INSIDE SLANT Florida coach Urban Meyer began an unspecified leave of absence the day after National Signing Day.

Apparently, that uncertainty didn’t impact recruiting. Florida’s class of 28 players, including 11 that enrolled this January, is ranked No. 1 in the nation by both Scout.com and Rivals.com.

Already, comparisons are being made to Florida’s No. 1 national signing class in 2006, which netted receiver Percy Harvin and quarterback Tim Tebow. that class led Florida to two BCS titles in three seasons.

“I’ve gotten myself in trouble in the past by hyping up players who were not yet deserving of it,” Meyer said. “In certain areas, it’s the best we’ve ever done.”

The strength of the class is on defense. Florida landed three five-stars players: safety Matt Elam, defensive end Ronald Powell and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd.

Elam, Powell and Floyd could get a chance to play right away on a Florida defense that lost seven starters, including underclassmen Joe Haden (cornerback), Carlos Dunlap (defensive end) and Major Wright (safety).

On offense, Florida scored big with four-star quarterback Trey Burton, five-star receiver Chris Dunkley and four-star running back Mack Brown.

despite the additions, Meyer said the Gators have numerous holes to fill heading into the 2010 season. He’s especially concerned about wide receiver due to the losses of seniors Brandon James, David Nelson and Riley Cooper.

“We lost five juniors to the draft and obviously lost some talented players on offense and defense,” Meyer said. “I don’t know if there’s ever a rebuilding year, but if there was, this would be one for us.”

NOTES, QUOTES—Florida’s defensive coordinator position remains uncertain because recently hired defensive coordinator George Edwards is leaving for the NFL to join Chan Gailey’s staff with the Buffalo Bills. Edwards and secondary coach Chuck Heater were named co-defensive coordinators earlier this month.

—D.J. Durkin was hired to coach linebackers and special teams at UF. Durkin left Stanford, where he coached defensive ends and special teams.

—Former Florida running backs coach Stan Drayton has returned to UF after spending his previous two seasons at Syracuse and Tennessee. Drayton, who coached at Florida from 2005-07, replaces Kenny Carter, who left to join Charlie Strong’s staff at Louisville.

—S Matt Elam, West Palm Beach, Fla. — A five-star prospect, Elam was rated Scout.com’s No. 1 safety and 10th-best overall player. Elam also rushed for 1,883 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior to lead his high school, West Palm Beach Dwyer, to the Class 4A state title. Florida coach Urban Meyer said that Elam could run the ball in some direct snap formations but that his future is at safety. The 5-foot-10, 199-pound Elam could play right away because junior starting free safety Major Wright declared for the NFL draft.

—DE Ronald Powell, Moreno Valley, Calif. — an exceptional athlete, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Powell is ranked by Rivals.com as the top defensive end prospect and top overall prospect in the country. Powell had 60 tackles and 13 sacks his senior season. Powell also caught six TD passes at tight end. “He can be an All-American and be a tremendous tight end,” Florida coach Urban Meyer said. “Obviously we plan to use him mostly at defensive end, but he will catch some passes here at Florida.”

—DT Sharrif Floyd, Philadelphia, Pa. — Scout.com ranks Floyd as the top defensive tackle prospect in the country. The 6-foot-3, 311-pound Floyd was named the Maxwell Football Club’s 2009 national high school football player of the year. Floyd had more than 50 tackles, two sacks and seven tackles for losses as a junior despite being bothered by an ACL tear for part of the season. he could get immediate playing time inside.

—WR Chris Dunkley, Pahokee, Fla. — A five-star prospect, Dunkley was rated by Rivals.com as the eighth-best receiving prospect in the nation. Dunkley finished his junior season with 50 catches for 500 yards and 13 TDs. He’s been clocked as fast as 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and comes from the same high school (Pahokee) that produced current Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “Where we finish in rankings doesn’t really matter. in the big scheme and eagle-eye view, we come in tomorrow morning and people say we have the top recruiting class, that’s great for about 24 hours, but then you have to get to work.” — Florida coach Urban Meyer on UF’s No. 1-ranked 2010 recruiting class.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Florida faces an uncertain future after losing 12 starters, including five underclassmen that declared for the NFL draft. The biggest change will come at quarterback, where strong-armed junior John Brantley takes over for college football icon Tim Tebow. Brantley is less mobile then Tebow but possesses a stronger arm to throw the ball downfield. Look for Florida to run more traditional I-formation sets to take advantage of Brantley’s strengths.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Florida’s spring practices will begin on March 17 and run through April 10. The spring game is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 10.

Florida’s top priority this spring will be reconstructing a defense that lost seven starters last season. The strength of Florida’s 2010 top-ranked recruiting class is on defense. that means several players, including January enrollees Matt Elam (safety) and Leon Orr (defensive tackle) could compete for starting jobs.

Florida quarterback John Brantley had a solid spring last season. But this time, Brantley, a fourth-year junior, will be gearing up for his first season as UF’s starting quarterback. Receivers will need to emerge to replace departed seniors Riley Cooper, Brandon James and David Nelson.

—QB Tim Tebow — Tebow had an up-and-down Senior Bowl, completing eight of 12 passes for 50 yards. he had issues taking snaps under center earlier in the week and during the game didn’t show great arm strength on his corner routes. Tebow’s leadership intangibles and running ability remain intriguing to some NFL teams, but he may have hurt himself more than he helped himself with his performance. he is currently projected to go anywhere from the third to seventh round in the NFL draft.

—WR Riley Cooper — Cooper impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl with his speed and ability to use his body to shield defenders. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Cooper decided to give up a professional baseball contract with the Texas Rangers to prepare for the NFL draft. Scouts project Cooper as a second- to third-round pick. Cooper also is an excellent downfield blocker who doesn’t shy from contact.

—OL Maurkice Pouncey — Pouncey, who declared for the NFL draft on Jan. 11, has accepted an invitation to attend the NFL combine in Indianapolis. He’s projected as a first- to second-round pick.

—S Major Wright — Wright became the fifth UF underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft when he declared on Jan. 12. Wright finished his career with 165 tackles, 10 passes defended, eight interceptions, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 41 games. he had 32 tackles and three interceptions last season. The 6-foot, 204-pound Wright is projected as a third- to fifth-round pick but will try to improve his stock at the NFL combine.

—DE Carlos Dunlap — Dunlap, who declared for the NFL draft on Jan. 11, is considered an early to mid-first round pick despite his DUI arrest in December. Dunlap pleaded no contest to DUI charges and received one year’s probation and had his driver’s license suspended for six months.

—CB Joe Haden — Haden is projected as a top 10 pick in the first round in April’s NFL draft.

—TE Aaron Hernandez — Hernandez, who declared for the NFL draft on Jan. 11, is projected as a late first- to early second-round pick.

—OL Mike Pouncey decided to return to Florida for his senior season rather than join his twin brother, Maurkice, in the NFL draft. Pouncey is expected to move from right guard to center next season. With Mike Pouncey back, Florida returns four of its five starters on the offensive line (LG Carl Johnson, LT Xavier Nixon and RT Marcus Gilbert).

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GEORGIA

INSIDE SLANT Georgia coaches tried to put a positive spin on the class of 19 players the Bulldogs netted on National Signing Day.

“We are really excited about this class, and I don’t want any mistake to be made about how pleased we are with these guys that are coming to the University of Georgia,” Georgia recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner said.

But final rankings from outside observers didn’t share the same optimism. Georgia’s class was ranked 21st by Scout.com and 16th by Rivals.com, representing the school’s lowest-rated signing day in more than eight years.

Georgia lost four significant verbal pledges, including five-star receiver Da’Rick Rogers, who bolted for rival Tennessee. in addition, Georgia lost three defensive commitments — cornerback Nickell Robey (USC), and linebackers Deon Rogers and B.J. Butler (both to Louisville).

Georgia coach Mark Richt said part of the reason for the defections was the uncertainty of the coaching staff. Richt fired three defensive coaches, including former defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, last December. new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was hired two weeks ago.

“Recruiting is about relationships built, and we knew when we went through a process like we did with our coaching changes that some relationships were broken,” Richt said. “It put a strain on some young men, and we know that some of them changed their minds and didn’t stick with their commitment.”

Rogers’ switch to Tennessee should make for an interesting game when the Vols play at Georgia on Oct. 9.

“I just hope he’s ready for it because there are going to be a lot of people on the hit for him on this team,” said safety Jakar Hamilton, a junior college transfer who has already enrolled at Georgia. “It’s disappointing with us because a guy’s been committed for so long and decides to change his mind at the last minute.”

NOTES, QUOTES—Todd Grantham was hired as Georgia’s new defensive coordinator on Jan. 15. Grantham, previously the defensive line coach with the Dallas Cowboys, will earn $750,000 per season on a three-year contract.

