SEC Spotlight: Looking ahead to National Signing Day

There may not be as many names on the market, but that doesn’t mean teams in the SEC aren’t still battling it out down the stretch heading into National Signing Day. This week, we take a look at which programs have the most to gain and which are losing momentum heading into the Feb. 7 Signing Day.

MORE: Looking ahead to National Signing Day in the Big Ten

Jeremy Pruitt has brought not only some new energy to Knoxville, but he put together one of the top recruiting staffs in the country as well. Tennessee pulled off a couple of Early Signing Day surprises and the Vols will do the same in a week and a half. JJ Peterson was a big get and Tennessee is in the mix for several prospects thanks to Pruitt and his staff. Look for the Vols to close well and push for a top 10 class. - Simmons

Five-star teammates Patrick Surtain and Tyson Campbell could have a major impact on the way the final SEC recruiting rankings end up. Surtain, one of the most coveted prospects in the class from start to finish, looks like he’s headed to LSU, but he’s also visited Alabama and the Tide are still hoping to pull off the upset. Campbell is also high on Alabama’s board, but many believe Georgia is the team to beat for his services. Both players are also still entertaining options outside the SEC like Clemson and Miami, so where they end up will be one of the biggest stories of the 2018 cycle. - Wommack

LSU did a great job of signing almost its entire recruiting class in December, leaving just a few major targets to focus on down the stretch. One of those prime targets, Rivals100 defensive back Kelvin Joseph, committed at the beginning of the month and many believe another key target, Rivals100 wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is also likely headed to Baton Rouge. LSU is still battling to land Surtain and right now look like the favorites as well. So after a strong close in December and what is shaping up to be a productive January, the Tigers are right where they want to be heading into Signing Day. - Wommack

Ole Miss has put the NCAA investigation in the rear-view mirror and with Matt Luke installed as the full-time head coach, things are starting to stabilize in Oxford. Over the past week, the school has nabbed three important commits, highlighted by former USC defensive tackle Noah Jefferson. The trio helped boost the Rebels to No. 32 in the country, with the potential to go even higher with a few more big names still potentially joining the class down the stretch. After finishing No. 39 last year, it’s possible the Rebels sneak back into the Top 25 in 2018. – Wommack

Texas A&M sits next to last in the SEC with just over a week to go before National Signing Day. Yes, there was a coaching change, and the Aggies could finish strong leading up to Feb. 7, but it's still surprising to see Texas A&M that far down the list with Jimbo Fisher leading the program. - Simmons

Kirby Smart signed an elite class in 2017, finishing No. 3 in the Rivals.com Team Recruiting Rankings, but this class looks even better. He has seven five-stars committed/signed and he has a chance to add another before all is said and done. Smart and his staff have recruited on another level this cycle and this Georgia class mirrors a class put together by an Alabama staff that Smart was a part of for so many years. - Simmons