All-SEC Football Players and Their Ratings out of High School

[jbcarol]

Composite rating of 2015 Pro-Style QBs with current verbals to SEC Schools

Drew Lock          0.9429  MU  #5 PS QB from Lee's Summit, MO; #125 overall
Ty Storey          0.9093  Ark  #8 PS QB from Charleston, AR; #220 overall
Tyler Queen       0.8994  AU  #10 PS QB from North Cobb, GA; #277 overall
Quentin Dormady 0.8867  UT  #13 PS QB from Boerne, TX; #338 overall
Chason Virgil      0.8697  MS  #20 PS QB from West Mesquite, TX; #486 overall 
Kyle Shurmur     0.8601  VU  #24 PS QB from La Salle College (PA); #628 overall
Nick Tiano         0.8469  MS  #34 PS QB from Chattanooga Baylor, TN

[jbcarol]

Top Offensive Guards counting for SEC team rankings from '12

Jessamen Dunker  UF  5.9
Evan Boehm         MU  5.8
Vadal Alexander  LSU  5.8
Alex Kozan           AU  5.8
Joe Harris            SC  5.8
Cody Waldrop       SC  5.7
Kimo Tipoti        A&M  5.7
Germain Ifedi     A&M  5.7
Greg Pyke          UGa  5.7
Jeremy Ward       Ark  5.6
Caleb Gulledge  Bama  5.6
Cordale Boyd       Ark  5.6
Zach Myers          UK  5.6
Jordan Watson     UK  5.6

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  15 hours ago

Aggies defensive lineman Kimo Tipoti moving on to 'life after football' according to his Twitter page (Blog): http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2014/10/aggies-dl-tipoti-moving-on-to-life-after-football-via-his-twitter-page/ ...

A&M team spokesman said Tipoti attended Wednesday's practice and there's no early word why he's leaving team: http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2014/10/aggies-dl-tipoti-moving-on-to-life-after-football-via-his-twitter-page/ ...

[jbcarol]

Composite Rating of Top Dual Threat QB's counting for SEC team rankings in '15

Blake Barnett   0.9912  Bama  #1 D-T QB; Corona Santiago; #18 in US; #5 in CA
Kyler Murray    0.9872  A&M   #3 D-T QB; Allen; #27 in US; #5 in TX
Jauan Jennings 0.9239  UT     #6 D-T QB; Murfreesboro Blackman #174 in US; #6 in TN
Sheriron Jones  0.9157  UF    #8 D-T QB; Rancho Verde; #199 in US; #26 in CA
Lorenzo Nunez  0.9088  SC    #9 D-T QB; Kennesaw Harrison; #227 in US; #23 in GA

[jbcarol]

http://www.philsteele.com/All_Conference/2014/2014_Midseason/SEC.html

Trey Flowers and Korliss Marshall make the second team

[chiefhawg]

Alex Collins second team as well.

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM OFFENSE
QB   Dak Prescott, Mississippi St   5.6 Dec'11 Haughton D-T QB, #33 from LA
RB   Todd Gurley, Georgia            6.0 '12 Tarboro RB, #5 RB, #42 in US, #3 from NC
RB   Josh Robinson, Mississippi St 5.6 '11 Franklinton RB, #49 RB, #30 from LA
WR   Amari Cooper, Alabama         6.0 Dec'12 Miami NW WR, #6 WR, #45 US, #8 FL
WR   D'haquille Williams, Auburn   6.1 '14 Gulf Coast Community College WR
WR   Travin Dural, LSU                 5.8 '12 Breaux Bridge WR, #49 WR, #8 from LA
TE   Evan Engram, Ole Miss         5.6 '13 Powder Springs Hillgrove TE, #34 TE, #65 GA

[jbcarol]

Damon Sayles @DamonSayles  ·  4 hours ago

The new #ESPN300 is out. @Soso_Jamabo1, @DaMarkusLodge18, @ScorealldayCW25, @KayJayHill among the big movers [Tags: NCF, Josh Sweat, Terry Beckner Jr., Byron Cowart, Martez Ivey, Soso Jamabo, Brandon Wimbush, Damien Harris]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/playerrankings/_/view/rn300/sort/rank/class/2015

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM OFFENSIVE LINE

C  Reese Dismukes, Auburn        5.9  2011 Spanish Fort #1 OC, #79 US, #4 from AL
OL Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M   5.9  2010 Allen #13 OT, #82 US, #11 from TX
OL Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss         6.1  2013 Lake City Columbia #1 OT, #14 US, #2 FL
OL AJ Cann, South Carolina        5.8  2010 Bamberg-Erhardt #2 OC, #182 US, #9 SC
OL Ben Beckwith, Mississippi St   NR   2010 Benton Academy  Not Rated

[jbcarol]

Alex Collins second team as well.

I must have missed my workout that morning...

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM Defensive Line

Preston Smith, Mississippi St  5.5  2011 Stone Mountain Stephenson DE
Shane Ray, Missouri             5.7  2011 Shawnee Mission Bishop Miege #17 WDE; #3 KS
Myles Garrett, Texas A&M     6.1  2014 Arlington Martin  #1 WDE; #2 US; #1 TX
Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss   6.1  2013 Loganville Grayson DE; #1 overall in US

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Some of those that landed in the SEC will be included.

