College Football Recruiting 2013: Ranking the Top 20 SEC Commitments

Like it, love it or hate it, the SEC is still perceived as the top conference in all things college football. There are legends, wise tales and quirks around the conference on the recruiting side of things because each of the 14 programs understands that getting as much top talent as possible is essential to keeping up with the other programs.

Year in and year out, the SEC hauls in a very impressive group of recruits dispersed around the conference overall. Well, 2013 recruiting is no different, and the SEC boasts a supreme list of commitments from most of the top players around the country.

For today's read, we're going to power rank the top 20 recruits committed to SEC schools. These are the future stars of the best conference in the country.

20. Ahmad Fulwood, WR

Commitment: Florida

A 6'4" WR with gliding athleticism and deceptive speed, Fulwood has great tools to be a productive pass-catcher in Gainesville.

He has a large catch radius to snatch balls in flight and can leap to high points over coverage in the red zone.

Look for Fulwood to become a major focal point in the Gators offense down the road.

19. Altee Tenpenny, RB

Commitment: Alabama

An Arkansas native with a loose and comedic personality, Tenpenny is a 6'0" RB who is close to 205 pounds. He was productive as a sophomore, though was injured as a junior.

Tenpenny has a load of talent that includes great speed, quickness and improving power. He flashes the potential to be able to push piles with good leg drive down the road in college. 

18. Matt Rolin, LB

Commitment: South Carolina

The Gamecocks landed a good one in Rolin, a Virginia native. He's a scheme-versatile player who stands 6'4" and almost 215 pounds.

Rolin can play ILB in a 3-4 or shoot down to the edges and be a strong side OLB. He also flashes good ball skills in coverage, and is very tough and physical at the point of attack. 

17. Brice Ramsey, QB

Commitment: Georgia

Ramsey's school runs an offense that is majorly based on the run, so he has limited reps as a passer.

However, the 6'3", 190-pounder has a world of potential. Ramsey has shown out well at various camps and combines this offseason, including the Elite 11.

Possessing a strong arm, streaky accuracy and a skill set that has grown exponentially, Georgia has a gem for the future. 

16. LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR

Commitment: Texas A&M

Speed, speed and more speed are what make Gonzalez such a great WR prospect. He's not big, weighing barely 170 pounds on a 5'11" frame, yet he can outrun people at a flash.

Gonzalez is dangerous as a RAC player and can reverse field with the ball with the best of 'em. Look for him also to dazzle as a return man for Kevin Sumlin.

15. Ethan Pocic, OL

Commitment: LSU

Pocic is from Illinois and goes in the 6'6", 280-pound range, for the most part.

He'll likely get to 300 pounds easily in Baton Rouge, and he'll combine good size with solid snap quickness, play strength and a mean streak on the field.

I think Pocic can play the RT position for the Tigers.

14. Larenz Bryant, OLB

Commitment: South Carolina

Jaylon Smith and Matthew Thomas get all of the OLB spotlight (and rightfully so), but Bryant isn't far behind. The 6'2", 210-pound North Carolina native has great agility and range on the second level.

Bryant can play the run and pass equally and effectively; he reads the run quickly and can fill while possessing the athleticism to cover RBs and TEs. 

13. Hunter Henry, TE

Commitment: Arkansas

Henry is a TE who, while he probably won't be a joker-type, should become a complete TE.

The 6'6", 245-pounder has soft hands, a large strike zone and the strength to be a mauler as a blocker. Once he hones in his blocking technique, he'll be a one-man wrecking crew in the seams. 

12. Tramel Terry, WR/CB

Commitment: Georgia

Terry is a lot thicker than you think, as the 5'11" South Carolina native weighs nearly 195 pounds. He has excellent play speed and can factor as a WR or CB.

Georgia will have a decision to make; Terry could be a great cover corner, or he could develop into a game-breaking WR in Athens. 

11. Daniel McMillan, LB

Commitment: Florida

McMillan fits well in Florida's multi-look defensive scheme because the 6'2", 220-pounder can play different LB roles. McMillan can play the Mike, Sam or Will in a 4-3, and he plays with good athleticism and range.

McMillan shows good instincts and can thump at the point of attack when tackling. He has a good chance to become a three-down 'backer once he gets more reps in pass coverage in college. 

