The path to a top-5 2016 recruiting class for 4 SEC programs

It has become an annual happening on National Signing Day — there are multiple Southeastern Conference programs with highly-ranked recruiting classes.

Though the 2016 cycle very likely will see Alabama’s streak of five straight top-ranked classes come to an end (an unprecedented streak and no knock on this Tide recruiting class), there are several SEC programs that have a shot to finish ranked in the top five when all is said and done.

Below are the respective tickets for each program to finish in the top five (247Sports Composite rankings).

LSU (currently No. 2) will finish top five if… the Tigers land five-star defensive tackle Rashard Lawrence and elite cornerback Kristian Fulton, as expected, plus one more commit (defensive tackle D’Andre Christmas-Giles would work). LSU is going to likely finish with more than that and that will determine if the Tigers finish with the nation’s No. 1 overall class in the 2016 cycle or not.

Georgia (currently No. 7) will finish top five if… the Bulldogs land five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown and elite athlete Mecole Hardman Jr., plus a combination of 2-3 additional highly-ranked prospects like former offensive tackle commit E.J. Price and Florida wide receiver Tre Nixon.

Alabama (currently No. 10) will finish top five if… the Crimson Tide land five-star in-state linebackers Lyndell Wilson and Ben Davis, plus top-ranked JUCO prospect Jonathan Kongbo, a defensive end from Arizona Western College. Also, Alabama needs 2-3 additional commits ranked in the high three-star range or above just to make sure.

Ole Miss (currently No. 5) will finish top five if… the Rebels can land top in-state defensive end prospect Jeffery Simmons and land 3-4 additional prospects or some major headliners like Rashan Gary and Mique Juarez (they are in the game for both).

***Florida and Auburn both have a puncher’s chance. The Gators are No. 6 right now, but need to pull some headliners to finish in the same spot simply because other programs with more space in the class will rise. Auburn would need several surprises to finish top five, but the Tigers, who currently are No. 11, have an excellent shot at finishing inside the top 10.

JC Shurburtt

Recruiting writer for Saturday Down South