It's no secret the SEC is recruiting at a high level. The conference is once again leading the Power 5 in ESPN 300 commitments with 116. The next-closest conference is the Big Ten with 53 ESPN 300 commitments.
A big part of the disparity is the fact that Alabama has an unbelievable recruiting class, with 25 ESPN 300 commitments. The majority of the conference is recruiting at a high level, with the top three teams in the class rankings all coming from the SEC, which also has 13 of its 14 teams ranked in the top 50.
Here is a look at what has played out so far on the recruiting trail for every SEC team, with national signing day around the corner (Feb. 6).
1. Alabama
Class rank: 1
Top commit: Five-star OT Evan Neal
Total commits: 28
ESPN 300 commits: 25
Alabama finished No. 6 in the class rankings in 2018, and it seems that maybe Nick Saban took that personally. The Crimson Tide are back on top, and it is essentially impossible for any program to knock them from that No. 1 spot.
Saban and his staff have 25 ESPN 300 commitments in this class, which is two fewer than the entire Big 12 conference has committed. If that's not impressive enough, 12 of the 25 ESPN 300 commits are ranked in the top 100.
The class has 28 total commitments, and only three fall outside the ESPN 300. One of those three is kicker Will Reichard, who happens to be the No. 1 kicker in the class.
At the top, there are two five-star offensive tackles, Neal and Pierce Quick, signed, and both are massive. Quick is already on campus and was able to participate in bowl practices. Quick and Neal are joined in the class by ESPN 300 offensive linemen Amari Kight, Darrian Dalcourt and Tanner Bowles.
As good as the offensive line haul is, the defensive line recruits are just as highly touted. ESPN 300 defensive tackle Antonio Alfano, the No. 1-ranked tackle in the class, is committed along with fellow tackle D.J. Dale and ESPN 300 defensive ends Justin Eboigbe, Kevin Harris, Byron Young, Braylen Ingraham and King Mwikuta.
The staff is also adding another Tagovailoa at quarterback -- Tua's younger brother, ESPN 300 quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
This class is just Alabama restocking the shelves with elite-level talent to keep the roster competitive. It could be the best class Saban has signed since joining the program, which is remarkable given the Tide's average class rank is 2.4 in his 10 years there.
2. Georgia
Class rank: 2
Top commit: Five-star DE Nolan Smith
Total commits: 23
ESPN 300 commits: 16
Georgia's class gets overshadowed a bit because of how good Alabama's is, but any other year, Georgia would most likely be No. 1 overall.
This is the third year in a row Georgia will finish the recruiting cycle with a top-three class, after scoring the top class in 2018 and third overall group in 2017.
The 2019 class is led by two five-stars in Smith, the No. 2-ranked prospect overall, and offensive lineman Clay Webb, the second-ranked prospect in Alabama.
Among the 16 ESPN 300 commitments on board for Georgia, nine are ranked in the top 100. Of the 23 total commitments for Kirby Smart and his staff, only two are unsigned: ESPN 300 cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who didn't announce his decision until Jan. 5, and quarterback John Rhys Plumlee, who was offered a blueshirt, which would require him to pay his own way the first semester.
There are some big names within this class who might be able to provide help right away, including five-star DE Smith, but there are also some excellent junior college prospects signed who have an excellent shot at filling gaps on the roster next season. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson, defensive tackle Tramel Walthour and cornerback D.J. Daniel are all ranked within the ESPN JC 50 and could help soften the blow from the departures of Jonathan Ledbetter along the line and Deandre Baker in the secondary.
Georgia already had a pretty stocked roster, but this 2019 class will add even more elite-level players to the depth chart.
3. Texas A&M
Class rank: 3
Top commit: Five-star OT Kenyon Green
Total commits: 25
ESPN 300 commits: 13
At No. 3 in the class rankings, this is the highest Texas A&M has been ranked in recruiting since it finished No. 4 in the 2014 class. Jimbo Fisher was able to add to the 2018 class down the stretch after he was hired Dec. 1, 2017, but with a full year to recruit this cycle, he is showing what he and his staff are capable of at College Station. Fisher has the No. 1-ranked prospect in Texas, five-star offensive tackle Green, and 11 of the 37 ESPN 300 recruits from Texas committed.
