10 Uncommitted Players SEC Fans Should Look Out for on National Signing Day
This year there’s going to be quite a few undecided players to look out for on National Signing Day.
With the likes of Kyle Murray and other players who have made their commitments to their different teams, they aren’t undecided. If they are committed yet are tweeting about how undecided they are, then they are still committed. Otherwise we’d be here all night.
Anyway, here is our Top 10 of uncommitted players to look out for on National Signing Day.
And if a SEC team is in with a sniff of them, then they are worth looking out for!
1. Martez Ivey (Offensive Tackle, FL)
6 ft 5, 275lb monster of an offensive tackle hasn’t worked out where he’s going. 24-7Sports.com has him as the No.2 in the nation behind Trent Thompson, who’s a Georgia commit, and he’s the No.1 player in the State of Florida. Also visited LSU and unofficially visited Auburn. Had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee. Florida’s said to be the favorite to land him – mainly because one of his teammates is on the team – although it’ll be battling Auburn for Ivey’s John Hancock.
SEC Interest: Florida, Auburn, LSU
WE THINK: Florida gets him, because he’s not only close to home, but also because of the chance of him starting immediately and being a difference maker to Jim McElwain’s new offense. Don’t get us wrong – we wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to Auburn bearing in mind Gus Malzahn’s offenses over the years, either.
2. Byron Cowart (Defensive End, FL)
Scouts love almost everything about the 6-4, 250lb strong-side DE, and he was recruited hard by almost every school. Will be a difference maker upon arrival.
SEC Interest: Florida, Auburn. Visited Alabama and Maryland, and had offers from every SEC school out there. And considering Notre Dame and Penn State offered him too, he’s obviously got the smarts, too. Florida’s the big favorite.
WE THINK: Florida snaps him up, because of what they can offer on defense.
3. Iman Marshall (Cornerback, CA)
The top-rated cornerback in the country, Marshall is 6-1 and 190lbs. Scouts love his defensive instincts and his ability to change direction.
SEC Interest: LSU. He visted LSU as well as Notre Dame, Michigan, and Florida State, and he’s also visited Oregon, too. The favorite happens to be USC, but is it because Marshall goes to school at Long Beach Poly, which should be an automatic for the Trojans? Where Marshall is going to end up this year is really unpredictable.
WE THINK: Oregon. Oregon’s late charge for the player and his official visit there – plus the Ducks’ appearance in the College Football Play-Off Championship Game as well as their closeness to home should be a monster selling point for Marshall. Sorry, Les Miles.
We saw an Ole Miss fantasy front cover where they put Jefferson on the front cover of a Sports Illustrated (he probably tweeted it), but no-one really knows where Jefferson’s going to go. Could it be Ole Miss? Could it be Florida? Could it be Alabama? Could it be Auburn? Jefferson visited the two Alabama schools and Ole Miss, but most recently Auburn. If that sort of thing means anything, he’s also visited LSU, Cincinnati, and had 33 offers. The scouts like Jefferson, an All-American- ranked the 4th best player in the country and 7th overall – for his athleticism, which should help him fit into ANY SEC defense.
SEC Interest: Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Florida.
We think: Auburn. Will Muschamp probably recruited him at Florida, and came right back to him at Auburn, and he’s been late with his official on The Plains. Jefferson knows that if he signs he’s going to start as a freshman, which will help him towards NFL-dom quickly, and would probably do his self-promotion no harm at all.
5. Terry Beckner, Jr (Defensive Tackle, IL)
Beckner, the five-star defensive tackle who registered 99 tackles and 8 sacks on the year (and 312 and 14 over the course of 3 years), is being recruited hard by Missouri and Florida State, although Ohio State and Auburn are also in with a shout….and he’s visited all four schools’ campuses. The 6-4, 293lb DT would be an impact player for Missouri, and we’re sure the Tigers’ selling point would be the back-to-back SEC Championship Games and superb defenses they’ve put out in two years. Plus, Beckner Jr’s pretty close by, too.
