ESPN College Football

Our Tuesday stroll around the league:

• Butch Jones has the Big Orange Caravan rolling and recruiting along, writes John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Former Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner signs on with Pat Dye Jr.
• Derrick Thomas' College Hall of Fame snub inspires "boycott" from former Alabama great Cornelius Bennett.
• Other schools are still chasing Tennessee running back commitment Treyvon Paulk.
• LSU's Les Miles hasn't given up on getting the SEC schedule changed.
• LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is glad to be able to give back, writes Scott Rabalais of the Baton Rouge Advocate.
• Georgia still wants to see more from sophomore offensive tackle John Theus.
• A Q&A with former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, now the head coach at Western Kentucky.
• Former Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell will transfer to North Carolina State.

Butch Jones has brought a new attitude to Tennessee football.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has released his early top-five rankings at each position.

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

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

Up next are the defensive tackle prospects for next year's draft, and leading the way in the SEC is LSU's Anthony Johnson at No. 3. Kiper has Tennessee's Daniel McCullers No. 4.

The No. 1 overall tackle prospect is Notre Dame's Louis Nix III.

Johnson, who was third on LSU's team with 10 tackles for loss last season, has just scratched the surface of how good he can be. He only started in three games a year ago, but is freakishly athletic for a 6-foot-3, 304-pound interior lineman. Hence the nickname "Freak."

What stands out about McCullers is his mammoth size. He's 6-8 and 360 pounds and is the ultimate space-eater. The Vols are moving to a 4-3 base defense next season and will be looking for more production out of McCullers, who had 5.5 tackles for loss a year ago in his first season in the SEC after coming over from junior college.

Of note, Kiper had Florida's Dominique Easley listed among the defensive ends. He's played both, but the Gators' plan is to play him inside at tackle next season.

Some of the other draft-eligible defensive tackles from the SEC to keep an eye on this fall:

• Angelo Blackson, Auburn: The Tigers have some nice depth at tackle. Blackson, Jeffrey Whitaker and Gabe Wright all have a chance. Blackson finished with seven tackles for loss last season.
• Ego Ferguson, LSU: He's hovered in the shadows the past couple of seasons, but that's going to happen when you're playing on LSU's defensive line. He'll be front and center next season for the Tigers.
• Damien Jacobs, Florida: He's done it in flashes, but should be more consistent in his second season in the SEC after coming over from junior college.
• Byran Jones, Arkansas: The 6-2, 310-pound senior tied for sixth on the team last season with 52 total tackles. The Hogs feel good about their entire defensive front in 2013.
• Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina: Jadeveon Clowney has plenty of talent around him on that South Carolina defensive line. The 6-4, 298-pound Quarles had eight tackles for loss last season and is extremely athletic for an interior lineman.
• Donte Rumph, Kentucky: He had his spring cut short by shoulder surgery, but the 6-3, 323-pound Rumph is an imposing figure in the middle. If he's healthy, look for him to be on a lot of teams' draft boards.

A check of what's shaking in and around the SEC:

• Outgoing Georgia president Michael Adams leaves a big imprint on Georgia athletics, writes Marc Weiszer of The Athens Banner-Herald.
• The son of former Auburn assistant coach Trooper Taylor has a handful of SEC offers.
• Butch Jones stays on the go in rebuilding Tennessee's football team.
• Vanderbilt has plenty of space for linemen in the 2014 class.
• LSU goes on a spending spree in facility upgrades.
• Top linebacker prospect Christian Miller backs off his commitment to Florida and reopens his recruitment.
• Auburn receiver Jaylon Denson has a breakout spring for the Tigers.
• Missouri is poised for an SEC rebound in 2013.
• Can Texas A&M win 11 games again in its second season in the SEC?

Playing off the immortal words of Lynyrd Skynyrd, what song (game) is it you want to hear (see)?

We threw out a few dream possibilities involving SEC teams a week ago in our SportsNation poll. These were potential nonconference matchups.

With more than 11,200 votes cast, the winner was Alabama vs. Oregon. That was certainly the game I wanted to see last season in the BCS National Championship Game. I think it's the game most college football fans wanted to see -- the classic high-octane, speed-of-light offense versus a suffocating defense that's been in the top 5 nationally in most major statistical categories for five years running.