—Scott Lakatos was hired as Georgia’s defensive backs coach. Lakatos previously held the same position at Connecticut.

—S/LB Alec Ogletree, Newman, Ga. — The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Ogletree, a five-star recruit according to Scout.com, has a reputation as a hard hitter and could immediately help Georgia’s thin secondary. If Ogletree adds more weight to his frame, coaches could consider moving Ogletree to a speed-rushing outside linebacker. wherever Ogletree ends up, he’s expected to make an impact. Ogletree finished the 2009 season with 85 tackles, including five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and two blocked kicks.

—DT Garrison Smith, Atlanta, Ga. — The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Smith is an athletic interior defender who has the ability to get to the quarterback. Smith had 14 sacks and forced seven fumbles in his junior year at Douglass High. Smith has a reputation for taking plays off and will need to go hard every play to be successful at Georgia.

—OT Brent Benedict, Jacksonville, Fla. — The 6-foot-5, 276-pound Benedict is rated by Scout.com as the 10th-best offensive tackle prospect in the nation. Benedict was rated even higher before going down with a knee injury, but coaches are confident that he will arrive on campus fully healed. Benedict is considered an athletic, intelligent tackle who has a chance to become a fixture on Georgia’s offensive line for seasons to come.

—DE/LB T.J. Stripling, Decatur, Ga. — at 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Stripling could wind up at either defensive end or outside linebacker in new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme. Stripling recorded 21 sacks in his senior season at Southwest DeKalb High. With 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash, Stripling projects as a speed rusher at either DE or outside LB.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “There’s usually as not as much drama as we’ve had this year. Not everybody stuck to their commitment.” — Georgia coach Mark Richt on the Bulldogs losing commitments on National Signing Day.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Georgia faces challenges on both sides of the ball after losing senior starting quarterback Joe Cox and underclass defensive starters Rennie Curran (LB) and Reshad Jones (S) to the NFL draft. new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will be expected to improve a Georgia defense that ranked near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in most statistical categories.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Georgia will begin spring practice on March 17 and will conclude spring drills with the annual G-Day game on April 10.

The most interesting position battle will take place at quarterback, where redshirt freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger will compete with junior Logan Gray to replace departed senior Joe Cox.

Georgia also will spend the spring filling holes on defense while getting accustomed to new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme.

—MLB Rennie Curran — Curran, who opted to forego his senior year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft, will attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this month. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound Curran is considered undersized to play inside in the NFL even though he posted back-to-back 100-tackle seasons at Georgia. Curran is currently projected as a third- to fourth-round pick, but could help himself at the combine.

—S Reshad Jones — like Curran, Jones opted to forego his senior season and will attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this month. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Jones has good size for his position and is versatile enough to play either strong or free safety. He’s projected as a second- to third-round pick.

—DT Jeff Owens — Owens met with several NFL teams and had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Next up for the 6-foot-3, 298-pound Owens is the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Owens projects as a fifth- to seventh-round draft pick.

—DT Geno Atkins — Atkins recorded one sack in the Senior Bowl and will attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this month. his quickness up the middle against Idaho offensive guard Mike Iupati, the top-ranked guard at the Senior Bowl, impressed some NFL scouts. The 6-2, 286-pound Atkins is projected as a fifth-round pick.

—RB Richard Samuel said he intends to move to linebacker next season. Samuel, a linebacker in high school, should bring needed speed to the position.

—QB Logan Gray said he intends to stay at his position despite rumors that he was going to switch to receiver. Gray will compete with Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger for the starting QB job this spring.

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KENTUCKY

INSIDE SLANT Kentucky had a strong conclusion to the recruiting finish line with a couple of late signings that dramatically altered the view of the Wildcats’ first class under new head coach Joker Phillips.

Highly coveted tight end Alex Smith changed his commitment from North Carolina to Kentucky, running back Brandon Gainer surprisingly chose the Wildcats, and in-state linebacker Tim Patterson chose Kentucky over his hometown Louisville Cardinals.

The late flurry saw Kentucky’s recruiting class ranking jump to No. 49 nationally by Rivals.com and up to 46th by Scout.com.

“We feel good about the class and how it ended up,” Phillips said. “Our staff was relentless in the last two or three weeks. We feel like we fulfilled not only the things we were looking for, but we added size, speed and athleticism.”

Perception was that Kentucky was about to ink a ho-hum recruiting class before the late rush. Even with the flurry, the Wildcats’ class is just 11th best among the 12 SEC schools.

Smith’s view of Kentucky began to change for the better when he received a visit from Phillips on the same night that Phillips had been introduced as Kentucky’s new coach. Phillips knew the visit was going well when Smith asked Phillips to sign some of his Kentucky paraphernalia.

Gainer is rated as the 52nd-best player in the state of Florida, and his high school running backs coach in Miami (former Kentucky star back Mark Higgs) played a big role in Gainer’s decision. Patterson, meanwhile, agonized over his decision and didn’t inform Phillips he was Kentucky-bound until 10:30 a.m. on signing day.

overall, Kentucky’s signing class numbers 26 players and includes three players ranked among the state’s top 10 recruits by Rivals.com in Patterson (No. 1), running back Miles Simpson (No. 5) and linebacker Malcolm McDuffen (No. 8). The Wildcats inked seven defensive linemen and five linebackers but didn’t sign any wide receivers or offensive linemen.

NOTES, QUOTES—The Wildcats hired former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin as receivers coach on Feb. 4. The move reunites Martin with Kentucky offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, who served in a similar role at Tennessee when Martin was a player.

—Other recent assistant coaching staff changes include the additions of offensive line coach Mike Summers, defensive line coach David Turner and strength and conditioning coach Ray “Rock” Oliver.

—TE Alex Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio — Kentucky’s lone four-star recruit is rated as the nation’s 11th-best tight end, according to Rivals.com. Smith has impressive size (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) to go with terrific hands and speed and should challenge for immediate playing time.

—RB Brandon Gainer, Miami, Fla. — Gainer won’t be counted on immediately with starting tailback Derrick Locke returning but he has the look of becoming Kentucky’s future feature back. most recruiting analysts had him headed to Central Florida before his late decision to join the Wildcats.

—LB Tim Patterson, Louisville, Ky. — Patterson describes himself as a big Louisville fan so it was important for Kentucky to beat out the Cardinals for the state’s top recruit since both schools have new coaches (Charlie Strong at Louisville).

QUOTE TO NOTE: “Not only are we winning games, but we are graduating our players and they are players of character. when they get around the kids coming in, they feel the love that we have here.” — Coach Joker Phillips, on the effects of what four consecutive bowl seasons has done to Kentucky’s perception among recruits.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Kentucky returns five starting players on offense and six on defense, so there’s a good returning nucleus of players for new coach Joker Phillips to work with.

Do-it-all receiver Randall Cobb and running back Derrick Locke highlight the offensive returnees, with defensive end DeQuin Evans and linebacker Danny Trevathan being among the top returning defenders.

The offensive line lost four starters, so Kentucky needs a few players to emerge in the trenches, and replacing the leadership of fullback John Conner will be tough. Defensively, the presence of two veteran stars, linebacker Micah Johnson and cornerback Trevard Lindley, will be hard to replace.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: With practice schedule dates still to be determined, Kentucky’s 15 spring practices will certainly have intrigue at quarterback.

Morgan Newton took over as starting quarterback midway through last season when Mike Hartline suffered a knee injury, and the two players will battle for the starting gig. Kentucky’s offense became much more run-dominated with Newton at the helm and the Wildcats would like to be more of a passing threat in 2010.

Defensively, Kentucky has to replace its top four defensive players — defensive tackle Corey Peters, linebackers Micah Johnson and Sam Maxwell and cornerback Trevard Lindley. So there will be ample opportunities on the defensive side of the ball for players to step up.

PRO POTENTIAL: five Kentucky players have been invited to the upcoming NFL Combine: FB John Conner, MLB Micah Johnson, CB Trevard Lindley, OLB Sam Maxwell and DT Corey Peters. Johnson will be the first Kentucky player selected in April’s NFL draft with Lindley and Peters following later in the draft.

—MLB Micah Johnson — The fact that he’s seen as a solid all-around linebacker (plays both the run and pass well) makes him a coveted inside ‘backer at the NFL level. He’s still recovering from a knee injury in the Music City Bowl so teams will have to be cautious in terms of how they grade upcoming workouts.

—CB Trevard Lindley — The four-year starter has seen his stock slip after an ankle injury sidelined him for part of his senior campaign. he was actually better regarded after the 2008 season before electing to return to school. Lindley wasn’t impressive during Senior Bowl workouts so he really needs to have a solid combine performance to regain confidence among NFL talent evaluators.

