Which team in the SEC had the best recruiting class?

GAINESVILLE -- Was meaning to breakdown the SEC's 12 recruiting classes on Thursday but I was busy writing about Tennessee's Boy Wonder. Hey, the guy knows how to stick his foot in his mouth almost as good as he knows how to recruit, apparently. Only time will tell, of course. Anyone other than me looking foward to the Janoris Jenkins vs. Nu'Keese Richardson match-up next season? More importantly, anyone other than me totally digging the Academy Award weekend on AMC?

Before we breakdown every team in the league, let's review the three major recruiting rankings: Rivals, Scouts and ESPN.

DON'T FORGET to vote in the poll at the bottom of this post! This post took awhile.

Team          Class Size     Rivals Scouts ESPN
Alabama            27              1        2         2
Arkansas           31              15      23       20
Auburn               28             19       19       25
Florida               16              10      13        5
Georgia              18              9        10       6
Kentucky            29             42       32      n/a
LSU                   24              2        4         1
Mississippi         37             18       12       22
Miss. State         27             23       22       23
South Carolina    29             12       9         12
Tennessee         20              17      20        15
Vanderbilt           17             73      67        n/a

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Top prospects: OL D.J. Fluker, LBs Nico Johnson and Tana Patrick, WRs Kendall Kelly and Michael Bowman, CB Dre Kirkpatrick and RB Trent Richardson
Floridians: Richardson (Escambia Pensacola), LB Petey Smith (Seffner Armwood), DE Ed Stinson (Homestead South Dade)
The Buzz: For the second consecutive year, Alabama coach Nick Saban pulled together one of the nation's best recruiting classes. Signed nine players from ESPN's Top 150, compared to seven last year. Fluker is expected to fill the void left by OL Andre Smith, who is off to the NFL Draft. WRs Kendall Kelly and Michael Bowman will take pressure off of sophomore-to-be WR Julio Jones. RB Trent Richardson could by the SEC next great back. CB Dre Kirkpatrick is the considered the top cover man in the nation.
LINKS: Trent Richardon caps national signing day's top class; Nick Saban signing day press conference; Fast close lands another historic class; Bios on Alabama's signing class  

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS
  Top prospects: DBs Darius Winston and Rudell Crim, RB Knile Davis, OL Anthony Oden, ATH Ronnie Wingo, Jr.
Floridians: ATH Lance Ray (Havana East Gadsden), DT Kevin Lowery (Gainesville High), OL Shauntez Bruce (Tallahassee Lincoln)
The Buzz: Hogs coach Bobby Petrino signed three of Arkansas' top-five prospects, including CB Darius Winston, who was the No.3 CB in the nation (Rivals). At 6-8, 328 pounds, OL Anthony Oden of Hargrave Military Academy could compete for playing time as a freshman.
LINKS: How do you make 31 prospects equal 25?; Petrino on his way to getting players he needs; Hogs DC Willy Robinson's connections lead to West Coast pipeline; CB Winston highlights Hogs' 2009 recruiting class; Bios on Arkansas' signing class

AUBURN TIGERS
Top prospects: RBs Onterio McCalebb and Dontae Aycock, QB Tyrik Rollison, WRs DeAngelo Benton and Emory Blake, TE Philip Lutzenkirchen
Floridians: RB Dontae Aycock (Tampa Chamberlain)
The Buzz: Auburn first-year coach Gene Chizik inherited some prospects from Tommy Tuberville and added a few of his own to salvage this class. Tight End Philip Lutzenkirchen chose Auburn over Florida and, as usual, the Tigers signed some quality defenders.
LINKS: Video of Auburn coach Gene Chizik's press conference; Benton and Blake could have immediate impact; Bios on Auburn's signing class

FLORIDA GATORS
Top prospects: LBs Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins, DT Gary Brown, OLs Xavier Nixon and Nick Alajajian, WR Andre Debose
The Buzz: Florida coach Urban Meyer made the most of his limited number of scholarships. The Gators landed two of the best linebackers in the nation. Both will contribute on special teams next season. WR Andre Debose will help fill the void left by Percy Harvin.
LINKS: Bios on Florida's signing class; Transcript of Meyer's signing-day press conference

GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Top prospects: DB Branden Smith, WR Marlon Brown, QB Aaron Murray, RB Washaun Ealey; DT Abry Jones; DT Austin Long
The Floridians: QB Aaron Murray (Tampa Plant), WR Rantavious Wooten (Belle Glade Glades Central)
The Buzz: Georgia finished strong with the commitment of WR Marlon Brown on National Signing Day. The Bulldogs could add to their receiving corps with the late addition of tight end/receiver Orson Charles of Tampa Plant. Plant's high school quarterback, Aaron Murray, is an athletic quarterback with a live arm. Braden Smith could start next year in place of former UGA cornerback Asher Allen.
LINKS: UGA recruiting central by the AJC; Bios of UGA's prospects; Videos of UGA's signing day press conference and videos of recruits

KENTUCKY WILDCATS
Top prospects: DE DeQuin Evans, WR Chris Matthews, QB Ryan Mossakowski
The Floridians: RB Donald Russell (West Palm Beach Dwyer)
The Buzz: Kentucky went heavy at quarterback, landing the nation's No.14 pro-style passer (Mossakowski) and the No.14-rated dual-threat quarterback Morgan Newton.
LINKS: Bios of Kentucky's prospects; Dwyer RB Russell committs to Cats; Past stars paved way for excellent recruiting class

