Georgia coach Mark Richt said yesterday exactly what you’d expect a coach to say when asked about the importance of a school’s NFL draft success in relation to recruiting the next round of superstars:

“I haven’t recruiting many guys that didn’t think or weren’t at least dreaming about the NFL or hoping to be or expecting to be (drafted).  I think it’s exciting for high school kids observing Georgia and trying to decide, ‘Hey, would this be a good place for me?’ 

It’s a big part of the recruiting process and what we’re trying to get accomplished.  But there’s a lot more to it than that here as well.  We care about an awful lot of other things, too, than just going to the NFL.  We care about school and how these guys grow as people.

But this time of the year, starting tomorrow night (tonight) for the next two or three days after that, it’s an important time for our current players and really for the future of our program, too.”

Since arriving at Georgia in 2001, Richt has had 71 players drafted into the NFL.  That’s nearly 14.5% of all the SEC players drafted into the league since ’01.

SEC Football

1. Fan to South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier: “We need to change it to the University that Spurrier Changed.”

2. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze trying to temper expectations.  “As spring revealed, we’re not where we need to be depth-wise.”

3. Tennessee has a new director of player personnel. Bob Welton spent the last nine years as a scout for the Cleveland Browns.

4. What’s the status of Auburn safety Demetruce McNeal?  ”Still up in the air.” Off-field issues.

5. What’s the status of the Kiehl Frazier/Jonathan Wallace quarterback battle at Auburn? “There’s not a lot of separation coming out of spring at this point.”

6. Kevin Scarbinsky on Harvey Updyke: He killed Auburn’s trees and made Auburn stronger.

7. Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen captured the headlines, but other names have emerged on the Razorbacks’ depth chart following spring practice.

8. Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell on the Bulldogs’ struggles in the last half of the season.  It “motivated me to watch more film and work so much harder. Everybody has a bad game, but in the end I have to be that guy to perform every game.”

SEC/College News

9. SEC Network announcement rescheduled for May 2.

10. Matt Hayes on college football playoffs.  ”You win, Joe Sixpack.”

SEC/NFL Draft

11. By the end of the weekend, Georgia’s draft totals could hit double digits.  Player projections by round.

12. Combine Georgia and Alabama and you could end up with 20 draft picks.

13. Over the past ten years, only Georgia has had more players drafted than LSU - 57 to 56.

14. 2013 NFL draft expected to be Texas A&M’s best class in years.

15. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has 10 SEC players among his top 25 prospects.

16. “It’s insane how much talent is spilling out of the SEC.”

17. Former Tennessee wide receivers Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson considered two of top 10 receivers in this year’s draft. But questions remain. Breakdown of NFL talent in the state of Tennessee.

18.State of Florida could have six first-round picks.

19. Strengths, weaknesses and stats on former Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd.

20. Former Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker has had official pre-draft visits with 11 NFL teams.

21. Former Alabama center Barrett Jones projected as a third-round pick. “To be honest, I don’t really get caught up too much in the rounds.”

22. If Sheldon Richardon’s name gets called Thursday, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel will have six first-round picks in the last five years.

23 What are draft experts saying about former Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson?

24. Oddsmakers have former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore slotted for the third round. Capsules of all potential South Carolina draft picks.

25. Kentucky lineman Larry Warford is hearing he could go anywhere from second to fourth round.

26. Questions about Texas A&M’s DaMontre Moore - “teams are really nervous about him.”

27. How NFL draft prospects were ranked as recruits coming out of high school.

SEC Basketball

28. Trevor Lacey’s decision to transfer leaves Alabama with 10 available scholarship players for next season.

29. Former Rutgers guard Eli Carter considers Florida - Billy Donovan reportedly visited.

30. Former LSU forward Jalen Courtney is headed to Morehead State. Expectations are increasing at LSU under Johnny Jones.

31. NBA-bound Nerlens Noel on his knee: “I’ve been working hard in rehab, and my physical therapist is telling me I’m way ahead of schedule and coming along really well.”

32. So Kentucky fans, just how likely is 40-0?

33. Tennessee assistant coach Houston Fancher reuniting with former Tennessee coach Buzz Peterson at  North Carolina-Wilmington.

