SEC teams address needs with varying success

Some college football observers have grown weary of all the attention and adulation cast toward the Southeastern Conference.

Well, get used to it. If signing day is any indication — and history shows it is — SEC dominance isn’t going to change.

True, this year an SEC team failed to win the national championship for the first time since 2005. But Auburn did play for the national title, which marked the eighth straight year an SEC team played in the championship game. Also, the SEC had four teams ranked in the final top 10. No other conference had more than two.

Then, on National Signing Day seven SEC teams were ranked among the nation’s top 10 in recruiting. Of course, that does not guarantee another national championship for the SEC in the near future.

But it does guarantee the SEC will still command a lot of attention.

Alabama

• TexAgs Nick Saban and the Tide loaded up again, stocking the offensive line and hand-picking defensive blue-chips. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"Nick Saban and the Tide loaded up again, stocking the offensive line and hand-picking defensive blue-chips.","MediaItemID":35505}
  Highest rank: 1st (Rivals, ESPN)
• Head of the class: DE Da’Shawn Hand (No. 1 national prospect by Rivals)
• Needs met: Offensive line, defensive line, secondary, kicker

Comment: Some have suggested Alabama’s offensive line class might be the best ever. That may be a little hyperbolic, but the Tide signed the nation’s top ranked tackle (Cameron Robinson) and center (Joshua Casher). Four of the line prospects are ranked among the nation’s top 250 recruits. The defensive front was also bolstered by Hand and junior college transfer D.J. Pettway. Alabama’s cornerback play was inconsistent in 2013 but five-star prospects Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown, both ranked among the nation’s top four, could start immediately.

Arkansas

• Highest rank: 29th (Rivals)
• Head of the class: OT Brian Wallace
• Needs met: Quarterback, offensive line, receiver, secondary

Comment: In reaction to a pass defense that was mediocre at best in 2013, the Razorbacks signed six defensive backs. Coach Bret Bielema’s offense depends on a powerful offensive line, so it’s no surprise they added four linemen. That list is led by Brian Wallace, a top 100-ranked recruit. The Razorbacks also added three receivers to a group that was only marginally productive. Of course, the modest receiving stats could have been blamed on poor quarterback play. The Razorbacks addressed that issue, too, with QB Rafe Peavey, a top 250-ranked prospect out of Missouri.

Auburn

• Highest rank: 9th (ESPN)
• Head of the class: RB Racean Thomas
• Needs met: Defensive line, secondary, quarterback

Comment: The SEC champions don’t lose much but they do have holes to fill up front on defense and in the secondary. The Tigers made strides in both areas. The trio of four-star defensive backs Kalvanaz Bessent, Nicholas Ruffin and Stephen Roberts will boost the secondary. DE DaVonte Lambert and DT Dontavis Russell may see action right away. The Tigers also upgrade their roster with explosive JUCO WR D’Harquille Williams, RB Racean Thomas and LB Tre Williams — all five-star prospects.

Florida

• Highest rank: 6th (ESPN)
• Head of the class: DB Jalen Tabor
• Needs met: Quarterback, offensive tackle

Comment: The situation at QB has been horrendous. Four-star freshmen Will Grier and Treon Harris might not be the answer this year at QB (but then again, one might), but at least they provide some hope for the future. Four-star freshmen David Sharpe and Nolan Kelleher should at least provide depth at tackle. The Gators need play-makers at running back and receiver, but didn’t land big-name prospects at either position.

Georgia

• Highest rank: 7th (Rivals)
• Head of the class: RB Sony Michel
• Needs met: Defensive backs, offensive line

Comment: Although four starters return in the secondary, the Bulldogs' pass defense was below average. Or have you forgotten “The Prayer at Jordan Hare?” Georgia took steps to ensure competition in the secondary by signing four defensive backs. Four-star rated JUCO transfer Shattle Fenteng is the most likely to challenge for a starting job. Georgia also must start replenishing the offensive line after losing three starters there. Four-star freshman Isaiah Wynn heads a group of three reinforcements.

At most programs RB Sony Michel could step in and be an immediate contributor, but that will be difficult with Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall already on hand. Picking up WR Isaiah McKenzie at the last minute was a bonus.

Kentucky

• Highest rank: 17th (Rivals)
• Head of the class: RB Stanley Williams
• Needs met: Offensive line, defensive line, receiver, running back, quarterback

Comment: Honestly, what doesn’t a team that finished 1-11 need? But Mark Stoops has given Wildcats football fans hope for the future with a recruiting class that’s ranked higher than those from Texas, UCLA, Michigan State and Penn State. … The Wildcats have had trouble protecting the quarterback for seemingly a decade and stopping opposing running games for about that long. They’re counting on four-star tackle Nick Richardson to provide some relief on the line and four-star JUCO transfer Cory Johnson to provide immediate help on the defensive front. Heralded RB Stanley Williams could be an immediate starter.

