Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends
Recruiting is the lifeblood of the SEC, and the action never stops across the area recruiting trails. As fall camps begin and the focus shifts to the field, it is time to dive into the latest happening across the SEC recruiting front.
Big Gets
TE Evan Jacobson pledges to Texas A&M
Edge Jaquez Wilkes commits to Auburn
DL Valdin Sone chooses Georgia
QB Landon Duckworth re-commits to the Gamecocks
ATH Joel Wyatt chooses the Volunteers
Headlines
Ole Miss hits the safety market – Lane Kiffin went on the attack for a couple of top area defenders, landing Buford (GA) standout Nascar McCoy and Murfreesboro (TN) Oakland four-star Craig Tutt. McCoy’s finalists also included Georgia, Michigan, Miami and Texas A&M, while Tennessee and Auburn rounded out Tutt’s top choices.
More SEC Decisions – Greensboro (NC) Grimsley cornerback Kosci Barnes opted for South Carolina over Kentucky, Mississippi State, Miami, North Carolina and Rutgers, while 6-foot-7 Brooklet (GA) Southeast Bulloch OL Bear Fretwell flipped from Georgia Tech to Alabama. Mississippi State also hit big with a couple of new additions as Havana (FL) Gadsden County Camron Thompson and Copiah-Lincoln CC WR Matt Mayfield announced their decisions.
Decisions ahead – A few more top prospects have SEC programs watching closely as they eye decisions in the not-too-distant future:
- July 31 – Mobile (AL) St. Paul’s Episcopal Edge Tank Jones between Texas A&M, Alabama, Oregon
- July 31 – Ogden (UT) Fremont ATH Salesi Moa between Tennessee, Utah, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington
- August 1 – IMG Academy OL Breck Kolojay between Georgia, Oklahoma, Colorado, Miami, USC
- Aug. 3 – Valdosta (GA) Lowndes 2027 QB Jayce Johnson between Texas A&M, Florida State, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee
- Aug. 8 – Leakesville (MS) Greene County WR Jase Mathews between Texas A&M, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss
- Aug. 8 – Former Florida State commit Blountstown (FL) RB Amari Thomas between Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, South Carolina
- August 9 – Sarasota (FL) Cardinal Mooney DL Elijah Golden between Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech
New Name to Know
RB Kentz Brown , Dumas (AR) – 2028
At 6-foot and 220 pounds, Brown is a hard charger with an explosive and powerful burst and a home run ability with the ball in his hands.
Equipped with a 34-inch vertical leap, he has been clocked at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash, and he prides himself on being an every-down back with an all-around skillset.
Brown does not have to go far for his football role model. His brother, Kylin James, was a standout at Dumas before going on to Central Arkansas and UNLV. His older brother, Kaleb Small, played at Arkansas-Monticello, and his father, Edwin, played defensive end at Arkansas-Monticello. He also studies Le’Veon Bell because he loves his vision and patience.
As a freshman in 2024, he posted 545 yards and seven touchdowns on 24 carries, and he had nine receptions for 350 yards and three scores on the freshman squad. He also threw a touchdown pass, and he scored a touchdown as a return man on special teams.
College coaches are already taking notice with offers arriving from Arkansas, Ole Miss, Purdue, UNLV, Appalachian State, Central Arkansas, Sacramento State and Arkansas Baptist. He also visited Tennessee, Oklahoma, LSU and Mississippi State.
In addition to football, Kentz Brown also plays basketball, baseball and competes on the track. In basketball, he is a power forward. In baseball, he is a left fielder. On the track, he is a member of the 4x100m and 4x200m teams.
What’s up with the top
Top July commitments for each SEC program
Alabama: WR Cederian Morgan, Alexander City (AL) Benjamin Russell – July 2
Arkansas: LB JJ Bush, Theodore (AL) – July 2
Auburn: Edge Jaquez Wilkes, Wadley (AL) – July 21
Florida: DL Kendall Guervil, Fort Myers (FL) – July 2
Georgia: TE Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon (GA) – July 12
Kentucky: QB Matt Ponatoski, Cincinnati (OH) Moeller – July 6
LSU: DL Lamar Brown, Baton Rouge (LA) University Lab – July 10
Mississippi State: S Tomareo Johnson, Pascagoula (MS) – July 4
Missouri: OL Braylon Ellison, Boonville (MO) – July 1
Oklahoma: TE Tyler Ruxer, Lincoln City (IN) Heritage Hills – July 7
Ole Miss: TE JC Anderson, Mount Zion (IL) – July 1
South Carolina: QB Landon Duckworth, Jackson (AL) – July 18
Tennessee: ATH Joel Wyatt, Murfreesboro (TN) Oakland – July 28
Texas: LB Tyler Atkinson, Loganville (GA) Atkinson – July 15
Texas A&M: DE Bryce Perry-Wright, Buford (GA) – July 5
Vanderbilt: OL Mitchell Smith, Picayune (MS) – July 4