ESPN College Football

Kanye and Jay-Z are about to seriously damage my eardrums with all this music they are churning out this summer!

• Jon Solomon of AL.com has a wealth of information on college football's new targeting rule. He starts by talking about where black and white meets gray for officials when it comes to the new rule.
• David Climer of The (Nashville) Tennessean writes that college football recruiting has hit a new low with coaches offering middle school kids.
• Johnny Manziel's weekend tweet is generating the wrong kind of attention for Texas A&M's quarterback.
• Texas A&M athletic director Eric Hyman's comments about Alabama bring attention to a store's "We Control the Tide" T-shirt.
• Missouri redshirt freshman linebacker Torey Boozer has been dismissed from Missouri's football team for undisclosed disciplinary reasons.
• Four-star wide receiver Derek Kief committed to Alabama Sunday.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun lists seven keys to success for Florida in 2013.
• The Robert Nkemdiche effect still pushes Ole Miss on the recruiting trail.
• Eric Berry endorses Butch Jones' approach at Tennessee.
• Freshman cornerback Reggie Wilkerson's season-ending knee injury provides more opportunities for other freshmen at Georgia.

Everyone who knows anything about college football knows that one major thing that separates the SEC from all the other conferences is the play -- and talent -- along the defensive lines.

Ask any coach out there to describe the biggest difference and "defensive line" is bound to be one of the first things that slip out of his mouth. It truly is all about the trenches in the SEC, both defensively and offensively. The offensive lines deserve some love for just putting up with their burly counterparts, but the defensive lines really do get all the attention.

So it should come as no surprise that when Phil Steele ranked his top 15 defensive lines in college football that the SEC was represented by five teams -- the most of any conference.

While none ranked first or second -- that was reserved for Notre Dame (No. 1) and USC (No. 2) -- South Carolina topped the SEC lines at No. 3 on Steele's list. Florida ranked sixth, Ole Miss was 12th, Alabama was 13th and LSU was 14th.

That's pretty good when you consider that Florida lost first-rounder Sharrif Floyd and Mr. Solid Omar Hunter in the middle, while LSU pretty much lost its entire starting defensive line from a year ago.

The SEC truly does just reload up front.

South Carolina's ranking isn't surprising because there's more than just Jadeveon Clowney to work with. Sure, Clowney might be the best player in the country, but he has help from Kelcy Quarles and J.T. Surratt inside and Chaz Sutton on the other side of him. Quarles was pretty consistent for the Gamecocks last year, while Sutton grabbed five sacks as a backup. The departure of starters Devin Taylor and Byron Jerideau shouldn't shake this lineup too much.

Getting Ronald Powell back should help the Gators with Lerentee McCray gone on the outside. Powell will play that hybrid linebacker/defensive end "Buck" position, where he'll get help from freshman All-SEC player Dante Fowler Jr. Dominique Easley is moving back to defensive tackle, where he was very disruptive during his first two years on campus. He can still move outside if needed. End Jonathan Bullard is coming off of a solid freshman season, while more is expected out of tackle Damien Jacobs, who came from the junior college ranks last year.

Ole Miss still has depth issues at defensive tackle, but has plenty to work with at end. C.J. Johnson should be healed from the leg injury he suffered this spring, while Cameron Whigham is coming off of a season in which he started 11 games. Rising sophomore Channing Ward should be fun to watch, and top recruit Robert Nkemdiche is expected to see the field very early. Tackle Issac Gross should be back from his groin injury this fall and he'll get help from juco transfer Lavon Hooks, who had a very good spring.

Alabama might not have the elite players it's had in the past up front, but defensive ends Jeoffrey Pagan and Ed Stinson could have big years. Pagan has a lot of potential, while Stinson recorded 30 tackles last season, including 8.5 for loss and three sacks. Stinson is versatile enough to play both inside and out. Then there's Brandon Ivory at noseguard, who has to replace the talented Jesse Williams. Alabama still needs players to step up more as starters and reserves because the line as a whole has a ways to go before the season starts.

