Every SEC Team's Biggest Recruiting Need for the Class of 2016
National signing day 2015 is in the books, and to the surprise of nobody, Alabama reeled in its fifth straight recruiting national championship by signing six 5-star players and a mind-boggling 14, 4-star players.
It's never too early to start looking ahead to 2016, though.
The 2016 class is led by Texas A&M offensive tackle commit Greg Little, and its top quarterback, Jacob Eason, is committed to Georgia.
What's the biggest need for each SEC team based on roster, scheme and talent? Our picks are in this slideshow.
Florida Gators: Quarterback
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Florida has had a quarterback issue that's lasted over the last three coaching staffs, and after missing out on Deondre Francois late in the 2015 recruiting cycle, getting a quarterback in the class of 2016 is imperative.
By the time the 2016 quarterbacks get to campus, Treon Harris will be a junior and Will Grier will be a redshirt sophomore, so new head coach Jim McElwain and the new Gator coaching staff needs to start planning for the future.
There are plenty of great quarterbacks in the 2016 class, including Miami commit Jack Allison (Palmetto, Florida), LSU commit Feleipe Franks (Crawfordville, Florida) and uncommitted 4-star dual-threat Xavier Gaines (Lake Wales, Florida).
Whether it's an in-state product or McElwain goes across state lines to find a new signal-caller, a top-tier quarterback needs to be a top priority in 2016.
Georgia Bulldogs: Running Back
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In 2012, Georgia reeled in stud freshmen running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. In 2014, it was the dynamic duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel signing on the dotted line with head coach Mark Richt.
Why not keep the pattern going in 2016?
Chubb burst onto the scene last season with 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns after taking over for Gurley while he was suspended and then injured late in the season. It's unlikely that Chubb will stick around for a full four years, so finding the next in line for the top spot on the running back depth chart needs to start right now.
There are plenty of options for Richt to choose from.
JaQua Daniels is a 4-star running back in Richt's backyard in Athens, Elijah Holyfield—another 4-star prospect—is just down the road at Woodward Academy in Atlanta and Georgia has gone outside of the Peach State to nab several running backs in the past, including Gurley, Michel, Marshall and Knowshon Moreno.
Of course, hanging on to 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason would also be helpful.
Kentucky Wildcats: Contend in Ohio
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When Mark Stoops was hired by Kentucky prior to the 2013 season, he made it a point to win recruiting battles in the state of Ohio—a state that routinely produces good high school talent that has been tough for SEC programs to crack.
He's had success, too.
Of the eight commits in the class of 2016, two—cornerback Tobias Gilliam and linebacker Roland Walder—are from Ohio. Five players in the 2015 class hail from the state, as well as 11 players in the 2014 class.
Things have changed, though.
Instead of going up against the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes in Kentucky's northeast neighbor, it's going up against defending national champion Ohio State. Well, that, and super-recruiter James Franklin at Penn State, new Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, traditional power Notre Dame and all of the other programs that depend on Ohio,
Kentucky needs to continue to sell itself and the SEC patch on its jersey to Ohio kids, and win quite a few of those battles.
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Missouri Tigers: Defensive Ends
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Missouri has made a name for itself over the last decade as "D-Line Zou," and if that's going to continue, Missouri needs to lock down some of its top targets along the defensive line in the class of 2016.
Erick Fowler, a 4-star prospect from Manor, Texas, is the top-rated defensive end on Missouri's board. Behind him, Isaiah Chambers (Houston), Mark Jackson (Cibolo, Texas) and Tomon Fox (Atlanta) are just a few of the other talented defensive ends that could land in Columbia.
These players aren't just important because of their position but also their locations. Pinkel has always depended on the Texas pipeline for players and ever since Missouri joined the SEC metro Atlanta has been another focus.
Reeling in some of these prospects and lining them up alongside recent signee Terry Beckner, Jr. would solidify the Tiger defensive front for a long time.
