Biggest SEC recruiting developments since National Signing Day
By Corey Long
Published:
If there’s ever a lull in the never-ending recruiting cycle, it’s this time of year. There’s a period right after National Signing Day where some programs get a few early 2017 commitments and there is some coaching movement.
But by spring time most of the coaches are focused on the short window to practice football followed by the spring game. The recruiting focus right now is on getting prospects to attend spring practices, including the spring game itself.
Meanwhile there are a few things happening on the recruiting circuit that need to be addressed.
GEORGIA STILL WAITING ON ROBERTSON
Demetris Robertson is one of the last major prospects from the 2016 class that hasn’t signed with a program.
The five-star prospect from Savannah, Ga., took a visit to Georgia last weekend and signed a Financial Aid Agreement with the school. Robertson has also signed agreements with Georgia Tech and Cal, who will be allowed unlimited contact with the wide receiver. Surprisingly it doesn’t appear like Notre Dame has received a signed agreement from Robertson and at one point the Irish were the leaders.
Stanford remains in the picture for Robertson but there’s no word if he’s been accepted to the school. Without a green light from the admissions office Robertson can’t even take an official visit to the program.
A decision should be made in April. The earlier it happens the better things would look for the Bulldogs.
TIDE IN FIGHT FOR HARRIS?
Alabama’s 2017 recruiting class is bolstered by the nation’s top prospect Najee Harris, who has been committed to the Crimson Tide since last April.
The five-star prospect out of Antioch, Calif., is going to browse around. Harris has already visited UCLA and USC but now is planning on taking a trip to Ohio State for the Buckeyes’ spring game.
Harris is also looking at taking trips to Michigan, Notre Dame and Texas over the summer.
Alabama’s 2017 recruiting class is currently ranked sixth nationally and No. 1 in the SEC.
LSU LOOKING FOR A “FRANCHISE” QB
Even though the Tigers got a late commitment from three-star prospect Lindsey Scott in the 2016 cycle, LSU is looking for an arm around which to build its 2017 class. Four-star prospect N’Kosi Perry will be at LSU’s spring game next month. Perry committed to Miami last year and re-committed to the Hurricanes last weekend after visiting Coral Gables for a junior day event.
According to NOLA.com, Perry will be in the state of Louisiana participating in a 7-on-7 tournament and will visit LSU with his best friend and 2018 defensive back prospect Justin Watkins. Expect more with LSU’s quarterback hunt as the weeks go along but it appears that the Tigers are aiming to sign one of the top nationally-ranked quarterbacks this year.
CRAIG LEAVES AUBURN FOR LSU
Craig, one of the most popular players in Auburn history, left the program after three seasons, to make a move that he felt would help out his chances to be a head coach.
One of the top recruiters in the game, Craig left Auburn with a nice going-away gift — one of the top wide-receiver recruiting classes in the nation led by four-star prospects Nate Craig-Myers and Kyle Davis. He also took some thinly-veiled shots at Gus Malzahn as he left and mentioned Les Miles as “the best coach in the nation” (Some LSU faithful might not share his excitement with Miles).
On field, Craig replaces Tony Ball, who left LSU after a season. In terms of recruiting, Craig replaces former running backs coach Frank Wilson, who became head coach at UT-San Antonio.
Eight assistants have either left Auburn or been dismissed since the end of 2014. Most, with the exception of Will Muschamp, made what can be considered lateral moves. There appears to be some disconnect with the staff and Malzahn.
The Tigers should still be fine with their recruiting as Malzahn, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff have all proven they can bring home the goods.
McELWAIN, FLORIDA FOCUSES ON TAMPA BAY AGAIN
Like most SEC teams, Florida has contended with some some coaching change as defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan resigned and former Virginia Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray replaced him. Also quality control specialist Marquel Blackwell left Florida to become running backs coach at Toledo.
Blackwell and Callahan are both from the Tampa Bay area and were expected to boost Gators recruiting in Tampa. That didn’t really go as expected and now Gray, who played high school football at Kathleen High School (Lakeland, Fla.), will be asked to get the Gators more traction in the I-4 corridor.
The biggest target for the Gators in that area is four-star wide receiver James Robinson. Florida is in desperate need of wide receivers, especially with Antonio Callaway’s future in limbo. Robinson plays at Lakeland High, which has been historically good for the Gators and he’s visited the campus more than 10 times already.
An early commitment from Robinson combined with the commitment from Tampa wide receiver prospect Daquon Green would give Florida a nice boost at a position of need in an area they are trying to re-establish.
Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.
