Latest SEC recruiting news: Tennessee lands 5-star OT Trey Smith
Scout.com provides the latest recruiting news around the SEC.
Prospect of the week: Trey Smith
Tennessee held off Alabama and Ohio State to keep five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith at home. He was not busy winning a state title or shining in an all-star game, but he was trending on Twitter and making national headlines by committing to the Vols last Tuesday. Smith is Scout's No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 22 prospect in the country, so Tennessee keeping the star out of Jackson (Tenn.) University School of Jackson was a huge story. They had a rough finish to the 2016 season, some recruits had recently de-committed, and they had lost a few top in-state recruits to other schools, so keeping the No. 1 prospect in their state brought many smiles to those who love orange in Tennessee.
Underclassman of the week: Derrik Allen
Derrik Allen is a 6-foot-2, 206 pound defensive back out of Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter and he is the No. 44 junior in the country. He has been picking up offers for the past year and a half with some of the top schools in the country recruiting him hard. On Sunday, Allen revealed his top 10 schools and they are California, Clemson, Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Penn State. He and his family plan to evaluate things school moving forward, but this list could still change. He is a versatile defensive back who some project at corner while others see him as a safety. He has roots in North Carolina, so the Tar Heels and Wolfpack are very much in play. Georgia and Ohio State are two other schools Scout hears have been trending in the right direction. A decision could come before his senior year.
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Prospect on the rise
Auburn commit Tadarian Moultry is the No. 128 prospect in the country, but that is too low. The 6-2, 227 pound head-hunter out of Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin had a huge senior season, he was a monster this past week at the Alabama vs. Mississippi all-star game, and he is ranked too low. Could he be the top prospect in the state? LaBryan Ray holds that spot right now, but the Scout 100 defensive end out of Madison (Ala.) James Madison might need to be looking over his shoulder. Moultry plays at one speed — fast. He gets after it every play in a game and in practice. He is a striker, he punishes people and he flies around the football field. He is one who will see his ranking improve in the coming weeks.
Commitment watch
Monty Rice is set to announce his decision around 12:30pm ET Monday December 12. He is down to Auburn, Georgia and LSU. The No. 9 inside linebacker out of Madison (Ala.) James Clemens took official visits to all three finalists this past week and then hosted coaches from Auburn and Georgia in his home Sunday. The in-state Tigers and Bulldogs appear to be the top two, and if anyone has been trending, it has been Georgia, but this is a tight race.
C.J. Avery has been down to Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi and Mississippi State for some time now, and on Wednesday December 13, he will reveal his choice. At this time it looks like the four-star safety out of Grenada (Miss.) is set to leave his home state to play for the Tigers or Cardinals. If he does stay in state, the Bulldogs would be his choice. The No. 22 safety will announce his decision Tuesday morning.
Both Rice and Avery are early enrollees.
