Flips and breakups are as common on the SEC recruiting trail as they are on the path to the senior prom.
The football breakups just draw a lot more attention on Twitter.
We know 2017 will bring more separation anxiety among players and coaches, but here is one commitment each SEC team must keep — until graduation (or NFL Draft) do they part.
Alabama
Najee Harris, RB, Antioch, Calif.: Harris is the top-rated running back and No. 2-rated prospect in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports.com’s composite rankings. He’s 6-2, 220, big, but a bit lighter than Derrick Henry and Bo Scarbrough. Alabama stocks elite running backs like most teams do chin straps. Keeping Harris will keep the assembly line rolling.
Arkansas
N/A: The Razorbacks only have two commitments in the 2017 class, the highest-rated being three-star linebacker Derrick Munson. They have extended scholarship offers to four five-stars, including Jack Anderson, the No. 1-ranked offensive guard in the class.
Auburn
Calvin Ashley, OL, Orlando, Fla: Skill players win signing day, but offensive linemen win games in the SEC. Ashley is the No. 2-rated offensive tackle in the country. He committed to Auburn in May 2015, but 247Sports.com’s crystal ball gives Florida State an 86 percent chance of getting him to flip.
Florida
Daquon Green, WR, Tampa, Fla: The Gators have just three commitments, but Green fills a need. He’s already 6-1, 185 and rated as a four-star. More important: He’s from Florida, and Gators coach Jim McElwain has stressed the urgency in holding on to Florida kids.
Georgia
Richard LeCounte, ATH, Hinesville, Ga.: The Bulldogs have five commitments — and all five are in-state talents. LeCounte is the best of the early bunch, a five-star ranked No. 23 nationally. The next Terry Godwin, perhaps.
Kentucky
Walker Wood, dual-threat QB, Lexington, Ky.: Wood is just a three-star prospect and one of two early QB commitments, but it would be a bad look if a hometown talent got away.
LSU
Tyler Shelvin, DT, Lafayette, La.: Shelvin is a five-star run-stuffer, the No. 2-rated DT in his class and No. 21 prospect in the country. LSU would want him if he played in Hawaii. But he’s from Louisiana … and nobody protects the borders better than Les Miles’ recruiting crew.
Mississippi State
Keytaon Thompson, dual-threat QB, New Orleans: One of the more important SEC target in the 2017 class. Thompson, 6-4, 210, is a four-star recruit, the No. 9-ranked dual-threat QB in his class. There will be plenty of Dak comparisons.
Former Georgia coach Mark Richt has offered him a scholarship to Miami. LSU offered him two days after he attended a Mississippi State camp. 247Sports.com’s crystal ball predicts Thompson will flip to LSU.
Missouri
Daron Davis, ATH, Kansas City, Mo: He’s the Tigers’ lone commit thus far, but he’s an in-state, four-star playmaker ranked No. 2 overall in Missouri. In other words, a must sign for new coach Barry Odom.
Ole Miss
D.D. Bowie, WR, Morton, Miss.: With QB Shea Patterson ready to roll in 2017, look for many more standout receivers to get in line behind Bowie, a four-star recruit ranked No. 51 overall in the class.
South Carolina
N/A: Will Muschamp has just one commitment thus far in the class, three-star tight end Will Register from Chapin, S.C. Muschamp has offered two of the country’s top QBs, Alabama-commit Jake Fromm and uncommitted Jake Bentley. They are rated the Nos. 4 and 5 pro-style QBs in the class.
Tennessee
N/A: The Vols haven’t landed a commitment but have offered the nation’s No. 1-ranked pro-style QB, Hunter Johnson, from suburban Indianapolis. Johnson has committed to Clemson, which most likely will need to replace Deshaun Watson. Tennessee just signed four-star QB Jarrett Guarantano, the top-rated dual-threat QB in the 2016 class.
Texas A&M
Tate Martell, dual-threat QB, Las Vegas: Same rating, same position, different name. Martell is the latest undersized, five-star, dual-threat QB to pick Texas A&M. He’s rated No. 1 in his position and No. 27 overall. Four-star receiver Mannie Netherly is just as important, given the way the Aggies play and the fact that Texas is making a strong push to take back the state.
Vanderbilt
N/A: The Commodores have just one commitment, from three-star athlete Lamont Atkins.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
