SEC Breakdown: The top-ranked commits in every SEC class
Classes will change before Signing Day. Some will do so drastically. It’s simply a fact of recruiting life. But with roughly six months until National Signing Day, Rivals.com took a look at the top-ranked player committed to each SEC program.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Man: Najee Harris
The Rank: No. 2 overall
The Lowdown: Harris’ size is elite, and he moves like a prospect with a much smaller frame. He’s a weapon in the passing game and hard to bring down in space. Finding a true knock on his game is difficult and his size-speed combination is truly special. USC is real threat to flip the California-based Harris, but his commitment to the Tide is solid-ish for now.
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Man: Chase Hayden
The Rank: No. 224 overall
The Lowdown: Hayden has decent size, but his strength is his burst. He’s shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make guys miss in space. Hayden is a slasher with incredible feet, but spent the camp season showing a knack for getting open in the passing game.
Auburn Tigers
The Man: Calvin Ashley
The Rank: No. 26 overall
The Lowdown: Ashley has five-star physical tools and boasts a college-ready body. The catch with him is his recent run of injuries. Ashley missed most of the offseason with a knee injury and recently went down with an injury to his other leg. Florida State is attempting to flip the powerful tackle, who will miss at least a couple of games with his most recent injury.
Florida Gators
The Man: Zachary Carter
The Rank: No. 62 overall
The Lowdown: Carter has a college-ready body and certainly looks the part of an SEC defensive end. He could stand to trim up and become quicker off the edge, but that’s nitpicking. His physical tools give him off-the-charts upside. Carter will almost certainly remain committed to Florida and sign with the Gators on National Signing Day.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Man: Netori Johnson
The Rank: No. 35 overall
The Lowdown: Johnson has been committed for quite a while and because of his position he does not get the attention of some other commits. But make no mistake, the hulking interior lineman has all the tools to be a star in Athens and he will have a chance to see the field early in his career.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Man: JaVonte Richardson
The Rank: No. 97 overall
The Lowdown: Richardson shocked many earlier this year when he committed to the Wildcats. Rather than explore options like most early commits, Richardson has remained loyal to UK and is the centerpiece of the program's 2017 class so far. A talented prospect on both sides of the ball, Richardson could play defensive back or wide receiver for the ‘Cats.
LSU Tigers
The Man: Tyler Shelvin
The Rank: No. 12 overall
The Lowdown: Unlike most players on this list, Shelvin shut down his recruitment very early, committing the Tigers all the way back in March 2015. The massive defensive tackle is the kind of rare player that has a combination of size and speed that only comes along once every few years.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Man: Keytaon Thompson
The Rank: No. 185 overall
The Lowdown: At 6-foot-4 with a strong arm and impressive speed, Thompson’s ranking is based on his versatility. He isn’t a showstopper in any one particular way, but his game is as well-rounded as it comes. He’s prone to lapses in judgment when it comes to running the ball and throwing it, but he extends plays and can turn what looks like a sure loss into a solid gain. Taking risks is part of his game.
Ole Miss Rebels
The Man: D.D. Bowie
The Rank: No. 178 overall
The Lowdown: Bowie has been committed to the Rebels since October and doesn’t seem to be shaken by the looming NCAA investigation. Bowie, who shines as a receiver on the high school level, will likely be a weapon in the return game in the SEC.
Missouri Tigers
The Man: DaRon Davis
The Rank: No. 240 overall
The Lowdown: Davis plays mostly running back at the high school level but spent the camp season showing off his talent as a wide receiver. The explosive and versatile Davis took home receiver MVP honors at the Rivals Camp Series stop in Kansas City this spring. Davis has the length and physicality to shine as an outside wideout at Mizzou.
South Carolina Gamecocks
The Man: T.J. Moore
The Rank: Four-star, No. 11 offensive guard nationally
The Lowdown: Moore surprised many when he committed to the Gamecocks last month, spurning schools like Tennessee and North Carolina in the process. The talented offensive lineman can play multiple positions along the line and is also a star for his high school team on defense. He represents a major win for the Gamecocks in North Carolina, a major pipeline state for the school.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Man: Maleik Gray
The Rank: No. 104 overall
The Lowdown: Gray’s commitment came along at a vital time for Tennessee and helped kickoff a summer of impressive commitments for the school. Gray, the nation’s No. 9 overall safety, has been on the recruiting radar for years and spurned out of state options like USC and Florida State to stay close to home with the Vols.
Texas A&M Aggies
The Man: Kellen Mond
The Rank: No. 101 overall
The Lowdown: The Aggies have had their share of quarterback drama over the past year so the addition of Mond to the class was very welcome. The dual-threat prospect was once committed to in-state rival Baylor, but the Bears' misfortune turned into a major recruiting win for Texas A&M.
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Man: Jacob Free
The Rank: Three-star, No. 20 pro-style quarterback nationally
The Lowdown: The Commodores don’t have any four-stars in their class but Free represents the biggest win on the trail this cycle. Not only is he a big get at a position of need, but has been a key recruiter as the school builds the rest of its 2017 class.
