As spring practices get underway, the temptation to make predictions overwhelms some SEC football fans.

To be fair, it happens to us media-types, too. It’s not hard to find a story about how great Tennessee will be, or about how Alabama will cope with its latest quarterback derby.

Instead of weighing in on those topics in long form, I’ll give you the short version. Alabama will be just fine and the Volunteers look very good on paper.

Here are a few other predictions about what we might see this spring around the SEC:

WHO’S HEADING OUT?

Anytime you have so many different quarterback battles going on in a given spring, it’s a sure bet that there will be some players that will be unhappy enough to transfer after the dust settles from the spring game.

There will too many hard feelings — and too many FCS schools and community colleges dangling the carrot of playing time — for there not to be some departures.

Don’t be surprised if some of the players who fall short in the races at South Carolina, Auburn and Mississippi State, to name a few, decide to ply their trade somewhere else this fall.

THE NEXT KENTRELL BROTHERS

Kentrell Brothers led the nation with 152 tackles in just 12 games for Missouri last season, and there’s probably no way one man can replace that production.

Donavin Newsome will try, though. Newsome picked up steam late last season with 18 tackles in the final two games. He had 63 stops on the year, and starting this spring, will look to raise his game another level for his senior season.

Michael Scherer (93 tackles) returns at middle linebacker and will provide some of the leadership for the unit, but it will be up to Newsome (and perhaps Brandon Lee on the weak side) to help make up for Brothers’ production.

GETTING DEFENSIVE ON THE BAYOU

Former Wisconsin coordinator Dave Aranda is the new man in charge of the LSU defense, and it’s safe to say changes are coming.

For starters, don’t be surprised if the Tigers line up in a few more 3-4 looks this spring. It makes sense, based on Aranda’s background and the available talent returning in Baton Rouge. He’s not getting caught up in labels or formations, but in creating mismatches for his players.

“You want to put your best player on their worst player and do that over and over again,” Aranda told the Associated Press. “You have to identify who your best players are and what their strengths are. Then, you put your best players in the best spots to make plays.”

GODWIN MAKES A LEAP

A five-star recruit from Hogansville, Ga., Terry Godwin made his first career start against South Carolina last year as a true freshman and never looked back. He was second on the team with 35 catches for 379 yards and was the MVP of the TaxSlayer Bowl win over Penn State with a passing and a receiving touchdown.

This spring, with Malcolm Mitchell’s departure, he’ll be the undisputed No. 1 receiver in Athens. He seems primed for a breakout season, no matter who wins the quarterback job.

“I think the coaches believe in me enough to put the ball in my hands to make a play,” he said after the bowl game. “I believe that’s what they’re going to do in the future. That’s what they have done in the past.”

Del Rio GETS A LOOK

Florida’s quarterback race is among the more complicated ones in the league.

You’ve got a graduate transfer from Purdue in Austin Appleby. You’ve got another transfer from Oregon State and Alabama in Luke Del Rio, and you’ve got a highly touted recruit in Feleipe Franks.

Toss in another true freshman (Kyle Trask) and you have a four-way battle this spring.

While Appleby has the most experience with an up-and-down tenure in West Lafayette, Ind., and Franks has the press clippings, I kind of like Del Rio’s chances to make the biggest impression this spring.

Unlike the other contenders, he has a year at Florida and has a familiarity with coach Jim McElwain and coordinator Doug Nussmeier. Plus, he’s a coach’s son and, by all accounts, a student of the game.

I’m not ready to predict that he will keep the job all season, but I think he’ll leave the spring with it.