—DT Corey Peters — The three-year starter opened eyes with a terrific senior season and could move up draft boards in coming months. he lost one chance to impress by having to pull out of the East-West Shrine Game due to a minor shoulder injury suffered in the Music City Bowl.

—Former Minnesota player Terrell Combs has transferred to Kentucky. Combs was a reserve tight end with Minnesota in 2008 before being moved to the defensive line and then electing to transfer. The Wildcats will likely look at Combs at tight end during spring drills.

—DE Donte Rumph is part of Kentucky’s recruiting class for the third time. The problem for Rumph has been gaining academic eligibility but Kentucky’s coaching staff has stuck with him.

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SOUTH CAROLINA

INSIDE SLANT Steve Spurrier cha-cha’d his way into a top 25 recruiting class.

Will it result in top 25 preseason ranking?

Marcus Lattimore, the nation’s top-rated running back recruit, said Spurrier’s dance moves during one of his recent home visits was a deciding factor in signing with the Gamecocks instead of Auburn. Signing Lattimore and fellow Parade All-American defensive lineman Kelcy Quarles is a big boost to a program that lost some of its momentum with a flat performance in a bowl loss to UConn.

“First of all I apologize again to Gamecock fans for our bowl game,” Spurrier said. “I compliment our coaches for overcoming it in recruiting. Our coaches did a super job of coming out and spreading the world of what we hope to do here the next four or five years. this is a solid recruiting class, it really is, highlighted by the two Parade All-Americans from the state of South Carolina in Marcus Lattimore and Kelsey Quarles. They’re the only two players from our state that made it, and fortunately they’re both coming to South Carolina.”

both Lattimore and Quarles have the potential to make early impacts at positions of need. Spurrier made it very clear that the best player will play.

“Our job is to recruit the best players available to help our team,” Spurrier said. “Every year if you become a starter, it doesn’t mean you’re a starter forever. You have to keep earning it year after year. Competition is always good. We need competition for playing time here at a lot of positions.”

Six offensive linemen were among this year’s class, including Rivals.com four-star center A.J. Cann. new offensive line coach Shawn Elliot will be in charge of blending the newcomers into a unit that was never seemed to get settled last year.

overall, Gamecock fans have a lot to look forward to in 2010. seeing Spurrier cha-cha up the ladder in the SEC East would not be a surprise.

NOTES, QUOTES—Shawn Elliott was named the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach after Eric Wolford left in January to become Youngstown State’s new head coach. Elliott comes over from Appalachian State, where he helped the Mountaineers win three straight FCS national titles from 2005-07.

—Three new players enrolled early in January. Outside linebacker Toquavious Gilchrist, a junior college transfer, freshman quarterback Connor Shaw and freshman fullback/linebacker Matt Coffee are expected to be on the spring roster. Gilchrist, a four-star prospect from Butler Community College, has the most promise and has a chance to compete for playing time immediately.

—RB Marcus Lattimore, Duncan, S.C. — The nation’s top-rated running back had a prolific career at powerhouse Byrnes High School. at 6-0, 210 pounds, he’s a power back with 4.46 speed, according to Rivals.com. most expect Lattimore to receive immediate playing time, along with returning backs Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles.

—OC A.J. Cann, Bamberg, S.C. — One of six offensive linemen in the 2010 class, Cann has the potential to be a fixture on the Gamecocks’ O-line for a while. in addition to being a good athlete, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Cann is an excellent student.

—DT Kelcy Quarles, Greenwood, S.C. — at 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Quarles will need to add some weight if he’s going to play defensive tackle in the SEC. But he’s got the talent and ability to develop into a big-time star.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s a fact that every guy you sign doesn’t end up playing a lot at any school. You try your best to utilize your scholarships and use the best players. Just like we tell recruits that go to Alabama, Florida, (etc.), you all won’t play when you go down there. Sometimes you get to a place and get stuck behind guys. That’s why some players do transfer. That’s a fact of college football. We’re not overloaded with ball players, I can assure you that right now.” — Steve Spurrier.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: The Gamecocks expect to have around 17 returning starters, including a nice spread of stars on offense and defense. Quarterback Stephen Garcia, who quietly was among the SEC’s most consistent quarterbacks last season, heads into his second season as the unquestioned starter. He’s got some experienced playmakers, including rising sophomore receiver Alshon Jeffery and last year’s leading rusher Kenny Miles.

top signee Marcus Lattimore, the nation’s No. 1-rated running back, will also be in the mix.

Defensively, South Carolina is looking to replace All-American linebacker Eric Norwood. Juco transfer Toquavious Gilchrist could be the answer. there are some holes on the defensive line as well, with the pending departure of end Clifton Geathers to the NFL.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins March 16 and ends with the spring game on April 10.

Upgrading and solidifying the offensive line will be the No. 1 priority in the spring, which means new offensive line coach Shawn Elliott will have to get right to work.

—LB Eric Norwood — A two-time All-American, Norwood is a playmaking linebacker with a nose for the ball. He’s projected anywhere from the second to the third round.

—DE Clifton Geathers — as of Feb. 3, Geathers hadn’t officially announced that he’s going pro. But all signs certainly were pointing in that direction. Coach Steve Spurrier said on Jan. 15 that he believes Geathers will enter the draft. Projections have the 6-foot-7 defensive end, who is the younger brother of Cincinnati Bengals defense end Robert Geathers, going on the second day of the draft, possibly as low as the seventh round.

—DE Cliff Matthews, who was considering making the leap to the NFL, was forced to have shoulder surgery. he will return for his senior season and is expected to be ready for spring practice.

—Assistant head coach for defense Ellis Johnson will receive a significant raise, according to the South Carolina State. Johnson is expected to receive a two-year extension and a raise that would double his salary.

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TENNESSEE

INSIDE SLANT when Lane Kiffin left Jan. 12 and took a boatload of assistant coaches with him to Southern California, Volunteer fans and media alike bemoaned what would happen to the recruiting class.

Three days later, when Tennessee hired relative no-name Derek Dooley after three non-descript seasons at Louisiana Tech, teeth-gnashing and wailing were as prevalent as welcomes for the son of former Georgia coach Vince Dooley.

“Dooley … really?” read a message board at a high school basketball game in Johnson City, Tenn. when news broke of his hiring.

Less than three weeks later, after Dooley held together the first pieces of Kiffin’s recruiting classes while closing strong at the last minute to turn this into a top 10 class, it’s become apparent that he made a strong first impression.

The Vols’ 25-player recruiting class was ranked as high as No. 9 nationally by Rivals.com and includes players from a dozen states, with the headliner being wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers of Calhoun, Ga.

Rated as a top 10 player nationally, Rogers was headed for Georgia as recently as January. But Dooley and his staff showed Rogers they could improve him as a player and a person, and Rogers was won over by their low-key, positive approach.

Tennessee appears to have improved its depth across the board, a necessity after late-season injuries cleaned out the depth chart on defense. many of these guys could have a shot at playing time in the fall, with a few perhaps competing for starting jobs.

NOTES, QUOTES—Coach Derek Dooley hired Jeremy Wilcox from Boise State to be his defensive coordinator on Feb. 3. The 33-year old Wilcox, the son of NFL Hall of Fame LB Dave Wilcox, turned the Broncos’ defense into a turnover-causing, attacking unit that helped them go 14-0 in 2009.

—Dooley has been busy with piecing together a staff in addition to recruiting. he still has one more spot to fill but appears to have assembled a solid staff while keeping valuable holdovers like LB coach Lance Thompson, a great recruiter, and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney.

—WR Da’Rick Rogers, Calhoun, Ga. — A top 10 recruit nationally, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Rogers turned UT’s class into a top 10 amalgamation of talent by renouncing his verbal commitment to Georgia. Rogers has the size and speed to earn immediate playing time.

—OL James Stone, Nashville — One of the top remaining uncommitted players in Tennessee, Stone spurned Nick Saban and Alabama to stay in-state. With four starters graduating from the offensive line, Stone has an opportunity to step in and perhaps see the field as a true freshman.

—WR Justin Hunter, Virginia Beach — Virginia Tech doesn’t get every top player out of the Tidewater. The Vols have had a history of recruiting success there (i.e.: Jerod Mayo) and might have struck gold with Hunter, one of the commonwealth’s top 10 players, who has game-breaking speed.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think it’s jumping the gun a little bit to get so excited on signing day, even though I know it’s a great event for the fans.” — Coach Derek Dooley, trying to cushion expectations for a top 10 signing day class nationally.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: With a new coaching staff for the second straight year, the Vols must figure things out quickly. after a walkover opener with UT-Martin, three of their next four games are against Oregon, Florida and LSU. Not the easiest introduction to SEC-level football for a new coaching staff or a new quarterback.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: new coach Derek Dooley still hasn’t determined dates for spring drills yet and probably won’t do that until he fills out his coaching staff. he still has to hire one more assistant.

when this group convenes for spring drills, the top three priorities will likely be identifying a new quarterback, figuring out the situation on the offensive line and improving defensive depth.