You can tell how well Les Miles has recruited along the defensive line when the Tigers can lose so much but still have a line that's considered one of the nation's best. Tackle Anthony Johnson has so much potential and it sounds like he's ready to unleash his talents on the rest of the league. Miles raved about end Jermauria Rasco this spring and doesn't think the Tigers will miss much of a beat with him outside. True freshman Christian LeCouture played his way into the two-deep at defensive tackle this spring, while Miles expects to get more from tackle Ego Ferguson and ends Danielle Hunter and Jordan Allen.

The days of freshmen football players going through the motions are long gone, as every year true freshmen are asked to do more and more for their respective teams.

Mo stars, mo problems.

A few true freshmen really jumped onto the scene the right way last year. Todd Gurley, T.J. Yeldon and Jeremy Hill had exceptional seasons at the running back spot. Alabama's Amari Cooper finished the year as one of the SEC's top receivers, while Florida found quite the third down pass-rusher in Dante Fowler Jr.

Yet again, a solid bunch of true freshmen could make immediate impacts this fall. Here are five to keep an eye on (in alphabetical order) in 2013:

• Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas: Collins is the type of back first-year coach Bret Bielema needs to get his offense going. He can be both a tough, downhill runner and a slasher. The Hogs don't have much experience at running back, so Collins will be expected to step in right away.
• O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama: Howard is just a missmatch waiting to happen with his 6-foot-6, 237-pound frame and receiver-like speed. He enrolled early and seemed to catch everything thrown his way this spring. He does have to improve his blocking, but with Michael Williams gone, Howard should be a very valuable receiving weapon.
• Tray Matthews, S, Georgia: The Bulldogs are rebuilding all over on defense, but the free safety spot is more than covered by Matthews. He was outstanding this spring and was pegged as a starter the moment he stepped on campus. He's not only a big-hitter but can cover a ton of ground with his speed.
• Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss: The No. 1 recruit in the nation should play immediately. The coaches know that hype could be a distraction, but they also know that Nkemdiche already has the talent to see the field now. He has to get comfortable with the playbook, but people around the program think he can have a Jadeveon Clowney-like impact.
• Demarcus Robinson, WR, Florida: The Gators are desperately looking for a go-to receiver. Robinson possesses the skill to be that guy, but he has to get his head in the playbook more during summer workouts. He certainly got a head-start by enrolling early and made a lot of plays stretching the field and making the tough catches this spring.

OXFORD, Miss. -- For the past few years, Denzel Nkemdiche has fought to create his own name.

When people saw or heard “Nkemdiche” he was barely an afterthought. The real excitement was reserved for his younger brother, Robert Nkemdiche, who was the best high school football player in the country last year.

It was hard for Denzel to push away from the giant shadow his younger brother cast because people went to their games to see the youngster.

Robert was the next big thing. Robert had the one-way ticket to fame.

But Denzel's thirst to make his own path and create his own story fueled him when he made his way to Ole Miss and eventually onto the playing field.

While Robert's fame grew as a senior at Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., Denzel played his way to an SEC All-Freshman year.

His younger brother, who is now on Ole Miss’ campus as well, might still generate more excitement and hype, but Denzel did everything he could in his first year of playing college ball to finally push further away from his brother’s shadow.

“I couldn’t be denied at all,” said Denzel, who registered a team-high 82 tackles and 13 tackles for loss as a redshirt freshman in 2012. “I couldn’t be defeated.”

Denzel didn’t want any part of his brother’s recruitment in high school. He wasn’t the biggest, fastest or most talented player, but Denzel didn’t want his brother creating offers for him.

Grade issues almost forced Denzel to go the junior college route, but after getting his academics in order late, he looked to become a late signee in the 2011 recruiting class.

One thing that he offered schools was his versatility, with him playing defensive back his junior year and outside linebacker his senior year.

Ole Miss was on him for a while because of that, but schools like Georgia, Mississippi State and Miami pursued late. His grades certainly were a factor, but Denzel believed his brother was too, after Robert claimed he wanted to play wherever his older brother went.

That drew red flags in recruiting, especially when Georgia reached out. Denzel was weary of the hometown team because he felt Georgia’s interest stemmed from a potential packaged deal with his brother.

