1. LSU
Speed and athleticism are two words fans and coaches like to hear when talking about a recruiting class. The addition of S Craig Loston (Aldine, Texas/Eisenhower), a Clemson defector, only adds to this class' premier talent base. LSU's three elite-level commitments -- Loston (No. 1 S), No. 1 ATH Russell Shepard (Houston/Cy-Ridge) and newly upgraded No. 4 DT Joshua Downs (Bastrop, La.) -- are all potential difference-makers. Top five DT Chris Davenport (Mansfield, La.) leads the way among the Tigers' in-state recruits, along with fellow top-100 prospect CB Janzen Jackson (Lake Charles, La./Barbe).
ESPNU 150 RBs Dexter Pratt (Navasota, Texas) and Michael Ford (Leesville, La.) are legit high-carry backs in Baton Rouge. If the Tigers can land WR Rueben Randle (Bastrop, La.), Downs' teammate, look out!
2. USC
ESPN's No. 1 ranked overall prospect Matt Barkley (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) is the headliner, but this class is loaded with top-tier talent. OT Kevin Graf (Agoura, Calif.) is a top-five player at his position on offense. WR Alshon Jeffrey (Saint Matthews, S.C./Calhoun County) is a mammoth prospect in the passing game. Jeffrey is reminiscent of former USC WR Mike Williams, but Jeffrey's no vertical threat.
The Trojans boast good quality on defense as well, with No. 1 inside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (Corona, Calif./Centennial) leading the charge. Keep an eye on ATH James Boyd (Los Angeles/Jordan) who projects as a DE. The recent addition of OG/OC John Martinez (Salt Lake City, Utah/Cottonwood) is big.
3. Texas
Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown, a legend for his recruiting ability, got after it early with this class. The Longhorns relied on their location with this group, and it certainly has paid off.
This class filled up quickly with most of the state's top prospects. No. 1 OC Mason Walters (Wolfforth, Texas/Frenship) headlines a talented group of offensive line prospects -- Walters moves from the No. 1 tackle spot over to center.
This class has eight top-10 positional prospects, including major offensive firepower with QB Garrett Gilbert (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis), TE Barrett Matthews (Houston/North Shore) and 6-foot-3 RB Chris Whaley (Madisonville, Texas). Of all the players in this group, Gilbert has the talent to be a special player in Austin.
This class hasn't made any additions for some time, but it started out with such a strong base that the lack of recent movement isn't cause for concern.
4. Ohio State
Ohio State's 2009 haul has tons of talent at the top. RB Jaamal Berry (Miami/Palmetto) is currently a great get from the Sunshine State. He's not the only skill position standout in this group; sure-handed WR Duron Carter (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) showed us he's a big-time talent at the Under Armour All-America Game. No. 2 ranked OC Jack Me****t (Toledo, Ohio/Saint John's) rounds out the top offensive prospects.
This is a defensive-oriented class, though, and it's led by our No. 4-rated OLB Dorian Bell (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) and No. 10 CB C.J. Barnett (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont). This class is a bit top-heavy and tails off in premium talent toward the bottom.
5. Florida
The Gators have had an exciting January with the additions of WR Andre Debose (Sanford, Fla./Seminole), OT Xavier Nixon (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) and OLB Jon Bostic (Palm Beach, Fla./Central). This class is close to being completed at this point and the fast just keep getting faster.
WR Nu'Keese Richardson (Pahokee, Fla.) can run but is undersized. The true beast of this class is DT Gary Brown (Quincy, Fla./West Gadsden). He is a high-motor force in the middle, and we feel Brown could be a key cog for the Gators in their front four. While Florida's scholarship limit this year may not be very high, the quality of this class will be.
6. Georgia
The addition of CB Branden Smith (Atlanta/Booker T. Washington) is big because cover corners do not grow on trees. Georgia also gained a nice athlete in Rantavious Wooten (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central). Mark Richt and his staff continue to grab the majority of the best talent in Georgia and make huge inroads into neighboring states. The verbal commitment of offensive lineman Austin Long (Memphis/Briarcrest Christian), the nation's no. 5 ranked OT, hammers home that point.
Long, along with OGs Chris Burnette (La Grange, Ga./Troup County) and Dallas Lee (Buford, Ga.), shows Georgia has put a strong emphasis on offensive linemen to protect two ESPNU 150 quarterback commits -- Aaron Murray (Tampa, Fla./Plant Senior) and Zach Mettenberger (Watknsville, Ga./Oconee County). With Matthew Stafford now off to the NFL, the QBs better prep up!
