Biggest Surprise 2017 Recruiting Classes in Each Power 5 Conference So Far

With less than six months until national signing day, programs around the nation are gearing up for the stretch run in adding top targets to their 2017 recruiting classes. 

A glance at the 247Sports team rankings shows powers such as Alabama, Ohio State and LSU in familiar territory ranked among the nation’s Top 5 overall classes.

However, a handful of programs not known as recruiting powers are enjoying strong classes in the current cycle. 

Which teams have surprised with quality classes to date? 

Let’s take a look at the most surprising class in each Power Five conference thus far.

ACC: Duke

Conference/National Class Rank: No. 5 ACC, No. 24 nationally 

Number of Commits: 20

Average Class Rank Last Five Years: 55th nationally

From 2012-15, Duke brought in recruiting classes that finished no higher than 11th in the ACC. Each of those classes finished outside of the Top 50 overall nationally.

Last year, Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe and his staff broke through with a group that finished fifth in the ACC and No. 33 nationally. 

In the 2017 cycle, the Blue Devils are once again flying high with a class featuring 20 pledges from 11 different states.

The headliner is the newest member of the class in 4-star quarterback Jack Sears—who rates as the nation’s No. 5 pro-style quarterback and the No. 158 player overall in the 2017 cycle. 

As a junior, Sears—who has 27 reported offers—accounted for 3,559 yards of total offense and 46 total touchdowns against just two interceptions.

With a potential quarterback of the future locked up in Sears, the Blue Devils are accumulating enough talent to become a force in the ACC’s Coastal Division for years to come.

Big Ten: Maryland

Conference/National Class Rank: No. 3 Big Ten, No. 17 nationally

Number of Commits: 16

Average Class Rank Last Five Years: 42nd nationally

The Big Ten has six teams rated inside the Top 25 in the 247Sports team rankings.

Among that group is the Maryland Terrapins, who are in their first year under new head coach D.J. Durkin.

Durkin and his staff have built a class heavy in local flavor, as seven of its pledges hail from within Maryland’s state borders. Another two are from the Washington D.C. area and one hails from neighboring Virginia.

Additionally, 4-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh—the Terps' highest-rated pledge—plays his high school ball at Florida prep powerhouse IMG Academy even though he is originally from Essex, Maryland.

Local recruiting will be a pivotal part of Durkin’s program, and if the early returns are any indicator, he is off to a great start in helping turn the Terrapins into a respected program in the Big Ten.

Big 12: Iowa State

Conference/National Class Rank: No. 3 Big 12, No. 33 nationally

Number of Commits: 19

Average Class Rank Last Five Years: 61st nationally  

Similar to Maryland, the Iowa State Cyclones are enjoying a jolt of momentum under first-year head coach Matt Campbell.

Over the last five years, the Cyclones have finished no higher than eighth in the Big 12 and No. 53 nationally.

Campbell and his staff have put together a group that features 19 pledges from 11 different states that is the third-best class in the Big 12 and No. 33 nationally.

Additionally, the Cyclones have five homegrown pledges in their class—including 3-star quarterback Devon Moore.

While the Cyclones have a long way to go in rebuilding their program, Campbell is succeeding in elevating the talent level on his roster for the foreseeable future.

Pac-12: Arizona

Conference/National Class Rank: No. 2 Pac-12, No. 20 nationally

Number of Commits: 25 

Average Class Rank Last Five Years: 40th nationally

Among all classes in the Top 25, no program has more commitments than Arizona.

The fast start has the Wildcats poised to land their best class since head coach Rich Rodriguez arrived in Tucson in 2012.

Rodriguez and his staff put together a class featuring players from eight different states—with 11 coming from the talent-rich state of California.

Included in the parade of Golden State standouts headed to play for Rodriguez is 4-star athlete Greg Johnson—who is the top-rated athlete in the 2017 cycle.

The class is heavy on defense, with five players committed along the defensive line and in the secondary. 

The main challenge for Rodriguez and his staff will be holding on to their pledges as signing day approaches.

SEC: South Carolina

Conference/National Class Rank: No. 4 SEC, No. 11 nationally 

Number of Commits: 22 

Average Class Rank Last Five Years: 20th nationally

First-year South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp is no stranger to the brutal recruiting wars inside the SEC.

His familiarity with recruiting in a league full of heavyweights has helped the Gamecocks jump out to a fast start in the 2017 cycle.

The Gamecocks have landed a Top 25 class in each of the last six years. However, a flurry of five commitments since the beginning of August—all from players rated among the nation’s top 250 overall prospects—has the Gamecocks on the cusp of cracking the Top 10 of the 247Sports class rankings.

Among SEC schools, only Alabama, Georgia and LSU—all of whom have Top 5 classes—have a stronger class than the Gamecocks.

Assuming the Gamecocks are able to hold on to their commitments, Muschamp will have plenty of talent available to help the Gamecocks return to the top of the SEC East sooner rather than later.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani