Conference Breakdown: SEC
Alabama is on top of the SEC once again after adding another attracting another boatload of talent to Tuscaloosa. Tennessee made some waves again under Butch Jones, and Florida salvaged its class with a late run. Here is a breakdown of how the SEC teams made out in 0.
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AlabamaClick 1Here to view this Link.Click 1Here to view this Link.
Calvin Ridley is one of four five-stars headed to Alabama.
Headliner: Damien Harris is the top running back in the class and committed to Alabama in early January. The Crimson Tide has a history of successful running backs and Harris is now in that line.
Sleeper: Anfernee Jennings is certainly one to watch. Only at Alabama could a Rivals0 member be a sleeper. That said, Jennings is an incredibly quick pass rusher that earned his fourth star late in the cycle.
Overview: Bama's run of recruiting championships has ended at the hands of USC. Still, there's no reason for worry in Tuscaloosa. Alabama finished the cycle in second place and welcomes in four new five-star prospects in Harris, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive tackle Daron Payne and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. The Tide's haul is particularly stacked in the secondary where Fitzpatrick, Kendall Sheffield and Deionte Thompson could go toe-to-toe with any group of defensive backs in the country.
TennesseeClick 2Here to view this Link.Click 2Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Kahlil McKenzie is the nation's top
defensive tackle and is a Volunteer legacy, with his father Reggie having
starred for Tennessee in the early s.
Sleeper: Kyle Oliver A wide receiver for most of his
career, Oliver made the switch to tight end full-time as a senior and blossomed
at the position. He has ideal size and ball skills and could develop into an
important contributor in the future.
Overview: Butch Jones' second full recruiting class
caught national headlines for the second consecutive year as the Vols again
finished in the top five nationally. The impressive haul included four five-star
players, McKenzie, JUCO running back Alvin Kamara, defensive end
Kyle Phillips and offensive tackle Drew Richmond. While
McKenzie and Kamara are big additions, the ability for Tennessee to hold off
suitors like Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss for in-state talents like Richmond and
Phillips shows that top prospects believe in Jones and his potential to return
the school to its glory days.
AuburnClick 3Here to view this Link.Click 3Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Headliners don't come bigger or bolder than the No. 1 player in the country, and Auburn-bound defensive lineman Byron Cowart is just that. Cowart was a Signing Day grab for the Tigers.
Sleeper: Junior college transfer Maurice Swain certainly has the build to play in the SEC. If he finds his way onto the field early, he could make some noise in what looks to be a stout Auburn defense.
Overview: Two five-stars lead Auburn's class. Cowart and junior college running back Jovon Robinson project as instant impact prospects and carry their lofty rankings for that reason. The Tigers took five offensive linemen this cycle, the most notable of which is Rivals0 guard Tyler Carr, an in-state grab. Auburn went without a big name at the quarterback spot, as three-star prospect Tyler Queen occupies that space. Carlton Davis, a late steal from Ohio State, is as versatile a defensive back for which a coach could hope. The Tigers finished the cycle with the No. 3 class in the SEC and the No. haul in America.
GeorgiaClick 4Here to view this Link.Click 4Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Five-star defensive tackle Trenton Thompson
was the one-time No. 1 overall player in the 201 class and has the potential to
be a dominating college player at a very important position.
Sleeper: Gary McCrae finished ranked as a high-three
star, but has the type of raw physical ability that could help him develop into
a future star. At -foot- and 220 pounds, he could be an ideal fit in Georgia's
defensive scheme.
Overview: It was a great year for the Bulldogs and with top
linebacker prospect Roquan Smith still on the market it could get even
better. Regardless of what happens with Smith, Georgia landed 2 total
commits, including five-star defensive tackle Trenton Thompson and five-star
athlete Terry Godwin. Both players are at positions of need and are the
type of talents that can have a major impact on a program. Combine that with
Georgia landing eight of the top prospects in the Peach State and the class
is one for the ages.
LSUClick 5Here to view this Link.Click 5Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Wide receiver Tyron Johnson leads another
group of impressive offensive recruits and should provide a nice complement to
20 5-star wide receiver signee Malachi Dupre.
