News on recruiting the all-important SEC defensive linemen

[jbcarol]

With the news Tuesday that five-star defensive tackle Trent Thompson (Albany, Ga./Westover) plans to announce his commitment Aug. 12, the stage is set for Georgia to make a move up the 247Sports Team Rankings...

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  2m

#Auburn lands commitment from 330-pound defensive tackle Jauntavius Johnson http://ow.ly/A22IW

[jbcarol]

John Garcia Jr. @JohnGarcia_Jr  ·  4h
4-star DE from Tennessee RT @K72_Phillips: Top 5 no order! God has been good to me
Ready for the season #Goburros 💚💛



Kyle Phillips, Nashville Hillsboro

[jbcarol]

Five-star defensive tackle Shy Tuttle (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson) is set to announce his college decision on Aug. 25 and Tennessee has been trending of late.

Gerry Hamilton        ✔ @HamiltonESPN

#ESPN300 No. 31 & Under Armour All-America Game DT Shy Tuttle putting in work at practice. #Vols #tarheels ... https://vine.co/v/M9VMg3YI1U7

Tuttle moves exceptionally well for 6-foot-3, 315-pound

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  18h
#Auburn's 2015 class lacking at defensive line, but Tigers chasing several prospects http://ow.ly/A7tpM

TRENT THOMPSON
5-star defensive tackle  |  Nation's No. 2 overall prospect  |  Albany, Ga.
Thompson has shuffled his list of leaders plenty this offseason, but Georgia has always been his favorite. He is set to announce his commitment next week...

DARON PAYNE

5-star defensive tackle  |  Nation's No. 27 overall prospect  |  Birmingham, Ala.
Payne's stock dipped a bit this offseason, but he remains an elite prospect and a top Auburn target. He grew up an Auburn fan, but is considered a strong Alabama lean...

JONATHAN LEDBETTER
4-star defensive end  |  Nation's No. 70 overall prospect  |  Tucker, Ga.
Ledbetter is committed to Alabama...

[jbcarol]

Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins  ·  4h
Blue-chip DT prospect Fletcher Adams is visiting Ole Miss this weekend

Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins  ·  3h
Blog: Fletcher Adams headed to Ole Miss, doesn't squash commitment rumors: "It's possible," he said. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/recruitingreport/2014/08/09/fletcher-adams-excited-for-big-ole-miss-visit/13826977/ ...

[jbcarol]

Crimson Tide AL.com @aldotcomTide  ·  15h

2016 Mississippi defensive tackle Raekwon Davis commits to Alabama http://ow.ly/AdD3l

[jbcarol]

The No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the nation is about to fall off the board.

The time has come for Trent Thompson of Albany, Ga., to make his college football commitment. The 6-foot-4, 297-pounder is the No. 2 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite and is the most coveted defensive tackle in the 2015 recruiting cycle.

The Georgia Bulldogs have been his leader since his recruitment began and are heavy favorites to land his pledge tonight...

[jbcarol]

The No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the nation is about to fall off the board.

The time has come for Trent Thompson of Albany, Ga., to make his college football commitment. The 6-foot-4, 297-pounder is the No. 2 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite and is the most coveted defensive tackle in the 2015 recruiting cycle.

The Georgia Bulldogs have been his leader since his recruitment began and are heavy favorites to land his pledge tonight...

Georgia it is.

[jbcarol]

John Talty @JTalty  ·  23h

Daron Payne says Keith Mixon is in his ear every day about Mississippi State: http://ow.ly/AmFzK

Daron is a five-star prospect who is ranked among the top high-school defensive linemen in the country - and is No. 3 on AL.com's A-List of the top seniors in the state of Alabama. At 6-foot-2 and 334 pounds, he is currently rated the nation's fifth-best defensive tackle, according to 247Composite.

Payne slipped in a few different recruiting rankings this summer. In fact, he had little to gain by participating in the camps and combines.  Smith and his staff actually discouraged him going to a few, but he simply loves to compete. Facing off against other five-star recruits this summer taught him an important lesson, he says: "There are people better than me."

Payne remains the state's top uncommitted player, while he holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Florida State and Georgia, among others. His first offer came last spring from Ole Miss and it's been a "landslide of momentum and offers from then on," Smith says.

Top 4: Bama, Auburn, Tejas and State (necessarily in that order)

His twin brother likes to draw rather than plug gaps.

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  1h
UGA flips one of Alabama's top recruits http://on-ajc.com/1oRxJEv

UGA has flipped one of Alabama's top football recruits.
Jonathan Ledbetter, a 4-star defensive lineman from Tucker High School, announced his switch via Twitter on Saturday night:

Big Led @LedbetterDE15
It's official I'm a DAWG for LIFE! 🐶🐾🐾
9:22 PM - 16 Aug 2014

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  30m
Zero chance #UGA even looks at older brother if #Dawgs didn't covet Jonathan Ledbetter. 100% package deal. Like it ...

