SEC Football: Will Trent Richardson Be The Best Running Back in the SEC in 2011?

Mark Ingram is gone. He will no longer steal, dominate, or usurp the spotlight that many felt Trent Richardson should have had long ago. Richardson has been a spark plug for the Alabama Crimson Tide since the first time he touched the football in Tuscaloosa and, now that Ingram looks to recreate his star as a New Orleans Saint, Richardson finally has his opportunity to shine brightly for his team.

Is he ready to be 'The Man'?

Some fans and pundits question how well Richardson is capable of playing minus Ingram in the backfield.  After all, it was Ingram who spear-headed the Tide's 2009 SEC Championship against the Florida Gators—which led to them securing their first National Championship in more than a decade—so it was clear that Richardson will still running without the expectations of being both a No. 1 back or a former Heisman Trophy winner.

That said, Richardson did a fine job holding down the fort while Ingram sat with a knee injury and, at times, it was apparent that if he'd had more consistent touches per game, he might have been able to do a lot more damage on the ground (2010: 112 carries, 700 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6.25 ypc average) than he actually did.

Bearing all that in mind, does that mean he's poised to breakout in 2011 and be the best running back in the SEC?

Perhaps, but the Alabama quarterback situation will bear watching in the early going as some are not factoring the loss of Greg McElroy into the equation—his experience and leadership will definitely change things offensively—and there will be a period of adjustment in the way the Tide's offense is executed as they get accustomed to a less experienced quarterback leading the way. 

While A.J. McCarron appeared to play well in spot duty last season, his spring performance wasn't enough to make coach Saban name him the outright starter for 2011—Saban has even intimated at playing two quarterbacks this season—so it's unclear what or how many quarterbacks will start under-center for the Tide this year.

Even more, the Tide will have to find a new set of hands in the passing game and while the offense was fairly balanced last season—passing only slightly more than they ran—a majority of those receptions went the way of Julio Jones, who is now gone, leaving Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks with big shoes to fill at the wide receiver position.

That level of uncertainty in the passing game means more pressure on Trent Richardson to make it happen early and often, at least at the start, as the Tide may need to lean on the run a lot more this year than last. And, given Richardson's propensity to play all-out on every down (recklessly at times) you feel a need to pray that Eddie Lacy is ready to get back to being a reliable No. 2 option.

Lacy had issues with ball security last season, but appears to be much improved—if his spring performance is any indication—and he could be poised for a statistically better 2011.

Richardson will need all of these things working in his favor if he is going to become the guy whom many feel has Heisman potential. There's no doubt he has the talent, the only question is if 2011 will finally be his time?

Related articles

• Is McCarron Already Over? Vote For Alabama's 2011 Starting Quarterback (sbnation.com)

Wonderlic Revealed: It's A Good Thing Cam Newton's Got Other Skills

According to Chris Mortenson, a well-known NFL analyst, teams "get uncomfortable" anytime a quarterback scores less than a 20 on the Wonderlic. Well, if that's true, GM's must have done some collective shifting in their seats when they got word of Cam Newton's score—who scored an unimpressive 21 on his test.

Newton's score, along with other notable quarterbacks, was released today and—aside from Jake Locker's damning 20 (I hope that kid still has some baseball skills)—Newton's was the lowest. Even Ryan Mallett, the guy whom many thought was the biggest question mark as far as intelligence was concerned scored a 26. So, what does this mean for Newton?

Will his draft stock plummet? Not likely.

If the past has proven anything, it's that teams are willing to take chances on guys whose skill-sets are as special and potential-laden as Cam Newton's. Take Vince Young, for example, he scored a 16 on his Wonderlic in 2006, but still managed to be selected No. 3 overall and I'm willing to bet that the decision to select him had more to do with his body of work than anything—so Newton may still be sitting pretty despite his eye-brow raising score.

The highest score was achieved by former Alabama quarterback, Greg McElroy (43), but it's tough to see him being anything more than a career back-up, if anything, in the NFL. By contrast, Blaine Gabbert's 42 can only help his rising stock as he appears to be steadily climbing up draft boards everywhere.

If Gabbert can impress scouts at his pro day, he could easily leapfrog Newton as the most coveted quarterback in the 2011 NFL Draft.

It will be interesting to see the spin the QB conversation takes now that this information has been leaked—I mean, honestly, the comparison to Vince Young can go either way, ya know?— then again, with the NFL big wigs and their "slaves" still not finding any common ground, it could be 2012 before any of this even matters and by then, perhaps, no one will care who scored what.

SEC Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week 11

See week ten here.

1. Cam Newton, Auburn (12/15 for 148 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 30 carries for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Georgia.

Newton continues to be the driving force behind the high-powered offense of the Auburn Tigers. His ability to distract and destroy defenses has led to the success of other talented players like Michael Dyer and Onterrio McCalebb—making Auburn a tough proposition for any team this season.

2010 stats: 135/198 for 2,038 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 206 carries for 1,297 yards and 17 touchdowns. 

2. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/28 for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns) at Auburn. 

Give Murray his due, he played some tough football on Saturday and, despite the outcome, Georgia fans have to feel good about the future with Aaron Murray standing behind center. Now, if they could just get the offensive line working more consistently so he doesn't get killed...

2010 stats: 173/285 for 2,580 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

3. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (18/34 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Ole Miss.

Listen...ya hear that? That's the sound of Derek Dooley wading in a pool of satisfaction—he just found Tennessee's next starting quarterback.  See ya, Matt Simms—been nice knowing ya.

2010 stats: 62/114 for 950 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (19/26 for 215 yards and 5 interceptions) vs UTEP. 

UTEP looked like they might make a game of in Fayetteville in the early-going, but Mallett killed that dream on the next play...and then the next...and then the next, etc. as he led the Razorbacks to 35-points on five successive offensive possessions.

2010 stats: 212/315 for 2,967 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

5. Greg McElroy, Alabama (12/18 for 227 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Mississippi State. 

McElroy had two big passes in the second quarter to put the Tide comfortably ahead of the Bulldogs and help put an exclamation point on a solid win for Alabama.

2010 stats: 170/246 for 2,231 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/23 for 232 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Vanderbilt. 

Thanks to some nice running by Randall Cobb (10 carries, for 170 yards, and 2 touchdowns), Hartline didn't have to do too much to lead the Wildcats to victory. It also didn't hurt that they were playing Vanderbilt, a team that, at this point, just needs this season to be over.

2010 stats: 237/361 for 2,906 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/22 for 156 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Florida.

When your featured back is killing the opposing defense for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns, there is little you have to do except not be careless with the football. Garcia owes Marcus Lattimore all the glory for being the primary reason the Gamecocks finally won an SEC Eastern Division Championship.

2010 stats: 166/245 for 2,221 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 

8. John Brantley, Florida (16/31 for 130 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. South Carolina. 


Willing to make a bet that not many Florida Gator fans believed John Brantley would be this ineffective when the 2010 season began. This system is not made for a player of Brantley's skill-set. It doesn't matter what Adazzio does, Brantley doesn't fit and everyone knows it—including Urban Meyer and John Brantley.

