Southeast recruiting Four-Cast
The Southeast region is loaded with talent again in the 2017 class. Here's a look at four top prospects from the area who remain uncommitted and the programs that might land them.
RELATED: Midwest Four-Cast
The Situation: McBride is from rural Georgia but that hasn’t stopped him from popping on the radar of schools from coast to coast. He nearly committed to Georgia prior to Mark Richt’s firing but has since taken a slower approach to the process.
The Frontrunner: Georgia
The Bulldogs have been the team to beat ever since they offered McBride. Kirby Smart coming from Alabama didn’t hurt their cause at all. McBride keeps a low profile when it comes to visits, but he was recently in Athens and will likely return again before the summer is over.
The Other Option: Alabama
The Tide has also been a major player in his recruitment and he has a relationship with Alabama assistant Jeremy Pruitt from Pruitt's time at Georgia. McBride is set to visit Tuscaloosa again next month.
But Don’t Count Out: Auburn
Stanford, Oregon and Notre Dame are also in the picture, but it’s tough to see McBride leaving the south. He raved about the Tigers after a recent visit and the new defensive staff has made him a major priority
The Situation: Terrell has seen his stock rise tremendously over the past year, going from a three-star with one offer to a five-star with offers from all over the country. The schools that made him a priority early in the process have a major edge over the programs that are jumping on later.
The Frontrunner: Florida
The Gators and defensive backs coach Torian Gray have made quite the impression on Terrell, who nearly committed following his last visit to the school. He’s called Florida his “dream school” and the Gators have him at the top of their board.
The Other Option: Clemson
Terrell recently visited the Tigers and is close friends with Clemson defensive back commit Leanthony Williams, Jr. The Tigers have pitched the idea of getting on the field early and their recent success on defense has caught the attention of both Terrell and his family.
But Don’t Count Out: Georgia
The Bulldogs were less aggressive early on in the process and it caused them to fall behind the Tigers and Gators, but in recent months the school has turned on the heat. The question is whether it might be too little, too late.
The Situation: Moses has been on the national recruiting radar since picking up his first offers as a middle schooler. Now, almost four years later, he’s still being pursued by some of the country’s top programs.
The Frontrunner: LSU
Moses was a longtime commit for the Tigers but opened up his recruitment last year and has been taking a methodical approach. However, he’s a Louisiana boy through and through (though he is playing his senior year at IMG Academy in Florida) and players like him rarely end up getting away from Les Miles and company.
The Other Option: Alabama
The Tide have had success recruiting Louisiana in recent years and this is another classic head-to-head battle with LSU. Moses has made several visits to Tuscaloosa and has the option to play on either side of the ball, something that could be very appealing.
But Don’t Count Out: Texas
The Longhorns have made a serious push for Moses over the past six months and now belong in the conversation for his commitment. A solid season on the field could show that Charlie Strong and company are close restoring the school to its glory days.
The Situation: Despite being a five-star for more than a year, Wills' recruitment has gone a little slower than some of the other names on his list. He now has offers from most of the major players in the college football landscape, but the programs that joined his list earlier have the edge.
The Frontrunner: Kentucky
Can the ‘Cats pull another in-state five-star? The 2017 cycle will make the third straight year that Kentucky is battling Alabama and others for a five-star in its backyard and so far the school is 1-1, having landed Landon Young in 2016 but lost Damien Harris in 2015. Wills has friends and former teammates playing for the school and has been a regular on campus over the past two years.
The Other Option: Notre Dame
The Irish have done a fine job mining Kentucky for talent over the past five years and now they have their sights set on Wills. It’s clear he’s interested and coveted an offer from the school earlier in his career, but the Irish have to overcome the major head start Kentucky got by showing Wills love early and often.
But Don’t Count Out: Alabama
The Tide stole Harris away and have been aggressively chasing Wills behind the scenes. Can they steal him away from the Wildcats? The chance to play early and school’s track record of producing NFL talent on the offensive line is something Wills is considering.