Top 15 classes
1. Alabama – 5
Top commits: WR Julio Jones, ATH Burton Scott, OT Tyler Love, DE Courtney Upshaw, OLB Jerrell Harris, RB Mark Ingram, ATH Chris Jackson.
Notes: Nick Saban just lived up to his billing. Two of the three scouting services I looked at ranking Bama No. 1. The other ranked them third. Either way, this is a top tier class that should have the Tide faithful forgiving a disappointing 7-6 2007-2008 season for the time being. However, they won’t be forgetting it so the pressure remains on Saban. If anything, this stellar class just makes the demand for results that much more intense. He especially got a ton of depth on the defensive line. Bama should be producing some great DEs in the next couple seasons. Julio Jones is described as a more explosive Michael Irvin. Jones, Burton Scott and Tyler Love are consensus blue chip prospects.
2. Miami – 8
Top commits: LB Arthur Brown, LB Sean Spence, DT Marcus Forston, CB Brandon Harris, WR Aldarius Johnson, LB Ramon Buchanan, LB Marcus Robinson, C.J. Holton, WR Travis Benjamin.
Notes: Experts are nuts about the defensive players Miami signed. I mentioned in another post about a column I read calling Miami the new Linebacker U. The Canes made their bid to take that title from Penn St. with this class. All five of their LBs are ranked in the top 10 by most recruiting services. Arthur Brown is a consensus blue chipper. Marcus Forston is the only other consensus five-star athlete in this class, but several others are considered by at least one source to be of that caliber. It helps that the Canes apparently had a minor league system this past season. They signed eight athletes from Miami Northwestern High School, which was considered the top football program in the country in the 2007 season. They signed three more from Booker T. Washington High, another school based in Miami.
3. Notre Dame – 13
Top commits: QB Dayne Crist, WR Mike Floyd, TE Kyle Rudolph, DE Ethan Johnson, DB Jamoris Slaughter, RB Jonas Gray, LB Darius Fleming, WR Deion Walker, LB Steve Filer, C Braxston Cave.
Notes: I’m not as high on Notre Dame’s class as some are, but it’s hard to deny that it’s a top 10 product. Scout and Rivals rank them second behind Alabama. I believe those publications always rank the Irish a little higher than they’re worthy because Notre Dame fans will spend the most money on recruiting magazines and publications. Still, Charlie Weis had the quote of the day on Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN radio show. “The biggest upset of the college football season was that we posted a top recruiting class despite going 3-9,” said Weis. That’s a great comment. Dayne Crist, Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph are consensus blue chip stars. Crist has incredible size (6-5, 228 lbs.) and athleticism (4.66 40). He’s a joy to watch on film.
4. Georgia – 15
Top commits: WR A.J. Green, RB Richard Samuel, DT DeAngelo Tyson, DE Toby Jackson, OL A.J. Harmon, WR Tavarres King.
Notes: Georgia used a two-back system late in the year with Knowshon Moreno and Thomas Brown to help it become one of the best teams in the country. Moreno will be featured next season, but Richard Samuel is capable of contributing immediately in a relief role. Samuel and A.J. Green are each five-star prospects according to all three publications. Green is considered the second best WR prospect in the country by ESPN. The Bulldogs owned the state of Georgia, signing the state’s top prospects. Seven athletes in the class are ranked in the top 10 at their positions by at least one of the three publications.
5. Florida – 18
Top commits: S Will Hill, S Dee Finley, WR Carl Moore (JC), CB Janoris Jenkins, DT Omar Hunter, DE/LB William Green, RB Jeff Demps, LB Lerentee McCray, OT Matthew Patchan, LB Brendan Beal.
Notes: The Gators filled some major needs on the defensive side of the ball and picked up a JC player that will contribute on offense immediately in WR Carl Moore. Florida shored up its secondary immensely. Will Hill and Dee Finley are considered top 5 safeties. Hill, Matt Patchan, Omar Hunter and Moore are consensus blue chippers.
6. Ohio St. – 22
Top commits: LB Etienne Sabino, OL Michael Brewster, LB Andrew Sweat, OL J.B. Shugarts, OT Mike Adams, TE Jacob Stoneburner.
Notes: If Ohio St.’s philosophy was to build its offense from the inside out, then the Buckeyes accomplished their goal on signing day. Ohio St. inked two consensus five-star offensive linemen – Michael Brewster and Mike Adams. J.B. Shugarts earned blue chip status from two of the three publications. The Buckeyes might not be done either. Top QB prospect Terelle Pryor is yet to make his decision, but most reports have him leaning toward joining Ohio St. That signing would easily push the Buckeyes into the top 5.
7 (t). Clemson – 24
Top commits: DE DaQuan Bowers, RB Jamie Harper, QB Kyle Parker, DT Brandon Thompson, S Spencer Adams, RB Andre Ellington, OL Antoine McClain, TE Dwayne Allen.
