Eight top 100 prospects are currently committed to SEC schools for 2017
Year in and year out, the SEC claims a good chunk — most of the time, the majority — of the nation’s top high school talent.
It looks like 2017 will be no different. Eight of the top 100 prospects for the ’17 recruiting class are currently committed to SEC schools, and with it being only March, that number will be expected to skyrocket over the months, as 65 of them remain uncommitted.
Here’s how the list looks at the moment:
- (Rank: No. 1) Najee Harris, 5-star RB, Alabama Crimson Tide
Watch a few plays from Harris’ highlight tape and you’ll soon know why he’s ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in his class. Alabama has become a factory for producing some of the best running backs in the country, and it won’t stop with him.
- (No. 7) Calvin Ashley, 5-star OT, Auburn Tigers
Ashley, who committed to Auburn last May, is a 6-foot-6, 305-pound behemoth that ranks as the second-best offensive tackle in his class. It’s safe to say that the Tigers are getting an anchor for their line for the next 3-4 years.
- (No. 13) Tyler Shelvin, 5-star DT, LSU Tigers
Shelvin, the No. 1 prospect in the state of Louisiana, is staying home to play for Les Miles and LSU. At 6-foot-3, 330 pounds, the Tigers are getting a big-bodied, athletic tackle that is used to overpowering his opponents on an every-down basis.
- (No. 29) Tate Martell, 5-star QB, Texas A&M Aggies
The best dual-threat quarterback in the 2017 class is headed to Texas A&M. A bit undersized (tell me if you’ve heard that before with an A&M quarterback), Martell makes up for it with a live arm and elite mobility both inside and outside of the pocket.
- (No. 31) Richard LeCounte III, 4-star S, Georgia Bulldogs
What can’t LeCounte do? He’s a star quarterback for Liberty County HS, but will excel as a defensive back at the college level — and that’s exactly where Georgia will use him. One of the better athletes in his class, a little coaching and development could turn LeCounte into a star defender in the SEC in the coming years.
- (No. 53) Jake Fromm, 4-star QB, Georgia Bulldogs
Fromm surprised a few when he flipped from Alabama to Georgia earlier this month due to the Bulldogs’ signing of 2016 quarterback Jacob Eason (5 star). Either way, coach Kirby Smart is getting yet another outstanding pocket passer, as Fromm possesses all the tools necessary to be a successful SEC quarterback.
- (No. 55) Alex Leatherwood, 4-star OT, Alabama Crimson Tide
Leatherwood is a powerful offensive tackle that will thrive as a run-first blocker for Alabama. At 6-foot-5, 295 pounds with great balance between upper and lower body strength, it’s likely that he’ll be utilized on the right side of the line under Nick Saban.
- (No. 57) D.D. Bowee, 4-star WR, Ole Miss Rebels
Simply defined as a playmaker, Bowee produced over 1,500 yards of offense as a sophomore in 2015 and is at his best when running downfield and given the option to make a play on the ball while in the air. He could have a future at corner, but there’s a lot of value with him lining up on offense.