Final Push

By Matthew Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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With National Signing Day , now hours away, SEC coaches are making last-minute recruiting pitches to many of the top uncommitted prospects on their board.

In order to give you a better idea of some of the top prospects involved with SEC programs, let’s look at the top uncommitted prospect left on the board for each team in the conference.

Alabama: QB Jameis Winston (Hueytown HS) Hueytown, AL

Recruitment Status - Winston committed to Florida State back in early August, but he has been in contact with the coaching staff at Alabama since that point. Since it was short driving distance, Winston made a few unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa this season. He is still considered an FSU commit at this time, although the Crimson Tide will have one last chance to sway him with in-home visits this week. We should know something from Winston on Signing Day.

Arkansas: WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Hillcrest HS) Springfield, MO

Recruitment Status - Many experts consider Green-Beckham to be the top overall prospect in the 2012 class. He currently has a final four of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Green-Beckham has made it known that he wants to play his college ball close to home, which leads most people to believe that Arkansas and Missouri are the top teams in his recruitment. He will announce his decision on Signing Day.

Auburn: DT Eddie Goldman (Edison-Friendship Public Charter School) Washington, DC

Recruitment Status - Holding over 40 scholarship offers, Goldman has narrowed his list of schools down to just four: Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and Miami. After taking official visits to all four schools, many experts believe that the Tigers are the team to beat here. According to his father, Goldman is tentatively set to announce his decision at 10:30 AM (EST) on Signing Day.

Florida: WR Stefon Diggs (Our Lady Good Counsel HS) Olney, MD

Recruitment Status - Widely considered the No. 2 receiver prospect in the country behind Dorial Green-Beckham, Diggs possesses the game-changing ability that the Gators are looking for out wide. Diggs has a final five of Auburn, Cal, Florida, Ohio State and USC. The general consensus is that Florida and Auburn are the top two schools, although you can’t really rule out any program. Diggs has not announced an official decision date, and it is likely that he won’t sign his Letter of Intent until after Signing Day.

Georgia: OLB Josh Harvey-Clemons (Lowndes HS) Valdosta, GA

Recruitment Status - The Georgia staff should be given a lot of credit for the job that they have done in Harvey-Clemons’ recruitment. Lowndes High School has been a recruiting hotbed for Florida State over the past decade, but many people think that the Bulldogs have the edge with Harvey-Clemons. In the end, it should come down to either the Seminoles or the Bulldogs, although Florida still has an outside shot. He will announce his decision on Signing Day.

Kentucky: OLB Khalid Henderson (Pebblebrook HS) Mableton, GA

Recruitment Status - Henderson gave his verbal commitment to Tennessee in the middle of June, but has since had a change of heart. He took an official visit to Ole Miss last weekend, when he proceeded to name the Rebels his leader. The good news for the Wildcats is that they will get their chance to host Henderson for an official visit this weekend. This battle will come down to Kentucky and Ole Miss. Henderson has not set a date for his decision.

LSU: WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Hutchinson Junior College) Rock Hill, SC

Recruitment Status - Patterson is arguably the top junior college prospect in the country this year and the Tigers are hoping to land his services. He has narrowed his list to three schools, although he refuses to give the names of the schools. As things stand, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee all have a chance. Patterson has not set an announcement date.

Mississippi: CB Sheldon Dawson (Ridgeway HS) Memphis, TN

Recruitment Status - A longtime Memphis commit, Dawson reopened his commitment after the Tigers fired Larry Porter. In addition to Memphis, Dawson is also considering Cincinnati, Georgia and Ole Miss. Dawson is taking an official visit to Oxford this weekend, which will give the Rebel coaches one last opportunity to make their pitch to the talented corner. He is expected to announce his decision sometime around Signing Day.

Mississippi State: ATH Beniquez Brown (Florence HS) Florence, AL

Recruitment Status - Brown’s recruitment has been very interesting to follow. He has changed his list a number of times throughout the recruiting process, but he seems to have finally settled on a final four of Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Mississippi State and Tennessee are the two schools who have been in the race since the beginning, so those are the programs considered to have the best shot with Brown. He will announce his decision on Signing Day.

South Carolina: S Elijah Shumate (Don Bosco Prep) Ramsey, NJ

Recruitment Status - The Gamecocks signed 32 prospects last year, so they do not have many slots open available for this class. Despite the lack of room, South Carolina would absolutely love to steal Shumate, who is currently committed to Notre Dame. While it looks like the odds of the Gamecocks poaching Shumate from the Irish is slim, the South Carolina coaches have continued recruiting Shumate very aggressively since he made his initial decision. We will know something definitive on Shumate on Signing Day.

Tennessee: WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Hutchinson Junior College) Rock Hill, SC

Recruitment Status - Patterson took an official visit to Knoxville back in November and he received an in-home visit from the Volunteer coaches today. Although Patterson has done a good job of keeping recruiting information close to the vest, most experts agree that Tennessee is in pretty good position. He has not set an announcement date.

Vanderbilt: DE Josh Dawson (Tucker HS) Tucker, GA

Recruitment Status - Dawson was one of two players from Tucker to commit to the Commodores this summer, along with teammate Jacob Sealand. Since that time, however, Dawson has been in frequent contact with the coaches at Georgia. Although he says that he is still currently committed to Vanderbilt, most experts think that he will likely end up in Athens. The Commodores will make a huge push to hold on to one of their top commits in this 2012 class. He will announce his decision on Signing Day.