Sleeper: Three-star wide receiver Derrick Dillon was
highly coveted by several programs and flipped from Florida on Signing Day.
Overview: While the Tigers finished fifth in the SEC, it was
still another impressive class for Les Miles and Co., including a
top-heavy group that featured four five-star talents. In addition to Johnson,
LSU nabbed late-rising running back star Derrius Guice, who took home
MVP honors at the Army All-American Bowl. Also in the fold is five-star guard
Maea Teuhema, a one-time Texas commit, and
Kevin Toliver II a -foot-2 cornerback that follows in the school's long
tradition of big, physical defensive backs. The late addition of Rivals250
defensive end Arden Key, a long physical prospect out of Atlanta,
was a key grab for the Tigers in the heart of a fertile recruiting area.
Texas A&MClick 6Here to view this Link.Click 6Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Five-star Christian Kirk is one of the best wide receivers in the 2015 class and can line up in the slot as well as stretch the field on the outside. His acceleration and speed make him special.
Sleeper: Deshawn Capers-Smith is an athlete capable of doing it all. He'll play defensive back at A&M, but played receiver and even quarterback as a high school prospect. He understands the game and has tremendous instincts to boot. He'll likely blossom as he becomes more physical.
Overview: A&M bolstered its class with late four-star additions Kendall Bussey (RB) and Daylon Mack (DT). The top of the Aggies' defensive back haul is particularly strong and includes four-star prospects Justin Dunning, Roney Elam and Larry Pryor. A&M also did a solid job recruiting along the offensive line.
Mississippi StateClick 7Here to view this Link.Click 7Here to view this Link.
Headliner: A Signing Day grab from an in-state rival, linebacker Leo Lewis, a one-time Ole Miss commit, is the top-ranked player in Mississippi State's class.
Sleeper: There are a couple of candidates for this title. Of the undersold prospects, the two most likely players to make waves are three-star running back Keith Mixon and junior college linebacker Traver Jung. Each has a unique skillset that could blossom under SEC-level coaching.
Overview: Don't let the lack of five-star prospects jade you. Mississippi State's class packs plenty of talent. The Bulldogs had a tremendous Signing Day and finished with the country's 16th best class, the program's highest ranking since 2003. Led by Lewis, the Bulldogs' class also includes Rivals0 linebacker Jamal Peters and Rivals250 running back Nick Gibson. Mississippi State's 2-member class includes 16 in-state prospects.
South CarolinaClick 8Here to view this Link.Click 8Here to view this Link.
Headliner: JUCO defensive end Marquavius Lewis
provides a major talent at a major position of need for the Gamecocks.
Sleeper: Three-star defensive back Rashad Fenton is
from a talent-rich area and was a hot name down the stretch leading up to
Signing Day.
Overview: The Gamecocks loaded up with a 30-player class after
taking smaller numbers last year, including four-stars. Interestingly, two of
the four-star defensive linemen in the class -- defensive end Dante Sawyer and defensive tackle Dexter Wideman -- both signed with the
school last year but didn't make it into school as members of the 20 class.
The Gamecocks also reeled in a four-star quarterback in dual-threat option
Lorenzo Nunez, as well as a pair of four-star wide receivers in Jalen Christian and Dexter Neal.
Ole MissClick 9Here to view this Link.
Headliner: The commitment of receiver DaMarkus Lodge, Ole Miss' highest rated recruit, was one of the few highlights in a clumsy Signing Day for the Rebels.
Sleeper: Quarterback Jason Pellerin, who floated between positions a bit in high school, has an impressive build, a good-enough arm and the ability to pick up yards on the ground. A three-star prospect, you don't have to squint to see his talent. If things break right for him, he could outperform his ranking.
Overview: Ole Miss missed on some key targets down the stretch. Even the most optimistic Rebels fan won't deny that. That said, the class is not without it's cornerstones. Lodge has the chance to be special at the college level, and junior college transfer D.J. Jones could have an early impact. Wide receiver Van Jefferson will also be interesting to watch in Oxford, as his combination of size and speed give him limitless upside.
FloridaClick 10Here to view this Link.Click 10Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Martez Ivey is one of UF's truly top prospects, but the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle is a hyper-important one to say the least.
