2008 Southeastern Conference Preview

Conference outlook, with teams listed in predicted order of finish, by The Post and Courier's Travis Haney:

1. Florida

2007: 9-4 (5-3, 3rd East)

Coach: Urban Meyer (31-8 in three seasons at Florida; 70-16 in seven seasons overall)

Returning starters: 16 (7 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist)

Impact players: QB Tim Tebow, WR Percy Harvin, LB Brandon Spikes, DE Carlos Dunlap.

Big shoes to fill: The Gators will miss Andre "Bubba" Caldwell's leadership and his dependability at receiver. Tony Joiner was the only senior starter in Florida's secondary. Maybe he left lessons with his young proteges. Derrick Harvey's early departure hurts at end, but Dunlap, the Charleston-area native, is ready.

Outlook: Tebow took home a boatload of hardware, but he was miffed that the Gators dropped four games a year ago. Florida is still stinging from the whipping that Michigan laid on the Gators in the bowl game. Look for renewed focus. Don't doubt Tebow. He'll have the Gators ready for more this fall.

2. Georgia

2007: 11-2 (6-2, T-1st East)

Coach: Mark Richt (72-19 in seven years at Georgia)

Returning starters: 17 (7 offense, 9 defense, 1 specialist)

Impact players: QB Matt Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, DT Geno Atkins, LB Dannell Ellerbe.

Big shoes to fill: Sean Bailey, last year's leading receiver, is gone. But that's not too concerning because UGA is looking for more from Mohamed Massaquoi. Freshmen A.J. Green (from Summerville) and Tavarres King could also factor in. Sophomore fullback Shaun Chapas will have to slip into Brannan Southerland's slippers until Southerland comes back from foot surgery.

Outlook: The Bulldogs are a lot of people's preseason No. 1 in the country. But Georgia's going to have a tough time even making it to Atlanta. If the Bulldogs survive road games at South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Auburn and the Cocktail Party against Florida in Jacksonville, they'll be deserving of the praise.

3. South Carolina

2007: 6-6 (3-5, 4th East)

Coach: Steve Spurrier (21-16 in three seasons at USC; 163-56-2 in 18 seasons overall)

Returning starters: 18 (6 offense, 10 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: WR Kenny McKinley, TE Jared Cook, LB Jasper Brinkley, FS Emanuel Cook.

Big shoes to fill: Not sure that Blake Mitchell's shoes are necessarily all that huge, but Spurrier needs to find a quarterback. He thinks he has one in Tommy Beecher, but will that decision stick? Not talked about much, but consider that a couple of key veteran blockers - tight end Andy Boyd and fullback Lenard Stafford — ran out of eligibility.

Outlook: South Carolina has its best team under Spurrier. But not good enough to challenge Florida or Georgia for the East title. That's the ultimate goal for USC, sure, but the Gamecocks should start by trying to win seven or eight games and get back to a bowl. The schedule sets up for a quick start, but how will the Gamecocks finish?

4. Tennessee

2007: 10-4 (6-2, 1st East)

Coach: Phillip Fulmer (147-45 in 16 seasons at Tennessee)

Returning starters: 16 (8 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB Jonathan Crompton, RB Arian Foster, LB Rico McCoy, SS Eric Berry.

Big shoes to fill: People are underestimating the loss of quarterback Erik Ainge. By the end of his career, he had turned into one of the best leaders in the league. Crompton has talent, but it'll take time to adjust in Dave Clawson's new offense. Linebacker Jerod Mayo had a big impact on the Vols as well.

Outlook: It'll be interesting to see how Clawson makes the transition from an FCS head coach (Richmond) to SEC offensive coordinator. The Vols have plenty enough returning talent, especially along the offensive and defensive lines, to win. But don't look for a return trip to Atlanta. UT's season hinges on the Nov. 1 game at South Carolina.

5. Kentucky

2007: 8-5 (3-5, T-4th East)

Coach: Rich Brooks (25-35 in five seasons at Kentucky; 116-144-4 in 23 seasons overall)

Returning starters: 15 (5 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB Mike Hartline, RB Tony Dixon, WR Dicky Lyons Jr., CB Trevard Lindley.

Big shoes to fill: The largest, this side of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Andre Woodson got folks in the Bluegrass talking about more than just hoops. Coaches eyed Curtis Pulley as the guy who'd replace him, but Pulley couldn't stay out of trouble. Losing receivers Keenan Burton and Steve Johnson will hurt mightily, too. Oh, and top running back, the versatile Rafael Little, is also gone.

Outlook: Brooks just got a commitment for a top-flight quarterback for 2009. That's good news. But the Wildcats need him this year. Losing Woodson is going to sting a lot more than you might realize. He helped Brooks turn Kentucky into a winner. It'll take all of Brooks' efforts to keep UK in a bowl game this fall.

6. Vanderbilt

2007: 5-7 (2-6, 6th East)

Coach: Bobby Johnson (20-50 in six seasons at Vanderbilt; 80-86 in 14 seasons overall)

Returning starters: 12 (4 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB Chris Nickson, QB MacKenzi Adams, WR George Smith, CB D.J. Moore.

Big shoes to fill: Basically, Vanderbilt is working with an all-new offensive line. That's no good. Coach Robbie Caldwell's got his work cut out for him. Also, the early departure of receiver Earl Bennett will make things difficult for an offense that could have big-time problems moving the ball.

Outlook: After Vanderbilt looked as if it were knocking on the door of a bowl berth, 2008 should be a step in the wrong direction for Johnson and his team. In addition to the offensive losses above, losing linebackers Jonathan Goff and Marcus Buggs will prove huge. It could be a long year for Vandy faithful.

