SEC football roundup

By Chip Towers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

East Division

Florida (9-0, 7-0)

Next: 3:30 p.m. Saturday at South Carolina

In seven SEC games, the Gators have had only two plays of 50 yards or more -- a 77-yard touchdown pass from Tim Tebow to Deonte Thompson against Arkansas, and a 64-yard pass from Tebow to Aaron Hernandez late in the game against Vanderbilt. Florida's three other plays of 50 or more yards came against outmanned Charleston Southern. Last season, the Gators had 10 plays of 50 yards or longer, five against SEC opponents.

Kentucky (5-3, 1-4)

Next: 12:20 p.m. Saturday at Vanderbilt

Quarterback Mike Hartline returned to practice this week after missing the past four games with a knee injury, but it's unclear if he will play Saturday. "I'm certainly not going to put Hartline out there if he can't get out of his own way, let alone pull it down and run it if he has to," coach Rich Brooks said. Freshman Morgan Newton has started in Hartline's absence. Versatile player Randall Cobb (thumb) is returning from injury and can also play some at quarterback.

South Carolina (6-4, 3-4)

Next: 3:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Florida

Coach Steve Spurrier, 64, quelled rumors he was about to retire. "I hope to go three or four more years and see what happens," Spurrier told reporters. "If we are going 6-6 or 7-5, then someone else should have the opportunity to give it a try." Of course, the Gamecocks are barreling toward another such finish. ... In related news, Spurrier said he was going back to being "principal play-caller." ... South Carolina will wear special uniforms in support of the "Wounded Warrior Project."

Tennessee (5-4, 2-3)

Next: Noon Saturday at Ole Miss

Coach Lane Kiffin had boasted only Wednesday that the Vols had gone 11 months without a player arrest. That ended in the wee hours Thursday morning when Nu'Keese Richardson, Janzen Jackson and Mike Edwards were charged with armed robbery. Jackson and Richardson were two of UT's top recruits last February and all three have played in at least eight of the nine games. Jackson, a freshman from Lake Charles, La., started seven games at safety before missing last week's game because of a suspension for an undisclosed team rules violation. Richardson, a wide receiver from Pahokee, Fla., caught his first touchdown pass last week and has eight catches for 102 yards and six rushes for 58 yards. Edwards is a cornerback from Cleveland.

Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6)

Next: 12:20 p.m. Saturday vs. Kentucky

Kudos to coach Bobby Johnson for stepping up against the SEC's new policy to fine coaches for criticizing officials. "Obviously, if you just abuse somebody, you have to take some kind of action," he said. "But I think we ought to have the opportunity to say ‘I disagree with a call' and not be fined. You can't say, ‘Well, I think he did it on purpose' or ‘I think it's a conspiracy.' But if I think it was a bad call, I ought to be able to say it was a bad call. I guess I can't."

West Division

Alabama (9-0, 6-0)

Next: 7 p.m. Saturday at Mississippi State

Javier Arenas needs 172 yards to break the all-time NCAA record for career punt return yardage held by Wes Welker of Texas Tech. He also is 106 yards shy of a 60-year SEC mark set by Vanderbilt's Lee Nalley from 1947-49. He has averaged 38.8 yards per game in his career with five games left in the season.

Arkansas (5-4, 2-4)

Next: 7:30 p.m. Saturday vs. Troy

The Razorbacks lead the SEC and are second in the nation in red-zone offense, scoring on 97.1 percent of their possessions from inside the 20. Arkansas’ offense was particularly efficient in the 33-16 win against South Carolina, going 5-for-5 in the red zone with four touchdowns and a field goal. The Hogs have scored 24 touchdowns in 34 red-zone possessions this season.

Auburn (7-3, 3-3)

Next: 7 p.m. Saturday at Georgia

Auburn is last in the SEC with a 3.8-yard punt-return average and has had five different players handle the duty. Wide receiver Anthony Gulley and safety Demond Washington are scheduled to try it Saturday. ... Georgia leads the nation in penalties, but the Tigers' opponents have been penalized 20 fewer times them, the biggest difference in the SEC.

LSU (7-2, 4-2)

Next: 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Louisiana Tech

Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday after missing the past two practices because of injury. His status for the homecoming game remains questionable. Jarrett Lee will start if Jefferson can't go. Lee completed 4 of 10 passes for 44 yards with an interception after Jefferson went out against Alabama.

Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3)

Next: 7 p.m. Saturday vs. Alabama

The Bulldogs have lost four consecutive home games, all against ranked teams. State tailback Anthony Dixon became the school's 10th player to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. He has 1,001. Dixon ranks ninth in SEC history with 43 touchdowns. .... Alabama has not allowed an opposing player to rush for at least 100 yards in 29 consecutive games.

Ole Miss (6-3, 2-3)

Next: Noon Saturday vs. Tennessee

Twenty of Ole Miss' 22 starters were signed by Tennessee defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who will be returning to Oxford for the first time since being dismissed as the Rebels' head coach in 2007. ... Defensive end Greg Hardy, a projected first-round draft pick, will miss the rest of the season with a fractured wrist. ... The Oxford Eagle is reporting the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan plan to march in full robes and hoods on campus in protest of the school's decision to ban the playing of the song "From Dixie with Love."