Mickey Plyler's Blog for June 7

by Mickey Plyler - Radio Host - Wed Jun 07 09:24:17 GMT-04:00 2006

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Super-regional Thoughts

I was a little disappointed in the announced times for the Clemson regional but I knew it was going to happen that way. When ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU released their schedule a few days ago I knew Clemson would have an early Friday game. The Saturday game should not terribly disappointing because fans should have no problem getting to that one. However, Friday at 3:00 PM and Sunday night at 7:00 PM are bad for those coming from longer destinations. Despite the poor times draw I would expect Doug Kingsmore to be rocking as loud as ever for the super-regional.

There is one positive to the times I guess because those who can’t make it up to Clemson can watch the series on ESPN networks.

SEC Wide Receiver rankings

In keeping with our wide receivers week here are our SEC rankings, It is not a great year for SEC wide outs. It seems to me that one theme with these groups of receivers is highly regarded prospects coming out of high school that have not lived up to the hype.

1. Florida

Dallas Baker (6-3, 206, Sr) 52-697-5

Jermalle Cornelius (5-11, 190, Sr) 29-383-1

Louis Murphy (6-3, 195, So)

Andre Caldwell (6-1, 200, Sr) 10-148-0

David Nelson (5-9, 208, Fr)

Percy Harvin (5-11, 185, Fr)

Riley Cooper (6-4, 205, Fr)

Jamar Hornsby (6-4, 195, Fr)

Jarred Fayson (6-0, 195, Fr)

Baker had a very good junior season. He was the most productive of the returning wide outs. Cornelius is a terrific athlete that could have a break out season. Caldwell suffered a broken leg last September and hopes to get back to being a number-one threat. This group of freshmen is the most talented group in the nation. Harvin should be an instant star and is one reason why I have the gators number-one here.

2. Alabama

Keith Brown (6-3, 195, Jr) 34-642-4

DJ Hall (6-3, 190, Jr) 48-676-5

Tyrone Prothro (5-8, 178, Sr) 17-325-3

Nikita Stover (6-1, 200, So)

Matt Caddell (6-0, 180, Jr) 13-179-0

Brown and Hall had great sophomore seasons. Brown has the speed to get behind SEC defenses. He is a tremendous athlete. Hall is more of a possession guy and is very dependable on third down. Prothro broke his leg last season and might not be 100% but if he is then he is among the best open field guys in the SEC.

3. South Carolina

Sidney Rice (6-3, 200, So) 70-1143-13

Kenny McKinley (5-11, 180, So) 25-291-1

Mike West (6-0, 215, Jr)

Noah Whiteside (5-10, 180, Sr) 7-131-1

O.J. Murdock (5-11, 185, Fr)

Freddie Brown (6-3, 200, Fr)

Syvelle Newton (6-0, 218, Sr) 27-297-2

Rice was among the biggest surprises in the nation last year. He catches the ball as well as anyone ot ever play in this program. Rice does not have break away speed but does not need it because he catches the ball extremely well in traffic. If Newton is healthy and plays wide out then he is the second best guy here. He has very good open field skills. McKinley came on strong as a true freshman late last year. West moved from linebacker to wide out and made an impression on the staff. Whiteside has been inconsistent and a disappointment. Murdock needed a red-shirt season.

4. LSU

Dwayne Bowe (6-3, 217, Sr) 41-710-9

Craig Davis (6-2, 200, Sr) 35-559-2

Early Doucet (6-0, 205, Jr) 26-389-5

Xavier Carter (6-3, 195, Jr) 4-86-1

Bowe was not as highly recruited as some of the other wide outs at LSU but he is the best. Bowe is a big, physical receiver with good hands and big play capability. Davis had a solid year last year because he catches the ball well. Doucet has shown some signs of being what I thought he would but still has to be considered an under achiever so far. Xavier Carter has done very little compared to what I thought he would be.

