The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last-minute decisions add to drama in SEC
Alabama again tops 247Sports rankings; Georgia is second.
KNOXVILLE, TENN. — Leave it to the Southeastern Conference to provide some drama on signing day that otherwise seemed anticlimactic.
Even though the vast majority of recruits already had finalized their college decisions in the December signing period, the traditional February signing date still provided a few surprises as players SEC teams were targeting backed out of longstanding verbal commitments.
Wide receiver George Pickens, the nation’s No. 24 overall prospect according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports, flipped his commitment from Auburn to Georgia. Alabama lost a couple of top-200 commitments when defensive end Khris Bogle (No. 71) chose Florida and cornerback Christian Williams (No. 160) signed with Miami.
Alabama still topped the 247Sports Composite team recruiting rankings for the eighth time in the last nine years, thanks mainly to the wealth of heralded prospects it signed in December. Alabama enhanced its class Wednesday by signing defensive tackles Ishmael Sopsher (No. 47) and Byron Young (No. 77) and running back Keilan Robinson (No. 250).
All those signing day switches added some suspense to a February signing date that has lost plenty of relevance since the 2017 arrival of an early signing period. The SEC had four of the top five teams in the 247Sports Composite rankings as of early Wednesday evening. Georgia was second, Texas A&M fourth and LSU fifth. Also in the top 15 were Florida at No. 9 and Tennessee at No. 12.
“The SEC is known for flips, known for decommitments, known for cut-throat recruiting,” said Mike Farrell, the director of recruiting for Rivals.
Some other notable recruiting stories from the SEC:
Bouncing back: Alabama’s move to the top of the recruiting rankings came one year after it signed a class that ranked fifth in the team standings, ending a string of seven straight first-place finishes. Georgia topped the 2018 team standings.
“We’re certainly satisfied,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
Invading enemy territory: One interesting element of Georgia’s class is that the Bulldogs signed the top two prospects in the state of Alabama.
Center Clay Webb, ranked second in Alabama and 26th nationally, signed with Georgia in December. The Bulldogs got the top prospect in the state Wednesday when Pickens made his switch from Auburn to Georgia.
The top four prospects in the state of Florida all chose either Alabama or Georgia, though they’d all signed in December. Georgia got defensive end Nolan Smith and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, while Alabama added running back Trey Sanders and offensive tackle Evan Neal.
Florida did a better job of protecting its home state Wednesday by getting Bogle to switch from Alabama to the Gators and beating out Georgia for cornerback Kaiir Elam (48th).
Fortifying the line: Tennessee landed the nation’s top remaining unsigned prospect when it added offensive tackle Darnell Wright, who was 10th overall in the 247Sports Composite. The additions of Wright and December signee Wanya Morris (28th) should provide a big boost to a Tennessee offensive line that struggled mightily the last two seasons.
Tennessee seemed poised to add another top-50 recruit Wednesday as linebacker Henry To’oto’o (44th) announced he was choosing the Vols.
“One of the big selling points we’ve had right now that has helped us in recruiting has been our (top-ranked) men’s basketball program,” Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said. “Everywhere I go, everybody wants to talk about our basketball program. I think that’s a great thing, putting Tennessee on the map again, building the brand.”
Shurmur successor? Some schools used the signing date as an opportunity to announce the arrivals of transfers. One of the more notable additions was Vanderbilt’s addition of Ball State graduate transfer quarterback Riley Neal, who becomes a potential successor to departing four-year starter Kyle Shurmur. Vanderbilt also added former Michigan State defensive end Lashawn Paulino-Bell, who spent the 2018 season at East Mississippi Community College.
ACC
Clemson just keeps on winning — on the football field, and in recruiting. Less than a month after the Tigers won their second national championship in three years, they polished off the best class in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Wednesday, the first day of the traditional signing period.
“To me it’s the turning of the page, and putting our eyes on this next team,” coach Dabo Swinney said.
The Tigers’ class grew to 29 players with the addition of two players — including instate three-star running back Michel Dukes — but they missed out on five-star running back Jerrion Ealy, who donned a Mississippi cap during his nationally televised signing ceremony and picked his home state school. Even without him, they did plenty to remain ranked first in the ACC and in the top 10 nationally by 247Sports.com and Rivals. com.