This week, we’re looking at key position battles -- excluding quarterback -- for each SEC team. The series continues with a preview of Vanderbilt's inside linebacker positions.
Departed: Zach Cunningham
Spring contenders: Senior Emmanuel Smith, redshirt sophomore Jay Hockaday, junior Jordan Griffin, freshman Dimitri Moore
Summer contenders: Freshman Feleti Afemui
The skinny: You really can't underestimate the loss of Cunningham. The All-American should be an early-round NFL draft pick in April after leading the SEC with 125 tackles and registering 16.