ESPN College Football

Edward Aschoff talks with Kentucky's Mark Stoops about lessons from his first spring as a head coach.

We know by now that Steve Spurrier would like to see only divisional games count in determining which teams advance to the SEC championship game every year.

It’s worth noting that the Gamecocks are 14-2 in the Eastern Division over the past three seasons, which is the best divisional record in the league during that span. The only two East teams South Carolina has lost to over the past three years were Florida on the road last season and Kentucky on the road during the 2010 season.

Spurrier’s idea will never fly, but it does raise an interesting question: Which teams have done the best within their own divisions over the past three years?

Here’s a rundown (Missouri and Texas A&M have only been in the SEC for one season):

• South Carolina: 14-2
• LSU: 13-3
• Alabama: 12-4
• Florida: 12-4
• Georgia: 12-4
• Arkansas: 7-9
• Auburn: 7-9
• Mississippi State: 4-12
• Tennessee: 4-12
• Vanderbilt: 4-12
• Kentucky: 3-13
• Ole Miss: 3-13

We now know a few more TV times for SEC games next fall. Here's a glance at what's already been set for the 2013 season:

Aug. 29 (Thursday)

• North Carolina at South Carolina, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

Aug. 31

• Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta), 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Georgia at Clemson, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
• LSU vs. TCU (in Arlington, Texas), 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Sept. 14

• Alabama at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Oct. 24 (Thursday)

• Kentucky at Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Nov. 2

• Florida vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville, Fla.), 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Nov. 28 (Thursday)

• Ole Miss at Mississippi State, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Nov. 29 (Friday)

• Arkansas at LSU, 2:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Kentucky has entered the ranks of ESPN's top 25 recruiting classes for 2014, giving the SEC 10 teams in the top 25.

Keep in mind that these rankings are extremely fluid and will certainly change as we get closer to the 2014 signing day. Prospects will invariably change their minds, while other schools will move up the rankings as they add ESPN 150 players.

Still, to see the Wildcats sitting there at No. 23 at this point tells you all you need to know about the the job Mark Stoops and his staff have done in selling that program.

The big catch was landing ESPN 150 quarterback Drew Barker of Hebron, Ky. He's ranked by ESPN as the No. 7 pocket passer nationally, and it's imperative that the Wildcats be able to keep big-time homegrown prospects from going out-of-state.

Barker also had South Carolina and Tennessee in hot pursuit, among other teams.

Of the Wildcats' seven commitments to this point, five are from the state of Ohio, which was a key recruiting area for Stoops in the 2013 class and will continue to be so.

Michigan is No. 1 overall in the latest class rankings. Five SEC teams are in the top 10. LSU is No. 3, Florida No. 4, Texas A&M No. 5, Tennessee No. 7 and Alabama No. 9.

Ole Miss is No. 11, Georgia No. 12, Auburn No. 19, Vanderbilt No. 22 and Kentucky No. 23.

Florida is the class of SEC athletics ... again.

For the 23rd time, the Gators have walked away with the SEC All-Sports Trophy as presented by the Halifax Media Group.

Florida won eight SEC championships this past year. Georgia was second, and Texas A&M was third in its first year in the league.

Florida won SEC titles in men's basketball, women's cross country, gymnastics, soccer, softball, men's swimming and diving, women's tennis and volleyball.

In the men's competition, Florida was also first followed by Alabama in second and Georgia in third.

It was the 13th time that Florida had swept all three titles. The Gators are the only school ever to sweep.

Here's a look at the overall standings:

1. Florida .7230
2. Georgia .6372
3. Texas A&M .6284
4. Tennessee .5491
5. Arkansas .5448
6. LSU .5225
7. Alabama .5023
8. South Carolina .4794
9. Kentucky .4730
10. Vanderbilt .4354
11. Missouri .4234
12. Auburn .3916
13. Ole Miss .3516
14. Mississippi State .3359

The preseason watch lists are already starting to show up, which means the 2013 season can't be too far away.

Five players from the SEC are among the 42 nominees on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list. They are Vanderbilt linebacker Chase Garnham, Tennessee linebacker A.J. Johnson, Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, Ole Miss linebacker D.T. Shackelford and Kentucky linebacker Avery Williamson.

Named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy goes to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. It's the first and only college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player.

Notre Dame's Manti Te'o was the 2012 winner.

What's surprising about the initial 2013 Lott Trophy watch list is who wasn't on it from the SEC -- South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

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?

