Auburn starts spring practice on Feb. 27. The Tigers lose Courtney Taylor at receiver, but starter Rod Smith and backups Prechae Rodriguez and Robert Dunn return. Montez Billings and James Swinton could also be a factor. Redshirt freshman Tim Hawthorne, Alex Rose and Terrell Zachery could also be in the mix.

Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles, who has been in the position for 34 years, is stepping down at the end of the year. Broyles said that athletic department has balanced its budget for 33 straight years. He has been asked to stay on as a fund- raiser. Former Razorbacks Terry Don Phillips of Clemson and Ken Hatfield have been mentioned as possible replacements. Phillips, a Razorback grad, said he has no interest in going to Arkansas.

Houston Nutt has shifted some of his staff members around. Alex Wood, who was the quarterbacks coach, is now the receivers coach. David Lee was hired earlier to be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Louis Campbell, who coached defensive back last season, moves off the field to become the assistant athletic director. Chris Vaughn, who was the director of off-campus recruiting, is now the safeties coach.

Mississippi State has set its first three football games against LSU at home on Aug. 30, at Tulane on Sept. 8 and at Auburn on Sept. 15. The search for Larry Templeton’s replacement will begin on July 1. It is unknown whether or not State president Robert Foglesong will use Carr Sports Associates headed by Bill Carr, the former AD at Houston and Florida. Auburn and Kentucky used the Carr firm in their AD searches. Two candidates most mentioned are Joe Dean, Jr., the AD at Birmingham Southern and Greg Byrne, State’s associate AD for external affairs.

AD salaries: Jeremy Foley $600,000, Eric Hyman USC $455,000, Mitch Barnhart Kentucky $436,116, Skip Bertman LSU $425,000, Mal Moore Alabama $400,000, Damon Evans Georgia $390,000, Jay Jacobs Auburn $339, 000, Pete Boone Ole Miss $338, 130, Larry Templeton Mississippi State $311,437, Mike Hamilton Tennessee $301, 500 and Frank Broyles $286, 280.

LSU starts spring practice on Feb. 23. The Tigers will have an extra two days to prepare for the home opener against Virginia Tech on Sept. 8 after agreeing to an ESPN Thursday night date at Mississippi State. Athletic director Skip Bertman, who replaced Joe Dean in 2001, announced his retirement set for June of 2008.

Tiger coach Les Miles has named D. J. McCarthy as receivers coach replacing Todd Monken. McCarthy was on the UCLA staff for one season. He made $130,000 at UCLA and said he had to drive 30 miles to work everyday. McCarthy was also at Central Florida for two years. He started his coaching career at Boca Raton High School.

Tennessee started spring practice Thursday with questions at several different positions such as secondary, receiver, and right tackle. Also at kicker, the Vols need some production from redshirt freshman Daniel Lincoln who has been a disappointment. Defensive lineman J T Mapu struggled last season after being pressed into action. He was not ready to play after returning from a two-year Mormon mission. This is also a big spring for offensive lineman Chris Scott who has frustrated coaches with his weight and strength issues during his first two seasons. The fullbacks including David Holbert greatly underachieved last year. Someone needs to step up and take over the position.

Ole Miss quarterback Billy Tapp has moved to either receiver or tight end. He is a redshirt sophomore from St. Petersburg, Fl. Former quarterback Robert Lane is also at tight end. The quarterback depth chart is Brent Schaeffer, Seth Adams, Cliff Davis and Michael Herrick.

The Rebels have a lot more depth at receiver when spring starts on March 2. Last year, they had only one returning receiver. This year Mike Wallace (24 catches for 425 yards), Dexter McCluster, who played in six games and caught 15 passes for 232 yards, Marshay Green, who caught 19 passes for 174 yards and Mike Hicks, who caught 10 catches for 165 yards.

South Carolina freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia was arrested Friday night in the Five Points area of Columbus for public drunkenness. Officers went to investigate an incident. They wanted to question Garcia and he ran. His suspension has been lifted. Steve Spurrier said Garcia’s suspension this weekend may have been all the punishment that he needed. Spurrier hired Shane Beamer as a co-coordinator to clean up special teams. He will direct the block teams and kickoff return teams. Fred Chatham also is a co-special teams coordinator. The Gamecocks haven’t received a touchdown from special teams in two seasons.

South Carolina is expected to announce that the Oct. 6 home game against Kentucky will be moved to an ESPN Thursday night game. The Gamecocks open with Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 1 before playing at Georgia on Sept. 8. Then they play South Carolina State on Sept. 15 before traveling to LSU on Sept. 22. They play at North Carolina on Sat. Oct. 13, nine days after the Kentucky game. The Gamecocks end the season at Tennessee, at Arkansas, Florida and after an off week, Clemson.