2010 stats: 172/282 yards for 1,746 yards, 8 touchdowns, and  7 interceptions.

9. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/26 for 128 yards and 1 rushing touchdown) at Kentucky. 

Larry Smith is probably ready to get the heck out of Nashville after this season. He still has one more year to play but, after seeing a coaching change, numerous injuries, and getting the gift of an anemic offense, he can't be too thrilled about what 2011 has to offer.

2010 stats: 106/220 for 1,106 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns. 

10. Tyler Russell/Chris Relf (12/23 for 150 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Alabama.

Mississippi State's offense has been suspect all season, to be honest, and they finally ran out of time against a Tide defense that was determined to play well on Saturday—despite the knowledge that Auburn was taking their SEC West title.

11. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (7/18 for 80 yards and 3 interceptions) at Tennessee.

 Masoli looked pretty awful on Saturday. Of course, it didn't help that his offensive line had no answer for a swarming Tennessee defensive front. He was pressured and punished all day long as Tennessee coasted.

2010 stats: 128/229 for 1,601 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. 99 carries for 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

12. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (4/10 for 51 yards) vs. Louisiana-Monroe. 

Ya know, they say if you can't say anything nice, then say nothing at all.

2010 stats: 79/146 yards for 815 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 88 carries for 304 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

SEC Football: Power Ranking The Quarterbacks After Week 10

See week nine here.
1. Tyler Bray, Tennessee (19/33 for 325 yards and 5 touchdowns) at Memphis. 

Yes, it was Memphis and, yes, the Vols were expected to whip up on the Tigers. Still, you have to give credit where credit is due.

Bray didn't make many mistakes and he played one heckuva game—giving his team a much-needed victory.

2010 stats: 44/80 for 628 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (15/21 for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns. 8 carries for 24 yards and 1 
touchdown) vs. Chattanooga.

It's Cam Newton. He's been making defenses look silly all season—this week was no exception.

2010 stats: 123/183 for 1,890 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 176 carries for 1,46 yards and 15 touchdowns.

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (19/27 for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs Idaho State.

For a minute, it looked like Murray was still suffering from the headache that beset him after performing so uncharacteristically at Florida. The offense was sputtering and, by the end of the first quarter, they only managed to score three points against one of the worst defenses in college football.

However, he seemed to find his bearings by the second quarter—leading Georgia to 35-points before retiring to the sidelines early in the third.

2010 stats: 158/257 for 2,307 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Four rushing touchdowns.  

4. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (21/30 for 303 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. 4 carries for 6 yards and 1 touchdown) at South Carolina.

Bobby Petrino's club really has that running game going now and that has opened up even more possibilities for Mallett in the passing game.

Mallett played, nearly, lights-out in capturing a huge road win for his Razorbacks—aided in large part by the tough running of Knile Davis and a defense that came ready to shut the Gamecocks down.

2010 stats:  193/289 for 2,752 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 3 rushing touchdowns. 

5.  Greg McElroy, Alabama (21/34 for 223 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at LSU.

McElroy has taken his fair share of lumps this season as he's already seen more losses this year than he did in the previous two. However, he still played well enough on Saturday to lead the Tide to a win—if not for the maverick playcalling of LSU's Les Miles.

2010 stats: 158/228 for 2004 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 1 rushing touchdown. 

6. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (15/24 for 272 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs Charleston-Southern.

Hartline finally got the Wildcats back in the win column against a, tougher than expected, Charleston-Southern team that looked like it might steal one early on.

2010 stats: 222/338 for 2,674 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 1 rushing touchdowns. 

7. John Brantley, Florida (11/18 for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Vanderbilt.

The Commodores are falling apart at the seams and Florida took advantage of it by routing them—setting up an SEC Eastern Division showdown at the Swamp this weekend.

2010 stats: 156/251 for 1,616 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

8. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/13 for 141 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Alabama. 

He didn't appear to be his, usually, head-scratching self on Saturday—that helped. However, the biggest pass of the night belonged to Jarrett Lee (a 47-yard bomb to win the game).

2010 stats: 75/136 for 764 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 5 rushing touchdowns. 

9. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (14/29 for 161 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) vs. Arkansas.

Garcia didn't have the complimentary rushing game from Marcus Lattimore to help him out this week (the freshman gained only 30-yards on the day) and that, obviously, hurt the passing game.

2010 season stats: 151/223 for 2,065 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. 4 rushing touchdowns. 

10. Nathan Stanley, Ole Miss (6/14 for 108 yards) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.


Jeremiah Masoli looked to be on his way to a good game before being knocked out with a concussion (5/7 for 72 yards and 1 touchdown. 3 carries for 17 yards and 1 touchdown), but Stanley came in to manage in relief. He got the win for the Rebels, but deferred to his running game for most of the dirty work.

11. Jared Funk and Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (10/36 for 63 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Florida. 

It seems to go without saying, Vanderbilt needs some help at quarterback.

College Football Betting Odds: Will Les Miles Get Lucky Against The Alabama Crimson Tide?

It was a tough road again last week and the season total now stands at 40-50 on the year with only a few more weeks left to get back to the .500 mark.

At this point in the season, teams are getting tired and those without much depth are likely feeling the pinch—even against the lower quality teams—and that makes some match-ups a bit harder to predict.

However, let's stick with 15 again this week as desperate times call for desperate measures.

The picks made, for clarification, are both ATS (against the spread) and straight-up but, for the purpose of the running season tally, the only picks that count are the ATS ones. 

All lines are available through VegasInsider.com—as usual.

1. LSU vs Alabama: Alabama (-6.5)

Here's the problem with LSU—it's the same problem they've had all season long—they don't have consistently good quarterback play. The fact that they only have one loss this season is as much a testament to Les Miles' gunslinger coaching as it is to the talent on the field.

Alabama is coming into this one blindly as LSU has also had two weeks to prepare. However, that said, Saban has to take a little pleasure in sticking it to the Bayou faithful—many of whom never forgave him for ditching them for an NFL job.

It's a tough one to call, but, if Ingram and Richardson can find some room against that tough LSU defense and McElroy can keep from holding the ball so long that Bear Bryant comes back to smack his helmet off, Alabama should be able to win this one.

The Lady's ATS Pick: LSU to cover (Alabama to win).

2. Memphis vs Tennessee: Tennessee (-20)

Memphis is terrible. I don't care where this game is being played nor how tired and beat up this Volunteers team is, this game will be the one where Tyler Bray finds his footing, Tauren Poole goes for nearly 200, and the wide receivers have a field goal.

This is a 'get-well' game for Dooley's crew.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Tennessee to cover. 

3. Texas Tech vs. Missouri: Missouri (-4)

Both teams are coming off losses but, at this point, Missouri still has more to play for and that may be enough to motivate them going into hostile territory.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Missouri to cover. 

4. UCLA vs Oregon State: Oregon State (-5)

This game is in Los Angeles and the Beavers haven't been as convincing on the road as they have at home. That said, this is a UCLA team that has struggled against better Pac-10 opposition all season and that is not a trend that I expect to see change on Saturday.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Oregon State to cover. 