Extras

34. Jon Bon Jovi’s son will walk on the football team at Notre Dame.

As you might have seen in our headlines package today, former Alabama offensive lineman DJ Fluker posted the following message on Twitter early this morning:

The tweet was quickly taken down but the deed was done.  Half the people up after midnight — and studying Twitter? — caught it, took a screengrab of it, or retweeted it.  Fluker’s agent then said his client’s Twitter feed had been hacked.

Everyone in crimson pajamas said, “Hell, yeah, it was hacked!”

Auburn fans collapsed in fits of transcendental joy.

Everyone else pretty much just scoffed at the idea that the big guy’s feed was hacked.

So just how realistic is the “I was hacked” defense?  Well, Twitter is having problems with miscreants hacking into the accounts of some of the biggest companies and brands in America.  So much so that Twitter is hiring new security personnel.  There are also numerous smartphone apps on the market that can be used to help hack Twitter and other social media accounts.  (UPDATE — The Associated Press’ Twitter feed was hacked just today.)

In other words, it’s quite possible someone could have hacked into Fluker’s account (of all people).  And posted a fake tweet from him (after midnight).

His account is currently down so anyone hoping to do a writing comparison between the above post and previous Fluker tweets is out of luck.

For now, the “I was hacked” defense does hold water because it’s certainly possible for folks to waste their energies and time on such projects.  But the reality is your belief in the defense put forth by Fluker’s agent will likely depend upon whether you’re a Crimson Tide fan or not.

Fluker is a potential first-round pick in this week’s NFL draft.

UPDATE – Fluker’s agent, Deryk Gilmore, has said this morning: “We know who did this.  This is totally fiction, but I’m waiting to get some proof.  I’ve been on the phone with Twitter.”

Auburn Football

1. Gene Chizik spoke out strongly against recent allegations made against Auburn’s football program.

2. Is reporter Selena Roberts the best thing to happen to athletic director Jay Jacobs in his time at Auburn? Kevin Scarbinsky examines.

3. Chizik is still proud of his time at Auburn despite the disappointing finish in his final season.

SEC Football

4. Alabama’s Nick Saban is the best coach in the nation, according to Matt Hayes of Sporting News. He ranks all 125 coaches.

5. A tweet from D.J. Fluker stating he took money at Alabama was hacked, according to Fluker’s agent.

6. Andrew Gribble and Don Kausler Jr. gave their takes on Alabama’s offense following the team’s spring game.

7. Kausler gives answers to five questions Alabama had going into the spring.

8. Barrett Sallee has several players who showed this spring that they’re ready to star in the SEC this fall.

9. Here’s a look at Florida’s safety position following spring practice.

10. Georgia’s future football schedules are on hold, according to athletic director Greg McGarity.

11. Tennessee’s offense struggled in the spring game, but the Vols will have more players this fall, writes Mike Strange.

12. Dave Matter looks at the changes we saw in Missouri’s offense this spring.

SEC Basketball

13. A female student was granted an order of protection against former Tennessee basketball player Yemi Makanjuola following an alleged incident in February.

14. Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein on returning for a second year: “I never thought I’d be one-and-done anyway.”

15. And forward Alex Poythress, who will also return: “I got to prove that I’m not just potential.’

16. Junior center Jalen Courtney has been granted a release and will transfer from LSU.

17. Georgia’s basketball team is busy rebuilding as it looks to replace an assistant coach.

18. Assistant coach Brad Underwood is leaving South Carolina to become the head coach at Stephen F. Austin.

19. Will former Ole Miss basketball player Murphy Holloway be selected in the NFL draft as a tight end?

NFL Draft

20. The SEC will offer several sleepers in this weekend’s NFL draft, writes Braden Gall.

21. There are zero Big Ten players projected to be taken in the first round of these four NFL.com mock drafts.

22. There are differing opinions on Barkevious Mingo, but the former LSU Tiger is definitely an NFL talent.

23. Former Georgia linebacker Cornelius Washington is standing out to NFL teams.

24. Former Vanderbilt running back Zac Stacy plans to fish and relax during the NFL draft.

Extra

25. From yesterday: The ACC’s grant of rights deal could be good news for people tired of conference realignment.

26. One reason athletic directors are in California this week: “discuss major issues facing college athletics without anyone from the NCAA around.”

27. Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam – a major Tennessee booster and owner of the Cleveland Browns – has called for an internal investigation of his company.

