The SEC's Best In Receiving: Around The Horn

The SEC has arguably the best quarterback in the country, Razorback, Ryan Mallett. Mallett Stands 6'7" and is a stout 238 lb. And he doesn't go down easy.

In 2009, the Razorbacks finished the season 8-5, with with heartbreaking losses to Georgia, Florida, and LSU. The first loss of the season, to the eventual national champion, Alabama, was a teachable moment.

In the weeks that passed from September 5, 2009 to November 28th, Mallett and his receiving corp amassed 3,624 yards, and 30 touchdowns while completing 225 passes of 403 attempts. Mallett finished the season with a QB rating of 152.5.

The Razorbacks may have the best receiving corp in the entire nation according to Phil Steele. Yet, not one of the individuals on the Razorback roster is listed in the preseason All-SEC selections at their position.

How can that be? One might ask this question if they have never experienced a full season of football in the southeastern conference. 

Star studded talent is spread across the field from Athens to Baton Rouge on every fall Saturday. Coaches in the conference have some of the best offensive minds in college football. The individual playmakers they have to work with are extremely athletic, fearless, and confident.

This slideshow is intended to spotlight the mature talent at each of the top University programs that make up the SEC. There are playmakers in the freshman class of each program that may shine in the weeks to come. Since they are not proven commodities as of yet, they are not included in this assessment.

While the list is not comprehensive, it is a fascinating tour of the talented players throughout the SEC.

Arkansas: The Most Dangerous Passing Attack In The SEC

Mallett's most dependable receiver is No. 85, Greg Childs. Childs led the Razorback receivers with 862 yards on 45 receptions, scoring seven touchdowns for the Hogs. No. 85 stands 6'3" and weighs 217 lb, a large target with excellent hands. Childs averaged 19.2 yards per reception.

When Mallett checks off of Childs, he is looking for 5'10" WR Jarius Wright. Wright hauled in 37 receptions on the year, scored four touchdowns, and scampered for 519 yards, averaging better than 16 yards per reception.

WR Joe Adams, after recovering from a stroke related to severe migraine headaches, went on to catch 28 balls from Mallett in 2009. Adams gained 553 yards and scored seven touchdowns. His touchdown production was equal to Greg Childs, leading all other receivers. He too, averaged better than 19 yards per catch, 19.8 yards per catch to be exact, edging out Childs for the best in show.

Tight end D.J. Williams rounds out this high powered air attack. Williams finished the season with 31 catches, 399 yard receiving. That was good for an averaged of 12.9 yards per catch while scoring three touchdowns.

Collectively, the running backs pitched in with 47 receptions for 470 yards and three touchdowns on throws from Mallett. Each one of these exceptional receivers returns in 2010. They intend to inflict even more damage on opposition defenses. Expect this team to win at least eight, contend in every game and potentially finish the season with 10 or eleven wins. They will likely play on New Years Day.

A shot at the BCS National Championship is within their reach.

Auburn Tigers: More Targets For Cameron Newton Than Darvin Adams

Ontario McCalebb

JUCO transfer QB Cameron Newton intends to put the Auburn offense in a higher gear in 2010. Gus Malzahn is providing stability for the first time in four years for the offense of the Tigers. The seniors on this team have had to adjust every year to the nuances of a new coordinator until this year. 

While Chris Todd was exceptional last year, Newton is more versatile, has a stronger arm, and is more likely to pull in the pass attempt for the chance to gain yards on the ground. He will keep defenses playing on their heels. It will completely change the complexion of the passing attack for the Tigers unless Malzahn can convince Newton to trust his protection and give his receivers a chance to break free.

In 2009, Darvin Adams led the Auburn offense with 48 receptions, 855 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Versatile running back/receiver Mario Fannin was second with 39 receptions, 403 yards, and three touchdowns.

Adams was the passing attack in 2009. While he will probably lead the Tigers for a second straight year, expect Malzahn and Newton to get many others involved in the passing attack.

WR Terrell Zachary had 24 catches for just over 460 yards in 2009 while crossing the goal line on five separate occasions. At 6'1" 210 lbs., the three-year letterman presents the widest target and can use his body to block out the cornerback on slants and post patterns. Expect this senior to provide leadership in the passing game.

With Fannin (5'11" 228 lb) taking the top spot at running back, offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn will find creative ways to use the talented backup RB Ontario McCalebb (5'10, 171 lb) as a Percy Harvin-type talent in the slot receiver position.

Getting McCalebb the ball in space on bubble screens, short out routes, or turn-ins will open up running lanes for this speedster. Malzahn has a knack for spreading defenses and teaching his quarterback to deliver the ball to his playmakers in stride while in high gear. If the Iron Bowl was any indication of things to come, this offense will have quick strike potential on every play.

Louisiana State University: Tolliver Must Lead While Randle Steps Up

WR Group led by Terrence Tolliver

In 2009, Jordan Jefferson completed 182 passes in 296 attempts for 2,166 yards and 17 touchdowns. Stacking those numbers against seven interceptions left him with a passer rating of 137.2. In reality, not bad for a sophomore quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. Unfortunately, it was not good enough and more was expected from the rabid fan base of the Bayou State.

