Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends
It has been a bit crazy around the SEC. High-profile players have left or are looking for new homes, top prospects have made commitments, and others are re-evaluating their options. Let’s look around at the latest news, notes and headlines from across the SEC recruiting trails.
Big Gets
QB Bryce Underwood commits to LSU
http://instagr.am/p/C1xsKgExY1N
RB Harlem Berry is a Tiger
ATH Josiah Abdullah chooses the Gators
2026 WR Denairius Gray selects Auburn
Headlines
QB Julian Lewis reclassifies – The Carrollton (GA) standout was on college radars before he hit the high school field, and he committed to USC before the 2023 season. This week, Lewis announced he was reclassifying from the 2026 class to the 2025 class. He led Carrollton to the state championship game as a freshman and guided them to the quarterfinals as a sophomore.
Hitting the portal – It’s kind of hard to try and recap it all in this little space, but it has been a tough few weeks for the Crimson Tide. WR Isaiah Bond and LB Kendrick Blackshire are headed to Texas. CB DesmondRicks just picked Texas A&M. S Jake Pope is now a Georgia Bulldog. S Kristian Story is off to Kentucky. DL Monkell Goodwine is a Gamecock. OL Seth McLaughlin is a Buckeye. QB Eli Holstein is at Pitt. WR Shazz Preston is gone to Tulane. LB Shawn Murphy, OL Terrence Ferguson II, CB Earl Little II, WR Malik Benson and RB Roydell Williams are all in Tallahassee. Then there are OL Kadyn Proctor, S Caleb Downs, CB Trey Amos, TE Amari Niblack and S Antonio Kite, who are among the top uncommitted portal prospects out of Alabama. RB Logan Diggs has gone from LSU to Ole Miss, and Quinshon Judkins has gone from Ole Miss to Ohio State. S Jerrin Thompson and DL Trill Carter are leaving Texas for Auburn, and CB Amorion Walker is going from Michigan to Ole Miss. OT Deigo Pounds is headed from UNC to Ole Miss, and WR CJ Daniels is going from Liberty to LSU.
Alabama decommits – Coaching changes tend to lead to change and uncertainty, and in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement and Kalen DeBoer’s arrival, there has been plenty of unrest. Five-star 2024 WR Ryan Williams was already planning to take visits, but upon hearing the news of Saban’s departure, he announced his decommitment. Then, 2025 five-star WR Jaime Ffrench announced his decommitment shortly thereafter, along with 2025 OLs Mason Short, Dontrell Glover and DEs Javion Hilson and Zion Grady all following suit the last few days.
Change of heart – Alabama is not the only program seeing shake-up. 2024 DL D'Antre Robinson was released from his Texas LOI, and DL Dominick McKinley flipped from Texas A&M to LSU on New Year's Eve. Hollywood (FL) Chaminade-Madonna 2025 CB Chris Ewald has also decided to reconsider his options and decommited from Michigan.
New Name to Know
CB Jamarian Pullum, Adairsville (GA) – 2025
At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Pullum’s size is quick to stand out in the secondary. Equipped with a 34-inch vertical and a 285-pound bench press, he shows explosiveness and power, and then you see the film and can see his versatility and overall athleticism.
As a sophomore in 2022, he earned first-team all-district honors at CB after he recorded 20 tackles (17 solos), eight pass breakups and four interceptions. As a junior in 2023, he played mainly RB and WR due to injuries and team needs and recorded 1,197 all-purpose yards, 102 carries for 755 yards and logged 14 total touchdowns on his way to earning Region Athlete of the Year.
Pullum is also a competitor. He earned the Most Outstanding DB award at the National Combine in San Antonio as he locked up top WRs from across the country and received rave reviews from coaches and trainers at the combine. This offseason, he also earned MVP honors at the Georgia Elite Classic after rushing for 88 yards with a touchdown on four carries, which included a game-sealing 70-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He also added in 16 yards on three receptions for good measure.
He is a student of the game with idols like Jalen Ramsey. He loves his physical style as well as his high football IQ.
His abilities also show in other areas. He is a member of the varsity basketball team, where he is not a starter, but plays every position. Then in the spring, he runs track and competes in the 200m and long jump.
He has emerged on a few college radars. He camped at Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Appalachian State and Charlotte last summer, and interest has arrived from Kennesaw State, Appalachian State and Charlotte. NAIA’s Reinhardt and Cumberland have extended offers, and he took gameday visits to Kennesaw State, Appalachian State and Charlotte in the fall.
It is still early in the recruiting process, but with his recent standout performances, it is not hard to imagine more high-level schools getting involved.
What’s up with the top
Top 2025 Prospect in each SEC state
Alabama: CB Na'eem Offord, Birmingham (AL) Parker
Arkansas: QB Grayson Wilson, Little Rock (AR) Central Arkansas Christian - Arkansas
Florida: S DJ Pickett, Zephyrhills (FL)
Georgia: QB Julian Lewis, Carrollton (GA) - USC
Kentucky: S Martels Carter Jr., Paducah (KY) Paducah Tilghman
Louisiana: RB Harlem Berry, Metairie (LA) St. Martin’s Episcopal - LSU
Mississippi: WR Caleb Cunningham, Ackerman (MS) Choctaw County
Missouri: WR Isaiah Mozee, Lee’s Summit (MO) Lee’s Summit North
Oklahoma: WR Elijah Thomas, Checotah (OK) - Oklahoma
South Carolina: DL Amare Adams, Florence (SC) South Florence - Clemson
Tennessee: QB George MacIntyre, Brentwood (TN) Brentwood Academy
Texas: WR Dakorien Moore, Duncanville (TX) - LSU