SEC Breakdown: Sophomores already on the radar
It's never too early to start recruiting players in the Southeast and while this list consists of players only halfway through their sophomore seasons, SEC programs have already locked on them as priority targets. Here's six names SEC fans need to get to know as the offers start pouring in over the next few months.
SEC Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia
Comments: One of the top prospects in the entire 2019 class, Sanders has been committed to Alabama for months. That said, the sophomore has never been shy about his desire to field other offers and take other visits. He will likely visit dozens of campuses before signing anywhere and seems to have a strong interest in a handful of programs.
SEC Offers: Georgia and South Carolina
Comments: Neal has also grabbed an offer from Florida State and USC in addition to the two SEC schools and for good reason. Just a sophomore, Neal’s 6-foot-7, 350-pound frame is that of a college lineman. He has some bad weight he could stand to shed, but not as much as you’d might imagine. It will be hard to pull Neal out of the state, but Alabama could likely do so should it decide to offer and push.
SEC Offers: Florida
Comments: Goolsby has offers from a number of major programs outside the SEC, but Florida is the only conference school to make things official thus far. That will change quickly, however, as the 6-foot-5 sophomore is on the radar of a number of SEC schools. He is one of the top underclassman wide receivers in the region. Goolsby was impressive on the camp circuit a year ago and has the build and the athleticism to become a truly national recruit by this time next year.
SEC Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Comments: Affectionately referred to as “The Freak,” Pappoe has been a mainstay on the recruiting scene for nearly two years, racking up offers and getting bombarded by fans on social media. Tennessee appears to have the early lead for his services, but there’s still a long way to go between now and Signing Day 2019. Pappoe stars for one of the country’s top high school teams at Grayson High and continues to live up to the hype early in his career with stellar play on the field.
SEC Offers: Tennessee and Florida.
Comments: McLendon is flying a little under the radar for most SEC fans and schools but that’s not likely to be the case for long. He is a tall, long prospect that can play defensive end or outside linebacker and he has shown the potential to grow into an elite pass rusher. The Gators and the Vols have the early start, but expect the SEC offers to start pouring in once his film starts to make the rounds later this year.
SEC Offers: Sheffield boasts eight SEC offers, including Georgia, Florida and LSU.
Comments: Sheffield is a versatile playmaker who is getting recruited to play both offense and defense in college. Most programs in the SEC covet his length and see him projecting as a potential lockdown cornerback or ground-covering safety. Sheffield has been mum about favorites early in his recruitment and he is shaping up to be a national-level recruit, with programs like Ohio State and USC already in pursuit.