Arik Gilbert isn't just a 5-star, he's a former #5 overall prospect in the national rankings. From 2007-2017 (11 recruiting classes), SEC teams signed 29 top-5 prospects. Of those 16 eventually earned recognition on the AP's All-SEC teams. That 55% success rate already shows what a great shot Gilbert has to become elite, but get this: Of those 16 who did earn All-SEC recognition, 9 went on to win in multiple years. In total, the 16 combined for 28 total All-SEC selections. Essentially this means that top-5 national prospects are worth .97 All-SEC seasons per player signed.... and that is freaking amazing. There's never a guarantee, but this is why adding players like Gilbert to the roster (those who chose to leave while demonstrating the talent that merited their ranking and with multiple years of eligibility) is a big freakin' deal.
