Updated Power Rankings for 2015 SEC Recruiting Classes
With less than four months left until national signing day, it’s no surprise to see the SEC dominating the 2015 247Sports team rankings.
The SEC has six teams ranked in the top 10 nationally, including all of the top four teams.
Schools such as Tennessee and South Carolina are challenging powerhouses such as Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M in the race to pull in one of the nation’s top classes.
How is every team in the nation’s most powerful conference faring heading into the stretch of the 2015 cycle?
14. Vanderbilt
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With the loss of James Franklin to Penn State, and the struggles on the field for new coach Derek Mason, Vanderbilt’s 2015 class has suffered through the transition period.
The Commodores have only nine commitments, with in-state standouts such as 4-star corner Donovan Sheffield and linebacker Josh Smith representing the anchors of the 2015 class.
Vandy has failed to pick up a commitment since the season began, and given its 2-5 start, it’s unlikely that the program breaks that trend anytime soon.
Mason and his staff will face an uphill challenge in selling a vision based on their plans for the future.
13. Missouri
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After Missouri’s loss to Georgia last weekend, the Tigers are 4-2 and facing a critical game in the East Division race at Florida this weekend.
While the Tigers' record is solid, their on-field efforts haven’t provided a boost to their recruiting class—at least not yet.
They have 12 commitments in a class rated No. 47 in the country. But they do possess a pledge from 4-star quarterback Drew Lock—one of the nation’s top passers.
Additionally, Gary Pinkel is fighting tooth and nail to land 5-star defensive end Terry Beckner Jr. over powers such as Ohio State, Florida State, LSU and Auburn.
If the Tigers can capture another East Division title in the nation’s toughest conference, expect their class to receive a boost over the final stretch until signing day.
12. Florida
3 of 14Perhaps the biggest mystery in the SEC is what to make of Florida’s class and how it will shake out.
The uncertainty surrounding the Gators future with Will Muschamp has made it tougher than normal to attract blue-chippers to Gainesville. The Gators class is currently stocked with 11 commitments and ranks No. 32 in the country.
Additionally, top commits such as 4-star linebacker Adonis Thomas and 4-star athlete Jerome Baker are listening to overtures from Alabama and Ohio State, respectively.
However, with players such as 5-star standout defensive ends Byron Cowart and CeCe Jefferson, 5-star offensive tackle Martez Ivey and 4-star linebacker Jeffery Holland among the prospects who have heavy interest in the Gators, Florida has the potential to make a huge jump if it can close the deal with those high-profile recruits.
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11. Arkansas
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In his second year in the SEC, Bret Bielema seems to be gaining some positive momentum at Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are 3-3, but Bielema’s ground-and-pound offense has looked much better, and the team has been competitive in losses to ranked opponents in Alabama, Auburn and Texas A&M.
On the recruiting trail, the Hogs have 14 commitments in a class that is ranked No. 20 nationally.
Their newest commit, in-state 4-star tight end Will Gragg, was a critical piece to the 2015 class.
However, unlike teams such as Florida and Missouri, the Hogs don’t seem to have any top-100 recruits that they are heavily involved with at this stage.
10. Kentucky
5 of 14One of the biggest surprises on and off the field in the SEC is Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats.
The ‘Cats are 5-1 heading into this weekend’s game at LSU, and they are riding that momentum on the recruiting trail as well.
Twin brothers and Ohio natives Andrew and David Dowell are the latest 4-star additions to UK’s 2015 class, which is 15 members deep.
As Luke Stampini of 247Sports notes, the Wildcats are trending in the race to land in-state 5-star running back Damien Harris.
With the Wildcats' impressive start to the 2014 season and Stoops and his staff selling a bright future to recruits, UK has a chance to finish strong in February.
9. Ole Miss
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The 2013 class that Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was able to land is beginning to pay big dividends, as the Rebels are 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country midway through the 2014 season.
With 13 commitments in the 2015 cycle, the Rebels have the nation’s No. 22 class.
While Ole Miss started slow, the Rebels landed four commits in September—headlined by 4-star linebacker Leo Lewis and 4-star offensive tackle Drew Richmond.
The Rebels still have a number of targets such as CeCe Jefferson, 4-star receiver Damarkus Lodge and 4-star offensive lineman Javon Patterson still on the board.
If the Rebels can continue their strong play on the field, Freeze and his staff may end up with another top-10 class.
8. LSU
7 of 14Les Miles and the LSU Tigers have had a disappointing start to the 2014 season.
However, they are playing a number of true freshmen who are taking their lumps in the nation’s toughest conference.
