SEC Football Recruiting: Each Team's Top Remaining 2016 Target

Nearly two weeks into preseason practice, SEC football teams are sick of going against each other and ready to beat up on somebody else.

In recruiting, however, they're always battling one another.

It's no different this season, as many marquee prospects list multiple SEC programs among their top college choices.

Players such as Nigel Warrior and Rashan Gary have many SEC teams on their short lists, and they're just two of the many examples. The winners of those recruiting wars wind up having the upper hand once the elite stars are on campus, which is why many fans follow recruiting so closely.

High school players are winding down their summer schedules, practicing for their final season in high school and setting up official visits.

It's about time for them to evaluate what schools best fit their skill sets.

Teams such as Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama are looking for that prospect (or two) to move them closer to the top of the recruiting rankings. Others such as Arkansas, Missouri and Vanderbilt need a difference-maker to get excited about.

Fans everywhere are soaking in as much information about this year's team as they possibly can, but recruiting doesn't stop. So while coaches are most concerned about their 2015 on-field product, they've also got to be concerned about the future.

Taking into consideration team needs, prospect ability and class impact, let's take a look at one of each league team's top recruiting targets to land between now and national signing day.

Alabama: Greg Little

Credit: 247Sports

Greg Little may wind up having a change of heart.

The 6'5 ½", 305-pound offensive tackle is arguably the nation's best lineman, and he was committed to in-state Texas A&M for months.

But now that he has decommitted and reopened things back up, it appears Alabama has made a serious move.

With Billy Napier and offensive line coach Mario Cristobal in the lead of his recruiting, Little's 247Sports Crystal Ball leans heavily toward the Crimson Tide, who currently have 61 percent of the picks their way.

That would be a huge coup for Nick Saban, who has proven in the past that he can go into Texas and nab elite players such as A'Shawn Robinson. UA also has plucked Kendell Jones, Chris Owens and Jalen Hurts from the Lone Star State this year.

Little would be the best in that state this year and maybe the best overall player in the country.

He's an elite tackle who looks like he's cut from the cloth of being a future NFL top draft pick. The Tide and Ole Miss are now battling the Aggies for his signature. The way Cristobal has lured linemen to the Capstone, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him finish the deal with Little.

That would help catapult Bama back to the top of the rankings.

If the Tide can secure Little's commitment, they'll have a centerpiece around which to build for the future. He's the kind of player who can give them bookends with Cameron Robinson who will be coveted by everybody in the country.

Arkansas: Devin White

Credit: 247Sports

With Jonathan Williams out of eligibility this year and Alex Collins eligible to enter the NFL draft following 2015 as well, the Razorbacks are in search for their next crop of stud runners.

Coach Bret Bielema always seems to have a star factory at the position, and Arkansas is trying to reload.

While there are various runners on their big board, Devwah Whaley and Devin White may be the top two. Neither is leaning in the Hogs' direction according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball projections, but both are legitimate options.

White is one of the biggest athletic freaks in the entire class, a 6'0 ½", 258-pound monster who could play running back or linebacker on the next level. With him being from Springhill, Louisiana, home-state LSU is going to be tough to beat, and Alabama is trying to get him signed as well.

But the Razorbacks have a puncher's chance.

According to 247Sports' Arkansas writer Otis Kirk, White is closely looking at depth charts around his potential destination schools. The Razorbacks also have his cousin, Jared Cornelius, on the team.

It's possible that White projects better as a linebacker, and any school that gets him would probably be fine with putting him there. But with Bielema's success developing runners, White at least has to give the Hogs some consideration.

He recently told Scout.com's Chad Simmons that Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss would be among his top schools "if I had one."

T.J. Hammonds is already committed to Arkansas, but the Hogs would love to sign another couple of running backs. White would be a pie-in-the-sky pledge who would address a major need single-handedly.

Auburn: Rashan Gary

Credit: 247Sports

Auburn could get some good news on Sept. 4 when Greenville 5-star defensive end Marlon Davidson makes his college choice. His brother, Kenneth Carter, is a former Auburn player who is currently on the Tigers' support staff.

Obviously, that would be a massive domino to fall for Gus Malzahn and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

But the biggest one may be yet to come, and the Tigers are right in the thick of one of the hottest races in the country.

The nation's top-ranked player, New Jersey defensive tackle Rashan Gary, has visited the Plains and currently holds AU in high regard. Gary has been referring to the Tigers and Michigan as two of his favorites for a while now.

Just this week, 247Sports analyst Steve Wiltfong said he was going to stick with AU as his Crystal Ball selection for the 6'4", 311-pound defensive tackle.

As he gets set to narrow his list soon, Gary has the South on his mind. He made several summer swings to SEC country that saw him visit LSU, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn and others.