5. Arkansas

Marcus Monk (6-6, 225, Jr) 35-476-7

Cedric Washington (6-0, 200, Sr) 27-265-1

Chris Baker (6-1, 200, Jr)

Damien Williams (6-2, 190, Fr)

Monk will prosper in the new passing scheme. His 6-6 frame is ideal for this offense and I think he could have a huge junior season. Washington is a talented compliment. Williams is a highly touted true freshman that could break into the rotation very early.

6. Tennessee

Jayson Swain (6-1, 205, Sr) 27-380-0

Robert Meacham (6-3, 210, Jr) 29-383-2

Brett Smith (6-3, 190, Sr) 21-223-3

Lucas Taylor (5-10, 185, So)

Josh Briscoe (6-3, 185, So)

Like Miami and Florida State, Tennessee has signed some of the nation’s most sought after high school receivers but they have not lived up to their potential. As a true freshman and before his injury, Phil Fulmer said Meacham was the best freshman he ever coached. Swain and Smith are stars on paper but have not scared a lot of defenses so far. There is talent here but a sense of urgency is needed.

7. Auburn

Courtney Taylor (6-2, 202, Jr) 22-278-1

Prechae Rodriquez (6-4, 200, Jr) 13-240-1

Montez Billings (6-2, 180, Fr)

Lee Guess (5-10, 180, Sr) 3-52-1

Tim Hawthorne (6-3, 205, Fr)

Chris Slaughter (6-3, 170, Fr)

Terrell Zachery (6-1, 190, Fr)

Taylor had injuries that forced him to not be the factor he wanted to be all of last season. He is very talented and should be the number-one guy this season. Rodriquez is a track-type star and is the deep threat. Billings was highly touted, as are all three incoming freshmen.

8. Georgia

Mohamed Massaquoi (6-2, 200, So) 38-505-2

Kenneth Harris (6-3, 215, So) 11-216-1

Mario Raley (6-1, 190, Sr) 6-78-0

Mikey Henderson (5-10, 165, Jr)

Demiko Goodman (6-2, 190, So)

A.J. Bryant (6-2, 195, Jr) 5-84-2

Massaquoi has a chance to be the bets wide out in the SEC in the next two seasons. He has all of the tools to be a great one. There is little production after him however. Harris is a big wide out that has showed some signs. I have no idea why Bryant has not developed into a threat.

9. Vanderbilt

Earl Bennett (6-1, 205, So) 79-876-9

Marion White (6-4, 205, Sr) 34-350-6

George Smith (6-3, 195, So) 23-287-2

Bennett is as good as any wide out in this league. He came on strong lat in his true freshman season. In his last four games last year he caught 16 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown against South Carolina, 6 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns against Florida, 13 passes for 99 yards and five touchdowns against Kentucky and 14 passes for 167 yards and a late game-winning touchdown against Tennessee. In those four games he totaled 49 catches for 545 yards and nine touchdowns. White and Smith are not bad and should benefit from having Bennett on the other side.

10. Mississippi State

Tony Burks (6-4, 215, Jr)

Omarr Conner (6-1, 215, Sr)

Joey Sanders (6-0, 205, Jr) 7-137-1

Will Prosser (6-3, 205, Sr) 28-286-0

Conner is a very talented athlete that is making the transition to wide out from quarterback. Burks is a JUCO transfer that impressed in the spring. This deep group has plenty of bodies and is fairly talented.

11. Ole Miss

Marshay Green (5-10, 170, Fr)

Michael Hicks (6-3, 215, Fr)

Burnell Wallace (6-0, 175, So)

Carlos Suggs (6-5, 200, Jr)

There is little returning experience at wide out in Oxford. True freshman Green went through spring practice and emerged as the deep threat. The rebels are looking to replace some fine receivers from last season and Hicks had a good spring as well. Suggs is an intriguing player that needs more experience.

12. Kentucky

Keenan Burton (6-2, 195, Jr) 24-365-2

DeMoreo Ford (5-10, 190, So) 2-10-0

Dicky Lyons (5-11, 190, So)

Burton is a real threat because of his speed but there is little depth or talent behind him. Do not expect the Wildcats to light it up through the air unless they are throwing to backs and tight ends.

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