Loses at home against Florida, on the road in Tuscaloosa and Oxford left the Bengal Tigers out of the race for the West Division championship. But finishing the regular season at 9-3 was not a bad campaign, in retrospect. Close loses to the eventual national champion and No. 3 ranked Florida puts things into perspective.

The loss of WR Brandon Lafell will have to be made up for by increased production from Terrance Tolliver and fledgling superstar, Ruben Randle. While Tolliver was very close to Lafell in receptions and yards, Lafell was adept at finding the endzone.

Lafell scored 10 touchdowns against three for Tolliver and two for Randle in 2009. Tolliver hauled in 47 receptions for 654 yards, averaging 13.9 yards per catch, a better average per catch than Lafell but far shorter in point production.

Randle is an exceptional athlete with great hands. At 6'3", 201 lb, he is a great compliment to the 6'5" 220 lb Tolliver. They are in fact the biggest set of proven wide receivers in the SEC. But depth will be an issue in the WR position for the Tigers, so it is imperative that both of these big men remain healthy. Both are backed up by players with very little experience as impact players.

South Carolina Gamecocks: Lock On To Alshon Jeffery But Look Around

USC Quarterback, Stephen Garcia

As a true freshman, Alshon Jeffery led the Gamecocks in receiving and receiving touchdowns. In 2009, Jeffery (6'4" 233 lb) caught 43 passes, gained 735 yards and scored six touchdowns. His output outperformed most of the talent in the SEC and matched the accomplishments of UGA receiver AJ Green. In fact, Jeffery gained more yards per catch than his UGA counterpart.

On October 10, Jeffery broke loose against the Kentucky Wildcats with seven catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns. His biggest game regarding yardage production was against Vanderbilt eight catches for 161 yards and one touchdown. On the season, A.J. averaged 16.6 yards per catch.

Garcia's safety valve is tight end, Weslye Saunders. Saunders is every bit of 6'6" and 270 lb, a literal beast with good hands and the hind-quarters of a rhino. He has good speed for a tight end, as well. With all that going for him, and the fact that hesitation by the defender is his friend, he will get many looks during his senior campaign.

In 2009, Saunders hauled in 30 receptions for 360 yards and three touchdowns. Spurrier would like for Garcia to check down more often and get this beast the ball. A productive tight end causes as much trouble for a defense as a speedy wide out. The 6-8 yard gains nearly always come on second or third down and often translate into a new set of downs for the offense.

Stephen Garcia completed 32 passes to senior wide out Moe Brown in 2009. Someone new will have to step it up in 2010 and take those receptions. In fact, Garcia will need to look off Alshon Jeffery more often because of the frequent double team coverage of Jeffery if he intends to be more productive in the passing game in the upcoming year.

Sophomore D.L. Moore is listed as the starter at this point in time. He is 6'4" and 211 lb. If he remains on the field as a go-to target when the season kicks off, the size of the wideouts on the Gamecock offense will match the LSU air corp for the biggest tandem in the SEC.

Florida Gators: Class of The East Division, Class Of The SEC

If you think for one minute that the Florida Gators are on their way down the flag pole in the SEC, you need to check yourself into an insane asylum. This team is just as talented as it was in 2009 and 2008. There was plenty of attrition from the starting lineup offensively and defensively but the talent pool in Gainsville runs deeper than the oil well drilled in the gulf just seven miles off the coast.

And for the opponents on the 2010 schedule, it would be easier to cap the well than to stop the Gators offense. Tim Tebow has moved on to a professional career with the Denver Broncos; gone is the run option for the quarterback

John Brantley is overdue as starter for a Division I team. He is a pro style quarterback, has a cannon for an arm, and has the accuracy of an Aztec warrior blowing poison darts through a hollow reed. He is deadly accurate and will light up SEC defenses in both divisions during the 2010 season. Though he only threw 48 passes in 2009, he completed 36 for 410 yards and seven touchdowns holding a quarterback rating of 194.9.

And he has more targets to choose from than any other quarterback in the SEC. Favored targets of Tim Tebow have all passed on to the professional league, including junior tight end Aaron Hernandez. The lone experienced wide receiver in the offense for 2010 is Deonte Thompson. Thompson had 19 catches for 280 yards and three touchdowns in 2009.

Omarius Hines, a redshirt sophomore is 6-0, 219 lb and hauled in 14 receptions for 172 yards and one touchdown. In 2009, Chris Rainey had only six receptions from the slot position for 90 yards and one TD. What is missing from this equation is the 150 receptions between Hernandez, Cooper, James, and Nelson which resulted in 1,988 yards and produced 15 touchdowns.

This is the one team that will clearly have to reload in the passing game but they have much to chose from at WR, TE, slot receiver, and running back. Seniors Cal Moore and Justin Williams are both over six feet and provide large down field targets with good hands. They will provide leadership for the younger Gators.

