SEC spring football needs

ALABAMA

Start date: March 13

Spring game: April 12

Biggest concern: John Parker Wilson’s adjustment to new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jim McElwain. The Tide posted point totals of 12, 14 and 10 to end the regular season and Wilson played very erratically. McElwain helped quarterback Tom Brandstater improve tremendously last year at Fresno State. Can McElwain accomplish much this spring with the embattled Wilson, whose best 2008 receiver is probably still in high school?

ARKANSAS

Start date: April 3

Spring game: April 26

Biggest concern: The school’s request to the NCAA for Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett, a 6-foot-7 quarterback, to play immediately instead of sitting out a year. New coach Bobby Petrino doesn’t need to wait until April 3 to see he needs plenty of help on offense after losing Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis.

AUBURN

Start date: Last Thursday

Spring game: March 29

Biggest concern: Finding a quarterback to fit the new spread offense run by coordinator Tony Franklin. Kodi Burns, last year’s backup, often struggles in the passing game and freshman DeRon Furr isn’t ready for the job despite immense talent. Junior college transfer Chris Todd is battling a sore shoulder. Neil Caudle played in one game as a redshirt freshman.

FLORIDA

Start date: March 19

Spring game: April 12

Biggest concern: Relieving Tim Tebow, who would have missed the SEC title game with an injury if the Gators had qualified, of all those running duties. Incumbent starter Kestahn Moore, USC transfer Emmanuel Moody, Mon Williams, Brandon James and redshirt freshman Chris Rainey are the candidates under new running backs coach Kenny Carter.

GEORGIA

Start date: Monday

Spring game: April 5

Biggest concern: Players reading their newspaper clippings. Touted as one of the nation’s strongest teams for the 2008 season, will the Bulldogs still work out with the same enthusiasm, practice with the same intensity and handle themselves as underdogs? Last year’s highly touted team, Southern California, lost twice.

KENTUCKY

Start date: March 26

Spring game: April 19

Biggest concern: Finding a new corps of receivers to help the acclimation process for either Curtis Pulley or Mike Hartline at quarterback. Gone are Keenan Burton, Steve Johnson and Jacob Tamme, who ran the second-fastest time in the 40 (4.58) of all the tight end prospects at the NFL combine.

LSU

Start date: Last Friday

Spring game: April 5

Biggest concern: The need for a leader following the suspension of quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. Programs typically rely on the quarterback for leadership, but Perrilloux has been suspended three times and his status for the season is in question. The Tigers are a completely new team following last season’s national championship run.

OLE MISS

Start date: March 17

Spring game: April 12

Biggest concern: Determining an offensive identity. Former Canadian Football League coach Kent Austin is the new offensive coordinator and runs a version of the spread. New coach Houston Nutt, as Arkansas fans can attest, prefers the ground game. And five-star tailback signee Enrique Davis won’t be available to practice this spring.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Start date: Last Tuesday

Spring game: March 29

Biggest concern: Scoring points. Defense hasn’t been the problem under coach Sylvester Croom. Quarterback Wesley Carroll is just a sophomore, and the Bulldogs don’t have experienced players behind him. A trio of tight ends graduated, and Croom needs a receiver to help Jamayel Smith. Senior Co-Eric Riley is expected to contribute.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Start date: March 19

Spring game: April 19

Biggest concern: Stopping the run. South Carolina single-handedly turned Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden into Heisman Trophy front-runners after the rushing performances it allowed last season. The return of middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley should help, but will he look the same one year after blowing out his knee? The Gamecocks certainly didn’t look the same without him.

TENNESSEE

Start date: March 11

Spring game: April 19

Biggest concern: The ability and maturity of Demetrice Morley. He’s back, but can the Vols trust him? Unless they want to get scorched by Florida again next season, the Vols desperately need Morley to add leadership and accountability to what was, at times, a woeful secondary last year. Eric Berry can’t do it alone.

VANDERBILT

Start date: March 11

Spring game: March 29

Biggest concern: Maintaining an impressive defense, which carried the Commodores last season. Linebackers Jonathan Goff and Marcus Buggs are gone from a defense that ranked 15th nationally last season and held South Carolina to six points. Three of the four starting defensive linemen also must be replaced.