Last year’s backup, Nick Stephens, will have the first shot at starting, but will have to be on point to earn the job against four other candidates. Four starters on the O-line must be replaced and a defense that lost its best players and was damaged by injuries has to be retooled.

PRO POTENTIAL: Tennessee could have the first overall pick in April’s draft and a second first-rounder to boot. there are others off last year’s squad who could play for pay by September.

—SS Eric Berry — Arguably the best player this program’s had since Peyton Manning, Berry was a fixture in the starting lineup from the minute he stepped on campus. A hard hitter with a nose for the ball, Berry will be a building block for whichever NFL team picks him.

—DT Dan Williams — at 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Williams could be a perfect nose tackle for a 3-4 team such as the San Diego Chargers, who pick 28th. Williams has also shown that he can make plays and rush the passer, so he can also succeed in a traditional 4-3.

—QB Jonathan Crompton — The NFL Combine in February will be Crompton’s chance to show the NFL scouts his clear physical tools. No one would have thought he had a shot at the NFL until he blossomed under former coach Lane Kiffin in 2009 to throw 28 touchdown passes.

—LB Nick Reveiz (knee) missed the last nine games of the season but is rehabilitating his injury and hopes to be ready by the start of preseason practice. Reveiz was starting and playing well until getting hurt Sept. 26 against Ohio.

—PK Daniel Lincoln (quad) should be ready for spring practice. He’ll be involved in a battle for the job he lost late last season following injury and ineffectiveness; he was a second team All-SEC pick as a freshman in 2007.

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VANDERBILT

INSIDE SLANT By Southeastern Conference standards, the Commodores’ recruiting class is nothing about which to write home, ranking 61st nationally and dead last in the conference — 12 spots behind Kentucky.

yet by Vanderbilt standards, the argument could be made that this is the best class coach Bobby Johnson has signed since arriving on campus in 2002.

of the 24 players, 17 are three-star signees and one — running back Rajaan Bennett — is a four-star player. none of Johnson’s prior recruiting classes have boasted more than 13 three-star players.

Bennett is only the third four-star player the Commodores have landed in Johnson’s nine years and the first since 2007. in fact, they picked up as many three-star players this year as they did in Johnson’s first five years combined.

What appears to be the best recruiting year since the Gerry DiNardo era should only aid Vandy’s depth, which took major hits early last year as a spate of starters suffered season-ending injuries which helped lead to a 2-10 season.

at the very least, it should help create interesting position battles during spring practice and throughout the preseason. One could be at running back, where SEC Freshman of the Year Warren Norman and Zac Stacy could face a challenge from Bennett.

questions which must be answered in spring drills include filling the offensive line’s left side and center, as well as three-fourths of the defensive line and half the secondary.

NOTES, QUOTES—The Commodores’ miserable 2009 season didn’t carry over to the classroom, where they led the SEC with 37 Fall Academic Honor Roll recipients. that was six more than the runner-ups, Alabama and Georgia.

—RB Warren Norman ended 2009 as a consensus Freshman All-American after breaking Herschel Walker’s 29-year old SEC record for total yardage by a freshman with 1,941. he rushed for a team-high 783 yards and rolled up 1,050 kick return yards.

—RB Rajaan Bennett, Powder Springs, Ga. — only the third four-star recruit that Vandy’s signed in nine years, Bennett has been compared to Knowshon Moreno and Ricky Williams by talent scouts. while his 40-yard dash time is a pedestrian 4.6 seconds, his other assets are such that he’ll see the field as a freshman.

—DE James Kittredge, Ramsey, N.J. — Ranked as the 13th best player in his state, Kittredge hails from the storied Don Bosco Prep program. If he can get faster and a bit stronger, he might get a shot at playing time at a spot decimated by graduation.

—QB Jordan Rodgers, Oroville, Calif. — A junior college signee, Rodgers is already on campus and will go through spring drills. If he has a good spring, he could challenge incumbent Larry Smith for the starting job.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “We had a lot of people who committed early and the staff worked really hard to keep them in the fold.” — Coach Bobby Johnson, praising his assistant coaches for keeping a 24-man recruiting class together.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: One thing in this team’s favor is it won’t have to play 12 straight weeks without an open date, which probably had a lot to do with the rash of injuries that ruined 2009. The season’s first month — Northwestern, LSU, at Ole miss, open date, at Connecticut — will test a team that could use an early win or two to build confidence.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Coach Bobby Johnson hasn’t set dates for spring practice, but when it does happen, he and his coaching staff have a handful of issues to resolve in regards to the fall.

First is trying to piece together a cohesive offensive line, a problem last year with myriad injuries. The left side of the line graduated, as did reliable C Bradley Vierling. To run the ball, as Johnson would prefer, the line has to cohere quickly.

Then comes rebuilding a defensive line that lost a pair of quality ends to graduation in Broderick Stewart and Steven Stone. overall, building depth on the defense will be critical in case this team has another bad run of injuries.

PRO POTENTIAL: The Commodores’ 2009 season might have been poor, but they have a handful of players off that team with a chance to be good “value” picks for someone on the draft’s final day.

—CB Myron Lewis — He’s earned an invitation to the NFL Combine and will show the scouts his measurables, such as recovery speed and the ability to cover top receivers. Lewis was a three-year starter and could be popped from the fourth round until the seventh.

—DE Broderick Stewart — his senior season statistics weren’t glittering, but he was coming off a bad leg injury in 2008 that took a long time from which to recover. Stewart has the kind of edge speed and technique to rush the passer. Someone takes a chance on him on the draft’s third day, or he signs quickly as a free agent.

—LT Thomas Welch — perhaps the team’s best pro prospect, Welch got a chance to play Jan. 30 at the Senior Bowl as an injury replacement. Welch has the size and mean streak to play on an NFL line, but can he stay healthy?

—QB Larry Smith (hamstring) missed the team’s final three games last year and should be ready for spring practice. Smith will have to play well or his job might be in jeopardy in preseason drills.

—RT James Williams (broken leg) missed the last 10 games after being injured in a rainstorm during a Sept. 12 game at LSU. Williams is expected to be ready for spring practice and should regain his spot in the starting lineup.

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ALABAMA

INSIDE SLANT after winning the BCS national championship in January, signing day was almost a letdown when, after back-to-back classes rated No. 1 in the nation, Alabama’s 2010 group came in rated no better than No. 3.

Disappointing? well, only when you consider that No. 3 in the country was No. 2 in the Southeastern Conference (Florida was ranked either first or second). in fact, Auburn gave the SEC three teams in the top five, and the conference had as many as seven teams in the top 20.

Nick Saban was not disappointed, however. and it wasn’t just the typical coach-speak where every coach says he’s happy with his signing class.

Saban landed seven defensive backs, which was a priority for this class with the loss of almost the entire starting secondary. and he was able to add four defensive linemen, another area of need.

“When we first came here we were really short on our numbers, and now I think our numbers are better,” Saban said. “We had to recruit more by need in this recruiting class than ever before. … Losing six defensive backs and a seventh going out for the draft made us recruit a whole bunch of defensive backs. We really only recruited 20 guys and I think seven of them were defensive backs. that only left 13 guys for all the other positions, and we recruited a kicker and a punter. We feel good about the way thing worked out for us and the guys we got.”

The best part, from a football perspective, was having 11 players enroll early to get acclimated to class and learn the system before fall.

“In spring, we run three practices in five days,” Saban said. “In August, we run three practices in two days. So you can see how much it helps to have everyone ready to go in the fall.”

Alabama has already been picked as a favorite to repeat as SEC champion, which means making the Tide a favorite to repeat as BCS champion as well.

though Saban doesn’t like to talk about repeating, he did tell Alabama fans at the national championship celebration day, “We’re only just beginning.” while he may have not meant to make it sound like a prediction of many more championships to come, you can bet Tide fans took it that way.

and with the stockpile of talent Saban keeps bringing in — three consecutive top-three classes — there is no reason to believe Alabama won’t just reload rather than rebuild.

NOTES, QUOTES—Outside the North entrance to Bryant-Denny Stadium is something the school calls the “Walk of Champions,” dominated by the statues of the four football coaches who have won national championships at Alabama: Frank Thomas, Wallace Wade, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Gene Stallings.

before the A-Day game this spring, they hope to have the fifth national championship coach in place with a statue of Nick Saban. while there has been some conversation about whether it’s appropriate to build a statue after only three seasons, the criteria has always been winning a national championship, which Saban did. So his likeness will fill the until-now vacant ring of honor that the builders left open in anticipation of another national title.

