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It doesn’t matter which recruiting service you check, 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 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 linebackers across all three major recruiting services: 247Sports, Rivals and Scout.
Linebackers: Interestingly, 10 of the top 12 linebackers in the 2016 class play outside. The class is filled with great playmakers. However, just two of the top 20 linebackers from the class are headed to an SEC program.
Uncommitted Targets: The good news for the SEC, though, is there are still top linebackers remaining, including perhaps the best four in the class.
1. Mique Jarez, uncommitted (OLB, California, 6-1, 231 pounds) — The Southern California prospect is pretty much the consensus No. 1 linebacker available in the 2016 class. He might stay home and attend UCLA, but Ole Miss is also one of his top choices.
2. Ben Davis, uncommitted (ILB, Alabama, 6-3, 239) — Besides Jarez, Davis is the only other linebacker who received consideration for the top spot overall at the position in the class. It would be a shame if Alabama or Auburn didn’t claim this top prospect, but it appears one of those schools will.
3. Lyndell Wilson, uncommitted (OLB, Alabama, 6-2, 220) — 247 Sports ranked Wilson ahead of Jarez for the No. 1 spot at outside linebacker. The Tide is the heavy favorite to land this home-grown talent, but Florida and Georgia are also on his list of schools.
4. Caleb Kelly, uncommitted (OLB, California, 6-3, 215) — Alabama also initially targeted Kelly, but interestingly, the Northern California linebacker is very close to committing to Oklahoma.
5. Michael Divinity, LSU (OLB, Louisiana, 6-2, 218) — Les Miles has already grabbed this home-grown talented linebacker. At the moment, LSU has the best outside linebacker pairing in the class.
6. Curtis Robinson, Stanford (OLB, California, 6-3, 210) – There wasn’t much serious interest from SEC schools in Robinson, who has decided to stay in his home state and attend Stanford.
7. Rahshaun Smith, Clemson (ILB, Florida, 6-3, 239) – Dabo Swinney is doing an excellent job of replenishing his linebacker corps. Smith chose Clemson over Florida, Auburn and a few other SEC schools.
8. Jeffrey McCulloch, uncommitted (OLB, Texas, 6-2, 230) – Alabama and Florida are each in play for McCulloch, but it looks like he is going to stay in his home state and help rebuild the Texas program.
9. Carter Coughlin, Minnesota (OLB, Minnesota, 6-3, 223) – Coughlin must love the cold. He will be playing his home games at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis where the Vikings just played their playoff game in sub-zero temperatures.
10. Erick Fowler, LSU (OLB, Texas, 6-1, 226) – Miles landed two top 10 linebackers in this class. Tigers fans are likely hoping Fowler is as good as former Gators pass rusher Dante Fowler, though, there is no relation between the two.
11. Keandre Jones, Maryland (OLB, Maryland, 6-3, 198) – Another linebacker prospect stays at home. Jones joined the 3-9 Terrapins.
12. Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame (OLB, Michigan, 6-4, 249) – Hayes calls Ann Arbor, Mich., home, but he will be wearing a different kind of blue. Michigan wasn’t very high on his list of schools. Notre Dame fans will love his massive size.
13. Jaquan Yulee, uncommitted (ILB, Virginia, 6-0, 252) – Yulee is the second-best uncommitted inside linebacker. Alabama has a good chance of nabbing him.
14. Camilo Eifler, Washington (OLB, California, 6-1, 215) – The Oakland, Calif., native chose to travel north to Washington over heading south to the California Golden Bears.
15. Tre Lamar, Clemson (ILB, Georgia, 6-4, 240) – Swinney grabs his second inside linebacker commit and one of the biggest linebackers of the class. The Tigers have successfully recruited two of the top four inside linebackers from the 2016 class.
16. Brendan Ferns, uncommitted (ILB, Ohio, 6-2, 215) – The final six spots on the list all belong to inside linebackers. 247 Sports considers Ferns the third-best ILB in the class. He will likely stay in Big Ten country and attend Penn State.
17. Krys Barnes, UCLA (ILB, California, 6-2, 220) – UCLA is the only other school close to Clemson in terms of recruiting inside linebackers this year. The Bruins were able to keep Barnes away from Arizona and Boise State.
18. Lokeni Toailoa, UCLA (ILB, California, 6-2, 215) – Barnes and Toailoa grew up three hours apart (six hours in California traffic) from each other, but the two will be well acquainted in the middle of the Bruins defense.
19. Dontavious Jackson, uncommited (ILB, Texas, 6-2, 239) – Jackson is the last uncommitted player on our list. Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M are all in play to land him.
20. Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (ILB, Florida, 6-0, 233) – Quarterman will play for a former SEC coach but in the ACC at Miami. Quarterman stayed loyal to the Hurricanes even after they fired Al Golden.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
