How the 2019 recruiting cycle made the SEC East a lot more interesting
Relax, Georgia fans.
By no means am I suggesting that the Dawgs are in major jeopardy of losing the division in 2019. You might have looked at that headline and assumed I forgot about the fact that Georgia didn’t lose an SEC East matchup the past 2 years. It went 12-0 with all 12 wins by double digits. And no, I didn’t forget that for the third consecutive year, Georgia signed a Top 3 class with at least 3 recruits rated as 5-stars.
But did the SEC East get a whole lot more interesting with this latest recruiting cycle? Absolutely.
There are a few reasons that happened:
The Kaiir Elam drama
If you don’t think the Florida-Georgia rivalry is back, perhaps you missed what happened with Elam. The 4-star cornerback was at the center of a tug-of-war between the 2 East rivals late in the recruiting process. Georgia stole Florida cornerbacks coach Charlton Warren right in the middle of Elam’s official visit tour, which sparked speculation that Kirby Smart was going to go into the Sunshine State and steal someone who was expected to commit to the Gators.
That speculation ended in trolling fashion via Elam:
Great crootin day for the Gators. After flipping Khris Bogle from Bama this morning, Florida adds top 50 commit Kaiir Elam (who intentionally or unintentionally hits UGA with a subtle pump fake) #NSD19 pic.twitter.com/EJiWjB7Gb3
— Marc Whiteman (@MarcWhiteman) February 6, 2019
Meet Florida fans’ new favorite player. Meet Georgia fans’ new public enemy No. 1.
If you recall, that’s the second consecutive year in which Florida trolled Georgia on National Signing Day. Dan Mullen had the “every blind squirrel finds a nut” comment last year that got Georgia fans riled up.
Let’s make this an annual thing. That is, whichever side loses in Jacksonville has to attempt to troll the other on National Signing Day. That’s the interesting thing is that despite the fact that Georgia has had a Top 2 class each of the past 2 signing days, it’s Florida that’s been a bit more outspoken.
I’m here for it.
How about Florida recruiting like Florida should
Are the Gators closing the gap on Georgia? I’d argue that winning battles for players like Elam are certainly a positive step in that regard, but there’s still a massive disparity in 5-star athletes.
Mullen signed Florida’s first Top 10 class in 5 years. In a year in which Miami and Florida State were both in shambles, that was key for Mullen. It’s easy to forget that while Mullen has a decade of experience recruiting in the SEC, only 1 recruit from the state of Florida who was rated 4 stars or better ever played for him at Mississippi State.
I say that because I was critical of the lack of in-state talent Mullen had heading into the Early Signing Period. But including Elam, Mullen still landed 9 4-star recruits from Florida. The fact that Mullen did that well in his first full cycle while also landing 4-star recruits from 5 other states is a good sign.
Is there room for improvement? Absolutely. The next step is for Florida to start winning these 5-star battles. Keeping someone like Nicholas Petit-Frere in-state or getting a 5-star Port St. Joe/IMG recruit like Trey Sanders is what will make Florida fans really feel like national titles are on the horizon.
But Tennessee was the biggest East mover
So think about this. In roughly a half-hour stretch, Jeremy Pruitt got commitments from 4-star California linebacker Henry To’oto’o, who was long considered an Alabama lean, and then he went to the East Coast and got 5-star offensive tackle Darnell Wright. Don’t underestimate how impressive that is.
Tennessee TE's coach Brian Niedermeyer currently listed as the nation's #1 recruiter for the 2019 recruiting cycle by 247Sports following the commitments of Darnell Wright and Henry To'oto'o
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) February 6, 2019
Pruitt knows better than anyone that Tennessee needed to be built from the inside out. Before the Vols were going to get back to East relevancy, they needed to load up on, as he would put it, “the big boys.” Pruitt got not 1, but 2 new 5-star offensive linemen to come and rebuild the Vols. Few teams nationally addressed their needs better than Tennessee.
The skeptics would point to the 2015 class, which finished ranked No. 4. Loaded with talent, it was, though obviously the coaching staff didn’t do the best job of maximizing it.
The jury is still out on whether Pruitt can lead Tennessee into the Florida and Georgia class of the division, but clearly, he’s going to be able to continue to recruit. Pruitt has done that everywhere he’s been.
The Vols still have a ways to go to get their roster depth needed to compete consistently. Still, signing 12 recruits rated 4-stars or better is a pretty good start.
And don’t sleep on South Carolina’s incoming studs
I know Gamecocks fans are excited, but nationally, I’m not sure how much attention the arrival of Zacch Pickens and Ryan Hilinski got. It sort of felt like because both committed so early and didn’t take official visits in the fall that they didn’t get a lot of buzz.
But Pickens is already getting Jadeveon Clowney comparisons — Pickens is South Carolina’s first 5-star recruit since Clowney — and Hilinski has the makings of an elite SEC quarterback. Those don’t kind of recruits come around every day for South Carolina.
