Kickoff Zone College Football Blog

New head coach Joker Phillips has chosen Mike Hartline to begin the season as his starting quarterback.

Phillips had this to say about his quarterback situation:

“We feel that we have three quarterbacks that we can win with in this league,” Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said. “We feel comfortable with all three of them, and that is a good problem to have. Right now, we feel that Mike Hartline gives us the best chance to win. He has been more efficient and is playing faster than the other two.”

The other two were sophomore Morgan Newton and redshirt freshman Ryan Mossakowski.

And while there was a push among some fans for the Wildcats to go with a youth movement, Hartline’s experience was the difference.

Tags: College Football, NCAA, Preseason Prognostications, Schedule, Southeastern Conference, University of Kentucky, bcs by Tommy
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Here are the media’s selections for the conference (SEC) order of finish:

MEDIA SURVEY

(Predicted order of finish with first-place votes in parentheses)

EASTERN DIVISION

1. Florida (153) 1030

2. Georgia (15) 791

3. South Carolina (8) 790

4. Kentucky 462

5. Tennessee 450

6. Vanderbilt (1) 194

WESTERN DIVISION

1. Alabama (157) 1034

2. Arkansas (6) 726

3. Auburn (10) 691

4. LSU (1) 653

5. Mississippi State 320

6. Ole Miss (3) 293

Votes to win SEC Championship Game: Alabama 143, Florida 17, Auburn 7, Arkansas 3, Georgia 2, Ole Miss 2, Kentucky 1, LSU 1, South Carolina 1.

Tags: All-Conference, Auburn University, College Football, College Football Picks, College Football Power Rankings, Florida Gators, LSU, Live Update, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, NCAA, Ole Miss, Preseason College Football Rankings, Preseason Prognostications, Rankings, Schedule, Southeastern Conference, Top 25, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Vols, bcs by Tommy
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The Southeastern Conference have announced the media’s All SEC teams (which yours truly voted on).  There are some real headscratchers included.

Here they are:

1st Team All SEC Offense:

QB	Ryan Mallet (118)	Arkansas	6-6	238	Jr.	Texarkana, Ark.
RB	Mark Ingram (165)	Alabama	5-10	215	Jr.	Flint, Mich.
RB	Trent Richardson (69)	Alabama	5-11	220	So.	Pensacola, Fla.
WR	A.J. Green (142)	Georgia	6-4	205	Jr.	Summerville, S.C.
WR	Julio Jones (123)	Alabama	6-4	220	Jr.	Foley, Ala.
TE	D.J. Williams (105)	Arkansas	6-2	251	Sr.	Little Rock, Ark.
OL	Lee Ziemba (114)	Auburn	6-8	391	Sr.	Rogers, Ark.
OL	Barrett Jones (103)	Alabama	6-4	301	So.	Memphis, Tenn.
OL	Clint Boling (85)	Georgia	6-5	310	Sr.	Alpharetta, Ga.
OL	James Carpenter (77)	Alabama	6-6	300	Sr.	Augusta, Ga.
C	Mike Pouncey (109)	Florida	6-4	310	Sr.

1st Team All SEC Defense-

DL	Marcell Dareus (126)	Alabama	6-4	306	Jr.	Birmingham, Ala.
DL	Jerrell Powe (77)	Ole Miss	6-2	320	Sr.	Waynesboro, Miss.
DL	Cliff Matthews (46)	South Carolina	6-4	260	Sr.	Cheraw, S.C.
LB	Dont’a Hightower (158)	Alabama	6-4	258	So.	Lewisburg, Tenn.
LB	Kelvin Sheppard (84)	LSU	6-3	239	Sr.	Stone Mountain, Ga.
LB	Josh Bynes (72)	Auburn	6-2	235	Sr.	Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
LB	Brandon Hicks (65)	Florida	6-2	228	Sr.	Jacksonville, Fla.
DB	Mark Barron (127)	Alabama	6-2	210	Jr.	Mobile, Ala.
DB	Patrick Peterson (116)	LSU	6-1	211	Jr.	Pompano Beach, Fla.
DB	Ahmad Black (67)	Florida	5-9	189	Sr.	Lakeland, Fla.
DB	Stephon Gilmore (61)	South Carolina	6-1	188	So.	Rock Hill, S.C.

 

Lakeland, Fla.