Brandon Spikes, No. 100 in 2006 class

Spikes was a fierce recruiting battle between Florida and Alabama out of Shelby Crest High in North Carolina...

It was the work of then-Florida assistant and current Marshall head coach Doc Holliday that won Spikes over...

Spikes was part of ESPN's No. 1 ranked Florida Gators recruiting class that included Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Marcus Gilbert and Riley Cooper. Tebow and Harvin were first-round NFL draft selections, Spikes and Gilbert second round...

He played in 47 games for the Gators, including 39 starts posting 307 career tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and six interceptions. He returned four interceptions for scores. Tallied 131 tackles as a sophomore earning All-SEC and All-American postseason honors...

He is currently playing in his fifth season in the NFL.

[jbcarol]

No. 99 C.J. Mosley

2010 class: Mosley was one of the big Mobile-area recruiting battles between Alabama and Auburn that helped Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS National Championships.

Mosley was a member of the Crimson Tide's No. 3-ranked recruiting class that included 2013 top 10 NFL draft pick DeMarcus "Dee" Milliner, Adrian Hubbard and DeQuan Menzie. Current members of the Crimson Tide team in Mosley's class are quarterback Blake Sims, fullback Jalston Fowler, offensive lineman Austin Shepherd, safety Jarrick Williams and receiver DeAndrew White, among others...

He was a member of the Alabama 2011 and 2012 BCS National Championship team, as well as being a two-time All-American in 2012 and 2013. He was also the SEC defensive player of the year in 2013 and took home the prestigious Butkus Award in 2013...

Honorable mention: Knowshon Moreno...

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM Linebackers

Benardrick McKinney, Miss St  5.5  2011 Tunica Rosa Ft. ATH
Xzavier Dickson, Alabama       5.9  2011 Griffin #4 WDE #48 in US #6 from GA
Amarlo Herrera, Georgia         5.8  2011 College Park No. Clayton #13 ILB #230 US #17 GA
AJ Johnson, Tennessee           5.8  2011 Gainesville #8 ILB #136 US #12 from GA

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM Defensive Backs

Vernon Hargreaves, Florida 6.1  2013 #1 CB Tampa Wharton; #2 player in our Nation
Senquez Golson, Ole Miss   5.7  2010 #33 CB Pascagoula; 8th Rd '11 MLB draft as CF
Landon Collins, Alabama     6.1  2012 #2 CB Geismar Dutchtown; #17 US; #1 from LA
Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss        5.8  2011 #16 ATH Sylva Bay Academy; #10 from MS

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.


Corey Lemonier, No. 94 in 2010 class

Lemonier chose Auburn coming out of Hialeah High in South Florida over in-state power Florida State after making official visits to LSU, Tennessee and Illinois in addition to the Tigers and Seminoles. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound end coming out of high school built a strong relationship with then-Auburn defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, and liked the idea of getting away from home without being too far. Lemonier was part of an Auburn recruiting class that included No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft Cam Newton, current Louisville running back Michael Dyer...

He entered the NFL draft following the 2012 season, and was selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, where he still plays.

[jbcarol]

No. 99 C.J. Mosley

2010 class: Mosley was one of the big Mobile-area recruiting battles between Alabama and Auburn that helped Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS National Championships.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle C.J. Mosley said about an ESPN report that he was suspended for possessing marijuana & disconnecting a smoke detector at the team's London hotel:

"Everything in the report ain't what it is, but at the same time I've got to take responsibility for it."

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  16 hours ago

Class rankings: Nov. 5 update http://es.pn/1tJ6PGd

1. Bama
3. UGa
5. A&M
6. Vols
9. AUB
10. MS St
16. LSU
19. Arkansas

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Chris Culliver, No. 93 in 2007 class

Born in Philadelphia, Culliver moved to North Carolina and attended Garner Magnet High School in Garner, North Carolina. The standout wide receiver and return man in high school selected South Carolina over Florida due in large part because the Gamecocks recruited him as an offensive player throughout the process, and the Gators changed the tune from defensive back to wide receiver late in the process...

Culliver did in fact begin his career at South Carolina on offense starting one game as a freshman for the Gamecocks, but making his name early on special teams returning 34 kickoffs for 809 yards.

Culliver made the move to defense in 2008 as a sophomore. He started 12 games, recording 60 tackles and three interceptions. He bettered his sophomore campaign by being named second-team All-SEC as a junior following a 62-tackle season. He had his senior season cut short due to a torn pectoral muscle...

The versatile defensive back was a third-round selection (80th overall) in the 2011 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, where he still plays.

Honorable mention: Charles Mitchell, No. 93 in 2008 class. Mitchell played in 37 games his first three seasons for Mississippi State in the secondary recording 188 tackles and four interceptions...

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

T.J. McDonald, No. 91 in 2009 class

Honorable mention: Tharold Simon, No. 91 in 2010 class. Simon played three seasons at LSU before entering the 2013 NFL draft and was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-foot-3 cornerback appeared in 34 games for the Tigers, including 15 starts. His final season at LSU, Simon started all 13 games and tallied 45 tackles and four interceptions. Simon was a lock to LSU the second Les Miles offered, only briefly considering other offers such as Texas A&M.

