HOOVER, Ala. - Smile, Chris Relf, here is your spotlight. It's Day 1 of the annual SEC Football Media Circus, and the grin that never seems to leave your face when the recorders and cameras are running will serve you well. But it'll only get you so far.

You are, after all, an SEC starting quarterback. There's only 12 of those in the world right now. No, you won't draw the kind of crowd of a Ryan Mallett or Greg McElroy, but many people will want to ask you many questions.

So this is your first challenge: Fill up the notebooks.

I know, giving interviews isn't your strong suit. Before last season, of course, nobody had a real need to talk with you. Then you split snaps with Tyson Lee, but he got more than you did, and thus more time with the media.

But then there was the Egg Bowl, when you ran roughshod over the Ole Miss defense, which acted as if it had never heard of the option running attack. You rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown, and you threw two TD passes, and you finished the season with 500 rushing yards.

So the interview requests have increased greatly. People like me write about you - and your co-No. 1 QB, Tyler Russell - on a regular basis. Because you - and/or Russell - may very well hold the key to a winning season.

More on that later, though. Right now, let's worry about the interviews. You're not exactly a quote machine, at least in group settings. But I spoke with you one-on-one last season, and I asked the right questions, and it was one of the best player interviews of the fall.

So the quote box is in there, somewhere. I'll be among the media throng, so if you get nervous, just lock eyes with me and ... OK, maybe not. Just pretend we're all naked (no, wait, don't).

Anyway, a lot of people are going to get to know you this week, and you know what they say about first impressions.

Face of the offense

You were an interesting choice to accompany coach Dan Mullen. Every team gets to bring three players this year, instead of the usual two, with the other Bulldogs being safety Charles Mitchell and offensive lineman Quentin Saulsberry.

You're all juniors, which is who Mullen likes to bring to this event. Russell is not a junior, but it's still significant that Mullen invited you. This week, you become the face of MSU's offense.

Most of the questions you field will deal with your abilities to A) pass the ball, and B) run the offense for long stretches. Because last year, you weren't really all that hot until the Egg Bowl.

Plus, there was that mid-season two-game suspension for a violation of team rules. We all have our suspicions as to what rule you broke, but that's not important.

You've overcome before. You were in ex-coach Sylvester Croom's doghouse prior to the 2008 season. Last year, you had to share time with Lee, and you handled that situation like a true teammate should.

You have the chance now to delay Russell's inevitable takeover of this offense, to be more than just a glorified fullback (although at 240 pounds, you'd do well there). Heck, you could be the Surprise of the Year in the SEC if things fall your way.

Then the Klieg lights would be snapped on and pointed right at you. So consider today a test run.

Brad Locke (brad.locke@djournal.com) covers Mississippi State for the Daily Journal and blogs daily at NEMS360.com.