—Linebacker coach James Willis left the staff after one season to become defensive coordinator for his former boss, Tommy Tuberville, at Texas Tech. Willis was at Auburn before jumping across the state to Tuscaloosa after Tuberville resigned in 2008. Alabama promoted Jeremy Pruitt from an administrative position to replace Willis.

—Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart rejected overtures from his alma mater, Georgia, to become defensive coordinator there. in return, Alabama offered Smart a nice raise to $700,000 a year, with no buy-out if he leaves to become a head coach but a buy-out if he leaves for a lateral move in the college game.

—QB Phillip Sims, Chesapeake , Va. — Sims was rated the No. 1 quarterback nationally by SuperPrep magazine, and Tom Lemming’s No. 3-rated pro-style quarterback nationally. Sims enrolled in school in January and will go through offseason conditioning and spring drills to be ready to compete as a backup to starter Greg McElroy right away. Sims finished his career as Virginia’s leader in passing yards (10,725) and touchdown passes (119) while going 48-4 as a four-year starter, including a 39-1 record in the regular season.

—DB DeMarcus Milliner, Millbrook , Ala. — Milliner, a Parade All-American rated the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the country by Scout.com and the No. 2 corner by Rivals.com, enrolled early, which gives him a good shot at playing in an area where Alabama will need help. The Tide lost six defensive backs, and Milliner says he hopes to be a starter by fall.

—DB John Fulton, Manning, S.C. — One of the top prospects in the country at corner, Fulton played in the under Armour All-America Game and the Shrine Bowl. Enrolled early, giving the Tide another young corner with a chance to break into the lineup right away.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’re very pleased because we have a unique circumstance in this class where we have 11 players — seven new players, one junior college transfer, three holdovers from a year ago and a transfer from another school — that are all here at mid-semester who are going to be a part of our team. They’re going to be here for spring practice. They’re going to be here for the offseason program, and that’s going to enhance their development. We feel very fortunate that we have quality players here that may impact our team and have given themselves a better chance to impact our team because they’re going to be here a semester early.” — Alabama coach Nick Saban, on having 11 players from his signing class enroll in school early.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Alabama returns the bulk of its offense, including Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Mark Ingram and starting quarterback Greg McElroy, who has not lost a game as a starting quarterback since the eighth grade. The big question marks come on defense, where the entire secondary and defensive line have to be replaced. Alabama loses both kickers, including leading scorer Leigh Tiffin. But then, that’s what back-to-back-back top-five recruiting classes are there for, led by the 2008 class that included Ingram, Julio Jones, Donta Hightower, Marcel Dareus, and a lot of other very good players just waiting for their chance at stardom.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice is set to start March 12 and end with the annual “A-Day” game on April 17.

The biggest questions will be on defense, where the Tide has to replace virtually its entire defensive line (ends Lorenzo Washington, Brandon Deaderick and nose tackle Terrance Cody), as well as the secondary where Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson, Marquis Johnson, Justin Woodall, plus Chris Rogers and Ali Sharief, who all either graduated or turned pro early (Jackson).

But with a signing class loaded with defensive backs (seven in all), and two of the highest-profile (DeMarcus Milliner, rated No. 1 corner prospect in the country, and John Fulton, rated No. 4) enrolled in school to go through spring practice, the talent level could make up for the loss of experience. Alabama also gets LSU transfer Phelon Jones, who sat out last season, eligible to play, and junior college signee DeQuan Minzie.

PRO POTENTIAL: as good as Alabama has been the last two years, most of the talent comes from the signing class of 2008, which means they have one more year before they can turn pro. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a few top players — particularly on defense — that could be impact players at the next level.

—LB Rolando McClain — he won the Butkus and Jack Lambert awards, was a first-team All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. McClain took on head coach Nick Saban’s persona on the field, constantly coaching and driving his teammates to be in the right position to make the big play. he finished with 101 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

—CB Kareem Jackson — A junior who surprised a lot of people by coming out early, Jackson now is projected as a potential first-round draft choice, so it’s hard to argue with the decision.

—NG Terrance Cody — for a 375-pound monster, “Mount” Cody is surprisingly agile. If he can get his weight down, Cody could become an every down defensive lineman rather than the early down run-stopping nose guard that was his primary role at Alabama. A first-team All-American, Cody made 25 tackles, including six for loss, and three quarterback pressures.

—DB/KR Javier Arenas — Arenas improved dramatically as a cornerback but was especially effective as a blitzer coming off the corner (66 tackles, five sacks). But his real value is as a kick returner. Arenas averaged 24.1 yards per kickoff return for his career, and 14.2 yards per punt return. his seven punt returns for touchdowns were an SEC record.

—LB Donta Hightower missed most of the season with a knee injury. he should be ready to go in the spring.

—As one of 11 members of the 2010 signing class who enrolled early, quarterback Phillip Sims said he was anxious to get on campus and get started.

“Just to be here, just to be learning the offense, getting accustomed to how they do things — it’s a lot to learn,” Sims said. “Any 17-year-old will tell you you’re not going to learn it all overnight. Just to be learning more and more every day … you get a chance to compete early. You get a chance to adjust to like before football season comes around, before things get real hectic.”

Sims can’t get enough of learning the ways of the Alabama football program.

“Just about every day I’m here, watching film, learning formations, calls, terminology, stuff like that,” he said. “I want to be the best I can be on Day One.

“It’s not the best thing for you to jump out there and have all the pressure on you, but I feel I can handle it. I want to jump out there, to be going full speed, 100 miles an hour, from the first play. I want to know everything. I’m that kind of guy.”

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ARKANSAS

INSIDE SLANT It’s pretty obvious what was on coach Bobby Petrino’s mind when he went to fill out his third recruiting class at Arkansas.

Out of the 25-member class, five played up front on defense, including top prospects Calvin Barnett of Tulsa and Byran Jones of Junction City, Okla. — two late commitments who give the overall class a much-needed boost. most services have the Hogs ranked near the bottom of the SEC.

“We feel as good about this class as we have any of the three that we signed,” Petrino said in a report by the state’s Arkansas News Bureau. “We really identified what we needed, went out and worked hard at it, and we battled to the end and did a nice job.”

in addition to the help on the defensive line, where Michael Sheppard’s spot must be filled, the Hogs also have four players listed as “athletes” who can play on defense as well as offense.

that includes Jarrett Lake from Jenks, Okla., who played wide receiver and running back but also was recruited for duty at linebacker.

Lake, too, was a late surprise, as was another Oklahoman, Denton Simek, an offensive lineman from Prague.

only one signee is an early enrollee, but he’s a significant one. Quarterback Jacoby Walker from Houston, Texas, will be on campus to take part in spring drills. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who completed 62 percent of his passes in throwing for 2,383 yards and 25 touchdowns and running for 347 yards and seven touchdowns.

NOTES, QUOTES—QB Ryan Mallett wasn’t the only key junior who decided to return for his senior season. TE D.J. Williams (32 catches, 411 yards, three touchdowns) also announced in January he would be back. Williams was second team all-SEC in 2009 and a Mackey Award semifinalist in 2008.

—Chris Klenakis, Steve Caldwell and Kris Cinkovich are new assistants for the Hogs. Klenakis, who just finished his second stint with Nevada, will coach the offensive line. Caldwell, who coached the last 14 years at Tennessee, will take over defensive ends. Cinkovich, who was at UNLV the last six years, will coach wide receivers.

—OG Cam Feldt, Pilot Point, Texas — Rivals.com gives Feldt (6-foot-4, 295 pounds) four stars and rates him the No. 28 prospect at offensive tackle, though the Razorbacks have listed him as a guard. he was injured in the 2A championship game while playing defense but should be ready by the fall. he committed to the Razorbacks in 2008.

—DT Calvin Barnett, Tulsa, Okla. — Barnett was a major surprise signing for the Razorbacks, who got him despite his long-time commitment to Oklahoma State. Scout.com and Rivals.com rank him the 13th best prospect nationally at his position. he had four sacks last fall despite being double- and triple-teamed every game.

—DT Byran Jones, Junction City, Ark. — Jones (6-foot-2, 310 pounds) is the early candidate to have his first name misspelled (it’s not Bryan) during his career. He’s a four-star prospect who led his team to consecutive Class 2A state titles, earning MVP in the title game both years.

—ATH Jarrett Lake, Jenks, Okla. — Lake played wide receiver and running back in high school and also was recruited as a linebacker. he stands 6-3 and weights 220. he was an Oklahoma commitment before switching to Arkansas.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I like the cards we got and we’ll be glad to play them.” — Recruiting coordinator Tim Horton, in a report by the Arkansas News Bureau, on the Razorbacks’ recruiting class.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: QB Ryan Mallett will have his favorite receivers to throw to in WRs Greg Childs, Jarius Wright and Joe Adams and TE D.J. Williams, meaning Arkansas should be one of the top offensive teams in the SEC. The loss of two starters up front (DT Malcolm Sheppard and DE Adrian Davis) and LB Wendel Davis leaves holes to be filled on defense.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: The opening date for spring practice has not been set, but the spring game will be at 6 p.m. April 14.

