SEC dominates on field and in recruiting

Auburn coach Gene Chizik claimed he didn't need any recruiting rankings to validate how he felt about this year's class of star-studded prospects.

"We're looking for the right fit, the right guy," Chizik told reporters. "We don't care about the stars or what they're rated.

"We feel like we scratched all the right itches. We started with our offensive and defensive lines, which was huge for us. I feel like we did a great job with that.

"As we know in this league, offensive and defensive lines are where it starts."

There weren't many big surprises in Georgia on signing day. Carver teammates Isaiah Crowell and Gabe Wright were the only uncommitted prospects in the AJC's Top 50 at the start of the day, and none of the others flipped schools. Crowell chose Georgia over Alabama on national television, making Georgia look smart by not bothering to recruit another running back. A few minutes later, Wright picked Auburn among a sea of baseball caps.

Also, former Tech commitment Tre Jackson declined a last-second offer from Georgia to sign with Florida State. It was the 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman's visit to Florida State and his lack of communication with Tech last weekend that triggered the circumstances that led to him not signing with the Yellow Jackets.

For Auburn, the state of Georgia had a pivotal role in its recruiting success, just as it did this past football season with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton from Westlake High. It's no secret that Chizik targets Georgia talent as Auburn's No. 2 overall recruiting priority after his home state.

Auburn signed five of Georgia's top prospects Wednesday after landing 10 last February, and said Wright could make an immediate impact.

"Gabe Wright is a guy we targeted for so many years," Chizik said. "He was probably one of the first priorities we had. That was a huge part of our puzzle defensively. We felt like he was the best defensive tackle in the country."

Chizik also went out of his way to praise Troup County's Quan Bray, calling him, "one of the most exciting players in the state of Georgia. He can do it all. He's got the ability to play Wildcat [quarterback], ability to play tailback, ability to play wide receiver. He's electric when he gets his hands on the football."

Georgia coach Mark Richt claimed victory with his "Dream Team" concept Wednesday, signing 25 players, including 19 from Georgia. Most of the day's focus was on Crowell's afternoon announcement.

“Basically what happened was we were looking at the talent base in this state and just realizing how strong it was, and … then started to look at guys like [Charlotte quarterback] Christian LeMay out of state," Richt said.

"As you look at the guys you really want the most, you dream about that as a coach. That is where I came up with the idea that this is my ‘Dream Team'. …You never get them all, but we came pretty close. I would certainly say the dream came true today.”

Georgia's dreams fell short Wednesday for defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan of Asheville, N.C., (Alabama) and offensive tackle Antonio Richardson of Nashville (Tennessee). However, the Bulldogs signed linebacker Kent Turene of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., who had been previously committed to USC.

Tech coach Paul Johnson, who has never been fond of recruiting rankings, gathered his largest recruiting class since arriving at ACC school. Out the 22 recruits, 10 were from Georgia, marking the third consecutive year that Tech has finished in double digits with home-grown products.

There were rumors that Monroe Area 5-star defensive end Stephon Tuitt could be No. 11. Earlier this month, Tuitt switched from his longtime Notre Dame commitment to Tech, only to flip back 30 hours later after Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly immediately took a flight down for an in-home visit. Tuitt, who was in Texas for an high school all-star game Wednesday, ended any speculation about Tech by completing his Notre Dame paperwork early in the day.

Tech did have some suspense, completing what recruiting analysts billed as a "trade" with Wake Forest. On Tuesday, linebacker Anthony Harrell of Tampa switched from Wake Forest to Georgia Tech, only hours after wide receiver Airyn Willis of High Point, N.C., flipped the other way between the ACC schools.

“I think we addressed our needs and signed a very balanced, talented group,” Johnson said. “We are excited about this class and feel like we have a number of players who are not only quality players, but quality young men as well.”