The good is easy, you essentially arrive at the big boy table with VIP status, everyone absolutely loves you, and you are expected to be a star. The bad is...well...it's the same thing.
As SEC teams around the South start practicing in the blaring 90+ degree heat, the reality of the choices these premiere talents have made is probably starting to set in—with force. They are no longer the prospect with massive potential but, rather, the true frosh who is going to be the difference between a conference champion and a middling bowl team.
That said, there are at least five SEC freshmen who are about to see the heat on the back of their necks get a whole lot hotter—so hot, in fact, that 90-degree read-out they see on their respective practice fields is going to look relatively cool in comparison.
1. Marcus Lattimore, RB—South Carolina
He's going to play in 2010—there's little doubt. Will he make the keen impact that the Gamecock faithful hope he can? Well...only time and a few games will tell the story.
South Carolina has not had a dominant force at tailback during the Spurrier era. Cory Boyd and Kenny Miles have been nice talents but, Miles is prone to injury due to his diminutive size and Boyd never had enough consistency at quarterback to make his stellar running worthwhile.
With Stephen Garcia coming into camp both confident and ready to play, Lattimore is expected to bolster the already rising profile of the Gamecocks this season.
2. Da' Rick Rogers, WR—Tennessee
The top rated athlete from the state of Georgia in 2010, Rogers heads to a Tennessee team that is not only in a transitional state, but one in need of a boost this season.
So far, the talented freshman has seen himself landing in the news for all the wrong reasons but as Derek Dooley goes about the business of making Tennessee football the focus in Knoxville again, Rogers will be a key factor in turning what many expect to be a lackluster passing game into one worthy of a highlight reel.
All eyes will be on him this season as he tries to shake the negative stink off his shoulder pads in favor of a little more production on the field.
3. Seantrel Henderson, OT—Miami
After all the waiting and build-up that surrounded his arrival on the college football scene, Seantrel had better be bringing the goods to Miami. His size, potential, and overall talent level has been force-fed to the college-hungry football fan for more than two years and now that he's at The "U" and likely to be placed at the all-important left tackle position, he is expected to dominate from the first snap of the ball.
If he doesn't, his legacy would crumble as quick as you could say the name, Willie Williams.
4. LaMarcus Joyner, DB—Florida State
The 'Noles signed quite a few head-turners in 2010—Jeff Luc was another big name who landed in Tallahassee. However, the achilles heel at FSU last season was the secondary. Despite the presence of a lot of speed and a ton of talent, the unit was plagued with inconsistency and poor play on the field.
Joyner is not only expected to play immediately but there are quite a few out there who are looking for him to have the type of impact that Greg Reid (true sophomore) had as a true frosh last season. Standing at a mere 5'8", that's quite a tall order for the young man from Miami.
5. Jake Heaps, QB—BYU
I don't know that Heaps will outright win the job for the Cougars in 2010, but many expect him to do so. If he does, he will also be counted on to keep the team in contention and, sooner rather than later, lead them to the BCS promised land.
The coaches have raved about him from the time he took his first spring snap and if he does anything short of blow his fellow Mountain West opponents out of the water with his All-American arm, there would be massive disappointment in Provo.
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