Every SEC Football Team's Ace 2015 Recruiter
Every head coach in college football has at least one assistant coach on his staff who is his "ace recruiter."ย
Ace recruiters are assistant coaches who are usually assigned to recruit the elite and most important prospects during a recruiting cycle. It can be a fluid position, as things can change year to year, depending on the recruiting plan.
As things are unfolding for the 2015 class, ace recruiters on SEC coaching staffs are starting to emerge. An offensive line coach has helped his team reach the No. 1 recruiting ranking in the nation, while a running backs coach is still maintaining his lofty status as his program's ace recruiter.
Vanderbilt
1 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย David Kotulski
Vanderbilt currently only has three commitments, and defensive coordinator David Kotulski is responsible for two of them.ย
Kotulski, who also coaches inside linebackers, helped the Commodores land 4-star cornerbackย Donovan Sheffield. Quarterbackย Kyle Shurmur, a 3-star passer, also was recruited by Kotulski. Although head coach Derek Mason's class is small, it's clear right now that his top recruiter also coordinates his defense.
Texas A&M
2 of 14
Ace Recruiter:ย B.J. Anderson
Texas A&M is one of the nation's hottest recruiting powerhouses. The Aggies have the No. 5 class in theย 247Sports rankings, and the No. 1 spot is possible by the end of this cycle.
Head coach Kevin Sumlin has a great staff of recruiters, but his best one right now isย B.J. Anderson. Responsible for five of Texas A&M's 13 pledges, Anderson also dabbles in coaching the offensive line.
Recruits such as 5-star defensive tackleย Daylon Mack, 4-star safetyย Larry Pryorย and 4-star offensive tackleย Connor Lanfearย are headed to College Station thanks to Anderson.ย
Tennessee
3 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Mike Bajakian
Head coach Butch Jones is establishing himself as a formidable recruiter in the SEC, and among his top recruiters is offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian.
Not only has Bajakian been busy this spring with drawing up plays for the Volunteers, but he has also been finding talent to bring to Knoxville. He has secured five commitments, including one from 4-star athleteย Jauan Jennings.
To show just how much Jones trusts Bajakian's recruiting ability, he has also tasked his offensive chief to help lure 5-star quarterbackย Torrance Gibsonย to Rocky Top.
South Carolina
4 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Shawn Elliott
South Carolina isn't a flashy recruiting program, but it still gets a good amount of solid talent. The 2015 class is being built mainly by the hands of offensive line coach Shawn Elliott.
He can be credited with three of the Gamecocks' 11 commitments, including the pledge from 4-star cornerbackย Mark Fields. Head coach Steve Spurrier also has Elliott hunting top recruits such as 5-star offensive tackleย Martez Iveyย and 4-star defensive endย Darian Roseboro.
When South Carolina signs another fine class next February, a big reason for that will be Elliott's work ethic.
Missouri
5 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Cornell Ford
Missouri has the No. 28 class in the country, perย 247Sports. Head coach Gary Pinkel's top recruiter for 2015 right now is cornerbacks coach Cornell Ford.
A Toledo alumnus, Ford is responsible for three of the Tigers' eight commitments. He may coach in the secondary, but his two biggest finds are 4-star running backsย Natereace Strongย andย Chase Abbington.
He is also the primary recruiter for 5-star defensive endย Terry Beckner Jr., who is Mizzou's biggest recruiting target for 2015.
Mississippi State
6 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Greg Knox
Mississippi State has flown under the recruiting radar this spring. People need to check out the Bulldogs, as their class is No. 10 in theย 247Sports rankings.
Out of the 17 recruits who have pledged to Mississippi State, five of them were recruited by running backs coach Greg Knox. The headliner is 4-star athleteย Malik Dear, plus the Bulldogs also have a commitment from 4-star defensive endย Timothy Washington.
Both of those players were recruited by Knox, who is also the primary recruiter for coveted 4-star defensive tackleย Fletcher Adams.
Ole Miss
7 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Maurice Harris
Although Ole Miss' class is ranked No. 10 in the SEC, it still is No. 22 in the country, perย 247Sports. The Rebels' top recruiter this year has been tight ends coach Maurice Harris.
He has netted four of Ole Miss' nine commitments, including 4-star running backย Eric Swinneyย and 3-star cornerbackย Ugo Amadi. Head coach Hugh Freeze is also charging Harris with the responsibility of tracking uncommitted 4-star offensive tackleย Drew Richmond.ย
LSU
8 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Frank Wilson
Frank Wilsonย is one of the most feared recruiters in the SEC, and he is up to his old tricks once again this year. LSU has 12 commitments, and he is responsible for eight of them.
