Ranking SEC recruiting classes via average commit distance

The SEC continues to make its presence felt on the recruiting trail. As of Sept. 8, the conference has 10 programs inside the top 25 of the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings this cycle.

For many of the schools at the top of the class rankings, the bread and butter remains keeping local talent home. No matter how much the recruiting landscape continues to change, winning battles in and around your own terrain will always be crucial.

Rivals takes a look at which SEC recruiting classes are the closest to home on average:

1. South Carolina

Average Commit Distance: 179 miles
In-State: 44%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 17

The Carolinas are loaded with talent in the 2026 cycle and Shane Beamer’s program is reaping the benefits. Of the 16 commits in South Carolina’s class, 11 are either in-state or hail from North Carolina, including the nation’s No. 5 DL Aiden Harris, the No. 8 safety J’Zavien Currence and Rivals’ No. 1 IOL Zyon Guiles. Virginia, Alabama and Florida are also represented in the class to date.

2. Mississippi State

Average Commit Distance: 243 miles
In-State: 36%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 54

Five of the six highest-ranked commits in Mississippi State’s 2026 class are in-state. Grenada tight end Zayion Cotton sits atop the class as the No. 16 recruit in the Magnolia State, while OT Dalton Toothman, athlete Jaiden Taylor and WR Jayden Cration are among the 10 in-state commits for Jeff Lebby and Co. Alabama and Georgia also account for nine of the 28 total commits in the class.

3. LSU

Average Commit Distance: 270.4 miles
In-State: 63%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 11

To no surprise, LSU continues to dominate the in-state recruiting trail. Of the top-10 prospects in Louisiana this cycle, eight are currently committed to the Tigers. Five-star lineman Lamar Brown out of University Lab headlines as the nation’s No. 9 overall recruit, while Edna Karr DL Richard Anderson is the No. 23 overall prospect. Receiver Jabari Mack, OT Brysten Martinez and safety Aiden Hall are among the best in The Boot that are also locked in with Brian Kelly and Co.

4. Auburn

Average Commit Distance: 309.9 miles
In-State: 8%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 33

Auburn’s recruiting class features just 12 commits to date, and only one in-state recruit — four-star EDGE Jaquez Wilkes — is in the mix thus far. Neighboring Mississippi and Georgia each have three Tiger commits, though. The Magnolia State has been a major pipeline for head coach Hugh Freeze and AU; five-star safety Bralan Womack and Rivals’ No. 2 WR Jase Mathews are two of the best in the state and both are pledged to the Tigers.

5. Georgia

Average Commit Distance: 310.7 miles
In-State: 55%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 2

Georgia’s loaded pledge list is, of course, jam-packed with local talent. Of the 31 commits in the class, 17 are in the Peach State. That includes three of the top 15 players in the state: Bowdon five-star TE Kaiden Prothro, Houston County safety Jordan Smith and Colquitt County RB Jae Lamar. Five-Star Plus+ QB Jared Curtis isn’t too far down the road in Tennessee, either. This cycle is more of the usual for Kirby Smart.

6. Tennessee

Average Commit Distance: 354.5 miles
In-State: 33%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 8

Head coach Josh Heupel and Vols are doing fantastic on the in-state recruiting trail, too. Six of the top-10 prospects in Tennessee are set to head to Knoxville next year, headlined by the nation’s No. 4 athlete Joel Wyatt, top-20 WR Tyreek King, top-20 OT Gabriel Osenda and EDGE Zach Groves. Mississippi has brought the Vols the nation’s No. 1 WR Tristen Keys, while North Carolina brought five-star QB Faizon Brandon.

7. Arkansas

Average Commit Distance: 426.4 miles
In-State: 19%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 29

Arkansas has 27 commits in its 2026 class to date. Five in-state prospects are pledged, including blue-chip WR Dequane Prevo and safety Tay Lockett. Six Lone Star State recruits are committed to Sam Pittman and Co., including the nation’s No. 13 OT Bryce Gilmore and TE Jaivion Martin. Oklahoma native and four-star EDGE Colton Yarbrough isn’t far from Fayetteville, either.

8. Missouri

Average Commit Distance: 449.7 miles
In-State: 20%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 71

It’s been a struggle for Eli Drinkwitz and the Mizzou staff this cycle as they have just 10 total commits, as of Sept. 8. Linebacker Keenan Harris and interior offensive lineman Braylon Ellison are the line in-state recruits in the class, while Illinois, Michigan and Nebraska prospects are also included.

9. Florida

Average Commit Distance: 504.6 miles
In-State: 53%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 13

Over half of Billy Napier’s 2026 class is in-state, with the nation’s No. 13 DL Kendall Guervil, the No. 15 corner CJ Bronaugh and Rivals’ No. 20 WR Justin Williams leading the way. To no surprise, three commits hail from Georgia, with four-star OT Heze Kent among those close to Gainesville, too.

10. Texas

Average Commit Distance: 512.8 miles
In-State: 48%
Rivals Industry Team Ranking: No. 5

The shear size of Texas will always hamper the Longhorns in a ranking such as this one. Still, 10 in-state prospects are committed to Steve Sarkisian and his crew in Austin, like the No. 2 IOL John Turntine, the No. 5 athlete Jermaine Bishop Jr. and WR Chris Stewart. Somewhat surprisingly, the top five commits for Texas this cycle hail from Florida, Georgia and California.

SEC Average Commit Distance Nos. 11-16

11. Kentucky: 514.8 miles
12. Vanderbilt: 560.3 miles
13. Alabama: 569.4 miles
14. Oklahoma: 652 miles
15. Texas A&M: 665.9 miles
16. Ole Miss: 821.7 miles