SEC Pre-Season Power Rankings for 2010

The school year is about to wind down and the students and student athletes let out to roam free from the labors of the process of education.

A full season of football has passed. Championships have been won on the field of play and the champions have been honored. Some of the players across the SEC landscape have moved on to new pastures.

Attrition due to graduation as well as early decisions to enter the NFL draft has changed the outlook for the next season.

Some players with eligibility remaining have decided that their careers in football have climaxed and it is time to move on. They are the casualties of the college gridiron.

Now we turn to face the future. In January, there was an infusion of new talent to the college campuses bringing a renewed hope for next season's SEC campaign for a championship.

Every fan across the landscape has a right to hope that the best is yet to come for their team.

Spring football practices were conducted on college campuses across the country. Coaches and scouts have evaluated their talent and have made tentative decisions based on a player's performance up to this point.

While depth charts are not set in stone, the astute observer can glean much from the alignments and schemes utilized during the spring practices and the types of plays run in the spring games.

It's time to focus on the No. 1 conference in the entire BCS era and set the stage for the 2010 season. Who is in position to win the SEC and play for a national championship?

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Many casual opposition fans across the SEC are aware that the No. 1 defense in the NCAA lost eight starters from the 2009 lineup.

What they fail to note is that the platoon system used by coach Nick Saban has allowed for development of at least 20 others who are prepared to fill the vacancies.

Defensive leadership will be on the field in the form of Marcell Dareus, Donta' Hightower and Mark Barron.

On offense, the Tide should field the best offense since Bear Bryant perfected the power running attack. This offense should be balanced, challenging to every SEC defense and punishing to those not prepared.

2. Florida Gators

Understudy to one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time, Junior John Brantley is prepared to take the reins of the Gator offense and lead with a totally different style.

The veteran playmakers on the Gator offense are going to have to step up and let J.B. steady his sea legs for the long journey through the SEC East Division.

Look for a more solid passing game to develop as the season progresses. Like Alabama, the defense is now composed of many new faces but the talent is deep in Gainesville.

Urban Meyer will reload and have his team prepared to defend their East crown. Adjusting to a new defensive coordinator will take its toll but they are still the team to beat, make no mistake.

3. South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks should be amongst the best in the SEC and will compete for the East Division Title. But Junior QB Steven Garcia will have to take his game to another level.

Turnovers have absolutely killed the Gamecocks in the past two years and many have occurred through poor execution of the quarterback.

Don't expect Spurrier to baby his veteran play caller. Garcia will either elevate his game early in the 2010 season or be seen on the sidelines by mid-October.

Ellis Johnson will have yet another tough defense with many veteran players to work with and prepare for their showdown with the Gators at the Swamp on Nov. 13.

Before they arrive in Gainesville, their toughness will have been determined, having played UGA, Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas prior to their final East division game.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks have the potential to have the best offense in the SEC in 2010 and possible one of the best in the country.

With Junior QB Ryan Mallet sitting out the entire spring while allowing a foot fracture to mend, the backups have had time to learn the offense and log a lot of playing time with the first unit.

The Hogs have a tremendous receiving corps and will have a great balance in the running game. The defense must improve enough to allow the offense to establish a lead. If that happens, watch out!

Catching up with a high powered Petrino offense is not an easy task as he proved in his later years at Louisville. Expect the Hogs to average better than 30 points per game.

5. Georgia Bulldogs

While Aaron Murray will be a first-year starter, he will have a veteran line protecting him and experience at every skill position. This offense should gel around the young quarterback and put big numbers on the scoreboard.

As with the top four already mentioned, UGA should have great balance in the passing and running game which will allow them to keep defenses guessing.

Mark Richt has reinvested in a new defensive coordinator and let him know up front that the time is now. This is not a "development" year.

If they are going to make a move for the East Division Crown and get past their nemesis, the Florida Gators, maturation must progress at a rapid pace during fall camp and the early part of the 2010 season.

The schedule is set up for them to have great success provided they execute as they have been schooled by some of the best coaches in the nation. They have the potential to arrive on Halloween Eve in Jacksonville undefeated. What a party it would be!

6. Louisiana State University

The Tiger's have lost their Mojo and have to get it back. Jordan Jefferson is poised to be the catalyst to do just that for the LSU team and fans.

Les Miles has recruited some of the best receivers in the Southland. It's time to develop the talent and use it for good.