Notes: I don’t think any school had a better signing day than Clemson. I love their class and they had some last minute changes that propelled them up the rankings. After watching film on him, I think DaQuan Bowers is easily the best defender in this class. I haven’t watched everyone, but it’s hard to imagine someone having a bigger impact.
7 (t). Florida St. – 24
Top commits: QB E.J. Manuel, LB Nigel Bradham, LB Nigel Carr.
Notes: Scout gives the Seminoles a top 5 class. ESPN doesn’t even put them in the top 10. I tend to side with ESPN. There’s a lot of mixed reaction about almost every prospect on the Seminoles commit list between the three publications. They all agree that Nigel Bradham and E.J. Manuel are blue chip athletes, though. Maybe Manuel will eventually be the answer to the Seminoles’ offensive woes that have haunted them for several seasons now.
9. Oklahoma – 25
Top commits: RB Jermie Calhoun, RB Justin Johnson, DE R.J. Washington, WR Josh Jarboe, WR Jameel Owens, OL Stephen Good, QB Landry Jones.
Notes: As usual, Oklahoma invaded its southern border with Texas, picking up some of the Lone Star State’s top recruits. One of those recruits really hurts the rival Longhorns, too. RB Jermie Calhoun is considered a top three prospect by every publication. He’s from Van, Texas, meaning the Longhorns missed out on an in-state recruit at a position of high need for the Longhorns. R.J. Washington is also considered a consensus blue chip prospect. Josh Jarboe could be an immediate contributor, especially considering OU’s need for a WR to help replace Malcolm Kelly.
10. LSU – 28
Top commits: CB Patrick Johnson, DE Chancey Aghayere, WR Chris Tolliver, S Karnell Hatcher.
Notes: Only Patrick Johnson is a consensus five-star prospect, but the rest of the class is very solid. Not many of these players will contribute immediately and are needing a good training program, but it’s not like LSU needs much immediate help anyway. Johnson will definitely find the field early and Tolliver could be the next in a recent long line of NFL caliber WRs.
11. USC – 29
Top commits: OT Matt Kalil, OT Tyron Smith, WR Brice Butler, TE Blake Ayles, CB T.J. Bryant, ATH D.J. Shoemate, OG Khaled Holmes, LB Uona Kaveinga, OT Matt Meyer, DE Nick Perry.
Notes: I actually think USC’s class is a little underrated. I like it better than LSU’s and Texas’ classes. Matt Kalil and Tyron Smith are consensus blue chippers. Kalil is the little brother of former Trojans’ center Ryan. A ton of these players are equipped to contribute immediately, including Kalil, Smith, Blake Ayles, Khaled Holmes and Matt Meyer. This class doesn’t have the big name prospect of the past, but the Trojans picked up a ton of players that will compliment the high profile players they already have.
12. Michigan – 30
Top commits: OT Dan O’Neill, WR Daryl Stonum, LB J.B. Fitzgerald.
Notes: For the first time on this list, a team doesn’t have a consensus five-star prospect. Rivals doesn’t rate any of Michigan’s signings as blue chip athletes. Still, there are some prospects that stand out and Rich Rodriguez did well signing players that fit his scheme. However, Michigan did lose a commit on signing day and I think Ohio St. definitely had the edge this recruiting season. Dan O’Neill stands out the most to me. He’s 6-8, 291 lbs. and I’ve read reports saying he’ll capably replace Jake Long, possibly even in his freshman year.
13. UCLA – 36
Top commits: QB Kevin Craft (JC), RB Aundre Dean, S E.J. Woods, CB Anthony Dye.
Notes: Not bad for Rick Neuheisel, considering his late arrival as head coach of the Bruins. The great QB mentor grabbed JC transfer Kevin Craft, whom he could easily start his offense around. Aundre Dean is incredibly impressive. I watched him in the Texas Class 5A State Championship. He was MVP of the game. He’s one of the most impressive high school RBs I’ve ever seen and I’ve witnessed some greats, including Cedric Benson, Laidanian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson.
14. Texas – 41
Top commits: WR D.J. Grant, WR Dan Buckner, DT Jarvin Humphrey, OG David Snow, WR DeSean Hales, LB Dravannti Johnson, LB Nolan Brewster.
Notes: I prefer Texas’ class over Michigan’s and UCLA’s, but that might be because of my familiarity with the Longhorns’ recruits. Texas did a great job recruiting WRs, but missed out on signing a top tier RB – a position where the Longhorns need some depth because of Jamaal Charles’ early departure to the NFL. Expect the Longhorns to go full tilt after the nation’s top backs next year.
15. Virginia Tech – 53
Top commits: RB Ryan Williams.
Notes: The quality in recruiting classes really drops off at this point. Va. Tech is probably at the top of the third tier of 2008 classes. Ryan Williams is the only player that all three publications seem to really agree on. He could find his way onto the field this season, taking some carries away from the much maligned Brandon Ore.
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Jonathan Hull
Sports Editor
Fantasy Football Jungle
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