College football recruiting typically favors the Southeastern Conference, but National Signing Day on Wednesday turned into pure domination.
Texas, Georgia and Alabama claimed the top three spots in the Class of 2025 rankings according to most recognized services with a total of eight SEC teams in the top 11 at 247Sports.
Spearheaded by one of its newest members, the conference’s stranglehold on the recruiting trail was evident in the stars.
Here are some of the highlights of the early signing period classes around the SEC:
Texas
As of Wednesday afternoon, it was the Longhorns crowned with the nation’s top incoming class.
Unsurprisingly, coach Steve Sarkisian dove into the state’s hotbed of talent in the midst of what appears to be a second consecutive CFP appearance.
On3 credited Texas’ signing of No. 1 athlete Michael Terry III (Alamo High School in San Antonio) for pushing the Longhorns to the top of the ’25 rankings.
“I decided a couple of days ago. Me and my family, we were debating Nebraska and Texas,” Terry said at his announcement ceremony. “We were debating pros and cons. I just want to go somewhere where I can show my best side.”
Texas also signed the eighth-ranked overall player in the Class of 2025 in the 247Sports composite, Jonah Williams, a Galveston native ranked the No. 1 safety in the class.
Georgia
Not far behind the Longhorns in the 247Sports composite rankings is the Longhorns’ opponent in this week’s SEC Championship Game. Georgia is also taking advantage of the wealth of high school talent in its state. Pledging their commitments to stay home were a pair of five-star recruits: defensive lineman Elijah Griffin from Savannah, Ga., and linebacker Zayden Walker, a native of Ellaville.
Smart had one big defection in Lee County running back Ousmane Kromah, a four-star recruit who flipped to Florida State on Thursday. Georgia was left with only one signing at the position.
Alabama
With his first regular season in the books in Tuscaloosa, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has the Crimson Tide’s ‘25 class ranked third in the nation.
DeBoer’s incoming group is highlighted by the No. 2 overall player in the country, five-star quarterback Keelon Russell, of Duncanville, Texas. Current Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has the option to return for a fifth year in 2025, but if he decides to enter the NFL draft, Russell looks to be the next name to know under center for the Tide.
DeBoer said Wednesday that not letting Russell land elsewhere helped his first recruiting class stay together.
“There’s a swagger about him, a confidence about him,” DeBoer said.
Auburn
Head coach Hugh Freeze argued Wednesday that he “won the state” with nine of the 11 top-ranked recruits in Alabama ticketed for Auburn.
When the 2025 season rolls around, it will have been five years since the Auburn Tigers have produced a winning record and seven years since they won a bowl game.
Off the field, the Auburn haul was hailed as a certain victory. Then again, the 2024 class was ranked No. 10.
Ranked sixth overall this year, the Tigers found talent all across the roster. The headliner is the No. 2-ranked edge in the country, Jared Smith of Alabaster (Ala.).
Texas A&M
If the Aggies have found their quarterback of the future in sophomore Marcel Reed, their top incoming recruits will go a long way in Reed’s success.
The No. 6-ranked offensive lineman nationally, Lamont Rogers will arrive in College Station, not Missouri as originally planned, with one goal: Keeping his quarterback upright. Head coach Mike Elko also found a five-star wide receiver to catch the ball from Reed.
That receiver, Jerome Myles, was committed to Southern Cal but said A&M was an easy flip for him because of the Aggies’ persistence in staying connected with him throughout the process.
“I think this class is going to lay a phenomenal foundation for where we want Texas A&M football to go,” Elko said.
While the Aggies reeled in Myles, they weren’t able to secure five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet. The Californian instead signed with Southern Cal.
LSU
It was a wacky Wednesday in Baton Rouge.
Head coach Brian Kelly let off some steam in the wake of the Tigers losing No. 1 ranked overall recruit and top quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Michigan native flipped to the Wolverines last week with a reported $10 million NIL agreement.
An important consolation for LSU, head coach Brian Kelly gained a commitment from the class’ No. 1 running back in Harlem Berry and third-ranked overall cornerback DJ Pickett, enough for most programs to rejoice.