In addition, the Tigers placed an emphasis on improving the running game during the spring. It must pay dividends in 2010 or Miles will suffer unbearable criticism.

On defense, the Tigers have the best corner cover man in the entire nation. He has a potential All-SEC, All-American safety to back him up and a powerful front seven to engage and stuff the run.

LSU must make a run at the SEC West title or the lack of success will hurt the Tigers where Miles has shown success during his tenure as the head honcho. That would be recruiting: win the West and sustain success.

If LSU ends up in the middle of the pack, the four- and five-star recruits will sense that the administration is considering a change and they will seek out a more stable situation.

7. Auburn University

JUCO transfer Cameron Newton has gotten the nod from head coach Gene Chizik as the future starter for the 2010 season. But the situation didn't seem as settled following a less than stellar performance during the spring game.

The quarterback position will instrumental in the 2010 version of the Gus Malzahn offensive attack.

Newton has clearly impressed the staff with his running skills during the spring and that is his clear edge over the competitors.

Cam can throw with accuracy and has enough zip on the ball to demand a quick reaction from defenders. His supporting cast in the backfield is talented and will take advantage of a defense playing on it's heels.

Look for the Auburn offense to have two running backs close to the 1,000 yard mark while the receivers will threaten any defensive backfield in the South Eastern Conference.

On defense, they have the potential to be very good but injuries to the starters in the secondary still leave questions until they can get on the field and make the doubters believers, once again.

Depth will be an issue for the front seven and secondary. For Auburn, success will have to come with an injury-free season. If attrition thins the defense, it will be a long season on The Plains.

8. Ole Miss Rebels

If Jevan Snead had stayed for his senior year of eligibility, this team would be a preseason pick to finish second or third in the West. Without a veteran quarterback, the Rebels will struggle offensively.

The defense will be very good and keep them in many contests by holding the opponent under 20 points per game.

If the offense can gel by mid-season, they have the potential for an eight or nine win season. If they don't get on track, a four win season could be in their future and Houston Nutt may find himself in the doghouse.

9. Kentucky Wildcats

Joker Phillips has been given the reins of the Wildcats football program and many observers think he will keep the program on a roll. For five years, Rich Brooks took the Cats to post-season bowl games and now it is an expected payoff for the Kentucky players and fans alike.

The return of Mike Hartline from a season-ending knee injury will put the offense in a position to attack the inexperienced defenses of the SEC in the early part of the year.

If he can get the offense rolling with confidence in his ability to lead, the Wildcats can sneak up the power rankings and vie for the East division crown.

They have a favorable schedule with Alabama and LSU rotating off of the 2010 lineup, replaced with western foes Auburn and Ole Miss.

10. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Now in his second year at the helm, Dan Mullen is attempting to infuse a sense of pride and confidence into the Bulldog program.

The Bulldogs could have very well been placed in the number eight spot and with justification on some level but the loss of Anthony Dixon is a tough spot to fill on the offensive side of the ball.

Mullen developed average talent and made the Bulldogs competitive in the 2009 campaign.

They have beaten their in-state rival two of the past three years and have a number of defensive starters returning to the team in 2010.

If the Bulldogs win six or more games, it will send a message to the rest of the SEC that they are headed in the right direction.

If by chance they reach the eight or nine win mark, Mullen may be named coach of the year. It is certainly a possibility.

The matchup with Auburn, in Starkville on Sept. 9, will be a pivotal game for the success or struggle of the Bulldogs.

11. Tennessee Volunteers

It is very hard to place the Big Orange Machine in the 11th position for the pre-season power rankings but they leave me no other choice. The roller coaster ride with the Kiffin clan was exhausting to the players and fans.

The attrition from academics, head cases, law breaking and the few who went to the pro ranks has left this team gutted and weakened.

If Dooley takes this team to a post-season bowl with a 6-6 record, he will have done a better job than Nick Saban did during his first year at Alabama.

This team and coaching staff needs support from its fan base and a great deal of patience.

12. Vanderbilt Commodores

Dog gone it, Vandy had it going on for a few years but the Commodores have fallen back into their traditional doormat role in the past few seasons. Bobby Johnson has proven that he can coach but his task is daunting for the 2010 season.

In the spring game, the offense stalled 13 straight possessions before finally finding the end zone. Really! In a practice game! That is un-nerving.

On the other hand, the defense will provide the highlights for the Commodores and will pull out a few unexpected wins for the Vandy fan base next season.