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.

The slow days of spring and summer that precede the college football season can bring some interesting topics to bat around in your brain.

Well, that very thing happened this week when John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader brought up the notion of potentially ending the Kentucky-Louisville football series. He dove into the subject because of a tweet from J. Rowland stating that he didn't believe Kentucky had anything to gain from playing its in-state rival on the football field.

Clay then wrote three reasons why Kentucky shouldn't end its series with Louisville. His three reasons were that the rivalry has increased the interest in football in the state, Kentucky wins have provided the Cats with good season momentum, and its much better than another cupcake opponent.

All good points, really. These have traditionally been basketball schools, and now Louisville has another BCS win in hand. It could also be a top-5 team when these teams meet this fall. Not too long ago, the Wildcats played in five straight bowl games, and the excitement around the program has really grown in the past few months with Mark Stoops running the show.

Imagine what a Kentucky win this fall against Louisville would do for the buzz around the program? To the rest of the SEC, this isn't Florida-Florida State or Texas-Texas A&M, but it's important to the Bluegrass State. A win by the Wildcats would be huge for Big Blue Nation, and could provide the right push for a team looking to get back into the bowl picture this fall.

Obviously, there's no way the rivalry will be scrapped this season, but its future really is unknown. Rowland made the point in his series of tweets that there's no real evidence that Kentucky really benefits from beating Louisville when it comes to recruiting, and that the Wildcats will be judged far more on SEC results.

I can't speak for high school athletes in or around Kentucky, but after covering recruiting for so long I know that individual games really don't mean all that much in the end. But I do think that beating up on your rival does make an impression on high school kids. Proving that you're the cream of the crop in your own state can go a long way for kids trying decide between two schools like Kentucky and Louisville.

The point of a nine-game SEC schedule was also talked about. Now, if that happens, teams will have to cut one of their nonconference opponents. That could mean teams that hover around the six-win mark could opt to get rid of their stronger out-of-conference foes. For Kentucky, that would likely be Louisville. Making it to a bowl is more important for Kentucky in the long run than beating Louisville.

I get that, and I get that Kentucky is far away from legitimately competing for an SEC title or more. Why risk missing a bowl game?

But I also understand that there's more to it than that. This game has been good to both schools, both fan bases and the state in general. And Kentucky has been much more competitive against the Cardinals (8-11 since 1994) than its divisional rivals. While Kentucky has gone 4-6 in its past 10 games against Louisville, it is 0-10 against Florida, 1-9 against South Carolina and Tennessee, and 2-8 against Georgia. For those counting at home that's 3-27.

This program deserves a decent gridiron football rival that fans enjoy being a part of, and this game puts more people in seats than some lesser directional school would.

We're continuing to look into the future toward the 2014 NFL draft, and ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is coming out in full force this week.

First, he took a look at the top wide receiver prospects and top defensive end prospects for next year's draft. A few SEC names made the cut at both positions.

The SEC has a pretty strong group of receivers coming back this season. When it comes to draft eligible players, Kiper has two SEC receivers currently in his top five, including Texas A&M redshirt sophomore Mike Evans at No. 3. He led the Aggies in catches (82) and yards (1,105) last season and also caught five touchdowns.

To me, he really stood out in the Alabama game. He only caught five passes for 40 yards that day, but he out-muscled guys to make catches. He carried a couple defenders for extra yards. He was just the tougher player at times. He's big and rangy, making him a prime target for Johnny Manziel. More will be asked of him this fall with Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu gone. He should expect more attention and plenty of double-teams. He'll really get a chance to show what he's made of in a few months.

Vanderbilt senior-to-be Jordan Matthews comes in at No. 5 on Kiper's list. Matthews could have left early for the NFL this year, but he decided to spend another year in school. Matthews was probably one of the more underrated players in the SEC last year. He doesn't really have game-breaking speed, but he's quick off the line and his 6-3, 205-pound frame causes problems for opposing defensive backs. He led the SEC with seven 100-yard receiving games and 94 catches last year.

Ole Miss' Donte Moncrief and Georgia's Malcolm Mitchell made Kiper's "Next up" list. Both could have really big seasons this fall. Mitchell will be all offense this fall, so that will help him get way more reps. He really is a top-tier player at receiver when he's out there enough.

Moncrief showed his big-play ability during the second half of the Rebels' season in 2012. He's big and has exceptional hands. He'll be looked at more by defenders this fall, but he's such a physical receiver that it might not matter too much.

