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The Diamond Dozen: 12 uncommitted prospects eyeing the SEC

Corey Long

By Corey Long

Published:

Many top prospects remain high on the radar of SEC programs and could be the centerpiece of classes in the conference by national signing day, Feb. 3, 2016.

Here are the 12 top uncommitted prospects that SEC schools (and fans) should have the highest interest in:

Rashan Gary, DT, Paramus Catholic (N.J.): The consensus top-rated player in the nation has taken official visits to Auburn and Ole Miss and has Alabama fighting with Ohio State to get his final official before national signing day. Still the 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman looks like he’s heading to the Big House.

SEC schools In play: Auburn, Ole Miss, Alabama
Chances of signing in SEC: Slim
Outside school to watch: Michigan

Gregory Little, OT, Allen (Texas): Little, rated second overall in 247sports composite rankings, is the son of former South Carolina linebacker Derrick Little, but the Gamecocks aren’t in the picture for the 6-foot-6, 310-pound long-armed tackle. He was committed to Texas A&M but backed out several months ago. Little has visited Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Georgia, but Ole Miss appears to be the front runner.

The only concern with Little is he continues to push back his decision date, but the expectation is he’ll pull the trigger before or at the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2.

SEC schools in play: Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn
Chances of signing in SEC: Very high
Outside school to watch: Maybe Texas jumps in late?

Dexter Lawrence, DT, Wake Forest (N.C.): The 6-foot-5, 300-pound defensive tackle is the third-ranked player in the nation and he’s definitely stretching his recruitment far and wide. Florida and Alabama have received official visits, but the Gators appear to be fading while the Tide are coming on strong with a Dec. 14 decision date on tap.

SEC schools in play: Alabama, Florida
Chances of signing in SEC: 50-50
Outside school to watch: Clemson

Derrick Brown, DT, Buford Lanier (Ga.): It would be a great feather in the cap of new Georgia coach Kirby Smart to keep this 6-foot-4, 318-pound interior lineman in state. The top-ranked player in Georgia isn’t even entertaining outside forces: He’s all SEC with Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee receiving official visits. Decision date will likely come on or very close to national signing day.

SEC schools in play: Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee
Chances of signing in SEC: 99.9 percent

Isaac Nauta, TE, IMG Academy (Fla.): The top-rated tight end in the nation is from Georgia and will make his intentions known at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9. Nauta committed to Florida State but left the Seminoles’ class months ago.

Georgia would be the favorite, but it seems unlikely that new coach Kirby Smart will retain assistant John Lilly, who was Nauta’s primary recruiter. Alabama is in play as well (isn’t it always?) but keep an eye on Michigan as Jim Harbaugh has made Nauta a major priority.

SEC schools in play: Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss
Chances of signing in SEC: Decent, let’s say 65-35
Outside school in play: Michigan

Lyndell “Mack” Wilson, OLB, Montgomery Carver (Ala.): It’s shocking to think that the top outside linebacker in the nation and the top-rated player in Alabama isn’t a lock to Alabama or Auburn, but here’s Mack Wilson listing Florida as his top school.

Auburn doesn’t even appear to have made the cut as Georgia, LSU and USC make up the remainder of Wilson’s top five with the Gators and Tide out front. Nothing to see here currently as Wilson will likely take all of his official visits in January and make a signing day decision.

SEC schools in play: Florida, Alabama, LSU, Georgia
Chances of signing in the SEC: At least 80 percent
Outside school in play: USC (West Coast version)

Ben Davis, ILB, Gordo (Ala.): Davis, a hulking 6-foot-3, 240-pound head smasher, is the son of Wayne Davis, the all-time leading tackler for Alabama. He has Georgia listed as his favorite, likely because to his relationship with Smart, but with the Tide getting his final official visit on Jan. 29 it’s expected Ben Davis will keep it in the family.

SEC schools in play: Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU
Chances of signing in SEC: Close to 100 percent
Outside school in play: Notre Dame may get an official visit.

Mecole Hardman Jr., ATH, Elberton (Ga.): Hardman is an interesting case. The top-ranked athlete in the nation planned to make a silent commitment during the process and make that declaration public on signing day. Last month Hardman decided to back away from his silent commitment.

The thing is how do we know he’s telling the truth? The commitment would be silent anyway. He could be committed right now for all we know. Just thinking about this makes me want to be committed. Anyway the 5-foot-10, 175-pound do-everything prospect seemed to be leaning to Georgia but would like for the Bulldogs to retain defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. That seems unlikely, so who knows. Tennessee is also in the picture and maybe Alabama can creep in if Pruitt takes the defensive coordinator position there as rumored. (Updated: Pruitt did take the Alabama DC job.)

SEC schools in play: Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama (??)
Chances of signing in SEC: Seems likely
Outside schools in play: Michigan and possibly TCU

Rashard Lawrence, DT, Monroe (La.): Big-time defensive lineman from Louisiana should be a lock for LSU right? Well maybe not. Lawrence, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior lineman has LSU and Alabama at the top of the list and both schools will likely get January official visits. But Ohio State is also in the picture and the chances of Urban Meyer stealing a top southeast prospect before signing day is high. Will Lawrence be that guy?

SEC schools in play: LSU, Alabama
Chances of signing in SEC: Better than average
Outside school in play: Ohio State

Demetris Robertson, ATH, Savannah (Ga.): The second-highest ranked athlete in the nation has been more national with his official visits, taking trips to Notre Dame, Cal and Ohio State, but he’s taken plenty of unofficial visits to SEC schools. The recruitment for the 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete will continue into January where Georgia and Alabama are battling with Stanford for official visits. Georgia will always be considered a favorite for a top in-state prospect, but Ohio State and Alabama will not go quietly. And before you doubt Stanford’s chances let me toss out one name – James Vaughters.

SEC schools in play: Georgia, Alabama
Chances of signing in SEC: 50-50
Outside schools in play: Ohio State, Notre Dame and Stanford

Trayvon Mullen, DB, Coconut Creek (Fla.): The race for Mullen, the third-ranked cornerback in the nation, has generally been between LSU and Florida State, but Florida has at least extended an arm to Mullen hoping to get a January official visit. Other programs like Clemson and Louisville are also in the picture for the 6-foot-2, 170-pound prospect. LSU gets the final official visit the weekend before signing day and that may give the Tigers the edge.

SEC schools in play: LSU, Florida
Chances of signing in SEC: 50-50
Outside schools in play: FSU, Clemson

Nate Craig-Myers, WR, Tampa (Fla.): Craig-Myers was committed to Auburn but that relationship has faded in the last months. Florida was high on the radar for the 6-foot-2, 200-pound pass catcher, but his brother, defensive back Jayvaughn Myers, recently decommitted from the Gators, so only he knows what the situation is there. Auburn and Ole Miss will get official visits in January, and North Carolina received an official in September. Keep an eye on Notre Dame and Ohio State too as Craig-Myers might not waste his other two official visits on in-state programs he has seen plenty of times over the past three years.

SEC schools in play: Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn
Chances of signing in SEC: Fading
Outside schools in play: FSU, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State

Corey Long

Corey Long is a freelance writer for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow Corey on Twitter @CoreyLong.

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