“I knew for a fact that one of the main reasons they were offering me [was] because Robert said he was going to go play wherever I played,” Denzel said. “I knew they were taking that into perspective and I felt like they were going to do either a grayshirt or a redshirt thing for me and I wasn’t going to get the chance that I needed to show them that I could play.”

With Ole Miss, there was the chance to play early and very little talk about his brother, Denzel said. It was a fresh start, and after a visit to Oxford to see then-coach Houston Nutt and his staff in May of 2011, Denzel found a new home.

“I just wanted to get on the field and see where someone would give me a chance,” he said. “I wasn’t highly recruited so wherever I went it depended on depth issues. I didn’t want to go there and waste four years. I wanted to go there and have a chance to make an impact early.”

Denzel didn’t see the field in 2011, as he moved to the hybrid linebacker/safety “Husky” position. The movement continued when Hugh Freeze took over after Nutt was fired during the 2011 season, as he went from Husky to free safety to rover safety before settling at “Stinger” linebacker.

Still not the biggest or fastest, Denzel tried to be the smartest. All that moving helped him understand the game and each position more. He was able to see plays before they happened, he knew where teammates should be and he consistently beat linemen to the ball.

His breakout game came in the loss to Alabama in late September when he earned SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering 11 tackles, three for loss, including a sack, and two forced fumbles.

As the season went on, “Denzel Nkemdiche” started to mean more than just “Robert’s brother.” It had its own placement and its own buzz.

Denzel asked for his own path; now he’s on it.

“I can’t take steps behind,” he said. “I have something to live up to; I have expectations to meet. I have a season ahead of me where I have to do better than the season I had last year or I’m taking steps backwards.

“I know that, and I’m ready for the challenge.”

One of the hardest working college football forecasters is back at it, and he's talking All-SEC teams.

That's right, Phil Steele has debuted his all-conference teams and the SEC is the last one left. I mean, does he ever sleep?

Steele has four teams for offense, defense and special teams. It should come as no surprise that Alabama leads the way with 16 total players. Eight of those players made Steele's first-team offense and defense.

Here's a look at the first-team offense, defense and special teams:

OFFENSE

QB: Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
RB: T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
RB: Todd Gurley, Georgia
WR: Amari Cooper, Alabama
WR: Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt
WR: Mike Evans, Texas A&M
TE: Arthur Lynch, Georgia
C: Travis Swanson, Arkansas
OG: Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State
OG: Anthony Steen, Alabama
OT: Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
OT: Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

DEFENSE

DL: Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DL: Anthony Johnson, LSU
DL: Daniel McCullers, Tennessee
DL: Dominique Easley, Florida
LB: C.J. Mosley, Alabama
LB: A.J. Johnson, Tennessee
LB: Adrian Hubbard, Alabama
LB: Denzel Nkemdiche, Ole Miss
CB: Deion Belue, Alabama
CB: Andre Hal, Vanderbilt
S: Craig Loston, LSU
S: HaHa Clinton-Dix, Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Carey Spear, Vanderbilt
P: Kyle Christy, Florida
KR: Andre Debose, Florida
PR: Marcus Murphy, Missouri

