SEC Football

1. SEC athletic directors are meeting Jacksonville.  Reports indicate no discussion of nine-game conference schedule for 2014.

2. LSU running back Jeremy Hill faces new probation restrictions - including a curfew.

3. Jeff Duncan: “Miles needs to make a statement here and a strong one.”  The MrSEC take from last week.

4. Georgia led the country with 10 early enrollees coming from high school this spring.  Counting JUCO and prep schools, Bulldogs had 13 early enrollees.

5. Recent history shows it tough for wide receivers to make an impact as freshman at Florida.

6. Auburn freshman quarterbacks Jeremy Johnson and Jason Smith are expected on campus next week.  Status of arrival date for JUCO transfer Nick Marshall still uncertain.

7. Coming out of spring practice, how does Auburn look at defensive tackle? With other SEC schools expanding stadiums, Jordan-Hare isn’t shrinking – it just feels that way.

8. Tennessee coach Butch Jones estimates he does three times the speaking engagements he did at Cincinnati.

9. Based on the early odds, South Carolina and Georgia look to be the favorites in the SEC East, Alabama the favorite in the West. Crimson Tide and Ohio State in BCS National Championship Game?

10. Andy Staples of SI has his post-spring Top 25.  Six of the top 13 teams are in the SEC, seven of the top 25.   Alabama No. 1, Texas A&M No. 2.

11. Alabama today or Nebraska of the 1990′s?  Former Cornhusker Tommy Frazier weighs in.

12.  The SEC Network doesn’t change the recruiting philosophy at Alabama.  Nick Saban: “We have a standard for what type of player we are looking for.”

13. New documentary film focuses on former Arkansas quarterback Mitch Mustain.

SEC Basketball

14. Trae Golden’s departure from Tennessee wasn’t his decision. He was reportedly forced to leave school over “repeated plagiarism.”

15. Cuonzo Martin on whether the Vols will add a point guard to their signing class. “We have some pretty good leads and we’ll see.”

16. NCAA meeting on possible rule changes to basketball.  Don’t expect a shorter shot clock.

17. Former Ole Miss star Murphy Holloway waived by the Baltimore Ravens.  ”Back to the hardwood…” Could be headed to Europe to play basketball.

Extras

18. In addition to Mississippi State and South Florida, former Penn State quarterback Steven Bench also considering North Carolina State.

19. “NCAA rules aren’t going to stop money from changing hands when there is this much value being discussed.”

20. Does a Sugar Bowl win over Florida make Louisville overrated?

SEC Basketball

1. The spring signing period is underway.  The nation’s No. 1 prospect has yet to make a decision.  Huntington Prep’s Andrew Wiggins is said to be choosing from four schools - Florida State, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky.  Both of Wiggins’ parents attended Florida State. Here’s how Wiggins would fit in next year’s lineup at each of the four schools.

2. Kentucky is expecting  three signed letter of intents within the next week.  Even without Wiggins, that means Kentucky will have eight signees in its 2013 class.

3. Rutgers loss is Auburns’ gain.  JUCO forward Chris Griffin was set to sign with Rutgers but when the Mike Rice scandal hit, he decommitted and signed a letter of intent with Auburn today.  He’s one of three players the Tigers are expected to sign in the spring signing period.

4. Kenny Paul Geno, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound small forward from Booneville, Miss., sent his letter of intent to Georgia today. He’s planning on holding a news conference Thursday morning.  ”By the time that he leaves, they’re gonna be very proud that they gave him an opportunity to play at Georgia,” Bonneville head coach Michael Smith said. “He’s gonna play and contribute. He’s gonna play (next year).”

5. Murfreesboro, Tennessee native Darius Thompson signed with Tennessee today, becoming coach Cuonzo Martin’s fourth member of the class of 2013. “At 6-4, he’s got good size for a point guard. He’s a proven scorer who can shoot it with range, and I’m confident that he’s going to be able to help us in a number of areas.”

6. Alabama coach Anthony Grant has two experienced guards coming in next year.  Tulane transfer Ricky Tarrant and JUCO guard Algie Key signed with the Crimson Tide today.  Tarrant will have to sit out a year. He was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year for Tulane two seasons ago.

7. Tuesday night, Brian Bridgewater of Scotlandville High School (LA) said “it’s not LSU.”  Wednesday, the forward committed to the Tigers. He chose LSU over Wichita State and TCU.

