News Article: SEC recruiting overview - how the SEC stacked up

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SEC recruiting overview - how the SEC stacked up
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief
Feb. 7, 2009

Here’s a brief synopsis of all SEC recruiting classes, ranked in order of analyzed strength:

1. Alabama
Key signings: OL D.J. Fluker, RB Trent Richardson, LB Nico Johnson
Underrated: OL Chance Warmack, FB Mike Marrow
Total talent level (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr): Ex
Needs filled: Ex
Analysis: Two back-to-back No. 1 recruiting classes is more than even the most optimistic Alabama fan probably could have dreamt of prior to the season, but it happened. Alabama filled every need on its board with the exception of free safety, which marked the only real loss attributable to Lance Thompson’s departure (Alabama would probably have landed Darren Myles). Everywhere else, Alabama got what it needed and then some. Dre Kirkpatrick was the only cornerback Alabama signed, but he’s a top-five player at his position. Both lines of scrimmage are now as overstuffed as a Christmas turkey. The running back duo of Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy is better than any duo signed anywhere else. Alabama got a quarterback (A.J. McCarron) and although the Tide didn’t get a huge name at receiver, it signed four players ranked 9.7 or above. Overlooked by most fans, however, was a linebacker signing class made up of two superstars (Nico Johnson, Tana Patrick) one blue-collar plugger with incredible strength (Petey Smith) and an outside backer with unlimited upside (Jonathan Atchison). With this class, Alabama vaults to no worse than No. 3 in total talent in the SEC behind Florida and LSU, perhaps even coming in ahead of Georgia. It’s been a long time coming for Alabama to get back to this point, but the Crimson Tide is here.

2. LSU
Key signings: WR Reuben Randle, S Craig Loston, DT Chris Davenport
Underrated: DT Akiem Hicks, LB Bar’Kevious Mingo
Total talent level: Ex
Needs filled: Ex
Analysis: Until LSU lost S Janzen Jackson to Tennessee the day after Signing Day, it could have been argued that the Tigers were as good or maybe even better than Alabama. There still isn’t much difference between these two classes. LSU got the No. 1 wide receiver and safety in America with Randle and Loston, and almost lost in the shuffle was DT Chris Davenport. From the second level, LSU got JUCO DT Akiem Hicks, who if his measurables are correct, could be one of the biggest impact newcomers anywhere in the country next year. LSU got a star quarterback (Russell Shepard), and a pair of talented defenders with almost unlimited upside, LB Bar’Kevious Mingo and DE Sam Montgomery. The Tigers reached at offensive tackle, however, when it took Josh Williford. Bottom line, LSU isn’t going anywhere, and established itself in this class as a solid foil for Alabama and Saban. LSU and the Tide should be at the top of the SEC West together for many years.

3. Georgia
Key signings: WR Marlon Brown, CB Branden Smith, QB Aaron Murray
Underrated: S Shawn Williams, LB Mike Gilliard
Total talent level: Ex
Needs filled: Vg
Analysis: Although short on numbers, Georgia put together a very top-heavy class that addresses the few needs the Bulldogs still had leftover from 2008. Georgia got two quarterbacks, including the promising Aaron Murray, and CB Branden Smith could be a starter from the time he arrives on campus. But the major coup was stealing WR Marlon Brown from the clutches of Tennessee, especially after new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin all but identified Brown by name and promised to make his stand over Brown’s recruitment. Consider it a lesson learned for young Kiffin. Between Brown and Rantavious Wooten, Georgia grabbed a couple of playmakers to fit opposite A.J. Green. The Bulldogs served notice to Florida that it wouldn’t be quietly slinking off in the SEC East.

4. Florida
Key signings: DT Gary Brown, LB Jelani Jenkins, OT Xavier Nixon
Underrated: S Josh Evans, OL Kyle Koehne
Total talent level: Vg
Needs filled: Vg
Analysis: This was a solid recruiting class for Florida, but not a spectacular one, and was marked as much by the players the Gators missed on as it was by the ones they signed. Continuing a pattern that has popped up several times in recent decades, the defending national champion didn’t automatically grab everyone it wanted. Nearly every prospect Florida went head-to-head with Alabama for, the Crimson Tide got. Florida lost DB/WRs Greg Reid to Florida State and Marsalis Teague to Tennessee, but it did grab Andre Debose. Debose, however, doesn’t have the size to go up against some of the league’s bigger defensive backs despite his other talents. Probably the best thing Florida did was grab a star-studded offensive line class, including superstar tackle Xavier Nixon and one of the shiniest diamonds in the rough, Kyle Koehne, in addition to three others. QB Jordan Reed is another that could one day be a better player than analysts predict. This was a good effort from Florida recruiters, but Georgia closed the gap with the Gators somewhat and Florida will need to do a little better next year in order to stay at the top of the division.