• There were a couple of interesting selections for the first time, in my opinion. For starters, Florida cornerbacker Loucheiz Purifoy isn't listed as a first-team corner. Instead, he's listed as a fourth-team corner and receiver. While I think he'll get time on offense, I don't think he'll get enough to be ranked very high at the receiver spot, and he has the potential to be an All-American at corner. He's extremely athletic and physical. He should play enough on defense to finish the year as a first- or second-team player.
• While Manziel is easily the best dual-threat quarterback around, I just don't think he'll have the monster season he had last year. Too much is different around him, and I think defenses will game plan for him better. I wouldn't be surprised if McCarron ended the season as the first-team quarter in the SEC. I think with his skill and the players he has coming back around him on offense he'll have a 3,000-yard passing season with at least 30 touchdowns.
• You can tell how talented this year's crop of receivers is in the SEC if Ole Miss' Donte Moncrief didn't even make the first-team list. He's a second-team player, according to Steele, which isn't bad. It just shows how good this position is in 2013. Vandy's Chris Boyd is a third-teamer, while LSU's Jarvis Landry made the fourth team. Expect Landry to have a big year for the Tigers.
• Going back to the cornerback spot, I'm not sure Belue or Hal will be first-team players at the end of the season. Both are very talented, and people in Nashville think Hal is an extremely underrated player, but guys like Purifoy, Florida's Marcus Roberson, Georgia's Damian Swan and Missouri's E.J. Gaines will have something to say about who deserves to be at the top of their position. Like receiver, corner is stacked this season in the SEC.
• Steele feels really good about Ole Miss freshman Robert Nkemdiche making an immediate impact, as Nkemdiche is listed on his third team. He has all the talent to have a Clowney-like impact in his first year. He's already on campus and should be pretty fun to watch this fall.
• Kentucky defensive end Alvin Dupree is listed as a fourth-team player, but I think he has a big year in his new position. He's a very talented pass-rusher and should be even better with Mark Stoops helping him.
• Also, Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel made Steele's fourth team. Interesting, considering the season he just had. Though a lot of people I've talked to around the league think he'll have a much better season. He might have a lot of unproven talent at WR, but he's much more confident this year. I was still surprised to see him over the likes of Zach Mettenberger or even one of South Carolina's quarterbacks.
• I like what Steele did with his lines. I think all of those players will have big seasons for their respective teams. Jackson and Easley are two players who I think are flying under the radar heading into the 2013 season.

OXFORD, Miss. -- The longest hours of Chris Kiffin's coaching life began in January in a hotel room near Mobile, Ala., a week before national signing day, as a deadly outbreak of storms spawned tornadoes in Georgia, floods in Tennessee and wild weather in general from New York to Louisiana.

Kiffin, the 31-year-old defensive line coach and co-recruiting coordinator at Ole Miss, planned to take a private plane to Indianapolis to meet other Rebels coaches for a visit with Elijah Daniel, a heralded defensive end who less than two weeks earlier had delivered a pledge to sign with their program.

The storms ruined Kiffin's flight plan, so he set off to drive five hours across the Deep South to Lake City, Fla., where a crucial visit awaited the next day, Thursday, Jan. 31, with prospect Laremy Tunsil, ESPN's No. 1-rated offensive tackle.

To read more of Mitch Sherman's piece on Chris Kiffin's recruiting efforts at Ole Miss, click here.

Down here in Destin, Fla., for the SEC spring meetings, and the sand looks great.

• Georgia safety Josh Harvey-Clemons faces suspension for a marijuana incident.
• Jon Soloman of Al.com lists five things to watch at this week's SEC spring meetings.
• David Climer of The (Nashville) Tennessean writes that the SEC can't put off expanding the football schedule forever.
• The SEC is seeking ways to tackle attendance declines.
• LSU coach Les Miles says SEC scheduling gives certain teams "unintended and unearned advantages."
• Auburn's nine commitments turn their focus to recruiting other top prospects.
• What is Alabama's biggest title challenge in 2013?
• Junior college defensive lineman Jarran Reed's career at Florida is being put on hold because of academics.
• Three-star offensive lineman Jarrett LaRubbio committed to Kentucky over the weekend.
• Linebacker Jordan Jenkins ranks No. 5 on the Macon Telegraph's list of Georgia's 10 most important players in 2013.
• Freshmen, including Robert Nkemdiche, started arriving at Ole Miss Monday.

ESPN's Tom Luginbill has selected five freshmen who are enrolling this summer that he thinks will make an immediate impact in the fall.

Two of the players on his list will be playing in the SEC -- Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche and Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson.

Nkemdiche was ESPN's No. 1 prospect nationally in the 2013 class. He was also the No. 1 defensive end. Lawson was the No. 2 defensive end nationally.

Ole Miss and Auburn were both in the bottom half of the league last season in pass efficiency defense, so adding a couple of dynamic pass-rushers should help both the Rebels and Tigers.

Here's a glance at a few other freshmen to watch in 2013 who will be enrolling this summer:

Jonathan Allen, OLB, Alabama: Ranked No. 28 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Allen is a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker who should be a perfect fit in the Tide's 3-4 defense and add some pop to their pass rush.

Kendell Beckwith, LB, LSU: Ranked No. 41 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Beckwith is a tackling machine, and the Tigers will be looking for a couple of young guys to come in and play at defensive end and linebacker next season.

Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas: Ranked No. 57 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 5-foot-11, 207-pound Collins was a huge get for Bret Bielema out of South Florida and has the tools and physical makeup to be one of the Hogs' rushing leaders as a freshman.

LaQuivionte Gonzalez, WR, Texas A&M: Ranked No. 111 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound Gonzalez is a blur in the open field and should excel as the Aggies' slot receiver. He's also electrifying in the return game.

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida: Ranked No. 3 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Hargreaves is the kind of talent who could walk onto campus and be in the starting rotation from Day 1.

Chris Jones, DE, Mississippi State: Ranked No. 46 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Jones specializes in getting to the quarterback, which was a problem for the Bulldogs last season.

MarQuez North, WR, Tennessee: Ranked No. 133 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 6-foot-4, 214-pound North is somebody the Vols are counting on to come in and play right away. They were depleted at receiver last season.

Shag Wiggins, CB, Georgia: Ranked No. 39 in the 2013 ESPN 150, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Wiggins could join fellow freshman Tray Matthews in the Bulldogs' starting secondary. He'll be in the mix at both cornerback and nickel.

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.

2012 record: 7-6
2012 conference record: 3-5
Returning starters: Offense: 8; defense: 11; kicker/punter: 0

Top returners

QB Bo Wallace, RB Jeff Scott, WR Donte Moncrief, OG Aaron Morris, DE C.J. Johnson, LB Mike Marry, LB Denzel Nkemdiche, CB Charles Sawyer

Key losses

RB/WR Randall Mackey, OG A.J. Hawkins, DT Gilbert Pena, K Bryson Rose

2012 statistical leaders (* returners)

Rushing: Jeff Scott* (846 yards)
Passing: Bo Wallace* (2,994 yards)
Receiving: Donte Moncrief* (979 yards)
Tackles: Denzel Nkemdiche* (82)
Sacks: C.J. Johnson* (6.5)
Interceptions: Denzel Nkemdiche*, Dehendret Collins*, Senquez Golson* (3)

Spring answers

1. Running wild: Senior Jeff Scott gives the Rebels a proven breakaway threat at running back. He also carried the ball nearly 200 times last season, but might get some relief in 2013. Sophomores I'Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton and freshman Mark Dodson all had big springs, and they’re all different types of runners. It’s a given that you need more than one running back to make it through an entire SEC season, and Ole Miss might have three or four they can count on in 2013.

2. Ward shows flashes: One of the most physically gifted players returning for Ole Miss on defense is sophomore end Channing Ward. The push this spring was for him to cut it loose and play and become that every-down game-changer he was projected to be coming out of high school. Toward the end of spring practice, he looked like he was starting to get it. The 6-foot-4, 256-pound Ward missed most of preseason practice as a freshman last season while waiting to be cleared by the NCAA. If he can pick up in August where he left off in the spring, he has a chance to be a force coming off the edge.

3. Bright future: Most of the buzz this spring in Oxford centered around the celebrated signing class Hugh Freeze and his staff assembled. It was rated No. 5 nationally by ESPN and features the country’s No. 1 overall prospect -- defensive end Robert Nkemdiche. He can’t get to campus soon enough as far as Ole Miss fans are concerned and will be joined by the likes of offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Laquon Treadwell and safety Antonio Conner -- all top 25 players nationally. Some serious talent is on the way.

Fall questions

1. Wallace’s maturation: In his first season in the SEC, quarterback Bo Wallace finished fifth in the league in total offense with an average of 260.3 yards per game. He accounted for 30 touchdowns and made his share of plays in the Rebels’ fast-break offense. He also threw a league-high 17 interceptions, although he made better decisions toward the latter part of the season. He missed the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery. His big challenge in the fall is continuing to be the playmaker he was for the Rebels last season, but doing so while taking better care of the ball. He also needs to stay in one piece and pick his spots when it comes to taking on defenders.

2. Defending the pass: Ole Miss finished 11^th in the SEC last season in pass defense and gave up 22 touchdown passes. The fact that junior cornerback Senquez Golson gave up baseball and concentrated solely on football this spring was a plus. Getting back Nick Brassell would also be huge. Freeze has said he thinks that Brassell can be an NFL cornerback, but academics have been a struggle for Brassell. So depending on what happens with Brassell, depth at cornerback could be an issue.

