• Tennessee March 11
• Alabama March 13
• Florida March 19
• South Carolina March 19

SOUTH CAROLINA: Kevin Young, a redshirt freshman guard from Clearwater, Fla., was charged with fighting and resisting arrest in a Columbia nightclub early Sunday morning. After speaking to a number of witnesses and Young, coach Steve Spurrier said Young should be vindicated. Spurrier has also suspended cornerback Carlos Thomas, who had seven starts last year, for violation of team policy (he was reported to have used profanities in the presence of an athletic administrator in the team’s dining hall).

Spurrier also said on Monday that receiver Kenny McKinley would be limited by an injured toe. He said the offense would be working on third down offense and red zone situations. Two goals for the offensive line are reducing sacks and improving the rushing offense. Spurrier is also excited about the hiring of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. He also joked that the defensive players could tackle quarterback Stephen Garcia by the ponytail. Garcia will battle redshirt junior Tommy Beecher and redshirt sophomore Chris Smelley for the starting job. Tailback Mike Davis will be suspended for one game due to missing class.

AUBURN: Defensive end Antonio Coleman, who led the Tigers with 18.5 tackles for loss last year, was released from the hospital after sustaining a cervical sprain during Saturday’s scrimmage. He was hurt in a scuffle with offensive lineman Lee Ziemba. Receiver Tim Hawthorne is out with a broken arm. He will have surgery and miss the remainder of spring practice. Running back Mario Fannin, who is limited by a separated shoulder, could have to undergo surgery and miss the remainder of spring practice. Ben Tate (hamstring), Tristan Davis (foot) and quarterback DeRonn Furr (shoulder) are limited by injuries.

In Saturday’s scrimmage, defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said linebacker Josh Bynes stood out with eight tackles. Sophomore receiver Terrell Zachery led the receivers with nine catches for 84 yards and a score. The three quarterbacks combined for 47- of- 75 passing for 426 yards with four touchdowns and three picks. Sophomore Kodi Burns, who was 22- of- 37 for 162 yards with one score and one pick, and Neil Caudle, who was 22- of- 33 for 243 yards and three scores and two picks, had the most reps. Tight end Tommy Trott caught five passes for 33 yards. Auburn scrimmages again Saturday, March 8.

GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt said he is humbled by the raise given this week. Richt goes from $2.2 million to $2.8 million. He is fifth among SEC coaches in compensation. Richt, who has six years to go on his deal, joked that his wife, Katharyn was in Romania this week and didn’t know about the raise. Richt’s assistants will also receive a bump in pay.

The Bulldogs started practice Monday. They will practice four times this week. Even though 17 starters return, replacing kicker Brandon Coutu, offensive linemen Fernando Velasco and Chester Adams, receiver Sean Bailey, safety Kelin Johnson and defensive end Marcus Howard are priorities.

Tavarres King, a midterm enrollee, is already drawing attention at his receiver position. Another receiver, Tony Wilson, who struggled early last year with drops, has impressed in the first week. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is trying to improve his accuracy. Stafford completed 52% of his passes during his freshman season and 55% last year. Stafford’s percentage should improve this year with a more experience offensive line and receivers. Richard Samuel and Dontavious Jackson, both midterm enrollees, are getting their feet wet. Another midterm offensive line enrollee, Ben Jones (6-2, 305), has impressed onlookers. There is speculation that he is already earned a second team spot behind starting center Chris Davis. Akeem Hebron, who is back on the team after a year at Georgia Military College, has already claimed the backup role to Akeem Dent at linebacker.

ALABAMA: The Tuscaloosa Police Department has dropped a disorderly conduct charges against defensive back Rashad Johnson in a plea agreement. Earlier in the week video evidence contradicted a police report which said Johnson pushed down a security guard. Country music star Alan Jackson will perform at Alabama’s annual A-Day weekend.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: Junior linebacker Jamon Hughes has been indefinitely suspended from the team for a violation of team policy. Other reports have said he was ticketed with a DUI recently. Receiver O’Neal Wilder has been impressive in practice making circus catches. The secondary might be the best unit on the team with Derek Pegues and Keith Fitzhugh. Sly Croom is still looking for consistency at center and at fullback. Pegues was also arrested earlier this week for a suspended license and having an open container of beer in his car.

