LSU lost All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. And Auburn will be without pass-rush star Quentin Groves, as well as tackle Pat Sims, who is leaving early for the NFL.
But don’t expect a big drop-off on the defensive front for the SEC West’s most successful football programs of this decade.
LSU faced the possibility of losing three-fourths of its defensive front from its national championship team. Instead, it will lose only Dorsey.
The ends are set with Tyson Jackson, who considered going pro, and Kirston Pittman, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Pittman, who started all 14 games and led the team in sacks last season, missed the 2005 and 2006 seasons with injuries.
Ricky Jean-Francois, one of the stars of the national championship game, can play either end or tackle. Tackle Marlon Favorite also returns. So do former high school All-American tackles Drake Nevis and Al Woods.
Despite losing Groves, Auburn still has two All-SEC candidates at defensive end in Sen’Derrick Marks and Antonio Coleman.
That’s assuming Marks plays end. He might move to tackle, a position he played previously.
If Marks does return to tackle, that would create an opening for junior college transfer Raven Gray.
“Raven Gray is as good of a defensive lineman as we’ve ever signed,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville told The Huntsville Times. “He can make plays, run people down from behind, bull rush an offensive lineman.”
Streak Breaker: Former South Carolina coach Sparky Woods defied the odds when he landed a head-coaching job at VMI.
He became the first former South Carolina head football coach to get another head-coaching job since World War II, according to The State.
South Carolina was the last head-coaching stop for its previous 10 head coaches. Seven of those coaches were fired or resigned under fire.
Money Programs: Credit LSU and Georgia with taking advantage of their success.
The Tigers raised ticket prices after winning the national championship. Georgia, which finished second nationally, just raised ticket prices and approved a $36 million plan to renovate the Butts-Mehre athletic building.
Double Duty: Chad Jones could become a two-sport starter for LSU.
Jones will compete for a starting safety job in football this fall after making key plays for the Tigers as a backup and special-teams player in their national championship run. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound freshman also might be LSU’s starting right fielder this spring.
New QBs: Kentucky won’t have a passer as good as Andre Woodson this fall, but it’s assured of having a better runner at quarterback. Curtis Pulley and Mike Hartline, who will compete for the starting job this spring, have running ability.
Pulley, who was redshirted last season, played wide receiver in 2006. Hartline, who backed up Woodson last year, was an outstanding hurdler in high school.
Extra Points: Auburn junior safety Aaron Savage will move to cornerback this spring. … The SEC will have seven new defensive coordinators in 2008.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 13
volunteer_cowboy writes:
KNS must be bored!!!!! wants us to be also
TommyJack writes:
Good info, IMO
vol1994 writes:
seriously John Adams, why did you write this article?
What is your message here? I know you guys get paid for every post made on every article so i assume that is the answer?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I guess we might as well hear about them this winter as see them this fall.
This way we can know what to expect.
cjraney writes:
TJ-
Inclined to agree with you.
AllVol writes:
I suppose it is somewhat relevant (it is SEC football), but we don't even play in the west.
txsvol#372416 writes:
But, we play Auburn there Sept 27, and most likely, LSU if we make the SEC Championship Game Dec 6. Adams is an LSU guy, what do you guys expect? Go Vols! SAVol
vol1994 writes:
txsvol= guess I was hoping Adams and KNS would finally realize this is a UT VOL site.
yes we play auburn and possibly LSU but..
Most want to hear solely on the vols.. all we usually hear lately are the arrests or problems with recruiting.
even when I lived in SW VA (roanoke) the roanoke times and world news posted information year round about VA Tech football. Talking about off the field issues!! Barely a word mentioned about the mary jane problem they had on their football squad, alochol issues, not going to class, coach beamer domestic abuse against his wife... etc.
Just seems they had some bias for the good for VA tech.
Seems Adams especially enjoys criticizing the vols and university. I know Chavis thinks so anyways!
TommyJack writes:
Sorry, I don't see it.
utmdm writes:
What about some in depth interviews with the new coaches? Just crazy that we have not heard more.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
KNS probably has 1 of these reporters watching the football guys and they are the ones that call KPD so they can break a story
murrayvol writes:
Good info. Good article. Timely too. I'm now filled with fear and trepidation about playing Auburn in the regular season and LSU in Atlanta.
Curse you John Adams. You've done it again.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
What about Tennessee?
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