If a 7-2 bowl record was not enough for SEC fans, the conference seems poised to finish atop the recruiting world as well. With two weeks left until National Signing Day, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and LSU boast classes ranked in the top 25 of both Scout.com and Rivals.com’s recruiting rankings.
While this may be good for the Southeastern Conference’s already sterling reputation, it also represents yet another influx of talent for four powerhouses that are all coincidentally on LSU’s 2008 schedule.
In a time when freshman prodigies such as Tim Tebow and Knowshon Moreno contribute from day one, these are the fresh faces that Tiger fans would be wise to be wary of.
Alabama Crimson Tide, Rivals class ranking: 3, Scout class ranking: 2 In his first full season recruiting for the Tide, Nick Saban has solidified his reputation as a master recruiter. Among the 26 prospects that have committed to Alabama, St. Paul’s Episcopal linebacker Mark Barron from Mobile, Ala., would have to be considered the top prize.
Scout.com listed Barron as the best linebacker in the nation and still found time to star at both wide receiver and running back. Barron led St. Paul’s to the Alabama Class 5A state title with six tackles as well as 91 rushing yards in the championship game. Barron may start for the Crimson Tide as a true freshman.
Auburn Tigers, Rivals class ranking: 16, Scout class ranking: 21 For any LSU fans celebrating the graduation of former Auburn sack master and first-team All-SEC defensive end Quentin Groves, remember the name Raven Gray. Gray, a five-star defensive end, signed with Auburn in 2006 but spent the 2007 season at Copiah-Lincoln Community College because of academic ineligibility.
As a freshman at Copiah-Lincoln, Gray made both the All-State and All-Region teams. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall and running a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, Gray should be a solid replacement for his fearsome predecessor.
Florida Gators, Rivals class ranking: 1, Scout class ranking: 6
It seemed as though Florida coach Urban Meyer’s 2007 class would be a slight disappointment compared to previous years, but the Gators’ fortunes have dramatically improved with the recent commitment of Omar Hunter, a five-star talent and Scout.com’s second-ranked defensive tackle in the country. Hunter announced his commitment to Florida on Tuesday after considering offers from Auburn, Clemson, Notre Dame and USC. Hunter’s decision adds to the star power of Florida’s incoming defensive commits, which includes top-ranked safety prospect Will Hill of Jersey City, N.J.
If the Gator offense wasn’t powerful enough with Heisman winner Tim Tebow and speedster wide receiver Percy Harvin returning, it may have gotten better.
Five-star wide receiver and junior college transfer Carl Moore has enrolled early for spring football. Moore is 6-feet-4-inches tall and should contribute immediately in place of departed Florida wide receiver Andre Caldwell.
Georgia Bulldogs, Rivals class ranking: 4, Scout class ranking: 3 It’s simply an embarrassment of riches for the Georgia Bulldogs. The team that finished 2007 on a seven-game winning streak and ranked in the top five of every final poll returns all but a handful of starters and currently has one of the best recruiting classes in the country. The Bulldogs return running back Knowshon Moreno and have a commitment from Richard Samuel, one of the premier running backs in the 2008 class. Samuel committed to Georgia immediately following the 2006 season, and he had Dawg fans drooling all season with 1,429 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns for Cass High School. On top of that, Samuel played well at linebacker with 82 tackles in his senior season. The addition of Summerville, S.C., wide receiver A.J. Green could give Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford a new target in the coming season. Green is the consensus second-ranked wide receiver in the country and could give a boost to a receiving corps that loses its leader, senior Sean Bailey.
—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]