FLORIDA: Offensive lineman James Wilson said he wants to transfer to Wake Forest. He has asked for his release, but coach Urban Meyer has yet to grant it. Meyer is hoping Wilson will change his mind. Wilson, who sat out last season after knee surgery, said he always felt more comfortable at Wake Forest than any other school. Meyer said Jason Watkins, Jim Tartt, Drew Miller and Steve Rissler left multiple times before returning.

Sophomore defensive tackle Torrey Davis is back on the team after being suspended. Meyer said Davis has some academic work to do. Offensive tackle Phil Trautwein (bone spurs on his ankle), offensive guard Maurice Hurt (bone spurs), defensive tackle Brandon Antwine (back), defensive tackle Javier Estopinan (knee) and offensive guard Simon Codrington (wrist) will all miss the spring. Sophomore Michael Pouncey is returning to the offensive line after playing at defensive tackle last year. Redshirt freshman tackle Chris Rainey had gained 14 pounds and is up to 174. Reserve quarterback John Brantley will miss the first few days of practice because of a shoulder injury. Tim Tebow was hitting some 370-yard drives in a recent Pro-Am.

KENTUCKY: Chris Thurmond is the new secondary coach at UK. He was on the Houston staff last season. He has also served time at Alabama earlier this decade. Freshman tailback Brandon Jackson has been suspended for a violation of team policy. Cornerback Paul Warford was suspended last week.

LSU: The Tiger defensive line will again be solid next season. Kirston Pittman, who has been granted a sixth year of eligibility after missing the 2005 (foot injury) and 2006 (Achilles tendon) seasons, is returning along with end Tyson Jackson, who had a chance to go to the NFL and senior defensive tackles Marlon Favorite and Charles Alexander (missed most of the season with a knee injury) and tackle/end Ricky Jean Francois (the MVP of the BSC title game. Backups Tremaine Johnson, a senior and Al Woods and Rahim Alem, both juniors, also return.

Keiland Williams or Charles Scott must take over as the go-to man in the offense with the departure of Jacob Hester. Williams has run for nearly 1,000 yards in two years and Scott 601. Russell Shepard (6-2, 185), a five-star dual threat quarterback from Houston, Texas committed to LSU Monday. Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Alabama, and Florida have offered him. Linebacker Perry Riley, who was running with first team defense, is out for the remainder of spring practice with a broken foot.

TENNESSEE: Running backs coach Stan Drayton told VolQuest.com that the spread offense is not very conducive for a running backs coach. He was also quoted as saying, “I know that at the University of Tennessee when my wife walks through the door at lunchtime with my kids, I am not going to have a head coach looking at me sideways because I have my family in a working environment. Coach Fulmer opens the door to that.”

ACC FOOTBALL

CLEMSON: Coach Tommy Bowden starts his 10th spring this Saturday. Fifteen- of- 22 starting jobs are taken coming in to spring. The Tigers return quarterback Cullen Harper, tailbacks James Davis and C J Spiller, receivers Aaron Kelly, Jacoby Ford and Tyler Grisham, tight end Michael Palmer, guard Barry Humphries and center Thomas Austin. On defense, tackles Dorell Scott and Rashaad Jackson, linebackers Ricky Sapp and Cortney Vincent and defensive backs Mike Hamlin, Chris Clemons, Crezdon Butler and Chris Chancellor all return. There are several questions to be answered for spring practice. Who replaces Barry Richardson and Chris McDuffie on the offensive line? How are Davis and Spiller used in the offense? How will special teams improve this spring?

