The SEC is still the premier conference in college football, and they dominate the recruiting trail like no one else. Here are the top recruits that could impact that SEC race next year, along with the conference's best, most surprising, and most disappointing recruiting classes:
Derrick Brown, DT - Buford, GA
Brown, the No. 9 prospect in the country, has had Georgia as the favorite to land him for some time. That being said, Tennessee is making a very, very strong late push to land the coveted prospect, and his decision will play a major factor in the SEC East race.
Ben Davis, LB - Gordo, AL
Davis released his Top 5 (in order) of Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame and Auburn in early December. UGA and Bama are lapping the field, according to several top recruiting sites, and the Tide may have pulled ahead with a month or so to do until National Signing Day. Davis is considered the consensus #1 inside linebacker in the class and a future first-round draft pick.
Lyndell Wilson, LB - Montgomery, AL
Wilson is the top outside linebacker in the country, grew up in Alabama, and him and Davis are thought to be a package deal. Not coincidentally, the Tide have Wilson circled as one of the top guys on their list. Florida has gone after him hard, but it's hard to imagine the strong, athletic 6'2", 220-pounder ending up anywhere other than Tuscaloosa.
Terrell Hall, DE - Washington, DC
Alabama has been the leader for Hall for awhile, but upheaval on the coaching staff (mainly DC Kirby Smart's departure) has levelled the playing field. He had a fantastic visit to Florida State, but reports indicate that Alabama nearly sealed the deal with him on their official visit last weekend. Arizona State, UCLA and Maryland will vie for his last official visit, with Maryland standing as a legit dark horse to get his pledge on National Signing Day.
Recruiting Class That Will Surprise: Alabama Crimson Tide
The constant mention of Alabama in the the race to land almost all of the prospects listed above should give you the indication that the Tide are poised to make a huge breakthrough on Signing Day. Alabama already has one of the best recruiting classes in the country, but they're far from done. Along with Davis, Wison, and Hall, four-star CB Nigel Knott and four-star WR A.J. Brown are expected to sign with Alabama, which will give them another five top 100 prospects in their recruiting class.
That's something that would be the centerpiece of any top recruiting class, but to land all of those guys on Signing Day would be something incredibly special.
Most Disappointing Class: Vanderbilt Commodores
The Commodores have the worst recruiting class in the conference, as could be expected, but there's no indication that they have a chance to add anyone of significance on Signing Day. For a team that needs some significant improvement on the field, their lack of recruiting doesn't give them a lot of hope for the future.
Alabama has a very strong chance to take over this spot with a dominant Signing Day, but the Tigers have the best class in the conference and rank No. 2 nationally. They already have one five-star and 14 four-star commitments, and are in position to add several other high-rated prospects on Feb. 3. If that happens, they should have enough to jump Ohio State and could hold off Alabama for that No. 1 spot.
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