Our 2013 class rankings are complete.
So what are the highlights?
Below are the top signees and sleepers for each school and an overview of why each team sits in the spot it does following another busy recruiting year in the SEC.
1. Florida
Top Signee: CB Vernon Hargreaves III
Top Sleeper: DE Antonio Riles
Met Needs: Florida added depth at every position. The Gators could have used one more quarterback.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Too many reasons. We’ll just list Hargreaves and running back Kelvin Taylor.
2. LSU
Top Signee: CB Tre’Davious White
Top Sleeper: WR Avery Johnson
Met Needs: LSU hit every spot, especially on the offensive and defensive lines.
Why They’re Ranked Here: LSU brought in all kinds of athletes. John Chavis should have fun.
3. Alabama
Top Signee: RB Derrick Henry
Top Sleeper: DB Eddie Jackson
Met Needs: The Tide helped fill out its front seven on defense. An extra big-time safety could have helped.
Why They’re Ranked Here: How about that close? Beating out rival Auburn for two top defenders didn’t hurt.
4. Georgia
Top Signee: DB Tray Matthews
Top Sleeper: LB Ryne Rankin
Met Needs: The defensive backfield is good to go. One more standout offensive lineman would have been nice.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Mark Richt planned well to bring in a deep, talented class.
5. Texas A&M
Top Signee: WR Ricky Seals-Jones
Top Sleeper: LB Brett Wade
Met Needs: Like UGA, Texas A&M’s class is deep. Still, the Aggies could have used another offensive lineman.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Johnny Manziel is great. He’ll be even better with all these skilled players coming in.
6. Ole Miss
Top Signee: DE Robert Nkemdiche
Top Sleeper: DB David Kamara
Met Needs: Every team needs linemen, and the Rebels found plenty of those.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Star power. Nkemdiche, OL Laremy Tunsil and WR Laquon Treadwell are big-time gets.
7. Auburn
Top Signee: DT Montravius Adams
Top Sleeper: DB Mackenro Alexander
Met Needs: The defense needs help. Adams and Carl Lawson are a nice start. Another top-level corner was needed.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Great close, especially with Adams, DL Elijah Daniel and OL Deon Mix.
8. South Carolina
Top Signee: DT Kelsey Griffin
Top Sleeper: LB Jonathan Walton
Met Needs: Nice haul on the offensive line. The running game looks bright. Looking for more defensive linemen.
Why They’re Ranked Here: It’s a nice class, not as powerful as others in the SEC. But they’ll be well coached.
9. Vanderbilt
Top Signee: WR Jordan Cunningham
Top Sleeper: LB Oren Burks
Met Needs: Vandy will be faster next season with the added athletes. Where are the linemen?
Why They’re Ranked Here: James Franklin continues to bring in players. Cunningham (Zach, too) was a big get.
10. Tennessee
Top Signee: WR Marquez North
Top Sleeper: WR Josh Smith
Met Needs: The wide receivers look great. Two new quarterbacks were key. Linemen and linebackers are missing.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Coach Butch Jones had to work quickly. Landing North and QB Josh Dobbs was big.
11t. Arkansas
Top Signee: RB Alex Collins
Top Sleeper: DB D.J. Dean
Met Needs: Bret Bielema will run the ball. Enter Collins. Arkansas needs more defensive line help.
Why They’re Ranked Here: It’s tough to keep up with the SEC West. The staff closed well.
11t. Kentucky
Top Signee: DE Jason Hatcher
Top Sleeper: OL Ramsey Meyers
Met Needs: The new OC Neal Brown needs playmakers. Kentucky found them.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Hatcher and WR Ryan Timmons helped vault the Wildcats a couple spots.
13. Mississippi State
Top Signee: DE Chris Jones
Top Sleeper: WR De’Runnya Wilson
Met Needs: Great group of athletes on offense and defense. But Jones can’t carry the defensive line.
Why They’re Ranked Here: The Bulldogs added some nice pieces but the standard is higher.
14. Missouri
Top Signee: DT Josh Augusta
Top Sleeper: DB Shaun Rupert
Met Needs: Gary Pinkel found linemen, which key in the SEC. The offense could use more playmakers.
Why They’re Ranked Here: Pinkel said forget the rankings. That might work in the Big 12. This isn’t the Big 12.