FLORIDA STATE: Brandon Jenkins (6-3, 234), a four-star defensive end from Florida High, has committed to FSU. Randy Kellman (6-6, 261), a defensive end from Iowa State, is considering transferring to FSU. Kellman, a freshman, has asked for his release. He graduated from Celebration High from Kissimmee, Fla. Athletic director Randy Spetman will receive financial incentives for classroom success.

MIAMI: In Thursday’s scrimmage before 2,500 fans, the defense dominated. The offense scored one touchdown and a field goal. All three quarterbacks-Robert Marve (13- of- 18 for 104 yards with no picks and no touchdowns), Cannon Smith (2- of- 4 for 54 yards) and Jacory Harris (11- of -14 for 78 yards)-had their moments. Receiver Jermaine McKenzie was on the sidelines with a walking boot. Coach Randy Shannon gave no information. Shannon said tailbacks Graig Cooper and Javarris James made some people miss. Freshmen defensive players Sean Spence, a linebacker and Marcus Fortson, a defensive lineman, were singled out.

Olivier Vernon (6-3, 230), a defensive end from Miami Hialeah American High, has committed to the Canes. He has over 15 scholarship offers from schools such as Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina and FSU. Florida has also offered him.

After Saturday’s scrimmage, Shannon said both the quarterbacks and receivers made some big plays. Marve has a picture of Tebow in his room as motivation. He has pictures of other upcoming opponents. McKenzie is up to 177 pounds after losing down to 154 after a car accident last June. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Josh Holmes, who is in a leg cast, is injured and won’t return for the rest of spring ball. Cooper weighs 202, up 10 pounds.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Tar Heels started practice Monday. Ten players return on offense and six on defense. Receiver is a position of strength for the Tar Heels with Brooks Foster, Hakeem Nicks and Brandon Tate. The coaches signed five linebackers in Feb. There is a lack of depth at cornerback. Greg Little could be the starting tailback after rushing for nearly 250 yards in the final two games. Quarterback T J Yates will miss the spring with a shoulder injury and Mike Paulus (his brother, Greg, plays for Duke) will get a chance to get plenty of reps.

CHARLOTTE: The ACC could award Charlotte the football championship game and the baseball tournament on a permanent basis. The ACC basketball tournament is in Charlotte next week.

SOUTHERN MISS: Golden Eagle officials are signing a home- and- home series with Kansas. USM travels to Lawrence in 2009 and Kansas comes to Hattiesburg in 2010. Kansas is the third Big 12 team (Oklahoma State and Nebraska) to coming to Southern Miss since 2000. Coach Larry Fedora wants 30,000 fans for the spring game. The usual amount is 5,000 to 9,000 fans.

MICHIGAN: Coach Rich Rodriquez has met twice with groups of former Michigan players. The first was on Feb. 5 when 30 members of the 1969 team (coaching change from Bump Elliott to Bo Schembechler) spoke with him and then on Feb. 16 when more than 200 former players met with he and his staff. Michigan begins on March 15.

SEC HOOPS

RPI: Tennessee No. 1, Vanderbilt No. 7, Mississippi State 36, Arkansas 41, Ole Miss 42, Kentucky 47, Florida 63, Alabama 134, South Carolina 149, Auburn 155

TENNESSEE (27-3, 13-2): The Vols won their first SEC title in 41 years (1967) after beating Florida Wednesday night. Tennessee has also won a school record 27 games. Tennessee’s senior class consisting of Chris Lofton, Jordan Howell and JaJuan Smith has won 87 games in four years. That is second only to the 89 wins the 2001 class recorded.

• Remaining games: South Carolina (Sunday)

• Remaining games: Florida Sunday

VANDERBILT (25-5, 10-5): Shan Foster scored a career-high 42 points in an overtime win over Mississippi State Wednesday night. The game was the last home contest for seniors Alex Gordon, Ross Neltner, Alan Metcalfe and Foster, the winningest senior class in school history with 84 victories. Vandy finished 19-0 at home this season. They have won 32- of- 33 home games. Foster scored 22 points which put him in the history books as Vandy’s career leading scorer. He broke the record held by Matt Freije. Alex Gordon and Jermaine Beal were 1- of- 16 from the arc. A J Ogilvy scored 20 points in the game.

