Scout.com: Three & Out: SEC Thoughts, News & Notes 4/9

Three & Out: SEC Thoughts, News & Notes 4/9

Georgia running back Carlton Thomas

By Barrett Sallee

CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Apr 8, 2009

Barrett Sallee shares three off-season thoughts, comments or observations about anything and everything in the world of the SEC.

Do you have a question or comment? E-mail me

A brief snapshot on what’s going on this off-season in the nations’ best football conference.

Thomas fighting for playing time for the Dogs
With Knowshon Moreno departing early, one of the main questions facing the Georgia Bulldogs this spring is who will replace Moreno in the Dogs backfield. Prior to the spring, the odds-on favorites were sophomores Caleb King and Richard Samuel. When Samuel was lost for the spring due to a wrist injury, King was all but handed the starting role.

Carlton Thomas has other plans.

Thomas, a redshirt freshman from Frostproof, Fla., is earning high praise from Georgia head coach Mark Richt, who recently compared Thomas to former Bulldog running back Tyson Browning.

Thomas is diminutive in stature, at 5-foot-7 and 170 lbs. But, he was well thought of coming out of high school, having been ranked the 15th best running back in the nation in the 2008 recruiting class by Scout.com. Thomas has a good shot of seeing significant playing time to prove his worth, with only one experienced RB practicing this spring, and his main competition sitting out due to injury.

Injury bug biting the Gators
Speaking of injuries, the defending national champion Florida Gators are hurting this spring.

Senior wide receiver David Nelson injured his foot during the Gators scrimmage on Saturday. Initial reports were that Nelson had broken a bone in his foot, but it looks like it’s a sprain. Nelson had the foot wrapped and was walking on crutches early in the week, although he is expected to recover in time for fall practice.

Another expected contributor that has gone down for the Gators is freshman tight end Desmond Parks, who was carted from practice with a knee injury. There have been no reports as to the severity of the injury, but it does have Meyer concerned, especially after losing tight end Cornelious Ingram to an ACL injury last summer.

Offensive lineman James Wilson also was injured in the Gators’ scrimmage on Saturday with stress fractures in his feet. Wilson could be out for the spring, but should be healthy in time for fall practice.

McElroy in line to replace John Parker Wilson
A position battle that has flown relatively under-the-radar this spring is the battle to replace the recently-graduated John Parker Wilson as the Alabama starting quarterback. Junior Greg McElroy has established himself as the leader to take the spot, taking the lead over contenders Star Jackson and walk-on Thomas Darrah.

Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has had high praise for McElroy, especially after the Southlake, Texas native tossed four touchdown passes in the Tide’s first scrimmage of the spring last week.

No matter who opens the season taking the snaps for the Tide, he will have his work cut out for him right out of the gate. Alabama opens its season on September 5 against Virginia Tech, and the always-stingy Hokie defense, in the 2nd Annual Chick-Fil-A College Kickoff at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.