7. Miami
Miami is making a late-season surge on the recruiting trail; it landed two of the three highly sought-after Seminole High School prospects in Ray Ray Armstrong and Dyron Dye. ATH Jamal Reid (Mayo, Fla./Lafayette) and ATH Kayvon Webster (Miami/Pace) are both expected to join No. 5 CB Prince Kent (Norcross, Ga.) in the defensive backfield, meaning more speed is on the way for the Hurricanes.
Lamar Miller (Miami/Killian) was a quality pickup as he joins our No. 2 RB Bryce Brown (Wichita, Kan./East) to give Miami two great backs with size and speed. Miami needs to hold on to Brown; he's been rumored to be looking around.
8. Alabama
The Tide sees a slight drop to No. 8 -- from No. 6 -- but, for the second straight year, Nick Saban's recruiting class is a big indication of future success for the program. No. 2 ILB Nico Johnson (Andalusia, Ala.) and top-20 DT Darrington Sentimore (Destrehan, La.) help fill needs in the front seven. Also, gigantic lineman D.J. Fluker (Foley, Ala.) has surged to the top of our OT rankings.
Power back Trent Richardson (Pensacola, Fla./Escambia) is our pick for the top RB in this class. If Alabama lands who we think it will down the stretch, the Tide could move into the top 3 overall.
9. Oklahoma
This class has tons of talent on the defensive side of the ball. DT addition Jamarkus McFarland (Lufkin, Texas), S Kevin Brent (Dallas/South Oak Cliff) and S Gabe Lynn (Jenks, Okla.) bolsters OU's defensive class. If you count athlete Darius Jones (Marshall, Texas), who is likely to play corner, OU's top eight-rated prospects are all headed to Norman to play defense.
The linebacker group of Tom Wort (New Braunfels, Texas), Brandon Mahoney (Keller, Texas/Fossil Ridge), Ronnell Lewis (Dewar, Okla.), Gus Jones (Wagoner, Okla.) and Jaydan Bird (Conway Springs, Kan.) is arguably one of the better committed units in the country. Watch out for Ronnell Lewis; he could be another sleeper linebacker in the mold of current Sooner Travis Lewis.
10. Florida State
A slight drop by the Seminoles is more of a result of both Miami and Florida having a big month. The Seminoles boast four top-25 defensive linemen, led by the country's No. 1 defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel (Greenville, Fla./Madison). Safety Gerald Demps (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes) will give defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews great scheme versatility during Demps' career in Tallahassee.
DE Demonte McAllister (Tampa, Fla./Alonso) is a load in the defensive front. His presence on the edge -- he moved there from DT -- was impressive down in Orlando during the Under Armour All-America Game.
11. North Carolina
North Carolina moves up one spot to No. 11 from our previous rankings; the Tar Heels have added plenty of depth in recent months.
WR Jheranie Boyd (Gastonia, N.C./Ashbrook), the No. 6 receiver in the land, should be an immediate-impact recruit. He'll be catching balls from QB Bryn Renner (Lorton, Va./West Springfield), who could really blossom at the next level.
DE Donte Moss (Jacksonville, N.C./Northside) is raw, but very talented and adds to an already impressive defensive front for the Tar Heels. Moss rocketed up our rankings after two impressive showings in national all-star games.
12. South Carolina
This class just gets more and more impressive -- on defense. Coach Steve Spurrier is looking at potentially having his second top 15 class in three years, if he keeps this pace. The problem is there is still no QB to speak of.
This recruiting class has four players who are very capable at the safety position. S Damario Jeffery and S Chris Payne -- both of whom hail from Columbia, S.C. -- missed their senior seasons with injuries. S Stephon Gilmore (Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe) joined the club along with S Devonte Holloman (Rock Hill, S.C./South Pointe). RB Jarvis Giles (Tampa, Fla./Gaither), a former Tennessee commit, joined the fray late, but he's a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball.
13. Notre Dame
It's an off-the-field victory over USC that might some day lead to some on-the-field wins over the Trojans for Notre Dame. The Irish lured WR Shaq Evans away from USC and he is a difference-maker. He's big and fast and a threat not only as a receiver, but in the return game. Evans anchors a strong and deep class that includes top recruits on both sides of the ball, including three top-five positional prospects: ATH Cierre Wood (Oxnard, Calif./Santa Clara), DT Tyler Stockton (Princeton, N.J./The Hun School) and OG Chris Watt (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West). Stockton, the No. 3 DT, is a key player. He might lack ideal size, but is extremely quick off the ball and good against the run or pass. He is a good addition for the Notre Dame defense. Versatile S Zeke Motta (Vero Beach, Fla.) was also a quality catch last month and should help the D as well.