[jbcarol]

Robbie Faulk @robbiefaulk247  ·  Nov 5

Dan Mullen was excited about his 2011 recruiting class while fans scoffed. Turns out he knew something others didn't. http://mississippistate.247sports.com/Article/Re-examining-the-2011-Mississippi-State-recruiting-class--32638206 ...

After MSU put together a big season in 2010 when they had their most wins since 1999, fans and coaches alike felt like things were changing in a big way and recruiting would follow the success. That perception changed quickly as MSU would lose its two biggest commits in elite linebacker C.J. Johnson and defensive back Jermaine Whitehead. They would also lose a commitment from one of the nation's top receivers in Nick Brassell and a top prospect Tobias Singleton.

It was doom and gloom across the message boards and water coolers of State fans everywhere but not at the signing day press conference. That was one of the first places where Mullen uttered the rhetoric that stars didn't matter. While many scoffed, he couldn't have been more right. Now he's showing it.

MSU would sign 24 players in that 2011 signing class dropping in four 4-stars, 15 3-stars, four 2-stars and an unranked defensive lineman. It didn't look good on paper...

4-stars: The highest rated player in the 2011 class was Stone High School's Dee Arrington. The Dandy Dozen pick was one of the top safeties in the country and good enough that Mullen felt he should play on special teams as a true freshman. Arrington was forced into big minutes as a junior last year with injuries piling up in the secondary and even worked at linebacker. Unfortunately, rigorous injuries played a factor in cutting his career short but he's finishing out his academic year on medical scholarship.

Defensive tackle James Maiden and wide receiver Devin Fosselman were a tough tandem out of Wilkinson County and expected to be major players for the Bulldogs. That was proven otherwise in practice and neither played a down in Starkville and transferred...

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Jake Matthews, No. 90 in 2010 class

Some had Matthews pegged to head to USC coming out of Elkins High in Missouri City, Texas, because his father, Bruce Matthews, and uncle, Clay Matthews, both starred for the Trojans. Jake was always more partial to the schools closer to home, providing Texas A&M and Texas strong chances to secure his commitment. The Aggies ultimately won out due in large part to Bruce Matthews have a strong respect for then Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman as an offensive line developer that ran a pro-style offense. Matthews played center, guard and tackle during his high school career. He was a member of a Texas A&M 2010 class that included Luke Joeckel, Damontre Moore (3rd round NFL draft pick in 2013), Cedric Ogbuehi and Malcome Kennedy.

Matthews was selected in the first round (No. 6 overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2014, joining Joeckel (No. 2 in 2013) as back-to-back Top 10 offensive line draft selections for Texas A&M.

Honorable mention: Major Wright, No. 90 in 2007, and Stephon Tuitt, No. 90 in 2011. Wright was a third-round selection in the 2010 NFL draft out of Florida. He played at South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in high school and selected the Gators over Miami and others.

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

K   Elliott Fry, South Carolina  NR  2013 Prince of Peace Christian Carrolton, TX
P   JK Scott, Alabama            5.5  2014 Denver Mullen #4 K; #9 overall in CO
KR   Darrius Sims, Vanderbilt   5.7  2013 Memphis Whitehaven #34 CB; #10 from TN
PR   Andre Debose, Florida      6.1  2009 Samford #2 WR; #21 overall in US; #4 from FL

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Damian Williams, No. 88 in 2006 class
Williams was a memorable recruitment in the state of Arkansas...

Williams was selected in the third round (No. 77-overall) in the 2010 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, and is currently playing his fifth season in the NFL.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Honorable mention: Joshua Holsey, No. 86 in 2012 class.

Holsey has been a key member of the Auburn Tigers secondary going on three seasons now. He started six games at cornerback as a true freshman before making the move to safety, where he started six games as a sophomore. He has been a starter at different points in the 2014 season at safety as well. Holsey was nationally recruited coming out of Creekside High in Fairburn, Georgia, choosing Auburn over LSU, Georgia and Virginia Tech. Holsey was recruited by then-Auburn assistant Trooper Taylor.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

A.J. Cann, No. 85 in 2010 class

Cann played at Bamberg-Ehrhart High School, just 60 miles from Columbia, South Carolina, making the Gamecocks the odds-on favorite despite former Bamberg-Ehrhart standouts Da'Quan Bowers and Ricky Sapp having success at Clemson. He selected South Carolina in June 2009 over North Carolina, Clemson and Tennessee briefly having second thoughts in December 2009 before the hiring of offensive line coach Shawn Elliott in January 2010. Cann was a member of the Gamecocks top 10 class that included Marcus Lattimore, Connor Shaw, Kelcy Quarles, Ace Sanders and Victor Hampton.

Through his junior season, the three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient has started 38 of 39 games for the Gamecocks. Cann is finishing up his senior season for the Gamecocks and is expected to be selected in the 2015 NFL draft in the first four rounds.

[jbcarol]

Bob Carskadon @bobcarskadon  ·  Nov 11
From that story: MSU has three players in starting 22 over 3 stars. 'Bama only has two starters who WEREN'T 4* or 5* http://hailstatebeat.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/msu-vs-alabama-sets-up-as-mullens-way-vs-sabans/ ...