The Hogs likely will want to sort things out in their running game, where there will be considerable competition at running back, and develop depth as well as find four new starters on defense.

PRO POTENTIAL: The decision by Mallett and Williams to return next season means that S Jerrell Norton will be the only underclassman the Razorbacks will lose. Norton apparently went back and forth on his decision but a school spokesman confirmed that Norton will keep his name in the NFL draft.

—OG Mitch Petrus — an anchor up front for the Hogs, Petrus is a potential second-round pick. He’s a former walk-on who began his career as a tight end but has made a smooth transition to the interior.

—DT Malcolm Sheppard — Sheppard had 11 tackles for loss among his 33 stops in 2009. He’s projected as a second-day draft pick.

—RB Michael Smith — Smith was the leading rusher for the Razorbacks when his season was cut short by a hamstring injury. he finished with 396 yards rushing in eight games and had 16 receptions for 163 yards.

—FB Van Stumon and QB Ryan Mallett had shoulder surgeries but coach Bobby Petrino said both will take part in spring practice but be held out of contact.

—OT DeMarcus Love and OG Grant Cook also had minor knee surgeries to clean up some cartilage work, Petrino said.

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AUBURN

INSIDE SLANT when Gene Chizik wrapped up his first patchwork signing class with Auburn just weeks after he was named head coach, he gathered his newly hired assistant coaches around a table to discuss innovative ways of putting Auburn back on the map.

The returns Auburn got from a full year’s work likely means those meetings are now going to be a staple of how Chizik and his staff coordinate and reel in some of the nation’s top talent.

Auburn went from seeking diamonds in the rough to going after bona fide stars in just one year, as Chizik’s class of 32 signees ranked out as a consensus top-five recruiting class on Wednesday’s National Signing Day. The Tigers addressed the bulk of their needs, especially on the offensive line and at linebacker, where they brought in a combined 10 players, most of whom check in with at least four stars.

“We literally sit around as a staff and we talk about being creative and the ways we can create things that are attractive to potential student-athletes,” Chizik said. “We want to continue to be creative on the recruiting trail but we know at the end of the day it’s really going to be about rolling up your sleeves and really working hard at it.”

Auburn unveiled innovative ways of drawing national attention early during the recruiting process. First was “Tiger Prowl,” when Auburn’s coaches arrived at high schools throughout Alabama in stretch limousines to watch potential recruits practice. Then, in June, Auburn hosted more than 20 of the nation’s top prospects for “Big Cat Weekend,” which included pie-eating contests, a home run derby and a controversial gathering of recruits and fans at Toomer’s Corner.

The Tigers were later found guilty of six secondary recruiting violations because of that weekend’s goings-on, but it apparently paid off in the end. Nine visitors from that weekend eventually signed with the upstart Tigers, somewhat validating the renegade approach.

“We’ll sit down when this is all over and go back and revisit this whole recruiting year and we’ll try and troubleshoot what we can do better and what we didn’t do good enough,” Chizik said. “We’re on a constant evaluation of where we’re at and why we’re there. We’ve got to figure out a way for next year’s class to be better than this year’s class.”

NOTES, QUOTES—There was plenty of turnover in the SEC this season, but there was none to be found in Auburn. Gene Chizik was the only coach in the conference not to lose a single member of his staff.

Six of Chizik’s nine assistants are signed to two-year deals, which likely means 2011 will be a bit more tumultuous.

—Auburn is without four players from last season’s roster, but four others have found themselves in good graces once again. DE Cameron Henderson is no longer with the team, while LB Adam Herring, LB Spencer Pybus and OL Vance Smith have had their careers end because of injuries.

meanwhile, QB Tyrik Rollison, RB Eric Smith, HB John Douglas and HB Jason King, all of whom were suspended for the Outback Bowl, are back in Chizik’s good graces and should be around for spring practice.

—QB Cameron Newton, Blinn Community College (Texas) — The top junior college prospect according to most scouting services hasn’t been on campus for more than a month, but is already the man to beat for Auburn’s open starting quarterback battle. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Newton was highly recruited out of Westlake High School in Atlanta, Ga., before signing with Florida in 2007. he served as Tim Tebow’s backup for two seasons before he was kicked off the team after he was arrested and charged with stealing another student’s laptop. Newton transferred to Blinn, where he led the team to the junior college national championship in 2009. he threw for 2,833 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 655 yards and 16 more scores.

—RB Michael Dyer, Little Rock, Ark. — Dyer is another five-star player Auburn sees as able to contribute immediately. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Dyer broke almost every state record in Arkansas, where Auburn was able to easily pluck him away from the in-state Razorbacks. Dyer committed to Auburn early and then served as an ambassador of the program, making frequent visits on his own dime to try to corral even more top-tier talent.

—OL Shon Coleman, Olive Branch, miss. — Extremely quick and athletic — for his size — Coleman isn’t expected to make an impact immediately on Auburn’s experienced offensive line but could very well be the cornerstone for years to come. he was a three-star player when Auburn got him to commit in April, but a monster senior season made him one of the most highly sought-after linemen in the country. Auburn withstood late pushes by Arkansas, Alabama and Miami to maintain Coleman’s signature. currently at 275 pounds, Coleman will spend the offseason getting bigger and stronger.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “We know that as we sat out a year ago, we really needed to use this class, which we had a full year to recruit, to build a foundation of what we’re trying to do here at Auburn. that foundation, this first building block, was exactly what we had envisioned.” — Gene Chizik on his first full recruiting class.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: The Tigers lose six starters from last year’s team, including their quarterback and workhorse running back, but they will have much-improved depth with the addition of 32 scholarship players. Auburn dressed just 75 scholarship players in 2009 and often used an abnormal number of walk-ons for special teams. The offensive line, which features four seniors who each have at least two years of starting experience, should be this team’s major strength. Finding a quarterback and figuring out the divvying up of carries for their numerous tailbacks are top priorities for offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. The defensive line should be deep, as it was last year, and Auburn’s linebacker corps will benefit most from the added depth, one year after it played with just three scholarship players through a good chunk of the season.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Auburn has yet to announce the specifics of its spring practice schedule, but the Tigers likely will get started in late March and will wrap things up April 17 at their annual A-Day game.

Just like last year, all the focus will be on finding a new quarterback. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has six candidates to choose from, but it will be a major upset if junior college transfer Cameron Newton doesn’t carry the job into two-a-days.

Auburn will also have an interesting position battle at right tackle, as it tries to replace Andrew McCain. The Tigers were proactive there, bringing in two junior college transfers (Roszell Gayden and Brandon Mosley) to add some much-needed competition. The real battle at running back will start when Michael Dyer arrives on campus in the fall, but players such as Mario Fannin and Dontae Aycock will be able to make a strong first impression during the spring as well.

PRO POTENTIAL: RB Ben Tate and DE Antonio Coleman will both get to showcase their talents at the NFL Combine in February and they very well may be the only two players Auburn has drafted in April. there are others, however, that may catch on as free agent acquisitions.

—RB Ben Tate — He’s projected as a third- or fourth-round pick after a banner senior season, where he cracked 1,362 yards and 10 touchdowns. his mix of a big body and quick feet makes him pro-ready and a lock to get drafted.

—DE Antonio Coleman — he led the SEC in both sacks and tackles for loss to wrap up his Auburn career, but Coleman’s professional future is still questionable. he was plenty big enough to play his position in college, but scouts seem to be mixed on where he’ll play in the NFL. A switch to outside linebacker might be in the cards, which would likely require Coleman to drop some pounds and gain some speed. either way, he’ll likely be a second-day pick.

—CB Walt McFadden — his two-interception performance in the Outback Bowl was certainly a good start, but the outspoken senior will likely have to prove more during workouts to get drafted.

—CB Aairon Savage has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Savage was set to be a starting cornerback in 2008 when he went down with a torn ACL before the season. while working out during the summer before 2009, Savage tore his Achilles’ tendon, which initially prompted him to give up football. He’s back, though, and he’ll give it one more shot.

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LSU

INSIDE SLANT A couple of signing day surprises, headed by defensive end J.R. Ferguson out of Fredrick, Md., put the 2010 signing class for LSU firmly in the top 10 of most ranking services.

“I think it’s a very good day for our football team,” coach Les Miles said after securing the fourth consensus top-10 class in his six years with the Tigers. “I think we improved our team. this is a very talented class.