3. On the mend: The Rebels had a wide array of players out or limited with injuries this spring. Not only was Wallace sidelined after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but defensive end C.J. Johnson broke his leg early during spring practice. Cornerback Charles Sawyer also missed the last half of spring with a minor injury, while receiver Donte Moncrief was banged up as well. Depth is still a problem for the Rebels, and even with the highly-rated signing class on its way, it’s always a bit of a guessing game on who’s going to be all the way back to 100 percent come fall.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Hunched over his desktop computer while in his black, leather rolling chair inside an office full of boxes ready to be moved to a new headquarters on a satisfyingly warm day in late March, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze talks on the phone with an assistant about a player’s grades.

The news isn’t great, but after a few minutes sliding around in his chair, a hint of relief hits Freeze’s voice when he realizes the semester isn’t quite over yet. There’s still time.

Seconds later, he’s back over the computer, this time listening to a link of a pastor rapping her sermon. Her verse barely takes minutes, leaving Freeze jokingly (or not) wondering what could be if he was a part of her congregation.

“A sermon in a minute, 40 [seconds]?” Freeze says with his classic southern drawl and pleasant boyish laughter. “I’d love that.”

For a second, Freeze is relaxed as he reclines, props his Ole Miss-flavored Nikes on his desk and greets the day with an ear-to-ear grin.

He’s only a couple of hours removed from the spring’s first scrimmage, surrounded by boxed chaos, working with grade issues and dealing with a mammoth hype machine parked in the Grove after a surprisingly successful first season and a historic national signing day. But while his mind moves a mile a minute, he’s finally stationary.

Soon, his body will follow his mind, as he analyzes his inadequate team depth, searches for more SEC-caliber athletes and attempts to handle the newfound attention his players are receiving.

“Obviously, they’ve got a lot of people telling them how great we did last year, even though it was just seven wins,” Freeze said. “It was a good first year and then follow it up with the recruiting class, so they’re hearing from a lot of places how well things are going and how we should do very, very well next year, but they better not lose sight of how we won those games.

“We have to temper our expectations some. Yeah, we had a good recruiting class, but so did everybody else in our conference. And some of them have had five, six classes like that in a row. We’ve got one.”

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Turning our attention to Ole Miss and who's in the spotlight this offseason for the Rebels.

Spotlight: Defensive end Channing Ward, 6-4, 256, rising sophomore

2012 summary: Ward played in 12 games as a true freshman and was a fixture on special teams. He finished with 21 tackles, including 1.5 for loss.

The skinny: Ward was one of the crown jewels of Hugh Freeze's first signing class at Ole Miss in 2012. He was a top-50 prospect nationally and ranked by ESPN as the No. 5 defensive end in the country. Because he wasn't cleared academically by the NCAA until late, Ward missed a large portion of the preseason and was behind when the season began. He still showed flashes athletically and delivered some massive hits on special teams. The Rebels will be counting on that kind of big-play ability from Ward on defense in 2013, and these next six months will be pivotal in his development. He has everything it takes physically to be a premier pass-rusher in this league and is incredibly strong. He'll also have a little extra motivation with so much attention focused on prized 2013 defensive end signee Robert Nkemdiche. Spring practice will be Ward's chance to show what he can do before Nkemdiche arrives on campus. Either way, the Rebels look like they will be set at the defensive end position for the next couple of years, especially if Ward takes the kind of step the coaches think he will this offseason. Rising junior C.J. Johnson also returns after racking up eight tackles for loss, including 6.5 sacks, last season.

Past spotlights:

• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas A&M
• Vanderbilt

Yes, it’s early to be predicting which freshmen will have the biggest impacts next season.

But the fans have spoken in our SportsNation poll and selected Arkansas running back Alex Collins by a comfortable margin.

With more than 9,200 votes cast, Collins garnered 41 percent of the vote. Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche was second with 21 percent and Texas A&M receiver Ricky Seals-Jones third with 20 percent.

