As we near the month of July, many top prospects for the 2010 class have already decided where they will play college football.
There are still plenty of highly-touted players who will wait until close to National Signing Day to make their decisions, but some have decided they would rather focus on their senior seasons.
Here is my list of the Top 5 committed players for 2010 in the SEC.
1. Matt Elam — Florida
Elam might be the best overall athlete in the country out of Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach, Florida. Many people who cover football recruiting believe 2010 will have the most talent ever out of the South Florida area. That makes it even more impressive that Elam is considered the best prospect in his state. Elam (6-0, 205) has the talent to be an offensive star but many believe his brightest future will be on the defensive side of the ball. Ranked as the nation’s #1 athlete and #5 player overall in 2010 by Rivals.com, he has the athletic ability to be a superior defensive back and the toughness to be a great tackler. Elam seems to be somewhere in between Tennessee’s Eric Berry and Southern Cal’s Taylor Mays, which could be a scary possibility for SEC opponents. Elam’s brother, Abram Elam, plays safety for the New York Jets. It never hurts to have someone like that around.
2. Demarcus Milliner — Alabama
Alabama’s defensive backfield could be frightening for a long time to come with the addition of Milliner in 2010. The Crimson Tide just signed Dre Kirkpatrick, the top cornerback for 2009, and Milliner is following in Kirkpatrick’s footsteps with the same ranking. Milliner, from Millbrook, Alabama, surprised no one by committing to the Tide, even though he was being heavily pursued by schools such as Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee. Milliner (6-0, 185) is the kind of athlete who any college coach would love to have. Many believe he could be an offensive star if a team used him at wide receiver or even tailback, but his coverage abilities will probably lead to him staying on defense. Still, Milliner could easily see some offensive snaps while playing cornerback in college. Alabama will have another star-studded class in 2010 and Milliner will be the headliner of the group.
3. Brent Benedict — Georgia
The offensive lineman from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, recently committed to Georgia, giving the Bulldogs a big-time offensive lineman to lead the 2010 class. It was a major get for Georgia to pull Benedict away from not only Florida but also Notre Dame, USC and Miami. Benedict (6-5, 280) already has great size to be a college lineman, but he’s lean and has the right frame to allow his body to grow at the next level. Rivals ranks him as the #5 offensive tackle for 2010 and the 40th best prospect overall in the nation. By April, Benedict had more than 40 scholarship offers. That shows how coveted he was by every major college in America. Benedict’s older brother, Heath Benedict, was a Division II All-American before he died tragically from an enlarged heart in March 2008. Rivals analyst Barry Every described Brent Benedict as “one of the most athletic big men” he’s ever seen. That should help him make a smooth transition to the college level.
4. Jacques Smith — Tennessee
The Vols received great news on signing day in February when the Ooltewah (Tennessee) High School defensive end decided to commit to UT for 2010. Smith is an elite athlete and multi-sport high school star. Smith’s athletic ability has caused some to believe he will play a hybrid linebacker/defensive end role in college. The eyeball test says Smith (6-3, 225) is a ready-to-play defensive end in college now, and that’s with a year to go before he gets to Knoxville. Smith plans to enroll in college in January as well, which makes it likely he’ll be ready to play as a freshman. Rivals ranks him the 63rd best player overall in the nation. Smith’s character should also be pointed out. He’s established himself as a leader for UT’s 2010 class, working with the staff to help recruit a number of prospects, including top quarterback target Jesse Scroggins from California.
5. Phillip Sims — Alabama
This isn’t a good year for quarterbacks, but Sims is a great talent who Alabama is thankful to have locked up. Sims, from Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, comes from a great program and looks like someone who can step on a college campus and contribute right now. ESPN.com compared Sims to David Garrard, the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That makes sense because Sims’ size (6-1, 215) is similar to Garrard, and both players possess a great ability to pass from the pocket but also move around if necessary. Rivals ranks Sims the #1 pro-style quarterback in the nation and the 58th best player overall. Alabama’s quarterback position is unsettled for the future. Greg McElroy is the clear-cut starter now, but after him it’s very much open among Star Jackson, A.J. McCarron and Sims. Sims passed for more than 3,000 yards as a junior, and he threw 38 touchdowns with only four interceptions. It also helps that he’s a well-coached player. Don’t be surprised to see Sims find his way onto the field in some capacity in the fall of 2010.