Redshirt freshman Stephen Alli (6'5", 220 lb) is ready for prime time if Meyer puts him on the field ahead of the senior wideouts. The tight ends are young and inexperienced but shaped in the mold of Aaron Hernandez. Tall, muscular, and fleet of foot. Jordan Reed (6'3") and Desmond Parks (6'5") are both over 240 pounds and have been shown to possess better hands than the local Allstate representative. Earl Okine has been tried at tight end but the 6'7" converted defensive lineman will likely see more time as a blocker than receiver.

Jeffery Demps is as dangerous as any tailback in the league when he gets the ball in space. He will take over where Brandon James left off in 2009. Brantley will have the opportunity to surpass Tebow's 2,895 yard mark last season. What remains to be seen is will he surpass the 21 touchdown mark against only five interceptions.

Georgia Bulldogs: In The Junkyard or Not, AJ Green Will Set UGA Records

UGA WR AJ Green

AJ Green has been the most productive Georgia Bulldog receiver in the past two years and that won't change in 2010.

Last season, AJ reeled in 53 catches for 808 yards and six touchdowns. Despite the change from Matthew Stafford to Joe Cox and subsequent offensive adjustments by the coaching staff, his numbers nearly matched his freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American production from the 2008 season.

As with Darvin Adam for the Auburn Tigers, AJ Green was the UGA passing attack in 2009. In order for the offense to be more productive and less predictable in 2010, another will have to step up and the Georgia quarterback will have to spread the ball around by necessity. Otherwise, double teams on Green will wear him down and will potentially lead to more interceptions with a young, inexperienced quarterback.

Gone is WR Michael Moore, who hauled in a second best 23 receptions in 2009. While only yielding a net of 215 passing yards on the year, Moore found the end zone five times. The point production will need to be replaced, more than the receiving yards.

Tavares King will rise to the top of the WR position opposite Green and will need to increase his number of receptions by a wide margin. While he only hauled in 18 completions in 2009 and only crossed the goal line once, he did average better than 20 yards per catch, leading the entire UGA, receiving corp, Green included.

Orson Charles at tight end was a favored target for Joe Cox, checked down to the 6'3" 235 lb lineman 21 times in 2009. Charles turned those receptions into 366 yard of offensive production and three touchdowns on the season. He has good hands, peels off blocks quickly, and has the ability to turn up field in a hurry.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Never In Better Shape at Wide Receiver

Alabama WR Julio Jones

Julio Jones is without question the most notable receiver at the University of Alabama in the past 40 years. Never before has a receiver gotten so much attention from the first day he stepped on campus as the junior wide out has drawn from the Alabama fan base and national media.

Jones, like AJ Green of UGA, has led his team in receptions and receiving yard for two years running and will likely achieve that accomplishment for a third consecutive season. Barring injury, Jones will likely break the 1,000-yard mark in his junior year, missing the milestone during his freshman year by only 76 yards.

In his two years at the Capstone, Jones has 100 receptions for 1497 yards and eight touchdowns. His 73 yard jaunt against LSU in the fourth quarter to seal the win in last seasons championship run along with his production against the Auburn Tigers in "The Fourth Quarter Drive" of last years Iron Bowl are highlights that are embedded in Alabama lore. His place in Alabama history will be forever discussed with a better than expected season in 2010. Particularly if the upcoming season results in a repeat SEC and BCS championship.

Jones' massive body dwarfs Greg McElroy's second favorite target in the receiving corp, 5'10" Marquis Maze. Maze hauled in 31 receptions for 523 yards in 2009 and scored two touchdowns. His debut in 2009 against the VT Hokies established him as a viable deep threat which kept the opposition defenses from double teaming Jones as often as they would have liked.

While Maze is likely to line up at wide receiver in 2010 once again, placing him in the slot is a real option for the 2010 offense. The options at wide receiver have never been better or as deep as they are in the upcoming season.

Senior Earl Alexander, like Julio Jones, has been injured several times in his career, slowing down his production. Alexander is healthy and provides a large target (6'4" 210 lb) with deep threat potential. Back up receiver Darius Hanks had 17 receptions in 2009 for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He is fearless over the middle on crossing routes and competes for the ball as hard as anyone on the roster.

Junior WR Brandon Gibson showed that he has the potential to be a major contributor to the 2010 offense by his highly productive showing during the spring A-day game. He has a knack for being at the right place at the right time. After the catch, he is quick on the spin and can get to high gear in a hurry.

There are highly ranked redshirt freshman and sophomore receivers waiting in the wings for their opportunity to shine. Depth is not an issue for the Crimson Tide at the wide receiver position.

At tight end, Preston Dial returns as a starter on offense, but thus far his main contribution has been as a pass and run blocker. Opposite Dial, on the left side of the line is sophomore Michael Williams. In 2009 Williams caught only three passes.

Williams and TE Brad Smelley will share the load that Colin Peek carried in 2009 as a tight end receiver. Peek hauled in 26 receptions for 313 yard and three touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came in the SECCG against the Florida Gators.

Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain is developing the tight end position as more of a go-to guy rather that a check down safety valve.

With the running game as good as it gets for the Crimson Tide, if the defenses load the box, senior quarterback Greg McElroy will have the option to check off the run and go down field to the great selection of receivers listed above.

The Alabama offense has the potential to put up record numbers in the passing game in 2010.