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What every SEC West team needs to do to have a successful signing day
By JC Shurburtt
Published:
With only two official visit weekends remaining until National Signing Day, it’s coming down to crunch time for most of the programs around the Southeastern Conference.
Here’s what every program in the SEC West needs to accomplish to make sure that their signing day is a successful one.
ALABAMA
The Crimson Tide has the top inside linebacker, Ben Davis, and the top outside linebacker, Lyndell Wilson, in the Class of 2016 within the borders of its own state. Sounds unfair, doesn’t it? Alabama needs to close with those two and should continue to stockpile additional talent down the stretch. Winning some battles in Georgia (Mecole Hardman Jr. comes to mind) would be huge as well.
ARKANSAS
The Razorbacks had a big need at running back and landed Devwah Whaley during the Under Armour All-America Game, so that need has been filled. Arkansas simply needs to hold on to what it has committed at this point and then back-fill with great evaluations down the stretch. If recent history under Bret Bielema is any indication, they will have no trouble doing so.
AUBURN
Auburn already has one of the best defensive line classes in the country and the Tigers need to hold on to what they have committed. If the staff pulls an upset or two down the stretch out of Georgia or in-state, then that’s icing on the cake. This already is one of the best recruiting efforts (with results) this cycle considering the season Auburn had and the transition on the defensive staff with Will Muschamp and two assistants bolting for South Carolina.
LSU
The Tigers are in the hunt for the nation’s No. 1 class and they have an excellent shot at finishing that way, but this program still is in need of a quarterback. Lindsey Scott Jr. is a talented in-state kid who should fill that void, even though he won’t arrive with the recruiting hype of some other targets. Getting five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence back in the fold here in a couple of days is a must. This has been a great, great recruiting cycle for LSU.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Bulldogs have made a living off of keeping in-state talent at home and the two prospects from Starkville High — defensive tackle Kobe Jones and wide receiver A.J. Brown — are must-gets, along with West Point (near Starkville) offensive tackle Scott Lashley. Elite in-state defensive end Jeffery Simmons has the Bulldogs, Ole Miss and Alabama in the mix as well. It’s setting up to be an exciting finish with regards to the top in-state Mississippi talent this cycle.
OLE MISS
Let’s face facts — signing day could be today and the Rebels could simply sign the prospects they have committed and it would be a success. What would be icing on the cake? Well, Rashan Gary, the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect is one and Simmons, one of the top in-state prospects, would be another. Exactly what surprise is next for Hugh Freeze and staff is one of the more intriguing storylines in the SEC in the coming weeks.
TEXAS A&M
The Aggies need to re-establish some momentum and there perhaps isn’t any better way to do that than to win an in-state recruiting battle with rival Texas for elite safety Brandon Jones. Jones would help continue what has been a serious upgrade of the Texas A&M safety position in recent cycles and would be a huge win from a perception standpoint. Whenever there are both football and perception wins with one prospect, that guy becomes uber-important.
Recruiting writer for Saturday Down South