14. Michigan
Michigan has had a few guys fly the coop, but it still sits just inside the top 15. The Wolverines have a pair of excellent defensive ends in Craig Roh (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral) and Anthony LaLota (Princeton, N.J./The Hun School). Roh, the No. 4 DE in the country, was a disruptive force during Under Armour All-America Game practice and displayed a real nice spin move. The Wolverines also have the 14th-ranked QB in Tate Forcier (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch). He has excellent speed for the position, but don't be fooled into thinking he's just a runner who plays QB. Forcier is actually a passer who happens to be athletic enough to run a spread or read-option attack with ease.
15. Penn State
The Nittany Lions are battling for the second-best class in the Big Ten behind the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Lions have verbals from three of ESPN's top 150 players, led by talented CB Darrell Givens (Indian Head, Md./Lackey). Givens might need some technique refinement, but he is one of the more athletic and instinctive cornerbacks in his class.
The 23-member class reflects good position mix and really meets the needs of Penn State. Athletic QB Kevin Newsome (Chesapeake, Va./Hargrave Military Academy) could very well be the heir apparent to Daryll Clark and one of the nation's top 10 offensive tackles Eric Shrive (West Scranton, Penn.) can provide needed help on the offensive line immediately as Penn State loses its two starting tackles.
The Nittany Lions also added the nation's second-best place kicker, Anthony Fera (Houston/St. Pius X).
16. Virginia Tech
Running back David Wilson (Danville, Va./George Washington), ranked 50th in the ESPNU 150 and the No. 5 RB, tops a very solid Virginia Tech class that is fighting to be in the top 15. Wilson is a strong downhill runner and one of the RBs more ready to play immediately at the next level.
The other highlight of the Hokies' current commits is Logan Thomas (Lynchburg, Va./Brookville), who is a tremendous all-around athlete. Thomas lined up as a wide receiver in the U.S. Army game and performed well. Theron Norman (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) is another highly skilled player who could end up at safety or wideout for coach Frank Beamer.
The Hokies currently have 20 commits and their class is loaded with in-state players sprinkled with talent from the neighboring Carolinas. It will be impossible for Virginia Tech to catch Miami, FSU and North Carolina for the top position in the ACC recruiting-wise, but it is a neck-and-neck with Clemson for the fourth spot.
17. Rutgers
Rutgers boasted the No. 9 class in the country in July, but a flurry of decommitments, possibly influenced by a disappointing 1-5 start, saw an implosion in Piscataway. But the "Keep chopping wood" mantra used by head coach Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights program helped salvage their season on the field and their recruiting off of it. Rutgers had a strong December and climbed into the top 20. If Rutgers can hold on to this ranking, it would be its first top-20 class. The Scarlet Knights landed verbals from four prospects with a solid Scouts Inc. grade of 79 or higher before the holidays, led by massive ESPNU 150 defensive tackle Antwan Lowery (Miami/Christopher Columbus). He has a nice blend of size and power and has the tools to be a disruptive force.
The most important piece of the puzzle, however, might be its quarterback of the future, Tom Savage (Philadelphia/Cardinal O'Hara). He has good height and a nice arm. Savage can make any throw and is able to place the ball into tight spots or stretch the field.
18. Tennessee
The Vols just keep on trucking while new head coach Lane Kiffin puts together his staff. Regardless of where Tennessee ends up, Vols fans should be happy to have this type of recruiting class given their year on the field and tumultuous past two months. This class is fast and athletic. One of Kiffin's first orders of business was luring the top players from Tennessee to Tennessee and so far, so good with CB Eric Gordon (Nashville, Tenn./Hillsboro). Now, if they can just land a certain wide receiver from Memphis, hmm? (Yes, we're talking about Marlon Brown). The fact the Vols have not signed a QB in this class has to be something of a concern, but Kiffin isn't going to take just anyone for his pro-style offense. He wants to make sure it's the right player.
19. Illinois
Despite a disappointing 2008 season, Ron Zook and the Illini head down the stretch with a solid class led by a pair of prolific pass catchers in high school teammates Terry Hawthorne (East St. Louis, Ill.) and Kraig Appleton (East St. Louis, Ill.). The duo hail from Illinois state champion East St. Louis and the Illini have done a great job this year of putting a recruiting fence around the state. Illinois has four out of the state's top six prospects. Illinois might not sign the 16th- or 12th-ranked class, as it did in 2008 and 2007, respectively, but it's still a deep group comprised of five top-25 positional prospects.
