A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning:

How soon before the rats start leaping off this sinking ship? And who goes first? There is a scene in the 1988 Barry Levinson film “Rain Man” in which Charlie Babbitt (played by Tom Cruise) hands over his autistic savant brother Raymond (played by Dustin Hoffman) to Dr. Gerald Bruner, who runs an institution in Cincinnati where Raymond has been a patient for several years. As he regains custody, Dr. Bruner promises to put Raymond in some clothes from K-Mart, at which time Charlie says, “Tell him Raymond.” Raymond’s reply: “K-Mart sucks!” For all practical purposes, that movie put K-Mart on life support. Once a huge discount retail chain, only three K-Marts remain in existence. That scene from “Rain Man” pretty much tells the tale of the current Pac-12 Conference. It sucks and it’s on life support. About the only thing that can save the Pac-12 from going under is a miracle of the receding tsunami that was all set to wash away Tumaco, Colombia in 1906. A priest performed the sacraments as the tsunami approached and miraculously, the waters receded, sparing a city of more than 100,000. Right now, only the bravest of the brave think the Pac-12 is going to survive. Paul Finebaum predicts there will be no such conference in existence by 2026. Finebaum might be an optimist. The league might be as good as dead and buried by the end of this month unless commissioner George Kliavkoff can deliver on his promise for a media rights deal and then follow it up by expanding by at least two teams. Here is what Finebaum has to say about that: “If you’re a member of the Pac-12, I mean you’re literally going to the dollar store looking for other schools … but why would you want to be in that league if you could get out?” Translation: "K-Mart sucks!" Indeed. A conference whose membership included Southern Cal, which has won 111 NCAA titles and 11 national championships in football (8 since the AP poll began), and UCLA, which has won 121 NCAA titles including one football and 11 basketball titles, wants to replace those two with San Diego State and SMU? That is like replacing a matching pair of Ferraris for a couple of used Yugos only driven to church on Sunday by twin sisters. The Pac-12 holds its media day starting on July 21. Can commissioner George Kliavkoff put a deal together by the end of the month? Optimistic outlets on the Left Coast believe the 10 schools that remain in the league are willing to wait a year, banking on the guarantee of College Football Playoff money to bring in a decent contract while making the Pac-12 a more attractive landing spot for expansion. But, as Finebaum points out, who will want to join the league? And, are the four northern schools (Washington, Oregon, Stanford, California) that want Big Ten money willing to wait for a contract that some experts say will be worth less than $20 million per school? The four southern schools (Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Colorado) can join the Big 12 for nearly what they’re making now in the expiring Pac-12 deal. That Big 12 offer isn’t going to be on the table much longer. How soon before the rats start leaping off this sinking ship? And who goes first? The schools up north or the four down south? Once the first school bolts the Pac-12, others will follow and that will set off a chain reaction that will change the landscape of college football. Some of the changes will be cosmetic in nature, but some of them will nose dive conferences and schools, taking down decades of traditions with them. Here is a look at Division I football conference-by-conference. Which conferences are strong? Which are vulnerable? The Power 5 1. Southeastern Conference This is easily the most powerful league in all of college sports. It has the most rabid fan bases, the best facilities, nationally prominent teams in every single sport and best of all, it has the single most powerful individual in all of college sports – maybe in all of sports period – in Greg Sankey. Sankey tries to downplay the label, but it’s senseless to argue. He is the smartest guy in any room and because of this, if and when Division I football begins the mass exodus from the NCAA, Sankey will be one of the architects of the new organization. Texas and Oklahoma will join the SEC on July 1, 2024, so this is their last year in the Big 12. When they join the SEC, the already most powerful conference adds two schools that have won a combined 11 national championships in football (Oklahoma 7, Texas 4). They join a conference that has won 43. Texas and Oklahoma bring 88 non-football national championships to the league (SEC has won 214). In the 2022-23 year alone, the SEC won eight national titles (Georgia football, Arkansas men’s and women’s indoor track, Florida men’s golf and men’s outdoor track, LSU women’s basketball and baseball, Vanderbilt bowling). Oklahoma won NCAA titles in softball and women’s gymnastics, while Texas won for women’s outdoor track. Football pays the freight and is the reason ESPN signed a 10-year contract that assures the current SEC schools at least $17 million a year more. That deal will be renegotiated before Texas and Oklahoma join the league and by the time the ink dries you can bet the farm every school in the SEC will be taking in anywhere from $85-100 million a year in media rights money. For all the talk about the SEC expanding beyond 16 teams, the only potential new member that could move the television needle is Notre Dame and the Irish are perfectly content as an independent with their new NBC deal that will bring in $60 million or more. Contractually, Notre Dame can’t join any conference but the ACC until the current ACC media deal expires. Given the choice of independence or the ACC, Notre Dame will remain independent. As for Clemson, Florida State, Miami and North Carolina, all of whom want out of the ACC, none of them move the TV needle even a fraction. 