Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends
Recruiting never stops in the SEC with top prospects making choices and top programs adding key additions every day. It is time once again to dive into the latest news, notes and headlines from across the SEC area.
Big Gets
DL Jamir Perez picks Florida
LB Jakore Smith commits to Oklahoma
S Yaheim Riley is a Longhorn
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S Niko Jandreau chooses Oklahoma
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2027 S Trae'kerrion Collins pledges to the Rebels
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Headlines
South Alabama playmakers make waves - Former South Carolina commit and Jackson (AL) standout Landon Duckworth named his top schools, with Auburn, Florida State, North Carolina, Ole Miss and South Carolina making the cut. Top defender Tank Jones of Mobile (AL) St. Paul’s Episcopal had an announcement of his own, scheduling official visits to Auburn (May 16), Miami (May 30), Texas A&M (June 5), Oregon (June 13) and Alabama (June 20).
Top pass catchers trim lists – San Antonio (TX) Madison wide receiver Jordan Clay announced a top 10 of Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA, while Norman (OK) North receiver Mason James announced a top five of Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas State and Washington. Former Texas A&M commit and Fairburn (GA) Langston Hughes standout tight end Xavier Tiller announced a top three of Alabama, Auburn and Florida State.
Texas standouts make moves – On the defensive side, Galena Park (TX) North Shore safety Chace Calicut announced a top three of Georgia, Michigan and Texas, while Rockwall (TX) cornerback Jack Duckworth decommitted from Arkansas. On the offensive side, Celina (TX) quarterback Bowe Bentley announced a top two of Oklahoma and LSU, and Prosper (TX) offensive lineman Zaden Krempin released a top four of LSU, Michigan, Texas and Texas A&M.
New Name to Know
LB CJ Ohuabunwa, Norcross (GA) Greater Atlanta Christian – 2027
At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Ohuabunwa is a multi-faceted every-down linebacker who brings an explosive burst and mean disposition to the table.
He prides himself on his versatility, and the tape shows a twitchiness off the edge, the range to drop into coverage and the intelligence and instincts to read and react in the snap of a finger.
In addition to linebacker, Ohuabunwa also plays running back and safety, and as a sophomore in 2024, he earned first-team all-region honors after recording 66 tackles, eight TFLs, a sack, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
His football role models include the likes of Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Troy Polumalu, Luke Kuechly, Fred Warner, Kyle Hamilton and Demarvion Overshown, and athleticism runs in the family with cousins Jordan Nwogu (baseball at Michigan and the Cubs organization), Kasmi Nwogu (women’s basketball at MIT), Jed Olutu-Judah (football at Old Dominion) and Isaac Ohuabunwa (men’s basketball at UT-Dallas). His sister, Naya, currently plays women’s volleyball at Washington University in St. Louis.
Offers have already arrived from Howard, Duke, Wake Forest, East Carolina and Indiana, and attention has also come from Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Virginia and Rutgers. He has visited Georgia this spring, and he is also looking at possible visits to Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia and Rutgers this summer.
In addition to football, Ohuabunwa plays small forward on the varsity basketball team, and he is the goalie for the varsity soccer team. He competes in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x200m, and most importantly, he holds a 4.1 GPA in the classroom.
What’s up with the top
My top 2026 and 2027 prospect in each SEC state
Alabama
2026 Alexander City Benjamin Russell WR Cederian Morgan
2027 Fairhope St. Michael’s Catholic QB Gunner Rivers
Arkansas
2026 Cherry Valley DL Danny Beale
2027 Fayetteville QB Hank Hendrix
Florida
2026 Fort Lauderdale American Heritage QB Dia Bell – Texas commit
2027 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas OL Mark Matthews
Georgia
2026 Gainesville LB Xavier Griffin
2027 Savannah Benedictine Military DE LaDamion Guyton
Kentucky
2026 Paducah Tilghman OL Jarvis Strickland – Kentucky commit
2027 Louisville Trinity CB Allen Evans
Louisiana
2026 Baton Rouge University High DL Lamar Brown
2027 New Orleans Jesuit DE Zyron Forstall
Mississippi
2026 Hattiesburg WR Tristen Keys
2027 Brookhaven DE Derwin Fields
Missouri
2026 Nixa OL Jackson Cantwell – Miami commit
2027 Cottleville Francis Howell Central TE Jack Brown
Oklahoma
2026 Owasso DL Tajh Overton
2027 Fort Gibson OT Cooper Hackett
South Carolina
2026 Rock Hill South Pointe S J'Zavien Currence – South Carolina commit
2027 Fort Mill Catawba Ridge CB Josh Dobson
Tennessee
2026 Nashville Christian QB Jared Curtis – Georgia commit
2027 Nashville Franklin Road Academy LB Omarii Sanders
Texas
2026 Willis ATH Jermaine Bishop – Texas commit
2027 San Antonio Roosevelt OL Kaeden Scott