i'm not a scout but i think stafford is a better pure passer than tebow...so i would put him first...
Florida figures to have some of the best in conference
By Matt Hayes
Quarterback
1. Tim Tebow, Florida
2. Matthew Stafford, Georgia
3. John Parker Wilson, Alabama
4. Casey Dick, Arkansas
5. Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee
Quick thoughts: A down year in the league. Once you get past Tebow and Stafford -- who will be among the top five in the nation this fall -- it gets shaky. Dick didn't play that poorly last fall, and with Bobby Petrino's coaching, will have a big season.
Running back
1. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
2. Keiland Williams, LSU
3. Arian Foster, Tennessee
4. Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State
5. Terry Grant, Alabama
Quick thoughts: I watched the Florida and Auburn games again over the last month, and Moreno's freshman season looks more impressive with each replay. Williams, after sharing time the last two seasons, is primed for a huge year.
Wide receiver
1. Percy Harvin, Florida
2. Brandon LaFell, LSU
3. Kenny McKinley, South Carolina
4. Lucas Taylor, Tennessee
5. Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia
Quick thoughts: Harvin still has to recover from significant offseason foot surgery (it's not a given), and the dynamic LaFell finally becomes LSU's No.1 receiver. The problem: the guy throwing to him isn't named Perrilloux. After three inconsistent seasons, watch how well Massaquoi plays with NFL money on the line.
Tight end
1. Cornelius Ingram, Florida
2. Jared Cook, South Carolina
3. Richard Dixon, LSU
4. Andrew Davie, Arkansas
5. Tripp Chandler, Georgia
Quick thoughts: None of these guys block that well, but Ingram and Cook have terrific hands and athletic ability. Davie, who wasn't used much last fall in Arkansas' run-oriented scheme, will be heavily relied on this season.
Offensive line
1. Andre Smith, Alabama
2. Michael Oher, Ole Miss
3. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
4. Herman Johnson, LSU
5. Anthony Parker, Tennessee
Quick thoughts: Five maulers. There's not a better starting five in any other conference. All five could be first round picks, and No.6 -- Georgia sophomore Trinton Sturdivant -- is rising fast.
Kicker
1. Colt David, LSU
2. Leigh Tiffin, Alabama
3. Daniel Lincoln, Tennessee
4. Wes Byrum, Auburn
5. Alex Tejada, Arkansas
Quick thoughts: Frankly, I don't want any of these guys lining up with the game on the line. David struggled mightily early in his career, but appears to have eliminated the yips.
Defensive line
1. Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
2. Antonio Coleman, Auburn
3. Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU
4. Jeremy Jarmon, Kentucky
5. Gino Atkins, Georgia
Quick thoughts: One SEC coach told me Hardy could have 16 sacks if he played hard every down. Coleman quietly had 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last fall, and it took Jean-Francois all of one game last year -- when he dominated the BCS title game -- to show what could/will be this fall.
Linebacker
1. Brandon Spikes, Florida
2. Rolando McClain, Alabama
3. Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
4. Rico McCoy, Tennessee
5. Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
Quick thoughts: McClain is a beast; he's Jasper Brinkley before Brinkley tore his ACL last year. Spikes is the complete run/cover package, but was pushed around last fall because Florida lacked beef on the interior line.
Defensive back
1. Eric Berry, Tennessee
2. Rashad Johnson, Alabama
3. Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina
4. Derek Pegues, Mississippi State
5. D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
Quick thoughts: If Tennessee doesn't fool around too much with Berry on offense, he will develop into one of the top safeties in the nation. Munnerlyn and Pegues are ultimate risk/reward players.
Punter
1. Ryan Shoemaker, Auburn
2. Britton Colquitt, Tennessee*
3. Brian Mimbs, Georgia
4. Jeremy Davis, Arkansas
5. Ryan Succop, South Carolina
Quick thoughts: Shoemaker had a terrific freshman season, and by the end of the year was a legit weapon for the Auburn defense. Succop may give up punting duties this fall to concentrate on placekicking and kickoffs. * = Suspended the first five games of this season.
