While the LSU football team opened spring practice Monday, most teams will wait another few weeks for spring practice to kickoff. Here’s a preview of the Southeastern Conference spring schedule. SEC WESTALABAMA CRIMSON TIDESpring practice starts March 12Spring game: April 17What to expect: The defending national champions should be the early favorite to repeat. The Crimson Tide return a host of players at the skill positions, including senior quarterback Greg McElroy, junior wide receiver Julio Jones and the two-headed monster of junior running back Mark Ingram and sophomore Trent Richardson. Alabama should enter the spring with a bull’s-eye on its back as Tennessee was the last SEC Champion to repeat in 1998. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKSSpring practice starts March 30Spring game: April 24What to expect: Junior quarterback Ryan Mallett is back under center for the Razorbacks but will miss the entire spring after suffering a broken foot injury. Arkansas has no problem putting up points, but its defense remains suspect after finishing last in the SEC in total defense for allowing 25.8 points a game. The Razorbacks return junior linebacker Jerry Franklin, who led the team in tackles in 2009. AUBURN TIGERSSpring practice starts March 24Spring game: April 19What to expect: Auburn coach Gene Chizik picked up Florida coach Urban Meyer’s lost baggage when the team signed five-star junior college transfer Cameron Newton. The formerly troubled Gator quarterback is expected to run offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s high-powered offense. The Tigers lose experience in the backfield with the departure of running back Ben Tate, but they return junior wide receiver Darvin Adams, who hauled in 60 catches and 10 touchdowns in 2009.OLE MISS REBELSSpring practice starts March 27Spring game: April 17What to expect: The Rebels must replace several playmakers on both sides of the ball after losing a handful of valuable players, including Jevan Snead to the NFL draft and Dexter McCluster and Shay Hodge to graduation. The departure of Snead shocked quite a few people, and there is no clear-cut replacement as signal caller. Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt will rely heavily on junior running back and Baton Rouge native Brandon Bolden to anchor the offense.MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGSSpring practice starts March 23Spring game: April 17What to expect: Second-year coach Dan Mullen has looming questions on the offensive side of the ball with the departure of running back Anthony Dixon. Redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Russell is expected to push for time with junior Chris Relf, but the biggest questions remain on defense. Mullen brought in Manny Diaz from Middle Tennessee State and Oklahoma’s Chris Wilson to spruce up a defense that finished second to last in the SEC in total defense and points.SEC EASTFLORIDA GATORSSpring practice starts March 17Spring game: April 10What to expect: Urban Meyer’s health condition is still up in the air, and the team has to deal with departure of quarterback Tim Tebow. Junior John Brantley finally gets his shot at quarterback and with another top-ranked recruiting class, Meyer and the gang should be in the mix for a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.GEORGIA BULLDOGSSpring practice starts March 4Spring game: April 10What to expect: Georgia coach Mark Richt and his staff will showcase several new looks this spring. With former quarterback Joe Cox no longer around, redshirt freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are expected to trade blows for the right to throw to All-SEC wide receiver A.J. Green. Richt also brought in former Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham as his new defensive coordinator, who will unveil a new 3-4 defense.KENTUCKY WILDCATSSpring practice starts March 31Spring game: April 24What to expect: New coach Joker Phillips will have his hands full this spring. The Wildcats lost a slew of defensive players, but Phillips can turn to junior Randall Cobb for stability. The former quarterback turned receiver/special teams extraordinaire found the end zone 15 times last year.SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKSSpring practice starts March 16Spring game: April 10What to expect: South Carolina has the tools to derail Florida from the SEC East throne, but that will all depend on the arm of junior quarterback Stephen Garcia. Garcia was second in the SEC in passing last year and will have his favorite target back this spring  — sophomore wide receiver Ashlon Jeffery. If coach Steve Spurrier and company can create a wall to protect his finest asset in Garcia, South Carolina could have Atlanta in its sights.TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERSSpring practice starts March 18Spring game: April 17What to expect: The Lane Kiffin era is done in Rocky Top Nation. Former Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley, who was an assistant under Nick Saban during his tenure at LSU, inherits the few pieces left in place by Kiffin. Senior quarterback Nick Stephens has patiently waited his turn, but his safest bet may be handing the ball off to super sophomore running back Bryce Brown, the former No. 1-ranked player coming out of high school. VANDERBILT COMMODORESSpring practice starts March 17Spring game: April 10 What to expect: If finishing last in the SEC with a 2-10 record in 2009 wasn’t bad enough, running back Rajaan Bennett, the Commodores top-rated signee for next year, was killed in an apparent murder-suicide two weeks ago. The good news is most of the defense returns from a unit that finished third in the SEC in pass defense, but Vanderbilt’s success will lie in the hands of the offense. Junior quarterback Larry Smith should see the majority of snaps, but junior college transfer Jordan Rodgers, the brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, could stir things up in Nashville.——Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]