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Royce Freeman, No. 84 in 2014 class

Honorable mention: Cliff Matthews, No. 84 in 2007 class.

A native of Cheraw, S.C., Matthews was a star defender for the home-state Gamecocks for four years, starting his career at linebacker before moving to defensive end, where he was named All-SEC his last two seasons in Columbia. Matthews picked the Gamecocks over Georgia and Clemson. He was a seventh-round selection in the 2011 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, where he remains on the roster.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Luke Joeckel, No. 83 in 2010 class

Joeckel was an interesting recruitment in the 2010 class due to his twin brother, Matt Joeckel, and the brothers desire to play together in college. That left Texas Tech as the early favorite due to the Red Raiders having extended an offer to Matt, and the fact that their father, Dave Joeckel, played at Texas Tech. On Feb. 26, 2009, the recruitment of the Joeckels changed when then-Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman offered Matt, which led to the duo committing the first week of April. Luke Joeckel was a member of a Texas A&M 2010 class that included Jake Matthews, Damontre Moore (third-round NFL draft pick in 2013), Cedric Ogbuehi and Malcome Kennedy.

Joeckel hit the field running for the Aggies as a true freshman due in part to enrolling in January 2010 and going through spring practice. He started all 13 games at left tackle, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors.

Joeckel's junior season at Texas A&M would prove to be his best, and consequently his last, in College Station. After again starting every game at left tackle, Joeckel was selected first-team All-SEC and was a unanimous All-American and winner of the 2012 Outland Trophy.

Joeckel was chosen with the second overall pick in the draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he has played both right and left tackle.

[jbcarol]

Alabama's five-star results product of more than recruiting five-star talent

We all know how Alabama football works. Coach Nick Saban falls out of bed and is surrounded by five-star players. No matter how far down the depth chart you go, the Crimson Tide is stocked with more talent than a Victoria's Secret catalog.

That is the conventional wisdom, and it's right as far as it goes. But there's more to football than winning Signing Day, and if No. 5 Alabama's 25-20 toppling of No. 1 Mississippi State proved nothing else, it's that Saban and his staff are as good at developing talent as they are at finding it.

Take a look at the stars of the Crimson Tide's victory Saturday before 101,821 suddenly hearing-impaired fans at raucous Bryant-Denny Stadium. We will get to fifth-year senior quarterback Blake Sims, who would win the FBS Most Improved Award if it existed. But Saban's four national championships -- one at LSU, and three here -- have been built on defense.

His expertise is the secondary, and Saban's assembly line has produced one high draft choice after another: Kareem Jackson to Javier Arenas to Dre Kirkpatrick to Mark Barron to Dee Milliner to Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Saban's secondaries are so good that it frees up the defensive front to go aggressively after the quarterback, which is why the head coach has such a nice collection of No. 1 rings.

But this season's secondary, after safety Landon Collins, doesn't have players who will be hugging it out with Roger Goodell. What it does have, like Sims, is a bunch of guys who have improved a lot since Clint Trickett of West Virginia torched them for 365 yards in the opener.

Take junior corner Cyrus Jones, listed at 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, who spent most of the day climbing up Mississippi State's 6-foot-5 wide receiver, De'Runnya Wilson. The sophomore caught eight passes for 91 yards, but Jones kept the damage minimal.

Jones played wide receiver at Baltimore Gilman, and played wide receiver for the Tide two years ago. A year ago, Saban moved Jones to corner to plug a talent drain to the NFL. Jones became the best of an inexperienced group of corners, which is not to say he played to the standard set by his predecessors. But he hung in there, and now has arrived...

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

C.J. Fiedorowicz, No. 82 in 2010 class

Honorable mention: Tyler Wilson, No. 82 in 2008 class.

Wilson was a record-setting quarterback at Arkansas, passing for more than 7,500 yards and 52 touchdowns in 37 games, including 24 starts and more than 7,000 yards over his last two seasons. He was named First-team All-SEC in 2011, and the 2012 Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP. Wilson was selected in the fourth round (No. 112-overall) in the 2013 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. He is currently with the Cincinnati Bengals.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Braxton Miller, No. 80 in 2011 class 

Honorable mention: William Vlachos, No. 80 in 2007 class.

Vlachos was considered undersized coming out of high school by some at 6-foot-1, and initially committed to Alabama as a grayshirt over offers from West Virginia and Georgia Tech, with Florida State offering late in the process. That changed after the hiring of Nick Saban and the Seminoles' offer. Following a redshirt year and a second year in which he played as a reserve, the Mountain Brook High product started his final three seasons in Tuscaloosa, which included being the starting center on national championship teams in 2010 and 2012.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Benjamin Tate, No. 77 in 2006 class

Tate came out of Snow Hill High in Newark, Maryland, as a nationally coveted running back. He committed to Auburn in July of 2005...

It was Tate's final season at Auburn that sent him darting up NFL draft boards in Gus Malzahn's offense rushing for 1,362 yards and 10 TDs earning second-team All-SEC honors.