1. Louisiana State

2007: 12-2 (6-2, 1st West, SEC champ, national champ)

Coach: Les Miles (34-6 in four seasons at LSU; 62-27 in seven overall seasons)

Returning starters: 12 (6 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist)

Impact players: RB Keiland Williams, WR Demetrius Byrd, DT Ricky Jean-Francois, LB Darry Beckwith.

Big shoes to fill: There's a lot, all over the field, but there are plenty of Tigers able to slip right in. Take Jean-Francois. He might wind up being an All-American in the same position that Glenn Dorsey just vacated. LSU replaces essentially its entire secondary, and those guys were good. Didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but the Tigers would probably maim for the chance to have another year with QB Matt Flynn.

Outlook: Ryan Perrilloux's expulsion hurts. And it puts a lot of pressure on Jarrett Lee, Andrew Hatch and Jordan Jefferson, the men charged with playing QB. But having talent all around them helps a bunch. Despite the losses, Nick Saban and Les Miles have recruited incredible talent, and it'll show. If the Tigers can slip past Auburn early in the year, they'll have a leg up to get back to Atlanta.

2. Auburn

2007: 9-4 (5-3 SEC, 2nd West)

Coach: Tommy Tuberville (80-33 in nine seasons at Auburn; 105-53 in 13 seasons overall)

Returning starters: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB Kodi Burns, RB Ben Tate, DT Sen'Derrick Marks, LB Tray Blackmon.

Big shoes to fill: Losing the school's all-time sack leader, Quentin Groves, hurts. At least Marks is there to take up the slack. The Tigers also lost their leading tackler, tackle Josh Thompson. Brandon Cox was up and down at quarterback and Burns might be an upgrade considering the new offensive system.

Outlook: Tuberville has new offensive (Tony Franklin) and defensive (Paul Rhoads) coordinators. It's probably no matter. Tuberville's made winning a consistent thing at Auburn. And if you beat Alabama like he has, they'll build you a statue. It's another strong Tigers team this season. But one thing might stand in Auburn's way of the West title, a team you might've heard of: Louisiana State.

3. Alabama

2007: 7-6 (4-4, T-3rd West)

Coach: Nick Saban (7-6 in one season at Alabama; 98-48-1 in 12 seasons overall)

Returning starters: 17 (9 offense, 6 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB John Parker Wilson, RB Terry Grant, LT Andre Smith, FS Rashad Johnson.

Big shoes to fill: As Saban continues to build depth, his defense loses two All-SEC performers in end Wallace Gilberry and Simeon Castille. Most of the team is back, though. Saban has a lot of youth with which to work, including a big-time haul from the 2008 recruiting class.

Outlook: No one thought Saban would come in and immediately lead Bama to a 10-win season. But losing to Louisiana-Monroe? Preposterous. Wouldn't look for a repeat of that this season. This could be the year when the Tide finally stops that Auburn streak. Clemson's a tough way to start out.

4. Ole Miss

2007: 3-9 (0-8, 6th West)

Coach: Houston Nutt (first season at Ole Miss; 111-70 in 15 seasons overall)

Returning starters: 19 (7 offense, 10 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB Jevan Snead, RB Dexter McCluster, DE Greg Hardy, DT Peria Jerry.

Big shoes to fill: BenJarvus Green-Ellis might've been the most underrated player in the SEC the past couple of years. With 2,137 career rushing yards, he finished fifth in Ole Miss' list. QB Seth Adams is gone, but that might be a good thing as the Rebels segue into Snead's first season. The Texas transfer has Rebs fans excited.

Outlook: Despite failing to win a conference game a year ago, don't be surprised when Nutt turns the Rebels into this year's surprise in the league. The talent is there to do it. Give Ed Orgeron credit; he did bring in a load of potential. Nutt is the kind of guy that could do something with it. If not this year, then soon.

5. Mississippi State

2007: 8-5 (4-4, T-3rd West)

Coach: Sylvester Croom (17-30 in four seasons at Miss. St.)

Returning starters: 17 (7 offense, 8 defense, 2 specialists)

Impact players: QB Wesley Carroll, RB Anthony Dixon, CB Anthony Johnson, FS Derek Pegues.

Big shoes to fill: Personnel-wise, the Bulldogs didn't lose all that much. But don't discount what it means that Ellis Johnson moved on, to Arkansas first and then to South Carolina. Charlie Harbison was on Johnson's staff last season, but it won't be the same as having that no-nonsense coordinator directing things. Mississippi State won several games last season because of its defense.

Outlook: Croom got himself off the hot seat with a breakout season that earned him coach of the year honors. It took a lot of breaks for the Bulldogs to make some of those things happen. Look for a tumbling back to earth this year. The team is still an offensive nightmare, and the opposition might take advantage of the Johnson-less defense.

6. Arkansas

2007: 8-5 (4-4, T-3rd West)

Coach: Bobby Petrino (first season at Arkansas; 41-9 in four seasons overall)

Returning starters: 12 (5 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialist)

Impact players: QB Casey Dick, RB Michael Smith, C Jonathan Luigs, CB Jerell Norton.

Big shoes to fill: Oh, only the biggest in the conference — and perhaps the country. Running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones headed a year early to the NFL (and became first-round picks). And don't lose sight of Marcus Monk's graduation. Arkansas doesn't have a go-to receiver in what shapes up to be a primarily passing offense.

Outlook: Petrino proved he could win at Louisville. But will his passing attack work at Arkansas? Answer: Not in the first year. The Hogs simply lost too much with those running backs. An early trip to Texas probably won't be kind. Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett will be a welcome addition next season.