5. South Carolina
Key signings: CB Stephon Gilmore, S Demario Jeffery, DE Leon Mackey
Underrated: WR DeMario Bennett, OL Steve Singleton
Total talent level: Vg
Needs filled: Ex
Analysis: South Carolina was clearly the surprise team in the SEC in 2009 recruiting. Head coach Steve Spurrier answered critics who said he might be washed up and tired of the recruiting trails by signing 29 players, only a handful of them projects, and largely filling every need on the team. In fact, it could be argued that no team, not even Alabama, more completely cleared its checklist like South Carolina. The defensive back tandem of Stephon Gilmore and Demario Jeffery figure to earn early playing time in 2009, while DE Leon Mackey should also be a lock to play. South Carolina finally put an end to the revolving door present in its offensive line by taking two mammoth JUCO guards, Steve Singleton and Rokevious Watkins. The linebacker haul came close to getting into Alabama’s territory, and there are plenty of athletes and multi-position players in the class. If the total talent level had been just a half-notch higher, the Gamecocks would have leapt Florida. The Gamecocks continue to pull ahead of Tennessee with this class.

6. Tennessee
Key signings: CB/S Janzen Jackson, S Darren Myles, WR Nu’Keese Richardson
Underrated: LB Greg King, DE Rae Sykes
Total talent level: Vg
Needs filled: Av
Analysis: Tennessee did better than a lot of pundits wanted to give the Vols credit for, but it was the after-Signing Day inking of defensive back Janzen Jackson that really allowed Tennessee to separate from the second-half pack. Still, there is a fairly strong dividing line between South Carolina and Tennessee, mostly because the Volunteers did a shabby job of shoring up deficiencies on its offensive and defensive lines. JerQuari Schofield is a fine tackle prospect, but Kevin Revis wouldn’t even get a sniff from Tennessee in most years and he’s the only other offensive lineman signed. Defensively, the Vols got only one tackle, Arthur Jeffery, about whom many questions abound concerning his ability. JUCO DE Rae Sykes, however, has nice upside if used properly. But while Tennessee struck out in the trenches, the Vols made up for it somewhat by adding badly needed playmakers to its offense. WRs Nu’Keese Richardson and Marsalis Teague were highly sought by most programs across the South. RB Toney Williams isn’t very fast, but he should give Tennessee a between-the-tackles banger. Defensively, the Vols stole S Darren Myles from Alabama and LSU, while CB Eric Gordon will be an instant contributor if he can get qualified. Tennessee has assembled a strong cast of recruiters, and next year’s class should be better because of it. Tennessee should hope so, at least, because while this effort wasn’t bad, it’s not enough to make the Vols into a championship program again.

7. Arkansas
Key signings: CB Darius Winston, DE DeQuinta Jones, RB Ronnie Wingo
Underrated: OL Zhamal Thomas, WR Neal Barlow
Total talent level: Av
Needs filled: Vg
Analysis: Bobby Petrino’s first real recruiting class predictably found the Razorbacks transitioning from a slow, smashmouth team under Houston Nutt to something with a little more speed. The offensive line was first in line to get a makeover, and Arkansas responded by signing at least six new linemen, headed by the underrated Zhamal Thomas. JUCO influence was heavy in the secondary, as Arkansas appeared to realize its current players there just didn’t equal a true SEC defensive backfield. The three biggest names, though, were high-schoolers: CB Darius Winston, RB Ronnie Wingo and DE DeQuinta Jones. Winston and Jones had dozens of offers, while Wingo can play four or five different positions at the college level. Many were expecting Petrino to make a bigger splash this year, but the reality is that Arkansas is a difficult draw for out-of-state talent. In all honesty, this is about as good as Arkansas has been able to do in recent years and it’s good enough – if repeated for the next couple of years – to lift Arkansas to a solid third in the SEC West.

