SEC Teams Noticeably Absent from Early 2021 Recruiting Team Rankings

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There is a correlation on the college football gridiron and off it, and that link is the recruiting trail. The teams that recruit the best are typically in the conversation for conference championships and a College Football Playoff berth. For years the SEC has dominated the recruiting process racking in unbelievable talent year after year, and the 2020 haul was no different. Six of the Top 10 teams were SEC programs, including three of the Top 5; No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Alabama, and No. 4 LSU. But might the winds of change be shifting for the 2021 cycle?

College football fans are essentially nine months away from the early signing period giving programs across the nation time to move up or slide down the 2021 recruiting rankings. To put things into greater context, only two programs have double-digit verbal commitments, No. 1 Ohio State (10) and No. 3 Florida (12). But coaching staffs are seemingly starting to understand about getting an earlier head start on the next senior class instead of waiting a couple of months before pen goes to paper on a National Letter of Intent to start heavily recruiting a top player.

To add to the sense of urgency about getting after it earlier rather than later, nine five-star recruits have already verbally committed with Ohio State securing two. As of this writing, 247 Sports has just 32 recruits ranked as five-stars narrowing the window of opportunity for programs to recruit one of 23 remaining perceived program changers.

Noticeably absent from the Top 10 recruiting rankings thus far is the SEC. After filling in spots in the Top 10 on National Signing Day, only Florida dots the top classes. If history tells us anything, Alabama (No. 15), LSU (No. 18), and Georgia (No. 27) will eventually pull in desired recruits for another standout haul, but might their slow start signal a change? It is surprising to see Georgia with just two verbal commitments, even if they are from a five- and four-star. Same for Alabama and LSU with three each.

The current Top 10 has a heavy Big Ten flavor with top-ranked Ohio State, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 8 Iowa, and No. 9 Maryland. Lining out the rest of the best, No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Miami, No. 7 Texas, and No. 10 Oregon. Can Wisconsin, Iowa, and Maryland continue the charge forward leaving some bluebloods out of the top spots?

Class of 2021 Top 20 Team Recruiting Rankings

1. Ohio State – five-stars (2), four-stars (7), three-stars (1)
2. Clemson – five-stars (1), four-stars (8)
3. Florida – four-stars (7), three-stars (5)
4. Notre Dame – four-stars (7), three-stars (1)
5. Miami – four-stars (3), three-stars (6)
6. Wisconsin – four-stars (3), three-stars (5)
7. Texas – five stars (1), four-stars (4), three-stars (1)
8. Iowa – four-stars (2), three-stars (5)
9. Maryland – four-stars (1), three-stars (7)
10. Oregon – four-stars (4), three-stars (1)
11. North Carolina – four-stars (4), three-stars (1)
12. Kansas State – four-stars (1), three-stars (4)
13. Minnesota – four-stars (1), three-stars (4)
14. USC – five-stars (1), four-stars (2)
15. Alabama – four-stars (3)
16. Florida State – four-stars (1), three-stars (3)
17. Auburn – four-stars (2), three-stars (1)
18. LSU – five-stars (1), four-stars (1), three-stars (1)
19. Texas A&M – four-stars (3)
20. Tennessee – four-stars (1), three-stars (3)

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Photo credit: montgomeryadvertiser.com; Alabama head coach Nick Saban