“I think the last day certainly benefitted us. We didn’t get everybody that we wanted, but we got those guys that we had to have and ones that will really come in and have an effect on this team.”

in addition to Ferguson, who had not announced a commitment but was seen as a longshot for the Tigers, LSU lured another defensive end, J.C. Copeland, from Tennessee, along with wide receivers Jarrett Fobbs from Texas A&M and Kadron Boone from Texas Tech in the final days.

Fobbs, from Shreveport, La., and Boone, from Ocala, Fla., were among four wide receivers in the 27-player class. The others were Armand Williams from Slidell, La., and James Wright from Belle Chasse, La.

“I feel like these four guys were exactly what we needed at that position,” Miles said. “I like those guys because they are good students.

“On the field, they are physical players with good speed and great ball skills, so I think the ability to put young guys on that field that will compete in those multiple wide receiver sets is back.”

overall, the class has 14 offensive players, 11 defensive, one special team player (punter Brad Wing from Baton Rouge) and one player listed as “athlete” (Sam Gibson of Prattville, Ala.).

two players, Kendrick Adams, and Evan Washington of DeSoto, Texas, are already enrolled and will go through spring practice. Adams is a defensive end and junior college transfer. Washington, an offensive lineman, is rated a four-star prospect (Rivals.com) even though he played only two years of high school football.

NOTES, QUOTES—LSU got good news when LB Kelvin Sheppard announced he was returning for his senior season. he led the Tigers with 110 tackles, fourth-best in the SEC, in 2009. WR Terrance Toliver and OT Joseph Barksdale also are returning.

—Coach Les Miles put to rest Internet rumors that offensive coordinator Gary Crowton was on his way out. Crowton will return in 2010, according to reports in the new Orleans Times-Picayune and other newspapers, even though the Tigers finished last in the SEC and 112th in the country in total offense at 304.5 yards per game.

—DE J.R. Ferguson, Frederick, Md. — Ferguson is rated one of the top defensive line prospects in the nation and is the No. 6 (Rivals.com) and No. 7 (Scout.com) prospect at his position. he had 67 tackles and 12 sacks last season for Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.

—RB Spencer Ware, Cincinnati — Scout.com gives Ware four stars as a running back but Rivals.com rates him its 19th best prospect as an “athlete” who can play on both sides of the ball. Listed at 5-11, 223, Ware could end up at fullback and play right away for the Tigers.

—WR Armand Williams, Slidell, La. — With wide receiver a position of need, Williams’ late switch from a commitment to Arkansas to sign with LSU was a welcome move for the Tigers, who lost another wide receiver commitment. Williams has the height (6-foot-3) the coaches love. Rivals.com rates him a three-star prospect.

—RB Jakhari Gore, Miami, Fla. — at 5-foot-9 and 178 pounds, Gore fits in the group of smaller running backs that seems to be growing in popularity. he has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Rivals.com rated him the No. 6 all-purpose back in the country. He’s the cousin of former University of Miami and current San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore.

—S Eric Reid, Geismer, La. — Reid told the Tigers nearly a year ago he was coming to LSU. He’s considered the top defensive back prospect in the state.

—DE Ken Adams, Enterprise, Ala. — A junior college prospect who originally signed with Auburn, Adams is expected to add to the Tigers’ pass rush. he had 10 sacks playing for Copiah-Lincoln College in Mississippi last year. he is already enrolled and will take part in spring practice.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “Offensively, I think anytime you look at a class you look at the quarterback first, and I think we have probably signed the best passer since Matt Flynn. He’s a pitcher that throws 90 miles per hour. He’s got a lot of moxie, and I think Zach Lee is going to be a great quarterback in the future.” — Coach Les Miles, comparing QB Zach Lee from McKinney, Texas to Flynn, the former Tiger who threw for 2,407 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior in the 2007 national championship season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: QB Jordan Jefferson returns after a solid but not spectacular season as a sophomore in 2008. he won’t have Brandon LaFell as a target, however, and the Tigers also will be looking for a new left tackle, a spot filled by Ciron Black the last four years.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Spring practice will begin Feb. 25. The spring game is March 27.

The Tigers will be looking to bolster their running back position and filling some key holes on defense. Defining QB Russell Shepard’s role also has to be high on the list of priorities. Shepard played mostly as a running back as a freshman in 2009, taking some direct snaps in a “Wildcat” formation, but he is a weapon the Tigers need to take more advantage of.

PRO POTENTIAL: LSU could have two players go in the first round and could have three or four in the first two rounds. only one junior put his name in the pot.

—WR Brandon LaFell — LaFell not only is a good receiver but he doesn’t shy away from blocking downfield. he looks to be the first LSU player to go in the draft.

—LT Ciron Black — Black is a four-year starter and one of the more durable offensive linemen available. If LaFell isn’t the first Tiger picked in the draft, Black will be.

—S Chad Jones — Jones is coming out early after having a solid junior year with three interceptions. he also figures in as a punt returner with a long of 93 yards for a touchdown.

—RB Charles Scott — Injuries slowed him in 2009 but he is a capable inside runner who also has a burst to break off a big play. he failed a physical before the Senior Bowl, indicating a lingering problem with his broken collarbone that could hurt him in the draft.

—DT Charles Alexander — Injuries probably kept Alexander from reaching his full potential, but he’s a solid defender who could go in the late rounds.

—LB Harry Coleman — Coleman moved from safety for his senior year to take advantage of his capabilities on run defense. He’s another possible late-round selection.

—DE Akiem Hicks, whose recruitment was the subject of an NCAA investigation, has left the Tigers. Hicks signed a year ago out of Sacramento City Community College in California.

Assistant coach D.J. McCarthy, who has since left LSU, recruited Hicks and is at the center of the investigation, the new Orleans Times-Picayune reported.

—Two prospects who did not sign likely will still end up at LSU, the Morning Advocate of Baton Rouge reported. DE Houston Bates (Covington, La.) hasn’t been assured of a scholarship until the second semester and will spend his first season as walk-on rather than waiting to enroll as a “grayshirt.” his father said Bates doesn’t want to wait to start college because he plans to go to medical school. The other player, DT Dexter Blackmon Jr. (Selma, Ala.) has academic issues to clear up.

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MISSISSIPPI

INSIDE SLANT Recruiting has long been the storyline at Ole miss — well, at least for the past decade. David Cutcliffe was fired after the 2004 season; some fans thought he didn’t recruit well toward the end. So Ole miss brought in Ed Orgeron specifically to address that. he recruited well but couldn’t get his recruits to win.

Enter Houston Nutt. he has led teams to wins in new Year’s Day bowls in both of his seasons as the Rebels’ head coach. But the whispers, especially from opposing fans, were that he was only doing it with Orgeron’s recruits.

now that this season saw plenty of the Orgeron-recruited playmakers depart, Nutt needed to come through with a critical recruiting class. and boy, did he ever.

The Rebels finished strong and signed a class that ranked in the top 20 of both major national team rankings. it was broad, too, getting just enough in-state talent but complementing it with prospects from Miami to Georgia to Arkansas.

The biggest coup, Nutt said, was on the defensive line. that was an especially critical group to replace, as that area was one of Orgeron’s specialties and produced quite a few good athletes for the Rebels in recent seasons.

as spring practice starts in Oxford, incoming freshmen defensive linemen Wayne Dorsey, Carlton Martin and Carlos Thompson will be in the back of coaches’ minds to be able to play in 2010.

“I feel like we have one of the finest defensive line groups that I can remember signing,” Nutt said. “If you just look at their height, weight, character, speed, the playmaking ability of each one of these guys, man, we’re excited to have them.”

Ole miss signed a top junior college quarterback, too, in Randall Mackey and Nutt was pleased with his staff’s effort in the defensive backfield.

NOTES, QUOTES—Ole miss had to replace its offensive coordinator in the days that led up to National Signing Day, which isn’t an enviable position. Coach Houston Nutt hired Dave Rader to replace Kent Austin, who took the head coaching position at Cornell. Rader, the former Tulsa head coach, had been out of coaching since a stint in the mid-2000s as the Alabama offensive coordinator under Mike Shula. Nutt also named Mike Markuson the co-offensive coordinator.

—The Rebels’ Cotton Bowl victory marked their second straight win in the new Year’s Day bowl. But 24 seniors graduated, putting an impetus on this year’s class. Nutt said the same thing last year and repeated it after this year’s haul. “This is a critical year because we lost 24 seniors. We had to have a good class this year. We had to have these guys in our program to start training them. this is a critical year, and I think we accomplished that,” he said.

—DE Wayne Dorsey, Baltimore, Md., via Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College — Dorsey played just six games at defensive end at MGCCC, but made his mark with 30 tackles and five sacks. most important is his size. at 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, Scout.com ranked him the No. 1 juco recruit in the nation. as a freshman, Dorsey had 10 sacks. he enrolled in school at Ole miss in January.