South Carolina Gamecocks: Win the Line of Scrimmage
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Marcus Lattimore, Jadeveon Clowney and Stephon Gilmore are just a few of the talented prospects from the state of South Carolina who have matriculated through the program over the last few years, and in 2016, many of the top-flight Palmetto State prospects are in the trenches.
Javon Kinlaw (Goose Creek) and John Simpson (North Charleston) are 4-star offensive tackles from the state, as is 4-star defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney (Seabrook) and 3-star guard Drew Wilson (Bamberg).
What's more, Gregory Little—a 5-star offensive lineman and the nation's top prospect—is a Gamecock legacy. His father, Derrick, played defensive line and linebacker for South Carolina in the late-1980s. Flipping Little, a Texas A&M commit who hails from Allen, Texas (home of 5-star Aggie signee Kyler Murray), might be a tall order.
Whatever happens with Little, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has to lure some big men to Columbia and win the battle in the trenches.
Tennessee Volunteers: Don't Mess with Success
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Whatever Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and his staff are doing on the recruiting trail, he doesn't need to change a single thing.
Jones and his staff have reeled in top seven recruiting classes in each of the last two seasons, and restocked a cupboard that had become bare under former head coach Derek Dooley.
Don't mess with success.
Those two classes have been well-rounded with instant impact stars like running back Jalen Hurd, wide receiver Josh Malone and defensive end Derek Barnett, while also solidifying long-term positional needs like offensive line.
If there is a pressing need, maybe...maybe...adding a couple of wide receivers to play alongside recent signee Preston Williams down the road would be nice. For the most part, though, Tennessee's roster is already stacked and there aren't many pressing needs on Rocky Top.
Vanderbilt Commodores: Running Backs
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It wasn't long ago when Vanderbilt had a rather healthy stable of running backs that included Brian Kimbrow, Jerron Seymour and Ralph Webb.
Now, it's just Webb and a bunch of question marks.
Webb rushed for 907 yards and four touchdowns a year ago while the Commodores played musical quarterbacks. Andy Ludwig was brought in to be the new offensive coordinator after Wisconsin suffered a staff shake up, and Ludwig made a name for himself by running the football.
He needs options.
Robert Washington is a 4-star prospect who's interested in the 'Dores, as is 3-star prospect Tony Jones.
Ludwig brings a specific identity to Nashville, and that needs to pay off in the class of 2016.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Front Seven
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Head coach Nick Saban brought Alabama back to prosperity with a stifling front seven that's bigger, faster and stronger than most others in college football.
That identity needs to stay strong, and there are plenty of prospects in 2016 who can help.
Rashan Gary, a 5-star defensive tackle from Paramus, New Jersey, is interested in the Crimson Tide. As are fellow 5-star tackles Derrick Brown and Julian Rochester, 5-star defensive ends Shavar Manuel and Marlon Davidson, and 5-star linebackers Lyndell Wilson, Caleb Kelly and Ben Davis.
Alabama is at a point where it doesn't recruit defensive linemen and linebackers, those players recruit Alabama. There are plenty to choose from in the class of 2016, and Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart are essentially fishing in a stocked pond.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Running Backs
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Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams have provided quite the one-two punch at running back ever since head coach Bret Bielema took over prior to the 2013 season. After the 2015 season, though, Williams will exhaust his eligibility and Collins could jump early to the NFL.
It's time for Bielema to restock the cupboard.
Rakeem Boyd is a 5'11", 200-pound 3-star running back from Houston, Texas, and 4-star bruiser Devin White is potentially another option for Bielema and the Razorbacks staff.
Combine one or both of them with a surprise down the road, and the future of the Hog backfield would look bright. Whatever happens, running back needs to be a priority for the staff and the success of Collins and Williams should be their ace in the hole on the recruiting trail.
Auburn Tigers: Defensive Line
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Getting 5-star defensive end Byron Cowart on national signing day was huge for Auburn considering the absence of a pass rush was the biggest problem on Auburn's defense in 2014.
That was the good news. The bad news, though, is that success up front on the recruiting trail needs to continue.
