25 greatest recruits to ever sign with an SEC school

The SEC added 11 more 5-star recruits in the 2017, more than any other league.

As good as the incoming class is, only two players ranked among the 25 greatest recruits to sign with an SEC school since 247Sports.com began tracking them in 2000.

1. Jadeveon Clowney

Team: South Carolina

Class: 2011

NFL Draft: Houston Texans — First round, No. 1 overall (2014)

247Sports Rating: 1.000

Skinny: Clowney is rated the No. 1 prospect in 247Sports all-time composite rankings, rightfully so. Clowney dominated the SEC with 24 sacks and 47 tackles for loss, with nine forced fumbles. After a slow start, he’s become a force with the Texans, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2016.

 

2. Robert Nkemdiche

Team: Ole Miss

Class: 2013

NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals —  First round, No. 30 overall (2016)

247Sports Rating: 1.000

Skinny: With Nkemdiche being this high on the list, you would think a player with his versatility would have had more than seven sacks and 19 tackles for loss in his career with Ole Miss. Despite some troubles off of the field with marijuana, if he can stay clean, he will have a chance to be a special defensive lineman in the NFL.

3. Ronald Powell

Team: Florida

Class: 2010

NFL Draft: New Orleans Saints — Fifth round (2014)

247Sports Rating: .9999

Skinny: Powell was one of Florida’s leading sack leaders in 2011 before fighting and losing the injury battle by tearing his ACL during the Gators Spring game in 2012. Powell wasn’t the same player after that injury and has made a career bouncing around to four different teams in four seasons in the NFL.

4. Brock Berlin

Team: Florida/Miami

Class: 2000

NFL Draft: Undrafted

247Sports Rating: .9998

Skinny: Berlin spent two seasons in Gainesville before transferring to Miami after his sophomore season. Berlin wasn’t seeing the field with the Gators due to Rex Grossman leading the orange and blue. The Louisiana native went 5-0 against Florida and Florida State while with the Hurricanes.

5. Dorial Green-Beckham

Team: Missouri/Oklahoma

Class: 2012

NFL Draft: Tennessee Titans — Second round (2015)

247Sports Rating: .9997

Skinny: Green-Beckham was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2012 class, the class that helped usher Missouri into the SEC. He tied for the SEC lead with 12 touchdown receptions in 2013, when the Tigers won the first of two consecutive SEC East titles.

6. Leonard Fournette

Team: LSU

Class: 2014

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9996

Skinny: Fournette is one of the best running backs the SEC has ever seen. He rushed for 3,830 yards for the Tigers, tallying 40 touchdowns and rushing for no less than 6 yards per carry in his career. Fournette is projected to be selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by multiple analysts.

7. Cyrus Kouandjio

Team: Alabama

Class: 2011

NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills — Second round (2014)

247Sports Rating: .9993

Skinny: Kouandjio grew up in Cameroon and made his way to the States to dominate with his raw power and massive frame. The Crimson Tide were lucky to sway the one-time Auburn commit to come play in Tuscaloosa. Kouandjio was an anchor on the offensive line that helped the Crimson Tide win the January 2013 BCS National Championship.

8. Andre Smith

Team: Alabama

Class: 2006

NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals — First round, No. 6 overall (2009)

247Sports Rating: .9993

Skinny: Smith was a dominant force for the Crimson Tide, being named a consensus All-American and unanimous All-SEC first-team pick, and also rewarded with The Outland Trophy in 2008.

9. Myles Garrett

Team: Texas A&M

Class: 2014

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9992

Skinny: Garrett is projected to go early in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft after having an outstanding three years with the Aggies. Though he wasn’t 100 percent during the 2016 season, he finished his career with 32.5 sacks, 145 tackles and 48.5 tackles for loss.

10. Greg Little

Team: Ole Miss 

Class: 2016

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9992

Skinny: Little was the No. 3-ranked player (No. 1 offensive lineman) in the 2016 class. He was a step-in starter and named to the Freshman All-SEC Team.

11. Julio Jones

Team: Alabama

Class: 2008

NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons — First round, No. 6 overall (2011)

247Sports Rating: .9992

Skinny: Jones had one of the best careers in the SEC as a wide receiver, catching 179 balls for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jones was a crucial piece in the Crimson Tide winning one SEC championship and one national championship. He’s now an NFL star.

12. Trent Thompson 

Team: Georgia

Class: 2015

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9991

Skinny: Thompson was the No. 1 overall player in 2015 class, and he did not disappoint. The lineman appeared in 13 games and started in seven. Thompson was the overall MVP and Defensive MVP in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where the Bulldogs defeated TCU 31-23.