There are some excellent prospects in this class, especially on defense. ESPN 300 safety Brian Williams and ESPN 300 defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal could play early for the Aggies. Williams is joined in the secondary by ESPN 300 safety Demani Richardson, ESPN 300 cornerback Erick Young and ESPN JC 50 cornerback Elijah Blades in what is a really good haul in the secondary for the coaches.
Leal leads a good defensive line crop that also includes ESPN 300 defensive end Braedon Mowry, ESPN 300 defensive tackle Derick Hunter, four-star tackle Joshua Ellison and three-star tackle Adarious Jones.
This class should help fill gaps left by departing players and add competition at spots that need improvement in 2019.
4. LSU
Class rank: 7
Top commit: Five-star RB John Emery
Total commits: 21
ESPN 300 commits: 11
After finishing No. 3 in the class rankings in 2016 and No. 7 in 2017, LSU took a little bit of a dip in 2018 with the No. 14 class. Ed Orgeron and his staff have recruiting back up to where it needs to be in 2019 and have added some really big pieces.
Emery is a five-star and was committed to Georgia at one point in his process. He is the No. 1-ranked running back in the class and will be able to help pick up some of the production lost from Nick Brossette's departure.
The next-highest-ranked commit is ESPN 300 cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who is the No. 1-ranked corner in the class. Stingley is already on campus and was able to participate in bowl practice with LSU.
Stingley drew rave reviews in bowl practice and is looking like he could see the field immediately in 2019.
LSU has a really strong offensive line class as well, with No. 2-ranked guard Kardell Thomas, ESPN 300 offensive tackle Ray Parker and four-star interior linemen Anthony Bradford and Charles Turner.
5. Florida
Class rank: 11
Top commit: ESPN 300 TE Keon Zipperer
Total commits: 23
ESPN 300 commits: 11
Florida coach Dan Mullen had the No. 21-ranked recruiting class in 2018 after being hired weeks before the 2018 early signing period. Now, with a full year to recruit, the Gators have moved up to No. 11 in 2019.
Mullen and his staff got off to a slower start in the 2019 cycle, but thanks to a big push in December and January the Gators have vaulted up the rankings. The day before the early signing period, Florida had the 20th-ranked class. It moved up to 16 after the signing period was over, and now sits at 11 with weeks left until February signing day.
A big part of that trend up was the addition of ESPN 300 teammates Zipperer, Deyavie Hammond and Lloyd Summerall. Florida also flipped ESPN 300 offensive lineman Michael Tarquin from Miami in December, and added commitments from ESPN 300 defensive back Chris Steele and ESPN 300 wide receiver Arjei Henderson in January.
There seems to be some momentum in Gainesville, both on the field and on the recruiting trail. The Gators finished the season 10-3 with wins over Mississippi State, LSU and Michigan, and the returning roster is relatively young, with only a few losses along the offensive line and defensive front. This class should be able to help push this team even further forward in 2019.
6. Auburn
Class rank: 13
Top commit: Five-star LB Owen Pappoe
Total commits: 18
ESPN 300 commits: 10
Despite the uncertainty at Auburn with the coaching staff this offseason, Gus Malzahn and his staff were able to keep the majority of this class together. Finishing with the No. 13-ranked class with a five-star commit and an ESPN 300 quarterback is a win for the program moving forward.
Keeping five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe is a big deal in itself as other teams tried to steal him away. Pappoe is a prospect who can come in and make an immediate impact on defense and is joined by ESPN 300 defensive commits Jaren Handy, Zion Puckett, Derick Hall II and Cam'Ron Kelly.
On offense, quarterback was a big need with Jarrett Stidham off to the NFL draft. The staff is bringing in ESPN 300 quarterback Bo Nix, the No. 2-ranked pocket-passing quarterback in the class. Nix is an early enrollee and will have a shot at playing early in his first season.
Nix is in the class with ESPN 300 offensive lineman Keiondre Jones, ESPN 300 running back D.J. Williams and ESPN 300 receivers George Pickens and Jashawn Sheffield. Pickens isn't signed yet, and is one of only two commits in this class who did not sign.
7. Tennessee
Class rank: 14
Top commit: Five-star OT Wanya Morris
Total commits: 22
ESPN 300 commits: 9
Tennessee finished the 2018 recruiting cycle ranked No. 23 overall and has elevated this class to No. 14 in the class rankings. Despite going 5-7 on the season, coach Jeremy Pruitt has built up some excitement on the recruiting trail and landed some big prospects in this class
With some important departures within the front seven, Pruitt has landed a few ESPN JC 50 recruits from the juco ranks in defensive end Savion Williams and defensive tackle Darel Middleton, who should be able to provide some help early on.
