Alabama

Signees: 23

Georgia ties: The Crimson Tide landed three of the top players in Georgia: Griffin DE Xzavier Dickson, Cook LB Shannon Brown and Harris County DL LaMichael Fanning. Westside’s Ronnie Carswell signed with Alabama last year but enrolled in January as a grey shirt recruit.

Three to watch:

Brent Calloway, LB, 6-1, 210, Russellville, Ala.

Calloway recommitted to Alabama after picking Auburn on national television during a recent all-star game. He is Rivals’ top player in Alabama.

Hasean Clinton-Dix, DB, 6-2, 190, Orlando, Fla.

The senior was named the top safety in the country according to both Rivals and Scout. Also the top player in Florida according to SuperPrep.

Dee Hart, RB, 5-8, 190, Orlando, Fla.

Clinton-Dix’s high school teammate helps ease the loss of Isaiah Crowell to Georgia on Wednesday. The U.S. Army National Player of the Year rushed for 2,224 yards as a senior.

Grade: A+, Some have named Alabama’s class the best in the nation. That’s huge for the Crimson Tide after their rival Auburn won the national championship. The Tide emphasized the offensive and defensive lines heavily and pulled in the best group of linemen in the country. They landed Clemson decommitt Jeoffrey Pagan on Wednesday and will still wait on the nation’s top player Jadaveon Clowney. Hart could form a potent combination with Trent Richardson in the backfield.

Arkansas

Signees: 30

Georgia ties: Arkansas received a late commitment from Chattahoochee wide receiver Kane Whitehurst to go with December commit Rohan Gaines of Bainbridge.

Three to watch:

Brandon Allen, QB, 6-2, 215, Fayetteville, Ark.

Rivals ranks Allen as the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in the country and could play immediately following the departure of Ryan Mallett to the NFL.

Tevin Mitchel, DB, 6-0, 175, Mansfield, Texas

One of the top 25 players in Texas according to Rivals, Mitchel was a U.S. Army All-American selection.

Marquel Wade, WR, 5-11, 185, Milford, N.J.

Rated as the No. 4 prep school prospect by Rivals.com.

Grade: B-, The depth of the SEC is such this year that Arkansas has the ninth-ranked class in the conference, according to Rivals, but the 24th best class overall. Head coach Bobby Petrino signed five receivers, including two that are 6-foot-3 or taller. Those playmakers will be needed with a new quarterback in Fayetteville next season. The top player in Arkansas – quarterback Kiehl Frazier landed at Auburn – but the Razorbacks nabbed seven of Rivals’ top 10 players in Arkansas.

Auburn

Signees: 24

Georgia ties: The Tigers landed five commits from Georgia, including Carver-Columbus defensive tackle Gabe Wright on Wednesday. Running back Quan Bray and jumbo athlete C.J. Uzomah could make huge impacts.

Three to watch:

Kiehl Frazier, QB, 6-2, 212, Springdale, Ark.

With Cam Newton leaving early for the NFL, there is a void at quarterback. Frazier is a smaller but similar quarterback. However, it would ridiculous to compare any high school quarterback to the Heisman Trophy winner.

Kris Frost, LB, 6-3, 210, Matthews, N.C.

Frost is rated as a five-star outside linebacker by Rivals, although the other recruiting services don’t rank Frost nearly as high. This probably illustrates the uncertainty in the recruiting game.

Christian Westerman, OL, 6-5, 288, Chandler, Ariz.

Westerman switched from Texas to Auburn shortly after the Tigers won their national championship.

Grade: A, Auburn had an unbelievable class for offensive linemen. The Tigers landed four huge offensive linemen who could contribute early. The biggest fish in the class is offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio, who committed to Auburn on national television Wednesday, but didn’t actually sign with the Tigers. With or without Kouandjio, the Tigers still landed a great class loaded with four-star guys on the heels of their National Championship win.

Florida

Signees: 18

Georgia ties: The Gators had a rare year in which no Georgia players signed with the Gators.

Three to watch:

Jeff Driskel, QB, 6-3, 225, Oviedo, Fla.