Those are two things that the Gamecocks would have loved to have for that 2018 SEC opener against Georgia. The talent disparity was evident. The only way South Carolina could move the ball was dinking and dunking down the field. It didn’t matter that they had talent at the receiver position because they couldn’t get open. The ground game was non-existent, as was the Gamecocks’ ability to make a game-changing play on defense.
For now, everything that happens in the East has to be compared to Georgia. Could Pickens and Hilinski develop into guys who can make plays against anyone? Absolutely. The second and third top-100 recruits of the Will Muschamp era will have all eyes on them the next few years.
How many other divisions had 4 Top 20 classes?
One. The SEC West.
In fact, just so you can see how notable that is, here’s the Power 5 breakdown of top-20 class by division:
- SEC West: 4
- SEC East: 4
- Big Ten East: 3
- ACC Atlantic: 2
- Big 12: 2
- Pac-12 North: 2
- Pac-12 South: 1
- Big Ten West: 1
- ACC Coastal: 0
Let’s be honest. The East takes the heat it does because it’s had such a tough go in the SEC Championship since Nick Saban arrived at Alabama. But the division yielded 3 teams that won double-digit games in 2018, and now it produced 4 Top 20 classes. Not even the West can claim both of those feats. By the way, the East was actually 9-5 against the West in 2019 and nearly won a second consecutive SEC title.
Just sayin’.
I’m also just sayin’ that the East is more interesting than people are probably giving it credit for. At least it is after the 2019 recruiting cycle came to a close.
The SEC East is done being the worst division in the power 5… We can thank Georgia and CKS for that. Them hiring CKS made Florida hire a proven head coach instead of hiring another joke. Also made Tennessee hire CJP which will eventually become the greatest coach in Tennessee history. Thanks Georgia for getting this division to respect itself once again.
When was the SEC East the worst division in the power 5??
Exactly! Thank God the real Jeremy Pruitt is much smarter.
Oh my word! That’s funny!
This Georgia fan is glad to see Florida and Tennessee recruiting better.
Just as long as they don’t recruit at a higher level than Georgia.
With Kirby Smart, I think Ga will continue to dominate the SEC East in recruiting. The East getting better is a great thing for every SEC fan.
All things considered, I think Tennessee’s class was the most impressive.
I mean, I don’t hate Kaiir Elam that much. He’s definitely not UGA’s public enemy no. 1. That honor probably goes to someone like Nick Fairley. I would maybe say Chauncey Gardner as no. 2, but he got smacked upside the head and knocked out of the game by Swift for his pre-game remarks, so…
All I have to say is that Elam better be prepared to play some jump ball with our 6’5” receivers. Elam at 6’2” with 34 1/2” vertical is OK, but I will take my chances with our receivers. I hope Fromm will purposefully pick on Elam if he does indeed get playing time in GA-FL game.
Georgia still rules the roost in the east but it appears it will be a 3-4 team race again soon. Florida may prove sooner than later. Vols still a couple years away and still a question mark on coaching until Pruitt proves it on the field and in the W-L columns. he can recruit, no doubt about that. SC may join the hunt but its hard to say. So far Muschamp is not a real good head coach. This season will be difficult for them and could put him on the hot seat.
meant to say appears to be a 3 team race. I just don’t see SC getting there.
Vols have been a couple years away for about 10 years now…
Just sit down… I don’t care who Mizzou has beaten… they have never been to the top..
Mizzou has won the SEC east division twice since joining the conference.
Keep living in the past. Mizzou has been better than Tennessee since joining the SEC and that’s a fact. I don’t care if we haven’t been to the top. Our fans aren’t delusional like Tennessee. We know we’re not an elite program, but we outperform our recruiting class rankings every year and we string together a 9+ win season every 3-4 years. Mizzou hasn’t had a single recruiting class in the top 25 in the last 10 years. Tennessee hasn’t had one outside of the top 25, and look who’s been more successful…Take a seat bud.
Why are you mad online?
With this recent report of NCAA violations, it looks like they won’t be at the top next year either lol guess who else is a couple years away
If you think UT fans get hyper talking about how Missouri owns them, take a look at how they react when Vandy fans come calling.
Big talk from the Viles that CWM isn’t a good coach when he has beaten you every year he has been here. You still got that Champions of Life going on.
So you think he’s a really good coach? He has owned UT but uh so what. That change like many others is coming too. You duck man that’s all there is to it. If your claim to fame is beating the worst UT teams in history then congrats and condolences.
Muschamp is 100 – 0 vs Tennessee. LOL
Lol TN fans, off season champs as usual, as long as Muschamp continues to own the Vols he will be ok, and you are right too many question marks with Pruitt, he can recruit but can he coach, it remains to be seen. I guess talk your smack now on SC because we all know by the end of Oct you won’t have a chance to yet again.
The East has been down compared to the West. But by NO MEANS has the East been the worst division in the P5. Good grief man
When a team with 4 losses and an offense ranked in the 120s wins the division yes it is the worst division in the power 5… Before CKS second season average teams were winning the division and getting exposed in the SEC championship. The SEC East lost 8 straight conference championship. In that 8 year stretch the SEC East had an overall losing record to the SEC West. I would say that made us the worst division in the power 5.
