Alabama's Mark Ingram leads the Southeastern Conference with 125.5 rushing yards per game. Georgia's A.J. Green leads the SEC with 44 receptions and 91.5 receiving yards a game, while Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett is tops with 268.5 passing yards per game and 18 touchdown tosses.

Welcome to the league of super sophomores.

"I do see that," Florida coach Urban Meyer said when asked about the sophomore surplus. "Green dictated a lot of our coverage schemes last week. I don't know if it's been more than ever because I've only been in this league for five years, but I do know that we don't redshirt at Florida. We try to find the best players possible who we know can come in and play their freshman year."

The Gators could get ravaged by early NFL defections in January, when juniors such as defensive end Carlos Dunlap, cornerback Joe Haden and offensive linemen Mike and Maurkice Pouncey face decisions. Yet even heavy personnel losses would be lessened by the returning talent, much of which is from their 2008 signing class.

Florida's '08 class was ranked third nationally by Rivals.com and includes tailback Jeff Demps, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Will Hill, kicker Caleb Sturgis and defensive tackle Omar Hunter. They have helped the Gators amass a 21-1 record the past two years.

"I think the one thing we've done as a staff is not only recruit good players but good guys, too," Meyer said. "They go really hard and are all special-teams performers, which tells you there is an element of unselfishness about them. On top of that, they're all very, very talented players."

Alabama had the nation's No. 1 class in 2008 and again this year. Ingram, receiver Julio Jones, safety Mark Barron, guard Barrett Jones and defensive lineman Marcell Dareus are among those from the '08 crop who have aided in the Crimson Tide winning 20 of 22 games the past two seasons.

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb are also sophomores who have impacted their programs, and one AFC scouting director can't remember the SEC having so much talent that is not draft-eligible.

"It's amazing, and it's a credit to a lot of the high school programs now," the scout said. "These weight rooms at some of these high schools are better than some in colleges right now, and these players are prepared when they come in. Some of them graduate early, show up in the spring and are ready to roll. They just look different than they used to.

"I think the SEC continues to get stronger and stronger in talent, and the league has just separated itself from the other conferences in terms of overall talent, and I don't think it's even close."

Mallett is a sophomore but redshirted last year after transferring from Michigan, so he will be draft-eligible after the season. The 6-foot-7, 238-pounder has thrown for 2,148 yards and has been intercepted just three times, but the AFC scout believes he shouldn't skip out on the Razorbacks.

"This is going to be a year with a lot of quarterbacks," the scout said. "Do you really want to get in that mix with whoever likes Tim Tebow or whoever likes Sam Bradford or likes Colt McCoy or likes Jake Locker? Do you want to mix it up with those guys, or do you want to wait a year and be the only guy, or one of two guys along with a Jimmy Clausen?

"Mallett has come on the scene and done a good job, but he's definitely one of those who needs to come back."

And provide the SEC another dynamic junior for 2010.