1. Nick Saban isn’t happy with where his team is following spring practice. But he wasn’t with his previous teams at this time, either.

2. Saban is now “as officially beloved in Alabama as Bear Bryant,” according Lars Anderson.

3. Auburn running back Tre Mason is back from injury and welcoming competition at his position.

4. Here’s more coverage of Auburn fans flocking to Toomer’s Corner during the weekend.

5. Arkansas coach Bret Bielema felt good watching Brandon Allen play quarterback with the first team on Saturday.

6. Mississippi State quarterback Tyler Russell is motivated by a disappointing finish in 2012.

7. Here’s a look at Mississippi State’s offense in the spring game. Video interviews are included.

8. Here’s a progress report for Florida’s linebackers. Antonio Morrison has been the big story at middle linebacker.

9. What would make Florida a contender in the fall? Robbie Andreu has five ideas for the Gators.

10. The AJC takes a look at Georgia versus its upcoming 2013 football schedule.

11. Basketball coach Mark Fox could be losing an assistant for the first time since he arrived at Georgia.

12. What do Tennessee’s quarterbacks need to work on this offseason? Everything, according to coach Butch Jones.

13. The offense clearly has work to do. But Tennessee’s defense looks better.

14. Video: Chris Low of ESPN talks to LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger.

15. More video: Watch Les Miles answer a reporter’s phone during Saturday’s press conference.

16. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel likes the competition at quarterback. Other SEC notes are included in the link.

Extra

17. From USA Today: The “overwhelming sense” is that a major change is on the horizon regarding big football schools and the NCAA.

18. Birmingham-area radio host Paul Finebaum is now free to negotiate with any station he chooses.

19. Former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith “has to pay a black tax” as he prepares for the NFL draft, writes Jarrett Bell of USA Today.

20. There’s still tension between Arizona and the Pac-12 regarding former head of officials Ed Rush.

21. Todd McShay’s latest NFL mock draft has 14 SEC players being selected in the first round. (ESPN Insider)

22. Peter King of SI.com still believes former Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel will go No. 1 to Kansas City.

SEC Football

1. What to expect at LSU’s spring game tomorrow?  Here are five things to look for. Three projected starters will be held out with injuries.

2. What to expect at tomorrow’s Tennessee spring game? Defensive coordinator John Jancek: “We’ll be pretty vanilla.”

3. With Marlin Lane’s absence, Vols thin at running back.

4. In the quarterback battle at Arkansas, has Brandon Allen done enough to separate himself from Brandon Mitchell?

5. Here are 10 questions facing Missouri heading into tomorrow’s spring game.

6. With Alabama’s spring game tomorrow, a position-by-position breakdown of the offense and one for defense/special teams

7. Here’s the position breakdown at Auburn- the offense and defense/special teams.

8. Final rolling of Toomer’s Oaks tomorrow.

9. How things stack up among Florida tailbacks and fullbacks.

10. Mississippi State JUCU transfer wide receiver Jeremy Chapelle is starting to look comfortable.

11. Georgia coach Mark Richt expects plenty of competition for starting spots this fall: You’ve got some guys legitimately fighting for jobs.”

12. Some SEC fans could be celebrating New Year’s Eve in Memphis.  Liberty Bowl scheduled for December 31.

13. From Johnny Manziel to Kiehl Frazier, Athlon ranks the SEC quarterbacks.

14. From Nick Saban to Mark Stoops, Matt Hayes at The Sporting News ranks the SEC coaches.

15. Could 12 SEC players go in the first round of the NFL draft? Tyrann Mathieu gets a magazine cover.

SEC Basketball

16. Kentucky coach John Calipari on his eight-man class coming to Lexington: “The thing I like most about this group is its competitive spirit and its will to win.”

17. Breaking down the best class in the country.

18. Former Ole Miss guard Jamal Jones is headed to Texas A&M.

Extras

19, “Good thing Will Muschamp got the head-coaching job at Florida a couple of years ago. He might have grown old waiting for Mack Brown to retire at Texas.”

20. Study: Graduation-rate gap between college baseball players and all male students greater than gap with football players.

21. Trashed hotel room at the NFL combine linked to Clemson and Rutgers players.

22. How many college athletes benefit from multiyear scholarships?  Not many.

Does Ole Miss forward Murphy Holloway have a future in the NFL?  Based on some Twitter chatter, it appears he’s least considering that possibility.