The staff has all but two commitments signed in the class with defensive tackle LeDarrius Cox and ESPN 300 safety Anthony Harris still unsigned. Among the prospects who are signed, there are some big offensive recruits who should be able to help elevate the production.
ESPN 300 receiver Ramel Keyton, tight ends Jackson Lowe and Sean Brown, and ESPN 300 running back Eric Gray are all good additions to the offense. The biggest get, however, is five-star offensive lineman Wanya Morris, who gives the staff an outstanding potential left tackle of the future.
This class is a step in the right direction for Pruitt and his staff to add some pieces to get the roster to where they want it to be, and the type of talent they want on campus.
8. Mississippi State
Class rank: 15
Top commit: ESPN 300 DT Nathan Pickering
Total commits: 20
ESPN 300 commits: 6
Coach Joe Moorhead instantly raised the recruiting level when he was hired November 2017 at Mississippi State, which finished the 2017 class ranked 24th overall and 2018 ranked 27th. Currently Mississippi State is hanging on to the No. 15-ranked class, but there is still some work to do to stay in that slot.
Of the Bulldogs' 20 commitments on board, six are unsigned. That includes the top-ranked commit in the class, Pickering, as well as ESPN JC 50 wide receiver JaVonta Payton.
The staff does have ESPN JC 50 prospects safety Fred Peters and offensive lineman LaQuinston Sharp signed. If Pickering signs with MSU, he will join already-secured ESPN 300 defensive linemen De'Monte Russell and Ani Izuchukwu.
The offensive line haul also has some big names in ESPN 300 tackle Charles Cross; four-star tackles Darius Washington and Brandon Cunningham; and three-stars Nick Pendley and Brevyn Jones.
9. Arkansas
Class rank: 19
Top commit: ESPN 300 TE Hudson Henry
Total commits: 27
ESPN 300 commits: 4
Arkansas has one of the surprise classes of 2019. After finishing the season 2-10, coach Chad Morris and his staff were still able to sign the No. 19-ranked class. They inherited a stale product and created some excitement and energy around the program to help quickly turn recruiting around.
The highest-ranked commit, Henry, hasn't signed yet, but has said it's only because he wants to wait to sign at a ceremony with his teammates in February.
Outside of Henry, Morris and his staff have several other offensive playmakers on the board in ESPN 300 wide receivers Treylon Burks and Trey Knox and three-star receivers T.Q. Jackson and Shamar Nash. The staff also signed quarterback Kenneth Jefferson to help add depth at quarterback.
One of the biggest focuses of the class, though, was in the trenches. There are 11 offensive and defensive line commitments in this haul, including four-star defensive ends Zach Williams and Eric Gregory and four-star offensive lineman Ricky Stromberg.
If Morris and his staff can continue to recruit at this level, it won't be long before they have the roster where they want it.
10. Ole Miss
Class rank: 20
Top commit: ESPN 300 WR Dannis Jackson
Total commits: 28
ESPN 300 commits: 4
Ole Miss has 28 commits in the class in an effort to refill the roster with depth and talent post-NCAA sanctions. Offense is where the Rebels are going to take the biggest hit with current players leaving.
Wide receivers DaMarkus Lodge and A.J. Brown, quarterback Jordan Ta'amu and a few offensive linemen are all gone and will need to be replaced. The staff is bringing in junior college wide receiver Dontario Drummond, who is ranked on the ESPN JC 50; ESPN 300 receivers Dannis Jackson and Jonathan Mingo; four-star receiver Jadon Jackson; and three-star Jordan Jernigan.
That is a lot of receivers in one class, but it's necessary.
There are also quite a few ESPN JC 50 commitments in this class, because the JC route is a good way to get immediate help. Outside of Drummond, the staff has defensive end Sam Williams, safety Jonathan Hayes and cornerback Jamar Richardson all committed from junior colleges.
Restocking at quarterback was important as well. Matt Corral is already on the roster, but the coaches also signed Grant Tisdale and Kinkead Dent in this class to give them a few more future options.
11. South Carolina
Class rank: 22
Top commit: ESPN 300 DE Zacch Pickens
Total commits: 21
ESPN 300 commits: 5
South Carolina's class is right on par to where the past three classes have been, finishing at No. 24 in 2016 and 2017 and No. 22 in 2018.
