With the 2017 recruiting cycle concluding earlier this month, the class of 2018 is now front and center. In the Southeast, there are several interesting recruitments developing, starting with the top-ranked offensive guard in the class, Atlanta four-star Jamaree Salyer.
MORE 2018 PREDICTIONS: Midwest
Outlook: Salyer plans to hit the road this spring and visit schools across the country. He is a national prospect with offers from all over the country, but, in the end, most feel he will stay close to home. He is close to former teammate and current Georgia signee Andrew Thomas and the Bulldogs could be in the driver’s seat. Salyer visited Clemson in January, Ohio State has his interest and others will continue to recruit him, but the Bulldogs are leading early.
Way-too-early prediction: Georgia (Simmons)
Outlook: Emerson burst onto the recruiting scene late last spring and now has offers from pretty much all of college football's power programs. Through his recruitment so far, the early favorites appear to be Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State, three programs he's made a priority to visit. As he starts to take trips into the spring and summer things will likely become more clear, but right now those three programs appear to have the best shot.
Way-too-early prediction: Tennessee. While Jackson, Tenn., is closer to Tuscaloosa than it is to Knoxville, the in-state pull seems like it will be too much for Emerson to pass up. (Wommack)
Outlook: It will likely come down to the two in-state powers for Ross, Alabama and Auburn. For Ross, Auburn is less than half an hour from his home, so picking the Tigers would keep the four-star wide receiver very close to his family. He has a strong connection with Gus Malzahn and wide receivers coach Kodi Burns at Auburn as well. You can never count out the Crimson Tide, but the Tigers are trending right now.
Way-too-early prediction: Auburn (Simmons)
Outlook: One of the most dynamic wide receivers in the 2018 class, Marshall has attracted offers from many schools, including in-state program LSU. While most might expect the Tigers to be the favorite, he and teammate Justin Rogers intend to play together at the next level and have plans to look at options far and wide before making a decision. Schools such as Alabama, Texas A&M and TCU will likely factor heavily into his recruitment in coming months.
Way-too-early prediction: Texas A&M. Things will have to break right for the Aggies to land him but, assuming nothing changes with the staff, they have as good of a chance as anyone in the hunt. (Wommack)
Outlook: It looks like an SEC battle could be brewing here, but a lot of schools are still in play for Wonnum. Alabama, Florida and Georgia are three schools he really likes, but he is also set to visit Florida State, LSU, TCU and Texas before the month ends. It is a close race here almost a year out, but if there is a school who could have the edge, it looks like it is the Gators.
Way-too-early prediction: Florida (Simmons)
Outlook: Nobody really knows where Peterson is right now when it comes to recruiting. He does not do interviews, he has not taken many visits and there is not a lot known about his recruitment at this point. Things are starting to pick up, though. He has visited Alabama and Florida already with visits to Florida State and Georgia on the horizon. If there is a favorite at this stage, it would be South Carolina. The Gamecocks signed Peterson's close friend Kiel Pollard in 2016 and that could play a big role in this race.
Way-too-early prediction: South Carolina (Simmons)
Outlook: Hill is a prospect that has visited numerous schools and developed relationships with quite a few college coaches already, but the school he is visiting next may the one he is trending towards at this time. He will be at Georgia this weekend and the Bulldogs just signed Jake Fromm, a former teammate of Hill’s, and the in-state school looks to be a good spot with Hill.
Way-too-early prediction: Georgia (Simmons)
