Tide carries out league’s best class

LSU’s Les Miles started the day nearing conference and national recruiting titles, but Alabama’s Nick Saban took it for the second straight year. The Journal-Constitution ranks the recruiting classes for the SEC schools:

> 1. Alabama: The Crimson Tide got a late boost from signing receivers Kendall Kelly and Kenny Bell, but the gems were cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the nation’s top cornerback, four-star linebacker Tana Patrick and tailback Trent Richardson, No. 2 at his position nationally. Needs were also met with seven offensive linemen.

> 2. LSU: The Bayou Bengals met multiple needs on defense. Five-star defensive tackle Chris Davenport was ranked the No. 4 player at his position by Rivals.com, and defensive back Craig Loston was the nation’s top safety. Signing Rueben Randle, the top-rated receiver, was a huge boost.

> 3. Georgia: Really, only one name matters: Marlon Brown. The highly touted receiver from Memphis turned away Tennessee and Ohio State. Eighteen signees, including defensive back Branden Smith and quarterbacks Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray, gave the Bulldogs a solid haul.

> 4. South Carolina: The Ol’ Ball Coach nabbed 29 total commitments, including key pickups in tailback Jarvis Giles, wideout Alshon Jeffery and athlete Stephen Gilmore.

> 5. Florida: Don’t be fooled. The Gators got quality but not quantity. There aren’t many open spots on the defending national championship roster, but adding linebacker Jelani Jenkins and defensive tackle Gary Brown will help.

> 6. Ole Miss: Houston Nutt is quickly stocking Ed Orgeron’s cabinets. The Rebels signed 37 players, including 6-foot-8, 335-pound offensive tackle Bobby Massie and top in-state recruit wideout Patrick Patterson.

> 7. Arkansas: Bobby Petrino signed 30 players. Five-star defensive back Darius Winston was the cream of the crop, along with tailback Knile Davis.

> 8. Auburn: Gene Chizik made the best of a bad situation and used a strong recruiting staff (read: Trooper Taylor) to reel in 28 players. The offense got boosts from a pair of four-star tailbacks in Onterio McCalebb and Dontae Aycock, and they signed Lassiter tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen. They still could add David Oku, the nation’s top-ranked all-purpose back, who is waiting to sign.

> 9. Mississippi State: Numbers were strong in Dan Mullen’s first class with 27 players, including seven four-star prospects. Defensive end Pernell McPhee and wideout Chad Bumphis led the group.

> 10. Tennessee: The Vols lost multiple prospects but did gain ground with the addition of Carver defensive back Darren Myles Jr. Tennessee also snared athlete Marsalis Teague and wideout Nu’Keese Richardson, both Florida commits.

> 11. Kentucky: Rich Brooks grabbed 29 recruits, including three four-star talents. Quarterback Ryan Mossakowski of Frisco, Texas, should have the quickest impact.

> 12. Vanderbilt: The Commodores recruited as the Commodores tend to do. Seventeen recruits signed for Bobby Johnson, with 13 yielding a three-star ranking.