A look around the Conference after Spring Practices

Now that spring football is over in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessean staff writer Chris Low looks ahead to the 2006 season by offering his latest league analysis with his post-spring picks, predictions and prognostications: Alabama
-Season No. 3 was more like it for Alabama coach Mike Shula. After going 10-15 in his first two seasons at his alma mater, Shula matched that win total in 2005, leading the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory over Texas Tech. Staying at that level next season will be a real challenge without quarterback Brodie Croyle and the talent Alabama lost on defense. John Parker Wilson steps in at quarterback, and linebacker Juwan Simpson is the only one of the top seven tacklers last season on defense that is back. Kenneth Darby is one of the top running backs in the league, but it's probably a long shot to expect receiver Tyrone Prothro to return from his devastating leg injury last season.
Arkansas
-With former Springdale (Ark.) High School coach Gus Malzahn stepping in as Arkansas' new offensive coordinator, it remains to be seen what the Razorbacks will look like on offense next season. He ran a wide-open passing attack in high school, and his star pupil, heralded quarterback Mitch Mustain, will arrive on campus this summer. For the time being, Casey Dick exits the spring as the Hogs' starting quarterback, but Robert Johnson isn't far behind. Arkansas has proven it can run the ball with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones and has 20 starters returning from last season. But the Hogs have to find a passing game, as well as take a step forward on defense under second-year coordinator Reggie Herring.
Auburn
-The most consistent program in the league since 2000 just might be Auburn, although Georgia fans would argue that point. Nobody has a better record against SEC foes (37-13) since 2000, and the Tigers produced nine wins last season after losing four players in the first round of the NFL Draft the year before. Tailback Kenny Irons is a rugged runner, and quarterback Brandon Cox has a year under his belt in the SEC. He's also tutoring under the best play-caller in the league right now, offensive coordinator Al Borges. Will Herring has moved from free safety to linebacker and will anchor the defense. Typical of Tommy Tuberville's defenses, the Tigers will feature more speed than size next season.
Florida
-The second time around is always supposed to be a lot easier, and Florida coach Urban Meyer hopes that holds true for his offense. Quarterback Chris Leak never looked comfortable in Meyer's spread-option attack last season until the Gators tweaked some things to his strength toward the end. Leak hopes to have his deep threat, Andre Caldwell, back healthy after Caldwell missed most of last season with a broken leg. Meyer wasn't pleased with the Gators' running game this spring and publicly challenged his backs. There's enough talent on defense that the Gators will probably be the favorite in the Eastern Division race.
Georgia
-Get ready for a freshman to take the reins at quarterback for Georgia. Matthew Stafford might not start the first game, but he's going to be behind center at some point. Stafford graduated high school early and went through spring practice. He had his ups and downs, but finished strongly in the spring game. The Bulldogs again figure to have a strong running game, which should take some of the pressure off Stafford. The biggest concern might be on defense, where they lost most of their playmakers. Senior defensive end Quentin Moses returns, though, as one of the top pass-rushers in the league.
Kentucky
-It's no secret that Kentucky probably has to show some real progress next season if coach Rich Brooks is going to remain. The Wildcats were beset with injuries in 2005 and hope to get many of those players back. Receiver Keenan Burton has battled injuries each of the past two seasons, and the Wildcats have been careful with him this spring. It's still too close to call in the quarterback race. Brooks said he might go all the way up to the opener before making a decision between Curtis Pulley and Andre Woodson. Do-it-all running back Rafael Little was sidelined for the last half of spring after breaking a bone in his wrist. The Wildcats hope to use Little and Tony Dixon in the same backfield next season.
LSU
-Coaches will always take too many quarterbacks over too few quarterbacks, but there's a logjam at the position for the Tigers. JaMarcus Russell missed the spring after separating his shoulder in the SEC Championship game last season and was undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason. Matt Flynn, the star of the Peach Bowl, looked sharp this spring, and former hotshot prospect Ryan Perrilloux isn't going to sit around and watch for long. The Tigers have plenty of talent to go around whoever emerges, and this could be the year that several guys break out at receiver. It's unclear at this point, though, how healthy running back Alley Broussard will be after missing all of last season with a knee injury.
Ole Miss
-In desperate need of some offense, Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron brought in some reinforcements. He hired offensive coordinator Dan Werner and offensive line coach Art Kehoe after they were fired at Miami, and he went out and signed former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer, who's finishing up junior college and will arrive at Ole Miss this summer. The Rebels ranked near the bottom of Division I-A schools last season in most offensive categories. Schaeffer has already been penciled in as the starting quarterback, and the Rebels are equally excited about the addition of bruising running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who sat out last season after transferring from Indiana.
Mississippi State
-Having leaned on tailback Jerious Norwood the last two seasons, Mississippi State will have to look to other playmakers next season. Quarterback Michael Henig had a stellar spring and was named Most Improved Offensive Player. The best news for him is that the offensive line should be more experienced around him, and coach Sylvester Croom hopes junior college newcomer Tony Burks can be a home-run threat at receiver. Burks had hamstring problems and missed most of the spring. Even without departed defensive end Willie Evans, the defensive line will be strong. Middle linebacker Quinton Culberson also has star potential.
South Carolina
-What does Steve Spurrier have in store for an encore at South Carolina? The Gamecocks again have the skill players, led by sophomore receiver Sidney Rice, to be a factor again in the Eastern Division race. But they still don't appear to be quite there yet on both sides of the ball. Rice is the most consistent playmaker in the league. He caught 13 touchdown passes and had 1,143 receiving yards last season. The return of running back Cory Boyd should take some of the pressure off Rice this season. Boyd, who was suspended last season, has breakaway speed and will keep defenses honest. The secondary took a hit with cornerback Johnathan Joseph and safety Ko Simpson both deciding to turn pro early.
Tennessee
-Most Tennessee fans are still sort of holding their breath. They hope last season was merely an aberration, but don't know for sure. The Vols will find out right away how good they are. They open the season against California at home. Erik Ainge looked more comfortable at quarterback this spring under new offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, but the offense as a whole struggled to finish drives. The Vols desperately need receiver Robert Meachem to make some plays down the field for them next season. Six of seven starters in the front seven on defense are gone, but tackles Justin Harrell and Turk McBride may be the best twosome in the league.
Vanderbilt
-The Commodores were agonizingly close last season to breaking through and going to their first bowl since 1982. They still wound up with a respectable 5-6 record, thanks primarily to the brilliant play of quarterback Jay Cutler. Now that Cutler has moved on, coach Bobby Johnson has to find a new quarterback. Chris Nickson will get first shot, but Mackenzi Adams got plenty of time this spring. Whoever it is, Vanderbilt needs somebody to get the ball to talented receiver Earl Bennett, who had nine touchdown catches last season. The Commodores won't have much depth on defense, and it will also be difficult to overcome the loss of linebacker Moses Osemwegie.