The highest-rated pro style quarterback in the country, Driskel could be in line to sit behind Gators’ senior John Brantley for a year and then line up as the starter as a redshirt freshman.

Marcus Roberson, DB, 6-1, 170, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Roberson backed off commitments to Texas Tech and Auburn to eventually pick the Gators.

Ja’Juan Story, WR, 6-3, 190, Brooksville, Fla.

Story picked the Gators over Georgia and could give the Florida a vertical threat to pair with Driskel.

Grade: B-, This isn’t your typical Florida class. The transition from Urban Meyer to Will Muschamp probably hurt a little bit, as did not having a ton of available scholarships. But the class could be buoyed if junior college defensive tackle John Jenkins picks the Gators over Georgia and Miami on Saturday. The success of this year’s Florida State class probably magnifies the misses for the Gators.

Kentucky

Signees: 24

Georgia ties: Head coach Joker Phillips pulled seven players out of Georgia, with many of those players highlighting the class.

Three to watch:

Joshua Clemons, RB, 5-10, 202, Fayetteville

Clemons was one of only three Georgians to rush for 2,000 yards in 2010.

Glenn Faulkner, DB, 6-2, 194, East St. Louis, Ill.

Rivals’ top player in Illinois and No. 128 overall nationally is the highest regarded Kentucky signee.

Alvin Dupree, DL, 6-5, 220, Irwinton

Wilkinson County’s huge prospect could play at tight end, wide receiver or defensive end. He had over 1,000 receiving yards as a senior.

Grade: C+, It’s hard to give the Wildcats a grade comparable to the powers in the SEC because they didn’t sign players of the same caliber as Auburn, Alabama, Georgia or others. But Phillips did put together one of the best classes in recent memory at Kentucky. He signed the underrated backfield tandem of Clemons and Grady’s Marcus Caffey from Georgia. The Wildcats also landed White County athlete Asheley Lowery, Griffin receiver Nile Daniel and M.L. King’s record-breaking receiver Demarco Robinson.

LSU

Signees: 22

Georgia ties: Former Oconee County standout and University of Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger signed with LSU out of Butler Community College.

Three to watch:

La’El Collins, OL, 6-5, 285, Baton Rouge, La.

LSU’s signing day press release called Collins the best offensive lineman ever to come out of Louisiana.

Anthony Johnson, DT, 6-4, 300, New Orleans

The consensus No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in America, Johnson was named Louisiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year. He broke the state career sack record with 67.5 sacks.

Zach Mettenberger, QB, 6-5, 250, Butler C.C.

The enormous signal caller comes to Baton Rogue after being dismissed from Georgia. He passed for 2,678 yards and 32 touchdowns for Butler.

Grade: A, The Tigers’ class is neck and neck with Alabama, Auburn and Georgia for top class in the SEC. LSU didn’t have as many Rivals four-star prospects as the other three, but they nabbed three Rivals’ five-star prospects, a number surpassed only by Clemson. Mettenberger could revitalize a LSU offense that hasn’t really been explosive over the past few seasons.

Mississippi

Signees: 27

Georgia ties: none

Three to watch:

Nickolas Brassell, WR, 6-0, 175, Batesville, Miss.

Brassell was named the No. 7 receiver in the nation by Rivals and Scout. He caught 114 passes for more than 2,100 yards and 29 touchdowns over his final two prep seasons.

Ethan Hutson, OL, 6-4, 295, Destrehan, La.

The Rebels did a great job in-state, but they hoped just across the border to get one of the top 10 centers in the nations.

C.J. Johnson, LB, 6-3, 235, Philadelphia, Miss.

Rivals lists Johnson as the No. 1 player in Mississippi, the No. 2 inside linebacker nationally and the 21 player overall.

Grade: B, The Rebels landed four U.S. Army All-Americans (Brassell, Johnson, Tobias Singleton and Hutson). Ole Miss signed eight of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger’s “Dandy Dozen” prospects, a record for a single school. The Rebels landed eight of ESPN’s top 15 prospects in Mississippi, while rival Mississippi State nabbed only three. Johnson is one of the best players in the history of Mississippi.

Mississippi State

Signees: 22

Georgia ties: The Bulldogs received a commitment from defensive end Preston Smith of Stephenson.

Three to watch:

Darion Arrington, DB, 6-1, 215, Wiggins, Miss.

Arrington was the Bulldogs’ top commit among in-state prospects. He was named the No. 9 safety prospect in the nation by Scout.

P.J. Jones, DT, 6-2, 252, Tupelo, Miss.

Jones is listed as the No. 21 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.

Dak Prescott, QB, 6-3, 220, Haughton, La.

Giant quarterback prospect passed for 2,860 yards and 39 touchdowns and rushed for 951 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior.

Grade: C, The Bulldogs got absolutely schooled by Mississippi in-state. The Rebels landed eight of ESPN’s top 15 players in Mississippi, while the Bulldogs got three. Potential standout defensive end Barron Dixon flipped to Vanderbilt of all places. Head coach Dan Mullen couldn’t sustain the momentum from a strong 2010 season. Former Brunswick running back Darius Slay (Itawamba C.C.) could be a sleeper in this class.

South Carolina

Signees: 31

Georgia ties: The Gamecocks signed 10 Georgia players. Only the University of Georgia signed more.

Three to watch:

Martay Mattox, QB, 6-1, 185, Athens

Mattox could play quarterback, receiver or in the secondary. He was a tremendous dual threat for Clarke Central.

Sheldon Royster, DB, 6-0, 185, Jersey City, N.J.

Royster gives the Gamecocks a versatile player who can play on both sides of the ball.

Brison Williams, DB, 6-0, 208, Fork Union Military (Warner Robins)

The South Carolina coaches believe the former Northside standout can contribute immediately.

Grade: B, Head coach Steve Spurrier followed up an appearance in the SEC Championship Game by landing a huge class bolstered by 10 Georgia prospects. With Clemson stealing the headlines in South Carolina with its highly ranked class, the Gamecocks’ class is very solid and values quantity and depth over elite prospects. Plus, South Carolina is the front runner for the nation’s top prospect, defensive end Jadaveon Clowney, who will sign Feb. 14.

Tennessee

Signees: 27

Georgia ties: Tennessee signed seven players from Georgia, tying Kentucky for second-most Peach State signees by an out-of-state program. Justin Coleman, A.J. Johnson and Brian Randolph are the highlights.

Three to watch:

A.J. Johnson, LB, 6-3, 226, Gainesville

Johnson committed to Tennessee during Lane Kiffin’s tenure and stuck with the Volunteers ever since.

Curt Maggitt, LB, 6-3, 195, West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Palm Beach Post’s defensive player of the year finished with 28 quarterback pressures and 17 sacks as a senior.

Antonio Richardson, OL, 6-6, 310, Nashville, Tenn.

Rivals’ top prospect in Tennessee played in two national all-star games.

Grade: A-, The Volunteers built on Derek Dooley’s strong finish to last year’s class by landing the 12th best class nationally in Rivals’ rankings. Tennessee landed four highly sought-after offensive lineman, while landing depth across the board. Quarterback Justin Worley from South Carolina could contribute early. The players Tennessee landed from Georgia should provide a solid backbone for this class.

Vanderbilt

Signees: 21

Georgia ties: Vanderbilt landed its only Georgia prospect when Barron Dixon committed on Jan. 31.

Three to watch:

Barron Dixon, DL, 6-4, 270, Alpharetta

Dixon was a huge commit for the Commodores after decommitting from Mississippi State.

Jerron Seymour, RB, 5-7, 188, Hialeah, Fla.

The shifty, tiny back rushed for 955 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.

Dillon van der Wal, DE, 6-7, 230, Westlake Village, Calif.

As a defensive end, van der Wal finished his senior season with 22 sacks. He could also contribute at tight end.

Grade: C, This is the lowest rated class in the SEC, which is usually the case with Vanderbilt. But the Commodores landed some nice players. Dixon and van der Wal could be all-conference players in the future. Vanderbilt also beat Virginia Tech and West Virginia for quarterback Lafonte Thourogood.

-- Jonathan Heeter