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  Aug 18

There was another school in sweepstakes with #Bama and #UGA for Jonathan Ledbetter. You'll never guess? http://on-ajc.com/1oIlO1F

Jonathan Ledbetter's mother told the AJC that star defensive lineman flipped his commitment from Alabama to UGA because "family is very important to him."

Ledbetter's older brother, Joseph Ledbetter, recently joined UGA football team on scholarship as a tight end after playing NCAA Div. II basketball the last two seasons.

Jonathan, the 4-star recruit from Tucker High School who had been committed to Alabama since last January, switched to UGA to play with his brother – and also remain in closer proximity to other family members.

"You know, he has been visiting colleges," Ledbetter's mother, Teresa Belcher, told the AJC. "He went to Stanford and a couple of other schools, along with Georgia..."

After wide receivers, defensive linemen are the top priority for UGA's 2015 recruiting class. Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs landed 5-star defensive tackle Trent Thompson, the nation's No. 2 overall prospect.

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  1h

Jonathan Ledbetter: UGA's newest commit reflects on flip from Alabama http://on-ajc.com/1tpIweC

[jbcarol]

Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  5m

Fort Smith Northside DE Daytrieon Dean has signed an atheltic financial aid agreement with Arkansas. @_dwoop

[jbcarol]

Dave Matter @Dave_Matter  ·  15h

Mizzou frosh DE Walter Brady got call today from SEC, via MU staff, that he's cleared to enroll. He'll make drive Thurs from Florence, Ala

Brady on his role this year after missing preseason camp: "Whatever they have planned for me, I gratefully accept."

Brady: "Whether that's scout team and redshirting, it gives me time to improve and get to where I'm supposed to be."

[jbcarol]

Report that Camden Military Academy DE Dexter Wideman gave a verbal to SC.

[jbcarol]

Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins  ·  18h

CoLin DT Demond Tucker tells me he's going to wait until next week to make his decision. Ole Miss has a firm lead http://www.clarionledger.com/story/prepsreport/2014/09/03/tucker-leaning-toward-ole-miss-with-decision-approaching/15028827/ ...

[jbcarol]

David Cloninger @DCTheState  ·  10h
Top player in S.C. and USC commitment done for season: http://www.gogamecocks.com/2014/09/09/616262/gamecocks-top-commitment-blackshear.html ...

South Carolina defensive end commitment Shameik Blackshear of Bluffton has seen his senior season come to an end.

A source on Tuesday night said an MRI of Blackshear's injured knee revealed a torn ACL. Blackshear will need surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

Blackshear confirmed the news via his Twitter account.

"I may be down right now... But trust me I'll be back. #843," he tweeted. "Still #1 in the state with an torn ACL."

[jbcarol]

RD:JC DE Jeremiah Ledbetter has committed to Arkansas.

http://247sports.com/Player/Jeremiah-Ledbetter-33909?Institution=23626

[jbcarol]

Not Jerry Tipton @NotJerryTipton  ·  8h

DE Jason Strowbridge commits to UK over Alabama, Florida, Tennessee & Louisville. Rick Pitino just announced he has "cut all ties" with him.

[jbcarol]

Yancy Porter @YancyPorter  ·  Sep 19

Fletcher Adams plans on announcing on Monday, for now.


4-star Brandon DT

[jbcarol]

Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCronin  ·  4h

BREAKING: Four-star Brandon DT Fletcher Adams tells me he has committed to Mississippi State. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/recruitingreport/2014/09/22/fletcher-adams-commits-to-mississippi-state/16039543/ ...

[jbcarol]

247SportsCrystalBall @247CrystalBall  ·  53m
5* Shy Tuttle (@KingTut_90) decision Fri at 3 ET, 80% #CrystalBall leader - #Vols #Heels #Pack http://bit.ly/1tSQdMO 



6-3, 315 DT from Lexington, NC

[jbcarol]

4-star 6-5, 250+ Woodland Dorchester DE, Michael Barnett gave a verbal to UGa.

[jbcarol]

247SportsCrystalBall @247CrystalBall  ·  53m
5* Shy Tuttle (@KingTut_90) decision Fri at 3 ET, 80% #CrystalBall leader - #Vols #Heels #Pack http://bit.ly/1tSQdMO 



6-3, 315 DT from Lexington, NC

Tennessee

[jbcarol]

Patrick Brown @patrickbrownTFP  ·  12h
Big recruiting day for Tennessee as defensive tackle Shy Tuttle and defensive end Darrell Taylor pick #Vols. http://bit.ly/1vclBoJ

Patrick Brown @patrickbrownTFP  ·  12h
Darrell Taylor, Tennessee's second commitment of the day, is a four-star defensive end out of Virginia.

