AUBURN: The media predicted Auburn to win the SEC championship beating Florida in the SEC title game. The last time the media chose the correct SEC winner was 1995. Coach Tommy Tuberville said linebackers Kevin Sears, a senior and Tray Blackmon, a redshirt freshman, will be suspended after being arrested in separate incidents over the past nine months. Tiger interim president Ed Richardson said the investigation that started June 5 is expected to last another month. However Richardson doesn’t foresee any NCAA or SACS violations. Offensive coordinator Al Borges said recently that he would like to eventually get a head coaching job. He has been an offensive coordinator for 20 years.

FLORIDA: Coach Urban Meyer said at SEC Media Days that all 26 signees are academically eligible this season. Meyer addressed the issue of Florida’s lack of success on the road. He said the team has to be tougher. Meyer also brought in former South Carolina coach Lou Holtz to speak to the team even though Holtz was 1-8 at South Carolina on the road against Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Quarterback Chris Leak denied any racism comments against him while at Florida. Safety Reggie Nelson will be moved to cornerback. Meyer said there is concern at the Sam linebacker position. He is looking for a big year from Reggie Lewis at corner. Three freshmen will play at corner because of a lack of depth. Ryan Smith, the Utah transfer, has not enrolled yet. Freshman Brandon James has made a splash in the weight room.

Several heralded players took part in the Friday Night Lights held at Florida Field last week such as quarterback Stephen Garcia, who is involved in the Elite 11 camp this week. Coach Dan Mullen helped him with mechanics. Former Gator defensive lineman Julian Riley will be eligible to play this season after being granted a waiver of the transfer rule that requires players to sit out a season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining. Riley was a backup defensive lineman in 04 and 05. Linval Joseph (6-6, 308), an offensive lineman from Alachua Santa Fe, has committed to Florida. Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech and LSU have offered him. Joe Haden (5-10, 189), a Rivals100 athlete from Fort Washington Maryland Friendly, has committed to the Gators. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee have offered him.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Coach Steve Spurrier is determined to get his offense on the field quicker this season than last. USC finished No. 9 in offense last season. His biggest concern is stopping the run. He is trying to build a winning culture in Columbia. He said the trophy case has only an Outback Trophy and mementos from the 1969 ACC title. Spurrier is hoping quarterbacks Cade Thompson and Chris Smelley can push Blake Mitchell. He mentioned that players who didn’t attend preseason workouts might not get to play. Unlike many SEC coaches, Spurrier has no problem with playing 12 games. Syvelle Newton, who is returning from a ruptured Achilles, told Spurrier that he is 95% recovered. Spurrier and his wife Jerri, renewed their vows at Hilton Head Island this past weekend before 350 family and friends. They have been married 40 years. Fan appreciation day is set for Sunday, August 13.

LSU: Coach Les Miles continues to be peppered with quarterback questions. He did say last week that Ryan Perrilloux will not be moved to another position because he doesn’t have the speed. Miles repeated that JaMarcus Russell will start at quarterback. Matt Flynn is very capable of playing. He also said tailback Alley Broussard is still not 100% full speed, but he is optimistic that he will play in the first game. Justin Vincent is a proven back. Miles said Jacob Hester will play both tailback and fullback.

One of the more talented positions is receiver with Dwayne Bowe, Buster Davis, Early Doucet and even Brandon LaFell. Miles also said defensive back Daniel Francis will get the first chance to replace Skyler Green with punt returns. Trindon Holliday, one of the fastest players on the team, will also get numerous attempts at returns. Miles added that linebacker Luke Sanders is progressing well after a knee injury this spring. Defensively, Miles believes linemen Glenn Dorsey and Charles Alexander will be hard to block.

TENNESSEE: Coach Phil Fulmer was asked repeatedly how he was going to get his team back on track after last year’s 5-6 season. Fulmer is pleased that his good friend David Cutcliffe is on the staff to overhaul the offense. Fulmer said redshirt freshmen linebacker Rico McCoy and center Josh McNeil could play significant roles this season. For the third time in the past four years, Tennessee has not had an offensive skill player named to the preseason All-SEC first team. Former Vol broadcaster John Ward has had two holes-in-one this year.

GEORGIA: Bulldog defensive back Bryan Evans broke a school record by bench pressing 390 pounds, the most ever by a player at his position. Evans and Asher Allen are both behind junior Thomas Flowers at cornerback.

OLE MISS: Coach Ed Orgeron said quarterback signee Brent Schaeffer will end his classes at the College of Sequoias August 2 or 3.

CLEMSON: In the Sporting News, an unnamed ACC coach said Tommy Bowden was “overrated” and “has always had things handed to him.” The coach went on to say that Bowden “will fire a coach in a heartbeat to save himself.” Willy Korn, the heralded quarterback commitment for the Tigers, was one of the stars in the 7-on-7 tournament in Hoover, Ala., over the weekend.

