The SEC is one of the best conferences in college football, and with great recruiters like Nick Saban and Les Miles in the conference, it's no surprise that the SEC has more NFL talent than any other conference. While Alabama and Ole Miss dominate this list, several other schools have commitments from high school players with bright futures. This is based on Rivals.com's rankings and every player on this list is a top 85 recruit. With that in mind, here are SEC Football’s 10 Best Committed Recruits For 2016 So Far:
10) Saivion Smith, DB, LSU Tigers
Smith is the top-rated safety in the country and projects to play there in college, but he also has the speed and agility to play corner. At 6'1" and 183 lbs., Smith is a hard-hitter known for forcing fumbles and coming up with interceptions.
9) Chauncey Gardner, DB, Florida Gators
Gardner is the No. 3 rated cornerback in the class, and he's every bit the part. At 5'11" and 190 pounds, he already has legit size on the outside to go along with his supreme athleticism.
8) Jarrett Guarantano, QB, Tennessee Volunteers
Guarantano has been committed to the Vols since April and has been rising up the rankings ever since, moving to the No. 2 ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country. More of a runner than a pure passer at this point, he has the size at 6'4" to develop into a dominant player in Tennessee's spread offensive attack.
7) Feleipe' Franks, QB, Florida Gators
Franks is listed as a dual-threat quarterback, but that's not necessarily because of his willingness to run when things don't develop in the passing game. It's more because he displays a unique mix of escapability and accuracy on the run, along with the adaptability to throw darts out of the three-step drop. His downfield arsenal is improving, but it's his surgical precision on short-to-intermediate routes which has him on this list. He recently flipped his commitment from LSU to Florida.
6) DeKaylin Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss Rebels
Metcalf is the top-rated prospect in the state of Mississippi and is the second best wide receiver prospect in the country because of his size (6’3″, 195 pounds) and elite athleticism. He’ll provide the Rebels with another top-notch receiver to replace Laquon Treadwell.
5) Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has a history of churning out dominant offensive linemen, and Williams appears to be the next in line. The nation's No. 2 rated tackle is effective blocking for both the run and the pass, and has the size (6'5", 280 lbs.) to make an immediate impact next year.
4) Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn Tigers
The No. 9 overall recruit in the country, Davidson appears to be one of the best pure pass rushers in this class. At 6'3" and 279 lbs, Davidson is already a powerful guy that is difficult to block. Throw in his elite speed and quickness and, well, you have one of the nation's best players.
3) Jacob Eason, QB, Georgia Bulldogs
The perfect combination of throwing power and pinpoint accuracy, Eason's deep ball is a thing of absolute beauty. Every throw he makes looks effortless, and his all-world footwork in the pocket allows him to shift his weight to both evade pressure and step into throws in the tightest of spaces. Reminiscent of former Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, Eason's going to put up pinball-like passing numbers at the next level.
2) Gregory Little, OL, Ole Miss Rebels
Little is the country's No. 4 overall recruit, and after watching his highlight video, it's easy to see why. He already has prototypical size at 6'5" and 282 pounds with the strength and athleticism to play either tackle or guard.
1) Shea Patterson, QB, Ole Miss Rebels
Patterson is the quintessential dual-threat quarterback. He uses his legs to evade defenders and exhaust coverage schemes, creating big plays out of thin air thanks to sheer persistence and top-tier mobility. There's not one quarterback in this class who throws with more power and accuracy in a variety of different pressure situations. That adaptability and pure athleticism is going to give SEC defensive backs nightmares down the road.