Other draft-eligible receivers I'd keep an eye on this fall:

• Jarvis Landry, LSU: He really stepped up and looked like a true big-play threat in the Tigers' offense this spring.
• Marcus Lucas, Missouri: He has the makings to be a legitimate deep threat for Mizzou, but he has to work on his focus and consistency.
• Jonathan Rumph, Georgia: The junior college transfer has great size and speed and really impressed this spring.

As for defensive ends, only South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney made Kiper's cut. Clowney's appearance at the top of Kiper's list for defensive ends shouldn't surprise anyone. He could very well be the top pick in next year's draft, anyway.

Florida's Dominique Easley made Kiper's "Next up" list. It'll be interested to see what pro scouts think about Easley. He's extremely disruptive up front and can play either end or tackle. He's moving back inside this fall, but he'll probably venture out here and there.

Other draft eligible defensive ends I'd keep an eye on this fall:

• Denico Autry, Mississippi State: He didn't have a great 2012 season, but Autry showed lots of improvement this spring. He has all the talent to be a force off the edge, but he has to be more consistent.
• Alvin Dupree, Kentucky: He moved to defensive end this spring and could be a top pass rusher in the SEC this fall with his speed and strength off the line.
• Dee Ford, Auburn: He came back pretty strong from a back injury in 2011. Ford registered six sacks and eight quarterback hurries last year.
• C.J. Johnson, Ole Miss: He made a big jump from Year 1 to Year 2 and has the makings of a being a real star on the Rebels' defense.
• Chris Smith, Arkansas: The rising senior led the Razorbacks and ranked fourth in the SEC in sacks last year with 9.5. He can be very frustrating for tackles to deal with up front.

Wash that chicken salad sandwich down with some refreshing SEC links!

• Ex-Vanderbilt defensive back Jacquese Kirk admits to stabbing former Vandy lineman Justin Cabbagestalk.
• Athlon Sports ranks Alabama's current dynasty as the fourth-best since 1934.
• Alabama players receive their 2012 national championship rings.
• Kevin Scarbinksy of Al.com writes that an NFL team made up of Alabama and LSU players wouldn't be such a bad thing.
• LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is confident in the Tigers' defense.
• Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson says the Tigers' defense has more "good, solid SEC players" than his other first-year units.
• Will Muschamp hires former national championship quarterback Chris Leak as a new quality control coach at Florida.
• Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity says the Bulldogs' strength of schedule is already "off the chart" for the next two years.
• Kentucky is grabbing top-notch prospects from the state of Ohio.
• Missouri gets a commitment from offensive tackle Michael Fairchild.

The other day I was asked a question about the SEC that caught me off guard a little.

And no, it wasn't about Bob Stoops or scheduling.

I was asked if the league would be a quarterback or running back league in 2013. Obviously, when you think about the SEC, you think of pound-it-out, grind-it-out football. Games are won and lost in the trenches and running backs are usually a team's most coveted asset. The more the merrier, too.

But the SEC returns some pretty good experience at both positions.

At running back, the SEC will be without four of the league's top 10 rushers -- Eddie Lacy, Mike Gillislee, Zac Stacy and Kendial Lawrence -- from the 2012 season. The SEC will be without three of the top 10 passers -- Tyler Bray, Tyler Wilson and Jordan Rodgers.

Now, my math skills tell me that seven top players at a position is better than six, but the SEC is deep at running back this season. Of the seven top quarterbacks returning, six reached 2,500 passing yards, while only two made it to 3,000 yards -- Aaron Murray and Johnny Manziel. Nine true starters return (Kentucky's Maxwell Smith missed most of last season and ended the spring behind Jalen Whitlow). So five teams are breaking in new starters.

The SEC saw eight running backs hit the 1,000-yard mark last season. There's a chance the league could not only reach that number again but it could eclipse it.

Alabama lost Lacy -- and his 1,322 yards/17 touchdowns -- but rising sophomore T.J. Yeldon appears more than ready to take over as the lead back. He rushed for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, and it sounds like he looked even better as the guy. He'll also have help from fellow sophomore Kenyan Drake, who played in 12 games last year, and Jalston Fowler and Dee Hart, who are both returning from season-ending knee injuries. Remember, Fowler had nearly 400 rushing yards in 2011. True freshman Derrick Henry, who was tearing it up this spring before his leg injury, should help once he's healthy this fall.

Oh, and Alabama will welcome three more backs this summer, including ESPN 150 member Alvn Kamara.