Following his career at Auburn, Tate was selected in the second round (No. 58 overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2010 NFL draft. Now with the Minnesota Vikings, Tate has more than 2,000 rushing yards in his NFL career.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Jerry "Jaye" Howard, No. 76 in 2007 class

Howard was a longtime commitment to Florida before finally choosing the Gators for good on national signing day over Auburn and Florida State... His best season in Gainesville was his senior campaign. He started all 13 games and recorded 65 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 55 sacks to finish his college career with 131 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 45 games.

Howard was selected in the fourth round (No. 114 overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 NFL draft. He currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Honorable mention: Damian Swann, No. 76 in 2011 class. Swann, a cornerback, picked Georgia over offers from Alabama, Miami, Auburn and several others coming out of Grady High in Atlanta. He's currently finishing his career at Georgia as a three-year starter, having made 161 tackles and seven interceptions in the last three seasons. He is expected to be selected in the draft next spring.

[jbcarol]

Top Dual Threat QB's counting for SEC team rankings in '15 (updated)

Blake Barnett  6.0  Bama  #1 D-T QB; Corona Santiago; #37 in US; #8 in CA
Kyler Murray   6.0  A&M   #3 D-T QB; Allen; #54 in US; #9 in TX
Lorenzo Nunez  5.9  SC    #7 D-T QB; Kennesaw Harrison; #130 in US; #15 in GA
Sheriron Jones  5.8  UF    #10 D-T QB; Rancho Verde; #250 in US; #29 in CA
Chason Virgil   5.7   MS    #17 D-T QB; West Mesquite; #47 in TX

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Jonathan Dwyer, No. 75 in 2007 class

Honorable mention: Steve Williams, No. 75 in the 2009 class and Vadal Alexander, No. 75 in the 2012 class.

Alexander is in his third season at LSU, and has been a starter since his freshman season, playing both right tackle and guard for the Tigers. He is candidate to enter the 2015 NFL draft following the season.

[jbcarol]

Phil Steele's 2014 Midseason All-SEC Team
1st TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

K   Elliott Fry, South Carolina  NR  2013 Prince of Peace Christian Carrolton, TX
P   JK Scott, Alabama            5.5  2014 Denver Mullen #4 K; #9 overall in CO
KR   Darrius Sims, Vanderbilt   5.7  2013 Memphis Whitehaven #34 CB; #10 from TN
PR   Andre Debose, Florida      6.1  2009 Samford #2 WR; #21 overall in US; #4 from FL

Sean Cartell @SEC_Sean  ·  12 minutes ago
Florida's Andre Debose moves onto the all-time #SEC career top-10 list for kickoff return yardage (2,026).

[jbcarol]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·  Nov 24
In the SEC, respect isn't given. It's earned!

In Wk 13 they earned it! #SECHonors Winners: http://bit.ly/1uSFq5q 

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Eric Reid, No. 71 in 2010 class

Reid was one of the nations most highly sought safeties in the 2010 class out of Dutchtown High in Geismar, La. While programs such as Stanford and Tennessee extended offers to Reid, he committed to long time favorite LSU early in the process in March of 2009. Reid's father was a three-time All-America hurdler at LSU, and is a member of the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Reid was a member of LSU's Top 10 class in 2010 that included Tyrann Mathieu, Ego Ferguson, Tharold Simon, and Brad Wing.

Reid's last season at LSU would prove to be his best. In addition to being voted team captain by his teammates and again being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Reid was named first-team All-SEC and first-team All-American after a junior season that included 91 tackles and two interceptions...

Reid was selected in the first round, 18th overall, by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 NFL draft where he is in his second year as a starter. Reid was selected to the 2014 NFL Pro Bowl as a rookie.

Honorable mention: Dante Fowler Jr, No. 71 in 2012 class. Fowler was a long time Florida State commitment that flipped to Florida on national signing day in 2012...

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Michael Morgan, No. 70 in 2006 class

Honorable mention: Jalen Hurd, No. 70 in class of 2014.

Hurd battled shoulder injuries in high school, but managed to set the single-season record in the state of Tennessee as a junior before missing his entire senior season following shoulder surgery. He picked Tennessee over Florida and Ohio State in a recruitment that was never close after the hiring of Butch Jones in Knoxville. Hurd has been an impact player for the Vols in 2014 with more than 700 yards rushing, as well as over 900 all-purpose yards. He posted 100 yards or more rushing in wins against Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Asher Allen, No. 69 in 2006 class

Allen was a heavily recruited cornerback in the Southeast Region coming out of Tucker High. He chose to stay home picking, Georgia over Florida and LSU, after also considering offers from Auburn, Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. Allen was a part of Top 10 Georgia class that included Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, who both were drafted in the first round.

Allen had 53 tackles as a junior, as well as being one of the leagues top kick return men. He chose to forgo his final year of eligibility at Georgia and enter the NFL draft with 123 career tackles and 47 kick off returns for 1,110 yards in 39 games, with 24 being starts at cornerback.

Allen was selected in the third round (No. 86-overall) in the 2009 NFL draft. After amassing 134 tackles and four interceptions in three seasons, Allen abruptly retired...

[jbcarol]

n the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and counting down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Honorable mention: Doran Grant, No. 69 in the 2011 class, Darius Hamilton, No. 69 in the 2012 class and Hunter Henry, No 69 in the 2013 class.

