Southeast Spotlight: Four head-to-head battles to track

The 2021 recruiting cycle has been unique to say the least. With the global pandemic mandating a dead period, visits and camps have been nearly non-existent for four months. So while things could change once the football world returns to something resembling normal, two-team battles are shaping up all over the Southeast. Below, Rivals.com has a look at four of the most intriguing ones the region has to offer.

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This is a battle that has been going on for well over a year now. Mims grew up a fan of Alabama, but Georgia offered first and he has visited the in-state school much more than he has anyone else. Alabama and Georgia have made strong connections with Mims, each has laid out their plan for him, and now, we all just wait for Oct. 14, his birthday, when he will announce his decision. There are plenty of other schools in the mix, but at the top, it is the Tide v the Bulldogs.

PREDICTION: Georgia

Like Mims, this one goes way back. Ferguson started getting offers his freshman year, so he has taken enough visits to Athens and Tuscaloosa to be very familiar with each campus.

This one has gone back and forth too. Early, Georgia seemed to be the school. Then for a while last year, Alabama grabbed that momentum. Since Matt Luke took over in Athens as the offensive line coach, the Bulldogs have been the one talked about most. Ferguson still lists four or five schools, and a decision is likely to come after at least some official visits, but Nick Saban and Kirby Smart appear to be headed for another fight on the recruiting trail.

PREDICTION: Georgia

There are other schools technically still in the running to land the four-star linebacker, but the Tide and Bulldogs lead the pack by a significant margin. Smart and Saban have spent years facing off for the commitment of highly ranked players, so the case of Tuner is just another chapter in what is becoming a lengthy book. Georgia seemed to hold the edge here for quite some time but now it seems like Alabama may be out in front. Things could change once again, however, as Turner takes his official this fall.

PREDICTION: Alabama

LSU and Florida are the last schools standing when it comes to landing Langston, who released an official final two a handful of weeks ago. That said, the Gators have long held the edge and continue to do so today. It's now on the Tigers to decide how badly they want Langston and push for him down the stretch. Ed Orgeron and company will need to get the four-star defensive lineman on an official visit once the Covid19-related dead period ends if they, indeed, hope to make up ground. That said, UF should feel great about where it stands.

PREDICTION: Florida