Ad Disclosure
SEC schools have the brand behind them that’s strong enough to cross state lines in search of top-notch recruits. It’s happening all over the league.
Looking at incoming 2016 classes only, here are the SEC’s best at stealing prospects from other states so far this recruiting season:
- AUBURN TIGERS
Total out-of-state commits or early enrollees: 14
Percentage of incoming class from out-of-state: 78 percent
Out-of-state notables: Four-star DT Antwuan Jackson, Jr. (Ga.); Four-star WR Kyle Davis (Ga.); Four-star QB Woody Barrett (Fla.); Four-star WR Eli Stove (Fla.)
Grade, A: Auburn added to its 2016 class with some outstanding talent from surrounding fertile grounds of Georgia and Florida. The Tigers strengthened their roster with a plethora of four-star athletes on both sides of the football.
- OLE MISS REBELS
Total out-of-state commits or early enrollees: 15
Percentage of incoming class from out-of-state: 75 percent
Out-of-state notables: Five-star OT Gregory Little (Tex.); Five-star QB Shea Patterson (Fla.); S Jaylon Jones (Tex.); Four-star OG Chandler Tuitt (Ga.)
Grade, A: Hugh Freeze continues to recruit well at Ole Miss, building the Rebels into a SEC power. He brought in two five-star recruits from out-of-state that could make immediate impacts for the Rebels. There were only eight total five-stars signed in the SEC this class. While the top two recruits are five-stars, in-state DT Benito Jones is regarded in some circles as a five-star as well. Texas and Georgia were recruited particularly hard, with four recruits from each state committing to the Rebels.
- TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Total out-of-state commits or early enrollees: 13
Percentage of incoming class from out-of-state: 81 percent
Out-of-state notables: Four-star CB Marquill Osborne (N.C.); Four-star QB Jarrett Guarantano (N.J.); Four-star RB Carlin Fils-Aime (Fla.); Four-star JUCO DT Alexis Johnson (Ga.)
Grade, A: Butch Jones not only went out-of-state, but also went the JUCO route to strengthen the Vols’ roster. Only three recruits are from in-state. Jones plucked three JUCO transfers from out-of-state in adding depth to both sides of the football.
- ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Total out-of-state commits or early enrollees: 11
Percentage of incoming class from out-of-state: 69%
Out-of-state notables: Five-star OT Jonah Williams (Calif.); Four-star RB B.J. Emmons (N.C.); Four-star OG Chris Owens (Tex.); Four-star JUCO OT Charles Baldwin (Conn.)
Grade, B: Nick Saban continues to scour the nation for the best athletes. His top-five recruits for the Class of 2016 are from out-of-state. He’s brought in three from Texas, which tops the list of out-of-state recruits. Only five of the 16 recruits from this year’s class are from Alabama.
- SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Total out-of-state commits or early enrollees: 16
Percentage of incoming class from out-of-state: 73%
Out-of-state notables: Four-star QB Brandon McIwain (Pa.); Four-star JUCO CB JaMarcus King (Ala.); Four-star DE Keir Thomas (Fla.); Three-star RB C.J. Freeman (N.C.)
Grade, B: Will Muschamp has hit the ground running at South Carolina. He knows the landscape and wasted little time in reeling in prospects from around the country. He brought in recruits from seven states outside of South Carolina, including four each from Alabama and North Carolina.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