Collins made the Hogs sweat a little bit, but signed a day after he was initially scheduled to because his mother refused to sign his letter-of-intent on national signing day. Collins' father ended up signing his paperwork.

He's exactly what Arkansas needs at the running back position with Knile Davis and Dennis Johnson both departing. The 5-11, 200-pound Collins rushed for 2,915 yards and 38 touchdowns his last two seasons of high school in Plantation, Fla., and was ranked by ESPN as the No. 7 running back prospect in the country.

First-year Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has shown in the past that he likes to run the football, so Hogs' fans shouldn't have to wait long to see Collins get his first carry.

We've seen the class rankings and which teams supposedly scored the biggest on signing day.

Now, it's time to predict who of the 2013 signees will have the biggest impact next season in the SEC.

Yes, it's a bit of a crapshoot at this point, but all fans are wondering who of the newcomers might be able to make the biggest difference in 2013.

We'll let you make the call in our SportsNation poll.

We've come up with five choices, and I'm sure there are a few names you think should be on there that aren't.

Even so, all five of the choices listed were highly recruited players who should be in a position to help their teams right away.

None of the five we've selected were early enrollees and already on campus, so that means we'll have to wait until preseason practice to see them in action.

Ole Miss defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson and Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III were the top three prospects in the country, according to ESPN's rankings. Arkansas running back Alex Collins was No. 57 on the ESPN 150 list and Texas A&M receiver Ricky Seals-Jones No. 61. At their respective positions, they were all top-10 players nationally.

So go ahead and cast your votes, and we'll take a look at the results later this week.

The mailbag is back up and running here on the SEC blog. Remember, you can send all of your questions here, whenever you want. Don't be shy. The more questions we get, the more mailbags we can do.

National signing day was Wednesday and spring practice is just around the corner, so let's get to your questions:

Jamey in Lower Alabama writes: Ed, in your opinion, which '13 offensive recruit (I think most would probably agree on the defensive impact player) will have the biggest impact in the SEC, and all of college football next fall?

Edward Aschoff: I honestly think SEC teams did a very good job overall of getting guys who can contribute right away. I think Alex Collins has the talent to be a big part of Bret Bielema's offense at Arkansas. Bielema wants to run the ball a lot and Collins might have the most upside in Arkansas' backfield. He can hit the home run and smash through the line. Vernon Hargreaves III could start at corner for the Gators. If he does that, Florida will be able to move Loucheiz Purifoy to offense, where the Gators need a lot of help. Derrick Henry and O.J. Howard could contribute right away in Alabama's offense. Obviously, No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche should make an immediate impact on Ole Miss' defense. He'll have competition up front, but he's too special of an athlete not to help that defense out starting on day one. I think Nkemdiche has a lot of pressure on him during his first year, so I'm going to go with Collins making the biggest impact in 2013. I think he could legitimately start for the Hogs at running back for the majority of the season.

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Mark in Mississippi writes: Do you think Freeze will continue on a recruiting roll, now that he's netted a top ten class? I'd think it'd be easier next year. Maybe not top ten, but top 20 for sure.

Edward Aschoff: Like Hugh Freeze said, it was the perfect storm for Ole Miss in this class. I think players now want to see what the Rebels do with all of that talent. This was a historic class, but let's not act like recruiting at Ole Miss is easy. Before this class, Ole Miss had just five total ESPN 150 members combined from 2008-12. Freeze is changing the culture there and he's making Ole Miss a much more popular school among high school players, but now he has to win more with these guys. We've seen "great" classes turn into duds in the past. It'll only be easier when he starts winning more, but I think he can consistently have a top 20 class at Ole Miss. He's too good at closing.

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Jon in Atlanta writes: With Muschamp hitting the recruiting trail like a monster, do you think that the Gator offense will be able to produce more consistently in 2013?

Edward Aschoff: I think the defense is going to be fine because a lot of young guys rotated in last year, so they will come in with pretty good experience. Plus, Will Muschamp knows his defenses. Offensively, if those receivers the Gators brought in can produce and step up, then the offense will be better as a whole. Demarcus Robinson is a guy to watch. He's on campus now, and the coaches need him to be as explosive as he was in high school. Ahmad Fulwood will be in Gainesville over the summer, and he could be a big-play weapon at receiver too. But it's tough for freshmen to be instant stars, so the older guys have to step up. With all those running backs, Florida should be able to run the ball just fine. Passing is the question.

