Around the SEC: Recruiting News & Trends
The season is kicking into high gear as we approach the third weekend of September, and the recruiting action continues to move at a rapid pace around the SEC. It is Thursday, and that means it is once again time to dive into the latest news, notes and headlines from the SEC recruiting trails.
Big Gets
LB Elijah Melendez pledges to Auburn
DL Walter Mathis commits to LSU
2026 S Zelus Hicks is a Horn
2026 RB Damarius Yates staying home at Mississippi State
Headlines
Javion Hilson back on the market – The Cocoa (FL) defensive end reopened his recruitment, decommitting from Florida State in early September, and he has his eyes on a few SEC options. Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M and Georgia are a few teams thought to be in the mix as he reevaluates his options.
Floyd Boucard decommits from OU – The Miami (FL) Central defensive lineman committed to Oklahoma this summer, but he recently decommitted from the Sooners. USC and former Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley are the popular pick as he takes a look at his options.
Florida standouts set to decide – Two top Florida standouts are planning to announce their college decisions on Sept. 21, and the SEC is involved with both. Fort Lauderdale (FL) American Heritage RB Byron Louis will choose between Georgia, Miami, Florida State and Wisconsin, while Pensacola (FL) Escambia S Ladarian Clardy is looking at UCF, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Washington, Florida State and LSU.
New name to know
QB Greydon Howell, Broken Bow (OK) – 2027
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed first-year quarterback is quickly making a name for himself as an electric playmaker. He prides himself on being elusive and capapable of creating his own way out of tough situations. In his first three games, he has done just that, completing over 60 percent of his passes for over 500 yards and rushing for another 500 while averaging over 14 yards a carry.
Howell’s abilities are no surprise to those around Broken Bow. It may be his first year of high school football, but he has been a standout on the track, on the hardwood and on the baseball diamond the last few years.
He earned all district honors as a centerfielder last spring, and he averaged 28 points a game as a guard on the basketball court with three 40-point games. On the track, he posted a 48.6 in the 400m to finish second at state and finished fourth in the 200m with a time of 22.27.
Academics are also just as important. Howell boasts a 4.286 GPA, and his abilities in the classroom are noted just as highly as his abilities on the field.
For Howell, college recruiting is in the very early stages. He has yet to take any visits or compete at any college football camps. UTSA became his first offer on Sept. 11, and it is safe to assume his list is likely to grow in the not-too-distant future.
What’s up with the top
Top 10 SEC OL Commits
Nick Brooks, Loganville (GA) Grayson – Texas
Michael Carroll, Doylestown, PA/IMG Academy – Alabama
Connor Carty, Prosper (TX) – Texas A&M
Michael Fasusi, Lewisville (TX) – Oklahoma
Devin Harper, Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist - LSU
Ty Haywood, Denton (TX) Ryan – Alabama
Jack Lange, Eureka (MO) - Missouri
Jonte Newman, Cypress (TX) Bridgeland – Texas A&M
Lamont Rogers, Mesquite (TX) Horn - Missouri
David Sanders, Charlotte (NC) Providence Day - Tennessee
