It’s never too early to make predictions in the recruiting world and today we take a look at seven of the Southeast’s top prospects and try to predict where they will land.
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The latest: Numerous schools are still in the race for Salyer and he plans to take his recruiting down to wire, so this one could see a lot of twists and turns before all is said and done. Clemson is a true competitor here as are Ohio State and Stanford. Georgia, though, being the in-state school and the program that signed his close friend in 2017, former teammate Andrew Thomas, is still viewed as the favorite this far out. He is familiar with Athens (Salyer took a recent two-day visit there) and the Dawgs will be tough to beat.
Prediction: Georgia
The latest: Clemson has produced numerous top wide receivers since Dabo Swinney took over the program. Jeff Scott has done an excellent job recruiting and developing wideouts for the Tigers, but Clemson has to beat not one, but two in-state programs for Ross. Auburn was viewed as the favorite for some time and they still may be, but Alabama has some confidence behind the scenes that they can land this five-star on Signing Day. All three schools have a legitimate chance with Ross, and Auburn is right there, but the Crimson Tide get the nod.
Prediction: Alabama
The latest: Marshall does a pretty good job of not tipping his hand when it comes to his recruitment and he hasn’t done much media when it comes to discussing his favorites. However, he did take a recent trip to Miami and it’s believed that TCU, Texas A&M and LSU are the other serious contenders to land his commitment. One of the biggest wildcards in Marshall’s recruitment could be the look of LSU’s offense in the fall. If the Tigers show an ability to involve the receivers and open things up in the passing game, look for Marshall to stay in state with the Tigers.
Prediction: LSU
The latest: Emerson is one of the nation’s top defensive linemen and the attention he’s receiving from the nation’s top programs back up that distinction. He recently took several visits, with Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss among the programs that hosted him. However, he’s been seen most in Knoxville and seems to have already formed a bond with several Tennessee commits. The race will continue to intensify, but right now it looks like the in-state school is the one to beat.
Prediction: Tennessee
The latest: This one is as tough as any to predict, and if you ask us this question in two weeks we may say a different school, but South Carolina looks to have a little momentum right now. His brother plays there, the Wonnum family likes the new coaching staff and the 2018 offensive tackle is very comfortable in Columbia. Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State and numerous other schools are still being considered by Wonnum, and again, this list could change early in the summer, but given the family connection and the amount of time he's spent on campus, South Carolina may be the one to beat.
Prediction: South Carolina
The latest: Peterson does not do much media at all, but the elite talent has hit the road this spring and has talked to more coaches in the past month than he likely has in the last six months, so his recruitment has taken off. It is likely going to come down to three schools — Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. His last visit was to Georgia for their spring game and they are the in-state school, but they may be sitting third on his list right now. Auburn impressed him a lot and Peterson's head coach is close to Auburn's new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, but Alabama looks to be in the best spot right now. Jeremy Pruitt has done an excellent job here and the Crimson Tide likens Peterson to Reuben Foster, a first-round pick in the NFL Draft just over a week ago. A decision could come this summer.
Prediction: Alabama
The latest: This is another tight battle and it could go a number of different ways. Hill still has not put out a formal list of favorites, and Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia all could be viewed as the leader. But Georgia, the school closest to home that signed one of his teammates (Jake Fromm) in 2017, may have the edge heading into the summer. The lead school could change here week to week, and Hill is truly considering over a dozen schools. It is likely to come down to those four, though, in the end. Auburn and Clemson may be ahead of Florida State at this time and Georgia, if it leads, is not ahead by much. Hill is laying the ground work for his decision now, but his decision won't be made for months.
Prediction: Georgia
