers so much ground with his speed. He's also very good in coverage, which NFL scouts will surely drool over this season. Clinton-Dix also showed last year that he isn't afraid of contact and can play up in the box if needed. He's probably the league's most versatile ballhawk.

Coming in on Kiper's "Next up" list are LSU's Craig Loston and Ronald Martin, and Mississippi State's Nickoe Whitley. Loston is someone people are really starting to rave about. He's always had the potential, but his work ethic has been called into question. However, with more responsibility thrown his way last year, he really started to make strides with his game. He's also a hard-hitter who will basically be the captain of the defensive backfield this fall.

As for Martin, he was Eric Reid's backup last year and played in 13 games with one start. He really is an athlete and showed off some of his breakaway speed and instincts when he intercepted a tipped pass in the Idaho game and took it 45 yards for a touchdown. He doesn't have a ton of experience, but he'll make up for that this season.

Whitley has been a solid weapon for Mississippi State's secondary for the past few years. He has 10 career interceptions and was third on the team with 88 tackles last season. Whitley is a big-play safety and covers a lot of ground in the back of the Bulldogs' defense.

Other draft-eligiblle safeties I'd keep an eye on this fall:

• Eric Bennett, Arkansas: He's been around for a while now and has had some up-and-down moments, but he has a ton of skill. He has smooth movements and can be a very physical player.
• Kenny Ladler, Vanderbilt: The rising senior wasn't afraid to mix it up all over the field last year. He can play closer to the line if needed and certainly isn't afraid of delivering a good amount of contact.
• Floyd Raven, Texas A&M: He was a backup corner last year, but moved to safety this spring and it proved to be the right decision by coach Kevin Sumlin. He's fast, rangy and extremely athletic. He has all the tools to be a stud, but just has to keep learning the position.
• Jaylen Watkins, Florida: He started his Florida career off as a cornerback, but moved to safety this spring. He's a very physical defensive back, has experience at safety and is a very smart player on the field.

Links on a Wednesday.

• Nearly half of Division I athletic departments have higher spending rates on salaries than scholarships.
• Florida's home games against Tennessee and Florida State are already sold out, showing an early sign that the buzz might be back for the football program.
• Coach Will Muschamp vows to end Florida's losing streak to Georgia.
• Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis calls Alabama coach Nick Saban "the devil himself."
• Saban shrugs off comments from Kansas coach Charlie Weis about the SEC.
• Arkansas coach Bret Bielema emphasizes keeping top Arkansas talent in state.
• Auburn coach Gus Malzahn says recruiting for the Tigers will begin in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, but it will stretch out nationally.
• Freshmen shouldn't slow down Auburn's new hurry-up offense.
• Former linebacker Christian Robinson is returning to Georgia as a graduate assistant.
• Nashville cornerback Finis Stribling commits to Missouri.