2016 National Signing Day has come to a close, which means it's time to look back on the day (and recruiting cycle) that was and assess what we've seen. With that being said, here's our SEC Football Recruiting: Ranking And Breaking Down The 2016 Classes.
(Note: All rankings courtesy of the fine folks over at 247Sports)
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (24)
National Ranking: 11
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star ILB Ben Davis
5-Star OLB Lyndell Wilson
5-Star OT Jonah Williams
Break Down:
We're still dizzy from Alabama's closing stretch on Wednesday. Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson are the highlights of one of the most impressive Signing Day sprees we've ever seen -- a fireworks display which vaulted Bama from the fringe of the top ten to the top of most national recruiting services' class ranking lists. For more on Alabama's recruiting class, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.
2. LSU Tigers (24)
National Ranking: 3
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star CB Kristian Fulton
5-Star DT Rashard Lawrence
4-Star CB Saivion Smith
Break Down:
Landing a future shutdown cornerback (Fulton) on Signing Day was a huge win for an awesome recruiting class which has us scratching our head about past Les Miles firing rumors. The Tigers fell from #1 overall with the Rise of the Tide, but this class is built deep and strong enough to overtake Bama in future value.
3. Ole Miss Rebels (24)
National Ranking: 6
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star QB Shea Patterson
5-Star DT Benito Jones
5-Star OT Gregory Little
Break Down:
Get ready, Ole Miss fans. Things are going from great to fantastic with the legit elite recruiting victories head coach Huge Freeze is putting together. If Shea Patterson isn't a Heisman candidate by his junior year, we owe you twenty bucks. For more on Ole Miss' recruiting class, download the Chat Sports Android and iPhone app.
4. Georgia Bulldogs (20)
National Ranking: 7
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star QB Jacob Eason
5-Star ATH Mecole Hardman Jr.
5-Star TE Isaac Nauta
Break Down:
There was no rest for Kirby Smart after finishing his duties as defensive coordinator for Bama in their national title win. He jumped right onto the recruiting trail, polishing off a top-heavy 2016 class full of superstar potential. Get ready for plenty of Jacob Eason to Isaac Nauta radio calls in Athens.
5. Auburn Tigers (21)
National Ranking: 9
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star DT Derrick Brown
4-Star DE Antwuan Jackson
4-Star WR Nate Craig-Myers
Break Down:
The fifth of five Top 10 classes in the SEC, Auburn's landing of elite defensive tackle Derrick Brown on Signing Day was the perfect capper to a blue-chip class. Watch our for Craig-Myers -- he's going to be a star at the next two levels (college, NFL), no doubt.
6. Florida Gators (25)
National Ranking: 13
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star WDE Antonneous Clayton
4-Star WR Tyrie Cleveland
4-Star CB Chauncey Gardner
Break Down:
You gotta feel bad for the Gators. They entered Signing Day pretty much done with their recruiting efforts and sitting pretty in the National Top 5. Yet, big-time finishes for several top programs dropped them to #13 by the end of Wednesday. Still, there's nothing to feel bad about here.
7. Tennessee Volunteers (21)
National Ranking: 14
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star S Nigel Warrior
4-Star QB Jarrett Guarantano
4-Star SDE Jonathan Kongbo
Break Down:
This is one of the best undersung recruiting clases in the nation. Guarantano's a great heir apparent for Josh Dobbs, and #1 overall JUCO recruit Jonathan Kongbo is a beast. Butch Jones has plenty to smile about regarding his fantastic 2016 finish.
8. Texas A&M Aggies (21)
National Ranking: 18
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star SDE Justin Madubuike
4-Star OT Kellen Diesch
4-Star WR Quartney Davis
Break Down:
The Aggies finish off an insane run of eight Top 20 overall classes in the conference. In any other conference, this'd be a Top 3 haul or better. In the SEC, this is a cache good enough to compete but not stellar enough to blow other programs away.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks (20)
National Ranking: 25
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star SDE McTelvin Agim
4-Star RB Devwah Whaley
4-Star DT Austin Capps
Break Down:
Head coach Bret Bielema took major flak for insinuating improprieties by other coaching staffs on the trail, but that's no matter here. Arkansas still has a rock-solid class, headlined by a future 1st-round NFL Draft pick in McTelvin Agim.
10. South Carolina Gamecocks (26)
National Ranking: 26
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star QB Brandon McIlwain
4-Star WR Bryan Edwards
4-Star DT Stephon Taylor
Break Down:
The McIlwain/Edwards duo are going to do some aerial damage in the SEC, but this 2016 class is still a gamble. 15 of the 26 recruits are receivers (7) or defensive linemen (8), which is fine considering those are the program's two biggest areas of need. However, things need to pan out in both of those areas or the overall value of this class drops.
11. Mississippi State Bulldogs (18)
National Ranking: 31
Top 3 Commits:
5-Star WDE Jeffery Simmons
4-Star WDE Marquiss Spencer
4-Star DT Kobe Jones
Break Down:
This is all about Jeffery Simmons, after the elite pass rusher spurned Ole Miss and their high-profile recruiting class for a four-year stay in Starkville. He's the headliner for what'll be an impactful reboot for the program's defensive line.
12. Kentucky Wildcats (25)
National Ranking: 34
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star OT Landon Young
4-Star ILB Kash Daniel
4-Star OC Drake Jackson
Break Down:
The last of a banner run of 12 National Top 35 classes for the SEC, Kentucky has stacked the depth on both the offensive and defensive lines with nine combined prospects. The building blocks are here, but the competition is fierce.
13. Missouri Tigers (18)
National Ranking: 53
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star RB Natereace Strong
3-Star TE Brendan Scales
3-Star WDE Tre Williams
Break Down:
This class took a tumble for two reasons -- Gary Pinkel's abrupt retirement and the opposite of a Signing Day flourish as Mizzou watched top targeted talent go elsewhere. Strong's going to be a lead back before long, but there's not much oomph elsewhere.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (20)
National Ranking: 54
Top 3 Commits:
4-Star CB Joejuan Williams
3-Star S Zaire Jones
3-Star QB Deuce Wallace
Break Down:
This would be an average recruiting class in most other Power 5 conferences, but it's a bottom feeder in the dog-eat-dog SEC. Deuce Wallace could be a blue-chip talent under center, though.