Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Sure, Alabama had nine players taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, and many of the Crimson Tide defensive standouts moved on. So did running back Trent Richardson, who did everything except win a Heisman Trophy in a stellar three-year career.

But anyone expecting the Tide to take a precipitous fall in the Southeastern Conference West Division hasn’t been paying attention to Coach Nick Saban stockpiling terrific recruiting class behind terrific recruiting class.

In fact, Richardson and Tide Heisman winner Mark Ingram, hero of the 2009 national championship, personally recruited Alabama prep sensation T.J. Yeldon away from Auburn for Saban, while more high school defensive All-Americans signed up with the Tide.

Alabama may take a year, though, to come down from the high of last year’s national championship, just as the Crimson Tide had to get its bearings in 2010 and lost three games.

If that happens, LSU will pick up right where it left off and win a second-consecutive SEC championship. No doubt the 21-0 loss to Alabama in the national title game, when the Tigers went in ranked No. 1, left a stinger with the “Honey Badger,” Tyrann Mathieu, and the other returning LSU stars.

When the title game was over, LSU fans were already glad to see maligned quarterback Jordan Jefferson gone and Zach Mettenberger primed to take over his duties.

Mettenberger, a prized high school recruit for Georgia four years ago, left Athens for bad off-the-field behavior, played a year of junior college ball, then backed up Jefferson and Jarrett Lee last season, seeing a few plays.

Alabama and LSU are mirrors of each other with ball-control offense, dominating defense and solid kicking games, with terrific speed sprinkled throughout the roster.

There’s no reason to think either will fall, as it’s hard to see anyone in either division with the talent to match — though Georgia may be getting better, and Florida isn’t far behind with the recruiting classes the Gators have had the past two years.

Here’s how the divisions should shape up (for expanded coverage and game plans from the digital edition of ArkansasSports360.com's 2012 Football Preview, click on the team's name:)

SEC WEST

LSU
Defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, the “Honey Badger” and a sensation throughout the season, was put in his place by the Crimson Tide in January, and seems to have flown under the radar since. He’ll be back, surely, and so will LSU with a powerful defense, an army of strong, fast running backs, and an easier schedule than last year.