The landscape of the 2024 SEC recruiting classes

Recruiting is the heart and soul of any successful team, you can not continuously be great without pursuing and obtaining top-tier talent. There is no better example of how to recruit and maintain wealth so to speak than in the SEC. The SEC has had at least two teams finish in the Top 10 nationally in recruiting for the past 15 recruiting cycles, I will type that once more, 15 years with at least two schools in the Top 10.

Obviously, as this is an Auburn site, we would like to highlight Auburn in this. However, the SEC has the credit and deserves praise as well. Auburn managed to crack the top 10 eight times over this span. The only team to manage this feat every single year has been Alabama, which has not even fallen past the number-five spot. LSU, Georgia, and Florida are all in the Top 10 multiple times and once Texas A&M entered the SEC they were frequently atop the list. Ole Miss, led by now Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze, managed to get two top-ten classes, one in 2013 and another in 2016. Anyways, enough about the past let's look at how the current class is shaking out for all 14 SEC teams.

Georgia: 1st in the SEC, 12 commits

Georgia has the best 2024 class for a reason, this is not just championship bias. The Bulldogs have two five-stars, six four-stars, and three high three-stars. They have six players in the top 50 according to 247. Eliis Robinson IV is the seventh-best player in the country and the top cornerback for this class. Demarkus Riddick, a visitor to Auburn, is the second-best player in Alabama and is viewed as the best EDGE LB prospect in the country.

LSU: 2nd in the SEC, 12 commits

The Bayou Bengals won a championship just three seasons ago, but it feels like an eternity since then. Head Coach Ed Orgeron was let go amid locker room disputes and other rumors, then Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly decided to try his hand out in the South, and to his credit, the recruiting has been spectacular. Last year LSU finished with the sixth-best class in the country.

The 2024 cycle has shown the exact same ability that Kelly showed in his first season, he can get kids on campus and get them committed. The Tigers have eight four-stars currently in the boat down to the bayou along with four three-stars.

Tennessee: 3rd in the SEC, 9 commits

The Heupel years have been kind to Vols fans, especially in the recruiting department. Tennessee went from the 23rd-ranked class in Heupel's first year to the tenth in last year's class, and this year they are poised to have yet another top-10 finish. The centerpiece of their class as of right now is the Georgia QB, four-star Jake Merklinger. Tennessee has managed to get balance and depth out of this class as they have four offensive recruits and five offensive recruits. The star breakdown leans in favor of four-stars as its five four-stars to four three-stars.

Florida: 4th in the SEC, 7 commits

The Gators recruited well under Billy Napier in his first year, and his second looks to be even better. DJ Lagway, the number three quarterback in the country has been committed since December. They have gotten two big-time commits just in the past week in S Xavier Filsaime and RB Kahen Daniels. The Gators have a five-star in Lagway, five four-stars, and a single three-star safety in Josiah Davis.

South Carolina: 5th in the SEC, 7 commits

Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks stunned some back in December when they managed to get a top-20 national class and took five of the top ten recruits in South Carolina. Beamer ball looks to be working once again as they've got four of the top players in the state of South Carolina again. Kam Pringle, a four-star OT, is their highest-rated recruit, close behind is another SC offensive tackle, Josiah Thompson. Overall, they have six four-stars and one three-star recruit committed.

Alabama: 6th in the SEC, 5 commits

Off to a slow start to the 2024 cycle, Alabama only has five commitments as of April 18th. The quality is there as they have three five-stars, ATH Jaylen Mbakwe, QB Julian Sayin, and WR Perry Thompson. Sterling Dixon is also a high four-star EDGE player who has been committed to the Tide since December 2022. Look for the Tide to have a summer push into the top five not only in the SEC but nationally as well.

Auburn: 7th in the SEC, 5 commits

Auburn Daily has made sure to keep Auburn fans on top of their current class and the outlook for Auburn recruiting. Auburn has four four-star commits and a three-star commit. An in-depth look can be found in this article. Under Freeze, there seems to be a rejuvenated look to Auburn recruiting, a top-five SEC class seems attainable.

Arkansas: 8th in the SEC, 5 commits

Arkansas has impressed many so far in this recruiting class, being able to take highly ranked players from states where the hometown team usually has the advantage. No recruitment is more evident than Kavion Henderson, a four-star DL, from Leeds, Alabama. Usually Auburn or Bama territory, the Razorbacks managed to pull Henderson and get him to commit in early November. The Razorbacks have four four-stars and a singular three-star.

Ole Miss: 9th in the SEC, 6 commits

The "Portal King" has gotten off to a solid start on high school recruiting. Ole Miss might have their future QB1 in Arizona native, Desmond Williams. Jeremy Rush, a four-star DL from Mississippi is the only other four-star for the Rebels. They have a few three-star commits and one commit that has not received a ranking from 247.

Texas A&M: 10th in the SEC, 4 commits

The "champions" of recruiting just two classes ago have not faired well in the 2024 class up to this point. The question of money is no issue but the recruiting ability of the new Offensive Coordinator, Bobby Petrino is an intriguing potential storyline. Petrino has not recruited in the P5 with NIL being in place. The Aggies have three four-stars committed and a single three-star. Dealyn Hayes, a four-star DL, is their highest-rated recruit. With the Aggies being in on some of the best players in Texas and the country, I expect them to springboard up these rankings at some point.

Vanderbilt: 11th in the SEC, 5 commits

The Commodores have two quarterbacks in this class with Jeremy St-Hilarie, a three-star from Chattanooga, and another Chattanooga quarterback, Whit Muschamp. Whit is Will Muschamps youngest son. They have also snagged the commitment of a Nashville native in OT Glenn Seabrooks. The EDGE and WR positions round out the class, as three-star EDGE Callahan Blair and three-star WR Brycen Coleman. The Commodores could pull some big-time players if they were to manage their first winning season since 2013.

Mississippi State: 12th in the SEC, 5 commits

The Pirate, may he rest in peace, led MSU to two straight winning seasons and three top 40 classes nationally. Zach Arnett has shoes to fill personality-wise but seems to be getting the hang of recruiting as a head coach. During the month of April Mississippi State has gained the commitment of three players, and their highest-rated recruit, QB Josh Flowers, committed last month on March 8th. The Cowbells will ring this season and despite a first-year head coach, I expect a top-30 class for the Bulldogs.

Missouri: 13th in the SEC, 3 commits

The past few years have been hard for Eliah Drinkwitz, recruiting has been hit or miss and he has yet to lead the Tigers to a winning season. There have been wins as during the 2022 class Missouri signed the number three player in the nation and the best wide receiver in Luther Burden. So far Missouri has a three-star quarterback in Daniel Kaelin and an offensive tackle and tight end to build their class around. A good season could turn this class in the right direction and could help Drinkwitz keep his job.

Kentucky: 14th in the SEC, 2 commits

The Wildcats are off to a slow start, but the two commits they do have are filling their biggest need, offensive linemen. Kentucky has been an often overlooked member of the SEC football-wise, but under Mark Stoops, they have been contending in the East. The success has led to recruiting wins as well, look for them to hit Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee hard over the summer.

In summary, the SEC is one of the most consistent conferences when it comes to both winning and recruiting success. The conference as a whole should be proud to say that they have gotten the most amount of five stars out of all conferences over the past 20 years. The SEC slogan is, it just means more, and in the SEC recruiting just means more.

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