It doesn’t matter which recruiting service you use, the SEC has a majority of the top 10 and top 25 recruiting classes for 2016.
The SEC has as many as six programs ranked in the top 10 and nine in the top-25.
While rankings are always subjective, there’s no denying that the SEC recruits better than any other conference in the country.
With National Signing Day about a month away, Saturday Down South looks at the top 20 prospects at each position group and how many will or could play for SEC teams in 2016.
Editor’s Note: Below is a list of the consensus top 20 cornerbacks across all three major recruiting services: 247Sports, Rivals and Scout.
Cornerbacks: The cornerback class is filled with athletic playmakers. However, just four of the top 20 corners from the class are headed to an SEC program.
Uncommitted Targets: The good news for the SEC, though, is half of the top 20 prospects are still undecided. Programs in the SEC could still landed several of the names on this list.
TOP 20 CORNERBACKS
1. Levonta Taylor, Florida State — Alabama, Auburn and several other SEC schools made an offer to the nation’s top prospect.
2. Saivion Smith, LSU — For the second straight year, the Tigers are expected to land one of the top three cornerbacks of the recruiting class.
3. Kristian Fulton, uncommitted — The 6-foot, 177-pounder has been tied to several different SEC schools. Fulton reportedly favors home-state LSU, but Alabama has made a late, aggressive push.
4. Trayvon Mullen, uncommitted — Mullen will make his fifth and final visit to LSU on Jan. 22, and the Tigers appear to be the leader for the standout corner from Florida.
5. Chauncey Gardner, Florida — SEC fans should get used to Gardner being in the face of their favorite receivers. The Florida native loves to talk trash. Gardner backed up his trash talk with a solid performance in the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game.
6. David Long, uncommitted — There aren’t any SEC schools in play for this Los Angeles native. 247 Sports reports that Long is leaning toward Michigan.
7. Nigel Knott, uncommitted — This 5-11, 175-pound Mississippi native isn’t considering either Ole Miss or Mississippi State. Oregon appears to be Knott’s first choice, but Alabama is still in the mix.
8. Jared Mayden, uncommitted — Mayden de-committed from Oregon this week. The 6-1 Texan has several other offers, including Florida, Georgia and LSU.
9. Lavert Hill, uncommitted — Hill is stuck between three schools but none of them are from the SEC. The favorites for the 5-10, 166-pound, Detroit standout are Michigan or Michigan State.
10. Jordan Parker, Oklahoma — The 5-11, 180-pound from California announced in October.
11. Shyheim Carter, uncommitted — The Louisiana prospect is as high as No. 5 at the position on some lists. Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss are all in the running.
12. Byron Murphy, uncommitted — Fans only have a few more days to find out where the Arizona native will attend school. Murphy plans to announce his decision at the Army All-American Game on Jan. 9. Arizona State is the favorite, but Texas A&M is a possibility.
13. Jaylon Jones, Ole Miss — The 5-11 Texan is the second-highest rated defensive commit for the Rebels.
14. Marquill Osborne, Tennessee — The North Carolina prospect is one of the top two defensive recruits for Tennessee.
15. Andraez Williams, LSU — The 6-2, 166-pound Williams committed to home-state LSU. He’s a close friend of Tre’Davious White, who is also from Shreveport.
16. Jayvaughn Myers, uncommitted — The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder de-committed from Florida back in November. Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Auburn and Florida still have a shot at the Florida native.
17. Kyle Meyers, Florida State — The New Orleans native could team with Taylor as a tandem in a year or two.
18. Jordan Fuller, uncommitted — Fuller won’t necessarily play corner – 247 Sports has him listed as an “athlete.” The Westwood, N.J., native is reported to favor Michigan, though Ohio State is making a late push.
19. Parrish Cobb, Oklahoma — Arkansas had a shot at the 5-11 cornerback from Waco, Texas, but he ultimately chose the Sooners.
20. Wayne Davis, Ohio State — The Norfolk, Va., is one of five potential top-20 recruits the Buckeyes landed at their respective defensive positions.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
