Arkansas Sports 360.com - July 2008 - (Page 40) ConferenCe Southeastern Sec (continued from Page 20) enduring some trying times that followed, has his program in fine order. MSU fans should be happy with 7-8 wins. That leaves us with Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama and LSU, all seemingly with a lot of skill in their lines to complement speed and coaching. Depending on the day, each could beat the other. Ole Miss let three games (Bama, Florida and MSU) get away with mistakes that won’t be repeated under new coach Houston Nutt, who inherits a prep all-American signal caller in Jevan Snead, a Texas transfer. The running backs will be new, but the receivers — Shay Hodge, Mike Wallace, Marshay Green — gained experience even if it was futilely trying to catch overthrown balls last year. Michael Oher decided to forego a certain NFL selection to return to the offensive line. Defensively, Nutt hasn’t had this much talent around him since he arrived at Arkansas in 1998: ends Greg Hardy and Marcus Tillman, tackle Peria Jerry and a solid linebacking corps will make the Rebels hard to run against. The secondary, though, wasn’t fast last year and didn’t cover especially well. Auburn returns eight starters on offense (though not the shaky-at-times quarterback Brandon Cox) and seven on defense, including five of the front seven. Sen’Derrick Marks and Antonio Coleman are terrific ends, and Tray Blackmon anchors the linebacking corps. The two best players on offense may be two from Arkansas – Rogers product Lee Ziemba at tackle and Fort Smith native Kodi Burns, who is in a battle for the quarterback spot. Burns, strong-armed and a good scrambler, was impressive in leading the Tigers past Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in relief of Cox. Brad Lester returns at tailback. Saban wasn’t instant magic in Tuscaloosa, even after the 41-38 win over Arkansas early: The Tide went 7-6, needing an Independence Bowl win to top .500. But Saban’s first two recruiting classes have been all-world according to some who follow the talent-procurement business, and Bama is going to start Grace riley enthusiasm in oxford: new ole Miss coach Houston nutt has inherited better defensive players than he left in Fayetteville. looking almost like the Bama of old soon enough. John Parker Wilson returns for his senior year at quarterback. He throws well, doesn’t really run well, and depends on ample protection provided by tackle Andre Smith and the men up front (also Marlon Davis and Mike Johnson at guards and Antoine Caldwell at right tackle). The biggest missing piece is fast receiver D.J. Hall, but Mike McCoy is back and Alabama gets some speed eligible as well. Terry Grant returns at running back. Saban’s strength is his defensive mind, but he’ll only have five players back from 2007, led by linebacker Rolando McClain. LSU’s heroic seniors of a year ago (Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester, Early Doucet, Glenn Dorsey, Craig Steltz, Ali Highsmith, et al) will be missed in 2008. But it’s not like Les Miles hasn’t recruited behind the players Saban left him when the former coach left for his brief NFL stint after 2004. He’ll have to find a quarterback out of a small collection that hasn’t played. Whoever assumes the quarterback role will have speedy Keiland Williams and Trindon Holliday to hand off to, and Brandon LeFell and Demetrius Byrd are back at receiver. The defense has just five starters back, led by ends Tyson Jackson and Kirston Pittman along with middle linebacker Darry Beckwith. When injuries took their toll on the defense last season, Miles’ bunch didn’t look that good (witness Arkansas’ running explosion in a 50-48, triple-overtime upset). Defensive mind Bo Pelini is now at Nebraska, so Miles has turned to co-coordinators Bradley Peveto and Doug Mallory. In even-numbered years, as LSU fans whine, the schedule doesn’t favor the Tigers, with road visits to Auburn and Florida. There is much riding on Miles regarding just how good his recruiting has been, because in many cases it’s now those players’ turns. A three-way tie for first is not out of the question this season. How about a fourway tie? But for an outright winner here, we tossed the four teams’ into a hat and pulled: It’s LSU. Darn that Les Miles’ luck. m NatioNal top 25 1. Southern Cal 2. Ohio State 3. Florida 4. West Virginia 5. Oklahoma 6. Oregon 7. Georgia 8. Missouri 9. Wisconsin 10. LSU 11. Clemson 12. Auburn 13. Texas 14. Virginia Tech 15. Pittsburgh 16. Illinois 17. Brigham Young 18. Boise State 19. Arizona State 20. Kansas 21. Michigan 22. Ole Miss 23. Boston College 24. Texas Tech 25. Alabama BcS BoWlS Championship Game: Southern Cal vs. Ohio State sugar Bowl: Florida vs. West Virginia orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Missouri rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Wisconsin fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Georgia Southestern conference teams in bold Southestern conference teams in bold 40 ArkansasSports360.com July 2008 http://ArkansasSports360.com
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