2004 SEC Football

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Top Returning Players

Quarterbacks
David Greene - Georgia
Chris Leak - Florida
Matt Jones - Arkansas

Running Backs
Carnell Williams - Auburn
Justin Vincent - LSU
Cedric Houston - Tennessee
Demetris Summers - S. Carolina

Wide Receiver
Reggie Brown - Georgia
Fred Gibson - Georgia
Erik Davis - Vanderbilt
Skyler Green - LSU
Troy Williamson - S. Carolina

Defensive Line
David Pollack - Georgia
Gerald Anderson - Georgia
Marcus Spears - LSU
Kyle Williams - LSU

Linebackers
Odell Thurman - Georgia
Kevin Siman - Tennessee
DeMeco Ryans - Alabama
Channing Crowder - Florida
Kevin Burnett - Tennessee

Secondary
Corey Webster - LSU
Carlos Rogers - Georgia
LaRon Landry - LSU
Thomas Davis - Georgia

Team Outlooks

East

Georgia Bulldogs

This bulldog team looks like the team to beat, not only in the SEC, but in the nation as they return nearly everyone on the offensive side of the ball. David Greene will be in the running by season''''s end for the Heisman Trophy, especially if he can extend his 12-1 road record into this season. Of course when he has receivers Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown to throw to it makes his job all the more easy. On the defensive side it starts with All-American David Pollack. This defensive line will be stellar, the battle in the trenches will rarely be lost with this group. Thomas Davis, a converted linebacker, leads the secondary and has enough talent to be playing on Sunday. There are some questions at linebacker and running back, but overall this is the conference''''s most talented team and will do the most damage. Look for them to get revenge over LSU in the SEC Championship game.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 1st

Florida Gators

There are a lot of good players on this team and it will be up to the coaches to showcase that talent. Chris Leak was good last year and should improve enough this season to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the country. Ciatrick Fason is a good runner who can break big gains and catch the ball out of the backfield. You will see a lot of 4 receiver sets with this group because the position of WR is deep. OJ Small, Andre Caldwell, Dallas Baker, and Chad Jackson need to perform up to their potential this year in order for the Gators to have a chance to make this a special season. The offense is going to have to win shoot-outs until this defense can gel. The entire secondary is gone, and the replacements are questionable. The front seven are going to have to get a consistent pass rush or the backs might be eaten alive. I really like this linebacker crew led by Channing Crowder. I just can''''t see this group getting past the Bulldogs though.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 2nd

Tennessee Volunteers

CJ Leak and Rick Clausen (brothers to Chris Leak and Casey Clausen) will do battle for the starting quarterback job, but both have their downfalls. Cedric Houston will be asked to carry the load of the offense, but he hasn't produced in big games when the Vols have really needed him. Their isn't a lot at WR, but the position won't be widely used with the doubt lingering around the QB position. The defensive line will be inexperienced and not all that good, with the linebacking corps anchoring the defense. Kevin Simon is quick and has great instincts, while the rest of the unit is strong, quick, and there is a lot of depth here. The secondary is untested with 3 out of 4 starts from last year''''s squad gone, but there is enough talent to make this a tough team to pass against. The Vols get a lot of their tough games at home, but this team isn''''t good enough to do a lot of damage.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 3rd

South Carolina Gamecocks

This offense will rest on the legs of Demetris Summers who has great vision and the ability to hit the holes his line creates. The quarterback situation is up in the air so I expect this offense to be ground-based. The depth of the offensive line isn''''t there, so watch for injuries because if they get roughed up, so will the Gamecocks. The defense will attack opposing offense with their front seven, and they will need to apply pressure to protect a secondary that isn''''t that deep and will be breaking in 2 new corners. This team should be decent his year and may be able to score an upset over Tennessee to climb into 3rd place in this division.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 4th

Vanderbilt Commodores

Jay Cutler leads this offense that returns 9 starters. Norval McKenzie and Kwane Doster have taken turns leading the team in rushing and both will do battle this year. The defense also returns 9 starters, but depth is a real concern. If this team can avoid injuries, they shouldn't have any problems pushing Kentucky into being the worst team in the East. If injuries hit the defense, this season will be even longer than it should be.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 5th

