This time of year on the college football calendar has typically been reserved for postseason play but with the first early signing period now looming on the schedule, recruiting has found itself now taking center stage for many programs in mid-December.
While it remains to be seen how many prospects will sign during the three-day early period, from Dec. 20-22, we thought now would be a great time to summarize how each class in the SEC is shaping up before any letter of intents are signed in the coming days.
Here’s a look how each school currently stakes up heading into the early signing period:
[table “” not found /]Alabama – 16 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star OLB Quay Walker, No. 64 rated player in the county; No. 3 outside linebacker.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star JUCO cornerback Saivion Smith, nation’s No. 2 junior college prospect could very well lock down a starting spot on Nick Saban’s defense next season considering all the defensive backs that are poised to leave Tuscaloosa.
Auburn – 20 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star WR Matthew Hill, No. 98 rated player in the country; No. 20 receiver.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star Asa Martin, the state of Alabama’s top-ranked running back prospect will be called upon early and often if Kerryon Johnson and Kam Pettway don’t return in 2018.
Arkansas – 10 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star LB Bumper Pool, No. 331 rated player in the country; No. 16 inside linebacker.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 3-star WR Michael Woods, No. 99 rated receiver in the country. Woods is set to enroll early and was previously committed to Chad Morris at SMU.
Florida – 13 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star OL Richard Gouraige, No. 86 rated player in the country; No. 7 rated offensive tackle.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star OLB David Reese, No. 20 outside linebacker in the nation will likely see the field quickly in Todd Grantham’s defense.
Georgia – 18 commits
Highest ranked commit: 5-star QB Justin Fields, No. 2 rated player in the country; No. 1 dual-threat QB.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star RB James Cook should help ease the losses of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Georgia also holds a commitment from five-star RB Zamir White, the No. 1 rated running back in the nation, however, but he’s coming off a season-ending knee injury and may not be 100 percent next fall.
Kentucky – 19 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star OL Marquan McCall, No. 4 rated offensive guard in the country; No. 1 prospect from Michigan.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 3-star JUCO QB Terry Wilson, No. 2 rated junior college quarterback in the country. With Stephen Johnson’s eligibility coming to an end following the upcoming Music City Bowl, the Wildcats will be forced to deal with a new QB competition this offseason. Wilson will be the best option on the UK roster to replace Johnson’s running ability under center.
LSU – 20 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star WDE Jarell Cherry, No. 189 overall prospect in the country; No. 12 weakside defensive end.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: Cherry. With Arden Key expected to make the jump to the NFL, LSU’s defense will need pass rushing contributions from the freshman edge rusher next season.
Ole Miss – 12 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star QB Matt Corral, No. 60 overall prospect in the country; No. 3 pro-style quarterback.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 3-star OLB Jacquez Jones, No. 2 rated linebacker from Alabama. Ole Miss desperately needs help stuffing the run and Jones could come in and contribute a physical presence that has been missing from the Landshark defense in recent seasons.
Mississippi State – 20 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star WR Malik Heath, No. 183 overall prospect in the country; No. 34 receiver.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star JUCO receiver Stephen Guidry. The nation’s No. 1 junior college prospect should be in line to potentially start Day One in Starkville in Joe Moorhead’s offense — which multiple heavy receiver sets.
Missouri – 16 commits
Highest ranked commit: 3-star ILB Chad Bailey, No. 367 overall prospect in the country; No. 20 inside linebacker.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 3-star athlete Jalen Knox, No. 7 rated athlete in Texas, Knox may be the most dangerous returner to come out of the Lone Star State this season. Don’t be surprised if he wins multiple roles on special teams for the Tigers next season.
South Carolina – 21 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star WR Josh Vann, No. 124 overall prospect in the country; No. 24 receiver.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star JUCO safety Marlon Character Jr. The No. 1 junior college safety in the nation originally signed on to play for Will Muschamp at Auburn and has now decided to follow him to Columbia.
Tennessee – 11 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star DL Greg Emerson, No. 114 overall prospect in the country; No. 7 defensive tackle.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star WR Alontae Taylor, No. 1 rated receiver from the Volunteer State. Taylor should help bring an explosive element to the Tennessee offense that was sorely missed last season.
Texas A&M – 15 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star WR Jalen Preston, No. 93 overall prospect in the country; No. 19 receiver.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star OG Luke Matthews, No. 5 offensive guard in the country. Another year, another member of the Matthews family is headed to College Station. Look for Luke to play a role in the offensive line rotation for new coach Jimbo Fisher next fall.
Vanderbilt – 16 commits
Highest ranked commit: 4-star WR Camron Johnson, No. 247 overall prospect in the country; No. 42 receiver.
Commit most likely to contribute immediately: 4-star ILB Alston Orji should help ease the loss of All-SEC performer Oren Burks and at minimum compete for playing time on Vandy’s special team units.
*All listed rankings come from the 247Sports Composite Rankings
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
