SEC Football Q&A: Mullen on the Hot Seat?

Every Thursday on The SEC Blog, we will feature questions from the B/R inbox, Twitter and e-mail.  Do you have a question for next week's Q&A? Send them to SEC Lead Blogger Barrett Sallee via the B/R inbox, on Twitter @BarrettSallee or at [e-mail].


From Forrest P. Smith (@ForrestPSmith) via Twitter: Why the hate for Dan Mullen? Seat is not even warm. Chill.

Forrest is referring to is my video from last week in which I mention three SEC coaches that could be on the hot seat.  There's no hate for Dan Mullen, but as I mention in the video, I think he has inflated the perception of the program based on a nine-win season and constant bravado.  He's 3-12 against the SEC West, and I believe that the nine-win season in 2010 is an anomaly thanks to wins against down Florida and Georgia teams.  Getting to bowl games is nice, but settling for six- and seven-win seasons is just settling for mediocrity—and that's where I currently see the Mississippi State program.


From Justin Davis (@jersymikejr) via Twitter: Which SEC school likely lands Robert Nkemdiche and why?

Nkemdiche is the nation's top overall prospect.  The 6'4", 268-pound defensive end from Grayson (GA) High School has the body and size that can make an immediate impact in the SEC.  His top five choices are LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and Ole Miss.  The draw of playing on Nick Saban's and Kirby Smart's defense at Alabama will certainly be hard to ignore, especially after several key Tide defenders will go in the first round of next month's NFL Draft.  My gut feeling says Alabama, but I wouldn't count out the home state Georgia Bulldogs just yet.  One thing we do know is that we won't have to wait long.  Nkemdiche will announce his decision on May 18.


From Marty Stokes (@mastokes91) via Twitter: Still think Davis and Lattimore are the top two RBs in the SEC, even as they both recover from leg injuries?

Absolutely.  I ranked the top running back for each team earlier this week on The SEC Blog.  Davis and Lattimore are "1A" and "1B" in the SEC as far as I'm concerned, and if they both stay healthy, they will both be in New York for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony in early December.  Davis' ankle should be concerning only because it has happened to him before, but typically broken bones are a little easier to overcome than ligament tears like Lattimore's knee injury.  Even if they aren't 100 percent, there's a big drop-off between No. 2 and No. 3 in my rankings.

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