Georgia has verbal commitment No. 7 for 2008 after Baccarri Rambo (6-1, 190), a safety from Donalsonville (Ga.) Seminole County, pledged to the Bulldogs this week. The mother of redshirt freshman defensive end Michael Lemon died in a fire at home Wednesday morning. Lemon is expected to compete for a defensive end position after Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson left.

Kentucky has eight home games for 2007 after dropping a road trip to Temple and adding a home date with Kent State on Sept. 8. The Wildcats play two games-Eastern Kentucky and Kent State—before the annual grudge match against Louisville on Sept. 15. On consecutive weeks, the Wildcats play Louisville, at Arkansas, Florida Atlantic, at South Carolina, LSU and ending with Florida on Oct. 20.

Florida starts spring practice on Wednesday, March 21. Offensive line coach John Hevesy visited the Jacksonville Gator Club this week and had some interesting tidbits. He said over half the team are in their first two season with the addition of the signing class. Over 45% of the football team had a grade point average over 3.0 last semester. When asked about replacing Reggie Nelson, he mentioned Dorian Munroe first. He also expects to see Jamar Hornsby step up at the position. Hevesy said Drew Miller, Ronnie Wilson, Maurice Hurt and Eddie Haupt will be given opportunities to replace departed starting center Steve Rissler. Florida will have 16 offensive linemen this season, easily the most at that position in years. Hevesy wants eight guys he can count on-two centers, three guards and three tackles. There is talk of moving Trent Pupello from tight end to defensive end. Hevesy commented on the quickness of freshman Joe Haden.

Florida State quarterback Xavier Lee has already met with offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher who has promised him that the quarterback position is up for grabs. Lee (6-4, 240) wants to reduce from 16% down to 14% body fat. He is also watching a lot of film on former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who worked under Fisher. Offensive line coach Rick Trickett has made several major changes in the offensive line preseason conditioning including daily running as a unit, and diet changes. Center John Frady has lost 30 pounds. Jacky Claude, Dumaka Atkins, Daron Rose and Matt Hardrick have all dropped 10 or more pounds. Tight end Brandon Warren has officially asked for his release. He is expected to transfer to Tennessee.

Miami begins spring practice March 6. Glenn Sharpe will also be aboard after being granted a rare sixth year of eligibility. Sharpe has battled many ACL injuries in his career. Cane receiver signee Leonard Hankerson (6-2, 185), who is from Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas (Fla.) Aquinas, said he has raised his SAT score enough to qualify. Coach Randy Shannon’s coaching staff is finally official. Patrick Nix and Tim Walton are the coordinators. Michael Barrow (linebackers). Clint Hurtt (defensive line), Wesley McGriff (defensive backs), Marques Mosely (receivers), Jeff Stoutland (offensive line), Tommie Robinson (running backs) and Joe Pannunzio (tight ends and specials teams) round out the staff.

Cane receiver Darnell Jenkins, who played in three games last year before sustaining a knee injury, has been awarded a medical redshirt year. He will contend along with Sam Shields and Lance Leggett for a first team role.

Clemson has a new receiver. Markish Jones (6-0, 183), a receiver from Spartanburg,

S. C., is now a Clemson Tiger according to the ACC. Jones originally signed a LOI with Clemson then changed his mind and signed one with FSU. Clemson officials appealed and the ACC agreed.

Tiger assistant Dabo Swinney is expected to receive a big raise and a title after turning down the Alabama job. He makes $135,000 per year now. Tight ends coach Billy Napier could be named the recruiting coordinator replacing linebackers coach David Blackwell.

Draft notes: Over the past ten years, this is how the schools have done in draft choices:

1. Miami 67

2. Ohio State 66 and FSU 66

4. Tennessee 61

5. Georgia 54

6. Florida 53

7. Nebraska 52

8. Southern Cal 45 and Virginia Tech 45

10. Michigan and Wisconsin with 43

12. LSU 40

13. Oklahoma 39.

In the past 10 drafts, Texas has had nine top ten picks. FSU and Miami have had seven.

The SEC leads all conferences with 58 players at the combine. The ACC and Big 12 are next with 43. Pac-10 is fourth with 39 and the Big Ten is fifth with 34.

Since 2000, only 12 players have been selected to the first day of the draft that were not at the combine (four second rounders and eight third rounders).

