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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.