LSU TIGERS
Top prospects: DT Chris Davenport, DB Craig Loston, WR Rueben Randle, QB Russell Shephard, OL Chris Faulk, RB Michael Ford,
The Floridians: LSU did not sign a player from Florida
The Buzz: Coach Les Miles landed his best class while at LSU. Quarterback Russell Shephard is already on campus and will compete for the starting quarterback position this spring. Receiver Rueben Randle was Rivals' No.1-ranked receiver in the nation. DB Craig Loston of Texas, the No.1-rated safety in the country, chose LSU over Oklahoma, Texas, USC and Oregon.
LINKS: Tigers' recruiting class rank first; Finally, Randle a Tiger; Alabama, LSU battle for top spot; LSU prospect bios

OLE MISS REBELS
Top prospects: OL Bobby Massie, WR Patrick Patterson, RBs Rodney Scott and Darius Barksdale, DE Greg Drummond, QB Raymond Cotton
The Floridians: S Jamar Hornsby (formerly of UF), RB Korvic Neat (Hallandale), LB Mike Marry (Largo), S Frank Crawford (Miami Gulliver Prep), S Artice Kellam (Miami Gulliver Prep), CB Charles Sawyer (Miami Coral Reef), LB Willie Ferrell (Tallahassee FAMU High), DT Corey Gaines Tallahassee Godby, DE Alex Williams (Tallahassee FAMU High)
The Buzz: Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt pulled a page out of the Southwest Airlines business manuel and over booked his class by signing 12 players over the NCAA's limit. Things will shake out by the summer and Ole Miss will be left with a quality class of recruits. OL Bobby Maise will compete for early playing time. WR Patrick Patterson chose Ole Miss over Alabama. S Jamar Hornsby, who was kicked off Florida's team last summer, landed on his feet with the Rebels.
LINKS: Bios of Ole Miss prospects; Patterson's choice has Nutt beaming  

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS
Top prospects: DEs Fletcher Cox and Pernell McPhee, WRs Chris Smith and Chad Bumphis, DT Josh Boyd, QB Tyler Russell, DB Dennis Thames
The Floridians: None
The Buzz: Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen inherited a solid recruiting class from former State coach Sly Croom but Florida's former offensive coordinator also did his part, bringing along WR Chad Bumphis and holding onto QB Tyler Russell. The next step? Teaching the Bulldogs the spread-option offense.
LINKS: Bios of Mississippi State recruits; Mullen's spread offense attracts WRs prospects

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Top prospects: ATHs Stephon Gilmore and Demario Jeffery, RB Jarvis Gilis, WR Alshon Jeffery, DEs Chaz Sutton and Leon Mackey, LB Tony Straughter
The Floridians: RB Ben Axon (Bradenton Manatee), ATH Matt Coffee (Fort Walton Beach), S Corey Addison (Jacksonville Andrew Jackson), WR Lamar Scruggs (Jacksvonville Fletcher), QB Andrew Clifford (Tampa Wharton), RB Jarvis Giles (Jacksonville Gaither)
The Buzz: Coach Steve Spurrier continues to improve the Gamecocks' talent level. Spurrier put together another solid class, which included several talented players from Florida. RB Jarvis Giles was the nation's No.3-rated all-purpose back, according to Rivals. WR Lamar Scruggs chose Souther Carolina over Southern Cal. Spurrier stocked his secondary's depth chart with several top defensive backs.
LINKS: Bios of South Carolina's prospects; Video of Spurrier speaking about his 2009 recruiting class; Signing day good for Gamecocks 

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Top prospects: DBs Jared Janzen, Darren Myles and Eric Gordon, LBs Marlon Walls and Jerod Askew, WR Nu'Keese Richardson and WR James Green 
The Floridians: WR Nu'Keese Richardson (Pahokee), DT Arthur Jeffery (Sarasota Booker), WR James Green (Tallahassee Leon)
The Buzz: Say what you want about the guy, but Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin did an excellent job putting together the Vols' signing class. Not only did he lure Richardson and Teague away from Florida, Kiffin also beat out LSU for Janzen's services.
LINKS: Bios of Tennessee's prospects; Kiffin comes out firing; Diamonds in the rough: Schofield, Nelson; Louisiana is home but CB Jackson to play for UT;    

VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Top prospects: WR Brady Brown, OL Wesley Johnson, RBs Zac Stary, Eric Samuels and Warren Norman, DBs Trey Wilson and Eddie Foster
The Floridians: RB Eric Samuels (Umatilla High), TE Mason Johnston (Jacksonville Bolles), OL Mylon Brown (Dade City Pasco), OL Justin Cabbagestalk (Seffner Armwood)
The Buzz: RB Given time, Samuels will develop into a quality running back for the Commodoes. The same goes for Brady Brown of Texas, a 6-5 receiver.
LINKS: Vanderbilt secures its share of in-state recruits; Recruiting unites high school rivals; Bios of Vandy recruits

-jo- 

Comments

[Charlie]

rich get richer; Bama, UF, UGA and LSU add to their talent edge. winner of Bama - LSU wins west; FL-GA winner wins east; SECCG winner plays for NC...that is all.

[4FORUFIN09]

I'm not so much looking at jenkins Vs. Richardson, event hough I recognize the great story potential since they are both from Pahokee.

But as a Gator Alum I can't wait to see Richardson laid out by Major Wright. I can see Richardson trying to cut in front of Wright and then "SMAAACK!!!!" Ask The Sooner's receiver who got hit so hard, I forgot his name! He certainly didn't know his name after Wright introduced himself in the Sooners first drive at the BCS Cahmpionship.

Nu'keese, this has been a painful decision. And something tells me Spikes is none to thrilled either, not to mention Tebow, after the stunt by "Lame"!

September 19th. Can't wait !

UF 70 Vols 9