The Tigers class is ranked No. 6 in theย 247Sports rankings, and Wilson can be thanked for the pledges of 5-star cornerbackย Kevin Toliver IIย andย 4-star running backsย Nick Brossetteย andย Derrius Guice.
As far as uncommitted targets, Wilson is the primary contact at LSU for 5-star receiverย Tyron Johnson, and he also is helping out with the recruitment of 5-star defensive backย Tarvarus McFadden.
Kentucky
9 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Vince Marrow
Kentucky enjoyed one of its best recruiting cycles in years in 2014, and its 2015 class is currently No. 25 in theย 247Sports rankings.
Head coach Mark Stoops can thank Vince Marrow for the recruiting surge. It shouldn't be surprising that Marrow's top commitment is 4-star tight endย C.J. Conrad, as that is the position he coaches in Lexington.
Recruits such as 3-star receiverย Alex Stump, 3-star linebackerย Jordan Jonesย and 3-star offensive tackleย Larry Wellsย are all part of UK's nine-man class, thanks to Marrow.
Georgia
10 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Jeremy Pruitt
Georgia head coach Mark Richt made one of the shrewdest hires in all of football this offseason when he plucked Jeremy Pruitt from Florida State.
Sure, Pruitt is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, but he is also an outstanding recruiter. While it remains to be seen how his defense will fare in Athens, he is off to a great start as a recruiter for the Bulldogs.
He has helped secure five of UGA's 11 commitments, including 4-star defensive endย Chauncey Riversย and 4-star cornerbackย Rico McGraw. Pruitt is also Georgia's primary recruiter for important uncommitted prospects such as 5-star defensive endย Josh Sweatย and 4-star safetyย Rashad Roundtree.
Richt told the following to Michael Carvell of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on March 4:
"And after signing day, my thought was that the first thing Jeremy was going to do with that defensive staff was to gather them together and teach them the system. Well, the first thing he wanted to do was look at โ15 and โ16 kids together as a staff. He knew we were behind on the defensive side of the ball with making offers and seeing film because of what had happened (with the coaching changes).
"
Florida
11 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Kurt Roper
Florida has several of the better recruiters in the SEC on its staff. However, based on how the 2015 recruiting cycle is going, the Gators' ace recruiter is new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper.
This is a bit of a surprise, but Roper is responsible for five of Florida's nine commitments. He convinced 4-star dual-threat quarterbackย Sheriron Jonesย to be a Gator, plus he helped lure speedy 4-star athleteย Derrick Dillonย to Gainesville.
Roper also is assisting with Florida's efforts to sign 5-star receiverย George Campbell.ย
Auburn
12 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Tim Horton
Defensive line coachย Rodney Garnerย and offensive line coachย J.B. Grimesย were considered, but running backs coach Tim Horton takes the cake for Auburn right now.
The Tigers, who are No. 4 in theย 247Sports rankings, have 15 commitments. Horton has helped with four of them, including 5-star JUCO running backย Jovon Robinsonย and high-end 4-star athleteย Kerryon Johnson.
He is also the primary contact for Auburn in the recruitment of 4-star offensive tacklesย Drew Richmondย andย Tyler Carr.
Arkansas
13 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Barry Lunney Jr.
With eight commitments, Arkansas has the No. 23 class in theย 247Sports rankings. Out of their eight pledges, the Razorbacks can thank tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. for six of them.
He served as the primary recruiter for 4-star defensive endย Jamario Bellย and 4-star quarterbackย Ty Storey. Lunney also played a big role in Arkansas landing 3-star receiverย Deon Stewartย andย 3-star defensive tackleย Daytrieon Dean.
Will Gragg, an uncommitted 4-star tight end, is currently his top target.
Alabama
14 of 14
Ace recruiter:ย Mario Cristobal
This was a tough call, as Alabama has perhaps the best staff of recruiters in the nation. Defensive coordinatorย Kirby Smart, running backs coachย Burton Burns, linebackers coachย Lance Thompsonย and receivers coachย Billy Napierย are all worthy of being ace recruiters.
However, offensive line coach Mario Cristobal is head coachย Nick Saban's best recruiter right now. He has secured commitments from seven of 'Bama's 18 recruits.
Cristobal has deep connections in Florida, which helped him get 4-star athleteย Shawn Burgess-Beckerย and 4-star receiverย Calvinย Ridley. He also was the primary recruiter forย Minkahย Fitzpatrick, a 5-star cornerback who committed to the Crimson Tide earlier this spring.
He is after twoย 5-star uncommitted prospect: defensiveย tackleย Daron Payneย and offensive tackleย Martezย Ivey.ย
All recruiting class ratings and rankings are fromย 247Sports' Composite Recruiting Rankings.ย Player evaluations are based on review of tape atย Scout.com,ย Rivalsย andย 247Sports.
Edwinย Weathersbyย is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.