RT @spiritchuck: Murphy Holloway just worked out for NFL scouts in the IPF.

— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) April 18, 2013

Hollloway, who just completed his senior season at Ole Miss and is  listed at 6’7″ and 240 pounds, certainly has the size for it. He wouldn’t be the first to make the transition.  NFL tight ends Antonio Gates,  Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham all played college basketball. (Hat Tip – Red Cup Rebellion)

Mike Leach has never been afraid to speak his mind.  (Or to lock a kid in an equipment shed if you believe Craig James.)  Earlier this week, Washington State’s head coach shared his thoughts about the differences between conferences… specifically, the difference between the SEC and everyone else:

“Everybody loves to try to talk about these differences.  Conferences want their (own identity).  ‘They’re the power conference, they’re the speed conference, they’re the skill conference.’  All that’s a bunch of baloney, I’ll tell you that.  Once you’re in one of the major conferences, everybody’s got 300-pounders, everybody’s got people that can run.  As boring as this answer is, although it’s unique and more accurate, these conferences are all the same.

The difference with the SEC that does exist — don’t think in the SEC that the skill guys are any faster or better than the skill guys in the other conferences — what I do think is different is defensive front guys.  They’ve got good speed in their defensive fronts.  In other words, in the SEC, I think, a lot of time, you’ll see teams playing with four bona fide, good-looking, talented defensive linemen, where I do think that other conferences are playing with two or something like that.

After that, I’m telling you, not to dash any hopes, they’re very similar and remarkably the same.”

There’s no question that Leach knows what he’s talking about as he’s coached all over, including in the SEC.  But the fact that NFL teams draft more SEC players each year than players from other leagues tempers his statement just a bit.

Everytime Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel pops up in top-dollar seats at a basketball game or posts a photo of himself at the beach or hanging with another celeb, questions immediately follow. 

“How is he paying for that?”

“Think someone’s giving him illegal gifts?”

Well according to Manziel via CBSSports.com, the Texas A&M compliance department has wisely been covering all its bases when it comes to the jet-setting QB:

“They keep sending me questionnaires like, ‘How did I go to the Spurs game?’  Even though I’ve been going to Spurs games since I moved to Kerrville when I was in the seventh grade.  A good family friend who we’ve known since before I ever thought of playing college football has a suite there.  We’re going to go to the suite and we’re just gonna watch the game.  I know (Spurs’ star) Tony Parker on a personal level and if I go down to say hello, I’m not doing anything wrong.

They keep sending me questionnaires asking me who’s funding the trip?  Who’s doing this?  Every time I respond back, ‘ME, ME and ME,’ in capital letters.  Hey, I don’t mean to sound rude, but this is stuff I’ve always done, and I know you’re just doing your job, but it gets to you every now and again.”

Manziel has all the talent in the world, but only someone viewing the world through maroon-colored sunglasses could watch Manziel’s offseason (so far) and not be somewhat worried about fame going to this particular quarterback’s head.  It’s a legitimate concern.  And whether it’s chatting with Tony Parker at an NBA game or hanging with Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel at the Super Bowl, there’s plenty of stuff that might’ve already gone to Manziel’s head.

Even Aggie coach Kevin Sumlin realizes his star’s transformation from Johnny Manziel into Johnny Football requires some coaching away from the playing field:

“The conversations, a lot of times, are on a non-football level.  The conversations are about a lot of other things and how to handle them.  Everyone has an idea about how they’d handle it, but until you’re in their shoes, you really don’t know.

I don’t know that ‘keeping it in check’ is the right way to put it.  In a lot of ways, if he hadn’t won the Heisman, he’d still be going to games and to concerts and trying to meet LeBron (James).  But now those guys want to meet him, too.  And that’s changed his life…

Johnny really like to play football, though.  He’d have stayed in and played the whole (spring) game if we’d have let him Saturday.  So what’s the next challenge?  Really great players deep down inside are not motivated by the fame or the money.  They’re just string to be the best, and he has that in him.  What’s the next big thing?  Playing at the next level.  He really wants to play football and he wants to improve.”

Ah, the NFL.