The three schools with the most players drafted since 1936 are Notre Dame (472), USC (404) and Ohio State (354).

Texas has the longest streak of having players drafted from 1936-the present.

Big non-conference games for 2007

Sept. 1-
Washington State at Wisconsin
Oklahoma State at Georgia
Georgia Tech at Notre Dame
Tennessee at Cal

Sept. 6-
Utah at Louisville

Sept. 8-
Boise State at Washington
Miami at Oklahoma
BYU at UCLA
Nebraska at Wake Forest
South Florida at Auburn
Notre Dame at Penn State
TCU at Texas
Virginia Tech at LSU

Sept 13-
West Virginia at Maryland

Sept. 15-
Ohio State at Washington
USC at Nebraska
FSU at Colorado
Louisville at Kentucky
Notre Dame at Michigan

Sept. 20-
Texas A & M at Miami

Sept. 29-
Maryland at Rutgers
Alabama vs. FSU

SEC HOOPS

Florida (at LSU) beat South Carolina to clinch the SEC title. Al Horford scored 20 points and Chris Richard had a season high 14 points in the win. Joakim Noah had six points and 13 rebounds. South Carolina’s Tre Kelly added 19 points. USC cut the lead the only nine with around five minutes left, but the Gators

Kentucky (Vanderbilt) broke a three-game skid with the win against LSU. The Wildcats had not lost four games since the 1990 season when they lost five straight. Kentucky has beaten LSU 11 straight times in Rupp Arena. LSU didn’t have leading scorer Glen “Big Baby” Davis who missed the trip due to an injury. The Wildcats scored a season low 22 points in the first half against Alabama.

Arkansas (Tennessee) guard Patrick Beverley hit 6- of- 11 three point shots in the win over Ole Miss. He is ranked in a league high 9- of -13 categories. Arkansas blocked double-digit shots against Ole Miss. The first time this has happened in 11 games. Steven Hill leads the SEC with three blocks per game.

Ole Miss (at South Carolina), who has won five of six games, is tied with Mississippi State for the division lead. For the fourth time in five games, Clarence Sanders has led the Rebels in scoring. Sanders broke the school record for three point shots in the win over Georgia. The Rebels end the season with games at South Carolina and Alabama and home against Auburn.

Mississippi State (at Georgia) is on a four-game win streak, the best in the SEC. State is the only western division team to win twice on the road. State has beaten Vandy six straight times at home. Jamont Gordon is averaging 18 points per game in his last nine games. He had a triple double-15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists-- in the win over Vanderbilt. It was only the second triple double in school history. Lawrence Roberts had the team’s first triple double in 2004. Gordon has 44 assists and only 16 turnovers in his last nine games. The win over Vandy also meant the Bulldogs broke a 13 game losing streak against ranked opponents.

A Vandy (Kentucky) victory over Kentucky would secure a winning season in the SEC for the first time since 1997. Derrick Byars, who had eight assists and five steals, and Shan Foster, both scored 24 points each in the win over Florida. Ross Neltner had 15 points and six rebounds in the win. Vandy has won 12 straight at home. Mississippi State brought Vandy back down to earth with a 13 point loss in Starkville. Byars, who is second in the league in scoring averaging 19 points per game, was held to only seven by the Bulldogs.

Alabama (Auburn) could win their division since the last two games are at home against Ole Miss and at Mississippi State. The Tide lost to Tennessee for the first time in eight games last Wednesday. A season high 26 turnovers proved to be the Tide’s undoing against the Vols. Alabama is 2-1 against top 20 teams with wins over LSU and Kentucky and the loss to Florida. Richard Hendrix leads the league in shooting percentage (60%). In his last six games, he is averaging a double-double. Ron Steele had 15 points, seven assists and only two turnovers in the win over Kentucky. However, he took himself out of the Tennessee loss after scoring only six points. Alabama is 1-6 in SEC road games.

Tennessee (at Arkansas) has won five of its last six games. The Vols attempted a season high 81 field goals against Alabama and made 27. They also had a season high 20 steals against the Tide. Over the past six games, freshman point guard Ramar Smith is averaging 12 points and freshman Wayne Chism is averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game. Chris Lofton still leads the SEC averaging 20 points per game. Tennessee has won only one road game on the entire season, but they are 15-0 at home.

Georgia (Mississippi State) scored a season low 49 points in the loss to Ole Miss. The Bulldogs made only 1- of -14 shots to start the second half. Even though the Bulldogs have a winning conference record, they finish the season with Mississippi State, Kentucky and Tennessee.

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.