Conference breakdown: SEC sees wave of June commitments

SEC teams have welcomed in a combined 63 prospects this month. It’s been a busy June for the league as a whole, but some programs have done more recruiting work than others. Below is a look at how the month of June has shaken out for each SEC school that landed commitments in June.

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The Tide pushed themselves to the top spot in the Rivals.com team rankings this month by adding commitments from six prospects. Five-star junior college tackle Elliot Baker was the Tide’s highest-ranked commit of the month, but the program also made waves by flipping Rivals250 quarterback Mac Jones from Kentucky. Four-star linebacker Markail Benton is a nice in-state get for the Tide, while the addition of wide receiver Tyrell Shavers showed off the school’s reach into Texas. Alabama also added kicker Brandon Ruiz and long snapper Thomas Fletcher.

Arkansas' group is led by four-star tight end Jeremy Patton, a junior college product. A pair of running backs also joined the fold as three-star prospects Maleek Williams and Jordon Curtis both picked the Razorbacks in recent weeks. Arkansas dipped into Georgia to add defensive back Korey Hernandez. Two-stars Ryder Anderson (DE) and Josh Paul (LB) also entered the fold. The Razorbacks also landed the commitment of Florida-based defensive back Jarques McClellion.

Four-star athlete Malcolm Askew was the gem of June for Auburn. He plays both wide receiver and cornerback at the high school level, but will likely stick to defense at Auburn. Running back Octavius Matthews and offensive lineman Austin Troxell joined Askew on the Tigers’ commitment list this June. Troxell, a Rivals250 member, is a big in-state get for Auburn, which beat out a long list of other major programs to land his commitment.

Florida welcomed a pair of Florida-based commits, led by Rivals100 defensive end Zachary Carter (three-star linebacker Ventral Miller being the other). The Gators also landed four-star defensive back Elijah Blades, whom the staff coaxed into picking the Gators despite Blades being based in California. Texas-based defensive Javier Edwards also picked the Gators in June.

Offensive tackle D'antne Demery was Georgia’s lone June commitment. Still, that’s not to say the month wasn’t important for UGA. Demery is ranked as a four-star prospect and chose the Bulldogs over Florida, Auburn, Tennessee and others.

Kentucky’s lone commitment in June came from slot wide receiver Josh Ali, who brings speed and versatility to the class. Ali, a three-star, is most effective in space and has long arms for a slot wide receiver. Ali’s strengths, of course, are his quickness and elusiveness, which fit well with Kentucky’s system.

The Tigers grabbed two commitments in the month, and both have potential to be high-impact additions. Former Baylor commit Jhamon Ausbon, a Rivals100 wide receiver, picked LSU recently. Les Miles and staff landed Rivals250 receiver Mannie Netherly earlier in the month. The two pledges give LSU a pair of big-play threats on the outside.

The most celebrated prospect of Mississippi State's trio was likely three-star defensive back Kaleb Oliver, who chose the Bulldogs over offers from three other SEC programs. Oliver joined fellow Tennessee-based prospect Landon Guidry. Guidry, a defensive back, gives the program solid length and speed on the outside. The Bulldogs also landed three-star linebacker Javaris Russell, an in-state prospect.

Missouri earned a commitment from wide receiver Jafar Armstrong, a long wide receiver that impressed at the Rivals Camp Series stop in Kansas City. Joining Armstrong is Illinois-based tight end Logan Christopherson, a 6-foot-6 prospect with room to add muscle.

Despite the possibility of sanctions looming, it was a six-commit month for Ole Miss. None of the six were more important than four-star linebacker Willie Gay, who chose the Rebels over in-state rival Mississippi State and a number of other major schools. Linebacker Josh Clarke also picked Ole Miss this month, as did defensive back Devin Rockette. The Rebels dipped into the community college ranks for the commitment of defensive end Rasool Clemons and landed high school quarterback Alex Faniel out of Virginia. Offensive lineman Lavante Epson rounded out the program’s June haul.

Four-star wide receiver Shi Smith was South Carolina’s most notable June commitment, but the four other players that joined the Gamecocks' class in the month also gave the program’s commitment list a nice boost. Florida-based defensive back Damarri Mathis and in-state athlete Jaylin Dickerson will provide South Carolina with length in the secondary, while defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt added size up front. Tavyn Jackson, the third defensive back in the Gamecocks' class, lacks the size of the other two but is more advanced from a pure coverage standpoint.

Of Tennessee’s eight June commits, six came on June 17. That day featured the commitments of four-star defensive end LaTrell Bumphus in addition to three-stars Trey Coleman (RB), Jordan Tucker (OL), Jaquan Henderson (LB), Princeton Fant (WR) and Tre Lawson (DL). Of course, Bumphus is the most notable prospect of the bunch, as the in-state star chose the Vols despite offers from most other SEC programs. Bumphus boasts a body that could be college-ready by the time he steps on campus.

A trio four-star prospects highlighted A&M’s six June commitments. Linebacker Santino Marchiol and athlete Keldrick Carper brought the star power to the Aggies earlier this month, but quarterback Kellen Mond, a former Baylor commit who picked the Aggies on Monday, defined the month. A&M fans are also rightly excited about in-state receiver Keynel McZeal, a high three-star prospect with incredible size and strong hands. Running back Travis Etienne is another interesting prospect. He carried a number of offers, including one from Alabama, before picking A&M.

The Commodores entered June without a single commitment and quickly snatched up nine. The furious run included a two-day period that featured five commitments. Vandy now has pledges from seven different states. Quarterback Jacob Free might be the most exciting player in the class, as he has great size and an incredibly strong arm that he showed off while earning QB MVP honors at the Rivals Camp Series event in New Orleans. Georgia-based defensive end Jalen Pinkney comes with a quick first step and incredibly long arms. Bryce Bailey is another interesting prospect that comes with a massive frame and room to add even more muscle. Three-star DB Adam Sparks kept the Commodores' momentum moving forward with a commitment Monday. Vanderbilt, which fell behind on sheer numbers early in the cycle, desperately needed a big month on the recruiting trail and got just that.