Commentary
Alabama, Florida highlight SEC
Originally Published: February 1, 2012
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
A team-by-team look at the recruiting classes in the SEC.



Alabama Crimson Tide
Top prospect: Much to his mom's dismay, five-star safety Landon Collins (Geisman, La./Dutchtown) spurned in-state LSU to play for the Tide. He is a punishing safety with linebacker-type physicality. Could play in a variety of roles and is an impact player. Breakdown: Four-star athlete Cyrus Jones (Baltimore/Gillman School), who has great speed and loads of upside, joins Collins in the secondary along with Geno Smith (Atlanta/St. Pius X Catholic), the nation's No. 2 cornerback and No. 31 overall prospect. Jones also could be a receiver candidate. The Tide needed to get big-play receivers, and did just that by landing five-star athlete Eddie Williams (Panama City, Fla./Arnold) and receiver Chris Black (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast). Williams shows acceleration you don't normally see in players his size, while Black, No. 22 in the ESPNU 150 and the nation's No. 2 wideout, can play outside or in the slot and will make an impact on special teams. The offense also gets a boost with offensive tackle Brandon Greene (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove) and running back T.J. Yeldon (Daphne, Ala./Daphne). Greene, the nation's No. 6 offensive tackle and No. 30 overall, features great measurables and a solid skill set. There's a reason the Tide finished at No. 1 -- they met virtually every need.To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
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2012 National Signing Day

Florida State looked to be the big winner on signing day, but Alabama is still ranked No. 1.
Class rankings | Team-by-team grades ![]()
REGIONAL BLOGS 
STORIES
- Recruiting the recruiters
- Harvey-Clemons sticking with Georgia
- CB Ronald Darby picks FSU
- No. 1 WR Green-Beckham picks Mizzou
- Agholor to USC | WeAreSC: Big pickup

- Ricardo Louis finds the perfect fit
- OT Andrus Peat picks Stanford
- Five-star DT Eddie Goldman to FSU
- Nation's top CB Tracy Howard picks Miami
- Tennessee lands juco WR Patterson
- Wojciechowski: Signing day is best day ever
- Sherman: Texans more likely to succeed?
- Social media changes recruiting
- Mapping out top states (pdf)
- Looking ahead: Top prospects in 2013