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Kyle in Big Blue Nation writes: How impressed were you with the job Stoops and his staff did with this class and do you see UK getting back to a bowl next season?

Edward Aschoff: Very. I talked to Mark Stoops earlier today, and he told me he was surprised at how well they closed, considering the limited amount of time he and his staff had with guys. To keep juco defensive end Za'Darius Smith, who is already enrolled, and to flip defensive end Jason Hatcher from USC were huge. Add wide receiver Ryan Timmons, who turned down Florida and Ohio State, and Stoops has three players who could make immediate impacts at positions of need. This was a very, very balanced class, and Stoops seems very happy with his first haul in Lexington.

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King in DC writes: Looking at UGA's September schedule, I can easily see them starting out 1-3 with LSU, Clemson, and USC on the schedule. I then see their defense developing, winning out, and thereby winning the East again due to beating Florida and winning at tie breaker against USC. Am I crazy?

Edward Aschoff: It isn't the easiest of starts to a season, so, no, you aren't crazy. Young defenses can get exposed early in the season, and having to play a good Clemson offense during the first week of the year will be tough. Now, there are some talented bodies on that side of the ball for the Bulldogs, but I think you'll see some appropriate growing pains early in the season. As for the second half, this could be a team that no one wants to face in November. It'll grow through SEC play; it's too talented not to. That Florida game will be interesting because something tells me Muschamp isn't happy about being 0-2 against his alma mater.

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Rhett in Oregon writes: There are a lot of posts on the Web about how the playoff will "end" the SEC's run of championships. Do you think the SEC will be more or less likely to win the championship in the new format? And why?

Edward Aschoff: I don't need to go into too much detail with this one. The SEC will be more likely because I think it will have more chances to get two teams in the title game. When this was first announced I didn't think the SEC would have multiple teams in that often, and then this season happened. In a playoff, Alabama and Florida would have been in. Now, are they playing each other in the first round? Maybe. Depends on the selection committee, but having two teams in means the SEC is guaranteed a spot in the national championship. I also think that the SEC champion will always be guaranteed a spot in a four-team playoff.

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Bobby in Texas writes: Is it just my imagination or is South Carolina not having a great recruiting season. It would seem like coming off back to back 11 win years and an SEC East title before that and sending guys to the NFL - the Gamecocks should be in a position to have a top 10 recruiting class and make new inroads into recruiting. Since there are new staffs at Tenn, Auburn, UK and Arkansas - I thought the Gamecocks would move closer to LSU, BAMA, Florida this recruiting season. Hw do you rate the Gamecocks' class and why are they missing out on 5 star recruits this year?

Edward Aschoff: I thought Steve Spurrier and his coaches did a fine job. They needed linebackers and signed six, including ESPN 300 inside linebacker Larenz Bryant, who could contribute very early. He also got four defensive linemen, including three ends, and ESPN 150 defensive tackle Kelsey Griffin who should be fun to watch. The Gamecocks signed two running backs, including ESPN 150 member David Williams, who could compete with Mike Davis and Brandon Wilds this fall, as they try to fill Marcus Lattimore's void. This is a solid class and it was wrapped up before signing day, so there wasn't much excitement.

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John in Indiana writes: We already know that the country is tired of seeing the SEC win a national title every year, but is the SEC starting to get tired of seeing Alabama win it every year?

Edward Aschoff: Ha! Yes, and no. I think that conference officials are just happy to see the SEC win titles. Now, are fans overjoyed by seeing Alabama in the title game every year? Probably not, but they like seeing that crystal ball retuning to the conference each year. It's probably really tough on Auburn fans. When I asked SEC fans if they were rooting for Alabama or Notre Dame this year, the majority said Alabama -- like 95 percent. So league pride is high, but I'm sure a majority of the league is ready to see someone not named "Alabama" take home the crystal ball for the SEC sooner rather than later. Plus, they are tired of hearing about how many "official" titles Alabama claims it has ...