Mash Here Best offensive player: Last season's Heisman Trophy runner-up is this season's Heisman Trophy favorite. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden has already rushed for 2,760 yards in his career, and he's only a junior. The 1,647 yards he gained last season is the fifth highest total in SEC history. Best defensive player: LSU All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey might have been the single most dominant player in college football last season. Though frequently drawing double-team blocks, he still posted 64 tackles - an enormous total at his position. Best player you don't know yet: Redshirt freshman tailback Terry Grant should provide the boost needed to upgrade Alabama's running game. He scored 113 touchdowns in high school. He'll score a bunch in college, too. Impact newcomer: Freshman cornerback Eric Berry, rated a five-star prospect by Rivals.com, is already slated to start in the Tennessee secondary. The Vols lost both starting cornerbacks from a year ago. Tennessee will face an impressive list of receivers that includes DeSean Jackson of California, Percy Harvin of Florida and Earl Bennett of Vanderbilt, so they will desperately need solid play on the corner. Sleeper recruit: Junior college transfer Scott Haverkamp, a three-star prospect, has already earned a starting job on Georgia's offensive line. THE SEC'S BEST ... Quarterbacks: Tennessee Running backs: Arkansas Wide receivers: Alabama Tight ends: Kentucky Offensive line: Florida Defensive line: LSU Linebackers: LSU Defensive backs: LSU Kickers/punters: South Carolina Special teams: Georgia Assistant coach on the rise: Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo helped Matthew Stafford develop into an effective quarterback last season, and now Bobo is taking over play-calling duties. Assistant coach on the hot seat: Not only does LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton have to follow a successful predecessor in Jimbo Fisher, but he's taking over an offense that lost three first round draft choices - including its quarterback. And oh by the way, the Tigers are talking national championship. If they fall short, guess who's probably first on the scapegoat list. Best position battle: Florida's Markihe Anderson has claimed one starting cornerback spot, but the other side is still being contested by Wondy Pierre-Louis, Markus Manson and Jacques Rickerson. Boom or bust player: South Carolina quarterback Blake Mitchell was both boom and bust last season. He lost his starting job early, but regained it and finished the season with four consecutive strong showings. If he continues that trend the Gamecocks can be a legitimate contender in the East. If he lapses again, they probably won't. BEST BY POSITION Quarterback 1. Andre' Woodson, Kentucky 2. Erik Ainge, Tennessee 3. Matthew Stafford, Georgia 4. Brandon Cox, Auburn 5. John Parker Wilson, Alabama Receiver 1. Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt 2. Early Doucet, LSU 3. Keenan Burton, Kentucky 4. Marcus Monk, Arkansas 5. DJ Hall, Alabama Tight End 1. Jacob Tamme, Kentucky 2. Cornelius Ingram, Florida 3. Ben Cleveland, Arkansas 4. Eric Butler, Mississippi State 5. Chris Brown, Tennessee Linebacker 1. Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina 2. Jonathan Goff, Vanderbilt 3. Jerod Mayo, Tennessee 4. Ali Highsmith, LSU 5. Wesley Woodyard, Kentucky Kicker 1. Brandon Coutu, Georgia 2. Ryan Succop, South Carolina 3. Jamie Christensen, Alabama 4. Joshua Shene, Mississippi 5. Colt David, LSU Running back 1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas 2. Felix Jones, Arkansas 3. Rafael Little, Kentucky 4. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Mississippi 5. Cory Boyd, South Carolina Offensive line 1. Michael Oher, Mississippi 2. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas 3. Kyle Williams, Vanderbilt 4. Andre Smith, Alabama 5. Will Arnold, LSU Defensive line 1. Glenn Dorsey, LSU 2. Derrick Harvey, Florida 3. Quentin Groves, Auburn 4. Tyson Jackson, LSU 5. Titus Brown, Mississippi State Defensive back 1. Simeon Castille, Alabama 2. Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee 3. Chevis Jackson, LSU 4. Derek Pegues, Mississippi State 5. Tony Joiner, Florida Punter 1. Britton Colquitt, Tennessee 2. Ryan Succop, South Carolina 3. Tim Masthay, Kentucky 4. Rob Park, Mississippi 5. Blake McAdams, Mississippi State
Re: Rivals: Pre-season SEC breakdown. Best players by position, upcomers, hot seat, Surprises: Derry Beckwith is an even better linebacker than Ali Highsmith, but he gets no love. Will Arnold keeps making lists, even though, due to injury, has played less than half of the last two seasons and is not running with the first team at present since he's not 100% yet. Ciron Black is LSU's premiere offensive lineman. Jon Zenon should probably be on the list at DB. 4 interceptions and two touchdowns last year. Auburn won't like this list much . . .
Re: Rivals: Pre-season SEC breakdown. Best players by position, upcomers, hot seat, cfn is the best, but they should know that beckwith is better than highsmith. this is lazy reporting and is just what espn would do.
Re: Rivals: Pre-season SEC breakdown. Best players by position, upcomers, hot seat, so u think zenon is better than jackson? how bout nfl potential?
Re: Rivals: Pre-season SEC breakdown. Best players by position, upcomers, hot seat, Simeon Castille may be the best DB this year, but he has been vastly overrated for years. He makes great plays, but gets toasted so much from gambling its sad.
Re: Rivals: Pre-season SEC breakdown. Best players by position, upcomers, hot seat, Zenon is not better than Jackson.
Re: Rivals: Pre-season SEC breakdown. Best players by position, upcomers, hot seat, Not necessarily, I do think he's one of the best five defensive backs in the SEC.
