2016 Recruits Most Likely to Turn Down the SEC

Many in the college football world say the SEC is the most talked-about conference of the Power Five.

With seven of the last nine championships, the conference has reason to proclaim itself as college football's elite conference. But those national titles, the bowl victories and the multiple success stories don't always mean a recruit is an automatic get.

Ohio State, a Big Ten school and the defending national champion, will support that—as would Oregon, a Pac-12 school and the national runner-up. And don't forget TCU, which made its case as a Big 12 powerhouse.

And then there's last year's champion, Florida State, an ACC representative. And let's not forget Boise State, which quietly does its thing in the Mountain West Conference only to dazzle fans with bowl-game performances—particularly the Fiesta Bowl.

Recruits have their choices of where they want to play college football, and while the SEC is still an attractive conference, it definitely has its competition. Many elite players in the class of 2016 could end up playing football in other conferences.

Here are 10 5-star recruits to keep an eye on.

5-Star DE Shavar Manuel

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)

247Sports Composite Rank: 3

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Florida State (96 percent)

As of Friday morning, 23 of 24 predictions leaned in favor of Florida State for Shavar Manuel. That's good news for the Seminoles, as Manuel is the nation's top-ranked defensive end. He combines strength and speed very well for a player who is 6'5" and 262 pounds.

Manuel last visited Florida State in October, per 247Sports. Florida State, Miami and Alabama—the team to get the other Crystal Ball prediction—are early front-runners to watch in Manuel's process.

5-Star CB Saivion Smith

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)

247Sports Composite Rank: 6

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Florida State (79 percent)

Imagine Saivion Smith and Manuel on the same side of the ball in high school. Now imagine Smith and Manuel on the same side of the ball in college. Florida State is heavily trending for Smith, but Florida and Clemson are considered teams to watch as well.

Smith took in Clemson's junior day on Jan. 31. He also visited Clemson in November, which gives Tigers fans hope. One school that could be a wild card is Texas. Head coach Charlie Strong recruits well in the state of Florida, and the Longhorns offered Smith on Wednesday.

5-Star RB Kareem Walker

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Wayne, New Jersey (De Paul Catholic)

247Sports Composite Rank: 8

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Alabama (75 percent)

Committed to Ohio State

The nation's top-ranked running back, Kareem Walker committed to Ohio State on Jan. 12—the same day the Buckeyes beat Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship. It was a big win for Ohio State, as Walker was considering Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, Rutgers and others.

Walker is one of two running backs committed to Ohio State, so his recruiting process will be monitored. You can bet a couple of schools looking for a running back pledge will do all they can to flip him.

5-Star QB Malik Henry

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)

247Sports Composite Rank: 9

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Florida State (67 percent)

Committed to Florida State

It may be early, but at this point, Malik Henry is Florida State's to lose. He committed to the Seminoles in November over Notre Dame, UCLA, Ohio State and several other programs. Henry recently moved from California to Florida and is ready for the upcoming season.

If there's a chance of Henry decommitting, keep an eye on the West Coast schools, as he is originally from the Thousand Oaks, California, area. UCLA is a team to watch.

5-Star DE Nick Bosa

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Fort Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas)

247Sports Composite Rank: 10

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Ohio State (100 percent)

In short, Ohio State is expected to eventually land Nick Bosa. He's the younger brother of Buckeyes defensive end Joey Bosa, and he has the potential to be just as dominant as his big brother for Urban Meyer's defense.

A Nick Bosa commitment to anywhere but Ohio State would be something of a major shock. Currently, 44 out of 44 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions say he will commit to the Buckeyes. However, look for Bosa to take visits to schools after his junior year and make a decision based off everything he sees.

5-Star OT Patrick Hudson

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Silsbee, Texas

247Sports Composite Rank: 13

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Baylor and Texas A&M (50 percent each)

Committed to Baylor

When Patrick Hudson committed to Baylor in July, he gave the Bears a huge addition to the offensive line. At 6'5" and 325 pounds, Hudson already has a college lineman's body. Now, it's all about getting the tutelage from the Baylor coaching staff.

Hudson is one of Baylor's highest-ranked recruits ever. He flipped his commitment after decommitting from Texas A&M. The recruiting process is still early, and there's still time for other programs to win Hudson over—including Texas A&M.

5-Star LB Caleb Kelly

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Fresno, California (Clovis West)

247Sports Composite Rank: 14

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Oklahoma (100 percent)

The Oklahoma Sooners have been very good at two things—keeping much of the state's top talent in the state and recruiting the state of California. Caleb Kelly is another California athlete who can spend his college years in Norman learning from coach Bob Stoops and his staff.

Kelly told Adam Gorney of Rivals.com that he's taking his process slowly. He has intriguing offers from Michigan, Miami, Oregon and Stanford, as well as SEC schools Alabama and LSU.

5-Star CB Levonta Taylor

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Virginia Beach, Virginia (Ocean Lakes)

247Sports Composite Rank: 17

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Virginia (92 percent)

Levonta Taylor is the top-ranked player from the state of Virginia and the nation's No. 2 cornerback. The Virginia Cavaliers are hoping to keep him close to home, and while he's a big fan of the Cavaliers, there are other schools in the running.

Taylor told Adam Friedman of Rivals.com that Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and Florida all offered recently. Virginia offered him as a sophomore, and while a decision isn't expected soon, look for the Cavaliers to do all they can to land the 5-star stud.

5-Star RB Tavien Feaster

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Spartanburg, South Carolina (Spartanburg)

247Sports Composite Rank: 19

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Clemson (100 percent)

Committed to Clemson

Clemson scored a huge commitment earlier this month when it managed to keep Tavien Feaster in the state. Feaster told Ryan Bartow of 247Sports that the family feel and overall atmosphere of Clemson won him over. The Tigers have seven commits, but Feaster is the first 5-star pledge.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball showed all 35 predictors chose Clemson to land Feaster. He chose the Tigers over several other programs, including South Carolina, Florida State, Florida and Auburn.

5-Star OT Tommy Kraemer

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (School): Cincinnati, Ohio (Elder)

247Sports Composite Rank: 22

247Sports Crystal Ball says: Notre Dame (50 percent)

Committed to Notre Dame

Tommy Kraemer is the top player in Ohio and a top-five offensive tackle nationally. Ohio State wanted to keep him in state, but he committed to Notre Dame in October. Kraemer is still the only commitment for the Irish, but he's a cornerstone piece in the 2016 class.

It will be tough for any SEC school to flip Kraemer. Back in June, the lineman announced a top five of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Northwestern, Boston College and Duke. Kraemer was at Notre Dame for the program's junior day on Jan. 31. He's visited the campus several times since September.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.