This is not a “Position U” piece; that definitely will come. This is a look at current trends among choices by recruits (i.e. commitments and signings) to determine the current “most attractive” options by position around the Southeastern Conference.

This is something that certainly can change. For example, was there are more popular place for quarterbacks than Texas A&M last cycle after the Aggies landed five-star Kyler Murray one cycle after they landed five-star Kyle Allen?

One year later? Not so much.

It also should come as no surprise how attractive Alabama is at the various positions given the Crimson Tide’s run of success on the recruiting trail and subsequently on the field with four national championships (including this past year) since 2015.

Regardless, here’s what programs are hot “by position” right now around the SEC.



QB: GEORGIA

This is a tough one, but you go with the Bulldogs because of guys like Matt Stafford, Aaron Murray and now Jacob Eason picking Georgia from the states of Texas, Florida and Washington. Who knows if this type of thing will continue under the new staff, but Kirby Smart and company already convinced Eason to stick. In general, the SEC as a whole has been less-than-stellar recruiting this position for quite some time. There are plenty of busts and plenty of misses league-wide.

Don’t sleep on: Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama (The Tigers can sell most dual-threats and the Vols have had a nice run of elite quarterback prospects commit … the Tide has recruited well here, even though they haven’t had a superstar.)


RB: GEORGIA

While Alabama, with two Heisman Trophy-winning running backs in the past seven seasons, certainly can make a claim in recent years, the tailback position at the University of Georgia has and always will be one of the glamour positions in college football. Can anyone remember the last time the Bulldogs did not have a great tailback on the roster? Slight edge here to the Dawgs … still.

Don’t sleep on: Alabama (Two Heisman winners since 2009 and they’ve recruited so much talent that Alvin Kamara and Tyren Jones both have transferred.)

WR: TEXAS A&M

Because of their style of play and to a lesser extent the style of play of the high schools in the state of Texas, there are no shortage of wide receivers on an annual basis that want to be Aggies. Texas A&M has some of the top talent at this position in the conference. Will this come to an end if things don’t turn around in College Station? That could happen at some point, but it has yet to do so.

Don’t sleep on: Ole Miss, Tennessee (Laquon Treadwell, Vance Jefferson, Damarkus Lodge, etc. … and the Vols still claim “WR U” and have signed elite talent here in recent years.)

OL: ALABAMA

When you combine this year’s class (2016) with the 2015 class and look at the enormous amount of talent that the Crimson Tide had on this year’s offensive line in the starting five, it’s clear that Alabama is a cut above when it comes to recruiting up front on offense. They go all over the country to get it done (California, Iowa, Minnesota, etc.) and tend to make great evaluations within the geographic footprint of the SEC. Mario Cristobal, Alabama’s offensive line coach, is one of the best in the country.

Don’t sleep on: Ole Miss (Two franchise, five-star offensive tackles in the last four recruiting cycles- both from out-of-state.)

TE: ALABAMA

We all saw what O.J. Howard did in the national championship game and then you consider that Alabama was able to snatch promising freshman Hale Hentges out of the state of Missouri last cycle and they have another Show Me State star coming in in this cycle. It was a close decision between the Tide and Arkansas, which seems to be an attractive option for tight ends as well, but Howard’s breakout game last Monday night put Bama over the edge.

Don’t sleep on: Arkansas (Hunter Henry got it rolling and the Razorbacks have had several big-timers in-state.)

DE: AUBURN

People may not realize this, but with the commitment and enrollment of Marlon Davidson, this is the third recruiting cycle in a row that Auburn has landed a five-star defensive end prospect. Previously, Carl Lawson and Byron Cowart (both from out-of-state) inked with the Tigers. This has coincided with Rodney Garner, one of the best defensive line coaches and recruiters in the conference, being a part of the staff at his alma mater.

Don’t sleep on: Missouri (The Tigers track record speaks for itself, but will it continue with Craig Kuligowski and Gary Pinkel gone?)

DT: ALABAMA



Take one look at Alabama’s interior defensive front and then note they are from all over- Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, etc., and you can see that the Crimson Tide is the premier spot for interior defensive line types. Now, some of these guys do play an end position in the Tide’s 3-4 defensive alignment, but they’d be tackles in true 4-3 or 4-2-5 types of schemes. Alabama is as attractive as any program in the country (not just the SEC) for defensive tackles.

Don’t sleep on: LSU, Mississippi State (The Tigers always corral the in-state talent at this position- and some out-of-state as well and the Bulldogs are just always good at this position each and every year and put guys in the NFL.)

LB: ALABAMA



You are talking about a program that annually has a first-rounder type at linebacker (Reggie Ragland, C.J. Mosely) and that this cycle may sign both the No. 1 inside linebacker (Ben Davis) and the No. 1 outside linebacker (Lyndell Wilson). That’s quite good.

Don’t sleep on: LSU (The Tigers can go in-state or out-of-state, sign and develop linebacker talent that reaches the next level.)

CB: ALABAMA



Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, Cyrus Jones, Tony Brown, Kendall Sheffield- Alabama under Nick Saban is the premier destination for cornerbacks. The Crimson Tide has produced first-round picks at the position and Saban’s reputation for personally recruiting the secondary and developing talent at cornerback all feeds into Alabama’s ability to cherry-pick talent at this spot. Let me be clear that LSU is a very close second as the Tigers also can flat-out go and get cornerbacks, but right now give the edge to the Tide.

Don’t sleep on: LSU (Kevin Toliver II, Saivion Smith and others have flocked to Baton Rouge. It all started with Patrick Peterson way back when.)

S: ALABAMA

Ha-Ha Clinton Dix (Florida) and Landon Collins (Louisiana) are just two of the elite out-of-state safety prospects who have picked the Crimson Tide in recent recruiting cycles and who have gone on to the NFL. Eddie Jackson very well could be the next one. Just like with cornerback, Saban’s involvement with the secondary makes this the most attractive option in the league.

Don’t sleep on: LSU (Jamal Adams is just one example of a huge recruiting win for the Tigers at safety. Players at this position definitely want to play in Baton Rouge.)

P/K: GEORGIA

The missed kick by Blair Walsh in the NFL playoffs this season not withstanding, Georgia always seems to have the best kickers in the conference and tends to get these guys on scholarship out of high school and hit on them. With a new regime coming in, this could change as this was definitely a trend under former coach Mark Richt, but that’s unlikely.

Don’t sleep on: Alabama (The Tide tries to sign scholarship kickers, punters and snappers when needed and they typically have a strong kicking game.)