Gary likes a lot of the places he visits, so it's difficult to get a true read on who stands out right now. But Muschamp should keep Auburn in the thick of the race, and if he winds up coming to play for the Tigers, Gary is the kind of jewel who can make a class.

Florida: Nate Craig-Myers

Credit: 247Sports

One-time Auburn commitment Nate Craig-Myers is being coveted by everybody in the nation, but he may not wind up leaving the Sunshine State.

Though Florida State holds a considerable edge in the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for the 6'2", 205-pound stud receiver who is the country's 19th-rated prospect and top-rated receiver, it's Florida that seemingly has the momentum.

The past four picks for Craig-Myers' destination have gone UF's way thanks to the Gators snagging a commitment from his brother, Jayvaughn Myers, this week.

"I'm just happy for him," Craig-Myers told 247Sports, according to Luke Stampini. "I'm supporting him and wish him the best and know he will make an impact when he steps foot on campus."

When asked if it'll impact his decision, Craig-Myers said, "We will see."

The Tampa Catholic High School standout is one of the most complete receivers in the entire class, and if new UF coach Jim McElwain could land him, it would go a long way in attracting the kind of playmaker it'll take to rebuild the Gators offense.

Craig-Myers is in the mold of those Gators receivers of old, and getting him would turn a decent Florida class in an upward trajectory, especially if Binjimen Victor winds up heading to Gainesville, too.

Georgia: Kyle Davis

Credit: 247Sports

Speaking of dynamic players at receiver, one of the best in the country resides in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Kyle Davis is firmly on Georgia's radar—if not at the top of the Bulldogs' wish list.

The only concern for UGA coach Mark Richt is the 6'1 ½", 218-pound pass-catcher from Archer High School also holds Auburn and Tennessee in high regard.

Davis is a one-time South Carolina commitment who is big and physical but also possesses excellent speed. Though he's the fourth-rated receiver nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings, 247 rates him as the nation's top receiver.

The way UGA is recruiting within state boundaries this year, it's going to be difficult for anybody to pull Davis away from the Bulldogs, but the Vols and Tigers appear to be legit contenders.

Just this week, Davis told 247Sports' Rusty Mansell that he will make an announcement of his college destination at Archer's homecoming on Oct. 23. An overwhelming 88 percent of the Crystal Ball predictions say that decision will go Georgia's way.

The Dawgs still have some work to do in-state with targets such as Mecole Hardman, Nigel Warrior, Derrick Brown and Davis, but given Georgia's need for receivers entering this class, Davis may be the biggest.

If the Bulldogs land all those players, this could be a monumental haul for Richt.

UGA is building toward the top-rated class in the country centered around 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason. Pairing him with Davis would be a huge step toward getting Richt a national championship down the road.

Kentucky: Emmit Gooden

Credit: 247Sports

Kentucky already has put together a very strong 2016 recruiting class that features 22 players and is currently ranked 19th nationally.

With the haul nearing completion, coach Mark Stoops can be selective in how he fills the remaining few spots.

According to Rivals.com reporter Justin Rowland, the Cats are going to be swinging for the fences the rest of the way, and he'd be surprised if they didn't go after at least one more defensive lineman. While Rashan Gary is the big target, he'll be difficult for a traditional non-power to pull.

He is, after all, the top-ranked player in the country.

A more realistic possibility right now is Brownsville, Tennessee, 4-star strong-side defensive end Emmit Gooden. The one-time Tennessee commitment is still heavily considering the Vols, and it remains to be seen if he'll be a part of UT's class.

Gooden also likes LSU and the Mississippi SEC schools, but Kentucky is firmly in the mix here, too.

At 6'3", 275 pounds, Gooden has that versatility coaches love to play on the edge or the interior. He has elite athleticism, and though he'll be raw playing against West Tennessee small-school competition, the Haywood High School prospect is the kind of raw athlete who can develop into a stud.

If the Wildcats go after him hard, it's possible Gooden could wind up in Big Blue Nation.

LSU: Shavar Manuel

Credit: 247Sports

The way LSU is recruiting this year, there are a lot of top targets remaining on the Tigers' board who remain within reason.

Perhaps one of the top targets who still has the Bayou Bengals prominently on his mind is Bradenton, Florida, strong-side defensive end Shavar Manuel.

The 6'4", 290-pound 5-star defensive end plays for the absolutely loaded IMG Academy, and he recently named LSU among his top three in his recruitment along with Auburn and Florida. Though Florida State remains the heavy Crystal Ball favorite, the Seminoles aren't currently in his top three.

He did mention to 247Sports' Keith Niebuhr that FSU and Clemson are "still in there."

Right now, it seems as if it's mostly an Auburn-Florida battle, but LSU continues to stay in the mix. He may be listed as a strong-side defensive end, but it's obvious that his best position on the next level would be on the interior.

With Manuel's athleticism and frame, he can be the kind of havoc-wreaking defensive lineman who can give any offensive line a tough day. Unless FSU sneaks its way back into this battle, the race for Manuel's signature looks like it's going to be a good old-fashioned SEC donnybrook.

LSU may have some ground to make up, but with defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and elite recruiter and defensive backs coach Corey Raymond leading the charge, the Tigers have a chance.

Mississippi: Jeffery Simmons

Credit: 247Sports

The Ole Miss Rebels are currently ranked fifth nationally in the race to finish with the nation's top class, thanks to a haul that centers around 5-star quarterback Shea Patterson.

While coach Hugh Freeze would love to surround Patterson with some playmakers such as Starkville receiver A.J. Brown, the Rebels' biggest remaining target may reside on the other side of the ball.

There's a reason why the Landsharks defense has been terrorizing opponents the past couple of years, and a player like 6'4", 262-pound strong-side defensive end Jeffery Simmons of Macon, Mississippi, would keep that legacy rolling.

Simmons is big and athletic, and it would be a huge coup for Freeze to win what appears to be a heated in-state battle with Dan Mullen's Mississippi State Bulldogs to earn his commitment. He's the nation's eighth-rated player at his position, and he could come right in and make an immediate impact.

He's coming off a junior season where he racked up 107 tackles, with 14.5 of those coming behind the line of scrimmage to go along with 11.5 sacks in what wound up being a 4A state championship season for Noxubee County High School.

He's visited Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama and LSU, according to 247Sports' Paul Jones, and he's looking at narrowing his list soon.

Though Simmons isn't naming any favorites, the Crystal Ball points to the Rebels as his destination. That would be a big recruiting win for defensive coordinator Dave Wommack and D-line coach Chris Kiffin.

Mississippi State: Derrick Brown

Credit: 247Sports

A look at 5-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown's offer sheet will let you know that the Buford, Georgia, product is one of the most coveted players in the country.

He's a top-10-ranked player and the third-rated defensive tackle nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Playing for Lanier High School, he dominated competition as a junior, racking up 101 tackles, 26 tackles for a loss and 17.5 sacks.

After a summer swing of visits, the stud defensive lineman has decided to set up official visits to Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee and Mississippi State, according to 247Sports' Ryan Callahan.

Though it may seem funny that Dan Mullen's Bulldogs are in the thick of the race for a Georgia star, it shouldn't. Brown's parents are both Mississippi State alumni, and he is giving very real consideration to the Bulldogs.

"Believe me, Derrick has a mind of his own," his mom, Martha, said, according to DawgNation.com's Chris Kirschner. "I would feel great if he went to Mississippi State because he would be near relatives, but this is Derrick's life, and our thing is to help guide him toward his decision. We want to help guide him toward his own path."

This summer, he backed off his early statement that Georgia was the leader and has since opened it up. That means MSU is as much in play as anybody.

Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama have been as active recruiting as any in the nation in recent years, so Mullen will have his work cut out for him to earn Brown's signature.

Missouri: Amani Bledsoe

Credit: 247Sports

Missouri defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski has worked wonders with several kids who weren't highly rated, turning them into NFL players.

When he gets the chance to mold star recruits, watch out.

Last year, Mizzou won the Terry Beckner Jr. sweepstakes, and this year, the Tigers would like nothing more than to lure 4-star strong-side defensive end Amani Bledsoe from Kansas.

Not only would they like to do that because the 6'5", 270-pound Bledsoe is a potential freak athlete who'd be perfect for the Tigers. He also resides in Lawrence, Kansas, and for those of you who don't know, Mizzou and KU don't really care all that much for one another.

Currently, the Oklahoma Sooners are the favorite to land Bledsoe, according to the 247Sports Crystal Ball projections, but Mizzou is at least in the mix.

Bledsoe's offer sheet is a laundry list of the Midwest's top teams, and others such as Florida State have also recently joined the fray. UCLA and Oregon also have gone out of their way to pay Bledsoe some attention, and he'll visit there, according to the Lawrence Journal-World's Bobby Nightengale.

Getting Bledsoe to Columbia won't be easy, but he represents the kind of recruiting battle Mizzou needs to win to stay a prominent member of the SEC.

Coach Gary Pinkel has proven in the past that he doesn't need star recruits to win games, but it sure doesn't hurt to pull guys like Bledsoe.

South Carolina: Dexter Lawrence

Credit: 247Sports

This list is loaded with elite defensive linemen, and few teams need those around like the South Carolina Gamecocks, who really must bolster their interior of the future.

A player who'd go a long way in doing that is 5-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence of Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Though Lawrence admittedly grew up a Florida fan and also has Florida State and North Carolina in the mix, South Carolina has at least stuck in the race for his signature.

Considering how wide-open Lawrence is, it wouldn't surprise anybody if a mystery team wound up getting him.

"Right now every offer is on me real hard," Lawrence told 247Sports' Ross Martin. "I can't choose a top 10 right now if I wanted to because they are all doing a job (direct messaging) me on Twitter each day and talking to me a little bit. I am just trying to see what fits me best."

At 6'5", 310 pounds, Lawrence has elite size and strength. He has a laundry list of the nation's top programs at his doorstep, including Alabama, Ohio State, the Seminoles and others.

With all the attention Lawrence has received, it's unclear whether the Gamecocks are in his top group as they were back in the summer. But they'll continue to recruit him, and if they can convince him to come to Columbia, it'll go a long way toward them rebuilding that defensive front.

Tennessee: Nigel Warrior

Credit: 247Sports

Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has done an exceptional job the past couple of seasons at luring legacy prospects to Knoxville.

Dillon Bates, Todd Kelly Jr., Kahlil McKenzie, Evan Berry and a few others had family ties to UT and wound up following in those footsteps to Rocky Top.

The latest star prospect with ties to the Vols is Suwanee, Georgia, safety Nigel Warrior, the son of Tennessee legend Dale Carter. Quite simply put, if Tennessee doesn't get him in orange and white, it'll be a major disappointment.

Carter was a star, and Warrior appears to be well on his way to being one, too.

With Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil both exhausting eligibility after this season, the Vols need safeties. It doesn't get much better than Warrior, a 5'11", 188-pound playmaker who has elite coverage skills and hits like a ton of bricks.

He told 247Sports' Kipp Adams recently that while UT is still in the mix, Alabama and Georgia are recruiting him the hardest. The Crimson Tide have been a trendy pick for him on 247Sports' Crystal Ball projections.

A lot of Warrior's interviews sound like Berry's when it comes to talking about the importance of being a Tennessee legacy. He told GoVols247's Ryan Callahan that he wants to blaze his own path, much the way Berry did.

It's worth noting that Berry and twin brother Elliott wound up pledging to Tennessee. The Vols hope for a similar outcome with Warrior.

Texas A&M: Brandon Jones

Credit: 247Sports

When it comes to 5-star safety Brandon Jones, it looks like it's shaping up to be yet another in-state battle between Texas and Texas A&M.

The Aggies are hoping to emerge on top for the 5'11 ½", 193-pound Nacogdoches playmaker.

Right now, that looks like a viable possibility. Out of the 23 predictions for the nation's 22nd-ranked overall player and top-rated safety, coach Kevin Sumlin's Aggies have all but one of the predictions.

Jones is being recruited by Terry Price and Terry Joseph, and it appears that they're doing a great job at prioritizing the speedy safety. LSU and Ole Miss also are in the picture, but it's going to be tough to get the kid out of the Lone Star State.

He told 247Sports' Brian Perroni:

"

The two schools that for sure will make the cut will be A&M and Texas. I'm just trying to figure out who else I want to focus on as well but those two are in there for sure. With the coaching staffs, I have a really good relationship with all the coaches. I could see myself playing for them and they've talked about me being able to play early. They’re both programs that are going to be building on defense, especially A&M with their new DC. They'll have a lot of young players playing, both of them, but then by the time I get there, they'll have experience and I could just hopefully fill in that spot.

"

As new defensive coordinator John Chavis rebuilds that defense into what Aggies fans hope is championship-level, getting players such as Jones to solidify the back end is a necessity.

He's the kind of battle the Aggies need to keep winning to surge into SEC West contention.

Vanderbilt: Joejuan Williams

Credit: 247Sports

Without a doubt, the highest-rated player who is considering coach Derek Mason's Vanderbilt Commodores right now is elite defensive back Joejuan Williams.

Though that battle is thought to be one that will be waged mainly between Tennessee, Auburn and LSU, the Commodores have sneaked their way into the picture. Recently, they've even gotten some Crystal Ball predictions.

VU needs help all over the field, and getting a playmaker such as Williams would go a long way in addressing the defensive needs. At 6'2", 195 pounds, the Hendersonville, Tennessee, product could play either cornerback or safety on the next level.

Not only would securing Williams fill a major need and be a noisemaker in-state, it also would mean a recruiting victory over UT coach Butch Jones, which have come few and far between for Mason since he arrived in Nashville.

Back on Aug. 6, 247Sports analyst Barton Simmons mentioned that while his current prediction rests with LSU, his "finger is definitely nearing the trigger" to change that to Vanderbilt after Williams recently visited a VU practice and met with Mason.

If VU struggles mightily again this year, it's going to be extremely difficult for the Commodores to pull a player of Williams' ilk. If they make some tangible strides on the field, however, it's not out of the question that he could go against the trend.

Williams is a great player, and Mason hasn't lured many of those to Vanderbilt yet. Maybe it's time that changed.

All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings unless otherwise noted. All statistics gathered from CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted. 

Brad Shepard covers SEC football for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.