While those young players are struggling on the field, LSU remains a juggernaut in the recruiting world. The Tigers have 15 commitments in a group rated as the nation’s No. 15 class.
The Tigers are heavily involved with standouts such as 5-star receiver Tyron Johnson, 5-star corner Tarvarus McFadden and 4-star athlete Donte Jackson.
Even if the Tigers continue to struggle on the field, LSU can still maintain a top-15 class due to its recent tradition of producing top talent and by keeping the core of its 2015 class together.
7. Mississippi State
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Another major storyline early in the college football season has been the play of Dan Mullen’s Mississippi State Bulldogs.
They have a loaded class in this cycle, with an incredible 30 commitments already in the fold. The class ranks No. 12 in the country.
However, Mullen and his staff could still have room to pull in a few more studs because of their veteran-laden roster, as noted by Bud Elliott of SB Nation.
While they could still theoretically land a few more blue-chippers, Mullen and his staff’s biggest challenge will be keeping the class they’ve already assembled together.
6. South Carolina
9 of 14Similar to the Bulldogs, Steve Spurrier and the South Carolina Gamecocks have already put in the majority of their work in the 2015 class.
The Gamecocks have a loaded group of 28 commitments set to head to Columbia.
However, outside of 4-star in-state defensive tackle Albert Huggins—who is also considering Clemson and Georgia—the Gamecocks aren't aggressively pursuing many prospects.
If South Carolina can hang on to key commits such as 4-star defensive ends Shameik Blackshear and Arden Key, the Gamecocks will welcome their best class in the Spurrier era in February.
5. Texas A&M
10 of 14Texas A&M’s entry into the SEC has coincided with its re-emergence nationally and push to become the premier program on the recruiting trail in its fertile home state.
The Aggies have dominated the Lone Star State in 2015. Specifically, they’ve enjoyed great success in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area.
The Aggies class has 19 pledges and currently ranks No. 6 in the nation.
With high-profile targets such as 5-star linebacker Malik Jefferson, 5-star corner Kendall Sheffield and 5-star receiver Christian Kirk still on the board, the Aggies have a chance to land the nation’s top class.
4. Tennessee
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The re-emergence of Tennessee as a recruiting power is one of the surprises of the 2015 cycle.
After the commitment of corner Micah Abernathy earlier this month, the Vols have 26 commitments and a class that ranks third nationally.
Butch Jones has landed potential difference-makers such as 5-star defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie and 5-star receiver Preston Williams.
If the Vols can land another impact recruit or two, they will be in contention to land the nation’s top class.
3. Auburn
12 of 14Gus Malzahn has gotten it done on the field since returning to Auburn, and the Tigers have also become a force on the recruiting trail.
The Tigers have 20 commitments in a class that is currently rated No. 8 in the country.
Auburn is in the hunt for several uncommitted blue-chippers such as 5-star offensive tackle Martez Ivey, 5-star defensive tackle Daron Payne and 4-star defensive end D’Andre Walker.
Assuming the Tigers can close strong, they have a chance to make a run at the No. 1 overall class when signing day rolls around.
2. Georgia
13 of 14Prior to the start of the season, no team was hotter on the recruiting trail than Mark Richt’s Georgia Bulldogs.
Bolstered by the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, the Bulldogs went on a tear in August, landing standouts such as 5-star defensive tackle Trent Thompson and 4-star defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter.
The ‘Dawgs haven’t cooled off, either.
They flipped former Florida State commitment and 4-star defensive end Michael Barnett late last month.
Several big targets remain for Richt and his staff.
No. 1 overall recruit Josh Sweat, 5-star corner Tarvarus McFadden, 4-star linebacker Roquan Smith and 4-star safety Rashad Roundtree are among the elite targets who could potentially end up in Athens.
If the Bulldogs can close strong down the stretch, they have a realistic chance at pulling in the nation’s top class in February.
1. Alabama
14 of 14Even though Nick Saban and his staff haven’t landed a commitment since the season started, they have maintained their grip on the top spot of the 2015 class rankings.
The Crimson Tide have 21 commits in a star-studded group that will aim to help Alabama finish with its fifth straight top-rated class.
Alabama is still involved with mega recruits such as 5-star corner Kendall Sheffield, 5-star defensive end CeCe Jefferson, 5-star defensive tackle Daron Payne and 4-star running back Jacques Patrick.
Given the Tide’s recent history of closing strong, it’s hard to bet against the Tide in their quest to land another group that will be billed as the nation's top class.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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