—QB Randall Mackey, Bastrop, La., via East Mississippi Community College — A junior college all-American, Mackey led the country with 3,122 passing yards and a 69.5 completion percentage as a sophomore at East Mississippi. Nutt, though, didn’t want to get too caught up. he said he’s taking it “one step at a time” and that Mackey needs to make sure he graduates first.

—DE Carlos Thompson, Hollandale, miss. — A battle between Ole miss and Mississippi State went late into the recruiting season but eventually worked out in favor of the Rebels. Thompson was one of the most sought-after prospects out of the state of Mississippi, which says something considering that he played at a small school. at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Thompson was a U.S. Army and SuperPrep all-American. he had 71 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior and a whopping 115 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I thought we did our best recruiting in the state of Mississippi since we’ve been here.” — Ole miss coach Houston Nutt of his in-state recruiting efforts. Nutt signed his third class at Ole miss in 2010.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Ole miss loses 24 seniors, including playmaker Dexter McCluster and quarterback Jevan Snead, from the team that won back-to-back Cotton Bowls. So there is work to be done with this Rebel team and for coach Houston Nutt in his third year. The Rebels will also need some starters to step up on the defensive line in addition to the skilled spots. as for the nonconference schedule, Ole miss might have trouble at home against Fresno State. Within the SEC, the Rebels have to go to Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins March 27 and the Grove Bowl game is set for April 17.

Ole miss is faced with having to determine who will become its offensive weapons in the post-McCluster, post-Snead, post-Shay Hodge era. Those three issues will be the key talking points during spring practice.

PRO POTENTIAL: Ed Orgeron’s recruiting efforts paid off for Ole miss on the field and are showing in the NFL draft. The Rebels had two first-round picks last year. they might not be able to duplicate that this year, but will have some representation in the draft.

—QB Jevan Snead — he opted to leave early, which was panned in some corners. Snead developed some problems toward the end of 2009, throwing just as many interceptions as touchdowns.

—RB/WR Dexter McCluster — he turned heads at the Senior Bowl with good practices, according to reports. some wondered how his speedy, shifty game would fare at the next level, especially given that he’s 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds.

—S Kendrick Lewis — The 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety projects to be drafted by the NFL. he participated in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge to help showcase his skills. at Ole miss, he led the team in tackles in back-to-back years.

—LB Patrick Trahan — another good prospect who came out of junior college and took over the starting role on the weak side as a senior.

—WR Shay Hodge — at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds, Hodge emerged as a go-to receiver the likes Ole miss hadn’t seen since Chris Collins was catching passes from Eli Manning back in 2003.

—DE Greg Hardy — he participated in the East-West Shrine Game and is the prototypical defensive end at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds. his senior season was cut short with various injuries, though, meaning his senior year stats won’t look that impressive.

—OL John Jerry — his brother, Peria, was a first-round draft pick last year at defensive end. He’s got the right stuff, too — he’s a 6-foot-6, 335-pound guard. various reports said he turned heads in the Senior Bowl.

—Chase Hughes came out of Springville (Ala.) High School and enrolled early, giving him a head start. “Also, he is coming off of minor shoulder surgery and rehab,” coach Houston Nutt said. “We have the best doctors and he is in the right place. Not only physically with him and the rehab, but mentally with the playbook getting out there and getting reps in spring practice. he is second team by the fall, so he is going to get plenty of reps.”

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MISSISSIPPI STATE

INSIDE SLANT when Dan Mullen was hired to be Mississippi State’s head coach on Dec. 10, 2008, he spoke early and often about recruiting the state of Mississippi. in his mind, a Mississippi State recruiting class that dominates within his state’s borders can equal a championship program.

is that true? Hard to say, and we won’t know for some time. But it’s clear that Mullen is set in making Mississippi his prime focus.

when Mullen announced his 2010 signing class — his second class and first full one as the State head coach — on Wednesday, he claimed 16 players who played high school football in Mississippi and three more who came through the state’s fertile junior college system. That’s 19 Magnolia State ties out of 26 prospects.

Even more, he got more players from the state’s top echelon. The statewide newspaper, The Clarion-Ledger, rates a Dandy Dozen group before the season and a Ten most Wanted group afterward. in two seasons, Mullen has signed 12 of the 24 Dandy Dozen players and nine of the 20 Ten most Wanted.

Mullen filled position needs within the state, too. he needed offensive linemen; Olive Branch four-star stud Damien Robinson’s decision for State on Wednesday filled that hole nicely. State also got good athletes in Matthew Wells and Michael Carr and a top-shelf defensive end in Kaleb Eulls.

it wasn’t a dominating performance in-state, as he did miss out on a pair of top prospects, Carlos Thompson and Vincent Sanders, who signed with Ole miss. But it was the class with the most top in-state prospects.

now, Mullen and his staff have to see if it’s enough with which to win in the ultra-tough Southeastern Conference. Rivals.com and Scout.com rank his class 38th in the nation and ninth in the SEC.

NOTES, QUOTES—State filled its two coaching staff departures in mid-January. Manny Diaz was hired from Middle Tennessee State to be the defensive coordinator, replacing Carl Torbush, who went to Kansas. Chris Wilson was hired from Oklahoma to be co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. Wilson replaced David Turner, who left for Kentucky.

—State has gotten quite the mileage out of its Egg Bowl win. The Bulldogs’ 41-27 win over arch-rival Ole miss in late November meant the Golden Egg trophy would reside in Starkville. Since then, State has paraded the trophy to fans, offering photo opportunities. and when Mullen boasted about his signing class in a press conference on signing day, the Egg was to his right.

—QB Dylan Favre, Bay St. Louis, miss. — First things first: Yes, he is related to Brett Favre. he is the NFL great’s nephew. The knock is his size, at 5-foot-11. But few people can dispute his skill: at St. Stanislaus, he threw for 5,589 yards and 63 touchdowns as a senior. he rushed for 1,265 yards and 18 touchdowns, too, leading his team to a 14-1 record and a state title. he was named mr. Football and was the Gatorade player of the year in Mississippi.

—DE Kaleb Eulls, Yazoo City, miss. — A big signee for Mullen at defensive end. he was a four-star prospect by both Scout.com and Rivals.com and was the state’s defensive player of the year. he had 82 tackles, 16 of which were for loss and seven were sacks. (He was the quarterback and punter, too.) Eulls gained national attention off the field this past year when he tackled a fellow student wielding a gun on a school bus. Eulls was lauded as a hero and did many national television interviews on shows such as NBC’s Today.

—ATH Michael Carr, West Point, miss. — many who saw his performance in the state title game walked away amazed. he scored on a 64-yard reception and returned a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown. One recruiting service rated Carr (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think we hit home runs, basically, wherever we wanted to go.” — Coach Dan Mullen on his position-by-position breakdown of his signing class.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL 2010 LOOK AHEAD: Here’s one way to look at State’s 2010 fortunes: Rank its 2009 players, 1 through 105, in terms of talent and value to the team. Yes, State loses Nos. 1 and 2, running back Anthony Dixon and linebacker Jamar Chaney. But by any measure, it returns Nos. 3 through, well, as far as maybe into the teens. The Bulldogs will need to find a reliable quarterback, but they have a better schedule, one that’s more conducive to transforming a 5-7 team last year into a bowl team in 2010.

SPRING SNAPSHOT: Practice begins the week of March 22. The maroon-white game is April 24.

Quarterback will be the main question mark for State in the offseason. Chris Relf returns, but he was mainly a change-of-pace guy last year. Tyson Lee is gone. Tyler Russell, the 2008 mr. Football in Mississippi, is now ready to compete after a redshirt year. all signs point to him being given the reins. But perhaps Dylan Favre can come in and impress early?

State also needs to find the answer of who will replace Anthony Dixon at running back.

Mississippi State’s potential class of pros isn’t exactly deep this year, but there are at least a couple of players heading to the NFL Combine. One, Anthony Dixon, is being talked about as one of the top running backs in the draft.

—RB Anthony Dixon — an amazing senior year only bolstered his stock, and teams needing a bulky running back (he’s 245 pounds) are noticing him. some analysts are mentioning Dixon in the conversation as one of the top backs in the draft.

—LB Jamar Chaney — The 241-pound linebacker who had a reputation as a weight room beast in Starkville impressed some of the scouts at the Senior Bowl by being named the defensive MVP of the game. he earned his NFL Combine invitation that week, too.

—State hasn’t had any confirmed attrition through the winter, which speaks for the team and program under Dan Mullen. It’s not uncommon for players to transfer out after the first year under a new coach. of course, spring practice may change some minds.

—Three signees enrolled at State in January — running back Vick Ballard, offensive lineman Blaine Clausell and defensive tackle James Carmon. Ballard and Carmon were junior college transfers.

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