13. Bryce Brown

Team: Tennessee

Class: 2009

NFL Draft: Philadelphia Eagles — Seventh round (2012)

247Sports Rating: .9991

Skinny: Brown was the No. 2  overall player in the 2009 class. Brown left Tennessee in 2010 and transferred to Kansas State, where he finished his college career. Brown has played for three NFL teams since 2012, and is on the Seattle Seahawks’ current roster.

14. Martez Ivey

Team: Florida

Class: 2015

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9990

Skinny: Ivey has fought the injury bug with the Gators. While healthy, Ivey is arguably Florida’s best offensive lineman. Despite his early struggles at the beginning of the 2016 season, he helped guide the Gators to their second consecutive SEC Championship Game appearance.

15. Percy Harvin

Team: Florida

Class: 2006

NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings — First round, No. 22 overall (2009)

247Sports Rating: .9989

Skinny: Harvin owns the record for most career yards rushing by a Florida wide receiver with 1,852, and the most rushing yards in a single season by a Florida receiver with 858 yards in the 2007 season. Harvin is one of the main reasons Florida won national championships and two SEC championships in 2006 and 2008.

16. Byron Cowart

Team: Auburn

Class: 2015

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9987

Skinny: Cowart is coming into his junior season and he still hasn’t really made an impact. He was the No. 3 player overall — No. 1 DE — in the 2015 class. Cowart is shaping up to be a bust, but he still has time to turn it around at Auburn.

17. Brodie Croyle

Team: Alabama

Class: 2001

NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs — Third round (2006)

247Sports Rating: .9986

Skinny: Croyle graduated as the most prolific passer in Alabama history. He led the Tide in multiple categories, including completions, attempts, yards, and touchdowns. Croyle called it quits and retired from the NFL in 2012.

18. Russell Shepard

Team: LSU

Class: 2009

NFL Draft: Undrafted free agent

247Sports Rating: .9985

Skinny: Shepard was extremely versatile, playing three different offensive positions at times (quarterback, running back, wide receiver). Shepard accumulated more than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Tigers. Undrafted, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, and is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

19. Eric Berry

Team: Tennessee

Class: 2007

NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs — First round, No. 5 overall (2010)

247Sports Rating: .9985

Skinny: Berry, the Jim Thorpe Award-winning safety, had a remarkable career, claiming All-American honors all three years in Knoxville. Berry recorded 14 interceptions in three seasons, and showed his durability by starting in every game. Berry finished his career with 245 tackles.

20. Najee Harris

Team: Alabama

Class: 2017

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9982

Skinny: Harris’ college decision was back and forth between the Crimson Tide and Michigan, but ultimately, Harris ended up in Tuscaloosa. The early enrollee is the No. 3 player in the 2017 class and highest-graded running back recruit Nick Saban has signed. With his balance, vision, and power, he could be the Crimson Tides next great running back.

T21. Early Doucet

Team: LSU

Class: 2004

NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals — Third round (2008)

247Sports Rating: .9980

Skinny: Doucet had to fill the roles of receivers like Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis early in his college career with the Tigers. Doucet wasn’t a full-time starter and fought injuries his senior season, but went on to lead the team in receptions against Ohio State in the January 2008 BCS National Championship Game, which the Tigers won 38-24.

T21. Alex Leatherwood

Team: Alabama

Class: 2017

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9980

Skinny: Leatherwood was the highest-rated offensive linemen in the 2017 class, the No. 4-ranked player overall.

T21. Brandon Miller

Team: Georgia

Class: 2004 

NFL Draft: Undrafted free agent

247Sports Rating: .9980

Skinny: Miller didn’t make much of a contribution for the Bulldogs in 2004, but in 2005, he made his first start against the Boise State Broncos. Miller started in 10 of 24 games in two seasons with the Bulldogs, where he finished with 49 tackles.

T24. Vernon Hargreaves III

Team: Florida

Class: 2013

NFL Draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — First round, No. 11 overall (2016)

247Sports Rating: .9979

Skinny: Hargreaves showed the country that despite his small frame, he was one of the best cover cornerbacks in his time with Florida. The Jim Thorpe finalist was named a consensus first-team All-American in 2015. Hargreaves finished his career at Florida with 10 interceptions.

T24. D.J. Humphries

Team: Florida

Class: 2011

NFL Draft: Arizona Cardinals — First round, No. 24th overall (2015)

247Sports Rating: .9979

Skinny: The North Carolina native had an up and down career with Florida, only playing one full season due to battling injuries. Humphries declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season.

T24. Cam Robinson

Team: Alabama

Class: 2014

NFL Draft: N/A

247Sports Rating: .9979

Skinny: Robinson is one of the best offensive linemen in the upcoming NFL Draft. His durability for the Crimson Tide was sensational, starting all 43 games at left tackle. The future NFL lineman also received The Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in college football.