Kentucky Wildcats

The days of big Jared Lorenzen are gone, enter Shane Boyd. He has a big league arm and is a threat on draw plays and scrambles. The running game is dismal and the WR core is depleted after the departure of Derek Abney. Three of the top 4 lineman from last year are gone, so this offense won't light up many scoreboards. The front seven should be decent with Vincent Burns and Lamar Mills. The 3-4 is set up nicely with a decent linebacking unit. The secondary is wide open and could be exploited if they can't get pressure on the opposing quarterbacks. Don't expect a winning season in Lexington.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 6th

West

LSU Tigers

The Tigers have some doubts at quarterback, where Marcus Randall is expected to win the job over JaMarcus Russell. Either QB will get the help they need from the power running game as Justin Vincent is an elite back. This group of receiver's will also get the new QB acquainted early, with Skyler Green being helped by 2 new freshmen, Xavier Carter and Early Doucet. Their o-line is a strength that will ensure their ground attack eats up yards. The team's defense is their strength but the line needs to make sure they step up. Marcus Spears is a force that will draw attention. If the line ties up the blockers, look for this linebacking crew to cause havoc. The secondary is set with safety LaRon Landry and corner Corey Webster. The Quarterback situation and the defensive line questions might lead some to believe this team can't make a viable run to defend their title. I agree only because they have 3 tough road games, at Auburn, at Georgia, and at Florida.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 1st

Auburn Tigers

This team could be a sleeper this season after coming into last year as everyone's favorite. Jason Campbell is a capable fifth-year senior who will have plenty of help with Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown running for him. Their wide outs are above average with a couple of guys with the talent to have break out years. The defense was ranked in the top 10 nationally last year, but has some holes to fill. Plenty of young guys on the front seven who will have a chance to step up and contribute right away. The secondary looks tough with Carols Rogers, Junior Rosegreen, and Will Herring. This team always plays better in the role of the underdog and with a lot of media attention being thrown LSU's way, look for the Tigers to maybe sneak up on Sept. 18th and sneak out a win over Saban's crew.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 2nd

Alabama Rolling Tide

The Tide were not a very balanced team last year because they have to play from behind way too often. That led to Brodie Croyle, who was hurt with a separated shoulder much of last season, to post below-average numbers. I expect a break out season from him. Their receiving core is inexperience and the loss of Shaud Williams at RB will hurt. Ray Hudson needs to step up and fill that hole in order for Bama to be respectable. The defense will be improved over last year, as the young players mature and get more aggressive in their schemes. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans can do it all, and Anthony Bryant is a solid run-stuffing tackle. This team will be able to post a winning record this season as they enter their second year of the Mike Shula era.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 3rd

Mississippi Rebels

This team lost it's anchor in Eli Manning, but replacement Michael Spurlock is a 4th year man who knows the system well. Vashon Pearson who is a strong power runner who should fit in well behind an experience line. The receivers are good as a whole with Flowers, Espy, and Johnson. There defensive line will be bigger and stronger this year, but without the experience of last year. New starting linebackers Bournes and Robertson have seen plenty of time on the field. The secondary is a little suspect, but Free Safety Eric Oliver is a great tackler. This team has good players on both sides of the ball and even though they won't be as good as last year's 10 win team, I see them having some success this year.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 4th

Arkansas Razorbacks

Quarterback Matt Jones is the only returning starter from last year's team, and he might even switch over to wide receiver this season in order to gain experience for his most-likely position in the NFL. There are no other standouts on this side of the ball, but some youngsters with talent should show flashes of brilliance, one of them freshman QB Robert Johnson. The defense will have to take a more conservative approach as they try to groom a new crop of sophomores and juniors who will be making their first starts. The Razorbacks are an inexperienced bunch this season who must play a very difficult schedule with a home game against Texas. They will be heavy underdogs for their conference road trips to Florida, Auburn, South Carolina.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 5th

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Sylvester Croom may be the first black SEC coach, but he didn't take over a powerhouse program. Quarterback Omarr Conner was at receiver last year and Jerious Norwood is too slow at RB to scare very many defenses. The defense will be solid against the run with a big front line, but their secondary is susceptible to the big play and will be tested early and often. It will take time for Croom to turn this team into a bowl contender, look for a 3-8 record this year and last place finish in the SEC.

Predicted 2004 Finish - 6th