2. Big Ten The additions of Southern Cal and UCLA seemed like a good idea at the moment when former commissioner Kevin Warren raided the Pac-12 for its two bell cows, but was it? The logistical nightmare is one that needs a solution in the worst way and that so-called brilliant $7 billion TV deal that involves Fox, CBS and has the look of a slice of Swiss cheese. There are holes, big ones, not the least of which is that teensy matter of the conference championship game rights being sold to NBC. Only problem is, there is a valid contract with Fox. Oops. So, now we have a 16-team league that stretches from sea to shining sea. It’s more than 2,700 miles from Rutgers to Southern Cal, 2,243 miles from Ohio State to UCLA. Football isn’t a travel problem for teams since they only play once a week, but it’s a nightmare for fans and other sports. UCLA and Southern Cal have no rivals in the Big Ten, which will be an issue for television. Imagine you’re an ad exec trying to sell sponsorships of a Maryland-UCLA game? Maryland doesn’t move any television needles in any sport. You’d be surprised how little impact UCLA basketball has. And how about those November night games up in the Frost Belt? Don’t you know Southern Cal can hardly wait for that game in Minnesota (Gophers play outdoors). Fox gets the noon game Eastern time so a Southern Cal or UCLA home game on Fox will have a 9 a.m. Pacific time start? That is going to go over like a fart in an elevator. The Big Ten may be left with only one choice to find a way to make things work and that is to expand. Again. Washington, Oregon, Stanford and California are quietly on their hands and knees begging to secede from the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten. That’s a move that won’t bring in any money for the Big Ten, but it probably will be necessary to give Southern Cal and UCLA some Left Coast rivals to solve some of the logistic issues. Probably the only question is will there still be a Pac-12 when the Big Ten makes its move? 3. Big 12 Since becoming the new commish, Brett Yormark has sealed a media deal with Fox and ESPN that will pay $31 million a year. It’s an expandable deal if the Big 12 brings in the right schools and the likely culprits are Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah. Arizona and Colorado have been actively involved in discussions with Yormark. Both have said they’d like to stay in the Pac-12, but if they’re confident the Pac-12 will survive, then why are they talking to the Big 12? They’re not and for good reason. The Pac-12 is on life support and the plug is about to be yanked out of the wall. When – not if – Arizona and Colorado leave for the Big 12, Arizona State and Utah will be doing their don’t let the screen door hit you in the butt routines to escape while the escaping is good. The addition of these four schools to the Big 12 won’t cause Fox and ESPN to up the ante considerably for each school, but a $40 million a year deal is entirely possible. With the additions of BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston, the Big 12 already has the look of a very good football conference. Add the four schools from the Pac-12 and it looks even better, not to mention the fact that the nation’s best basketball league will improve. There is a Plan B in case the Pac-12 gets a walls of Jericho tumbling down miracle. That may involve bringing in UConn and either Memphis or South Florida for a 14-team league. The important thing to know is the Big 12 has contingency plans for everything and will emerge as the third best football league in the country and will become an even better basketball league. 4. Atlantic Coast Conference Little Jimmy Phillips didn’t write the dumbest media contract in the history of college sports but he inherited it. As a result, he has half the members of his league hiring any and every lawyer they can to see if there is a way out of a league with an ironclad media deal with ESPN that will pay its members less than half what they could make in the SEC or Big Ten. To leave the ACC will require a $120 ransom. Nobody has that kind of spare change nor are the SEC or Big Ten begging any ACC schools to join. So, it’s a dilemma for Florida State, Miami, Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia and Virginia Tech. They all want more money, but where to get it? The ACC’s media deal with ESPN doesn’t expire until 2036. ESPN sees no reason to renegotiate, especially considering the overall state of mediocrity among the league’s 14 football programs. A lack of intense rivalries makes it all but impossible for ACC games to knock the SEC games out of their ideal 3:30 or 7 p.m. slots. The only advantage the ACC has is its champion will likely breeze through the conference schedule and won’t be as beaten up at playoff time as their cousins in the SEC, Big Ten or Big 12. The ACC could increase its revenue if it could somehow entice Notre Dame to become a football playing member. Notre Dame has a sweetheart deal in which it’s an ACC member in all sports men or women except for football. The Irish