SEC Football: Ranking the SEC Centers

Every Tuesday, The SEC Blog will rank the top player at each position for each team in the SEC. Today, we rank the best center at every school in the conference.

14. Spencer Pulley, Vanderbilt

Pulley moved from guard to center after Wesley Johnson moved from center to tackle before spring practice. He played in six games last season as a true freshman and is battling Joe Townsend for the Commodores' starting center spot.

13. Mitch Morse, Missouri

According to the Columbia Daily Tribune, Morse emerged as the Tigers' likely starting center this spring. He played in 13 games last season—mostly on special teams. The SEC is the nation's best conference because of the speed up front, so Morse will have his work cut out for him.

12. David Andrews, Georgia

Andrews has big shoes to fill, stepping in for the recent NFL draftee Ben Jones. He exited spring with the job, but his work is not complete.

Offensive line coach Will Friend told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he is hoping to settle on getting the five best offensive linemen on the field in 2012.

11. Evan Swindall, Ole Miss

Head coach Hugh Freeze was unhappy with his offensive line following spring practice, but Swindall should emerge as one of the leaders for the Rebels once the season starts. He started seven games last season at center, and started two games at center as a freshman in 2010.

10. Dillon Day, Mississippi State

Day started eight games last season at center in 2011 after the Bulldogs had to do some moving around following Tobias Smith's injury. He's entrenched at the starting spot for Dan Mullen's crew and is being counted on to be one of the key pieces to Mississippi State's rebuilt offensive line.

9. Jonotthan Harrison, Florida

Florida's offensive line hasn't been great, but junior Jonotthan Harrison might be its most consistent contributor returning from last season. He has started 14 games during his career at Florida, including 12 at center last season.

According to Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun, Harrison has beefed up this season, which will only help matters.

8. Matt Smith, Kentucky

Smith, a senior, is entering his third season as Kentucky's starting center. Along with guard Larry Warford, Smith is being counted on to be a big part of the Wildcats' effort to establish a running game. At 6'4", 303, Smith certainly has the build to make an impact this season and at the next level.

7. Alex Bullard, Tennessee

Bullard started six games at guard and six games at center last season and is listed atop the Vols' depth chart at the center of the offensive line exiting spring practice.

Tennessee's offensive line protected its quarterbacks last year (18 sacks allowed), but the running game was horrendous (90.08 yards per game). A little bit more consistency would be nice.

6. Travis Swanson, Arkansas

Swanson was a member of the 2010 SEC All-Freshman Team, and was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list as a sophomore in 2011. He's a solid lineman for the Hogs, but the unit as a whole has been one of the biggest disappointments in Fayetteville.

5. Patrick Lewis, Texas A&M

Lewis earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the Big 12 coaches for three straight seasons, and returns as a senior on one of college football's most veteran offensive lines. The 6'2", 306-pound senior has enjoyed a solid career in College Station and will play a big role breaking Ryan Tannehill's replacement at quarterback. 

4. T.J. Johnson, South Carolina

Johnson has started 27 straight games at center and has been a big reason that the Gamecock running game has been so successful over the last two seasons.

Johnson was a third-team All-SEC selection last season by PhilSteele.com.

3. Reese Dismukes, Auburn

Dismukes won the job as Auburn's starting center as a true freshman and responded by earning Football Writers Association (FWAA) Freshman All-American and coaches' SEC All-Freshman honors.

He will have to adjust to snapping from under center under new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, but has been adjusting to that just fine, according to the Opelika-Auburn News.

2. P.J. Lonergan, LSU

Lonergan has started 23 games at center over the last two seasons and is one of the leaders of LSU's veteran offensive line. He missed two games last season, but led the Tigers with 863 offensive snaps in 2010. Lonergan is a big part of the success of the Tigers' running game.

1. Barrett Jones, Alabama

Jones won the Outland Trophy given to the nation's top interior lineman last season as a left tackle, and racked up consensus All-American honors in the process. He passed up the opportunity to jump to the NFL in favor of returning to Alabama. He's the nation's most versatile offensive lineman and was a starter from the moment he stepped foot on campus in 2009.

Jones has started at guard and tackle so far, and 2012 will complete the trifecta when Jones lines up at center.

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