All three former No. 69-ranked prospects are multi-year starters at Ohio State, Rutgers, and Arkansas, respectively; and will very likely be future NFL draft picks.

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  10 minutes ago
Despite difference in recruiting rankings, Alabama and Missouri battling for SEC championship  http://ow.ly/F7hLT [Includes a chart highlighting the recruiting differences]

Saturday's SEC Championship game between the two schools is marked by a perennial Signing Day champion in Alabama against one that normally finishes near the bottom of conference recruiting rankings in Missouri.

But the Tigers (10-2, 6-1 SEC) are back in Atlanta for the second straight year.

Saban, a longtime friend of Pinkel's who he played and coached with at Kent State, said he didn't know how much validity recruiting rankings actually have. The 247Sports composite rankings show that Alabama (11-1, 7-1) has signed 18 5-star recruits since 2010 while Missouri has signed just one - receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who is no longer with the program - in 2012.

"Sometimes I don't know what comes first in recruiting rankings, the cart or the horse," Saban said. "When a guy gets recruited by what I'm going to call high‑profile programs, he gets ranked higher.  That's where I question the validity of how accurate some of those things may be."

Pinkel said he learned his system from the late Don James, who he coached under at the University of Washington and at Kent State with Saban. He tweaked it a little bit, always trying to make it better.

"We just do what we do," Pinkel said. "I think it would be hard to say that we haven't had a little bit of success doing it our way."

[jbcarol]

David Morrison @DavidCMorrison  ·  5 hours ago
Pinkel: "I've never, ever looked at a recruiting ranking since I've been coaching. It would be hard to say we haven't had success."

Saban: "I don't know how much validity recruiting rankings actually have."

But Saban also says MU's consistently low rankings and on-field success are symptomatic of the job Pinkel & Co. do developing players.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Jordan Jenkins, No. 67 in 2012 class

Jenkins was one of the most highly coveted defensive end prospects in the country coming out of Harris County High in Southwest Georgia. Following official visits to Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Georgia, the long-armed edge talent picked the home state Bulldogs...

The outside linebacker in the Bulldogs' 3-4 moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He responded with 45 tackles and 12 tackles for loss earning All-SEC second team honors from the conference coaches.

This season, as a junior, Jenkins again took the next step for Georgia. In 12 starts to date, the Under Armour All-America Game alumnus has 66 tackles, 22 quarterback hurries, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks for the top 25 Bulldogs, and is firmly on the NFL draft radar.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Nick Chubb, No. 63 in 2014 class

Chubb was one of the most heavily-recruited running backs in the 2014 class out of Northwest Georgia. He selected Georgia over Auburn and South Carolina in June of 2013 in a recruitment that wasn't close. Chubb was a member of the Bulldogs top-10 2014 class that featured Lorenzo Carter, running back Sony Michel, return man Isaiah McKenzie, tight end Jeb Blazevich, defensive tackle Lamont Gaillard and quarterback Jacob Park...

Chubb's freshman season has been nothing short of sensational. He became the go to back after the suspension of Todd Gurley, and hasn't looked back with seven straight games of 100 yards or more, averaging 163 per game in his last five SEC games. Through 12 games, the SEC Offensive Freshman of the Year has 186 carries for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns plus an additional 213 receiving yards and two scores. He's scored a touchdown in nine consecutive games.

Should Chubb stay healthy, he's a near lock to be a high NFL draft choice after the 2016 season.


Honorable mention: Max Tuerk, No. 63 in 2012 class, and Curt Maggitt, No. 63 in 2011 class.

Maggitt has been a productive player when healthy for Tennessee. The high school teammate of NFL first round selection Matt Elam and Florida State tight end Nick O'Leary at Dwyer High made 56 tackles in 11 games as a true freshman and 30 in nine games as sophomore before missing his junior season due to injury. The West Palm Beach native has rebounded in 2014 making 43 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 12 games this season.

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Brandon McGee, No. 62 in 2009 class

It was a strong relationship with then-head coach Randy Shannon and assistant Jeff Stoutland, along with being very close to home, that put the hometown Hurricanes over the top.

Honorable mention: Mike Davis, No. 62 in 2012 class. Davis was a one-time Florida commitment before ultimately signing with South Carolina out of Stephenson High in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The bruising running back with excellent feet in the hole has twice been an All-SEC team selection and is expected to enter the 2015 NFL draft. His brother, James Davis, played at Clemson and in the NFL for three seasons.

Andrew Luck, No. 61 in 2008 class...

[jbcarol]

Chuck Dunlap @SEC_Chuck  ·  2 hours ago

2014 Associated Press All-SEC football team | College Football http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/2014-associated-press-all-sec-football-team ...

The 2014 Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference football team released Monday, with player's position, name, school, height, weight and class (u-unanimous selection to first team; t-tied at a position):

___

FIRST TEAM

Offense

WR — u-Amari Cooper, Alabama, 6-1, 210, Jr.

WR — t-Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 201, So.

WR — t-Bud Sasser, Missouri, 6-2, 220, Sr.

L — La'el Collins, LSU, 6-5, 321, Sr.

L — Ben Beckwith, Mississippi State, 6-3, 306, Sr.