? 2008 The Sporting News
Florida figures to have some of the best in conference
By Matt Hayes
Quarterback
1. Tim Tebow, Florida
2. Matthew Stafford, Georgia
3. John Parker Wilson, Alabama
4. Casey Dick, Arkansas
5. Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee
Quick thoughts: A down year in the league. Once you get past Tebow and Stafford -- who will be among the top five in the nation this fall -- it gets shaky. Dick didn't play that poorly last fall, and with Bobby Petrino's coaching, will have a big season.
Running back
1. Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
2. Keiland Williams, LSU
3. Arian Foster, Tennessee
4. Anthony Dixon, Mississippi State
5. Terry Grant, Alabama
Quick thoughts: I watched the Florida and Auburn games again over the last month, and Moreno's freshman season looks more impressive with each replay. Williams, after sharing time the last two seasons, is primed for a huge year.
Wide receiver
1. Percy Harvin, Florida
2. Brandon LaFell, LSU
3. Kenny McKinley, South Carolina
4. Lucas Taylor, Tennessee
5. Mohamed Massaquoi, Georgia
Quick thoughts: Harvin still has to recover from significant offseason foot surgery (it's not a given), and the dynamic LaFell finally becomes LSU's No.1 receiver. The problem: the guy throwing to him isn't named Perrilloux. After three inconsistent seasons, watch how well Massaquoi plays with NFL money on the line.
Tight end
1. Cornelius Ingram, Florida
2. Jared Cook, South Carolina
3. Richard Dixon, LSU
4. Andrew Davie, Arkansas
5. Tripp Chandler, Georgia
Quick thoughts: None of these guys block that well, but Ingram and Cook have terrific hands and athletic ability. Davie, who wasn't used much last fall in Arkansas' run-oriented scheme, will be heavily relied on this season.
Offensive line
1. Andre Smith, Alabama
2. Michael Oher, Ole Miss
3. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
4. Herman Johnson, LSU
5. Anthony Parker, Tennessee
Quick thoughts: Five maulers. There's not a better starting five in any other conference. All five could be first round picks, and No.6 -- Georgia sophomore Trinton Sturdivant -- is rising fast.
Kicker
1. Colt David, LSU
2. Leigh Tiffin, Alabama
3. Daniel Lincoln, Tennessee
4. Wes Byrum, Auburn
5. Alex Tejada, Arkansas
Quick thoughts: Frankly, I don't want any of these guys lining up with the game on the line. David struggled mightily early in his career, but appears to have eliminated the yips.
Defensive line
1. Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
2. Antonio Coleman, Auburn
3. Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU
4. Jeremy Jarmon, Kentucky
5. Gino Atkins, Georgia
Quick thoughts: One SEC coach told me Hardy could have 16 sacks if he played hard every down. Coleman quietly had 8.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss last fall, and it took Jean-Francois all of one game last year -- when he dominated the BCS title game -- to show what could/will be this fall.
Linebacker
1. Brandon Spikes, Florida
2. Rolando McClain, Alabama
3. Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
4. Rico McCoy, Tennessee
5. Jamar Chaney, Mississippi State
Quick thoughts: McClain is a beast; he's Jasper Brinkley before Brinkley tore his ACL last year. Spikes is the complete run/cover package, but was pushed around last fall because Florida lacked beef on the interior line.
Defensive back
1. Eric Berry, Tennessee
2. Rashad Johnson, Alabama
3. Captain Munnerlyn, South Carolina
4. Derek Pegues, Mississippi State
5. D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt
Quick thoughts: If Tennessee doesn't fool around too much with Berry on offense, he will develop into one of the top safeties in the nation. Munnerlyn and Pegues are ultimate risk/reward players.
Punter
1. Ryan Shoemaker, Auburn
2. Britton Colquitt, Tennessee*
3. Brian Mimbs, Georgia
4. Jeremy Davis, Arkansas
5. Ryan Succop, South Carolina
Quick thoughts: Shoemaker had a terrific freshman season, and by the end of the year was a legit weapon for the Auburn defense. Succop may give up punting duties this fall to concentrate on placekicking and kickoffs. * = Suspended the first five games of this season.
? 2008 The Sporting News