20. Clemson
It has been an interesting year for Clemson on the recruiting front. It had the No. 2 overall class last year and, heading into the fall, the Tigers looked like they were heading to another top-five finish. A slow start and a coaching change derailed that early ranking, but now new head coach Dabo Swinney is working to finish with a top 25 class.
Despite some major decommitments, there are still some fine players in this class. The defense adds some good and needed talent. DE Malliciah Goodman (Florence, S.C./West) has great upside and could form a dangerous bookend pair with last year's No. 1 player DaQuan Bowers. The Tigers also landed good need players at LB in Eric Fields (Warner Robins, Ga./Northside), Quandon Christian (Lake View, S.C.), and Corico Hawkins (Milledgeville, Ga./Baldwin). The recent addition of ESPNU 150 WR Bryce McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn./Breck) was an outstanding get for the Tigers' offense. Clemson endured some rocky times this year in recruiting, but seems to be on pace to finish with a good class.
21. Michigan State
The Spartans have never finished in Scouts Inc.'s top 25 recruiting classes, but coach Mark Dantonio has this program on course to finally break through. The class has two ESPNU 150 prospects, led by former Iowa-commit OT David Barrent (Clive, Iowa/Valley). With Javon Ringer moving on, the Spartans added two running backs who rank among the top 25 at the position, including Edwin Baker (Oak Park, Mich.), who is ranked 112th in the ESPNU 150.
The class also features a top 20 QB prospect in Andrew Maxwell (Midland, Mich.) and Oklahoma transfer QB Keith Nichol, a one-time Spartans commit who is back in the mix. While the class is a little more offensive-centered, the Spartans do have eight defensive commitments, led by top 30 OLB prospect Chris Norman (Detroit/Renaissance).
22. Arkansas
Despite having a losing record in the first year of the Bobby Petrino era, the Razorbacks are still recruiting well. Obviously there is an effort to keep the top in-state players close to home and it shows. Arkansas landed three of the state's top five prospects, led by third-rated CB Darius Winston (Helena, Ark./West Helena Central). The Razorbacks also added another top corner prospect in David Gordon (Tulsa, Okla./East Central), who is ranked as the No. 12 in the country. The Razorbacks have also been busy in Texas. They have six prospects from the Lone Star state, including sleeper RB Knile Davis (Missouri City, Texas/Thurgood Marshall). The class also includes former Arkansas prep star Broderick Green, who transferred back home from USC.
23. Stanford
Coach Jim Harbaugh's enthusiasm and national recruiting scope look to be paying dividends for Stanford. It's no shock that the old quarterback targeted and landed a pair of quarterbacks in this class, including one of the better pocket-passers in this class in Josh Nunes (Upland, Calif.). He also went out and landed a trio of good receiving targets, including Jamal Patterson (McDonough, Ga./Henry County), who is ranked 117th in the ESPNU 150. The Cardinal want to use the tight end more in the offense in the future and went a little tight end crazy in this year's class by adding four, including Zach Ertz (Danville, Calif./Monte Vista) and Jordan Najvar (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak).
The class is not all offense. Linebacker Shayne Skov (Pawling, N.Y./Trinity Pawling) and DT Terrence Stephens (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) are nice additions from the East Coast. The 19-member class also includes four other defensive prospects.
24. South Florida
This class may not be very big in terms of bulk, but it has its fair share of speedsters, which is exactly what coach Jim Leavitt and his staff want. CB Ricardo Dixon (Hallandale, Fla.) can scoot and has great feet, but he is rail thin. Bradley Battles (Marianna, Fla.) is a scatback type of running back, which is different from the Mike Ford-mold the Bulls are using right now.
While DE Demi Thompson (Lake Mary, Fla.) may be short, he is explosive and could be an Elvis Dumervil-type for the Bulls. And don't forget they have Ryne Giddins, the fifth-ranked DE who is ranked 65th in the ESPNU 150 and turned down Florida, FSU and Miami for USF. It's obvious the Bulls keep making more inroads and are mining the fertile recruiting landscape it has all around it and given the talent they're adding, it's time for this team to win the Big East.
25. California
The Golden Bears and coach Jeff Tedford have seen a late surge and are closing strong. Snaring CB Steve Williams (Dallas/Skyline) away from Oklahoma was a huge coup and the same goes for former Washington-commit DT Deandre Coleman (Seattle, Wash./Garfield). We've talked about QB Allan Bridgford (Mission Viejo, Calif.) being a nice fit for Tedford's offense and now he has some protection up front with feisty C Mark Brazinski (Baskin Ridge, N.J./Immaculata) joining him.
hehe
and gone off in pursuit of the almighty dollar. He cares about our collegiate fandom no more.