At the top of this 2019 class is ESPN 300 defensive end Zacch Pickens, who is the No. 20-ranked prospect overall. At 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Pickens is a big get in this class for the South Carolina defense. The staff is coupling his commitment with ESPN JC 50 commitments from junior college defensive tackle Jahkeem Green and defensive end Devontae Davis, as well as four-star defensive end Rodricus Fitten.
Staying within the defense, the linebacking corps and secondary are in need of new bodies and will get some help with ESPN 300 defensive back Shilo Sanders, who is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, as well as ESPN 300 corner Cameron Smith.
Although quarterback Jake Bentley is back next season, the coaches secured a commitment from ESPN 300 quarterback Ryan Hilinski, the No. 4-ranked pocket-passer in the class. Hilinski has the luxury of not being needed right away and can develop for a season behind Bentley.
This is a good class for South Carolina, especially at the top of the class with Pickens and Hilinski, although there could be a few more pieces to help fill in where the team is losing starters and depth.
12. Kentucky
Class rank: 32
Top commit: ESPN 300 RB Travis Tisdale
Total commits: 23
ESPN 300 commits: 1
At No. 32 in the class rankings, Kentucky is hovering around where it usually finds itself after signing day. Mark Stoops and his staff finished No. 30 in 2017 and No. 36 in 2018, both classes with 24 commitments.
This class has some good pieces, especially within the junior college ranks, to help fill in some holes. Running back Benny Snell is off to the NFL draft, but Stoops has ESPN 300 running back Travis Tisdale committed, and he is the top-ranked commit in the class.
The staff is also losing three of the top four leaders in receiving yards in tight end C.J. Conrad and receivers David Bouvier and Dorian Baker. ESPN JC 50 wide receiver Javonte Richardson should be able to fill in right away and Stoops also has high school receivers Demontae Crumes and DeMarcus Harris committed as well as tight end Nikolas Ognenovic.
On defense, there is no replacing linebacker Josh Allen, who is a projected first-round draft pick, but ESPN JC 50 linebacker Marquez Bembry can help limit the loss in production from Allen's departure, as can four-star Jared Casey, the second-highest-ranked commit in the class.
13. Missouri
Class rank: 37
Top commit: ESPN 300 QB Connor Bazelak
Total commits: 25
ESPN 300 commits: 2
It won't show up in the recruiting rankings, but the Missouri staff landed two quarterback transfers this offseason. With Drew Lock graduating, the coaches brought in Clemson grad transfer Kelly Bryant, who will be eligible immediately, and TCU transfer Shawn Robinson, who will have to sit out the 2019 season.
In the recruiting class, Missouri's top-ranked commitment is ESPN 300 quarterback Connor Bazelak, out of Ohio. While it wasn't all done with high school prospects, the coaches replenished the quarterback room and gave themselves options for 2019 and beyond.
As the defense is losing quite a bit up front, including Terry Beckner Jr., Rashad Brandon and Walter Palmore, Missouri has junior college defensive tackle Chris Daniels committed in this class. Daniels is the No. 4-ranked juco defensive tackle and should be able to help immediately this next season.
The secondary could also use some help and ESPN 300 safety Jalani Williams could be a good candidate to help early on. He's joined in the class by defensive backs Chris Shearin, Martez Manuel, Aidan Harrison, Ishmael Burdine and Stacy Brown.
14. Vanderbilt
Class rank: NR
Top commit: Three-star S Anfernee Orji
Total commits: 22
ESPN 300 commits: 0
Vanderbilt is taking a hit compared to last year, when the staff finished at No. 37 overall in the class rankings. The staff has 19 of its 22 commits signed, but there likely won't be much movement up or down from now until signing day in February.
The staff put a big focus on the secondary in this class, landing cornerbacks Dontye Carriere-Williams, Gabe Jeudy and Jaylen Mahoney, as well as safeties Orji and Justin Harris to help fill out the defensive back group.
On offense, Vanderbilt has tight ends Justin Ball, Joel DeCoursey and Jeffrey Blake committed as well as wide receivers Devin Boddie Jr. and Jayden Harrison. The coaches also have three running backs to help shore up the ground game in J.R. Tran-Reno, Keyon Brooks and Delbert Mimms.