The Alabama-Oregon matchup received 31 percent of the vote. A close second was Texas vs. Texas A&M, which received 28 percent of the vote. Surely, the Longhorns and Aggies will play again at some point. I guess we'll have to wait until Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds decides the time is right since Texas "gets to decide" when the two old rivals will meet again.

The way Kevin Sumlin has it going in College Station, Dodds might want to wait a long while.

Coming in third place in our poll was Florida vs. Ohio State, which got 18 percent of the vote. We could dub it the Urban Meyer Bowl.

Fourth place in the voting was South Carolina vs. USC (15 percent), while fifth place was LSU vs. Notre Dame (8 percent).

What are some other dream nonconference matchups?

A few that come to mind: Alabama vs. USC, South Carolina vs. Oklahoma (Steve Spurrier vs. Bob Stoops), Georgia vs. Florida State, LSU vs. Michigan, Texas A&M vs. Oregon, Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech, Florida vs. Texas and Arkansas vs. Wisconsin (the Bret Bielema Bowl).

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.

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.

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.

Tennessee coach Butch Jones discusses the high expectations for next season and the pressure that comes with it.

Former Oklahoma State quarterback Wes Lunt, who decided to transfer last week, is considering five schools, with Tennessee and Vanderbilt making the cut, according to a source.

Lunt won the Cowboys' starting job last season as a true freshman, but missed time because of leg and head injuries. He still threw for 1,108 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. Due to NCAA transfer rules, he won't be able play this coming season, but he'll have three years of eligibility remaining, starting in 2014.

Both schools could use a player like Lunt, and both Butch Jones and James Franklin either recruited him or have some sort of relationship with him.

Tennessee will enter fall camp with junior Justin Worley competing with redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman for the starting quarterback spot. Unlike Worley, Peterman has no college experience. Worley has passed for 738 career yards with one touchdown to five interceptions. While Worley has all of the game experience, he still didn't run away with the starting job this spring.

Lunt could be a valuable option for the Vols in 2014. Even if Worley ends up starting this fall and next, Lunt would still have two years of eligibility left and his presence will certainly push both Worley and Peterman even more. The good news is that the Vols will have freshman Joshua Dobbs and Riley Ferguson on campus this fall, but it wouldn't hurt to have another older voice around them.

Without an outright leader at the position, it wouldn't hurt the Vols to get some insurance for next season and beyond, especially from someone with the experience like Lunt has.

The same can be said for Vanderbilt. Redshirt senior Austyn Carta-Samuels ended the spring ahead of redshirt freshman Patton Robinette, but this will be his final fall with the Commodores. That means having Lunt on campus next year could really help the quarterback spot.

The Dores might need Lunt more than the Vols, considering Carta-Samuels only has one more year of eligibility remaining. Worley will have two more seasons to play, which could give Tennessee some stability at the position if he confidently takes the job. Vandy could use more experience under center, and Lunt would certainly provide that.

Both of these schools should push hard for Lunt's services because they could both use him in 2014.

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.

Checking out the links on a Monday.

• Rising sophomore defensive back Jacquese Kirk is no longer a part of Vanderbilt's football team after violating team rules.
• Nick Saban's five conference idea would mean trouble for smaller schools, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of Al.com
• Former NFL scout Bucky Brooks says Johnny Manziel's "unimpressive physical dimensions" and "unrefined game" make him a marginal pro prospect.
• Here's a look at Ole Miss' quarterbacks after the spring.
• Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo pondered using a Florida-inspired play on what could have been the Bulldogs' final play against Alabama in last year's SEC championship game.
• ESPN 150 quarterback Drew Barker picked Kentucky over South Carolina, which sustained Wildcats coach Mark Stoops' knack for keeping recruits in the state of Kentucky.
• Here's viewing Stoops through rose-colored glasses.
• Auburn received a commitment from ESPN 150 defensive end Justin Thorton over the weekend.
• New hires at Tennessee show the importance of familiarity and trust.
• Two more signees from Florida's 2013 class enrolled at UF over the weekend.
• LSU picked up a commitment from top junior college wide receiver D'haquille Williams on Friday night.

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.