Several programs in the SEC are already putting the pedal to the metal on the 2016 recruiting trail, ahead of others in the race for some of the top prospects in the Southeast.

Kentucky’s coaching staff has done an incredible job with a league-leading 15 verbal commits for 2016, a class currently ranked fifth nationally. If those players stick and the Wildcats can sign five or six others, it would be the most anticipated class in program history.

Well done, Mark Stoops.

Two five-star quarterbacks, Jacob Eason and Shea Patterson, have committed to Georgia and Ole Miss, respectively, as the crown jewel of those programs’ 2016 classes.

Editor’s note: 247Sports’ class and composite rankings were used for this story.

Alabama

Early 2016 rank: No. 24

Commits (4)

  • Shyheim Carter, CB, Five-star
  • Demetris Robertson, ATH, Four-star
  • Raekwon Davis, DT, Three-star
  • T.J. Simmons, WR, Three-star

Arkansas

Early 2016 rank: No. 45

Commits (2)

  • Austin Capps, DT, Four-star
  • Jordan Jones, WR, Three-star

Auburn

Early 2016 rank: No. 20

Commits (5)

  • Nate Craig-Myers, WR, Five-star
  • Stephen Davis Jr., ATH, Four-star
  • Landon Rice, TE, Three-star
  • David Marshall, SDE, Three-star
  • Quinnen Williams, DT, Three-star

Florida

Early 2016 rank: No. 15

Commits (8)

  • Chauncey Gardner, CB, Four-star
  • Spencer Perry, S, Three-star
  • Rick Wells, WR, Three-star
  • Tyrek Tisdale, APB, Three-star
  • Isaiah Johnson, WR, Three-star
  • Vosean Joseph, OLB, Three-star
  • JaQuan Bailey, WDE, Three-star
  • Eric Mitchell, WDE, Three-star

Georgia

Early 2016 rank: No. 8

Commits (7)

  • Jacob Eason, QB, Five-star
  • Ben Cleveland, OT, Five-star
  • Chauncey Manac, WDE, Four-star
  • Darion Anderson, WR, Three-star
  • Aaron Dowdell, OG, Three-star
  • Tyrique McGhee, CB, Three-star
  • B.J. Emmons, RB, Four-star

Kentucky

Early 2016 rank: No. 5

Commits (15)

  • Drake Jackson, C, Four-star
  • Landon Young, OT, Four-star
  • Jordan Griffin, CB, Three-star
  • AJ Rose, ATH, Three-star
  • Tobias Gilliam, CB, Three-star
  • Jaylin Bannerman, WDE, Three-star
  • Ben Snell, RB, Three-star
  • Zy’Aire Hughes, ATH, Three-star
  • Roland Walder, ILB, Three-star
  • Luke Fortner, OT, Three-star
  • Justin Rigg, TE, Three-star
  • Dakota Holtzclaw, TE, Three-star
  • Kayaune Ross, WR, Three-star
  • Davonte Robinson, CB, Three-star
  • Kordell Looney, DT, Three-star

LSU

Early 2016 rank: No. 3

Commits (8)

  • Saivion Smith, CB, Five-star
  • Feleipe Franks, QB, Four-star
  • Stephen Sullivan, WR, Four-star
  • Dee Anderson, WR, Four-star
  • Donavaughan Campbell, OG, Four-star
  • Jamal Pettigrew, TE, Four-star
  • Cameron Lewis, S, Four-star
  • Clifford Chatman, S, Three-star

Mississippi

Early 2016 rank: No. 3

Commits (11)

  • Shea Patterson, QB, Five-star
  • DeKaylin Metcalf, WR, Four-star
  • Benito Jones, DT, Four-star
  • Octavious Cooley, TE, Four-star
  • Justin Connor, RB, Four-star
  • Charles Wiley, WDE, Four-star
  • Denzel Mitchell, RB, Four-star
  • David Luafatasaga, OLB, Four-star
  • Gabe Angel, TE, Three-star
  • Eli Johnson, C, Three-star
  • Daniel Crowell, WR, Three-star

Mississippi St.

Early 2016 rank: No. 9

Commits (10)

  • Tommy Champion, OT, Four-star
  • Cameron Myers, ATH, Four-star
  • Deshon Cooper, OLB, Three-star
  • Lashard Durr, CB, Three-star
  • Zaire Jones, S, Three-star
  • Dee Nails, OG, Three-star
  • Caleb Tillman, DT, Three-star
  • C.J. Morgan-Walker, CB, Three-star
  • Quincy Lenton, S, Three-star
  • Dareuan Parker, OT, Three-star

Missouri

Early 2016 rank: N/A

Commits (0)

South Carolina

Early 2016 rank: No. 22

Commits (5)

  • Kyle Davis, ATH, Four-star
  • Brandon McIlwain, QB, Four-star
  • CJ Freeman, RB, Four-star
  • Bryan Edwards, WR, Three-star
  • JaCorey Morris, ILB, Three-star

Tennessee

Early 2016 rank: No. 18

Commits (6)

  • Devante Brooks, TE, Four-star
  • Marquill Osborne, CB, Four-star
  • Ryan Johnson, OT, Four-star
  • Dorian Banks, ATH, Three-star
  • Bailey Phillips, CB, Three-star
  • Corey Henderson, WR, Three-star

Texas A&M

Early 2016 rank: No. 19

Commits (5)

  • Gregory Little, OT, Five-star
  • Travon Fuller, CB, Four-star
  • Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Four-star
  • Zarrian Holcombe, TE, Three-star
  • Braden Mann, K, Two-star

Vanderbilt

Early 2016 rank: N/A

Commits (0)