1st Team All Purpose/Special Teams-

PK	Blair Walsh (72)	Georgia	5-10	191	Jr.	Boca Raton, Fla.
P	Drew Butler (104)	Georgia	6-2	207	Jr.	Duluth, Ga.
RS	Derrick Locke (45)	Kentucky	5-9	190	Sr.	Hugo, Okla.
AP	Randall Cobb (123)	Kentucky	5-11	186	Jr.	Alcoa, Tenn.

2nd Team Offense-

QB	Greg McElroy (44)	Alabama	6-3	225	Sr.	Southland, Texas
RB	Derrick Locke (40)	Kentucky	5-9	190	Sr.	Hugo, Okla.
RB	Mario Fannin (22)	Auburn	5-11	228	Sr.	Hampton, Ga.
WR	Darvin Adams (19)	Auburn	6-3	185	Jr.	Kennesaw, Ga.
WR	Randall Cobb (14)	Kentucky	5-11	186	Jr.	Alcoa, Tenn.
TE	Luke Stocker (26)	Tennessee	6-6	253	Sr.	Berea, Ky.
OL	Carl Johnson (53)	Florida	6-6	360	Sr.	Durham, N.C.
OL	Marcus Gilbert (48)	Florida	6-5	322	Sr.	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
OL	Derek Sherrod (47)	Mississippi State	6-6	305	Sr.	Columbus, Miss.
OL	DeMarcus Love (27)	Arkansas	6-5	315	Sr.	Lancaster, Texas
C	William Vlachos (27)	Alabama	6-1	289	Jr.	Mountain Brook, Ala.

2nd Team Defense

DL	Pernell McPhee (34)	Mississippi State	6-4	285	Sr.	Pahokee, Fla.
DL	Justin Trattou (31)	Florida	6-3	252	Sr.	Ramsey, N.J.
DL	Kentrell Lockett (29)	Ole Miss	6-5	260	Sr.	Hahnville, La.
LB	Chris Marve (62)	Vanderbilt	6-0	232	Jr.	Memphis, Tenn.
LB	Nick Reveiz (32)	Tennessee	5-10	224	Sr.	Farragut, Tenn.
LB	Courtney Upshaw (31)	Alabama	6-2	263	Jr.	Eufala, Ala.
LB	Justin Houston (30)	Georgia	6-3	260	Jr.	Statesboro, Ga.
DB	Janoris Jenkins (56)	Florida	5-11	186	Jr.	Pahokee, Fla.
DB	Will Hill (41)	Florida	6-1	204	Jr.	West Orange, N.J.
DB	Brandon Boykin (39)	Georgia	5-10	183	Jr.	Fayetteville, Ga.
DB	Zac Etheridge (33)	Auburn	6-0	213	Sr.	Troy, Ala.

2nd Team All Purpose/Special Teams

PK	Wes Byrum (65)	Auburn	6-2	216	Sr.	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
P	Chas Henry (34)	Florida	6-3	222	Jr.	Dallas, Ga.
RS	*Julio Jones (42)	Alabama	6-4	220	Jr.	Foley, Ala.
RS	*Warren Norman (42)	Vanderbilt	5-10	192	So.	Stone Mountain, Ga.
AP	Chris Rainey (35)	Florida	5-9	176	Jr.	Lakeland, Fla.

Tags: All-Conference, Auburn University, College Football Picks, Florida Gators, LSU, Live Update, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, NCAA, News, Ole Miss, Preseason College Football Rankings, Preseason Prognostications, Southeastern Conference, Top 25, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, bcs by Tommy
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The coaches selections for the preseason All SEC teams have been released.   Here they are:

Preseason Coaches All SEC Team-

1st Team Offense:

QB Ryan Mallet Arkansas 6-6 238 Jr. Texarkana, Ark.

RB Mark Ingram Alabama 5-10 215 Jr. Flint, Mich.

RB Derrick Locke Kentucky 5-9 190 Sr. Hugo, Okla.

WR A.J. Green Georgia 6-4 205 Jr. Summerville, S.C.

WR Julio Jones Alabama 6-4 220 Jr. Foley, Ala.

TE D.J. Williams Arkansas 6-2 251 Sr. Little Rock, Ark.

OL Clint Boling Georgia 6-5 310 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga.

OL Carl Johnson Florida 6-5 360 Sr. Durham. N.C.

OL Barrett Jones Alabama 6-4 301 So. Memphis, Tenn.

OL Lee Ziemba Auburn 6-8 391 Sr. Rogers, Ark.

C Mike Pouncey Florida 6-4 310 Sr. Lakeland, Fla.

