Power Ranking the SEC 2011 Recruiting Classes: Is Alabama Still No. 1?

The SEC is the toughest conference in college football and with that comes a ton of national exposure, fierce competition, and a significant advantage over the rest of the country when it comes to recruiting. 

There's a reason the SEC almost always ranks as the top recruiting conference in the country. It's because the top talent is drawn to the top level of competition.

This is not to disrespect the Big 12 or the Big Ten, but the SEC is in a class of it's own. 

So who's leading the race for the top 2011 recruiting class in college football's best recruiting conference?

Here are the SEC recruiting rankings through mid September.  

12. Vanderbilt

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 0
3-Star Commitments: 4
Best Individual Prospect: Keith Heitzman, TE

Vanderbilt slots in at No. 12, surprising no one. The team has just seven commitments, with four of them receiving 3-star grades and three garnering just 2-stars. 

Of the group, if you had to pick the best individual prospect, it would be tight end Keith Heitzman. But like every other prospect on the books for Vanderbilt, he's rated outside of the top 60 at his position. 

11. South Carolina

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 0
3-Star Commitments: 11
Best Individual Prospect: Ronnie Martin, CB

South Carolina is in a unique situation for a school that's currently sitting at the bottom of it's conference standings when it comes to 2011 recruiting. 

That's because the Gamecocks are listed as a top two choice by No. 1 overall recruit, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

But as of now the class consists of 15 commitments, with none of them rating higher than a 3-star grade.

10. Kentucky

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 2
3-Star Commitments: 8
Best Individual Prospect: Jon Davis, TE

Kentucky started off hot, getting December commitments from 4-star prospects Darrian Miller at offensive tackle and Jon Davis at tight end.

Since then, the Wildcats have brought in eight 3-star prospects and six 2-star prospects. It doesn't look like they have much of a shot of bringing in any more high-end talent. 

So while Kentucky edges out South Carolina for now, it shouldn't be long before they drop down a spot. 

9. Tennessee

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 1
3-Star Commitments: 12
Best Individual Prospect: Kyler Kerbyson, OT

This would come as a surprise if we were talking about any conference other than the SEC, but the remainder the the conference's schools, including ninth-ranked Tennessee, are all on their way to top 25 recruiting classes. 

The Vols started slow, but they picked up the pace over the summer and are up to 14 commitments. 

Kyler Kerbyson, ranked as a top 25 offensive tackle, is the only 4-star prospect on the books, but he's joined by a good group of talented 3-star recruits.

8. Mississippi State

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 4
3-Star Commitments: 10
Best Individual Prospect: Darion Arrington, S

MIssissippi and Mississippi State did most of their recruiting damage in June and July, months when both schools collected the majority of their commitments. 

For the Bulldogs, the class is highlighted by safety Darion Arrington and linebacker C.J. Johnson, both top 10 prospects at their respective positions. 

With a handful of 4-star prospects and 10 3-star prospects, Mississippi State is on course for a nice top 25 class. 

7. Mississippi

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 4
3-Star Commitments: 14
Best Individual Prospect: Gerrod Holliman, S

It's a very close call between Ole Miss and Mississippi State for the No. 7 spot, as both schools have an equal number of 4-star prospects at four a piece. 

The Rebels collected commitments from high school teammates Gerrod Holliman at safety and Andrew Johnson at cornerback. The two of them form a solid backbone to a good haul of talent in the secondary. 

Add in 14 3-star prospects and there's a good chance this could turn out to be a very productive class for Mississippi. 

6. Arkansas

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 2
3-Star Commitments: 11
Best Individual Prospect: Brey Cook, OT

Arkansas missed out on its native son, quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who instead opted for Auburn, but they're still putting together a good class without him.

With five-star offensive tackle Brey Cook headlining the class and four-star prospects like offensive tackle Mitch Smothers and wide receiver Keante Minor, the Razorbacks are strong on offense.

You'd like to see them get the same result on the defensive side of the ball, but to this point they haven't delivered too much talent on that end, which could be a problem in the coming years.

5. Auburn

5-Star Commitments: 0 
4-Star Commitments: 7 
3-Star Commitments: 7 
Best Individual Prospect: Kiehl Frazier, QB

Auburn doesn't have the numbers that some of the schools behind them have, but what they do have is one of the best playmakers in the country in quarterback Kiehl Frazier.

He's one of the most underrated players in the country. I myself have probably undervalued him a bit as well in the latest rankings. Frazier is a born winner and if the Tigers fail to gain a single further commitment they'll still be winners with him on board.

Add in center Reese Dismukes, rated top five at his position, and tight end C.J. Uzomah, who has the potential to be the best tight end of the 2011 class, and Frazier looks like he has some good building blocks.

4. Florida

5-Star Commitments: 1 
4-Star Commitments: 8 
3-Star Commitments: 5 
Best Individual Prospect: Jeoffrey Pagan, DE

The Gators have been picking up steam recently, collecting 10 commitments since the start of June. Before June Florida had only four names on the books for their 2011 class, but two of them were 5-star quarterback Jeff Driskel and 4-star defensive end Jeoffery Pagan. 

Pagan is one of the most intriguing prospects in the country, as he's only played one year on defense and has a very, very high ceiling.

With Driskel, as well as a diverse class of solid talent on both sides of the ball, Florida is setting themselves up for a great 2011 class. It may not be up to their usual standards over the last few years, but it's still one of the top classes in the country.

3. Georgia

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 8
3-Star Commitments: 6
Best Individual Prospect: Christian LeMay, QB

Georgia is in the running for a few blue-chip prospects, so the Bulldogs still have the chance to pass LSU and maybe even Alabama for the top spot in the conference. 

It remains to be seen how it will play out, but with Alabama and Georgia battling for 5-star running back Isaiah Crowell, that could be the difference when it comes to 2011 recruiting. 

As of now, 5-star quarterback Christian LeMay, a top three player at his position, is the highlight of the Bulldogs class and has the potential to be one of the top players of the class; he's got a very, very high ceiling. 

2. Louisiana State

5-Star Commitments: 2 
4-Star Commitments: 5 
3-Star Commitments: 8 
Best Individual Prospect: La'El Collins, OT 

LSU really should have five 5-star talents because receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Kenny Hilliard, and outside linebacker Trevon Randle are disrespected by not receiving another star.

Landry might be a little small and not as fast as some of the other receivers in the country, but he might go down as the best in the bunch. The guy gets it done regardless of the situation and definitely puts together the most impressive highlight reel.

Hilliard and Randle are in the same mold. They're gamers who will shine at the next level regardless of the flaws some scouts are pointing out.

WIth La'El Collins, who's at worst the second best offensive tackle in the class, and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, rated top five at his position, the Tigers have the makings of a very well-rounded and extremely high-potential class.

1. Alabama

5-Star Commitments: 3 
4-Star Commitments: 8 
3-Star Commitments: 7 
Best Individual Prospect: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, S

Alabama fans will not like to see themselves at No. 4, but that's probably a good thing if you're complaining about being snubbed for the top three. The Tide bolstered an already strong class with another 5-star addition last week, linebacker Trey DePriest.

He joins linebacker Brent Calloway and safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix as the headliners for the Crimson Tide's 2011 recruitment campaign.

It's a very close call between Alabama, Ohio State and LSU, but for the moment the Tide come in third out of the group.

That could change in a heartbeat though. The No. 1 rated recruit in the country, Jadeveon Clowney, and the No. 2 running back Isaiah Crowell are both considered Alabama leans and will likely commit to the Crimson Tide.