5. Utah vs TCU: TCU (-4.5)

I know TCU hammered the Utes last season (55-28), but this isn't that Utah team. This game will be closer than many think and the outcome may settle TCU's fate once and for all.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Utah to cover (Utah to win).

6.  Louisiana Tech vs. Fresno State: Fresno State (-1)

This game is usually pretty close—despite the talent level that separates the two teams. However, Fresno State should be able to find plenty of passing lanes to throw into against a soft Bulldogs secondary and that will be the difference.

The Lady's Pick: Fresno State to cover. 

7. Stanford vs. Arizona: Stanford (-9.5)

Arizona has a tough defense and the Cardinal may be still flying a bit high after blanking the Washington Huskies last weekend. It's possible the Wildcats can come in and catch Stanford napping.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Arizona to cover. 

8. Iowa State vs. Nebraska: Nebraska (-19)

The Cornhuskers usually play the Cyclones closer in Lincoln than they do in Ames. If that holds true on Saturday, then 19 points may be too much.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Iowa State. 

9.  Oregon vs. Washington: Oregon (-28.5)

Washington isn't good but Oregon is feeling cocky after taking the top spot. Will they suffer a minor lapse in concentration this weekend? It seems likely that they might take their foot off the point-accelarator a little bit this week—not enough to lose, but enough to see the Huskies cover.

Then again, Eugene (Oregon) is Eugene, and that is one tough place to play.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Oregon to cover. 

10. Boise State vs. Hawaii: Boise State (-21) 

Some team has to be able to upset the Broncos at some point...why not Hawaii.

The Lady's ATS Pick: Hawaii

The Lady's Luck Picks...who else will cover?


11. Kansas (-10) vs Colorado

12. Florida (-14) at Vanderbilt


13. Florida State (-7) vs North Carolina


14. Michigan State (-24) vs Minnesota

15. Oklahoma (-3.5) at Texas A&M

Kentucky Wildcat QB, Mike Hartline, Gaining Ground As NFL 2011 Draft Prospect

The Kentucky Wildcats offense has been nothing short of explosive this season.

Some might think that was to be expected given the presence of both Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke, but that would be short-changing the above-average job that senior quarterback Mike Hartline has done for the team this year.

Hartline ranks 13th in the nation, 1st in the conference, in passing (2,402 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions)— a surprising feat given the fact that Ryan Mallett, Greg McElroy, and John Brantley were mentioned ahead of Hartline as the conference's top quarterbacks to start the year.

His strong play has started to peak the interest of NFL draft scouts too as his name is moving up on some draft boards as a potential late-round selection in the 2011 draft.

As of now, he is projected as a 6th or 7th round selection and, before you scoff at the notion of that being relevant, recall the sheer number of players who were either drafted beyond the fifth-round, or not at all, yet managed to have great success at the pro level.

The last two Kentucky quarterbacks to be drafted—Jared Lorenzen (who won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2008) and Andre Woodson (drafted in the sixth-round in 2008)—are not currently playing professional football.

Woodson was signed to a contract with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League (UFL) in summer of 2010, but was later released. Lorenzen is the quarterback's coach at his old high school.
 

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Eight

See week seven here.

1. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss ( 21/36 for 327 yards and 3 touchdowns. 15 carries for 98 yards) at Arkansas.

Masoli played some of his best football of the season, accounting for 425 of the 512 yards the Rebels tallied against the Hogs on Saturday.

Down early to Arkansas, the Rebels seemed headed for a rout by Mallett and his crew, but Houston Nutt's team showed a lot of heart in rallying from an 18-point deficit to make a game of it late. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Rebels only trailed by seven.

But, alas, the tough running of Knile Davis was the difference in the fourth where, minus Mallett,  Arkansas staved off the rally and won the game.

2010 season stats: 96/170 for 1,260 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 75 carries for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. 


2. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (27/43 for 353 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Georgia


Mike Hartline did all he could do to get his team back in the game on Saturday, but the 'cardiac cats' just didn't have quite enough steam to overcome another early deficit.
 

2010 season stats: 184/273 for 2,144 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (31/39 for 355 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Vanderbilt.


The Gamecocks averted another disaster at the hands of the Commodores, and they didn't even need Marcus Lattimore to get the job done.

Garcia took advantage of his team's strong rushing attack—led by a 146-yard effort from Brian Maddox—to get the ball rolling through the air, as he made mince-meat of the Commodores' secondary. 


2010 season stats: 124/172 for 1,681 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

4. Greg McElroy, Alabama (21/32 for 264 yards) at Tennessee


McElroy didn't have eye-popping totals through the air, but his steady-handed play put Mark Ingram in position to score two big touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.


2010 season stats: 137/194 for 1,781 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

5. Cam Newton, Auburn (10/16 for 86 yards. 28 carries for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns).


It would be easy to place Newton in the top spot again this week based on his rushing totals alone—they are simply other-worldly. That said, a quarterback, by definition, is supposed to spend the better part of his game passing the ball, not running it.

Spread or no spread, the lack of genuine playmakers around Newton will become a problem at some point—he can't keep doing it alone.

2010 season stats: 90/138 for 1,364 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 157 carries for 1,077 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

6. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (13/24 for 196 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Ole Miss.

Mallett's night ended early for the second straight week, this time due to a bruised shoulder, but his team managed to seal the victory on the strong running of Knile Davis in the fourth quarter.

2010 season stats: 145/215 for 2,040 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

7. Aaron Murray, Georgia (9/12 for 113 yards) at Kentucky.

Murray wasn't spectacular on Saturday, but he didn't have to be. He kept it simple, let Ealey do the dirty work, and didn't hurt his team by throwing ill-advised passes.

The kid has been steady, focused, and smart with the football all season. It's a trend that will, hopefully, continue to be seen next week when Georgia faces Urban Meyer's Gators. 

2010 season stats: 121/193 for 1,766 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 54 carries for 165 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

8. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (13/31 for 142 yards. 15 carries for 48 yards and 1 touchdown).

Smith has never been a world-beater. He's got some skills at running the ball, but his arm is nothing to write home about on a weekly basis. Vandy made a valiant effort at upending the Gamecocks on Saturday, but it just wasn't meant to be.

2010 season stats: 85/164 for 1,005 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 66 carries for 195 yards and 3 touchdowns.   



9.  Chris Relf, Mississippi State (8/19 for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. 20 carries for 51 yards) vs UAB.

It's hard to say what's more amazing: the fact that Mississippi State manages to keep winning with Relf or the fact that they might be worse off without him.

Hats off to Dan Mullen for maximizing the potential of his junior quarterback—he's been just good enough to get the job done.


2010 season stats: 63/114 for 815 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 107 carries for 428 yards and 2 touchdowns. 


10. Matt Simms, Tennessee (12/22 for 117 yards and 1 interception) vs Alabama.


Simms is a tough kid but he's been beat up this season—badly. Clearly, it's beginning to take its toll, too, after a big hit from Marcel Dareus, the junior called it a night.