simply have to play five ACC football opponents a year, which will usually mean five wins. Notre Dame would move the ACC television needle considerably but not enough to raise the ACC media payout by an additional $20 million a year. Notre Dame isn’t going to take a paycut to leave independence for the ACC. For the ACC to expand the other likely target would be West Virginia, which might be willing to bolt the Big 12 for the ACC due to geographic concerns. WVU fans would probably rather travel to Charlottesville, Blacksburg or Pittsburgh rather than Waco or Lubbock, but West Virginia doesn’t move the TV needle. And who would join the ACC with the Mountaineers? UConn would crawl backwards to Greensboro for an invitation. Geographically it would make sense and it would make sense for men’s and women’s basketball, but not for football. Basically, the ACC is stuck where it is with a bad media deal, too many unhappy members and no expansion opportunities that make any sense. 5. The soon to be extinct Pac-12 As stated above, if there is no television deal in place by the end of the month, gravestones should be chiseled for the late, great Pacific 12 Conference with an epitaph that reads, “K-Mart sucks!” 6. American Athletic Conference Losing Cincinnati, UCF and Houston to the Big 12 cost the AAC its three most viable members but it added UT-San Antonio, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, UAB and Charlotte from Conference USA, expanding the league to 14 teams. This is a shaky hold on the No. 6 spot because the Sun Belt continues to improve its football presence at a rapid pace. Tulane helped the league image immensely by beating Southern Cal in the Cotton Bowl. The AAC has a presence in major television markets (Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Tampa-St. Petersburg, South Florida, Charlotte, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Memphis and Washington DC) but the football doesn’t have high profile teams to land anything better than the current media deal that pays $6.94 million per school. Of major concern is the loss of a couple of programs to other leagues. Memphis wants the Big 12 and it’s a possibility if the four southern schools in the Pac-12 elect to stay put. SMU is hoping for an invitation to the Pac-12 but would welcome an invitation to join the Big 12 where it could reinstate old rivalries from Southwest Conference days. 7. Mountain West San Diego State wants to join the Pac-12. UNLV would be happy with an invitation to join either the Pac-12 or the Big 12. Boise State wants to join the Big 12. Air Force thinks it would be a natural fit since it’s just 476 miles as the crow flies from Lubbock and has had a longstanding rivalry with BYU. Fresno State looks in the mirror and does a Nancy Kerrigan (“Whyyyyyy meeeee!”) impersonation because neither the Big 12 or Pac-12 have extended an invitation nor will they. This is a low profile league that doesn’t move anyone’s television needle. The current media rights deal pays the 12 schools in the league $4 million a year, tip money in the SEC and Big Ten. If the Pac-12 blows up, as everyone expects, Oregon State and Washington State will be looking for a league to join. Neither one will be in a position to be choosy. 8. Sun Belt The Fun Belt, as it’s known, keeps improving its brand of football, to the point that it may surpass the American and Mountain West within a year or two from a competitive aspect. There isn’t much demand for Fun Belt games on television, in part because the league is in only two major markets (Atlanta and Norfolk-Virginia Beach) and none of the schools are high profile. Currently, the Fun Belt media deal pays $500,000 per school per year which has a lot to do with scheduling paycheck games. What the Fun Belt has to hope for is that its annual champion can be one of the six highest ranked conference champions, therefore earning a berth in the College Football Playoff. What would be a disaster would be for the extinction of a lot of lower ranking bowl games which provide exposure and income. The trickle-down effect of other conferences expanding could cost a team or two in the future but right now finding a way to generate more than $500,000 per school annually is a bigger concern. 9. Mid-American Conference There was a time when the MAC was the top non-power conference but that was then, this is now. Now the league lags way behind. Facilities are poor. Good players tend to go south where the weather, facilities and football are much better. There isn’t a big enough footprint outside of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois so the television market isn’t going to expand. The league is halfway through a media deal that pays each school $800,000 per year and there is no rush to renegotiate. When leagues expand, they don’t try to poach anyone from the MAC although the MAC did try to land Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee from Conference USA when that league lost most of its membership to the American and Sun Belt. 10. Conference USA This is a 9-team league of Division I stragglers plus former D1AA members Jacksonville State and Sam Houston. In another year, Kennesaw State will be departing D1AA for CUSA. CBS Sports Network will be paying each school $200,000. The AD at every CUSA school has let it be known it will take a significant beating for a paycheck. That’s the future of this conference. Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee would kill to get a call from the Fun Belt.