10. Caleb Brantley, DT

Commitment: Florida

Brantley came into this offseason weighing more than 300 pounds, but it looks like he's slimmed down to about 295 pounds. He stands 6'3" and has good surging quickness at the snap for the DT position.

Brantley can 1-gap or 2-gap due to outstanding play strength, and he shows the ability to anchor, stack and make a mess in the middle versus the run. He'll squeeze the interior of the pocket against the pass and will fight to pressure when he can. 

9. Shaq Wiggins, DB

Commitment: Georgia

There was some concern about Wiggins' height, but he measured in at 5'10" straight up at several workouts this offseason to quiet the speculation. He weighs 170 pounds and can cover anybody at anytime, anywhere.

Wiggins shows great transition quickness, speed and a feel for routes. He'll attack the ball to make picks and stay attached to his man, carrying him all over the field versus the pass. 

8. Kelvin Taylor, RB

Commitment: Florida

The son of Fred Taylor, Kelvin is the most productive runner ever in Florida high school football history.

At 5'10" and 215 pounds, Kelvin shows natural instincts and vision to get to open areas of the field with the ball. He can jump to second level with quickness, elude a defender and reel off a large chunk of yardage with one carry.

Although he has solid speed, Taylor's not the fastest back in the country. Yet, he is a future starter for UF.

7. Derrick Griffin, WR/TE

Commitment: Texas A&M

Griffin is a big, 6'6" pass-catcher who already is nearly 220 pounds. He's a very good athlete with good speed for a big man, but Griffin may grow into a TE in College Station.

He has a wide wing span, large catch radius, shielding ability and also can leap over crowds to come down with jump balls. With his size and athleticism, look for Griffin to become a very productive pass-catcher in the Aggies offense.

6. Cooper Bateman, QB

Commitment: Alabama

Bateman reminds me a lot of Brodie Croyle when he came to Alabama because they have similar size and arm talent. At 6'3" and close to 200 pounds, the Utah-born Bateman can whip the football as well as anyone in the country. He has overwhelming arm strength and fits the football in windows that look closed on the field.

Tuscaloosa will fall in love with his arm as well as his willingness to learn and improve. 

5. Dee Liner, DT

Commitment: Auburn

A 6'3", 270-pound DL, Liner can play DT or strong-side DE. He possesses explosive quickness at the snap to really beat a blocker out of his stance and get across the line of scrimmage.

Liner fits best in an attacking defense where he can go make plays and hunt for the football.

Auburn's system will exploit his strengths. 

4. O.J. Howard, TE

Commitment: Alabama

Howard is a 6'5', 225-pounder who has a high ceiling. He's super athletic, has excellent speed and is not nearly as raw as many think.

Although he can factor as a DE or OLB, TE could be where Howard makes the most impact in Tuscaloosa. His size, length, speed and ball skills should see him ascend up the depth chart and into a playmaking role at the TE position that 'Bama has not consistently had. 

3. Carl Lawson, DE

Commitment: Auburn

The Tigers have another great DL coming in Lawson, the 6'2", 255-pounder from Georgia.

Lawson has improved tremendously this offseason and is one of the best players in the country. Showing great snap quickness, Lawson can muscle his way out of a blocker's grasp, fight to pressure with speed or power, and has a burst to finish on the passer.

Lawson can anchor and stack to stop the run when it's coming directly at him, or he can shed and hawk down from the backside. 

2. Vernon Hargreaves, CB

Commitment: Florida

Freshly committed to Florida, Hargreaves is the clear No. 1 CB in the country. At 5'11" and 180 pounds, he has good quickness in short areas, speed to carry WRs deep and will jump a passing lane when he can.

Hargreaves plays with great focus, excellent technique, anticipates throws well, is very instinctive and quick to read routes. He has the tools to be a key contributor to the Gators secondary as a true freshman. 

1. Reuben Foster, LB

Commitment: Auburn

Foster is another player I think can play as a true freshman. He stands close to 6'2" and over 245-pounds, playing like a heat-seeking missile.

Instinctive, strong, agile, quick and tough, Foster has excellent tools to be a standout 'backer in the SEC at Auburn. He needs to continue improving as a pass defender, but his athleticism should help him grow his game in that area, too.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS).

A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a college football and NFL draft magazine.