SEC Football

8. Jacksonville, Florida prospect Tyreke Johnson  is projected as a cornerback/wide receiver.  He’s also just 13 years old and is reportedly on the verge of getting some big-time college offers.  Here’s how his coach described him. ”He’s built and put together like a Greek God as a seventh grader.” Johnson’s brother De’Andre is a Florida State 2015 commitment.

9. Alabama picked up its fourth commitment of the 2014 class with the news that linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton picked the Crimson Tide.  The four-star linebacker chose Alabama over Auburn and Tennessee. He’s planning to graduate in December and enroll at Alabama in January.

10. Auburn’s first defensive commitment in the class of 2014 is linebacker Deshaun Davis. He chose Auburn over 10 other schools, including LSU, Florida State and Tennessee.

11. Thaddeus Snodgrass is the highest ranked wide receiver recruit ever to commit to Kentucky. The Ohio receiver says he’s working on bringing additional recruits to the Wildcats.  ”There will be a couple more commitments in a couple of days or maybe a week.”

12. Four-star running back Mike Horton from Ohio is on Kentucky’s radar.  He’s expected to make his college choice this weekend.

13. Arkansas running backs coach Joel Thomas will have recruiting responsibilities in the Dallas, Texas area. ”I’ll also have Arlington, Mansfield, Irving and I’ll work my way out to east Texas to Tyler and Longview,”

SEC Football

1. Spring practice underway at Auburn. Tigers lack numbers at several positions, including quarterback. Coach Gus Malzahn: “The good thing is that they’re going to get a lot of reps.”

2. Observations from practice No. 1 - ”The Tigers are already working on the hurry-up, no-huddle, gone-in-sixty-seconds formations.”

3. Auburn safety Erique Florence no longer on the team. ” He’s taking care of some personal issues, and we wish him the best.”

4. He’s not the only one leaving.  “Blake Burgess will no longer be with the team.” Used as a fullback last year.

5. Since Arkansas coach Bret Bielema is not a “quarterback-by-committee guy,” either Brandon Mitchell or Brandon Allen will emerge as a clear winner in the QB battle.

6. Proposed rendering for the expansion and renovation of Kentucky’s Commonwealth Stadium .

7. South Carolina redshirt freshman T.J. Holloman is impressing at a position the Gamecocks need help this fall – linebacker.

8. Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason on defensive end Ray Drew: “From what I noticed, Ray Drew was really unblockable today.”

9. With Aaron Murray away for a banquet, Mason takes snaps with first-team offense,

10. Jay Graham will make $275,000 at Florida State.  His replacement as Tennessee’s running backs coach – Robert Gillespie – will make $300,000.

11. Florida getting a boost from JUCO players along the defensive line.

12. Biggest void on the LSU defense is the defensive end position -Jermauria Rasco and Danielle Hunter trying to fill big shoes.

13. 27 former LSU players taking part in Pro Day workouts today. 18 former South Carolina players doing the same in Columbia today.

SEC Basketball/NCAA Tournament

14. When Florida meets Florida Gulf Coast Friday night  - expect the capacity crowd to make life difficult for the Gators.

15. Did Florida turn down Florida Gulf Coast for a pre-season scrimmage?  Yes. Urban Meyer has a daughter on the volleyball team at Florida Gulf Coast.

16. Stats guru Nate Silver gives Florida a 21.3% chance to win it all. “The Gators are this year’s flash point in the debate between stat geeks and traditionalists.”

17. State of Florida with three of the Sweet 16 teams - is the Sunshine State now a basketball state?

18. Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin reportedly expected to pursue extension and possible renegotiation of his contract.

19. Martin currently tied for 10th-highest paid coach in the SEC.

20. UCLA’s firing of Ben Howland could have an impact on Georgia basketball.

21. Three-point shooting one of the keys to advancing in the NCAA Tournament.

22. Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel No. 1 on the draft board for ESPN’s Chad Ford.  Says UK’s other three freshmen should stay in school.

23. For the first time since 2003, Mississippi State will play a game in Tupelo next season.

24. The block-charge call - defensive players being rewarded too often?

College News

25. Majority of sports fans polled do not favor paying college athletes.

26. Cowboys Stadium favorite to host first major college football playoff championship game.  Arlington and Tampa thought to be only two cities that bid.

27. When Auburn removes the oak trees at Toomer’s Corner on April 20th, Harvey Updyke Jr.’s attorney will be in attendance.

28. Former Alabama A.D. Mal Moore needs a lung transplant.

29. The “old” Big East getting two new members - Tulsa and East Carolina.

Extras

30. Sports-talk personality Paul Finebaum has a book deal.”Primarily, it’s about the culture of the show and how the culture of the show interacts with the SEC.”