At a time where true sports journalism is apparently taking its last breath – the New York Times just announcing it was dropping its sports page – these fraudulent commentators are popping up like kudzu.

The Gators men's program celebrated a remarkable victory in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night. Following the University of Florida baseball team's impressive performance in the College World Series, the Gators soared from 14th place to claim the top spot in the final standings for the 2022-23 Men's Capital One Cup. This achievement marks Florida's third men's Capital One Cup title, with previous victories in 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Gators also secured the women's Capital One Cup in 2013-14. Only Florida and Stanford have managed to clinch both men's and women's titles in the 13-season history of the Capital One Cup. Both universities have amassed three wins each, making them the leaders in the all-time standings. As the winners of the men's division, Gators Athletics will receive a generous $250,000 donation from Capital One to support athletic scholarships. Here is how Florida's men's teams accumulated their winning total of 91 points: Golf: Ranked No. 1 at the NCAA Championships (20 points) Outdoor Track & Field: Ranked No. 1 at the NCAA Championships (20 points) Baseball: Finished as runners-up, securing the No. 2 spot in the final USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Poll (36 points) Indoor Track & Field: Placed No. 3 at the NCAA Championships (10 points) Swimming & Diving: Achieved No. 6 position at the NCAA Championships (5 points) In the women's Capital One Cup standings, Florida tied for 14th place. The reigning champions, Texas, clinched the women's title for the second consecutive year. Expressing his pride, Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin remarked, "Gator Athletics is proud to earn the 2020-23 men's Capital One Cup. It has been an incredible year with five men's top-10 finishes, including national titles for both golf and outdoor track & field. This achievement reflects the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff as they strive to represent the University at the highest levels of collegiate athletics. We extend our gratitude to Capital One for their unwavering commitment to college athletics. Go Gators!" Here are the top five standings for the Men's Capital One Cup: Florida: 91 points Stanford: 83 points Georgia: 80 points Penn State: 75.5 points Virginia: 71 points During the ESPYs on Wednesday night, the Florida men's athletic program was honored as the nation's best. The Gators received the prestigious Capital One Cup for their exceptional performance. Florida's success in the Capital One Cup is a testament to the hard work and dedication of their student-athletes, coaches and staff. By claiming titles in various sports and achieving outstanding rankings, the Gators have proven their dominance on the collegiate athletics stage. On top of being the top collegiate program for men's athletics, Florida is also still nationally recognized as a top-five academic program as well.

