Combine returning starters with last season’s record, then gauge the schedule’s degree of difficulty and you have the basic information for projecting a college football team’s success or failure in the upcoming season.

To a lesser extent, you might want to factor in a recruiting class, which can provide depth or fill a void that returning players can’t.

That covers just about everything — everything but the comeback kids. I’m referring to players who missed last season. They might have had to sit out because of a transfer, or they might have been injured.

In the SEC, the comeback kids could be significant. And no should be more aware of that than UT.

Demetrice Morley, who wasn’t academically eligible last season, will start at free safety. In fact, he and All-American candidate Eric Berry are being touted as one of UT’s all-time best safety tandems.

Gerald Williams, who originally signed with the Vols in 2005, could provide depth at defensive end or linebacker after finally completing his circuitous journey from high school to the UT campus.

Tight end Brandon Warren, a transfer from Florida State, could give the Vols a playmaker at tight end after sitting out last season. He still has to win an appeal with the SEC and NCAA but is likely to be declared eligible by the season opener.

SEC rivals Florida and Georgia also should get a boost from comeback kids.

Florida offensive tackle Phil Trautwein, who missed last season with a stress fracture in his foot, made first-team preseason All-SEC. Running back Emmanuel Moody, who sat out last season after transferring from Southern Cal, could lead the Gators in rushing.

Georgia will benefit from a returning linebacker. Akeem Hebron, a consensus first-team All-American in high school, enrolled at Georgia in 2006, then played last season at Georgia Military College. Ole Miss would be in dire straits offensively if not for Texas transfer Jevan Snead, who will start at quarterback after sitting out last season.

Snead heads up my All-SEC newcomer team, which is composed of true or redshirt freshmen, junior college transfers or returning players who missed last season.

Offense

QB – Jevan Snead, Ole Miss: The University of Texas transfer completed 20 of 26 passes for 269 yards in Ole Miss’ spring game.

RB – Emmanuel Moody, Florida: He started four games as a true freshman at Southern Cal in 2006. He was slow to pick up Florida’s offensive system after transferring, but finally hit his stride in the spring game.

RB – Caleb King, Georgia: After redshirting last year, he should get plenty of carries as Knowshon Moreno’s backup.

WR – Julio Jones, Alabama: A consensus high school All-American, the 6-foot-4 true freshman has the playmaking ability Alabama lacks.

WR – A.J. Green, Georgia: Another big true freshman receiver who joins a team that could use more firepower at the position.

TE – Brandon Warren, UT: After making freshman All-American two seasons ago at Florida State, he could give UT its biggest threat at the position since Jason Witten.

OL – Phillip Trautwein, Florida: Before missing last season because of injury, he had started 14 games at offensive tackle. He made second-team All-SEC in 2006.

OL – Ben Jones, Georgia: Rated as one of the top centers in the nation out of Centreville, Ala., he enrolled in Georgia in the spring and began competing for a starting position.

OL – Tyler Love, Alabama: The 6-7, 290-pound five-star recruit could challenge for a starting position on a veteran offensive line that has a vacancy at one tackle spot.

OL – Justin Anderson, Georgia: Redshirted last season, he ended spring drills as the backup right tackle on a deep offensive line.

OL – James Wilson, Florida: The former high school All-American had an exceptional spring after almost transferring. He will provide depth to a talented, experienced offensive line.

Defense

DL – Omar Hunter, Florida: Meyer has been raving about Hunter since he signed with the Gators this year. Hunter has size, strength and the gung-ho attitude that Meyer loves.

DL – Matt Patchan, Florida – A high school All-American in the offensive line, he enrolled at Florida in January and switched to defense. Like Hunter, he has a chance to start this fall.

DL – Raven Gray, Auburn: When Auburn moved Sen’Derrick Marks from defensive end to tackle, it created a starting opportunity for Gray, a junior college transfer.

DL/LB – Gerald Williams, UT: He could bolster the pass rush at end or contribute at linebacker.

LB – Jerrell Harris, Alabama: One of the top players in Alabama’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class, he is playing the right position. Alabama is dangerously thin at linebacker.

LB – Patrick Trahan, Ole Miss: A junior college transfer, he originally signed with Auburn. He should be good enough to start for the Rebels.

LB – Akeem Hebron, Georgia: He will strengthen an already-deep linebacking corps.

S – Demetrice Morley, UT: Fast and athletic, he could play cornerback as well if needed.

S – Will Hill, Florida: Big and fast, he will vie with sophomore Ahmad Black for a starting safety job.

CB – Akeem Auguste, South Carolina: The true freshman should provide depth at cornerback in one of the SEC’s best secondaries.

CB – Patrick Johnson, LSU: One of the best high school defensive backs in the country, Johnson could start on a defense which lost both corners.

Other newcomers who should have an impact in the SEC this season:

Chris Rainey, Florida: Redshirted last season, the running bak/wide receiver brings more speed and elusiveness to an already-explosive offense.

Enrique Davis, Ole Miss: The high school All-American running back could start as a true freshman.

Chris Todd, Auburn: The junior college transfer who originally signed with Texas Tech could win the starting quarterback job in Auburn’s spread offense.

Mark Barron, Alabama: An outstanding defensive back in high school, he’s big enough to play linebacker.

B.J. Scott, Alabama: Ranked as the No. 1 athlete in this recruiting class by ESPN, he should play somewhere for the Tide.

C.C. Whitlock, South Carolina: A true freshman, he went through spring drills as a wide receiver but could play cornerback as well.

Richard Samuel, Georgia: Although the Bulldogs have a great one-two punch in Moreno and King, they still need depth at running back. That’s where Samuel comes in.

Blair Walsh, Georgia: The high school All-American became the leading candidate to replace Brandon Coutu as placekicker as soon as he signed with the Bulldogs.

Caleb Sturgis, Florida: Another recruit who should be his team’s kicker as a true freshman.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.