HOOVER, Ala. -- Back in May, both Florida and LSU players laid claim to their school as "DB U," referring to the program with the best track record for producing NFL defensive backs. Here at College Football 24/7, with more of a nod toward tradition and history, we tried to settle the debate for them and didn't give either school top billing for the title.
However, LSU running back Leonard Fournette was unmoved by our rankings or anyone else's at SEC Media Days.
"Don't get me wrong, Florida has a good secondary. But I go against my secondary every day," Fournette said. "I know what they're capable of -- in my heart, LSU is DB U."
Fournette, of course, is only referring to the current crop of Tigers defensive backs and not the likes of Patrick Peterson, LaRon Landry and Tyrann Mathieu. And in Fournette's corner of the world, there is a fine argument to be made. NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein rates LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White as one of the elite cornerbacks in the college game, and LSU has a couple of All-SEC contenders elsewhere in the secondary in Jalen Mills and Jamal Adams.
Here are seven other things we learned during the final round of SEC Media Days:
2. WR unveils book. Georgia wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell took a page, so to speak, from former Bulldogs wide receiver Chris Conley by bringing a newly released children's book that he authored to SEC Media Days. Last year, Conley was the media darling of the day after producing a re-make of Star Wars, and according to Mitchell, Conley's project was something of an inspiration.
"I have a passion for reading to kids and a passion for reading in general," Mitchell said. "... Yesterday I visited Children's Health Care of Atlanta and read from the book for the first time."
The book is called "The Magician's Hat" and it's about a magician who encourages young people to read. Mitchell said his cost on the project was about $500, and he had to clear its production and release with the NCAA and Georgia's compliance office. Mitchell took to social media last week to prove he can do more than just write -- he can catch, too.
3. Second-round standing. Want an idea of where Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland might go in the 2016 NFL draft? A lot can happen to affect any prospect's draft status during the season, at the NFL Scouting Combine, and elsewhere, but Ragland confirmed he received a second-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board before opting to return to UA for his senior season.
4. Deferring to Chubb. Fournette is one of the top backs in the league after a big freshman season last year, but he wasn't about to declare himself the SEC's best rusher on Thursday. In fact, he gave that title to Georgia sophomore Nick Chubb, who outrushed him last year by 513 yards (1,547 to 1,034).
5. Mum on QBs. All three coaches that spoke on the final day of SEC Media Days (Ole Miss' Hugh Freeze, LSU's Les Miles and Georgia's Mark Richt), as expected, had very little to say about who might play quarterback for them this fall. All three will carry a quarterback competition into fall camp. Miles was probably the most forthcoming, saying this about sophomore Brandon Harris: "I think he has really improved." Thanks, coach. We'll pencil him in.
6. Mitchell focused on offense. Georgia's Mitchell played some cornerback for the Bulldogs a couple of years ago, but put his two-way days behind him after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in 2013. Asked if he might do what former Michigan State star Tony Lippett did last season -- play some defense part-time to show NFL teams his ability on both sides of the ball -- Mitchell said it's not his plan.
"I need to prove that I can play a full healthy season at one position first," Mitchell said.
7. Quotable I. "We've had at least one defensive lineman taken in every NFL draft for the last 12 years." -- LSU coach Les Miles. Can that be possible? Fact-checking turns up truth: Marquise HillandChad Lavalais (2004), Marcus Spears (2005), Kyle Williams, Melvin OliverandClaude Wroten (2006), Chase Pittman (2007), Glenn Dorsey (2008), Tyson JacksonandRicky Jean-Francois (2009), Al Woods (2010), Drake NevisandLazarius Levingston (2011), Michael Brockers (2012), Barkevious Mingo, Bennie Logan, Sam MontgomeryandLavar Edwards (2013), Ego Ferguson (2014) and Danielle Hunter (2015).
One word: factory.
8. Quotable II. Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins on the cost-of-attendance stipends that NCAA student-athletes will receive beginning this year, which are expected to be several hundred dollars per month, depending on the school: "Well, it's not Justin Houston money." Not surprisingly, the former Bulldog's new contract with the Kansas City Chiefs has the attention of players in Athens, Ga.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