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  Sep 27
UGA adds another elite recruit to heralded 2016 class http://on-ajc.com/1BlvLU5

Chauncey Manac, a 4-star defensive end from Clinch County High School, tweeted out his commitment to UGA on Saturday morning.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounded reported around 15 offers, including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and South Carolina, among others.

Manac is rated as the state's No. 6 overall prospect for 2016.

UGA now three commits for 2016, with 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason and 5-star offensive lineman Ben Cleveland.

[jbcarol]

MrSEC @MrSEC  ·  5h 5 hours ago

Top 50 Bluechip recruit Darian Roseboro decommits from University of Michigan http://dlvr.it/73nYZn

[jbcarol]

3-star Aliceville DE, Anfernee Mullins gave a verbal to Miss. State.

[jbcarol]

Ben Garrett @SpiritBen  ·  2 hours ago

Five-star DE CeCe Jefferson. RT @cecejeferson7: Oxford was so fun I about committed!

[jbcarol]

Sad news:

HAZEL GREEN, Alabama -- Hazel Green High and the surrounding community are in mourning following the suicide of junior football star Julian Jones.

Jones, the son of former Alabama A&M coach Anthony Jones, was a highly sought after defensive lineman with offers from Mississippi State and South Carolina. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Jones also played tight end for the Trojans.

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  ·  9 minutes ago

The thing I really like abt #UGA DE commit Chauncey Rivers is he can play 4-5 positions in college, including TE: http://on-ajc.com/1w8GQGh

#UGA is still killing it in recruiting. No. 2 class in USA. Let's talk about some "overshadowed" commits

[jbcarol]

Top uncommitted defensive linemen with SEC offers (SEC leader if known in bold)

Josh Sweat    DE  0.9994 Chesapeake, VA (Oscar Smith)  #1 US; UGa visit 11/14
Byron Cowart  DE  0.9977 Seffner, FL (Armwood) #4 US; Bama 10/18; FL 11/15
CeCe Jefferson DE 0.9972  Baker Co., FL  FL; #6 US Bama 10/17; OM 10/3
Terry Beckner  DE 0.9905  E. St. Louis, IL  #19 US; MU; AU; LSU
Daron Payne   DT 0.9861  Shades Valley, AL  #29 US; Bama; AU; MS

[jbcarol]

Top committed defensive linemen from the ESPN 100

Trenton Thompson  DT  UGa  Albany Westover; #6 in US, #1 DT
Daylon Mack           DT  A&M  Gladewater         #13 in US, #2 DT
Shy Tuttle              DT   UT   Lexington North Davidson  #31 in US
Kahlil McKenzie      DT   UT   Concord Clayton Valley Charter  #37 in US
Arden Key             DE   SC   Lithonia Hapeville Charter  #54 in US
J. Ledbetter           DT   UGa  Tucker                #62 in US
Andrew Butcher     DE   UT   Alpharetta            #67 in US
Hjalte Froholdt       DT   Ark  IMG Academy by way of Denmark  #99 in US

[jbcarol]

DeSoto DT Bryce Englinsh has opened his reportedly opened his recruitment.

And is now looking at Arkansas, TCU and Arizona St per Damon Sayles (Big 12 recruiting analyst)

Damon Sayles @DamonSayles  ·  1h 1 hour ago
This from #DeSotoU: DT Bryce English (@BryceEnglish34) has decommitted from #8clap. Looking at #WPS, #GoFrogs & #ForksUp. No definite order.

DT Bryce English (@BryceEnglish34) said he'll take an official visit to #ForksUp weekend of Jan. 16. #WPS & #GoFrogs OVs not set as of yet.

[NoNC4Tubs]

DeSoto DT Bryce Englinsh has opened his reportedly opened his recruitment.

Damon Sayles @DamonSayles  ·  1h 1 hour ago
This from #DeSotoU: DT Bryce English (@BryceEnglish34) has decommitted from #8clap. Looking at #WPS, #GoFrogs & #ForksUp. No definite order.

DT Bryce English (@BryceEnglish34) said he'll take an official visit to #ForksUp weekend of Jan. 16. #WPS & #GoFrogs OVs not set as of yet.

Huh? Translation please.........

[jbcarol]

Sources from DeSoto High School in Texas confirm that Defensive Tackle Bryce English has decommitted from UCLA. He lists Arkansas, TCU, and Arizona State as his leaders in no particular order.

