Fans, media, trolls always lament the the in-state stars who got away.
Even coaches talk about the need to own their recruiting back yard.
But for every Alabama high school standout Alabama doesn’t sign, odds are good it’s because it lured a Derrick Henry or Calvin Ridley out of Florida.
Alabama is hardly alone. Every SEC has multiple “import-ant” players — in some cases, their best player came from another state.
Here’s a look at how each SEC roster was built in 2015:
| Team | Players | In-State | Out-of-State | Best | % Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 102 | 38 | 64 | Derrick Henry | 62.7 |
| Arkansas | 108 | 39 | 69 | Alex Collins | 63.8 |
| Auburn | 107 | 37 | 70 | Peyton Barber | 65.4 |
| Florida | 101 | 73 | 28 | Jalen Tabor | 27.7 |
| Georgia | 125 | 88 | 37 | Sony Michel | 29.6 |
| Kentucky | 100 | 22 | 78 | Stanley Williams | 78.0 |
| LSU | 116 | 69 | 47 | Vadal Alexander | 40.5 |
| Mississippi State | 94 | 55 | 39 | Dak Prescott | 41.4 |
| Missouri | 111 | 47 | 64 | Kentrell Brothers | 57.6 |
| Ole Miss | 112 | 46 | 66 | Laquon Treadwell | 58.9 |
| South Carolina | 106 | 36 | 70 | Pharoh Cooper | 66.0 |
| Tennessee | 102 | 44 | 58 | Joshua Dobbs | 56.8 |
| Texas A&M | 119 | 94 | 25 | Christian Kirk | 21.0 |
| Vanderbilt | 88 | 17 | 71 | Ralph Webb | 80.6 |
Chris Wright
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.