LSU

• Highest rank: 2nd (ESPN, Rivals)
• Head of the class: RB Leonard Fournette
• Needs met: Defensive end, linebacker, receivers

Comment: The Tigers need to boost their pass rush from the end position. No end posted more than four regular season sacks last season. LSU addressed that issue with four-star prospect Davon Godchaux. The Tigers also need help at receiver because of the premature exits of Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. They brought in three receivers, including five-star phenom Malachi Dupre and crazy-fast Trey Quinn.

Five-star rated Leonard Fournette, the nation’s top running back, figures to challenge for a starting job. But that’s not a position of need for LSU, which is always deep there.

Ole Miss

• Highest rank: 19th (Rivals)
• Head of the class: OT Rod Taylor
• Needs met: Offensive line, linebacker

Comment: The Rebels return a very experienced team in 2014 but could use some help in the offensive line and at linebacker. They added four linemen, including four-star rated Rod Taylor who is considered the top prospect in Mississippi. Demarquis Gates, a four-star prospect from Georgia, and JUCO transfer Christian Russell shore up the situation at linebacker.

Mississippi State

• Highest rank: 36th (ESPN)
• Head of the class: LB Geri Green
• Needs met: Offensive line, quarterback

Comment: The departures of G Gabe Jackson and T Charles Siddoway leave significant holes to fill in the offensive line. The Bulldogs made moves to do that by bringing in JUCO transfer Jocquell Johnson, who heads a list of four linemen. Mississippi State has enjoyed a dramatic spike in quarterback performance under Dan Mullen and he’s intent on continuing that trend. He signed two big quarterbacks out of Georgia — 6-5 Nick Fitzgerald and 6-7 Elijah Stanley. Also freshman LB Geri Green could make an immediate impact.

Missouri

• Highest rank: 33rd (ESPN)
• Head of the class: OL Andy Bauer
• Needs met: Defensive end, linebacker, offensive line

Comment: It appears Missouri was unable to capitalize on the momentum of reaching the SEC championship game. Massive tackle Andy Bauer is the only top 200-rated prospect the Tigers added. They needed to replenish at defensive end with Kony Ealy and Michael Sam heading to the NFL, but signed just two marginal prospects there.

They did land solid prospects at defensive back and receiver, though.

South Carolina

• Highest rank: 16th (Rivals)
• Head of the class: DE Dante Sawyer
• Needs met: Defensive line, receiver, QB

Comment: Early defections to the NFL compromised the Gamecocks’ defensive front, but they reacted by signing heralded DE prospect Dante Sawyer, four-star JUCO DT Abu Lamin and three-star JUCO DE Jhaustin Thomas. QB Dylan Thompson is a senior, so depth is needed there; freshman Michael Scarnecchia, a three-star prospect from Florida, could be the Gamecocks’ starter in 2015.

Tennessee

• Highest rank: 5th (ESPN, Rivals)
• Head of the class: WR Josh Malone
• Needs met: Offensive line, defensive line

Comment: Receiver Josh Malone and RB Jalen Hurd are of pair of five-star rated prospects that will give the Volunteers a much-needed big-play element. However, Tennessee’s primary needs are in the offensive and defensive lines, which must be completely rebuilt. JUCO OL Dontavius Blair is likely an immediate starter. Four-star DE prospects Derek Barnett and Dewayne Hendrix have a shot to play right away, too.

Texas A&M

• Matt Sachs, TexAgs The Aggies added high-end talent at nearly every position and the class' only lacking element was a second safety. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"The Aggies added high-end talent at nearly every position and the class\u0027 only lacking element was a second safety.","MediaItemID":36701}
  Highest rank: 4th (ESPN)
• Head of the class: DE Myles Garrett
• Needs met: Defensive end, linebacker, quarterback

Comment: The Aggies addressed almost all their needs with high profile prospects. Garrett, one of the top recruits in the country, and Qualen Cunningham, a four-star prospect, upgrade the defensive end position. QB Kyle Allen, the nation’s top-rated drop-back passer, will legitimately contend for the starting job.

The Aggies hoped for more at linebacker and safety, but DBs Amani Watts and Nick Harvey and LBs Otaro Alaka and Josh Walker are big additions. Heralded WR Speedy Noil boosts a talent-laden receiving corps, while JUCO offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemnunor and Avery Gennesy will vie for a starting role.

Vanderbilt

• Highest rank: 50th (Rivals)
• Head of the class: S Trent Sherfield
• Needs: Defensive back, linebacker

Comment: The Commodores’ recruiting class was crippled when coach James Franklin left for Penn State and took some high-profile commitments with him. However, they quite nicely addressed needs in the secondary, which must be completely rebuilt. Four-star rated safeties Trent Sherfield and Emmanuel Smith top a group of six defensive backs and should provide immediate help. Vandy didn’t sign a linebacker, which may be surprising with two starters lost there. The Commodores added two quarterbacks.