Kelly said many coveted high school players aren’t seeking the best fit but the biggest paycheck to commit.
“It’s not just about finding the right fit, it’s about the most money I can get,” Kelly said. “That’s unfortunate, but it’s the world we live in. You realign and readjust.”
Florida
Since the Gators made public their commitment to bring back head coach Billy Napier, he’s had one heck of a month.
Florida won three consecutive games, locked in the No. 11 recruiting class and found playmakers at almost every position of need.
That includes Vernell Brown III, the nation’s sixth-ranked wide receiver, and former FSU commit Tramell Jones Jr., a four-star QB out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville.
Tennessee
Despite verbally committing to the Volunteers in August, No. 1 OT David Sanders didn’t sign on Wednesday’s signing day. However, the No. 10 class did nab the No. 13 defensive lineman, Mariyon Dye, and the 10th-ranked quarterback in the class.
Brentwood Academy four-star quarterback George MacIntyre not only signed, he’s ready to enroll and be part of Tennessee’s pre-playoff postseason practices.
Ole Miss
The Rebels boasted the No. 14 class in the country and stayed in-state for its top guy, five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham.
Cunningham was the top-ranked player in Mississippi and he’ll team with another coveted wideout, four-star Winston Watkins Jr.
Oklahoma
For what the Sooners’ incoming class lacks in size (18 total commits), it makes up for in potential. Oklahoma’s top newcomer, five-star offensive lineman Michael Fasusi, is the program’s 10th-highest all-time recruit.
Fasusi did make OU sweat.
He took a Thanksgiving week trip to Texas and on Nov. 30 was at Texas A&M before sticking with his commitment to the Sooners in a sea of 30-plus offers.
“Belief and trust is who I am as a person,” Fasusi said of his pick Wednesday. “From the beginning until the end of this process, Oklahoma has been there for me and my family. I want to stick with that type of program.”
The younger brother of Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is coming to campus, too. Maliek Hawkins, a consensus top-50 cornerback in the class, also signed with the Sooners.
Missouri
As the Tigers graduate a top-four all-time passing leader in Missouri history, Brady Cook, the program hopes its top recruit can follow in his footsteps, as No. 7 ranked quarterback Matt Zollers contends for a starting role in Columbia.
Four-star defensive end Javion Hilson — ranked No. 42 overall by the 247Sports composite — and running back Marquise Davis, who flipped from Kentucky to the Tigers on Wednesday, helped boost Missouri into the top 25 overall for the fourth time in five years.
South Carolina
As the Gamecocks deal with the disappointment of likely missing out on their closest-ever CFP bid, the program will welcome in the No. 20 recruiting class. Rock Hill, SC., native Malik Clark is the class star, a four-star wide receiver.
The Gamecocks were successful in a bid to reconnect with 2022 commitment Zavion Hardy. A massive defensive lineman (6-foot-6, 280 pounds), he was the top-ranked junior college recruit via East Mississippi Community College.
Kentucky
Owners of the No. 29-rated class, Kentucky cashed in on a pair of homegrown talents, picking up commitments from safety Martels Carter Jr. and edge rusher Javeon Campbell, the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the state, respectively, in the 247Sports composite.
Mississippi State
Head coach Jeff Lebby’s top two in-state targets committed on Wednesday, in Tyshun Willis, an edge rusher from Camden, and KaMario Taylor, a quarterback from Macon. Both are four-star gets for the Bulldogs.
Arkansas
In their 28th-ranked ‘25 class, the Razorbacks signed four-star linebacker Tavion Wallace of Appling County High in Baxley, Ga. He’s the No. 13 linebacker and No. 124 player in the 247Sports composite. Arkansas’ haul also includes Hutchinson Community College offensive lineman Bubba Craig (6-8, 320), a three-star ranked No. 30 in the 247Sports’ junior college rankings.
Vanderbilt
Rounding out the SEC is Vanderbilt, slated as the No. 71 class. The upstart Commodores top get was four-star safety Carson Lawrence of Chattanooga, Tenn.Car
–Field Level Media