1. Alabama right guard Anthony Steen is trying to develop into a leader for the Crimson Tide.

2. Alabama returned to practice Monday following spring break. It wasn’t a great practice.

3. Andrew Gribble and Don Kausler discuss Alabama’s return to practice following spring break.

4. Auburn’s LaDarius Owens is feeling more comfortable now that he’s playing linebacker again.

5. Justin Garrett is more comfortable, too. He’s playing the “Star” position for Auburn.

6. Those comments about Nick Saban? Arkansas coach Bret Bielema says they were only a joke.

7. Columnist Kevin Scarbinsky reminds Bielema he’s not in the Big Ten anymore.

8. Florida has plenty of competition at running back as the Gators try to replace Mike Gillislee.

9. Florida’s basketball team is losing key contributors but returning guard Scottie Wilbekin believes the Gators will be deep.

10. One key player in that depth could be center Patric Young, who hasn’t decided if he will return for his senior year.

11. The return of linebacker D.T. Shackelford has provided a big boost for the Ole Miss defense.

12. Here some notes following Ole Miss’ Monday night practice.

13. Mississippi State finalized its 2014 non-conference schedule by adding Tennessee-Martin.

14. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will throw out the first pitch at Sunday’s Texas Rangers game.

15. Chris Conley’s presence should help Georgia replace some departing wide receivers.

16. Center Willie Cauley-Stein will return to Kentucky. ESPN’s Chad Ford believes forward Alex Poythress should return, too.

17. Tennessee’s maturity will be tested as it returns to football practice following spring practice.

Extras

18. The Pac-12′s head of officials has been investigated for comments he made about Arizona coach Sean Miller.

19. That head of official, Ed Rush, must be fired, writes Gary Parrish.

20. Southern California has hired coach Andy Enfield away from Florida Gulf Coast.

21. Former Georgia, Kentucky and Minnesota coach Tubby Smith has been hired at Texas Tech.

And let the spinning begin.

Radio reports from Tennessee and Alabama claimed early this afternoon that the UT athletic director’s post had been offered to Dave Hart, the Crimson Tide’s executive director of athletics.

The Associated Press has since confirmed those reports through “a person familiar with the situation.”

Ah, but The Knoxville News Sentinel has heard a different story.  Andrew Gribble writes that UT officials have talked with Hart, “but they have yet to offer him the job of vice chancellor of athletics,” according to “a source with the direct knowledge of the search.”

Before offering its job to LSU’s Joe Alleva — who eventually spurned the Vols for a bigger cash package in Baton Rouge — it was reported that Tennessee had offered or was prepared to offer Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich it’s AD gig.

When Radakovich and Tech were surprisingly slapped around by the NCAA, the news leaked of UT’s efforts to hire him and the Volunteer administration was left with a bit of egg on the ol’ face.

However, a high-ranking UT source has told MrSEC.com that Tennessee’s chancellor never spoke with or met with Radakovich.  Their point: UT might have liked the Tech AD, but reports of an offer were blown far out of proportion.

With that as background, it’s likely that some people at Tennessee are now trying to put the brakes on talk that the school has already offered its job to Hart… just in case Hart turns UT down.

While we still believe Hart would be an outstanding hire for Tennessee, it seems like a bit of a longshot that the Alabama grad would leave his alma mater when 71-year-old Mal Moore could step down at any time.

The fact that he’s mulling over the situation seems to suggest that he’s angling for a raise in Tuscaloosa or a definitive retirement date from Moore.

Here are some headlines for your Monday afternoon.

1. Good news for Ole Miss: quarterback commit Maikhail Miller is sticking with the Rebels.

2. Mississippi State is dealing with coaching changes and their effect on recruiting.

3. Seth Emerson catches you up on where things stand in recruiting for Georgia.

4. One prospect says he knows where Ray Drew will go to school.

5. Here’s an update on Marlin Lane, a former Clemson running back commit.

6. Andrew Gribble writes about the importance of Derek Dooley’s second signing class at Tennessee.

7. Alabama commit Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix gave a “LOL” to rumors he was visiting Southern Cal last weekend.

8. ESPN.com ranks SEC prospect Jacoby Brissett as the top uncommitted quarterback.

9. 2012 prospect Latroy Pittman is already anxious to play for Florida.

10. Doug Segrest takes a look at which teams might finish strong in recruiting.