Billy Napier made it very clear when he was hired that he and his staff would make an effort to land commits from not only in-state high schools, but local high schools. They did just that, as Napier and company landed a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Kendall Jackson. The Gators have long been considered the favorite to land the F.W. Buchholz product, but made it official when Jackson announced his decision on social media Wednesday. Jackson is ranked as the No. 31 defensive lineman according to On3's composite rankings and brings the Florida 2024 class to a total of 19 commits. After a very successful sophomore campaign, Jackson emerged as a key asset to Buchholz's 10-3 season, picking up 65 tackles (22 TFL), 12.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. The 6-foot-3, 245 pound lineman has a lot of upside and has played in virtually every technique along the line. Jackson figures to settle into an interior lineman role at the collegiate level, but the versatility will benefit him nonetheless. Jackson has earned a lot of praise for his strong motor, keeping his legs churning even when engaged to break up plays. He does need to work on his pass-rushing skills and using his hands to attack. Florida is in Jackson's blood, as his uncle, Aubrey Hill, was a wide receiver at UF from 1991-1994. Hill caught 87 passes for 1,454 yards and touchdowns during his time with the Orange & Blue before pursuing a coaching career, spending time with Florida, Duke, Pitt and Miami. Jackson made a total of 13 visits to Gainesville, including an official visit at the beginning of June. He also took official visits to Arkansas, Miami and Kentucky. The Gainesville native chose the Gators over the Razorbacks, Hurricanes, Wildcats and others. The Gators now have three defensive lineman committed to their 2024 class, with Jackson joining fellow four-stars Amaris Williams and Nasir Johnson. The three are important pieces to an already scary looking defensive unit that Napier has built, much to the pleasure of new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. While the months of June and July have been quite kind for Florida recruiting, recruits and current players alike continue to allude to the fact that the Gators might not be finished quite yet.

Wyatt Langford led the charge in yet another successful draft for the Florida Gators under headman Kevin O'Sullivan. Langford became the highest Gators draft pick since Mike Zunino (3rd Overall) in 2012.

July 11, 2023

The Gators have added their fourth offensive lineman of the 2024 class after four-star OT Fletcher Westphal announced his commitment on Monday. Westphal is the first four-star offensive lineman of the class, joining three-stars Marcus Mascoll, Noel Portnjagin and Mike Williams. The 6-foot-8, 335 pound tackle is by far the largest player in the 2024 class, regardless of position, and should greatly excite Billy Napier and offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton. The Gators were considered to be favorites alongside Clemson but ended up beating out not only the Tigers but also Arkansas and Georgia among others. Despite his massive frame, there is little concern about his mobility. Westphal has proven flexibility and a great range of motion as well as a strong sense of balance that supports his style of play, which is fast off of the ball and explosive. While his footwork needs to be developed a bit more, he should have no issues transitioning into a strong offensive lineman at the collegiate level. The Leesburg (Va.) native is ranked as the No. 20 offensive tackle in the class of 2024 by 247Sports, and No. 22 by On3. Both outlets have Westphal as one of the best athletes in the state of Virginia. With Westphal's commitment, the 2024 class is now up to 18 commits, which is tied for third most in the SEC. However, the Gators sit with the second ranked class in the SEC just behind Georgia. Nationally, Florida remains at third according to both On3 and 247Sports. Florida recruiting has undergone a complete transformation in the last month and a half, with the expectation that things will not slow down for some time.

July 10, 2023

Wyatt Langford has made history by being the highest-ever Gator outfielder with pick four to the Texas Rangers. He became the second-highest draft pick in Florida baseball history and was expected to be amongst the top three picks until minutes before the draft. The only player drafted higher than Langford was Mike Zunino in 2012, who was chosen third overall by the Seattle Mariners. Langford's journey to this remarkable achievement began during his freshman year at Florida when he made just four at-bats. However, he dedicated himself to transforming his body during the offseason, gaining significant muscle and speed. As a result, Langford enjoyed a historic career as a Florida Gator, smashing 47 home runs in his final two seasons, ranking sixth on Florida's all-time home run list. He joined the elite company of Brad Wilkerson (1997-98) and Jud Fabian (2021-22) as one of the few Gators to hit 20+ home runs in consecutive seasons. Moreover, Langford boasted an impressive .367 batting average during his three seasons at Florida, along with 120 RBIs, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players in the university's baseball history. Kevin O'Sullivan, the Head Coach of the Gators, spoke highly of Langford's talent, comparing him to another exceptional player, Dylan Crews (who went at two in tonight's draft), and predicting great careers for both of them. O'Sullivan emphasized Langford's exceptional offensive abilities, noting his natural talent in hitting for both average and power. Langford showcased remarkable discipline at the plate, exhibiting one of the best eyes in college baseball. Over his collegiate career, Langford drew 92 walks, surpassing the number of times he struck out (89). While Langford's defensive position is yet to be determined, he appears most comfortable in left field. He demonstrated excellent fielding skills, committing just one error throughout his career, with a flawless record as a left fielder. His speed further adds to his defense, making him a valuable asset in the outfield. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 220 pounds, Langford possesses all the necessary tools to excel at the next level. Langford's career was filled with numerous accolades and recognitions. In 2023, he earned Second Team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball and was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. Additionally, Langford achieved multiple All-American selections in previous years, garnering recognition from D1Baseball, Baseball America, NCBWA, Perfect Game, and ABCA/Rawlings. He was part of the 2022 USA Collegiate National Team and received various academic honors during his time at Florida. With his selection as the fourth overall pick by the Texas Rangers, Langford has etched his name in the Florida Gators' record books as the second-highest-drafted player in program history. Throughout the season, he exhibited outstanding performance, leading the team with a .373 batting average, along with 21 home runs, 57 RBIs, 83 runs, and 88 hits. Langford's clutch performances during the NCAA Tournament and SEC Tournament further solidified his impact on the team's success. Wyatt Langford's journey from a promising freshman from Trenton to becoming the second-highest draft pick in Florida baseball history is a testament to his exceptional talent, hard work and dedication. As he embarks on his professional career with the Texas Rangers, he brings a combination of offensive strength, defensive skills and a strong work ethic that promises a bright future in the world of baseball. The kid from Trenton will without a doubt be a player that Texas will learn to love. A Gator legend will begin his next journey with his new home.

On Thursday, CBS Sports released a ranking for SEC head coaches. As expected, following a 6-7 season in his first year at the helm, Billy Napier did not rank well. The Florida coach came in ranked as the No. 11 SEC coach, dropping two positions after being ranked No. 9 last season. He was also ranked as the No. 43 coach nationally. Ranking towards the bottom of the SEC is no easy pill for Napier, or Gators fans, to swallow. But is it deserved? For now, it is. Napier had a successful run at Louisiana, going 40-12 over the course of four seasons. Not to mention, four Sun Belt West Division titles, four bowl appearances, and a Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2021. There is a lot of potential there, to say the least. But, there were immediate questions after he was hired about how he would make the transition to the SEC. After year one, many would be quick to write him off and say that he can't coach at college football's top level. However, as is the case with almost all collegiate coaches, at least those who do not inherit a championship-caliber team, he needs some time. Napier is yet to field a team truly recruited by him and his staff. This 2023 roster will be the first real glimpse into what a "Napier Team" looks like. When examining the roster that Napier inherited last season, it's clear why Mullen was let go. The roster was a culmination of Mullen and even Jim McElwain's inability to recruit at a level needed to compete in the SEC. Even with some glimmer of success here and there within each coach's tenure, there was not enough consistency from either coach on the recruiting trail to consistently compete at the level Florida is accustomed to. Despite no more athletes in the program from the McElwain era, there was a "domino effect" of sorts that trickled down into the hand that Napier has been dealt. That is one of the main reasons for his ranking at No. 11. Moving forward, Napier now has the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong with a roster of his own. He has already made more noise on the recruiting trail than Gator fans have seen in a long, long time, but it is time to answer the call on the field. Florida is forced to replace several starters this upcoming season, including the No. 4 overall pick in Anthony Richardson. It will be a tall task for Napier to fill those voids and still take a step in the right direction, but the pieces may be there to see more success in year two of the Napier Era. CBS Sports SEC Head Coach Rankings No. 1: Nick Saban, Alabama (No. 1 Overall) No. 2: Kirby Smart, Georgia (No. 2 Overall) No. 3: Brian Kelly, LSU (No. 6 Overall) No. 4: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss (No. 14 Overall) No. 5: Josh Heupel, Tennessee (No. 16 Overall) No. 6: Mark Stoops, Kentucky (No. 18 Overall) No. 7: Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M (No. 20 Overall) No. 8: Hugh Freeze, Auburn (No. 26 Overall) No. 9: Shane Beamer, South Carolina (No. 40 Overall) No. 10: Sam Pittman, Arkansas (No. 42 Overall) No. 11: Billy Napier, Florida (No. 43 Overall) No. 12: Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri (No. 51 Overall) No. 13: Clark Lea, Vanderbilt (No. 56 Overall) No. 14: Zach Arnett, Mississippi State (No. 68 Overall)