SEC Interest: Missouri, Auburn, LSU
We think: Missouri. There’s a dark horse that Ohio State – coming off the back of the National Championship victory – wins Beckner’s signature, but Missouri, because of the fact that the school’s in the SEC, and fact that Columbia’s near East St Louis, will also help.
6. Daylon Mack (DT/Fullback, TX)
A lot’s been talked about Mack this off-season, thanks to the fact that Texas A&N, Texas, and TCU are all in the running for his signature. Texas was recently told it was out of the running for the 6-1, 330 two way players (defensive tackle, fullback), meaning that it’s Aggies vs Horned Frogs. A lot of people reckon that thanks to the SEC that it’s going to be an A&M slam dunk, although my feeling is is that TCU can still offer a hell of a lot thanks to just missing the College Football Play-Offs.
SEC Interest: Texas A&M
We think: Texas A&M. John Chavis will be recruiting for a defensive turnaround, so why not tell Mack he’s going to be part of something great (or at least mightily improved) in 2015?
7. Soso Jamabo (Running Back, TX)
6-2, 210lb Jamabo was a hell of a threat for Plano West High School last season, helping himself to over 2,200 yards rushing and over 280 receiving yards. Texas and UCLA might seem the favorites to get him, but Texas A&M and Arkansas have both offered.
SEC Interest: Texas A&M, Arkansas
We think: Texas. Because after Kyler Murray and Daylon Mack, it really couldn’t get any worse for the Longhorns….could it?
8. DeMarkus Lodge (Wide Receiver, TX)
6-2, 190lb Lodge had 25 TDs and over 1,200 yards receiving for Cedar Hill High School, and has been praised for his size, hands, and ball skills, which should make him very useful for the teams chasing him, which include Texas A&M, Ole Miss and LSU. The first-team All-USA member (selected by USA Today) visited all three (as well as USC out west). Lodge was also offered by Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. Lodge’s signature will put an end to the soap opera he caused by committing to Kevin Sumlin & Co in June and decommitting in mid-September, although Sumlin’s persuasiveness managed to get him a meeting with Lodge on the 29th of January. Ole Miss is the favorite though, apparently.
SEC Interest: Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU.
We think: Ole Miss. Lodge decommitted from A&M for a reason, and we think he’ll want the ‘new start’ in Oxford. Freeze’s offense will provide that – especially with the way he uses fast receivers.
9. Roquan Smith (Linebacker, GA)
Georgia is apparently favored for Smith’s signing, who’s ranked as the 5th-best player in the State. The Bulldogs are going to have a lot of competition from Texas A&M as well as teams out West, bearing in mind that he’s visited UCLA and USC, too. Smith’s 6-2, 205lb size hasn’t exactly got the scouts falling in love with him, but athleticism and his ability to play in space definitely has. Should be a major help to both A&M, Georgia, South Carolina or Ole Miss (he visited the latter two as unofficial trips) if he decides to play in the SEC.
SEC Interest: Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Ole Miss.
We think: Georgia. Local player goes to local school, helped by the recruiting ability of Jeremy Pruitt.
10. Drew Richmond (Offensive Tackle, TN)
Richmond, the third-ranked offensive tackle in the nation, created one of the headlines of the last few days when he decided to de-commit from Ole Miss, and many think that it was because Tennessee had been hammering so hard on the door. Butch Jones has been picking up big recruit after big recruit lately, so it’s not surprising that Richmond would want to come and play for the ‘State Team’. Tennessee’s a pretty big favorite. Scouts seem to love his run and pass blocking techniques, and he’s got a chance to start immediately should he go to Knoxville, if you remember just how awful UT’s offensive line was year. Richmond visited Tennessee and Ole Miss, but also unofficially visited Alabama (3 times), Ohio State and UCLA. Don’t be surprised if the Crimson Tide pick him up. Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and Mississippi State also offered him, but seem incredibly unlikely as to now.
SEC Interest: Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU