Every SEC Team's Biggest Recruiting Wish on National Signing Day
We’re down to the final hours until national signing day in college football, and while every Southeastern Conference coaching staff will be nervous about every commitment until the paperwork is signed, sealed and faxed, each will also be on edge about the players who haven’t made even a commitment yet.
Everyone has a wish list. For some coaches, that list includes players they’re certain they don’t have a shot at and others they think they’ll land but still don’t know for sure.
It’s a stressful and fun day for everyone to be sure, but here’s a last-minute look at who each SEC team hopes to see join its official roster Wednesday.
Alabama
1 of 14
The reigning national champions head into national signing day with numerous openings and the two best in-state prospects still having yet committed.
The Crimson Tide would like nothing better than to land 5-star linebackers Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson, who are from Gordo (located about 25 miles west of Tuscaloosa) and Montgomery.
Davis is a legacy and could be the next great Crimson Tide interior linebacker, following the likes of Rolando McClain, Dont’a Hightower, C.J. Mosley and Reggie Ragland. The duo could form the heart of a talented defense that already has a number of 5-star players in the secondary.
Arkansas
2 of 14
There will probably be very little drama on signing day with the Razorbacks, as they already have one early enrollee who will highlight the class in 5-star defensive end McTelvin Agim, a junior college transfer in guard Terrance Malone and 20 committed players.
The expectation is that in-state products will round out the class, but a dark-horse addition could be linebacker Calvin Bundage, a 3-star prospect from Oklahoma.
Oregon and Oklahoma are considered the front-runners, but Arkansas is in the mix.
Auburn
3 of 14
Even though Auburn is apparently out of the Rashan Gary sweepstakes, there’s still a big name at the top of its wish list: Derrick Brown.
Outside of Gary, the defensive tackle from Buford, Georgia, is the top uncommitted player. According to 247Sports' Crystal Ball Predictions, it's down to Auburn and Georgia, with Tennessee and Alabama trailing.
With 4-star prospect Antwuan Jackson having already enrolled, Auburn could take a major step in making sure its defensive interior will be a strength for years.
Florida
4 of 14
Florida already has commitments from 25 players, including 12 early enrollees, but if it adds another, a name to watch may be Brian Burns.
The 4-star defensive end from American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale is a Florida State lean, with Georgia in the mix, and he also made a late official visit to Alabama.
With Mark Richt at Miami and Jimbo Fisher still reaping the rewards of winning a recent national championship, the Sunshine State has become a recruiting battleground with no clear front-runner. Only three of the state’s top 20 prospects have agreed to play for the Gators.
Georgia
5 of 14
Even though he helped Alabama win another national championship, which cut into his recruiting time, new head coach Kirby Smart is putting together a strong class that already has seven early enrollees, including two 5-star prospects, quarterback Jacob Eason and tight end Isaac Nauta.
The only thing he hasn’t been able to do so far is add another 5-star name but could with Mecole Hardman Jr. out of Elberton, Georgia.
Earlier this month, Hardman called Alabama the leader to sign him, but Georgia has come back strong, and 247Sports' Crystal Ball Predictions now has it as the one to beat.
Kentucky
6 of 14
Kentucky coaches are probably hoping for a quiet signing day, as the Wildcats already have seven early enrollees and 18 commitments.
Among them are the top three in-state players, all 4-star recruits, with offensive tackle Landon Young considered the top prospect, and center Drake Jackson and interior linebacker Kash Daniel having enrolled early.
One player to keep an eye on is JJ Holmes, a 3-star defensive tackle from Hutchinson Community College (originally from Chipley, Florida), who recently took official visits to Kentucky and Missouri.
LSU
7 of 14
After losing a number of top prospects to rival Alabama, head coach Les Miles made signing in-state talent a priority. It paid off big time, as the Tigers are in the mix to finish first in this year’s team rankings.
However, that’s only if cornerback Kristian Fulton stays close to home. The 5-star player is considered the top prospect in Louisiana, and while LSU is the favorite, Florida has come on strong.
With the state’s other top cornerback, Shyheim Carter, expected to sign with Alabama, the school that likes to call itself DBU ("Defensive Back U") can’t afford to see Fulton leave the state as well.
