10 wild SEC notes heading into National Signing Day
National Signing Day (Feb. 1) is less than a week away but it will be here before you know it. You can expect a rather tame version this year, however, as the early enrollee trend has caught on nationwide, leaving far less drama with so many prospects already on campus and prepping for spring football.
In anticipation for the big day, we gathered up 10 interesting notes that you should be aware of around the SEC:
- Alabama is on the verge of signing its seventh consecutive composite ranked No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. The Tide already have five five-star players enrolled in school and will likely add to the list by signing day.
- Georgia’s class, which ranks No. 3 in the nation, has been aided by landing an incredible number of in-state prospects. The Bulldogs currently have commits from 14 of the state’s Top 22 prospects.
- In his first full recruiting class in Columbia, Will Muschamp has been outworking several of his East competitors and has South Carolina ranked inside the Top 20. What’s most impressive about that is the fact he’s currently outranking his former school and his successor.
- Speaking of Jim McElwain, Florida currently has only 14 commits which rank the Gators No. 31 in the nation – behind not only the Gamecocks but Kentucky, Arkansas, and Mississippi State. Florida currently has six four-stars committed.
- Good news for the Vols: ESPN’s No. 1 ranked player (Trey Smith) has already enrolled at Tennessee. Bad news for the Vols: The school has 23 commits ranked as three-star prospects. Certainly an odd juxtaposition there.
- Mississippi State already has 13 early enrollees on campus, including four-star quarterback prospect Keytaon Thompson. Nine of those early enrollees are junior college recruits, who anticipate making an early impact in 2017.
- Staying in state, Ole Miss‘ class currently ranks No. 51 in the nation. That’s particularly stunning when you consider the Rebels classes ranked No. 5, No. 17, No. 15 and No. 8 the previous four seasons. Ole Miss has only 14 total commits, which ties Florida for the fewest in the SEC.
- Aside from having a Top 25 class, which is in itself an achievement worth celebrating in Lexington, Kentucky has nine linemen expected to sign in this class – six on defense alone. Building quality depth up front is what’s going to help the Wildcats continue to contend in the East.
- LSU has the No. 7 recruiting class in the nation, which isn’t surprising, but the fact that Ed Orgeron and his staff were able to keep the class intact following Les Miles’ firing is impressive. With 11 four-stars and one five-star, the Tigers could very well add to that total before signing day.
- Texas A&M has yet another Top 10 class which is anchored by impressive defensive talent. The Aggies have two safeties, two linebackers, and a lineman that all rank as four-star talents. The most important member of the class is already on campus, too, as four-star quarterback Kellen Mond has already enrolled.