SEC Football

1. Florida five-star recruit and early enrollee Alex Anzalone has a torn labrum in his right shoulder -will miss the rest of spring practice.

2. Ole Miss defensive C.J. Johnson has reportedly broken his foot - out for the spring.

3. Tennessee senior defensive back Eric Gordon is dealing with personal issues - not practicing but on campus.

4. Defensive back Riyahd Jones once had a scholarship offer yanked by Kentucky – ended up going the JUCO route –  and is now at Tennessee.

5. How will Vanderbilt replace running back Zac Stacy?  It may take three guys.

6. South Carolina defensive backs coach Grady Brown on cornerback Victor Hampton: “If Vic was a sports car … he’d go from zero to 60 faster than any other sports car out there. He gets to his top speed fast.”

7. Running back Marcus Lattimore wants to show the progress he’s made coming off knee surgery at South Carolina’s pro day next week.

8. Pro day at Tennessee today - Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin in Knoxville.

9. On the job for a little more than 100 days, Gus Malzahn’s head-coaching style at Auburn is starting to emerge.

10. Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson on the type of defensive end he’s wants:  ”We still want big, physical guys, but there’s a premium now on the fast-twitch or first-step guys.”

11. Regardless of what changes the NCAA may make, recruiting budgets are going up at Ole Miss and Mississippi State.  Ole Miss increasing budget by $100,000 and MSU by $30,000.

12. An annual rite of passage at Alabama?  ”Saban bemoans his team’s lack of professionalism; his team responds.”

13. The cases of four dismissed former Alabama players will be heard by a grand jury.

14. JUCO transfer Cam Clear will compete for a starting tight-end job at Texas A&M this fall.  ”He’s one of the largest humans I have ever seen in my life.”

15. Texas A&M set to name a new president of its 12th Man Foundation.  The fund-raising arm of Aggie athletics busy raising money for the $425 million renovation of Kyle Field set to start later this year.

16. Auburn will remove the poisoned oak trees at Toomer’s Corner on April 23rd.

17. In this SEC football version of March Madness - Georgia beats Texas A&M in the final.

SEC Basketball

18. What’s it like to be on NCAA Tournament-bound Ole Miss?  Murphy Holloway: “I got a standing ovation in math class.”

19. Did Marshall Henderson deserve a technical for doing the Gator Chomp Sunday? Henderson weighs in on Kentucky and the NIT.

20. Dennis Dodd wrote on Tuesday what we said on Sunday – when it comes to taunting, why do college football and college basketball play by different rules?

21. Florida opens NCAA Tournament play Friday against Northwestern State.  On just about any tournament opponent – Gators will have experience edge in both playing and coaching.  President Obama has Gators in Final Four.

22. Missouri plays Thursday night against Colorado State.  Minnesota transfer Colton Iverson is 6-foot-10, 261 pounds and has racked up 14 double-doubles for the Rams this year.

23. Mizzou has nothing to fear from playing St. Louis University every year – “Neither school has proved especially adept at keeping the state’s premium basketball talent within its borders.”

24. Tennessee plays Mercer tonight in the first round of the NIT. Can the Vols get over their NCAA Tournament snub?  Jordan McRae:  “I mean, everybody is still upset about it… But there’s no need to tuck our heads down now. It is what it is.”

25. Will LSU forward Johnny O’Bryant depart for the NBA?  Coach Johnny Jones -  “no indication or expectations” that Bryant will leave.

26. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings on this year’s 16-17 team.  “It might have been among my best (coaching jobs).”

Extras

27. Why are college athletic director salaries so high? “When you don’t have to pay competitive wages for your actual workforce, there’s a lot more cash available to shower upon high-level bureaucrats.”

28. Hundreds of college basketball coaches are in Hutchinson, Kansas to watch the JUCO tournament.

29. Former Kentucky football coach Hal Mumme lands at SMU as assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.

30. Quarterback Gunner Kiel offiically out at at Notre Dame –  not on spring roster – expected to transfer.

1. Top ranked basketball recruit Julius Randles recently blogged about a visit to Kansas but also admitted his days of meeting with teams and coaches are now over. “I think, at this point, I’m gonna shut all of my visits with coaches down. I’ve got all the information now I’m gonna take time to process it all. So I won’t be meeting with any more coaches.”  Randle has narrowed his list of schools down to six – including two from the SEC – Kentucky and Florida.

2. Offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman will greyshirt at Alabama this fall. He’s recovering from a recent surgery to repair a torn ACL. “I feel like by this time next year I’ll be in great shape and ready to hit the ground running at Alabama.”

3. New Auburn recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner on the incoming class: “I’m excited about our defensive line class. I think they definitely have an upside, we’re definitely looking forward to working with them, but it’s going to take time.”

4. Which SEC teams are off to the best start for the class of 2014? ”Florida, Texas A&M and LSU all have four four-star commitments. Florida has one of the better quarterbacks in the country, Will Grier.”

5. Mark Richt had this to say to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the signing of 4-star JUCO defensive tackle Toby Johnson: “A lot of people may remember or may not remember, but a lot of people had him ranked as the No. 1 junior college player in the country. The ACL injury is one that almost everyone recovers from very well. There are some times when it’s not 100 percent. But we’re very confident that he’ll come back healthy and be the player he has been and maybe beyond, with our training, our nutrition and our coaching.”

5. Will this impress recruits?  ACC to open a restaurant in the Raleigh-Durham Airport.

Tight end Brandon Vandenburg from College of the Desert Community College in Palm Desert, Calif., has committed to Vanderbilt.

“Only a few schools can compete with Vandy on an academic and football level,” Vandenburg told ESPN.com. “Out of those schools, Vanderbilt has the most stable coaching staff, which is important. No other school had the combination of those three things.”

Vandenburg, who’s ranked the nation’s top JUCO tight end by ESPN, considered offers from such schools as Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Vandenburg hopes to earn a starting position early in his time at Vanderbilt. That’s not all.

“I don’t just want to be a starter,” he said. “I want to be an impact player.”

SEC Football

1. New Arkansas coach Bret Bielema on running back Knile Davis’ decision to enter the NFL draft. “He had a little bit of buyer’s remorse in talking with him here.”

2. Bielema’s whirlwind two-and-a-half week stretch includes the hiring of five assistant coaches and the signing of five JUCO players.

3. Alabama will face a Notre Dame secondary with experience on the other side of the ball.  Brian Kelly: ”Three wide receivers recruited as wide receivers that are playing for the top defense in the country.”

4. Auburn’s former lettermen really like the hiring of Rodney Garner: “Having him back in Auburn is a great boost for our football program.”

5. How Florida can win – or lose – its Sugar Bowl matchup against Louisville. Gators are going to miss Caleb Sturgis – best kicker in Florida history.

6. Mississippi State punter Baker Swedenburg allowed a total of eight yards on punt returns this season – a nation-best 0.7 yards per return.

7. Ole Miss redshirt Temario Strong could be next year’s starting middle linebacker.

8. What position will Georgia’s Josh Harvey-Clemons play in 2013? “I wish I knew.”

9. Can the Bulldogs be a top 10 team again in 2013?

10. All but two of Butch Jones’ assistants have ties to his days at Central Michigan.

11. Expect a massive defensive overhaul at Tennessee next year.

12. Mark Stoops staff has three guys with Kentucky connections.  ”It was important to me.”

13. Les Miles’ weekend has included some mandatory Christmas carol sessions.

14. Tigers 9-1 when playing at the Georgia Dome.

15. Some bowl game predictions.

SEC Basketball

16. Missouri point guard Phil Pressey went just 3-of-19 from the field Saturday against Illinois, but still dominated the game.

17. Alabama coach Anthony Grant on his team’s loss to Mercer: “We didn’t show up to play for 40 minutes today. We didn’t. … Let’s not sugarcoat it.”

18. Marshall coach Tom Herrion on Kentucky’s struggles this year.  ”It’s not always how much your team is struggling,” he said. “Maybe the other team played well.”

19. Want to find out who has season tickets at Rupp Arena? (Average of $825 per seat).

Here are some recruiting headlines to start your Tuesday.

Jamie Newberg of ESPN.com has a recruiting wishlist for SEC teams.

It was big news for Florida State when the Seminoles stole Nick Waisome from the Gators, writes Corey Long.

Alabama and Auburn are both benefiting from recruiting the JUCO ranks.

Alabama is on top of the SEC recruiting rankings. Who’s chasing the Crimson Tide?

Could South Carolina benefit in recruiting from playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl?

Recruiting can always be affected by coaching changes, which could be inevitable at South Carolina.

Will more than two schools be in the hunt for standout Jadeveon Clowney?

This Florida commit is excited to play in new coach Will Muschamp’s pro-style offense?