Strong SEC remains center of attention

By David Moorman  |   Sunday, May 24, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

College Football
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If ever there was a question about the strength of the Southeastern Conference, just take a look at the Rimington Trophy 2009 Spring Watch List.

Six of the 44 centers named come from the SEC, which is another example of why the league has produced the last three BCS national champions.

Defending national champion Florida has won two of those trophies thanks in part to junior Maurkice Pouncey, who started all 14 games last season. He was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Gators rushed for 278 yards against Arkansas with a pair of 100-yard runners.

Even Kentucky and Vanderbilt are represented on the list. Kentucky boasts 6-foot-3, 305-pound senior Jorge Gonzalez, while Vanderbilt is represented by 6-3, 292-pound junior Bradley Vierling.

Both Mississippi teams have candidates to win the 10-year-old award that's given to the top Football Bowl Subdivision center and named after Dave Rimington, the former Nebraska All-American.

Mississippi State junior center J.C. Brignone earned his way onto the list after starting all 12 games last season and posting at least an 80 percent blocking grade in eight consecutive games. Ole Miss senior Daverin Geralds started all 13 games last season and helped the Rebels rank second in the SEC in rushing (186.5 yards per game) and fourth in fewest quarterback sacks allowed per game (1.54).

Ole Miss didn’t permit a sack in three of its games.

Not to be overlooked is South Carolina senior center Garrett Anderson, a 6-4, 307-pounder who has made 21 starts over the last three years, including 13 last season.

PRIME-TIME PLAYERS: For the second year in a row, Alabama will be featured on ABC when the Crimson Tide opens the season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.

Alabama will face Virginia Tech this season on Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. EDT in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Alabama began last season with a victory over Clemson and was in national-title contention until ending the year with losses to Florida in the SEC championship game and to Utah in the Sugar Bowl.

Alabama holds promise again this season but must replace departed quarterback John Parker Wilson. How Greg McElroy will fare is one of the many intriguing aspects of the matchup between a pair of top 10 teams.
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About David Moorman

Dave Moormann is an award-winning journalist, who has covered LSU athletics since 1980. He began his coverage with the Baton Rouge Advocate, where he was a writer and editor from 1980-98. In 1996, he authored a book on the history of LSU football entitled, "Fighting Tigers Handbook: Stories, Stats ...
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