SEC Football: One instant impact player from each 2023 signing class

Will almost every SEC football 2023 signing class now complete, let’s take a look at each group in particular, and find one player from all 14 classes who will make an instant impact next season as a freshman. (Rankings courtesy of 247Sports Composite)

One instant impact player from each SEC football 2023 signing class

Alabama Crimson Tide – S Caleb Downs

Even despite picking from Alabama’s top ranked 2023 class, Downs is one of the easiest decisions to make on this list. A five-star safety out of Mill Creek in Georgia, Downs is one of the top overall athletes in the 2023 class, and will have an opportunity to step in instantly in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide will likely be losing both starting safeties, Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams, to the NFL.

Arkansas Razorbacks – TE Luke Hasz

A four-star out of Bixby in Oklahoma, Hasz is the highest-rated tight end to sign with Arkansas since Hudson Henry in 2019. With Trey Knox having exited Fayetteville via the transfer portal, there will be a big opening at tight end for the Razorbacks, with Hasz as a player certainly capable of stepping in and making an impact right away.

Auburn Tigers – DL Keldric Faulk

Auburn had one of SEC football’s biggest flips last Wednesday as the Tigers landed Faulk, who flipped from Florida State. A four-star out of in-state Highland Home, Faulk could easily be a major factor in Auburn’s defensive line plans early next season.

Florida Gators – DL Kelby Collins

One of Florida’s biggest recruiting wins of the 2023 cycle was going into Alabama to land Collins, who is a four-star defensive lineman out of Gardendale. Similar to Faulk with Auburn, Collins could be an instant impact player along Florida’s defensive line early in 2023.

Georgia Bulldogs – DL Jamaal Jarrett

While not necessarily the biggest name in Georgia’s 2023 class, Jarrett is still likely one of the key names to know going into next season. A four-star out of Grimsley in North Carolina, Jarrett is one of the biggest defensive linemen in Georgia’s class at 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, and could potentially be used in a role similar to that of former Bulldog Jordan Davis as early as next season.

Kentucky Wildcats – WR Shamar Porter

There are a few names to potentially choose from in Kentucky’s class, but the pick however goes to Porter. A bigger receiver at 6-foot-3 out of Ensworth in Tennessee, the four-star is the highest-rated member of Kentucky’s 2023 class, and could easily play a factor in the receiving game for the Wildcats next season.

LSU Tigers – EDGE Dashawn Womack

A class that was one of SEC football’s best this cycle, Womack might be the name to watch for early on next season for LSU. A four-star out of St. Frances Academy in Maryland, Womack is a player who could’ve very easily been a five-star this cycle, and could be one of the Tigers top edge rushers from day one.

Mississippi State Bulldogs – S Isaac Smith

The highest-rated signing of Mississippi State’s 2023 class, you could make the argument that Smith, a four-star out of in-state Itawamba Agricultural, is a no brainer here. With the Bulldogs potentially losing multiple names in the secondary this offseason, Smith should have an opportunity to step in and make an impact from day one.

Missouri Tigers – TE Brett Norfleet

There are a few names to choose from for Missouri’s pick here, but the choice goes to Norfleet, a four-star out of in-state Francis Howell. Norfleet is the highest-rated player in the Tigers 2023 class, and could very easily make an impact in Missouri’s tight end room as a freshman.

Ole Miss Rebels – LB Suntarine Perkins

The highest-rated commit in the Rebels 2023 class, Perkins is also an easy selection to make on this list. A four-star out of in-state Raleigh, Perkins is one of the top linebackers, as well as athletes overall, in the 2023 class, and could very easily make an impact in Oxford immediately as a freshman.

South Carolina Gamecocks – LB Grayson Howard

There are a few names to choose from in South Carolina’s 2023 class, with Howard as one of the biggest that come to mind. A four-star linebacker out of Andrew Jackson in Florida, Howard could simply be an impact player for the Gamecocks very early in 2023.

Tennessee Volunteers – QB Nicholaus Iamaleava

One of the highest-rated players to ever commit to Tennessee, Iamaleava is a player who could be next in line at the quarterback position in Knoxville. Even if he doesn’t begin the year as the starter, it’s still likely that the five-star makes an impact in 2023 sooner rather than later, and is certainly a name to know for the Volunteers going into next season.

Texas A&M Aggies – RB Rueben Owens

With starter Devon Achane departing for the NFL, Texas A&M will have a big opening at running back, with Owens as a potential name to watch for. A five-star out of in-state El Campo, Owens is one of the top running backs in the 2023 class, and will likely be a day one impact player in College Station next season.

Vanderbilt Commodores – CB Martel Hight

The final name on this list is that of Hight, who is the highest-rated commit in Vanderbilt’s 2023 class. A four-star cornerback out of Rome in Georgia, Hight is a versatile player who saw time in multiple different roles in high school, and could be a name to watch for in 2023 at Vanderbilt.