SEC Football: Who is the highest-ranked recruit for each program since 2000?

Taking a look back at the last 20-25 years, here is the highest-ranked recruit for each SEC football program since the year 2000 (NOTE: Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite). 

Who is the highest-ranked recruit for each SEC football program since 2000?

Alabama Crimson Tide – OT Andre Smith/QB Bryce Young

Beginning with Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s highest-ranked recruit is tied between offensive tackle Andre Smith, who was the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the 2006 class out of in-state Huffman High School, and quarterback Bryce Young, who was the top quarterback in the 2020 class out of Mater Dei High School in California. Smith would become a multi-year starter along Alabama’s offensive line, while Young was a two-year starter at quarterback in Tuscaloosa, which included winning the 2021 Heisman Trophy.

Arkansas Razorbacks – QB Mitch Mustain

Arkansas’ top recruit came in the Razorbacks 2006 class when they landed Mitch Mustain, who was one of the nation’s top quarterbacks out of in-state Springdale High School. Mustain would go on to see action during the 2006 season at Arkansas, and would later transfer to USC.

Auburn Tigers – DL Byron Cowart

Auburn’s highest-ranked recruit is Cowart, who was the nation’s No. 1 defensive end in the 2015 class out of Armwood High School in Florida. Cowart would spend three seasons at Auburn from 2015-17 prior to transferring to Maryland in 2018.

Florida Gators – LB Ronald Powell

The Gators top recruit is Ronald Powell, who was the nation’s No. 1 player in the 2010 class out of Rancho Verde High School in California. Powell would go on to be an impact player in Gainesville from 2010-13 (did not see action in 2012).

Georgia Bulldogs – QB Justin Fields

Georgia’s top recruit came in the 2018 class with quarterback Justin Fields, an in-state prospect out of Harrison High School who was the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect. Fields would spend the 2018 season with the Bulldogs as a freshman prior to transferring to Ohio State.

Kentucky Wildcats – OT Antonio Hall

Holding the label for Kentucky is Antonio Hall, who was the nation’s No. 3 offensive tackle in the 2000 class out of McKinley High School in Ohio. Hall would go on to become a multi-year starter along the Wildcats offensive line.

LSU Tigers – RB Leonard Fournette

One of the more familiar names on this list, LSU’s highest-ranked recruit is Fournette, who was the nation’s No. 1 overall player in the 2014 class out of in-state St. Augustine High School. Fournette would go on to spend three seasons with the Tigers from 2014-16, a span in which he was one of SEC football’s top running backs.

Mississippi State Bulldogs – DL Deljuan Robinson

Mississippi State’s top recruit came in their 2003 class with Deljuan Robinson, who was was the No. 1 defensive end in the country out of in-state Hernando High School. Robinson would go on to see action with the Bulldogs in both 2005 and 2006.

Missouri Tigers – WR Dorial Green-Beckham

Holding the label for Missouri is Dorial Green-Beckham, who was the nation’s No. 1 overall player in the 2012 class out of in-state Hillcrest High School. Green-Beckham would go on to play for a pair of seasons with the Tigers in 2012-13.

Ole Miss – DL Robert Nkemdiche

Ole Miss’ top recruit is also one of the highest-rated in SEC football history in Robert Nkemdiche, who was the nation’s No. 1 player in the 2013 class out of Grayson High School in Georgia. The former five-star would go on to play for three seasons in Oxford from 2013-15.

South Carolina – EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

Another one of SEC football’s top recruits ever was Jadeveon Clowney, who came to South Carolina as the nation’s No. 1 overall player in the 2011 class out of in-state South Pointe (SC). Clowney would go on to play for three seasons at South Carolina from 2011-13, a span that was headlined by a consensus All-American selection in 2012.

Tennessee Volunteers – RB Bryce Brown

Tennessee’s top recruit came in the Volunteers 2009 class when they landed Bryce Brown, who was the nation’s No. 1 running back out of East (KS). Brown would see action with the Volunteers during the 2009 season prior to transferring to Kansas State.

Texas A&M Aggies – DL Walter Nolen

One of the headline names from Texas A&M’s top-ranked 2022 class, the Aggies top recruit is Walter Nolen, who was the nation’s top defensive lineman out of Powell (TN). Nolen is the lone name on this list still playing college football as well, as the former five-star is currently entering his sophomore season in College Station.

Vanderbilt Commodores – WR Chris Young

Concluding with Vanderbilt, the Commodores top recruit is Chris Young, who was a four-star wide receiver in the 2000 class out of South Panola High School in Mississippi. Young would go on to play four seasons in Nashville from 2000-04.