Published Nov 14, 2017
Southeast Spotlight: Latest news on region's biggest names
Chad Simmons and Woody Wommack
Rivals.com

The latest on several top prospects, including five-star Terrace Marshall, headline this look at the recruiting happenings around the Southeast region.

MORE: Latest on top Midwest prospects

TUTT A TIGER?

Advertisement

For months now, Nebraska has been the school trending for Christian Tutt. The four-star cornerback out of Thompson (Ga.) took his official visit to Auburn over the weekend to see the Tigers knock off Georgia and momentum seemed to quickly shift in his recruitment. Tutt left Auburn and announced that he will commit on Tuesday. All signs point to Auburn now.

There at least two points where Tutt was on the verge of committing to the Huskers, but questions about Mike Riley's future there and Auburn's location and recent success have the Tigers in a good spot here.

TERRACE MARSHALL'S BUSY MONTH

Five-star wide receiver Terrace Marshall’s senior season was cut short when he went down with an injury in the second game of the season, but that hasn’t done anything to slow interest on the recruiting trail. Marshall is down to a top five of Florida State, Texas A&M, Texas, LSU and Alabama and has been busy making the rounds on the visit circuit. He was in Austin this past weekend and from all indications things went well, but did the Horns gain enough ground on presumed favorite LSU? The Tigers' offensive gains as the year as gone along has only helped their case and there’s a reason his last official visit will be to Baton Rouge.

ALONTAE TAYLOR STARTING FROM SCRATCH

Rivals250 wide receiver Alontae Taylor had been committed to Tennessee for quite some time but when the news broke about Butch Jones's dismissal, he was the first Vols commit to put himself back on the market. The move wasn’t exactly a shock, especially considering Taylor had already officially visited Notre Dame and set up trips to Georgia, Louisville, Alabama and Wake Forest. Taylor was one of the strongest recruiters in the Vols class and helped lure in several of the commitments, but with Jones and his staff on the way out, Taylor elected to go his own way as well. Georgia currently looks like the leader in the clubhouse and, if everything goes well this weekend, that lead will only get bigger. While Taylor says he’s no longer considering Tennessee, the right hire could put the Vols right back in the thick of things.

FOUR-STAR PEACH STATE STANDOUTS RE-OPEN THEIR RECRUITMENT

Marquez Ezzard decommitted from Florida State Saturday, then Jarren Williams decommitted from Kentucky (again) Sunday.

Do not look for Williams to commit to the Wildcats for a third time. When he announced his decommitment, he was at the end of an official visit to Miami. The Hurricanes really have the momentum here, but he is still set to visit Ohio State this weekend, then Auburn. The biggest threat to the Hurricanes out of those two is clearly Auburn at this time. Could an official visit to Columbus this weekend change that? Never count Urban Meyer out. Mark Richt though is the head coach that looks to be in the best position to land the four-star quarterback out of Central Gwinnett.

With Ezzard, it is not quite as clear on which schools will jump back in the race. He has only attended one college game in 2017 and that was Alabama. At this time, the Crimson Tide are not viewed as a real competitor. Could the Stockbridge star wide receiver head west? He has scheduled an official visit to Oregon this weekend and USC also is a school that has his attention. More schools will likely get involved as Ezzard plans to sign with a school in December, then move to that campus in January.

HILL FINALLY PLANNING OFFICIAL VISITS

Official visit No. 1 is set for Rivals100 guard Trey Hill. He still has not cut his list down and he is likely not to do so, but official visits are now being scheduled. He is going to graduate in December and sign on Dec. 20, so he is going to work hard to get at least four, maybe five official visits in over the next six weeks.

The first one scheduled is to Auburn and it will be when the Tigers play Alabama in the Iron Bowl on Thanksgiving weekend. Hill was just at Auburn over the weekend too for the Georgia game.

Clemson, Georgia and LSU will also receive official visits from Hill. There is still chance he could schedule one for this upcoming weekend, but it is not likely at this time.

It looks to be an Auburn-Georgia battle at this time.

DEAN HOLDS OFF

Trey Dean was on the verge of decommitting from Tennessee. It would not have come as a shock after the firing of Butch Jones, but after a conversation with Athletics Director John Currie, Dean decided not to remove his name from the Vols' commitment list. At least not at this time.

He has received calls from Alabama and Ole Miss since Jones was dismissed and others are expected to reach out to Dean now that the head coach he committed to is no longer in Knoxville. Currie asked Dean to be patient and the four-star safety was told that a "great" hire would be made. Dean was also told by Currie that he could be the future face of Tennessee. For now, Dean is still committed to Tennessee.