Reported that English will take an official visit to Arizona State the weekend of Jan. 16.  Official visits to Arkansas and TCU are to be determined.

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  2 hours ago

Spoke with head coach of 5-star DE CeCe Jefferson about his Alabama official visit and more - http://ow.ly/Db84y

[jbcarol]

Alex Schiffer @TheSchiffMan  ·  5 hours ago
According to @Gobie247, Mizzou target Anree Saint-Amour, a 4-star DE from North Gwinnett HS (GA) said he still plans to visit Missouri.

[jbcarol]

Dave Matter @Dave_Matter  ·  7 hours ago
East St Louis DL Terry Beckner's 5 officials visits will be to Auburn, Florida State, Missouri, Ohio State, Oregon, per @ESPNRNFball

[jbcarol]

Chris Smith @ChrisSmithVU247  · 1 hour ago
Current MTSU commit OT/DL Jonathan Roth expected to be at Vanderbilt tonight. #Dores #VU247 http://vanderbilt.247sports.com/Bolt/Local-Flavor-More-Headed-to-Vanderbilt-this-weekend--32506573 ... via @247Sports

[jbcarol]

Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCronin  ·  18 hours ago
Mississippi State commit Fletcher Adams is here in Oxford


4-star Brnadon DT

[jbcarol]

5.5-rated '15 Colquitt County DE TJ Smith gave a verbal to Vandy.

[jbcarol]

Coleman Joiner @COACHemUP12  ·  2 hours ago

Arkansas Head Coach Brett (sic) Bielema is here at Sprayberry High School to meet with 2015 DE Jabari Zuniga @Mansell247 @Carvell_AJC @KippLAdams

[jbcarol]

Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  7 hours ago

Razorback DL commit Hajlte Froholdt has signed an FAA with the Hogs. @Y3llur http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2014/nov/13/froholdt-inks-hogs/ ...

[jbcarol]

Bret Bielema @BretBielema  ·  Nov 13
Another great #HOG joining the family! Welcome @Y3llur! http://bit.ly/1GSR05h  #BeUncommon #WoooPig

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema announced Thursday that defensive lineman Hjalte (pronounced: Yelda) Froholdt has signed a financial-aid agreement and will join the Razorbacks in January 2015 for the spring semester.

A consensus four-star recruit out of the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, the Svendborg, Denmark native is ranked the No. 6 recruit in Florida and No. 14 defensive tackle in the nation, according to 247 Sports. Nine games into his senior season at IMG Academy, Froholdt has tallied 55 combined tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles – in just his second season of competitive football.

Froholdt selected Arkansas over offers from Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan State, Florida and others.

"Hjalte possesses all the uncommon qualities we look for in a Razorback," said Bielema. "We're ecstatic to welcome him to Fayetteville and the Razorback family. He brings physicality on the field and embodies the qualities off the field that we look for in our men. Hjalte and our early-signees are helping to shape the future of Arkansas football. Hjalte brings an unusual story from Denmark to Fayetteville and I feel he will only add to it moving forward."

According to Rivals.com, Arkansas' 2015 signing class ranks No. 18 in the nation. Froholdt joins quarterback Ty Storey (@tystorey4), offensive lineman Zach Rogers (@HebronHawks75) and defensive end Daytrieon Dean (@_dwoop) as Arkansas' early signees that will enroll January.

[jbcarol]

From the '14 class:

Bruce Feldman @BruceFeldmanCFB  ·  18 hours ago

Most underrated true freshman DL in the country: #Vols DE Derek Barnett. In 6 SEC games, he's made 15.5 TFLs and 9 sacks.

[jbcarol]

Ben Roberts @NextCats  ·  16 hours ago

HS teammates of three-star DE Tyrone Riley are tweeting that he has committed to UK. No. 23 weakside DE in class of 2015.

[jbcarol]

Adam Friedman @RivalsFriedman  ·  23 hours ago
BREAKING: #Rivals250 DL Adam McLean has decommitted from

*Next Level* @MoneyMakeinAdam  ·  23 hours ago
I want to say thank you to everyone in Happy Valley but I am Officially Decomitting from Penn state



Adam Friedman @RivalsFriedman  ·   23 hours ago
McLean had scheduled official visits to #Wazzu (12/5) #OleMiss (1/16) #Vols (1/30) as well as #PSU (1/23)

[jbcarol]

Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins  ·  11 hours ago

Mississippi State just picked up a commitment from 2016 Alabama DL Caleb Tillman

What's 1 reason 2016 DT Caleb Tillman committed to MSU tonight? "Mom loves Dan Mullen. She's a huge Dan Mullen Fan"