2010 season stats: 100/176 for 1,253 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.


11. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (7/14 for 46 yards and 1 interception. 16 carries for 74 yards and 1 touchdown) at Auburn. 

Jordan Jefferson is awful. He's been awful all season. He was benched in favor of the, slightly less awful Jarrett Lee, but after Lee's atrocious performance against McNeese St. last week, LSU's coach, Les Miles, was looking for a spark.


Well, in case he hasn't figured it out yet, Jefferson is not "THAT" guy—he never will be.

2010 season stats: 65/123 for 623 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. 78 carries for 281 yards and 5 touchdowns.

College Football: Power RankingThe SEC Quarterbacks After Week Seven

See week six here.

1. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (32/42 for 349 yards, and 4 touchdowns) vs. South Carolina.

Don't look now but, the SEC has a new passing leader, and his name is not Ryan Mallett. 

Mike Hartline took another big step towards legendary status, in Lexington, as he led his team to a big victory over the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks. The senior has been nothing but steady-handed all season long and that has been the primary reason for the success this team has had through the air.

He's definitely come along way in four seasons and this year is most certainly his best yet.

2010  season stats: 157/230 for 1791 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

2. Cam Newton, Auburn (10/14 for 140-yards, and 1 touchdown. 25 carries for 188-yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. Arkansas.

You ever get the feeling that it's just not fair that Cam Newton has been able to be this dominant? People like to compare him to Tim Tebow but, if memory serves, Tebow did most of his damage inside the 20-yard line, on dives, and on designed QB sneaks. Newton is, literally, a runner who happens to have an arm—how on earth do you stop that?

Newton, again, took the game in his own hands as his Auburn Tigers outlasted the Arkansas Razorbacks in a 65-43 shoot-out at The Plains.

2010 season stats: 80/122 for 1278 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 129 carries for 860 yards (net) and 12 touchdowns.  

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/24 for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Vanderbilt

Murray left the running game to his running backs this week and just let his arm do the talking—and did it talk. The redshirt freshman continues to show poise and character in the pocket as he settles into this offense and gets to know his receivers.

On Saturday he sent a stern message to all of those who believe he only has eyes for A.J. Green as he made it a point to pass the ball to Georgia's other receivers—particularly Kris Durham, Tavares King, and Aron White—and proved that this team will no longer succumb to being a one-trick pony where the air game is concerned.

Murray continues to, quietly, impress and mature into his role as the Bulldog's quarterback of the future.

2010 season stats: 112/181 for 1,653 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 51 carries for 158 yards and 4 touchdowns.

4. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas (25/34 for 332 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) at Auburn.

Give the young man a little credit for keeping the Razorbacks close—for a time—in a game that most wrote off after Ryan Mallett exited with a head-injury. Wilson did his best impression of Mallett, leading the Hogs up and down the field against a porous Auburn pass defense that can thank the, equally, porous Arkansas secondary, as well as the legs of Cam Newton, for their big win.

If Mallett is out for an extended period, there are no guarantees that Wilson can duplicate this performance, but with Greg Childs, Jarius Wright, and Joe Adams on the field to catch his passes, you have to like his chances to remain an able substitute for at least one more week.

2010 season stats: 26/37 for 338 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

5. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (20/32 for 382 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) at Kentucky.

It was a losing effort, but Garcia looked good for, roughly, 58 minutes, and he nearly brought his team to victory in the closing seconds.  However, Kentucky proved too strong and too determined and the Gamecocks utter elation from defeating No. 1 Alabama the week prior, became utter deflation as they watched their BCS hopes fall yet again.

That said, Garcia has done a fine job this season of not making too many mistakes and keeping his team in the hint, but now the team will be forced to find out how much of their success is due to the presence of Marcus Lattimore's running, rather than the progression of Garcia's skills.

2010 season stats: 93/133 for 1,326 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 45 carries for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns.

6. Greg McElroy, Alabama (17/25 for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Ole Miss.

McElroy didn't have to do too much, despite a still-absent rushing attack, but he managed to do what was needed to secure a win for the Tide—while letting the defense do the dirty work.

2010 season stats: 116/162 for 1,517 yards, 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. 

7.  John Brantley, Florida (24/39 for 219 yards, and 1 interception) vs. Mississippi State

Brantley is floundering in this Gator offense and he needs an exit-strategy if this is all this team has planned for him. He's been average all season and, in the Gator's last three losses, he's been as unimpressive as a Florida quarterback can be without being on the bench (56/129 for 566 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions).

That's not going to cut it in Gainesville, folks.

2010 season stats: 129/208 for 1,266 yards, 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. 

8. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (18/40 for 110 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Alabama. 

Masoli tried his best to find room to run against Alabama's defense, but he found no success. Once he was shut down, there went the Rebel offense as well.

2010 season stats: 75/134 for 933 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 60 carries for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

9. Jarrett Lee, LSU (9/16 for 75 yards) vs. McNeese State. 

LSU is desperate for good quarterback play and, for a moment, it seemed Lee was the answer they were looking for. Well, the chariot has returned to its pumpkin status and the Tigers are back to looking for a better alternative—unfortunately for them, there isn't one.

How much luck do you think Les Miles has in his headset because he's going to need it this weekend.

2010 season stats: 36/50 for 405 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 

10. Chris Relf, Mississippi State (4/9 for 33 yards. 22 carries for 82 yards and 1 touchdown) at 
Florida. 

If someone had told you, at the start of the season, that Chris Relf would be the quarterback of a team  ranked ahead of both Georgia and Florida, would you have believed it?

2010 season stats: 55/95 for 708 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 87 carries for 377 yards and 2 touchdowns. 

11. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (5/14 for 70 yards and 1 interception) at Georgia.  

Larry Smith didn't stand a chance against a Georgia defense that was playing for pride as much as they were a win. The junior found few passing lanes, no running lanes, and no points for his Commodores.

2010 season stats: 72/133 for 863 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 51 carries for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns.

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Six

See week five here.

1. Aaron Murray, Georgia (17/25 for 266 yards and 2 touchdowns. 7 carries for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs Tennessee.

It was only a matter of time before Aaron Murray made his presence felt against an SEC opponent. The reconfigured offensive line, and a healthy A.J. Green on the football field, made the passing and running lanes easier for Murray to take advantage of as he scrambled, passed, and tip-toed his way into SEC Freshman of the Week Honors. He's for real folks...don't let any one tell you otherwise.

2010 season stats: 97/157 for 1366 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 45 carries for 122 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

2. Cameron Newton, Auburn (13/21 for 210 yards and 1 interception. 28 carries for 198 yards and 4 touchdowns) at Kentucky.

People talk about the run of luck that Les Miles has had over at LSU, but Gene Chizik has had quite a run of good fortune himself—thanks in large part to Cam Newton. The junior transfer has been the x-factor in four of the six come-from-behind wins the Tigers have this season. Against Kentucky, he was the driving force behind several key downs where a first down was necessary if Auburn were going to have any chance at winning the game.