VIRGINIA TECH: Tyrod Taylor (6-1, 200), a quarterback from Hampton, Va., has committed to Tech. Georgia, Florida, Penn State and Tennessee have offered him. Tech lost its scout team quarterback, Grant Throckmorton, to a broken fibula and torn ligaments in his right leg and ankle. He is out for three months. Now incoming freshman Kam Chancellor will be the scout quarterback since Sean Glennon, Cory Holt and Ike Whitaker are battling for the starting job. Tailback Brandon Ore’s shoulder is healed and he will be ready for camp to open Aug. 4. No. 7 Tech was the only ACC team to finish in the top 16 teams in the final AP poll. Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi give Tech perhaps the best linebacker crew in the ACC. Rover Aaron Rouse said at ACC Media Days that the defense could overcome having only one returning starter on the defensive line.

FLORIDA STATE: Torrey Davis, the five-star defensive tackle from Armwood (Fla.) High has not officially committed to FSU although he says he is close. Clemson and Florida are still in the picture. He attended Friday Night Lights in Gainesville. Junior college transfer Shannon Boatman (6-7, 322) has added nearly 100 pounds to his bench and squat and 20 pounds of muscle. Fullback Joe Surratt has lost nearly 25 pounds and weighs 248. Will Furlong (6-5, 275), an offensive lineman from Deland, Fla., is commitment No. 6 for the Noles. Linebacker Buster Davis said freshmen linebacker Marcus Ball and defensive back Myron Rolle have been impressive. Davis said Ball will be a star because he grasps the five packages of the defense even now as a freshman.

MIAMI: Safety Anthony Reddick is close to being 100% after his knee injury. Reddick, Kenny Phillips and Brandon Meriweather are all hoping for playing time. He also said the offense is coming together as evidenced by the problem the defensive backs have in covering the tight ends. Quarterback Kyle Wright said at ACC Media Days that he is excited about new offensive assistants Todd Berry and Rich Olson. Linebacker Jon Beason also said at media days that freshman defensive end Courtney Harris and sophomore Rhyan Anderson provide a solid pass rush. Wright also commented on the improvement of Ryan Moore. Beason is anticipating the challenge of playing at Louisville.

VIRGINIA: Al Groh is looking for his fifth straight winning season. Under Groh, UVA is 21-19 in ACC play. Mike Groh, the son of the head coach, has replaced Ron Prince, who went to Kansas State. Quarterback Christian Olsen said the combination of father and son has worked well so far. Olsen is the favorite to claim the quarterback job after the departure of Marques Hagans. Receiver Deyon Williams, who is 6-foot-3, is the big play threat after he gained over 800 yards receiving last year. The offensive line is a work in progress after losing D’Brickashaw Ferguson. UVA’s running game has plenty of questions also. Cornerback Marcus Hamilton is the only senior on the Cav defense.

BOSTON COLLEGE: The opener against Central Michigan is a dangerous game because of the threat of sophomore running back Ontario Snead who rushed for over 1,000 yards. He also caught 51 passes out of the backfield. Defensive end Dan Bazuin had nearly two sacks per game. Last season, CMU was also No. 20 in rush defense. The second game is crucial with Clemson coming to BC. The Eagles have to find a way to stop defensive end Gaines Adams. Then the following week, BYU and quarterback John Beck, who was first team All Mountain West comes to town. Last year in the, 20-3, loss, Beck threw for over 300 yards. After games against N C State and Maine, BC plays Virginia Tech and FSU in consecutive weeks. Buffalo, Wake Forest and Duke are the next three before tackling Maryland. BC ends with Miami on Thanksgiving. BC players at ACC Media Days were not happy with being sent to Boise, Idaho to play Boise State. Safety Ryan Glasper said free safety Jamie Silva has come out of nowhere to turn heads in summer drills.

WAKE FOREST: Offensive lineman Steve Vallos said at Media Day that quarterback Ben Mauck has had a good spring after being challenged by the team because he struggled last year. Safety Patrick Ghee said linebacker Aaron Curry and free safety Chip Vaughn have caught his eye.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels had a great week of verbal commitments in securing pledges from six players in five days. Yet, they missed out on Josh Oglesby, a tailback who ran a sub- 4.4 at a NIKE camp at Clemson. His father is a former Tar Heel player. UNC offered late because he and his family felt spurned by UNC coaches and he verbally committed to Virginia Tech. At ACC Media Days, running back Ronnie McGill said new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti will emphasize the running game. McGill said Barrington Edwards, the LSU transfer, is back on the right track after off-the-field issues. Both McGill and free safety Kareen Taylor are comfortable with either Cam Sexton or Joe Dailey at quarterback.

MARYLAND: Terp quarterback Sam Hollenbach said at media days that he was excited about head coach Ralph Friedgen being the offensive coordinator. Hollenbach said he has taken many steps to cut down on his 15 picks from last year such as watching film of Peyton Manning and working on a simulator. Players said Florida transfer Josh Portis is the most athletic quarterback they have seen during their time at Maryland.

GEORGIA TECH: At Media Day, receive Calvin Johnson and defensive tackle Joe Anoai said they wanted to beat Georgia. Anoai said he has never beaten Georgia in his career and he is tired of hearing Georgia players say they have never lost to Tech. D J Donley (6-4, 200), a four-star receiver from Charlton County High in Georgia, has committed to Tech. Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and FSU offered him.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE CLAY COUNTY LINE IN ORANGE PARK, FLA., HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON ESPN 1460 ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY AFTERNOONS ON THE RUMBLE WITH MIKE DEMPSEY AND TOM MCMANUS.