We’re less than one month removed from National Signing Day.

Some of you may think it’s too early to even discuss the 2017 class. After all, these players are six months away from kicking off their high school senior seasons.

But that would be ignoring the fact that five SEC schools already hold a commitment from a five-star player, and an additional handful from at least one four-star player. Heck, Alabama already holds eight pledges.

Tennessee is the only SEC program without a single 2017 commitment as of Wednesday afternoon.

So while it’s still super early, there’s plenty that has already happened in this recruiting cycle.

ALABAMA

  • Total commitments: 8
  • Current national rank: 2
  • Highest-rated player: Five-star RB Najee Harris

The Tide’s surge on National Signing Day means that the team is aiming for a seventh consecutive No. 1 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. It already is in position to contend for that distinction. The Tide already carries a half-dozen commitments from offensive players in the 2017 class, headlined by the nation’s No. 1 running back.

Harris, 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds out of Antioch, Calif., currently ranks as the No. 2 player in the nation, according to the composite. With Alabama very much in play for No. 1 Dylan Moses, an outside linebacker, it’s possible that the top two players in the country for the class of 2017 both head to Tuscaloosa.

For good measure, Alabama holds a pledge from another running back — Cam Akers, the No. 1 prospect in the state of Mississippi — four-star quarterback Jake Fromm and four-star running back Brian Robinson. Safety Xavier McKinney, currently the seventh-best at the position in the country, is a good start to the class on defense.

ARKANSAS

  • Total commitments: 1
  • Current national rank: 52
  • Highest-rated player: Derrick Munson

Coach Bret Bielema typically has been a slow starter in terms of recruiting. But his steady approach includes keeping most all of the top Arkansas players in-state and making a strong appeal to tight ends, running backs and linemen on both sides of the ball. There’s no reason to expect a big difference in talent in this 2017 class.

Thus far, Arkansas holds one commitment — from a Metairie, La., linebacker. It’s definitely a position of need for the Razorbacks, so it’s comforting to see the team start out with a pledge there.

AUBURN

  • Total commitments: 3
  • Current national rank: 19
  • Highest-rated player: Five-star OT Calvin Ashley

Gus Malzahn has done a heck of a job recruiting through all the ups and downs of his tenure in Auburn, most recently holding together an outstanding class despite the departure of most of his defensive coaching staff.

He’s started out the 2017 class strong as well. Orlando prospect Calvin Ashley, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound offensive tackle, is a top five player nationally. Players don’t grow on trees at that position, where there’s always a scarcity, so getting Ashley early is an advantage. Florida State is recruiting Ashley hard, though, so it will be important for Auburn to hold onto him.

Auburn also got a commitment in July from four-star athlete Alaric Williams, currently the No. 5-rated player in the state of Alabama. Williams could play running back for the Tigers.

FLORIDA

  • Total commitments: 3
  • Current national rank: 26
  • Highest-rated player: Four-star WR Daquon Green

As the Gators roster gradually shifts from players recruited by Will Muschamp to players signed by Jim McElwain, it will be interesting to track the balance of power. McElwain is expected to make great improvements to the offense — Muschamp set a low bar there — but must retain a strong defense in the meantime if he wants to compete for championships.

Early in the 2017 cycle, it’s all offense. Four-star quarterback Jake Allen — 6-foot-3 and 191 pounds — is classified as a pro-style player that seems like a fit for McElwain’s usual taste. He’ll eventually compete with Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask in Gainesville. Florida also holds a commitment from four-star receiver Daquon Green from Tampa. The program should start to become more attractive to other in-state skill players like Green.

GEORGIA

  • Total commitments: 4
  • Current national rank: 15
  • Highest-rated player: Five-star ATH Richard LeCounte III

Kirby Smart made it clear on National Signing Day that procuring some more offensive tackles will be a huge priority this cycle. That shouldn’t change even with the addition of graduate transfer Tyler Catalina, who only holds one year of eligibility.

So far, the biggest position of need addressed in this class is linebacker, as the Bulldogs hold pledges from a pair of four-star outside linebackers from the Peach State.

In fact, all four of the team’s current commitments are from the state of Georgia, including five-star athlete Richard LeCounte III. He’s just 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds, but his highlight tape reveals a kick returner, safety and receiver who attacks the ball in the air and is elusive in the open field. It sounds like he’s slated to play defense for the Bulldogs.

KENTUCKY

  • Total commitments: 6
  • Current national rank: 11
  • Highest-rated player: Three-star DE James Hudson

Once again the Wildcats are off to a lightning-quick start, a trademark of Mark Stoops since he arrived in Lexington both on and off the field.

To no one’s surprise, half of the 2017 commitments have come from Ohio, while just one of the six resides in Kentucky. Both of the top players are teammates at Central Catholic High School (Toledo, Ohio) that committed at the end of July. Some believe that defensive end James Hudson and running back Michael Warren eventually will sign with Ohio State, but UK believes it can keep the pair pointed toward Lexington.

After Hudson, all five commitments are offensive players, including Jacksonville quarterback Mac Jones and Lexington quarterback Walker Wood.

