Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends

The summer months are approaching, and top prospects are making moves. With that in mind, it is time to take another look around at the latest news, notes and headlines from the SEC recruiting front.

Big Gets

Dylan Raiola‍ is a Georgia Bulldog

Headlines

2023s make decisions – Most of the focus has shifted to the transfer portal and the class of 2024, but a couple of SEC programs have added some key prospect for 2023. Arkansas received a commitment from Coffeyville JC (KS) OL Amaury Wiggins‍, who listed a top five of Penn State, Illinois, Miami, Arkansas and Texas A&M, while edge defender Emmanuel Okoye‍ out of the NFL Academy in London, England reclassified from 2024 to 2023 and chose Tennessee over Texas Tech and USC.

Daniel Kaelin‍ flips from Mizzou to Nebraska – Bellevue (NE) Bellevue West QB Daniel Kealin committed to Missouri in March, but Matt Rhule and Nebraska have been keeping a close eye on him as Nebraska legacy Dylan Raiola‍ evaluated his options. Once Raiola made his Georgia commitment, Nebraska jumped into the Kealin pool with both feet, and it paid off as he made the choice to stay home with the Huskers and flip his commitment. 

Georgia continues to build – Dylan Raiola and Jaden Reddell were not the only 2024 standouts to pledge to the Bulldogs, and none of them are from the state of Georgia. Kirby Smart and his crew hit the Midwest, the Northeast, and went just across their southern border to Florida for a few more additions. In the Midwest they tapped into Iowa for kicker Drew Miller‍, in the Northeast it was 6-foot-7, 330-pound OT Marcus Harrison‍, and then in Florida it was standout TE Colton Heinrich‍ who opted for the Bulldogs.

Trimming the list – Top prospects across the country continue to narrow their focus  with several top lists being released in the last couple of weeks. A pair of IMG Academy running backs narrowed their search to five when 2024 standout Jerrick Gibson‍ announced a top five of Florida, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and Texas, and 2025 playmaker Anthony Rogers‍ announced a five of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Oregon.  In Georgia, Warner Robbins S Ricardo Jones‍ dropped a top nine of Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

New Name to Know

DL JaReylan McCoy‍, Tupelo (MS) – 2026

McCoy is quick to standout at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds and a 36-inch waist. He has a powerful base and already has a squat max over 500 pounds. He is explosive with a 34-inch vertical and 4.79 40. Then there is his on-field production. As a freshman in 2022, he recorded 70 tackles with six sacks and nine TFLs.

It did not take long for Tupelo coaches to notice him. He practiced on the varsity level as an eighth grader, and it is more than his size and athletic ability that catches attention. He prides himself on his focused, disciplined approach to the game, and he enjoys watching film with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Keon Keeley among his football role models.

College Coaches are already hot on his trail. Scholarship offers have already arrived from South Carolina, Ole Miss, Austin Peay, Mississippi State, Faulkner, Utah, Alcorn State, Auburn, Tennessee, UAB, Penn State and Kentucky, and he is receiving interest from Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU and Texas A&M. This summer he plans to hit the camp circuit with stops already planned for Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Alabama and Florida State.

In addition to football, McCoy has also played power forward on the basketball court, and he has a rich family athletic history. In fact, two cousins, Josh Johnson and Tay Sandifer, both played in the SEC at Ole Miss.

What’s up with the top

Top commits for each SEC school
Alabama: QB Julian Sayin‍, Carlsbad (CA)
Arkansas: DL Charleston Collins‍, Little Rock (AR) Mills
Auburn: QB Walker White‍, Little Rock (AR) Little Rock Christian Academy
Florida: QB DJ Lagway‍, Willis (TX)
Georgia: QB Dylan Raiola‍, Phoenix (AZ) Pinnacle
Kentucky: QB Cutter Boley‍, Lexington (KY) Lexington Christian Academy
LSU: TE Trey'Dez Green‍, Jackson (LA) East Feliciana
Ole Miss: DL Kamron Beavers‍, Bay Springs (MS)
Mississippi State: QB Josh Flowers‍, Mobile (AL) Baker
Missouri: OL Ryan Jostes‍, Washington (MO)
South Carolina: OL Josiah Thompson‍, Dillon (SC) 
Tennessee: QB Jake Merklinger‍, Savannah (GA) Calvary Day
Texas A&M: OL Ashton Funk‍, Katy (TX) Tompkins
Vanderbilt: QB Jeremy St-Hilaire‍, Chattanooga (TN) McCallie Schoo