The 2009 SEC Football Recruiting Breakdown

Another recruiting season is in the books, and once again the SEC dominated the nation in recruiting. It's no secret that the SEC is the best conference in the nation, and now you know why.

The SEC landed around one-third of the top 250 players in the nation, according to Rivals.com, and 10 SEC schools finished in the top 25 of the team rankings according to Rivals.com as well.

So here's a quick breakdown of each team and some players to keep an eye on in the next few years.

ALABAMA

The Tide lands another great class with a strong finish. The class is led by DJ Fluker, Trent Richardson, and Dre Kirkpatrick. This class is strong at offensive line, linebacker, and wide receiver.

Total Commits: 27

Strength of the Class: Offensive Line - 7 signed; one 5 star, one 4 star

Sleeper: DT Chris Bonds, 3 star, Columbia, SC

Instant Impact: OT D.J. Fluker, 5 star, Foley, AL

Best Player: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, 5 star, Gadsden, AL

ARKANSAS

What a great job Bobby Petrino has done in his second year, landing a top 15 class. They landed the state's top player in Darius Winston, big time athlete Ronnie Wingo, and Dequinta Jones on signing day. Houston Nutt never recruited that well to Fayetteville, so good sign for Razorback fans.

Total Commits: 30

Strength of the Class: Defensive Backs - 5 signed; one 5 star, two 4 stars

Sleeper: ATH Brandon Mitchell, 3 star, Amite, LA

Instant Impact: RB Knile Davis, 4 star, Missouri City, TX

Best Player: CB Darius Winston, 5 star, West Helena, AR

AUBURN

Under normal circumstances, the Tigers' top 20 class would be considered a solid class, but considering Auburn underwent a coaching change two months ago, this class is outstanding. They landed a top quarterback in Tyrik Rollison and wide receiver Deangelo Benton, and still may be in the hunt for top running back prospect David Oku. The class was heavy on running backs and defensive linemen.

Total Commits: 28

Strength of the Class: Running Back - 5 signed; two 4 stars

Sleeper: LB/DE Dee Ford, 3 star, Odenville, AL

Instant Impact: LB Eltoro Freeman, 3 star, Perkinston, MS (JUCO)

Best Player: QB Tyrik Rollison, 4 star, Sulphur Springs, TX

FLORIDA

The Gators didn't sign a big class this year, but when you have the depth and talent that they do, you don't need to. The Gators return most of their national championship team, but managed to add top receiver Andre Dubose, big defensive linemen Gary Brown, and top linebacker Jelani Jenkins.

Total Commits: 16

Strength of the Class: Offensive Line - 5 signed; three 4 stars

Sleeper: DE Kedric Johnson, 3 star, Palmetto, FL

Instant Impact: OT Xavier Nixon, 4 star, Fayetteville, NC

Best Player: WR Andre Dubose, 5 star, Sanford, FL

GEORGIA

The Bulldogs, much like the Gators, didn't need a big signing class, but what they lacked in quantity they made up for in quality, landing 11 of their 18 players from the top 250 in the nation. The Bulldogs landed two big-time quarterbacks in Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, and also landed stud receiver Marlon Brown on signing day.

Total Commits: 18

Strength of the Class: Quarterback - 2 signed; two 4 stars

Sleeper: S Shawn Williams, 3 star, Blakely, GA

Instant Impact: RB Washaun Ealey, 4 star, Twin City, GA

Best Player: CB Branden Smith, 5 star, Atlanta, GA

KENTUCKY

The Cats signed a good class and look to be feeding off their recent success. They signed three four-star prospects led by quarterback Ryan Mossakowski from Texas.

Total Commits: 29

Strength of the Class: Quarterback - 2 signed; one 4 star, one 3 star

Sleeper: LB Qua Huzzie, 3 star, Lagrange, GA

Instant Impact: WR Chris Matthews, 4 star, Wilmington, CA (JUCO)

Best Player: QB Ryan Mossakowski, 4 star, Frisco, TX

LSU

The Bengal Tigers nearly landed the top class in the nation if not for a late defect in the end to Alabama. LSU loaded up in the state of Louisiana landing nearly whoever they wanted, and went out of state to land one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Russell Shepard and top safety Craig Loston.

Total Commits: 25

Strength of the Class: Defensive Line - 6 signed; one 5 star, four 4 stars

Sleeper: QB Chris Garrett, 3 star, Tupelo, MS

Instant Impact: DT Chris Davenport, 5 star, Mansfield, LA

Best Player: WR Reuben Randle, 5 star, Bastrop, LA

OLE MISS

Two weeks ago it looked as the Rebels would not capitalize off their great season, but 10 commits in the last four days lands the Rebels a surprisingly good class. Led by receiver Patrick Patterson, huge prep school offensive linemen Bobbie Massie, and running back Rodney Scott, the Rebels close as strong as anyone in the nation.

Total Commits: 37

Strength of the Class: Running Back- 5 signed; two 4 stars

Sleeper: LB Willie Ferrell, 3 star, Tallahassee, FL

Instant Impact:OT Bobbie Massie, 5 star, Chatham, VA (prep school)

Best Player:WR Patrick Patterson, 4 star, Macon, MS

MISSISSIPPI STATE

The Bulldogs had am outstanding year considering their recent struggles on the field and a coaching change. The Bulldogs won the in-state battle with Ole Miss landing some top prospects such as Chad Bumphis, Fletcher Cox, and Josh Boyd. It's obvious that new coach Dan Mullen wanted lots of new skill position players to work with his first season in Starkville as well.

Total Commits: 27

Strength of the Class: Wide Receiver - 9 signed; two 4 stars

Sleeper: WR Ricco Sanders, 3 star, Duncan, SC

Instant Impact: DE Fletcher Cox, 4 star, Yazoo City, MS

Best Player: DE Pernell McPhee, 4 star, Fulton, MS (JUCO)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Even with the departure of six assistant coaches, the Gamecocks still managed to land a top 15 class. They took advantage of the coaching changes at both Tennessee and Clemson, and landed a great class led by two big-time athletes in Stephon Gilmore and Damario Jeffrey.

Total Commits: 29

Strength of the Class: Defensive Line - 5 signed; four 4 stars

Sleeper: S Corey Addison, 3 star, Jacksonville, FL

Instant Impact: RB Jarvis Giles, 4 star, Tampa, FL

Best Player: ATH Stephon Gilmore, 4 star, Rock Hill, SC

TENNESSEE

The Vols were one of the most active teams in the nation the last month of recruiting season. It looks to have paid off with a new coaching staff landing a top 25 class and stealing a few recruits along the way, such as former Florida commit receiver Nu'keese Richardson and former LSU commit Janzen Jackson.

Total Commits: 18

Strength of the Class: Linebacker- 5 signed; two 4 stars

Sleeper: WR Nyshier Oliver, 3 star, Jersey City, NJ

Instant Impact: LB Marlon Walls, 4 star, Chatham, VA (prep school)

Best Player: CB Janzen Jackson, 5 star, Lake Charles, LA

VANDERBILT

The Commodores seemed to be in a few more battles this year with some bigger schools, which means a lot to a program that just went to their first bowl game in 25 years. The 'Dores did a good job of going around the Southeast, finding players that may have been overlooked by bigger programs.

Total Commits: 17

Strength of the Class: Running Back - 3 signed; three 3 stars

Sleeper: TE Thad McHaney, 3 star, Brentwood, TN

Instant Impact: WR Brady Brown, 3 star, Argyle, TX

Best Player: OT Wesley Johnson, 3 star, Nashville, TN