Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends

Recruiting never slows down in the SEC, and there is always work to be done. As October nears an end, several top prospects have made commitment decisions while others have created other headlines. Now it is time to dive into the latest from across the SEC recruiting trails.

Big Gets

TE Mikkel Skinner‍ commits to Kentucky

Headlines

2026 QB Jared Curtis‍ re-opens his recruitment – Curtis is one of the highest of high-profile recruits in the SEC footprint, and the Nashville (TN) Nashville Christian standout made waves when he chose the Georgia Bulldogs in March. Colleges continued to pursue, and in mid-October, Curtis decided he wanted to take another look at his options. The Bulldogs remain in the mix, but he has no shortage of offers.

CJ Wiley‍ re-opens his recruitment – The Milton (GA) standout receiver has originally pledged to Florida State this summer, but this fall, he has talked about checking out his options. He was in College Station over the weekend as the Aggies faced LSU, and afterward, he announced his decommitment from Florida State with Texas A&M, Georgia, Auburn, LSU and a few programs thought to be in the mix.

Big Game Weekend – The SEC slate is always action-packed, and every home game is a chance for schools to leave an impression. This weekend, the schedule starts with Arkansas hosting No. 19 Ole Miss for an 11 a.m. kickoff. There is the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” in Jacksonville (FL) between No. 2 Georgia and Florida at 2:30 p.m., and South Carolina hosts No. 10 Texas A&M in the nightcap beginning at 6:30 p.m. Other intriguing match-ups include Vanderbilt at Auburn at 11:45 a.m. and Kentucky at No. 7 Tennessee at 6:45 p.m. Oklahoma and Mississippi State also host a couple of out-of-conference opponents in Maine and UMass, respectively.

New Name to Know

ATH Trey Stewart‍, Little Rock (AR) Central – 2027

Checking in at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Stewart is establishing himself as a playmaker on both sides of the ball. A multi-sport standout, he already holds a basketball offer from UAPB for his abilities at guard, but in the last two years, he has asserted himself on the football field, where he stars at running back, defensive end and safety.

Stewart boasts a 35-inch vertical, a 400-pound squat and 4.46 time in the 40-yard dash, and he was an all-conference defender on the football field as a freshman in 2023. This fall, his play-making talents have been on display at running back, where he has 51 carries for 439 yards and four touchdowns with another 60 yards on seven receptions.

He describes his style as a “V8 Cadillac” due to his explosive power and smooth stride, and he studies Boise State’s versatile game breaker Ashton Jeanty due to his combination of power and speed.

College coaches are beginning to circle. Significant interest has arrived from Temple and Colorado State, and Stewart has taken visits to North Texas and Arkansas. He is also hearing from UCF and Kennesaw State.

What’s up with the top

Top 10 SEC DB Commits (alphabetical order)
Adonyss Currie‍, Lancaster (CA) Quartz Hill – Texas A&M
Shamari Earls‍, Chester (VA) Thomas Dale – Georgia
Anquon Fegans‍, Alabaster (AL) Thompson – Auburn
Ben Hanks Jr‍, Miami (FL) Booker T Washington – Florida
Rashad Johnson‍, Bushnell (FL) South Sumter – Texas A&M
Dijon Lee‍, Mission Viejo (CA) – Alabama
Chuck McDonald III‍, Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei – Alabama
Deyjhon Pettaway‍, Katy (TX) Paetow – Texas A&M
DJ Pickett‍, Tampa (FL) Zephyrhills – LSU
Jonah Williams‍, Galveston (TX) Ball – Texas