Redshirt sophomore defensive end Carl Lawson will be back after missing last season with a torn ACL, and he will join true junior Montravius Adams up front for defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Those two stars, conceivably, could jump to the NFL after this season, which means it could be Cowart and a lot of question marks in 2016 and beyond.
Quinnen Williams is already committed in the class, and Auburn is in on several top-tier prospects including 5-star tackle Julien Rochester and 5-star defensive end Marlon Davidson. If Muschamp and the new-look Tigers defense has success this year, expect many more to become interested in the Tigers.
LSU TIgers: Quarterback
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LSU head coach Les Miles has a pressing issue this season trying to figure out who's going to be his quarterback, but the real challenge comes next year.
Whether it's Brandon Harris, Anthony Jennings or a graduate transfer taking the snaps in 2015, that player will be an upperclassmen in 2016, and Miles desperately needs to start planning for the future.
Shea Patterson, a 5-star pro-style prospect from Shreveport, Louisiana, may be part of that plan. The 6'2", 195-pounder with the rocket arm is interested in the Tigers, along with Ole Miss, USC and several others. He'd be the ideal fit for Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, both of whom have proven they are at their best with pro-style passers who can stand in the pocket and sling it.
Whether it's Patterson or somebody else, LSU absolutely has to land a top-tier quarterback in the class of 2016, otherwise the class will be viewed as a disappointment.
Mississippi State Bulldogs: Quarterback
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Dak Prescott will return to Starkville for his senior season with Mississippi State in 2015, but after that, the quarterback plan for head coach Dan Mullen is quite murky.
Damian Williams will be a junior in 2015, and as far as long-term plans go, Mississippi State is looking at former 3-star dual-threat prospects Nick Fitzgerald and Elijah Staley as the answers.
Could either be the correct answer? Sure. After all, not many people pegged Prescott—a former 3-star prospect himself—to contend for the Heisman Trophy as he did in 2014. But if you're Mullen don't you want to capitalize on last season's success and give the incumbents a little more competition?
Mississippi State has already made offers to nine quarterbacks in the class, according to 247Sports, so it's clearly a priority. They need to land at least one, if, for no other reason than insurance purposes.
Ole Miss Rebels: Defensive Line
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Ole Miss will again be mentioned as a possible contender for the SEC West title in 2015 due in large part to an experienced and deep defense that's headlined by defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and defensive end C.J. Johnson.
That's great, but if Ole Miss is going to contend annually, that depth up front needs to be restocked through the class of 2016.
Johnson, defensive end Channing Ward and defensive tackle Isaac Gross will exhaust their eligibility following the season, Nkemdiche could (and likely should) turn pro and defensive end Fadol Brown will be a junior in 2015.
There are some talented players behind them, but Ole Miss' defensive line is getting up there in age, and needs to maintain the same level of depth it has right now in order to stay relevant. The best defensive lines in the division rotate eight or nine guys, which means more talent needs to flow to Oxford next February.
Texas A&M Aggies: Quarterback
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The battle for 5-star dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray from Allen, Texas was one of the most fascinating recruiting battles down the stretch last recruiting cycle, as Texas A&M held off a late charge from Texas to secure the services of the three-time, undefeated, Texas state champ.
Or did it?
Murray is also a highly-touted baseball player who, according to MLB.com's Jim Callis (via USA Today) could be drafted in the first round of this spring's Major League Baseball draft.
If he goes the baseball route (and let's be honest, guaranteed first-round baseball money and a longer earning window are hard to pass up), that leaves Texas A&M in a precarious quarterback situation.
Kyle Allen will be a sophomore in 2015, and considering he'll likely put up PlayStation numbers in head coach Kevin Sumlin's offense that features one of the best wide receiving corps in the country, it's now time to start searching for the next answer at quarterback in case he bails after his junior season.
If Murray plays for Texas A&M, that's a bonus. But Sumlin and crew should plan as if he will be playing baseball and then adjust accordingly.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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