When Manziel declares himself eligible for the NFL draft — and many expect the redshirt sophomore will do so a year from now — all aspects of his game will be examined.  From his arm strength to his height, there will always be doubters.

There will also be a lot of NFL coaches and GMs who’ll pepper Manziel with questions about his high-profile lifestyle.

In the end, talent will win out and A&M’s quarterback will be a hot commodity on draft day.  But if Texas A&M’s compliance office gets under his skin a bit, he’ll really be tested when 32 teams at the NFL combine grill him about his personal motivations: Fame or football, Johnny?

And trust us, he will absolutely have to answer that question again and again and again.

Tomorrow, the Southeastern Conference and ESPN will formally announce their partnership in the new SEC Network, a television channel focused on providing more content to sports-lovin’ Southerners and making a helluva lot more cash for those folks’ favorite schools and teams.

But what will it mean for you?  Judging from our email inbox, many of you have questions.  Some are basic, some are more in-depth.  We’ll give you our take on them here.  And for our purposes, we’ll also keep the focus on football.

When will the network launch?

It’s expected that the channel will debut in August of 2014.  That gives the league and its partner a full year to create an infrastructure — sales staff, on-air staff, behind-the-scenes crew, on-air sets, etc — and to sell massive sponsorship packages to clients.

Who will be in charge of it?

ESPN will handle the day-in, day-out television duties, most likely from its regional hub in Charlotte.  Who knows television better than ESPN, after all?  The network’s subscription fee is over $5 and some expect it to go to $7.  As of last year, there was only one other national cable network — TNT — that even charged more than a dollar.

ESPN can charge that much due to America’s demand for sports.  It’s also due to the fact the network owns the broadcast rights to darn near every sport from yak racing to cross-country ballroom dancing.  In addition to broadcasting sport after sport, the network has created a niche of point/counterpoint shows that fill programming slots and bring in ratings each afternoon.

ESPN is an expert when it comes to television and an even bigger expert when it comes to self-marketing.  The SEC will hand the reins to ESPN and say, “go get ‘em.”

Who will own it?

ESPN and the SEC together are expected to own it.  Just as the Big Ten Network belongs 51% to the Big Ten and 49% to FOX, the SEC Network will likely be split down the middle, too.  Most believe the league will control 51% and ESPN the remaining 49%.

When factoring in the amount of money the network will be worth to SEC schools, many are forgetting that ESPN will be taking home an enormous chunk of the profits, too.  The folks in Bristol, Connecticut aren’t doing this as charity work.

Will a stronger tie with ESPN keep the network off SEC’s schools’ backs?

Outsiders will say yes, but insiders probably won’t notice a difference.  There is already a belief outside the SEC — pick a messageboard — that ESPN has helped drive the SEC to the top of the BCS mountain.  Of course, the SEC had already won BCS crowns in 2006, 2007, and 2008 before the league’s contract with ESPN began.  Additionally, it doesn’t seem that ESPN has been boosting SEC basketball very much, does it?

Inside the league, the feeling is different.  Every fan in the US of A feels that ESPN is out to get his or her favorite school.  That’s because the network covers scandals and digs into bad news.

Was ESPN The Magazine’s recent expose on Auburn and an alleged 2010 synthetic marijuana scandal proof of the network’s hatred for the SEC?  Was it proof, all you non-SEC fans, that the league is always covering up for its Southern business partners?

Scandals will still be covered by ESPN so the reality is most fans won’t notice any changes in the network’s coverage.  If you believe ESPN loves the SEC, that’s what you’ll see.  If you believe the network hates the SEC, that’s what you’ll see.  Texas A&M fans will be especially conflicted as ESPN is now in bed with both the Aggies and Texas (as partners in its Longhorn Network).

That said, what ESPN chooses to cover and why has always been open to debate.  Over the years the network has drawn criticism for refusing to cover some stories (Ben Roethlisber allegations, Brett Favre allegations) while beating the holy hell out of others (Mike Rice video, Penn State scandal).  The network also once cancelled its own dramatic series, “Playmakers,” under pressure from the NFL, a massive partner of ESPN.

There’s no denying that a conflict of  interest will exist when the news division of ESPN covers stories that won’t please the SEC or its member institutions.  But ESPN has so many contracts with so many leagues and schools that the conflict with Mike Slive’s league will be but a drop in the bucket.

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