Around the SEC

Although head coach Nick Saban is trying to downplay the debut of the highly touted Julio Jones, the fans and media are certainly not.

Jones isn't the only freshman that fantasy owners might want to watch out for. B.J. Scott has been equally impressive in camp thus far. The defense is getting a boost from a number of freshman as well.

Arkansas

Despite a knee injury, freshman DeAnthony Curtis is still making his presence felt for the Hogs. Along with a few other young Razorbacks as well.

Here are a few practice observations from a wrapped up Arkansas fall camp. Along with Curtis, Joe Adams and Jarius Wright are the names that just keep popping up.

Auburn

Head coach Tommy Tubervile deploys an interesting tactic in order to pick a starting quarterback. Of course, it may not matter who takes the first snap after all.

No matter who is throwing the football, the Auburn pass catchers are looking forward to the new spread offense. Fantasy owners should be excited as well.

Florida

In what is possibly the most important pre-season story in the entire conference, Gator All-American play-maker Percy Harvin has finally buttoned it up. A healthy Harvin is the single best player in the country with the ball in the open field. It also means that Florida is the favorite to win the SEC. If the Virginia Beach native continues to get hurt, questions of toughness will arise.

After a recent appearance on Athlon Sports Radio, The Gainesville Sun's Pat Dooley backs-up an interesting  statement.

Defensive tackle is one area that coach Urban Meyer has been focused on all off-season for a number of reasons.

Georgia

A.J. Green, one of the most talented freshman receivers in Bulldog recruiting history, is getting advice from the guy he spends all day chasing. Tavarres King is getting his fill as well. Both have fantasy stardom written all over them.

Playing in the same division with Golden Boy - who is also a Heisman Trophy winner - would be tough for any one. But Matt Stafford has been training for this since he picked up a football.

Kentucky

If fantasy owners did not already know that the Wildcat tailback situation was murky at best, they do now. Derrick Locke is the best of the group and still warrants a draft pick but this will definitely be a wait and see scenario.

It is very, very early for this but remember the name Morgan Newton. The young quarterback showed the nation the future of the Wildcat quarterback position. After watching every play of this amazing comeback, it is easy to see that Newton is the complete package. Now, if he can just beat out Ryan Mossakowski.

LSU

The offensive line gets a boost. One quarterback misses some time. And LSU fans will have to wait until Saturday to find out that Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch will be starting, according to one source.

And another.

And another.

It appears that Charles Scott may have won the starting job at LSU.

Mississippi State

Starting quarterback Wesley Carroll does not always get the praise he may deserve.

Ole Miss

There is plenty of optimism surrounding the Ole Miss Rebels in 2008 but not if any more problems arise along the defensive line.

The passing game in Oxford this fall should be much improved. And it starts with super talented Texas transfer Jevan Snead.

South Carolina

One of today's best sports writer's has an interesting take on Steve Spurrier. The Ole Ball coach has pulled quite the 180 from last summer.

Pressure. Quarterback play. And play-calling. Those are the three biggest issues facing the Gamecocks, although, the offensive line will be interesting to watch against an always stout N.C. State front seven on Thursday night.

Tennessee

One Times Free (Tenn.) Press writer feels that wide receiver Lucas Taylor is not getting the respect he deserves. A guy with 70 receptions and 1,000 yards can play on my team.

With some small injuries to the tight end corp, one Florida State transfer could make a big impact.

Special teams and one of the nation's top fantasy kickers will not be an issue this fall for the Vols.

One SEC writer is not worried at all about Jonathan Crompton's slight ankle injury. Crompton has plenty of talent around him and one of the nation's top o-lines. He could push for second on the SEC fantasy quarterback ranks.

Vanderbilt

The Commodores travel to play the Miami Redhawks this Thursday evening and they have yet to name a starting quarterback. The delayed announcement does not bode well for projected starter Chris Nickson as the senior was expected to grab the starting job early on in camp. For the record, we all think Nickson is the starter and that Bobby Johnson is just trying to be sneaky.