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Ten percent of the top 100 recruits in the class of 2017 according to the 247Sports Composite have committed to an SEC school.
Alabama and Georgia each have three commits, but the Crimson Tide boasts the top overall recruit, running back Najee Harris. That’s not the only thing they have in common this recruiting season. Quarterback prospect Jake Fromm, now committed to Georgia, was a one-time Crimson Tide commit. Of the top 10 players who have committed to SEC schools, Georgia’s the only one in the SEC East with even one commit.
Big Ten nemesis Ohio State leads the country with verbal commitments from seven of the top 100 recruits due to sign in February.
Keep it mind, it’s quite early in the cycle. Recruiting is fluid and verbal commitments are not binding. Flips are common.
On the recruiting calendar, the NCAA labels April 15 through the end of May as an evaluation period where recruiters can assess an athlete’s athletic and academic ability.
Top 10 SEC early commitments
| NATIONAL RANK | PLAYER | POSITION | SCHOOL | RATING | HOMETOWN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Najee Harris | RB | Alabama | 5-star | Antioch, Calif. |
| 8 | Calvin Ashley | OT | Auburn | 5-star | Orlando, Fla. |
| 12 | Tyler Shelvin | DT | LSU | 5-star | Lafayette, La. |
| 30 | Tate Martell | QB | Texas A&M | 5-star | Las Vegas |
| 34 | Richard LeCounte III | S | Georgia | 4-star | Riceboro, Ga. |
| 44 | Alex Leatherwood | OT | Alabama | 4-star | Pensacola, Fla. |
| 50 | Jake Fromm | QB | Georgia | 4-star | Warner Robins, Ga. |
| 58 | D.D. Bowie | WR | Ole Miss | 4-star | Morton, Miss. |
| 79 | VanDarius Cowan | LB | Alabama | 4-star | Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. |
| 99 | William Poole III | CB | Georgia | 4-star | Atlanta |
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
