By: Kade Padgett (@kadepadgett)
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide
- Top Talent: 5-Star WR Kyle Claxon, 5-Star DT Anthony Grant, 5-Star OLB Miles Hunt, 5-Star OLD Draco Jones, 5-Star SS Cayden Lee, 5-Star SS Beckham Lancaster, 5-Star CB Zander Freeman
- Notable Additions: 4-Star HB CryZen Mai
- Depth: Alabama dipped into the transfer portal hard, with 6 of their 7 Five Stars being transfers. The Crimson Tide and Ware reloaded for what they believe to be another playoff-caliber roster, and hoping for a different outcome this coming season. Expect The defense of the Tide to be revamped as well, with 8 of their 10 recruits being on the defensive side of the ball.
#2 Florida Gators
- Top Talent: 5-Star OLD Giga Dolidze, 5-Star WR Stacey Smith, 5-Star WR CJ Jackson, 5-Star OLB Darren Robinson, 5-Star CB Shelly Menchaca
- Notable Additions: 3-Star DT Michael Vazquez
- Depth: The Florida Gators had one of the smaller recruiting classes this cycle, only bringing in 6 players. The catch: 5 of them are 5 stars. Florida also snagged one of the most interesting archetypes in two of their recruits: Stacey Smith and CJ Jackson are both the 5-Star Ducky Flash WR/HB build. It will be interesting to see how they impact the CFSL this coming season.
#3 Auburn Tigers
- Top Talent: 5-Star WR Lance Lyde, 5-Star WR Josh Mizikar, 5-Star FS Cam Thomas, 5-Star SS Rashaud Watson
- Notable Additions: 4-Star TE Ricky Morning Star, 4-Star DT Alexis Storm
- Depth: One win away from a perfect season, Auburn is looking to fill any holes made by graduation and get back at it. Three new additions to the receiving core room should give Auburn a chance to repeat as the highest-scoring team in Season 21. And three fresh players on the defensive side of the ball should help the 6th best-scoring defense get that much closer to the top.
#4 Tennessee Volunteers
- Top Talent: 5-Star WR Ace Shepard, 5-Star TE Buck Hunter
- Notable Additions: 4-Star OLB Jin Primus
- Depth: With only 5 players in this recruiting class, the Tennessee Volunteers are expecting big things from transfers Buck Hunter and Ace Sheppard. Tennessee is looking to continue to build from breaking their 4+season losing streak, and maybe backdoor their way into the postseason this year.
#5 Georgia Bulldogs
- Top Talent: 5-Star OLB Smoke Vazquez, 5-Star CB Jay Henry
- Notable Additions: 3-Star DE Cait Rylyn, 3-Star DE Quinten Williams
- Depth: Coming off of a playoff appearance, the Georgia Bulldogs focused on the defensive side of the ball, with 4 of their 6 recruits being on defense. Smoke Vazquez and Jay Henry are looking to make an immediate impact from day 1 for the Bulldogs.
#6 Kentucky Wildcats
- Top Talent: None
- Notable Additions: 3-Star SS Drew Curtis
- Depth: Kentucky has the smallest class this cycle, bringing in 1 recruit. 3-Star SS Drew Curtis is hoping to find his way onto the field this season for the Wildcats, but this team is largely intact from last year. TJ Cunnington is looking to build on his stellar freshman season, and he will need to do for the Wildcats to get back into the playoffs, and eventually back into the title game.
The SEC, much like the Big 10, is going to be a conference that comes down to some week 8 matchups. It would not shock me if 4, or even 5 of these teams made the playoffs based on vote-ins. Alabama stands alone atop this recruiting class rankings, but that does not mean a clear path to the playoffs. Get ready for some amazing CFSL action in the SEC, it is going to be an absolute show. Season 21 is shaping up to be one of the best seasons in CFSL history.