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The SEC signed more than half of the top 50 recruits of the 2015 class.
Used to be, we’d forget about those names for two or three years. Now most of those players make an impact as true freshmen.
Several of these guys even started for ranked football teams in 2015. Still others should compete in high-profile competitions for starting jobs prior to this fall.
So far, there haven’t been many busts from this group, though we’ll see how it continues to develop.
Here’s a look at the top 50 players from the 247Sports composite rankings who signed with SEC schools last year.
1. Trent Thompson, DT, Georgia
Analysis: Already a disruptive presence against the run, Pro Football Focus named him the best freshman defensive tackle in the country in 2015 along with Missouri’s Terry Beckner Jr. (No. 13).
2. Martez Ivey, OT, Florida
Analysis: Minor knee surgery delayed his debut, but Ivey started seven games at left guard and appears to be an important piece of the Gators offensive line moving forward.
3. Byron Cowart, DE, Auburn
Analysis: He was not all that productive as a true freshman, although he did get regular snaps. The return of Carl Lawson and a strong 2016 defensive line class won’t make it easy for Cowart to emerge, but he remains a physically-gifted player.
6. Kahlil McKenzie, DT, Tennessee
Analysis: He played in 13 games as a backup without accomplishing anything outlandish. He’s still a physical outlier with great potential. His season probably was best known for the tweet he sent after the Outback Bowl.
7. CeCe Jefferson, DE, Florida
Analysis: He finished with a flourish, producing 5.5 tackles for loss in the team’s final four games. Florida’s defense lost a lot of NFL talent, but Jefferson’s potential development into a true star in 2016 is one of the reasons Gators fans still feel good about the defense.
8. Kevin Toliver II, CB, LSU
Analysis: Starting eight games, Toliver turned in an impressive debut against Mississippi State. The rest of his season wasn’t jarringly good, but he made 35 tackles and an interception while playing a lot of ball as a true freshman.
11. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Analysis: Ridley’s production as a Tide true freshman receiver put him in the all-time company of Julio Jones and Amari Cooper. He’s arguably the team’s best returning offensive player and should make several preseason All-SEC lists.
13. Terry Beckner Jr., DT, Missouri
Analysis: Already one of the better run-stopping interior defensive linemen in the SEC, Beckner Jr. looked like a player with future All-SEC potential. But he tore his ACL and now faces potential discipline after a January arrest for marijuana possession.
14. Daylon Mack, DT, Texas A&M
Analysis: According to analysis by Pro Football Focus, Mack was the best true freshman in the country at stopping the run. He was ineffective in 146 snaps as a pass-rusher, according to the website.
20. Kendall Sheffield, CB, Alabama
Analysis: The highest-rated SEC member of the 2015 class to redshirt, Sheffield will look to inject himself into a blossoming secondary in 2016.
21. Blake Barnett, QB, Alabama
Analysis: He showed up at 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, spending most of his redshirt season working on his mechanics, learning the offense and adding weight. He’s an early favorite in a quarterback competition that could last until the opening kickoff — or even beyond.
25. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Analysis: One of the most electrifying players in the entire conference the first half of the season, Kirk topped 1,000 receiving yards as a true freshman and also returned two punts for touchdowns.
27. Tyron Johnson, WR, LSU
Analysis: He saw more snaps during the second half of the season, catching nine passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns. With Travin Dural’s return and Malachi Dupre’s continued presence, he’ll remain an auxiliary option in 2016.
28. Terry Godwin, ATH, Georgia
Analysis: Overshadowed by a bevy of excellent freshmen wideouts, Godwin still produced a very fine first college year with 35 catches for 379 yards. There’s a chance he will become UGA’s No. 1 wideout as Malcolm Mitchell heads to the NFL draft.
29. Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Analysis: Playing well more than 200 snaps for last year’s Alabama defensive line as a true freshman is an accomplishment in itself. He played pretty well as both a pass-rusher and a run-stuffer and should evolve into one of the top Tide defensive players.
30. Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
Analysis: He did what the last several touted Alabama cornerbacks could not — start and play well immediately. Taking over the team’s “star” position, Fitzpatrick covered opposing slot receivers, mostly with good results. Clemson walk-on Hunter Renfrow did beat him several times in the national championship game.
31. Damien Harris, RB, Alabama
Analysis: He carried the ball 46 times, mostly in mop-up duty behind Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake. He wasn’t very productive in that limited time, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. But he’ll have an opportunity to compete for a significant role in 2016.
33. Kyler Murray, QB, Texas A&M
Analysis: He got significant playing time and even started a few games for the Aggies. Looking much more adept as a runner than as a passer, Murray eventually lost out to Kyle Allen near the end of the season. Subsequently, he transferred to Oklahoma — even after Murray announced his own transfer.
36. Kyle Phillips, DE, Tennessee
Analysis: He played in six games as a reserve before injuring his shoulder, requiring season-ending surgery that also will keep him out of spring practice.
37. Maea Teuhema, G, LSU
Analysis: He started 11 games at guard. Though the team’s offensive tackles were more well-known players, Teuhema helped Leonard Fournette rush for more than 1,900 yards.
42. Damarkus Lodge, WR, Ole Miss
Analysis: Though the stat sheet shows that he played in eight games, Lodge hardly was recognizable in 2015 playing behind one of the deepest groups of pass-catchers in the country. He did catch one ball — for a touchdown — and will compete for a larger role this fall.
43. Kerryon Johnson, ATH, Auburn
Analysis: Playing occasionally as the team’s third running back, Johnson carried just 48 times as a true freshman. He did show a lot of promise as a receiver with 14 catches for 159 yards.
44. Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
Analysis: He practiced at receiver during a redshirt season, but plans to move back to safety in 2016 and compete for the spot vacated by Geno Matias-Smith.
46. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Analysis: Along with Darrel Williams, Guice played option 2b to Fournette out of the backfield. He averaged a blistering 8.5 yards per carry, making a case for an expanded role in 2016 even with Fournette still on the team.
47. Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Analysis: Following an unprecedented recruitment, Smith played fewer than 100 snaps as a true freshman. He was effective against the run during that small sample size.
48. Preston Williams, WR, Tennessee
Analysis: Not cleared to practice until Aug. 26 due to issues qualifying academically, Williams still managed to play in eight games. With a full offseason, Vols fans hope he becomes a significant factor this fall.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