1st Team Defense

DL Marcell Dareus Alabama 6-4 306 Jr. Birmingham, Ala.

DL Jerrell Powe Ole Miss 6-2 320 Sr. Waynesboro, Miss.

DL Cliff Matthews South Carolina 6-4 260 Sr. Cheraw, S.C.

LB Josh Bynes Auburn 6-2 235 Sr. Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.

LB Dont’a Hightower Alabama 6-4 258 So. Lewisburg, Tenn.

LB Chris Marve Vanderbilt 6-0 232 Jr. Memphis, Tenn.

LB Kelvin Sheppard LSU 6-3 239 Sr. Stone Mountain, Ga.

DB Mark Barron Alabama 6-2 210 Jr. Mobile, Ala.

DB Patrick Peterson LSU 6-1 211 Jr. Pompano Beach, Fla.

DB Stephon Gilmore South Carolina 6-1 188 So. Rock Hill, S.C.

DB Janoris Jenkins Florida 5-11 186 Jr. Pahokee, Fla.

1st Team All Purpose/Special Teams

PK Blair Walsh Georgia 5-10 191 Jr. Boca Raton, Fla.

P Drew Butler Georgia 6-2 207 Jr. Duluth, Ga.

RS Warren Norman Vanderbilt 5-10 192 So. Stone Mountain, Ga.

AP Randall Cobb Kentucky 5-11 186 Jr. Alcoa, Tenn.

2nd Team Offense

QB Greg McElroy Alabama 6-3 225 Sr. Southland, Texas

RB Jeff Demps Florida 5-8 184 Jr. Winter Garden, Fla.

RB Trent Richardson Alabama 5-11 220 So. Pensacola, Fla.

WR Darvin Adams Auburn 6-3 185 Jr. Kennesaw, Ga.

WR Alshon Jeffery South Carolina 6-4 237 So. St. Matthews, S.C.

TE Luke Stocker Tennessee 6-6 253 Sr. Berea, Ky.

OL James Carpenter Alabama 6-5 300 Sr. Augusta, Ga.

OL DeMarcus Love Arkansas 6-5 315 Sr. Lancaster, Texas

OL Derek Sherrod Mississippi State 6-6 305 Sr. Columbus, Miss.

OL *Cordy Glenn Georgia 6-5 330 Jr. Riverdale, Ga.

OL *Joseph Barksdale LSU 6-5 315 Sr. Detroit, Mich.

C Ryan Pugh Auburn 6-4 297 Sr. Hoover, Ala.

2nd Team Defense

DL Pernell McPhee Mississippi State 6-4 285 Sr. Pahokee, Fla.

DL Drake Nevis LSU 6-1 292 Sr. Marrero, La.

DL *DeQuin Evans Kentucky 6-3 256 Sr. Long Beach, Calif.

DL *Chris Walker Tennessee 6-3 245 Sr. Memphis, Tenn.

DL *Ladi Ajiboye South Carolina 6-2 278 Sr. Riverdale, Ga.

LB Jerry Franklin Arkansas 6-1 241 Jr. Marion, Ark.

LB A.J. Jones Florida 6-1 226 Sr. Tampa, Fla.

LB Craig Stevens Auburn 6-3 229 Sr. Tallahassee, Fla.

LB K.J. Wright Mississippi State 6-4 250 Sr. Olive Branch, Miss.

DB Ahmad Black Florida 5-9 189 Sr. Lakeland, Fla.

DB Chris Culliver South Carolina 6-1 197 Sr. Garner, N.C.

DB Will Hill Florida 6-1 204 Jr. West Orange, N.J.

DB Neiko Thorpe Auburn 6-2 186 Jr. Tucker, Ga.

2nd Team All Purpose/Special Teams

PK Caleb Sturgis Florida 5-10 192 Jr. St. Augustine, Fla.

P Chas Henry Florida 6-3 222 Jr. Dallas, Ga.

RS Brandon Boykin Georgia 5-10 183 Jr. Fayetteville, Ga.

AP Chris Rainey Florida 5-9 176 Jr. Lakeland, Fla.

Tags: Auburn University, College Football, College Football Picks, Derek Dooley, Florida Gators, Houston Nutt, LSU, Live Update, Louisiana State University, Mark Ingram, Mark Richt, Mississippi State University, NCAA, Nick Saban, Ole Miss, Preseason College Football Rankings, Preseason Prognostications, Ryan Mallett, Southeastern Conference, Steve Spurrier, Top 25, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, Urban Meyer, Vanderbilt University, Vols, bcs by Tommy
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I have just finished my ballot for the preseason ALL SEC team (the media ballot). 