Newton showed, yet again, why he is one of the most dominant players in college football.

2010 season stats: 70/108 for 1138 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 104 carries for 672 yards and 9 touchdowns).

3. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (17/20 for 201 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Alabama.

Garcia finally came up big in a big game. The junior found redemption for his mishap at Auburn two-weeks ago (where his last-minute gaffes contributed to a Gamecock loss)—upending No. 1 Alabama at Williams-Brice Stadium, and getting Steve Spurrier one step closer to realizing his goal of winning an SEC Championship at South Carolina.

2010 season stats: 73/101 for 944 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 42 carries for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns).

4. Greg McElroy, Alabama (27/34 for 315 yards and 2 touchdowns) at South Carolina. 

McElroy finally faced the first loss of his collegiate, starting, career at the hands of a better-than-advertised South Carolina team that had plenty of time to prepare for his Tide's arrival. McElroy spent much of the day on his back—thanks largely to holding on to the ball too long in multiple situations—but he still managed to protect the ball and keep his team close for a time.

2010 season stats: 99/137 for 1238 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

5. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (27/38 for 310 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Texas A&M.

This game was likely too close for comfort for Razorback fans, as it took a last-minute interception of Aggies quarterback, Jerrod Johnson, to seal the victory at home. However, Mallett continues to be stellar this year—ringing up yet another 300+ yard passing game to add to his season total.

The senior is averaging just under 350 passing yards per game.

2010 season stats: 122/176 for 1748 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.  

6. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (16/27 for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Eastern Michigan.

The Commodores had no problem dispatching Eastern Michigan, relying mostly on the rushing talents of Warren Norman and Zac Stacy, but Smith tossed a couple touchdowns in the second quarter for good measure.

2010 season stats: 67/119 for 793 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

7. Jarrett Lee, LSU (9/11 for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns) at Florida. 

Given the opportunistic nature of the Florida Gator's secondary this season (they lead the nation with 13), you have to be impressed with the poise of Jarrett Lee. After coach Les Miles called for a fake field goal late in the fourth, Lee tossed the game-winning touchdown to seal the victory for the Tigers.

2010 season stats: 27/36 for 330 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 

8. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (23/28 for 220 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Auburn.

Hartline was as steady and poised as you would have wanted him to be for this game against the Auburn Tigers. He didn't hurt his team with costly mistakes or turnovers and he kept his cool when his Wildcats were down early in the third quarter—tossing the touchdown that, eventually, led to the start of a Wildcat rally.

Sadly, Cam Newton proved to be too much for the defense, and Kentucky simply couldn't hang on.

2010 season stats: 125/188 for 1442 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. Matt Simms, Tennessee (9/13 for 178 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) at Georgia. 

Simms did all he could to get the offense going but the Volunteers were mauled on both sides of the football field by a motivated Georgia Bulldog team. Still, Simm's scramble to shake off a potential Justin Houston sack and find Justin Hunter for the score, early in the game,  was one of the few shining moments of the day for the offense.

2010 season stats: 88/154 for 1136 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

10. John Brantley, Florida (16/24 for 154 yards and 1 interception) vs. LSU

Cracked ribs or no, Brantley is not the right guy for this Florida offense so long as his new coordinator, Steve Adazzio keeps calling the plays. Brantley is a pocket-passer trying to run a spread offense that is built for a guy like Trey Burton. It seems only matter of time before either Brantley or Adazzio is replaced because this offense has been anything but fluid this season.

2010 season stats: 105/169 for 1056 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

11. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (5/9 for 72 yards) at Houston.

Russell came in to replace Chris Relf who, to be honest, did more damage with his legs than his arm (rushing for 96 yards and a score).

2010 season stats: 35/58 for 555 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week 5

See week four here:

1.  Cameron Newton, Auburn (14/19 for 245 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

No last minute heroics by Cam Newton were needed in this match-up—the Tigers dispatched of the Warhawks handily, 52-3. A 94-yard pass to Emory Blake, in the first quarter, set the tone for the day. Newton was able to win the game with his arm, instead of his legs, this week. As a result, his team is now 5-0.

2010 season stats: 57/87 for 928 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 76 carries for 474 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

2. Chris Relf, Mississippi State (11/15 for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Alcorn State.

Relf had another impressive day, albeit against a team that was not nearly as competitive as what he has or will see the rest of this season, and the Bulldogs are now 3-2—just three wins shy of bowl eligibility.

2010 season stats: 44/72 for 618 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

3. Aaron Murray, Georgia (16/27 for 221 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Colorado. 

Poor Aaron Murray, if only he had a better offensive line, a better running game, and a better offensive coordinator to call the plays, imagine how much better he would be? Despite the ineptitude that has surrounded him on offense this season, Murray continues to shine.

2010 season stats: 80/132 for 1100 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

4. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (27/46 for 300 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Ole Miss.

The Wildcats did nothing to help themselves on Saturday—turning the ball over three times and performing abysmally on third downs (6/16). However, you have to give Hartline a lot of credit for not losing heart and nearly leading his team back to victory in the fourth quarter, where the Wildcats scored 15 points before losing by seven to the Rebels.

2010 season stats: 102/160 for 1222 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

5. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (9/17 for 90 yards and 3 touchdowns. 9 carries for 43 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Kentucky.

Masoli was as efficient as you can get, throwing only nine completions—three of which went for scores. His Rebels capitalized off the mistakes of a Wildcat offense that didn't seem to find any consistency until it was far too late.

2010 season stats: 57/94 for 823 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. 50 carries for 262 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

6.  Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (15/25 for 157 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) at Connecticut.

The Commodores gave it the old college try on Saturday and, for a moment, it looked as if they might actually give the Huskies a run for their money. Sparked by a big special teams play, Larry Smith aided his team to two quick scores in the second quarter before the Huskies took over and never looked back. Smith also added 64 yards on the ground to the 157 yard passing effort.

2010 season stats: 51/92 for 540 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 



7. Matt Simms, Tennessee (12/23 for 121 yards) at LSU.

Simms wasn't awful and he wasn't good, but he nearly helped his team to victory against an LSU team that has a lot of luck on its side this season.

2010 season stats: 79/141 for 957 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

8. Greg McElroy, Alabama (11/17 for 84 yards) vs Florida.

He was hardly relevant, but he didn't have to be playing against a Florida team that had no answer for either Mark Ingram or the Alabama defense.

2010 season stats: 79/141, 957 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. John Brantley, Florida (16/31 for 202 yards and 2 interceptions).

Brantley didn't stand much of a chance against an Alabama defense that seemed to always know exactly what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, but he gave a noble effort—considering the questionable playcalling by his former quarterbacks coach turned offensive coordinator.

2010 season stats: 89/145 for 902 yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. 

10.  Jordan Jefferson, LSU (3/10 for 30 yards and 2 interceptions. 5 carries for 100 yards and 1 interception) vs. Tennessee.