LSU

  • Total commitments: 3
  • Current national rank: 25
  • Highest-rated player: Five-star DT Tyler Shelvin

Les Miles is the SEC’s gold standard when it comes to locking down the top in-state talent. LSU got a commitment from the No. 1 Louisiana player in the ’17 class — in March 2015. And it’s a big one: As of his junior season, Shelvin weighs 329 pounds.

Another commitment is Jontre Kirklin, listed as a 166-pound athlete. Playing for Lutcher (La.) High School as a dual-threat quarterback in 2015, the four-star recruit scored 58 total touchdowns. He won’t be a quarterback at LSU, but he could make for an interesting skill player or kick returner.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

  • Total commitments: 5
  • Current national rank: 17
  • Highest-rated player: Four-star QB Keytaon Thompson

We’ve already established that it’s not easy to go into Louisiana and pull out any of the top 10 talent in a given class. LSU signed nine such players in the class of 2016. But already Mississippi State holds a pledge from Thompson, a four-star dual-threat quarterback from New Orleans. That’s in part because LSU is expected to eventually sign another four-star dual-threat quarterback from the state in Lowell Narcisse.

Three of the team’s five commitments thus far are pledges from the state’s community college system, including the top-rated tight end, offensive tackle and athlete from the 2017 JUCO composite rankings. Normally coach Dan Mullen plays new members of the team as sparingly as any SEC coach, but one or two of those JUCO guys could help right away.

MISSOURI

  • Total commitments: 1
  • Current national rank: 44
  • Highest-rated player: Four-star ATH Daron Davis

Barry Odom seemingly has prioritized the perpetuation of “Mizzou Made,” including an even greater emphasis on mining the state’s best prep talent. He’s got a long way to go, and it’s important that the team upgrade its recruiting — or the Tigers are in for some more inconsistency from season to season as we’ve seen in the last four years.

Odom has a long way to go, but the team did secure a commitment from Davis on Nov. 6. A 6-foot-2, 190-pound offensive playmaker, he’s rated as the No. 2 player in the state in the 2017 class.

OLE MISS

  • Total commitments: 2
  • Current national rank: 28
  • Highest-rated player: Four-star WR D.D. Bowie

What will coach Hugh Freeze do as an encore? And will the NCAA have anything to say about it? Those surely will be among the most intriguing questions within the SEC during this recruiting cycle.

One of the consistent attributes of Ole Miss’ recruiting during the Freeze tenure is the ability to consistently replenish at receiver. It’s no surprise that the first member of this class was Bowie, a 6-foot-1 wideout from Morton, Miss.

The Rebels also got a commitment from Markel Winters, a junior college defensive end, on Feb. 9. Winters committed in the middle of the media storm involving the NCAA inquiry, a strong statement by the young man. Freeze also has been on record saying that the Rebels are prioritizing defensive linemen in the 2017 class, so a JUCO player who could contribute right away represents a good start.

SOUTH CAROLINA

  • Total commitments: 1
  • Current national rank: 46
  • Highest-rated player: Three-star TE Will Register

The real bounty in the state of South Carolina comes in 2018, as there are already a trio of five-star players in that class. Will Muschamp and his recruiting-oriented staff need to use this cycle to establish some strong relationships within the state in an attempt to ensure that Dabo Swinney and Clemson don’t dominate inside the state for years to come.

For what it’s worth, the Gamecocks hold the only commitment from the top 10 South Carolina prep players in the 2017 class — Register, a 6-foot-4 tight end from Chapin, S.C.

TENNESSEE

  • Total commitments: 0
  • Current national rank: N/A
  • Highest-rated player: N/A

As previously mentioned, the Volunteers are the only SEC program currently without a commitment for the 2017 class. But we expect this to be yet another banner year for Butch Jones and UT in recruiting, in part because the state of Tennessee is flush with excellent prospects.

If UT can secure one or both of the five-star players — athlete JaCoby Stevens (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and receiver Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) both are considering the Volunteers — it would represent a great start. There are several four-star players in the state capable of making an impact in the SEC as well.

TEXAS A&M

  • Total commitments: 3
  • Current national rank: 22
  • Highest-rated player: Five-star QB Tate Martell

Reinforcements are coming at quarterback, Aggies fans. And that’s a good thing, because Trevor Knight is a temporary fix.

Martell is the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 class. He committed in August 2015, and he’s held that verbal promise through all of the drama of the last several months. At 5-foot-11, he’s another vertically challenged signal-caller. But he seems capable of being a long-term answer at the position for the Aggies, whether that’s immediately in 2017 or it takes him a year or two to develop.

The Aggies also hold a commitment from four-star receiver Mannie Netherly. There’s no reason to doubt that Texas A&M should continue to draw interest from touted in-state skill players.

VANDERBILT

  • Total commitments: 1
  • Current national rank: 53
  • Highest-rated player: Three-star RB Lamont Atkins

Derek Mason and the Commodores need all the help they can get on offense.

With young quarterbacks Kyle Shurmur and Deuce Wallace a part of the last two classes, Vanderbilt looks as good at that position in the next two or three years as it has in quite a while. But the team can use as many good offensive linemen, receivers and running backs as it can convince to attend college in Nashville.

The first commitment the team secured in 2017 is from Atkins, an all-purpose back from Burke, Va. To borrow an admittedly tired term, Atkins’ high school highlights show “SEC speed,” so Vandy would do well to hold off Virginia and sign him next February.