The Grove Bracket: (4) Chris Coghlan v. (5) Shay Hodge

Shay Hodge is statistically the best receiver in Ole Miss history.  He is the first to record a thousand yard season at Ole Miss.  He led the SEC in yards.  He was a first-team All SEC selection for both the AP and coaches (though, curiously, not a unanimous selection).  He rarely made mistakes his senior season with the Rebels and made catches of the "David Tyree in the Super Bowl" variety.

Meanwhile, Chris Coghlan was the most important offensive weapon for the 2006 diamond Rebels that won the SEC Tournament, tore through the Oxford Regional, and did that thing we do when we host Super Regionals.  Plus, he is the only Rebel during the Bianco era to really excel in the Majors, earning the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year.  He got off to a slow start in 2010 (batting .174 in his first seven games ... yeesh!) but is slowly inching back into form.  When he was drafted by the Marlins in 2006, he was (at #36) then the highest drafted player in Ole Miss history (later eclipsed by Scott Bittle, likely to be eclipsed again by Drew Pomeranz).  For his career he hit .342 for the Rebels, while playing third base.

Two key differences between Hodge and Coghlan might help influence your decision.  In Shay's defense, he was the best in the league at what he did in 2009, despite the erratic play of Jevan Snead and playing at a speed/size deficit compared to, say, future first-rounders Julio Jones and A.J. Green.  In Coghlan's defense, he has already had more professional success than Hodge will, likely, ever have.  Do with those observations what you will.

As always, voting ends Saturday at Midnight Eastern Time.