Jefferson was his normally awful self and got yanked before he embarrassed his team any further. Jarrett Lee took the reigns in his absence and was not nearly as bad. However, compared to how poorly Jefferson has played this season, it would be hard to be much worse.

2010 season stats: 46/89 for 449 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Four

See week three here.

1.  Cameron Newton, Auburn (16/21 for 158 yards and 2 touchdowns. 25 carries for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns) versus South Carolina. 

Pretty soon the Auburn Tigers might take on the moniker of the "cardiac cats" as the last two weeks have both seen some dramatic come-from-behind victories by the Tigers. Once again, Cameron Newton put on his Superman cape in the fourth quarter as he led his team to another victory over a worthy opponent.

2010 season total: 43/68 for 683 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 75 carries for 485 yards and 5 touchdowns. 

2. Matt Simms, Tennessee (19/34 for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs. UAB

Simms sealed the Volunteers second victory of the season on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Denarius Moore to win in double overtime. The junior quarterback showed plenty of poise and leadership on the field against a feisty UAB team that seemed determined to walk out of Neyland with a win. Simms has made subtle progressions each week and, so far, has given Vol fans a reason to be hopeful for the future.

2010 season total:  67/118 for 836 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

3.  John Brantley, Florida (24/35 for 248 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Kentucky.

Brantley finally did two things for the first time this season—break 200 yards passing and throw his first interception. The latter is impressive, the former not so much. Though he was largely overshadowed by his freshman counterpart, Trey Burton, Brantley still gets credit for being steady, if not stellar, for the Gators in their win over Kentucky.

2010 season total: 73/114 yards for 700 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

4. Aaron Murray, Georgia (18/31 for 274 yards and 1 touchdown) at Mississippi State

Murray continues to be impressive for Georgia, in spite of the teams' overall anemia on offense, and offers plenty of reason for fans to believe he is the future at quarterback. He looks more comfortable in the pocket each week and, even minus A.J. Green, has developed solid chemistry with his other receivers. Now, if the rest of the team could play with as much passion, the Bulldogs might have something.

2010 season total: 64/105 for 879 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

5. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (8/12 for 153 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception) vs. Fresno State

The Rebels left most of the dirty work to their running backs this week, but Masoli helped get the party started with a touchdown early. He's not been the spark that Houston Nutt hoped he would be, but he hasn't been downright abysmal either.

2010 season total: 48/77 for 733 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

6. Chris Relf, Mississipi State (8/13 for 135 yards and 1 touchdown. 20 carries for 109 yards) vs. Georgia.

Leading your team to victory over a cross-division rival has to count for something, right? This was, without question, one of Relf's best SEC performances so far this season.

2010 season total: 33/57 for 409 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 48 carries for 249 yards. 

7. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (15/21 for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns) vs Auburn.

You're probably wondering why Garcia isn't ranked a bit higher, right? Well, his position here has less to do with what he did do, than what he didn't do. Garcia fumbled twice in the second half, clearing the way for 14 of the points Auburn needed to win the game and spoil the Gamecocks bid to go 4-0 on the season—2-0 in the SEC.

2010 season total: 56/81 for 743 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

8.  Greg McElroy, Alabama (18/26 for 194 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) at Arkansas.

McElroy was mediocre for the majority of the day, but money when it mattered. He made a drive saving play on fourth-and-inches and helped engineer two touchdown scoring drives in the second half.

2010 season total: 61/86 for 899 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

9. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (25/38 for 357 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions) vs. Alabama.

It was a valiant effort that nearly turned into a big win for the Razorbacks, but Mallett lost his groove after throwing his first interception—in the fourth quarter—and never recovered. Arkansas was close to being the beasts of the West...but, as we all know, close only counts in horseshoes.

2010 season total: 95/138 for 1438 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.  

10. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (21/39 for 242 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions) at Florida.

Hartline couldn't continue the momentum of the Wildcats in the face of the Gators smothering defense, but he did give a valiant effort. 

2010 season total: 75/114 for 922 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.  

11. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/22 for 75 yards and 2 interceptions) vs West Virginia.


Jefferson has been atrocious this year. Is he the victim of bad coaching or does he really suck this bad? My goodness, it's an utter miracle that the Tigers are 4-0 —an. utter. miracle. If Jefferson continues to play his uninspired brand of football the rest of the way, it's a miracle that should end very soon.

2010 season total: 43/79 for 419 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. 

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Three

See the power rankings for weeks one and two at the respective links:

1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas(21/33 for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns) at Georgia.

The senior leader of the red hot Razorbacks continued to prove why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this season. His dismantling of the Georgia Bulldog offense, including tossing the game-winner with only seconds left to play, sent a message to the rest of the nation that he is for real.

2010 season total: 70/100 for 1081 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

2. Greg McElroy, Alabama (14/20 for 258 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception) at Duke

Speaking of senior leaders, the Crimson Tide once again took care of business against a lesser opponent. Mark Ingram made his season debut and he didn't disappoint. The dynamic duo will need to be at their very best this week as they prepare to take on the Razorbacks high-powered offense led, of course, by Ryan Mallett.

2010 season total: 43/60 for 705 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 1 interception). 

3. Matt Simms, Tennessee (19/31 for 259 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) vs. Florida

The Vols are going to be a good team, at some point, they simply need to find a way to keep up their intensity for 60 minutes. Simms did a fine job getting against a talented Florida secondary that leads the SEC in interceptions this season (10). His maturation process grows with each passing week.

2010 season total: 48/84 for 591 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.

4. Aaron Murray, Georgia (15/27 for 253 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception) vs. Arkansas

For all the question marks the Bulldogs have on both the offense and defense, one thing is very clear: Aaron Murray can play ball. The redshirt freshman engineered the comeback that nearly won the game for the Bulldogs. He's still got a lot of growing to do, but he's done a fine job thus far.  

2010 season total: 46/74 for 605 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.


5. Cameron Newton, Auburn (7/14 for 203 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) vs. Clemson

For a while it looked like the Tigers would be upended by Clemson, but Auburn showed why they have every bit the reason to be optimistic about their chances of winning the west. The offense finally woke up in the second half (scoring 21 points), thanks in large part to Cameron Newton, and Auburn was able to stay undefeated on the year.

2010 season total: 27/47 for 525 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. 

6.  Mike Hartline, Kentucky (21/29 for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns) vs. Akron

The Wildcats have done well this season. Hartline's team stands at a comfortable 3-0 so far this season. Of course, they haven't played anyone yet, we'll have to see how well they do once they get into conference play. That said, Hartline continues to manage the game as well as anyone and his confidence appears to grow with each win under his belt.

2010 season total: 54/75 for 680 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.  

7. John Brantley, Florida (14/23 for 167 yards and 1 touchdown) at Tennessee

Brantley managed to escape his first true road test with a win—the accolades end there. The Gators offense continues to look mediocre and all the hype about Brantley still seems as if it may have a come a year too soon. He's not awful, he's just not as impressive as many thought he might be.

2010 season total: 49/79 for 452 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. 

8. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (13/20 for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions) vs. Furman

Garcia looked about as uninspired as he could playing against Furman and, although the Gamecocks offense put 24 points on the board against the Paladins, they didn't look nearly as crisp as most might like. Perhaps Spurrier's team was simply saving some of that fire for next week when they face the Auburn Tigers...at least, that's what Gamecock fans should be hoping.

2010 season total: 41/60 for 508 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (10/16 for 97 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions) vs. Mississippi St.

Jefferson...what can you say about him at this point? He's been bailed out each week by a particular unit. In week one, it was Patrick Peterson (special teams). In week two, it was Stephen Ridley (running backs), and this week it was his field goal kicker. At some point, Jefferson's luck is going to run out.

2010 season total: 33/57 for 344 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.

10. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (19/35 for 190 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. 19 carries for 104 yards and 1 touchdown) vs. Vanderbilt.

Masoli's mobility has to be the only thing keeping him from being completely worthless to the Rebels this season.

2010 season total: 40/65 for 580 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions 

11. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (5/10 for 81 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions

Russell is a long way from his week one performance. He's not proved to be nearly as prolific against better defenses and his performance against LSU last week just shows that he's still got a long way to go yet.

2010 season total: 22/35 for 356 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

12. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (9/19 for 73 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions)

Larry Smith is not good. There is little that can prove the contrary right now. The Commodores won on Saturday, but not much of that was due to the play of Smith.

2010 season total: 36/67 for 383 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week Two

After week two, the magnifying glass has a broader view of who's doing big things for his team and who, likely, benefited from a soft opponent in week one.

You can find the week one quarterback power rankings here.

1. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (28/43 for 400 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT) at Louisiana-Monroe

Ryan Mallett still hasn't faced any true competition yet, but that doesn't make his arm or that Arkansas offense any less impressive. It took the Hogs two quarters to find their groove, but by the time the third-quarter ended in Louisiana, it was clear who had the best team.

2010 Season Total: 49/67 for 701 yards, 6 TD's, and 2 INT's

2. Greg McElroy, Alabama (16/24 for 229 yards and 2 TD's) vs. Penn State

McElroy had the distinction of being the quarterback who often lost his focus in the big games. If nothing else, the win over Penn State, in Tuscaloosa, proved that McElroy has truly come into his own as the leader of his team. His poise and confidence in the pocket have been a steadying influence on a team that is currently playing without two of its best players—Marcel Dareus and Mark Ingram.

2010 Season Total: 29/40 for 447 yards and 3 TD's

3. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (16/20 for 213 yards and 3 TD's) vs Western Kentucky

Whatever Joker Phillips is selling in Lexington, the Wildcats are buying it, and Mike Hartline is carrying it out on the field. The senior is a markedly better passer and seems much more comfortable leading this Kentucky offense this season than the last.

2010 Season Total: 33/46 for 430 yards and 3 TD's

4. Cameron Newton, Auburn (11/19 for 136 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 INT—18 carries for 70 yards) at Mississippi State

It wasn't as dynamic a performance as exhibited in week one, but, in Auburn's first SEC road game, against a rowdy home crowd, Newton led the Tigers to a key conference victory.

2010 Season Total: 20/33 for 322 yards, 5 TD's, and 1 INT—33 carries for 241 yards and 2 TD's

5. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (12/17 for 165 yards and 0 TD's) vs. Georgia

Garcia's stats don't jump off the page but, watching him play, you get the sense that he may finally be coming into his own as a leader. The Gamecocks have found their running game in Marcus Lattimore, and Garcia is content to make the big plays when called upon. So far, he's been stellar on third downs, and he hasn't made the mistakes that cost his team in key situations last year. If he can continue on the right path, the Gamecocks will definitely be in Atlanta come December.

2010 Season Total: 28/40 for 358 yards and 0 TD's 

6. Aaron Murray, Georgia (14/21 for 192 yards and 0 TD's) at South Carolina

The scoreboard is what everyone pointed to at the end of the game, but that doesn't change the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs have found a player Aaron Murray. The redshirt freshman, in his first road game, showed veteran poise in the pocket, and made some timely throws on key downs. Despite the final outcome, the young gun kept Georgia in it til the end against a highly-motivated talented South Carolina team—that's saying a lot.

2010 Season Total: 31/47 for 352 yards, 3 TD's, and 1 INT

7. John Brantley, Florida (18/31 for 172 yards and 3 TD's) vs South Florida

The problem with John Brantley is he's not Tim Tebow—let's just put that out there. He's got a decent arm and a lot of potential (once he gets going), but he's been vanilla to this point in two blowout wins against subpar opponents. He's going to need to do a lot more if he expects to get by in the SEC.

2010 Season Total: 35/56 for 285 yards and 4 TD's

8. Jeremiah Masoli, Ole Miss (14/20 for 281 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT) at Tulane

Masoli hasn't bombed in his two appearances at quarterback this season, but the Rebels certainly haven't been the team they thought they would when they acquired him. He's done a decent job of transitioning into the offense so far and, considering the lackluster play of Nathan Stanley, it won't be long before it's the Masoli show in Oxford.

2010 Season Total: 21/30 for 390 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INT's

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (8/20 for 96 yards, 0 TD's, and 1 INT) at Vanderbilt 

The Tigers seem to win football games in spite of Jordan Jefferson, not because of him, and that's not a good thing. In week one, Patrick Peterson bailed him out and, in week two, it was running back Stephen Ridley. One would have to think his luck will run out soon and, when it does, he will only have himself to blame.

2010 Season Total: 23/41 for 247 yards, 2 TD's, and 2 INT's

10. Chris Reif, Mississippi State (12/26 for 110 yards and 0 TD's) vs. Auburn

Reif still isn't going to floor you with his passing prowess, but he did play fairly well against Auburn—his mobility likely kept the Bulldogs in the game. He isn't markedly better than 2009, but until Tyler Russell has his first go-round in SEC play, Reif is likely the better option.

2010 Season Total: 19/35 for 226 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

11. Matt Simms, Tennessee (15/29 for 151 yards, 0 TD's, and 1 INT) vs Oregon

Give Simms a little more time and he will be a decent quarterback for the Vols but, right now, you get the feeling that the passing game isn't ready for the better defenses of the world. In time, as the receivers mature, and Simms gets more comfortable, that could change.

2010 Season Total: 29/53 for 332 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

12. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (8/15 for 70 yards, 0 TD's, and 0 INT's) vs LSU

Smith is what he is and that may never change. He struggled mightily against a much better defensive front and, despite the efforts of Vanderbilt running back, Warren Norman, the Commodores simply could not do much offensively to match the Tigers.

2010 Season Total: 27/48 for 310 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT

College Football: Power Ranking The SEC Quarterbacks After Week One

Week one is in the books and all of the SEC games have been played. The actual pass efficiency ratings for each quarterback can be found here, but these power rankings not only take normal stats into consideration (i.e. touchdowns, interceptions, completion percentage, and total yards) but intangibles as well (i.e. game management, decision-making, pocket presence, etc.).