Texas A&M and Florida will also have the luxury of a packed backfield. The Aggies return leading rusher (for a running back) Ben Malena (808 yards), but will also have rising sophomore Trey Williams, and transfers Brandon Williams and Tra Carson. Brandon Williams might be the most talented of the bunch, and none of these guys should get too tired with all those legs to work with.

The Gators lost Gillislee, but sophomore-to-be Matt Jones had an excellent spring. He knew the playbook backward and forward and showed a more physical style. He already has the goal of getting 1,500 yards. But he'll have help from redshirt junior Mack Brown, who had a very solid spring, and freshmen Kelvin Taylor (early enrollee) and Adam Lane. The coaches feel very good about all four contributing a lot this fall.

Georgia is a little thin at running back, but with Gurley and Keith Marshall returning, the Dawgs could have the best running back duo in the SEC -- maybe the country.

Here's a quick look at how other SEC teams currently fare at running back heading into the summer:

Arkansas

The Razorbacks lack experience at the position, but sophomore Jonathan Williams made good strides this spring and looks poised to be the top back. He'll also have incoming freshman Alex Collins to help him this fall.

Auburn

Tre Mason and his 1,000 yards return. He should have even more space to work with in Gus Malzahn's spread, which could spell trouble for defenses. Junior college transfer Cameron Artis-Payne had a solid spring, and Corey Grant returns.

Kentucky

Leading rushers Raymond Sanders (669 yards) and Jonathan George (504 yards) return with two talented youngsters to help out. Dyshawn Mobley had an excellent spring and Josh Clemons is back from a devastating knee injury he suffered in 2011.

LSU

Legal issues have Jeremy Hill's fall status unknown for the fall. If he returns, he gives the Tigers on of the top backs in the league. Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue return, but LSU will be thin at the position without Hill.

Mississippi State

LaDarius Perkins returns after his 1,000-yard season. He's a complete back and can hurt teams running and catching. Josh Robinson returns after a productive year as the backup. Nick Griffin has a ton of skill, but still hasn't reached his potential.

Missouri

Lawrence is gone, but Henry Josey is back and says he's 100 percent after his devastating knee injury in 2011. He was one of the Big 12's best and most explosive running backs before his injury. The Tigers have plenty of bodies at running back and should get good use out of Marcus Murphy and Russell Hansbrough.

Ole Miss

Leading rusher Jeff Scott (846) is back and he'll be working with some solid sophomores in I'Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton. True freshman Mark Dodson had a productive spring as well. Along with the six returning lettermen, Ole Miss will have three more signees on campus this fall.

South Carolina

Mike Davis isn't trying to be Marcus Lattimore, but he did a good job of taking his spot this spring. The rising sophomore can pound it or break out for that home run play. Brandon Wilds and Shon Carson are back from injuries and ESPN 150 member David Williams will be in town this fall.

Tennessee

Marlin Lane's off-field problems didn't help things this spring, but Butch Jones was very happy with the play of Alden Hill and Rajion Neal this spring. Lane has every chance to come back and if he does the Vols will have a pretty solid three-headed rushing monster.

Vanderbilt

Stacy is gone, but Wesley Tate and Brian Kimbrow had good springs in Nashville. Jerron Seymour gives Vandy another body to use, as well. Tate and Kimbrow both have big-play ability, but they'll have to stay healthy because there isn't a lot of experience behind them.

In this week’s SEC official visit, we talk about a trio of big commits for the Auburn Tigers, and a top QB that decided to stay home in Kentucky.

Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the SEC:

Alabama Crimson Tide
What they are selling: What's not to sell? Alabama is coming off back-to-back national championships, and the Crimson Tide had nine players taken in April's NFL draft, including three in the first round. For the critics who say you won't play early at UA, ask T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper how much they contributed as freshmen.

What they are missing: Although they won a national championship, the Tide didn't generate much pass rush last fall, and they had trouble containing freshman sensation Johnny Manziel. Also, they need to rebuild the offensive line, a unit that anchored the offense last year.

Arkansas Razorbacks
What they are selling: New head coach Bret Bielema runs a completely different offensive system than the previous two Arkansas coaches. The Razorbacks are selling an opportunity for freshmen to come in and earn playing time early in their careers.

What they are missing: The Razorbacks signed only one offensive lineman, Denver Kirkland, who was rated a four-star prospect or higher last year. In this run-heavy system, look for Arkansas to focus on landing talented players along the offensive line.