Ole Miss
8 of 14
Although the NCAA has been circling the Ole Miss program for a while now, with the Laremy Tunsil investigation resulting in a seven-game suspension and new allegations now being looked into, the Rebels are closing in on another program-changing recruiting class.
Already on board are two 5-star early enrollees, quarterback Shea Patterson and defensive tackle Benito Jones, along with committed tackle Gregory Little out of Texas. Still out there, tough, is the top prospect in the state, 5-star defensive end Jeffery Simmons.
Rival Mississippi State and Alabama are the leading challengers, while all three schools are trying to pluck 4-star wide receiver A.J. Brown out of Starkville as well.
Mississippi State
9 of 14
Although there are some bigger names out there, the Mississippi State coaching staff only needs to look into its backyard for two top prospects who could make a very big impact.
Wide receiver A.J. Brown and defensive tackle Kobe Jones are both 4-star prospects from Starkville who have drawn regional and national attention.
With defensive end Marquiss Spencer the only top-10 prospect in the state to have committed to Mississippi State (so far), they're pretty much must-gets for head coach Dan Mullen, especially considering that rival Ole Miss could finish with one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.
Missouri
10 of 14
The recruiting trail hasn’t been particularly kind to new head coach Barry Odom, who has gone after some big-time prospects without much success.
So far, Missouri has landed only two of the top 15 in-state players, defensive end Tre Williams and center Trystan Castillo, who are both considered 3-star prospects. Overall, his biggest commitment has been 4-star running back Natereace Strong, who is originally from East St. Louis, Illinois, but played last season at Hinds Community College.
Offensive tackle Trevor Simms, also from East St. Louis, may top Missouri’s list of signing-day additions, but another player to watch is defensive tackle Keyshon Camp from Lakeland, Florida.
South Carolina
11 of 14
If last year's poor finish wasn’t enough of an issue for new head coach Will Muschamp to deal with, his school’s biggest rival just played for the national championship and looks poised to make another run in 2016.
Landing two of the state’s top prospects, wide receiver Bryan Edwards and offensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, will help, but Muschamp is known for his defensive mind, and he made some connections in the Sunshine State when serving as Florida’s head coach.
Consequently, keep an eye on defensive ends Aaron Thompson from Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and Jacoby Hill from Carver (Atlanta) on signing day. They may only be listed as 3-star prospects but are the kinds of players Muschamp believes he can develop.
Tennessee
12 of 14
Although Tennessee has always had to look beyond its borders to fill the roster, it’s a little surprising that the Volunteers have landed only two of the top 15 in-state players with linebacker Daniel Bituli and tackle Ryan Johnson. Both are considered 4-star prospects.
Nevertheless, its top target on signing day is Nigel Warrior, a 4-star safety from Suwanee, Georgia. He’s a legacy, the son of former defensive back Dale Carter.
Also at the top of the wish list is Jonathan Kongbo, a 4-star defensive end who’s considered the nation’s top junior college prospect. He decommitted from Tennessee in early January and has since looked at Florida State, Ole Miss and Alabama, among others.
Texas A&M
13 of 14
The obvious "wish" for the Aggies would be another top-notch quarterback, considering all of the players who have come and gone since the end of the 2015 season, but even more than that, Texas A&M needs to land a top in-state recruit.
Heading into signing day, Coach Kevin Sumlin has a commitment from just one of the state’s top 15 players, defensive end Justin Madubuike.
He might have a shot at only one more, Brandon Jones. Despite being a 4-star prospect, Jones is considered the top safety in the nation. Texas and Baylor are also in his top three, but Texas A&M really can’t afford to let him land elsewhere.
Vanderbilt
14 of 14
Vanderbilt made a big in-state splash when it landed Joejuan Williams, a 4-star cornerback from Hendersonville, Tennessee. It also went all the way to San Diego, California, in hopes of adding another piece to the defensive puzzle.
Defensive tackle Josiah Sa'o, a player who flew under the radar of many recruiting services, is expected to sign with the Commodores on Wednesday. At least he didn’t have to travel as far as fellow 3-star prospect Bradlee Anae did for his official visit.
The defensive end hails from Hawaii, the same state as 3-star center Sean Auwae, who recently committed to the Commodores.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting rankings are from 247Sports.
Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.
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