1. Tyler Russell, Mississippi State (13/16 for 256 yards, and 4 TD's)
 
Russell, the redshirt freshman for Dan Mullen's Bulldogs, made a case for why he may very well supplant Chris Reif before long. In helping lead the Bulldogs to their very convincing 49-7 victory over the Memphis Tigers. Russell completed over 80 percent of his passes and finished with a near-perfect pass efficiency rating (298.15).

2. Cameron Newton, Auburn (9/14 for 186 yards, and 3 TD's—15 carries for 171 yards, and 2 TD's)

Newton turned out to be all that was adverstised—and then some. The JUCO transfer was as impressive running the ball as he was passing it, and he brought the home crowd to its feet when he broke one run off for a 71-yard touchdown run. The Auburn Tigers definitely have the duel-threat they were hoping for in Newton—who accounted for 357 of the teams 608 total yards on the day.



3. Greg McElroy, Alabama (13/15 for 218 yards and 1 TD)

Greg McElroy didn't have to do much to lead his team to victory, but the Tide rolled even without their Heisman winning running back out there to carry the ball. McElroy was concise on every throw and left little doubt where his focus will be this season—a third trip to the Dome for the SEC Championship.


 
4. Ryan Mallet, Arkansas (21/24 for 301 yards, 3 TD's and 1 INT)
Ryan Mallet was nearly perfect in the opening quarter of his first game of the season—a sure sign that his broken foot will not be an issue this season. The senior, a potential Heisman candidate, was in good form on Saturday as his Razorbacks mauled Tennessee Tech 44-3.

5. Aaron Murray, Georgia (17/26 for 160 yards, 3 TD's and 1 INT—4 carries for 42 yards, and 1 TD)

The redshirt freshman was better than expected in his home debut as he led the Georgia Bulldogs to an impressive 55-7 win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Some of his most impressive plays came while he was on the run—a 21 yard scramble to the end zone to end the half brought the fans to their feet. He still has some learning to do but, if he can remain healthy, Georgia could have a special player on their hands.



6. Stephen Garcia, South Carolina (16/23 for  193 yards—5 carries for 38 yards, and 2 TD’s 

Garcia made a lot of high-percentage completions last Thursday night in the Gamecock's season opener, but it would have been nice to see him get a couple in the end zone—utilizing the obvious height advantage his receivers had over the Southern Miss secondary. However, he did manage to showcase his scrambling ability in netting two rushing touchdowns.

7. Larry Smith, Vanderbilt (19/33) for 244 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT)

It's safe to say that Vanderbilt played the toughest opponent in the SEC this week and nearly ended up with the win. Smith performed notably better than expected given the holes in his offensive line—passing and running for nearly 300 yards on the day.

8. Mike Hartline, Kentucky (17/26 for 217 yards)

Hartline didn't walk away with any touchdowns on the day, but he did manage the game well on Saturday in helping to lead his team to a win over their in-state rival—Louisville.

9. Jordan Jefferson, LSU (15/21 for 151 yards, 2 TD's, and 1 INT)

The Tigers got the victory, but it was sloppy and unimpressive—much like Jefferson. The junior quarterback didn't necessarily do anything to hurt his team—save the silly interception—but he made several throws in the game that could be his undoing later. He's going to have to do better than he did on Saturday against the Heels because there is little that indicates he's remarkably better than 2009.



10. Nathan Stanley, Ole Miss (6/10 for 133 yards and 3 TD's)
You can say this much for Stanley: he made every completion count. The sophomore was forced to split time with Jeremiah Masoli, but not before netting 21 points off three of his six completions. Too bad for him, though, his performance will be erased by the overwhelming embarrassment that was the Rebels' loss to Jacksonville State—an FCS team.



11. John Brantley, Florida (17/25 for 113 yards and 2 TD's)
Brantley looked rather pedestrian calling the shots this weekend—he certainly didn't strike fear into the hearts of the SEC East. By the fourth quarter, his Gators had exactly 26 total yards of offense entering the fourth quarter—ouch.

12. Matt Simms, Tennessee (14/24 for 181 yards and 1 TD)

Simms performed fairly decent for his first time out, but he will need to do a lot better if he expects to make a game of it next week against the Oregon Ducks.

SEC Media Days: A.J. Green Expected To Be In Attendance For Georgia

SEC Media Days will be held in Hoover, AL from July 21-23rd at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, AL. The yearly event has instituted one major change as there will now be three player representatives from each team as opposed to two.

The Georgia Bulldogs will send A.J. Green (WR), Drew Butler (P), and Shaun Chapas (FB)—three of the nicest, most personable, and least inflammatory guys you will likely ever meet.

It's obvious that Georgia isn't looking for too much spotlight at this point—they've had quite enough of the media's negative spin on their recent troubles.

So, no Washaun Ealey or Caleb King means no questions about the recently suspended, Dontavius Jackson.

No Aaron Murray or Logan Gray means little possibility of Zach Mettenberger's name floating to the surface again. 

The lack of a defensive player means there will be less questions about the 3-4, Todd Grantham, or the progress of the 3-4 scheme thus far.

Just keep it simple and get the heck out of dodge without too much hoopla being stirred up again. 

A.J. Green will probably have some level of tense questioning, but it's likely to revolve around the possibility that this could be his last season at Georgia. Some may also ask about the progress of Aaron Murray but I don't expect those questions to be overly controversial or intrusive. 

Otherwise, expect all eyes and most questions, to be reserved for coach Mark Richt. No doubt he will get his fair share of inquiries about his job, the program, and the state of his football team for 2010—luckily he won't have time to answer every question.

Below are the other teams and the players who will be in attendance. The flashbulbs will probably be the brightest around Alabama as Saban will trot out not only LB, Dont'a Hightower but Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, and quarterback Greg McElroy.

SEC MEDIA DAY ATTENDEES:

Alabama: 

RB Mark Ingram
LB Dont’a Hightower
QB Greg McElroy
 
Arkansas: 

QB Ryan Mallett 
TE D.J. Williams 
DE Jake Bequette
 
Auburn: 

OT Lee Ziemba
LB Josh Bynes
DB Aairon Savage
 
Florida: 

C Mike Pouncey
DE Justin Trattou
S Ahmad Black
 
Georgia: 

WR A.J. Green
P Drew Butler
FB Shaun Chapas
 
Kentucky: 

WR-QB-PR-KOR Randall Cobb
DE DeQuin Evans
TB-KOR Derrick Locke
 
LSU:

QB Jordan Jefferson
LB  Kelvin Sheppard
CB Patrick Peterson
 
Ole Miss:

DT Jerrell Powe
DE Kentrell Lockett
OT Bradley Sowell
 
Mississippi State:

DB Charles Mitchell
QB Chris Relf
OL Quentin Saulsberry
 
South Carolina: 

FB Patrick DiMarco
LB Shaq Wilson
DE Cliff Matthews
 
Tennessee: 

TE Luke Stocker
 DE Chris Walker
LB Nick Reveiz
 
Vanderbilt: 

LB Chris Marve
RB-RS Warren Norman
LB John Stokes