Over the years, no conference has dominated national signing day quite like the SEC.
And even as traditional recruiting has been diminished by the transfer portal, the league continues to lead the Bowl Subdivision. Take the case of Mississippi State, for example.
The Bulldogs signed two of the top in-state recruits in linebacker Tyshun Willis and quarterback KaMario Taylor as well as one of the top junior college prospects in this cycle in defensive back Tony Mitchell. That helped form a signing class that ranked 32nd nationally as of Wednesday evening, according to the composite rankings compiled by 247Sports.com.
That was good for second from the bottom in the SEC, ahead of only Vanderbilt, which signed the smallest class in the conference. But that same class would’ve ranked second overall in the Big 12, behind only TCU.
Let’s break down the 2025 cycle in the SEC, starting with Texas, Georgia and Alabama:
1. Texas (No. 1 nationally)
Top recruits: DB Jonah Williams, WR Kaliq Lockett, WR Michael Terry III.
Getting Terry on signing day ensured Texas would sign the nation’s top class. The Longhorns also flipped cornerback Kade Phillips away from LSU. Fifteen of the 24 recruits signed on Wednesday come from Texas.
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2. Georgia (No. 2)
Top recruits: DL Elijah Griffin, LB Isaiah Gibson, LB Zayden Walker.
The Bulldogs’ class is loaded on defense. In addition to the above threesome, Kirby Smart inked another five signees in the secondary. Georgia also added one of the top tight end prospects in four-star, in-state prospect Elyiss Williams.
3. Alabama (No. 3)
Top recruits: QB Keelon Russell, OL Michael Carroll, DB Dijon Lee.
Alabama survived some attrition from Kalen DeBoer’s first full class to bring in yet another top-five class, continuing a tradition that survived the transition from Nick Saban. Russell will be expected to contend for the starting job with Jalen Milroe’s departure after this season.
4. Auburn (No. 6)
Top recruits: DL Jared Smith, DL Malik Autry, QB Deuce Knight.
This is a class capable of lifting Auburn out of the early doldrums under Hugh Freeze and back into SEC prominence. Smith and Autry are two of five defensive linemen in this group. Knight is Auburn’s second big quarterback signee in as many years and will be in the mix to start as a rookie.
5. LSU (No. 8)
Top recruits: CB DJ Pickett, RB Harlem Berry, LB Charles Ross.
LSU had some late losses leading into and during signing day but won several key battles as well, led by bringing Pickett into the fold on Wednesday. Berry is an immediate-impact addition who will bring some big-play potential to the Tigers’ running game.
6. Texas A&M (No. 9)
Top recruits: OL Lamont Rogers, WR Jerome Myles, DL DJ Sanders.
The defense already looks built to last under coach Mike Elko, so players such as Rogers and Myles could be the missing pieces on an offense in need of a boost. A&M won the battle for Myles over Southern California.
7. Tennessee (No. 10)
Top recruits: DL Isaiah Campbell, DL Mariyon Dye, TE DaSaahn Brame.
Prospects such as Brame and four-star receiver Travis Smith Jr. can be early security blankets for rising sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Volunteers signed six defensive linemen and five defensive backs.
8. Florida (No. 11)
Top recruits: WR Vernell Brown III, CB Ben Hanks Jr., EDGE Jayden Woods.
In dire straits until the school decided to bring back coach Billy Napier for another year, the Gators’ class surged into signing day and into the top half of the SEC. Florida won in-state battles with Miami and Florida State and was able to hold onto prospects such as four-star defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou.
9. Mississippi (No. 14)
Top recruits: WR Caleb Cunningham, OL Devin Harper, DB Maison Dunn.
The cycle’s top in-state prospect, Cunningham was a longtime verbal commitment to Alabama before switching to the Rebels in November. The Rebels also signed two of the top recruits in Louisiana and Tennessee in Harper and running back Shekai Mills-Knight.
10. Oklahoma (No. 16)
Top recruits: OL Michael Fasusi, OL Ryan Fodje, WR Elijah Thomas.
Keeping hold of Fasusi on signing day was a huge win for Oklahoma and coach Brent Venables. Along with Fodje, the five-star product out of Texas gives the Sooners two potential cornerstones on the offensive line. Somewhat surprisingly, given the state of this year’s offense and the recent hire of new coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the Sooners inked only one running back and two receivers.
11. Missouri (No. 19)
Top recruits: QB Matt Zollers, WR Donovan Olugbode, DE Javion Hilson.
Zollers is one of program’s top quarterback recruits in the modern era. The Tigers did a good job bringing in the best players in Missouri, signing the top two in-state prospects in 6-foot-8 offensive tackle Jack Lange and defensive end Daeden Hopkins.
12. South Carolina (No. 20)
Top recruits: WR Malik Clark, DB Kendall Daniels Jr., WR Lex Cyrus.
South Carolina went out and grabbed some major help for impressive young quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Clark and Cyrus are joined by another four-star pass catcher in Brian Rowe. Overall, the Gamecocks signed five receivers.
13. Arkansas (No. 28)
Top recruits: LB Tavion Wallace, QB Madden Iamaleava, DL Kevin Oatis.
Wallace is expected to step right into the rotation or even start as a freshman. The Razorbacks signed two quarterbacks in Iamaleava, a former UCLA commitment and the younger brother of the Tennessee starter, and in-state prospect Grayson Wilson.
14. Kentucky (No. 29)
Top recruits: DB Andrew Purcell, TE Mikkel Skinner, DL Javeon Campbell.
The Wildcats continued to mine Ohio ranks with five prospects from that talent-rich state. But the best work was done inside the state lines: Mark Stoops and his staff inked the top three recruits in Kentucky in Campbell, defensive back Martels Carter Jr. and defensive lineman Cedric Works.
15. Mississippi State (No. 32)
Top recruits: DL Tyshun Wills, QB KaMario Taylor, DB Kyle Johnson.
Taylor will have the opportunity to grab the reins of coach Jeff Lebby’s offense as a freshman. The class bolsters the Bulldogs’ numbers at receiver, on the offensive line and in the secondary.
16. Vanderbilt (No. 71)
Top recruits: DB Carson Lawrence, DB Davin Chandler, LB Josiah Braxton.
The Commodores signed only 13 players, by far the least in the SEC, and will focus on the transfer portal to fill out the 2025 roster. Lawrence picked Vanderbilt over offers from several national powers, including Florida, Michigan and Miami.