L — Arie Kouandjio, Alabama, 6-5, 315, Sr.

L — Laremy Tunsil, Mississippi, 6-5, 305, So.

C — Reese Dismukes, Auburn, 6-3, 295, Sr.

TE — Evan Engram, Mississippi, 6-3, 227, So.

QB — Dak Prescott, Mississippi State, 6-2, 230, Jr.

RB — Cameron Artis-Payne, Auburn, 5-11, 210, Sr.

RB — Nick Chubb, Georgia, 5-10, 228, Fr.

PK — Austin MacGinnis, Kentucky, 5-10, 168, Fr.

All-Purpose — Marcus Murphy, Missouri, 5-9, 190, Sr.

Defense

E — Shane Ray, Missouri, 6-3, 245, Jr.

E — Bud Dupree, Kentucky, 6-4, 264, Sr.

T — Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi, 6-4, 280, So.

T — Jonathan Allen, Alabama, 6-3, 272, So.

LB — Martrell Spaight, Arkansas, 6-2, 231, Sr.

LB — Reggie Ragland, Alabama, 6-2, 254, Jr.

LB — Amarlo Herrera, Georgia, 6-2, 231, Sr.

CB — u-Senquez Golson, Mississippi, 5-9, 176, Sr.

CB — Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, 5-11, 195, So.

S — u-Landon Collins, Alabama, 6-0, 222, Jr.

S — Cody Prewitt, Mississippi, 6-2, 217, Sr.

P — JK Scott, Alabama, 6-4, 185, Fr.

___

SECOND TEAM

Offense

WR — Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M, 6-4, 190, So.

WR — Sammie Coates, Auburn, 6-2, 201, Jr.

L — Greg Pyke, Georgia, 6-6, 321, So.

L — A.J. Cann, South Carolina, 6-4, 311, Sr.

L — Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M, 6-5, 305, Sr.

L — Austin Shepherd, Alabama, 6-5, 320, Sr.

C — David Andrews, Georgia, 6-2, 294, Sr.

TE — Steven Scheu, Vanderbilt, 6-5, 250, Jr.

QB — Blake Sims, Alabama, 6-0, 208, Sr.

RB — Josh Robinson, Mississippi State, 5-9, 215, Jr.

RB — Jonathan Williams, Arkansas, 6-0, 223, Jr.

PK — Josh Lambo, Texas A&M, 6-0, 220, Sr.

All-Purpose — Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina, 5-11, 201, So.

Defense

E — Preston Smith, Mississippi State, 6-6, 270, Sr.

E — Derek Barnett, Tennessee, 6-3, 267, Fr.

T — Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, 6-5, 255, Fr.

T — Darius Philon, Arkansas, 6-2, 272, So.

LB — Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State, 6-5, 249, Jr.

LB — t-Kwon Alexander, LSU, 6-2, 227, Jr.

LB — t-Kentrell Brothers, Missouri, 6-1, 240, Jr.

LB — t-Antonio Morrison, Florida, 6-1, 225, Jr.

LB — t-Curt Maggitt, Tennessee, 6-3, 251, Jr.

LB — t-Ramik Wilson, Georgia, 6-2, 237, Sr.

CB — t-Cyrus Jones, Alabama, 5-10, 194, Jr.

CB — t-Damian Swann, Georgia, 5-11, 180, Sr.

CB — t-Jonathan Jones, Auburn, 5-10, 182, Jr.

S — Braylon Webb, Missouri, 6-0, 200, Sr.

S — t-Ronald Martin, LSU, 6-2, 220, Sr.

S — t-Tony Conner, Mississippi, 6-0, 217, So.

P — Kyle Christy, Florida, 6-3, 198, Sr.

___

HONORABLE MENTION

Offense

Vadal Alexander, L, LSU, 6-6, 320, Jr.; Daniel Carlson, PK, Auburn, 6-4, 215, Fr.; Andre Debose, All-Purpose, Florida, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas, 6-5, 250, So.; Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama, 6-5, 296, Jr.; Denver Kirkland, L, Arkansas, 6-5, 337, So.; Marshall Morgan, PK, Georgia, 6-3, 200, Jr.; Speedy Noil, All-Purpose, Texas A&M, 5-11, 185, Fr.; Dan Skipper, L, Arkansas, 6-10, 326, So.; John Theus, L, Georgia, 6-6, 313, Jr.

Defense

Harold Brantley, T, Missouri, 6-3, 290, So.; Trey DePriest, LB, Alabama, 6-2, 250, Sr.; Trey Flowers, E, Arkansas, 6-3, 270, Sr.; Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia, 6-4, 230, So.; Dante Fowler Jr., E, Florida, 6-3, 260, Jr.; Markus Golden, E, Missouri, 6-3, 260, Sr.; A.J. Johnson, LB, Tennessee, 6-2, 245, Sr.; Quincy Mauger, S, Georgia, 6-0, 199, So.; Jarran Reed, T, Alabama, 6-4, 315, Jr.; A'Shawn Robinson, NG, Alabama, 6-4, 320, So.; Gabe Wright, T, Auburn, 6-3, 284, Sr.

