Fall camps are opening all over the Southeastern Conference this week, and some of the league's best NFL prospects already are making headlines. Here is a quick look at the latest from some of the SEC's best players:
» Florida linebacker Ronald Powell has waited a year and a half to get back on the field after a knee injury. He hasn't played a down since 2011, when he led the team in sacks, and hasn't practiced since the spring of 2012, when he was injured. As the Independent Florida Alligator reports, he's been cleared to return for the Gators' fall camp. He's also getting some inspiration from one of yours, Minnesota Vikings fans: Powell has a photo of rehab winner Adrian Peterson in his locker.
» One of the best young players in the SEC is now, well, no longer in the SEC. Ole Miss two-way standout Nick Brassell did not make academic eligibility standards, reports the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. He played at East Mississippi Community College last year amid academic woes, but it's unclear where his football career might turn next. A shot at the NFL will have to wait at least another year for Brassell, who is only two years removed from high school.
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» Not long ago, we brought the exploits of LSU's massive fullback, J.C. Copeland, to your attention. In the latest from NOLA.com, it appears the lingering suspension of Jeremy Hill might prompt Tigers coaches to make Copeland -- a hammering, 280-pound blocker -- a bigger part of the offense.
» At Mississippi State, it sure didn't take long for JuCo cornerback Justin Cox, expected to be one of the league's most exciting newcomers, to command a starting role in practice. You'll find a word on that buried deep in this notebook from the Columbus Dispatch.
» Over in Athens, Ga., it appears cornerback Damian Swann, one of the Bulldogs' pro prospects on the defensive side of the ball, is being prepped as a safety and nickelback while Josh Harvey-Clemons sits out a suspension. Swann, reports the Athens Banner-Herald, got some experience in the role last year. ... Meanwhile, ledger-enquirer.com reports that the Bulldogs' dazzling pair of running backs, Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, would just as soon see their collective nickname -- "Gurshall" -- disappear.
» Ole Miss defensive back Charles Sawyer, a pro prospect in the Rebels secondary, is out with an injury to open camp. Coach Hugh Freeze indicated Sawyer should be ready for the season opener against Vanderbilt, but that's not especially encouraging given that the game is four weeks away. Meanwhile, however, reviews are good on the injury return of Rebels quarterback Bo Wallace.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