Sounds like you got lost back in 2016
What happened when those horrible East teams faced those power houses in the Big 10 head to head? DOOOOOOOHHHHH
I agree that the East has been down while the West has been getting better but to say other conf such as the Big10, ACC and PAC12 were better is just foolishness.
When division winner Florida played Michigan(which finished 3rd in the their division) Michigan destroyed Florida 41-7… If you’re talking about when we beat Northwestern and Nebraska that’s far from powerhouse.
All that says is the west was better than the east. What does that have to do with other conferences. In the 8 straight CCG’s that the east lost how many times did the winner win or play for the National championship? Losing to the best doesn’t make you the worst.
Can we get something straight, please? THE SEC AS A WHOLE IS IN THE POWER 5 AS FAR AS CONFERENCES.
The SEC West is a division of the SEC and the SEC East is the other division of the SEC.
Just thought I would clarify that for y’all.
Uhhhhhhhh Double D I don’t recall anyone saying otherwise. You may wanna re-read the posts…
Volbeef88 21 HOURS AGO
“The East has been down compared to the West. But by NO MEANS has the East been the worst division in the P5. Good grief man”
Maaaayyyyyybe you should proofread your posts Volbeef.
Pruitt will right the ship at UT but what will his ceiling be and what will UT accept? That’s going to determine how long he lasts at UT.
Well what his ceiling is nobody knows. That’s why we have to temper to some degree. He is making a lot of good moves with the coaches IMO and is recruiting strong. Still he seemed to lose the team to an extent late last season. He is improving the roster but they still have to be coached up. For me I look for at least a 7 win season this year. I don’t think year 3 will be a major improvement because we will be breaking in a new QB but have to see. In all likelihood year 4 is where I expect to compete for the east.
The Kaiir Elam drama?No Drama just a recruiting battle for a top prospect that UF won. This UGA fan has no hard feelings toward the young man, He’s definitely not public enemy #1. I want UF and Tenn to get better. It makes the whole conference better when UGA, Tenn and UF are top programs. I could care less about the rest of the East teams getting better!! ( I really hate South Carolina)
Since UGA signed the top player in the country, our feelings towards Elam are at best neutral, who cares? He’s just another player lost in the swamp.
What an absurd comment, TN, FL, and GA being the top three is a 20 year old narrative. There is too much change especially in the East year in and year out to say that GA, FL, and TN will finish 1,2,3 in the East.
Of course I want to see Georgia remain dominant, but after that I’m hoping Kentucky and S.C. continue to be relevant (and become more so). If we return to the Georgia-Florida-Tennessee triumvirate with the rest of the division being pushovers, it will be a shame. It’d be great if Vandy gets into the mix, too. A few more years of winning records in inter-division play, some more SEC championships and a National Championship would do a lot to quiet the “West is Best” narrative.
I think Kentucky will still be playing at a high level next year. We’ve had such good continuity with some of our best position coaches the past few years, so players know what to expect. Also, even though we weren’t in the top 25, we’ve been pretty steady around the 30s and been doing pretty well with development.
Our depth isn’t going to be anywhere close to Georgia or Florida at least for the forseable future, but our 1’s should be able to hold their own across the roster, along with some 2’s.
You forget to mention we how have a multi sport star since we have a player on the fishing team.
Wonder if we will be the first SEC school to broadcast a cast by cast bass tournament?
The local rag, the Lexington Herald, is making it the major football story.
so who says we aren’t a major player in SEC football?
I’m all for that for the SEC Channel to broadcast some SEC Bass Fishing Tournaments! Heck yea! There’s just too much basketball on during the football off-season.
The bass fishing would bring in a whole different kind of SEC narrative.
Of course, I have to admit that the state of Alabama has some the best bass fishing lakes in the country, along with Florida.
“OH WOW! The STRIKE on that whopper plopper!!”
“Moving on to the next corner of the lake, where Auburn’s own Beau Radley is taking his chances with a poppin’ frog outside some lily pads.”
Well that didn’t go over like you hoped did it? I am sure is is hard being a Card in Lexington.
If he is a card he should be dealt with.
Aren’t you quite proud to have a multiple sports star a member of the football team?
And you pretend to be a Cat fan!
How’s cheerleading practice going? Are you going to get new uniforms this year? As I asked you’re alter ego, do you shave your legs, you know the part that shows below your skirt or do you just go commando?
Rah, rah!
Let’s just hope for South Carolina’s sake that Pickens doesnt get as lazy as Clowney did his last season in Columbia East.
That “lazy” comment reporters made about CLOWNEY before his draft was started by some “anonymous” cowardly writer. They CLEARLY want to devalue CLOWNEY’s stock so that THEY could get him. Nevertheless, Clowney STILL was drafter NUMBER ONE into the NFL.
BTW, after the past two sseasons of PRO BOWL SELECTION , I think Jadaveon CLOWNEY and his newly placed “FRANCHISE TAG” by the Texans turned out pretty good. What about you ???? !!!
I was never convinced the East was actually the worst Power 5 division. Especially now
Hello.