Sleeper: A one-time Missouri commit, Daniel Imatorbhebhe has a nice frame, solid hands and top-level athleticism for a tight end. He could quickly advance as a player as he gets stronger.
Overview: It's not a traditional Florida class, but the new Gators staff did a tremendous job to salvage a No. 23 ranking. Battling limited time and a lack of recent success, Florida grabbed some nice names on Signing Day. In addition to Ivey, UF landed four-star running backs Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite on Signing Day. It also singed four-star defensive back Chris Williamson, four-star receiver Antonio Callaway and four-star athlete D'Anfernee McGriff. The Gators did enough work during the cycle's final days to avoid disaster and that's worth plenty. As of Thursday evening, Florida was still awaiting the letter of intent belonging to five-star CeCe Jefferson.
ArkansasClick 11Here to view this Link.Click 11Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Four-star quarterback Ty Storey was a key
in-state grab and could be the future starter for the Hawgs.
Sleeper: Three-star linebacker Derrick Graham is a
big-body who could be an excellent fit in the Arkansas defensive scheme.
Overview: Since taking over the job a few years ago Arkansas
coach Bret Bielema has said he wanted to lock down the in-state talent.
He did exactly that this year, nabbing eight of the state's top 10 prospects,
highlighted by Storey. In addition to getting a quarterback, the Razorbacks
grabbed a four-star offensive lineman out of Florida to protect him with the
addition of Jalen Merrick and a couple of tight ends for him to throw
the ball to in four-stars C.J. O'Grady and Will Gragg. The
class also included prospects from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Georgia and
continue to increase their recruiting footprint throughout the Southeast.
MissouriClick 12Here to view this Link.Click 12Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Missouri landed a commitment and a letter of intent from defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr., the No. 36 overall prospect in the class, on Signing Day.
Sleeper: Cam Hilton is an interesting athlete that committed to the Tigers early in the process. Hinton plays a number of positions and will be able to use his tremendous versatility to his advantage once he adds some size. He will likely play defensive back, but could also see some time on offense.
Overview: Beckner joins touted quarterback Drew Lock at the head of Mizzou's class, but there's more to the group than the two marquee names. Having not played a down at junior college a season ago, running back Chase Abbington is living off reputation, but certainly has plenty of talent. Tackle AJ Harris was the top-rated prep player in Kansas this season, while the massive-framed Josh Moore could play tight end or defensive end for the Tigers. Mizzou signed a number of athletes with high athletic upside that could be plugged into a number of positions. Versatility is full-fledged a buzzword in Columbia.
KentuckyClick 13Here to view this Link.Click 13Here to view this Link.
Headliner: Four-star linebacker Eli Brown was a
priority in-state prospect for the Wildcats.
Sleeper: Three-star offensive lineman Mason Wolfe is a
big body (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) at a position of need.
Overview: It was a tough last few weeks leading up to Signing
Day for the Wildcats as several prospects flipped away from the school down the
stretch. However, the 'Cats managed to save face late, nabbing high three-star
tight end Tavin Richardson a few days before Signing Day and adding a
commitment from Florida wide receiver Therrell Gosier at the last
minute. The class isn't top heavy, but features talented prospects like
three-star defensive back Marcus Walker, three-star offensive lineman
George Asafo-Adjei and former three-star Auburn commit
VanderbiltClick 14Here to view this Link.Click 14Here to view this Link.
Headliner: The Commodores held off a late charge from several
schools to land four-star linebacker Josh Smith.
Sleeper: Big-bodied offensive lineman Darion DeBrossard
is relatively new to football and could develop nicely under the right tutelage.
Overview: Despite finishing last in the SEC, the Commodores
still managed to land one of their best recruiting classes in the last 20 years.
Led by Smith and fellow Nashville-area four-star Donovan Sheffield, the
Commodores put together a nice overall class. On the offensive side of the ball
the crown jewel was four-star quarterback Kyle Shurmur, a big name at a
position that plagued the Commodores on the field in 2014. The rest of the class
is filled with three-star players, including linebacker Jordan Griffin,
who flipped from Wisconsin late in the process. Vanderbilt also took
some chances on local talent like two-star athlete Jay Hockaday and
two-star defensive back Andrew Rector.