___

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Amari Cooper, Alabama

DEFENSIVE PLAYE OF THE YEAR

Shane Ray, Missouri

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Mullen, Mississippi State

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Nick Chubb, Georgia

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Jarvis Jones, No. 59 in 2009 class

Jones was a nationally recruited outside linebacker coming out of Columbus (Georgia) Carver High. He ultimately selected USC after officially visiting Florida, Georgia, LSU and Texas in addition to USC. Jones was a member of the Trojans' No. 4-ranked class that included No. 1 overall prospect Matt Barkley, Devon Kennard and T.J. McDon

Jones played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker for USC as a true freshman. He appeared in eight games before the USC medical staff diagnosed him with spinal stenosis.

That diagnosis led to a transfer back home to play for the Georgia Bulldogs. After being cleared to play for Georgia, Jones sat out the 2010 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Jones became one of college football's top defensive players in 2011, starting every game and recording 70 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks to earn All-SEC First Team honors.

Jones would again take home All-SEC honors in 2012, being tabbed the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after tallying 85 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and an interception in 12 games. He became the first Georgia linebacker to win the Jack Lambert Trophy as well.

Following his standout career, Jones was selected No. 17 overall in the 2013 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Honorable mention: Todd Kelly, No. 59 in 2014 class. Kelly was a lock for Tennessee coming out of Knoxville (Tennessee) Webb School with his father, Todd Kelly Sr., having starred for the Volunteers. The ball-hawking safety played in 12 games as a true freshman, including three starts...

[jbcarol]

SEC Sports @SEC  ·  5 hours ago
2014 Coaches All-SEC Teams Announced: http://www.secsports.com/article/12004546/2014-coaches-all-sec-teams ...

2014 Football Coaches All-SEC Teams
First Team Coaches All-SEC - Offense
POSITION   PLAYER   SCHOOL
TE   Evan Engram   Ole Miss
OL   Cedric Ogbuehi   Texas A&M
La'el Collins   LSU
Arie Kouandjio   Alabama
A.J. Cann   South Carolina
C   Reese Dismukes   Auburn
WR   Amari Cooper   Alabama
Pharoh Cooper   South Carolina
QB   Dak Prescott   Mississippi State
RB   Nick Chubb   Georgia
Cameron Artis-Payne   Auburn
AP   Marcus Murphy   Missouri

First Team Coaches All-SEC - Defense
POSITION   PLAYER   SCHOOL
DL   Shane Ray   Missouri
Preston Smith   Mississippi State
Dante Fowler   Florida
Bud Dupree   Kentucky
LB   Benardick McKinney   Mississippi State
Martrell Spaight   Arkansas
Trey Depriest   Alabama
DB   Landon Collins   Alabama
Senquez Golson   Ole Miss
Vernon Hargreaves   Florida
Cody Prewitt   Ole Miss

First Team Coaches All-SEC - Special Teams
POSITION   PLAYER   SCHOOL
PK   Austin MacGinnis   Kentucky
P   JK Scott   Alabama
RS   Marcus Murphy   Missouri

Second Team Coaches All-SEC - Offense
POSITION   PLAYER   SCHOOL
TE   Hunter Henry   Arkansas
OL   Laremy Tunsil   Ole Miss
Ben Beckwith   Mississippi State
Vadal Alexander   LSU
Mitch Morse   Missouri
C   Max Garcia   Florida
WR   Bud Sasser   Missouri
Sammie Coates   Auburn
QB   Blake Sims   Alabama
RB   Josh Robinson   Mississippi State
T.J. Yeldon   Alabama
AP   Pharoh Cooper   South Carolina

Second Team Coaches All-SEC - Defense
POSITION   PLAYER   SCHOOL
DL   Myles Garrett   Texas A&M
Trey Flowers   Arkansas
Derek Barnett   Tennessee
Markus Golden   Missouri
LB   Amarlo Herrera   Georgia
Ramik Wilson   Georgia
Antonio Morrison   Florida
DB   Jonathan Jones   Auburn
Braylon Webb   Missouri
Damian Swann   Georgia
Jonathon Mincy   Auburn

Second Team Coaches All-SEC - Special Teams
POSITION   PLAYER   SCHOOL
PK   Elliott Fry   South Carolina
P   Jamie Keehn   LSU
RS   Quan Bray   Auburn

[jbcarol]

In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.

Cam Newton, No. 58 in 2007 class

Newton came out of Westlake High in Atlanta as one of the most highly coveted quarterbacks in the country. He ultimately chose the University of Florida in September 2006 over LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Ole Miss due in large part to the success of then Florida quarterback Chris Leak, and the scheme fit under then head coach Urban Meyer...

Newton injured his ankle in the 2008 season opener, which led to a redshirt season. This would be Newton's final season in Gainesville after he was arrested for theft of a laptop computer from another Florida student. Even though the charges were dropped, Newton left the Gators' program.

In 2009, Newton led Blinn Junior College to the NCJJ national title, quickly becoming the most highly sought after junior college quarterback in the country.

After choosing Auburn over Mississippi State, Newton's 2010 season on The Plains...

Newton was a member of three national champions teams in college: Florida 2009, Blinn Junior College 2009 and Auburn 2011.

Newton was selected No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection with more than 14,000 NFL career passing yards.

He is recovering from a car accident yesterday.