Auburn Tigers
What they are selling: It's a new regime for Auburn, but there's a familiar face running the show. New head coach Gus Malzahn knows the program from his days as offensive coordinator. He's already shown the ability to recruit, stealing ESPN 150 linebacker Tre Williams away from the Tide. There's a sense of excitement on The Plains again.

What they are missing: Malzahn filled out his first recruiting class with playmakers, but Auburn needs to build up front on the offensive and defensive lines. No matter what offense you run, if you want to win in the SEC, you need to be able to compete up in the trenches.

Florida Gators
What they are selling: With no proven wide receivers on the perimeter, Florida is attempting to sell early playing time at the position. A chance to play for one of the best defensive minds in college football in Will Muschamp is another selling point to defensive prospects.

What they are missing: Production on offense. After finishing 114th nationally in passing offense, it will be hard to sell playing time to wide receivers without an explosive passing game in place.

Georgia Bulldogs
What they are selling: Freshmen, if they're good enough, play early at Georgia. From running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall to offensive tackle John Theus to defensive end Jordan Jenkins, several freshmen Bulldogs made major contributions on a team that was a few yards away from making the national championship game.

What they are missing: Georgia has brought in four top-12 recruiting classes in the last four years. Depth might become an issue for some recruits, but Georgia has certainly shown a willingness to play younger players.

Kentucky Wildcats
What they are selling: After finishing 2-10, Kentucky fired coach Joker Phillips. New head coach Mark Stoops is offering a fresh start and a chance to help build Kentucky in to a contender in the SEC East.

What they are missing: Plain and simple -- tradition. Sure, Kentucky is full of basketball tradition, but the success on the hardwood completely overshadows the football program. A record 50,831 fans attended the Wildcats' spring game, so the interest level is certainly headed in the right direction.

LSU Tigers
What they are selling: An unprecedented 10 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft. LSU is selling the opportunity, not only for early playing time because of the departures, but a chance to make it to the NFL in three years.

What they are missing: Because of all the departures, there are some holes on both sides of the ball. Depth is now an issue at running back and LSU will need to replace Eric Reid, Kevin Minter, defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, defensive tackle Bennie Logan and linebacker Kevin Minter.

Ole Miss Rebels
What they are selling: Ole Miss landed the No. 5-ranked class in the country, including No. 1 overall player Robert Nkemdiche and No. 1 offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. Look for Ole Miss to sell recruits on the opportunity to help build something special under head coach Hugh Freeze.

What they are missing: Freeze brought a creative and innovative offense to the SEC, but the defense is still a work in progress. Ole Miss finished 12th in the SEC in pass defense and will need to continue to build depth in order to compete for the SEC West championship.

Mississippi State Bulldogs
What they are selling: Only 11 of 22 starters return for a team that finished 8-5 last year. The Bulldogs offer recruits a chance to play early and play in the best division in college football.

What they are missing: Mississippi State returns its starting quarterback Tyler Russell, but who will he be throwing to? Last year's four leading receivers, including Chad Bumphis, are gone. Look for the Bulldogs to focus on offensive weapons in this recruiting class.

Missouri Tigers
What they are selling: The Tigers return 14 of 22 starters on a team that went 5-7 in its first year in the SEC East. Missouri runs a fun and innovative offense that is sure to attract recruits, and there is certainly an opportunity to play early.

What they are missing: The defensive line is probably the most critical area on any defense in the SEC, and the Tigers lost their best lineman in Sheldon Richardson. Mizzou must find a viable replacement for Richardson and linebackers Zaviar Gooden and Will Ebner.

South Carolina Gamecocks
What they are selling: The Gamecocks have been dominant on defense over the last few years, and a strong line is a big part of their success. South Carolina is selling an opportunity to be the next Jadeveon Clowney and be a part of one of the top defenses in the SEC.

What they are missing: Hard to believe, but head coach Steve Spurrier needs help at wide receiver. The Gamecocks signed only one wide receiver in their 2013 class. They have young bodies, but not much depth or production from the returning group.

Tennessee Volunteers
What they are selling: A fresh start under new head coach Butch Jones. Since 2011, Tennessee has finished with the No. 13, 21 and 29 recruiting classes in the country. There plenty of holes to fill, and any incoming freshman will have plenty of opportunities to earn a starting spot.

What they are missing: Tennessee lost wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson to the NFL draft and must replace their production on the outside. The Volunteers are also thin in the secondary and will look to recruiting to plug some key holes on defense.