So- in full disclosure-  I am publishing my ballot.

Tommy’s All SEC Media Ballot:

1st Team Offense:

QB- Ryan Mallett, Arkansas

RB1- Mark Ingram, Alabama

RB2- Jeff Demps, Florida

WR- AJ Green, Georgia

WR- Julio Jones, Alabama

TE- Luke Stocker, Tennessee

OL- Clint Boling, Georgia

OL- Lee Zimbia, Auburn

OL- Carl Johnson, Florida

OL- Barrett Jones, Alabama

Center- Mike Pouncey, Florida

1st Team Defense:

DE- Chris Walker, Tennessee

DE- Marcell Dareus, Alabama

DT- Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss

LB- A.J. Jones, Florida

LB- Donte Hightower, Alabama

LB- Kelvin Sheppard, LSU

LB- Chris Marve, Vanderbilt

DB- Janoris Jenkins, Florida

DB- Patrick Peterson, LSU

DB- Will Hill, Florida

DB- Janzen Jackson, Tennessee

1st Team All Purpose/Special Teams

Placekicker- Blair Walsh, Georgia

Punter- Drew Butler, Georgia

Return Specialist- Warren Norman, Vanderbilt

All-Purpose Back- Randall Cobb, Kentucky

Tommy’s Preseason SEC Ranking:

Eastern Division

1- University of Florida

2- University of South Carolina

3- University of Georgia

4- University of Tennessee

5- University of Kentucky

6- Vanderbilt University

Western Division

1- University of Alabama

2- Lousiana State University

3- Auburn University

4- University of Arkansas

5- Mississippi State

6- University of Mississippi

SEC Champion:

University of Alabama

Tags: Auburn University, College Football, College Football Picks, College Football Power Rankings, Florida Gators, LSU, Louisiana State University, Mark Ingram, Mississippi State University, NCAA, Nick Saban, Ole Miss, Preseason College Football Rankings, Preseason Prognostications, Ryan Mallett, Schedule, Southeastern Conference, Steve Spurrier, Top 25, University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, Vols, bcs by Tommy
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Recruiting Recap: University of Kentucky

With a new head coach, the University of Kentucky brought in a solid, if unspectacular group of signees this year.  While they will probably never be able to recruit on the level of a school with a traditionally elite football program, Joker Phillips was able to bring in a Top 50 class, according to both Rivals and Scout.  As has been the custom, the Wildcats signed a couple of small, but extremely fast athletes on the offensive side of the ball in RBs Raymond Sanders and Brandon Gainer, and ATH Jerrell Priester.  They also signed a number of players on the defensive side of the ball who should be able to step in and get some playing time, such as LB Jebari Johnson and DE Mike Douglas.  Douglas is considered to be a steal from the state of Florida, and with his size and speed, could potentially develop into a special player on the defensive side of the ball.

Class Rankings:

Rivals – 46th; Scout - 47th ; ESPN – NR

Star of the Class:

TE Alex Smith

Rivals Ranking: 11th Best Tight End in the nation

The lone 4 star recruit of UK’s class, Smith was a late signee with the Wildcats.  When he committed, the Ohio native said that he was “going to a team where I am more of a need than a want,” which makes sense considering that Kentucky graduated three TE’s last season, and there will be ample opportunities for Smith to contribute immediately.  The list of schools from which he was offered a scholarship included the University of Michigan, South Carolina, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Cincinnati.  A lifelong fan of UK, Smith should have every chance to excel in his time there.

Class Sleeper:

RB Raymond Sanders

Rivals Ranking: 15th best All Purpose Back in the nation

One of the reasons Kentucky has been able to put together competitive teams on the field for the last few years has been the school’s ability to sign unheralded gems.  Many of those have been speedy, scatbacks who excel in their offensive schemes.  RB Raymond Sanders fits the mold perfectly.  At only 5′8″ and 175 lbs., many of the major schools overlooked his potential as most of his other offers came from mid-major programs such as Middle Tennessee, Marshall, East Carolina, and Louisiana Tech.  With a 40 time of 4.4 seconds, he could be only the latest in a long line of successful, undersized RBs that played collegiate ball for the ‘Cats.

Tags: College Football, NCAA, National Signing Day, Rankings, Recruiting, University of Kentucky, recap by Tommy
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