• Remaining games: at Alabama

ARKANSAS (19-10, 8-7): The Hogs are fighting for a NCAA Tournament berth despite a loss to Ole Miss Tuesday night. Arkansas has lost its last five SEC road games. The Hogs are 3-1 against ranked teams and 5-5 against teams with a RPI in the top 50. Arkansas has already improved last year’s record of 7-9 and 18-12. The Hogs won three games in the SEC tourney and made the big dance. Steven Hill, who had four blocks against Alabama, became only the fourth player in SEC history to have over 300 total blocks.

• Remaining games: Auburn

MISSISSIPPI STATE (20-9, 11-4): Despite the overtime loss to Vanderbilt Wednesday night, the Bulldogs have won the SEC West for the fourth time in six seasons. Under Rick Stansbury, the Bulldogs have won 20 games in seven of 10 years. Charles Rhodes will be the lone senior for senior day on Saturday in the game against LSU. However, State must improve its free throw shooting during SEC Tournament time. State is No. 2 nationally in blocks and field goal percentage. The Bulldogs have held 10 of 14 opponents to less than 40% shooting.

• Remaining games: LSU

FLORIDA (21-9, 8-7): In the loss to Tennessee, JaJuan scored 23 points and Chris Lofton added 21 as the Vols overcame a 16-point deficit. The Gators are 6-6 in their last 12 games. They have lost 6-of-10 games. Nick Calathes scored 24 points and nine assists and Marreese Speights added 21 points and seven rebounds. Florida is No. 4 in scoring offense (78 ppg) and No. 4 in scoring defense (67 ppg). Speights is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game in his last 12 games. In Florida’s eight losses they are allowing nearly 77 ppg.

Florida has the second best scoring margin in the league (plus 10.7 ppg). The Gators lead the league in field goal percentage (49%). However, Florida is No.9 in field goal percentage defense (44%). The Gators shoot 36% from the arc (No. 4 in SEC), but allow their opponents to shoot 34% (No. 7 in the SEC). Florida is No. 11 in the league in blocked shots per game (3.24 blocked shots per game). The Gators are No. 3 in assists per game (17), but last in steals (6.4).

• Remaining games: at Kentucky

LSU (13-16, 6-9): The Tigers overcame a 16- point deficit to beat Georgia by seven points Sunday. The Tigers have won three straight. Marcus Thornton scored 36 points, Anthony Randolph added 19 and Chris Johnson had 15 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Interim coach Butch Pierre is 4-3 in seven starts.

• Remaining games: at Mississippi State

OLE MISS (20-9, 6-9): The Rebels beat Alabama by three points last Saturday. Chris Warren scored 25 points and Dwayne Curtis added 24. Warren scored 25 points against Alabama and at Kentucky. David Huertas had 18 points and nine rebounds.

• Remaining games: at Georgia

ALABAMA (15-15, 4-11): Demetrius Jemison has posted two double-doubles in the past two games, a win over Arkansas and a loss to Ole Miss. Guard Senario Hillman came off the bench to score a career high 13 points in the Ole Miss loss. Richard Hendrix, who is averaging 18 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game, struggled with a knee injury against Ole Miss.

• Remaining games: Vanderbilt

SOUTH CAROLINA (5-10, 13-16): Coach Dave Odom is coaching his final games for the Gamecocks. During his tenure, South Carolina won two NIT championships, but little else. Odom admitted in one of his final press conferences that part of the lack of success was due to recruiting misses. Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel has been reported to be one of the top candidates to take over at South Carolina.

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR MYCLAYSUN IN ORANGE PARK, FLA. HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON SPORTS RADIO 1010 XL.