Adams: SEC coaches fired up about freshmen

The impact of freshmen in SEC football is nothing new. They have helped turn losing teams into bowl teams, and good teams into championship teams.

But now, coaches seem less hesitant to talk about them in advance. So the names of the most promising freshmen won’t be ignored at the SEC football media days this week in Birmingham.

Early enrollments are a factor in that. Freshmen who enroll in January can prove themselves in spring practice, as Tennessee defensive tackle Montori Hughes did in March.

Coaches and teammates raved about Hughes, who wasn’t among the most highly touted players in UT’s recruiting class. But he quickly established himself on defense and was running first team after Wes Brown was injured.

Obviously, Hughes came to the right place — and the right position — for immediate playing time. UT is coming off a 5-7 season and was so lacking in depth at the position that Brown was moved from end to tackle.

But neither the success of a program nor the depth at a position can keep the most talented players off the field. You saw that at Florida this spring.

The Gators return 21 of their first 22 players on defense from a team that won the national championship and had seven experienced linebackers, including All-American Brandon Spikes. Yet true freshman Jon Bostic was so impressive in the spring, coach Urban Meyer said that he would contribute right away to one of the nation’s most talented and experienced defenses.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier became enamored with true freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore the first time he saw him on the practice field. In fact, I have never heard Spurrier speak so glowingly about a player who hasn’t played a down of college football.

Not only did Gilmore win a starting job after just a week of practice, there are plans to use him on offense, too.

Georgia coach Mark Richt, whose offense received a huge boost from freshman wide receiver A.J. Green last season, didn’t mind dropping freshman names for the same position at the SEC spring meetings.

Richt sees Orson Charles, a late signee whom UT recruited heavily, as a hybrid wide receiver/tight end. Marlon Brown, another receiver who chose Georgia over UT, also will have a chance to play right away.

In assessing his wide receivers, Richt even includes freshman Branden Smith, a high school All-American cornerback with exceptional speed. Because of that speed, Richt wants to see what he can do on offense as well.

LSU already has seen what freshman quarterback Russell Shepard can do. He demonstrated his running ability from the shotgun this spring and figures prominently in the Tigers’ offensive plans this fall.

Ole Miss signee Bobbie Massie could be a big factor in the Rebels’ bid to make the SEC championship game for the first time. The 6-foot-8, 335-pound Massie, who almost signed with Alabama, could start at offensive tackle as a true freshman.

Experience seems to matter the least with running backs in the SEC. The conference’s most famous running backs excelled right away. You saw that with Georgia’s Herschel Walker, Auburn’s Bo Jackson, Florida’s Emmitt Smith and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden.

No wonder UT fans got excited when the Vols signed Bryce Brown, regarded as the No. 1 running back in this recruiting class. And Alabama fans were just as enthused about the Tide signing Trent Richardson, the nation’s No. 2-ranked running back.

You don’t know whether Brown will become an elite SEC running back. But he already has done wonders for UT’s outlook.

New coach Lane Kiffin didn’t have his staff in place until January, and UT was coming off a losing season. Yet the Vols beat out the best programs in the country to sign Brown.

So, although he hasn’t gained a yard, Brown already has had an impact on UT football.

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