5-Star Lyndell “Mack” Wilson Tweets Top 2 Schools

The SEC Championship between No. 2 Alabama and No. 18 Florida already has high stakes. The Crimson Tide are playing to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, and the Gators are trying to win a surprise SEC title in coach Jim McElwain’s first season.

But off the field, the game took on extra meaning for avid followers of the teams’ recruiting fortunes. Shortly after kickoff Saturday afternoon, one of the nation’s top recruits revealed via tweet that Alabama and Florida are finalists for his services.

247Sports

Montgomery, Alabama linebacker Lyndell “Mack” Wilson tweeted his top two destinations were the Crimson Tide and Gators. That’s significant. Wilson is rated as a 5-star prospect and the nation’s No. 12 overall prospect per 247Sports, as well as the nation’s top outside linebacker prospect and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama.

He had previously tweeted Thursday that his top choices were Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Southern California, a powerful list in its own right. But the decision to list a top two is big news for the Tide and Gators.

Wilson would be an excellent fit in either program’s Class of 2016 as an immediate impact player. He is an excellent tackler, with great quickness and pursuit skills. He stands 6’2”, 220 pounds and has great athleticism, lateral movements and the ability to play in space.

Alabama currently has the nation's No. 4 recruiting class, per 247Sports, and has a pair of linebacker commitments in 4-star Jaquan Yulee and 3-star Riley Cole. Florida has the nation's No. 9 recruiting class with a pair of linebacker commits in 4-star Jeremiah Moon and 3-star Vosean Joseph. 

He was originally expected to commit on Friday, a change from his original plans of committing on national signing day, per Bleacher Report’s Tyler Donohue. But it is clear that Wilson is quickly narrowing his suitors. While Alabama has some upheaval on its defensive staff following Kirby Smart’s reported departure for Georgia per ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, it appears either the Tide or Gators could get a major boost to their recruiting classes in short order.