Texas A&M Aggies
What they are selling: There is a lot to sell a recruit on at Texas A&M right now. An explosive offense which led the SEC in total offense by more than 100 yards a game, Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and a team that went into Tuscaloosa and handed Alabama its only loss last season.

What they are missing: There are still some holes to fill on defense. The Aggies finished with the No. 8-ranked defense in the SEC and the No. 10-ranked pass defense in the league. They also need to replace talented defensive end Damontre Moore, who is now in the NFL.

Vanderbilt Commodores
What they are selling: Head coach James Franklin has taken Vanderbilt to a bowl in two consecutive years, and the Commodores are bringing in a solid recruiting class. Selling recruits on an opportunity to play at Vanderbilt during one of the best eras in the school's football history is enticing to high school recruits.

What they are missing: Vanderbilt is not yet on par with other SEC schools as far as facilities. The Commodores, though, are certainly headed in the right direction. A new indoor practice facility is being constructed, and stadium renovations are in the planning stages.

The SEC welcomed in four new head coaches this spring. There are always awkward moments with new coaching staffs, but this spring saw a lot of positives from the four new faces.

Here's a quick look at how all four have done during their first few months on the job:

Bret Bielema (Arkansas)

The one thing Bielema wanted to instill in his new players was a more physical mentality. This team lost its edge early last season and never regained it. But under new management, Bielema made sure his tough, hard-nosed persona from Wisconsin rubbed off on his players. That seemed to be the case, especially with running back Jonathan Williams, who really toughened up this spring. Another positive from Bielema's arrival has been the increased confidence he's brought with his own bravado he showed at times.

There are still questions with depth, especially at linebacker, and true playmakers need to be found at wide receiver. Bielema also said goodbye to four players after the spring. The biggest loss was backup quarterback Brandon Mitchell, who could have been used in a few different ways in Arkansas' offense. Form an athletic standpoint, Mitchell is a big loss for Bielema. The good news is that he'll have some decent offensive weapons, including running back Alex Collins, to work with from this 2013 class in the fall.

Gus Malzahn (Auburn)

The big thing for Malzahn is that he was already very comfortable with the program after serving as the offensive coordinator under former coach Gene Chizik. But talk about having a lot more on his plate than he wanted during his first spring. Not only was he slowly trying to change the mind-set of a program that really has fallen since its 2010 national championship, he had to deal with allegations over past off-field incidents with that same 2010 team. Instead of making it a bigger deal for his staff and players, Malzahn didn't even bring it up. He said all the right things and made sure his players were focused on field issues, not the media. Major kudos to him for keeping his players on track.

It's obvious that the offensive players are more comfortable with Malzahn's spread, compared to Scot Loeffler's pro-style from 2012, so that was a big lift for this team. Malzahn's next goal is to find his starting quarterback. There are options, but it's really down to Kiehl Frazier, who is very familiar with Malzahn, and Jonathan Wallace. He also needs to find reliable receiving targets to help whichever quarterback emerges this fall.

Mark Stoops (Kentucky)

There certainly is a lot more excitement around Kentucky's program. That became very obvious when a record crowd of 50,831 showed up for the Wildcats' spring game. He really got things going with a strong closing in his first recruiting class and his personality is really rubbing Big Blue Nation the right way.

But Stoops has quite the uphill trek in front of him. While he has a very solid foundation along his defensive line, he's thin at linebacker and in the secondary. He also has to figure out who his quarterback is and where the production will come from at the wide receiver spot. Consistency is still an issue there. The good news is that he does like where his running game is with the return of Raymond Sanders, Dyshawn Mobley and Josh Clemons.

Butch Jones (Tennessee)

Like Stoops, Jones has a bit of a fight in front of him. He has some good experience coming back on defense, but he's thin in the secondary. Still, the front seven looked much more aggressive this spring with the Vols going back to a 4-3 scheme. This group was much more comfortable with the changes made on defense and as whole, this group is trending upward.

Jones' new up-tempo offense could bring some real growing pains to an offense that is breaking in a new quarterback and new receivers. There isn't a lot of experience at all at either position and there were some real shaky moments on offense this spring, especially in the spring game. Having a beastly offensive line back will help.

Jones has made a ton of noise off the field, though. He's recruiting like a madman and has injected some excitement back into this program. I think a lot of people are surprised at how well he's recruited in such a short amount of time, and it could only get better.