Favorites Revealed in Four-Team SEC Battle For Nation's No. 2 WR

Favorites Revealed in Four-Team SEC Battle For Nation's No. 2 WR originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Many of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class have already chosen the program where they will begin their collegiate careers; however, plenty are still weighing their options.

One player still left to make that decision is wide receiver Jase Mathews out of Leakesville, Mississippi, and there's no doubt that several high-powered teams are doing whatever they can to come out on top.

It's become a race between four SEC programs, with the wide receiver choosing among the LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies, Ole Miss Rebels and Auburn Tigers, with an announcement scheduled to come on Aug. 8.

Which SEC School Currently Sits on Top?

Of course, all of these options have their own pros and cons, and in an article posted by Rivals, national recruiting writer Hunter Shelton revealed who the current favorites are.

"Auburn is in desperate need of landing a pledge from someone like Mathews, and while confidence has been high on The Plains this summer surrounding his recruitment, the buzz coming out of LSU and Texas A&M suggests that they are currently the top two heading into the home stretch," Shelton wrote.

That's good news for LSU and Texas A&M, but in today's college football landscape, nobody is ever truly out of the race.

How Does Jase Mathews Stack Up as a Recruit?

It's no surprise to see some of college football's top teams all gunning for his commitment, as Rivals places Mathews as a four-star recruit, the No. 2 wide receiver, the No. 2 player in Mississippi and the No. 17 player in the nation.

Last season for Greene County High School, Mathews was impressive, racking up career highs with 68 receptions, 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games.

What Other WR Commits Has Each Team Landed?

LSU Tigers: five-star Tristen Keys (No. 1 WR), four-star Jabari Mack (No. 11 WR) and four-star Kenny Darby (No. 26 WR).

Texas A&M Aggies: four-star Aaron Gregory (No. 16 WR), four-star Madden Williams (No. 49 WR) and three-star Mike Brown (No. 91 WR).

Ole Miss Rebels: four-star Corey Barber (No. 32 WR) and three-star Jameson Powell (No. 116 WR).

Auburn Tigers: none.

Clearly, the opportunity to land Mathews serves as more of a necessity for some teams than others. Next week, one will likely be adding a talented wide receiver to its list of commitments.

Related: Ohio State Holding on as SEC Powerhouse Looks to Flip Highly Touted Recruit

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.