8. Mississippi State
Key signings: QB Tyler Russell, DE Fletcher Cox, DT Josh Boyd
Underrated: WR/CB Darius Slay, LB Chris White
Total talent level: Vg
Needs filled: Fr
Analysis: Mississippi State drew the greatest collection of talent since the heyday of the Jackie Sherrill administration, but MSU allowed its class to get horribly imbalanced. Nine wide receivers were signed, while only three interior linemen were signed on both sides of the ball combined. The entire class is a dichotomy. First, there is the get of QB Tyler Russell, which was absolutely crucial to this class given the quarterback situation in Starkville. DE Fletcher Cox and the only DT signed, Josh Boyd, could have played for anyone in the conference. As for the wide receivers, take your pick. Slot WR Chad Bumphis is considered the best of the bunch by many scouts, but Chris Smith, Jonathan Banks and speed burner Ricco Sanders may have something to say about it before things are done. The steal of the class may have been Darius Slay. Qualifying will be close, but if he makes it, he projects as anything from quarterback to running back to receiver to defensive back. New head coach Dan Mullen had to make a splash and did, for the most part, but the Bulldogs cannot ignore the lines of scrimmage again – especially since the players currently in those positions are much below average for a SEC team.

9. Ole Miss
Key signings: OL Bobby Massie, WR Patrick Patterson, RB Darius Barksdale
Underrated: TE Zaccheus Mason, RB Tim Simon
Total talent level: Av
Needs filled: Av
Analysis: When you sign 37 players, it’s hard not to fill needs, at least on paper. The real question is which dozen or so players aren’t going to qualify and make it into fall camp. Assuming all the big dogs make it, the stealing of OL Bobby Massie from Alabama and Georgia on Signing Day was a huge coup. WR Patrick Patterson has scouts divided – some say he’s too slow; others think he’s the equal of Alabama’s Julio Jones – but the important thing is Ole Miss got him and he’ll probably qualify. Ole Miss also stole QB Raymond Cotton from Auburn and got DE D.T. Shackelford from Tennessee. How good this class really is will have to wait until fall, when the inevitable and heavy attrition hits. But for now, this second-year effort from Houston Nutt looks promising.

10. Auburn
Key signings: TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, WR Deangelo Benton, QB Tyrik Rollison
Underrated: DT Nick Fairley, LB Harris Gaston
Total talent level: Av
Needs filled: Fr
Analysis: There’s a big gap from Ole Miss down to Auburn and this recruiting effort could almost be called dismal. Qualifying issues look likely to claim QB Tyrik Rollison before he ever gets to campus, and could also be an issue for WR Deangelo Benton, who Auburn got only when LSU pulled its scholarship offer late in the process in order to secure Reuben Randle. The bigger issue here, however, is that Auburn got absolutely obliterated in in-state recruiting. Of the state’s top dozen or so players, Auburn got only one, DT Jamar Travis, who Alabama didn’t offer. Every in-state player Alabama wanted, Alabama got, as well as the fact Alabama beat Auburn in all but one head-to-head battle, that one being TE Philip Lutzenkirchen. Digging deeper, Auburn got almost shut out of offensive line recruiting, picking up two other players that had drawn little interest elsewhere. If Rollison can’t make the grade, the only other QB signed was Clint Moseley, who has grave questions about his arm strength. Defensively, the linebacker recruiting is just average and most of the defensive backfield targets Auburn signed are raw. If the report cards are kind to Auburn in May, the Tigers should be able to reload a bit at the skill positions, but given how Alabama is pulling away from the Tigers, a similar effort to this one in 2010 isn’t going to cut it.

11. Kentucky
Key signings: QB Ryan Mossakowski, WR Chris Matthews, DE DeQuin Evans
Underrated: WR LaRod King, LB Demetri Merritt
Total talent level: Av
Needs filled: Fr
Analysis: It boggles the mind how Kentucky can put up such solid seasons as the last two but still be unable to lift itself out of the SEC recruiting basement. Things got off to a nice start, as Kentucky took an early commitment from QB Ryan Mossakowski, who had dozens of offers. But then it ended up the same old Kentucky on Signing Day. There is talent here – WR Chris Matthews and DE DeQuin Evans both have bright futures – and LB Demetri Merritt has the frame to develop into a true pain machine. But there are still too many reaches along the lines of scrimmage, particularly at defensive tackle. The Wildcats could also have used another secondary player or two. All in all, not a bad effort for Kentucky, but nowhere near championship level.

12. Vanderbilt
Key signings: WR Brady Brown, CB Eddie Foster, TE Mason Johnson
Underrated; WR Eric Samuels, OL Justin Cabbagestalk
Total talent level: Fr
Needs filled: Fr
Analysis: Vanderbilt, as is typical, brings up the rear, although the overall collection of talent is higher than it’s been at times in the recent past. CB Eddie Foster has nice speed and TE Mason Johnson is close to being battle-ready now. But the reality for Vanderbilt is that recruiting at this level isn’t the way to make repeat bowl appearances. The Commodores are a solid 12th, a noticeable step back from even 11th-place Kentucky. There isn’t enough beef in the linemen, speed in the receivers or polish in the quarterbacks. Will anything ever change?