National Signing Day 2011: Recruiting Grades for 2011's Top 25 Schools

First of all, it's ridiculous to to put together a 2011 Preseason top 25 in February, right? Secondly, to combine that 2011 preseason top 25 with recruiting grades? Sheer lunacy!

Or not. 

While combining National Signing Day with a next season top 25 projection may be premature in the minds of some, we figure there's no better time than the present! 

Here's how 2011's projected top 25 did on National Signing Day.

1. Oklahoma

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According to rivals.com, Oklahoma will have the No. 13 recruiting class in the country. Of the Sooners' 17 signings, two were five stars, and seven were four stars according to the site. 

Oklahoma apparently didn't need a ton, but it got a ton of bang for its buck.

Grade: A-

2. Alabama

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So, maybe the Tide is ranked a tad high. But I recall Alabama winning it all in 2009 with experience on defense, a great running game, and an adequate quarterback. In 2011, 'Bama has that exact formula working for it again. 

At the time this story is published two of the top prospects in America are still strongly considering Tuscaloosa as their home for the next three to four years. That, in addition to what is already considered a top five class. 

 

Grade: A- (If Kouandjio and/or Clowney decide to join the Tide this easily becomes an A+)

3. LSU

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Joining LSU's already stacked team in 2011 will be 23 highly touted prospects, three of which were considered five star recruits by rivals.com. 

One of those five star recruits is Jarvis Landry, the No. 18 overall prospect in the country. The speedy wide receiver will step in right away and another dimension to LSU's at-times stagnant offense. 

Grade: A 

4. Oregon

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Obviously, the 2010 season didn't end exactly how the Ducks and coach Chip Kelly wanted it to. But National Signing Day couldn't have gone much better. 

Currently, Oregon's 2011 class is ranked No. 11 in the country. That ranking should change with the last minute switch of No. 5 overall prospect and former USC commit D'Anthony Thomas to the Ducks.

Oregon: A+

5. Ohio State

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Along with eight returning starters, Ohio State will welcome one of the biggest prizes of signing day, No. 2 overall recruit Curtis Grant. Rivals.com ranks Ohio State's 2011 class at No. 10.

Grade: A

6. Stanford

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Despite losing its rock star head coach, Stanford is still in pretty good shape for 2011. The Cardinal will welcome back Heisman finalist Andrew Luck back into the fold. 

Stanford signed 19 players on National Signing Day. Among the newcomers are seven four-star recruits according to rivals.com. It's a pretty nice haul for a program like Stanford.

 

Grade: B-

7. Boise State

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Boise State will still be a top-10 team next season, much to the chagrin of the growing segment of Bronco haters. 

On signing day, however, Boise State did what it has done for years now. It signed a bunch of two- and three-star players that everyone else overlooked. 

The Broncos will welcome 21 new players in 2011. Not a single one of them were on a top 100 recruiting list. 

Grade: D

8. Florida State

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Florida State should be able to build on what Jimbo Fisher started in 2010. Eight starters return on each side of the ball. 

In addition to those 16 starters returning, Florida State welcomes in a top-three recruiting class with two five-star and 13 four-star recruits according to rivals.com.

Grade: A+

9. Michigan State

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Michigan State played a weak conference schedule in 2010 and won 12 games. It was soundly defeated by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl. But Mark Dantonio does return 13 starters from a team that was one win away from the Rose Bowl. 

Unfortunately for Dantonio, this year's recruiting class is nothing to write home about. The Spartans picked up one top 100 recruit and had only two four-stars in rivals.com's No. 31 class.

 

Grade: C-

10. Texas A&M

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Texas A&M made a strong push to get back to respectability in 2010. With 18 returning starters, the Aggies should continue to build on that in 2011. 

While the Aggies filled needs on National Signing Day, they didn't sign one top 150 recruit according to rivals.com. Texas A&M ranks No. 27 in the overall rankings at rivals.com.

 

Grade: C

11. Oklahoma State

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Oklahoma State did lose its highly sought after offensive coordinator to West Virginia. But the Cowboys welcome back a ton of offensive talent, including wide receiver Justin Blackmon. 

A top-10 ranking is probably a bit ambitious, but this team is certainly still quite talented. 

The Cowboys' 2011 recruiting class, however, is not in the elite category. The Cowboys signed 27 recruits and rivals.com ranks them No. 28. Oklahoma State signed only two four-star recruits. The rest were two and three stars. 

 

Grade: C

12. Auburn

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Auburn might have won it all in 2010, but losing three key players to the NFL draft a year early will hurt the defending national champions. Auburn will struggle with youth and a loaded SEC west in 2010, but the future is beyond bright on the Plains. 

Auburn captured at least one mythical recruiting championship on National Signing Day and finished no lower than seventh in two other polls. 

Grade: A+ (with or without Kouandjio)

13. South Carolina

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Steve Spurrier finally staked his claim on the SEC east as South Carolina's head coach last season. It was his first SEC east title since 2000 with Florida. With seven starters returning on offense and six on the defense in 2011, Spurrier could very well have his first SEC east repeat since 1999-2000. 

Helping Spurrier get that done will be the nation's No. 20 signing class according to rivals.com.

Getting the state's big prize, Jadeaveon Clowney would obviously make a difference in that ranking, but Clowney will not announce his decision until Valentine's Day. 

 

Grade: B- (For now)

14. TCU

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TCU is usually thought of in the same non-BCS conversation as Boise State, but it certainly doesn't compare in recruiting. TCU's class is way better than Boise State's ended up being. 

Still, only one national top 100 player, but rivals.com's No. 26 ranked program snagged 23 three-star recruits and two 4-stars. 

 

Grade: B

15. Wisconsin

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Wisconsin lost a lot of the talent that took it to the Rose Bowl in 2010, but a top-15 preseason ranking is virtually assured. You can't say that for the Badgers recruiting ranking, however.

Rivals.com ranks Wisconsin at No. 38 for the 2011 class. There are two top 250 prospects among the signees, but everyone else is a three-star or below. 

Grade: D

16. Arkansas

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Arkansas had rivals.com's No. 24 ranking. The Razorbacks had three players in the rivals.com top 200 prospects.

Grade: B-

 

17. Notre Dame

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Defense was a priority and Brian Kelly did not disappoint. Notre Dame secured four top 100 recruits and two top-25 recruits. Its 2011 class ranked No. 10.

Grade: A+

18. Nebraska

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Three top 100 prospects and two top 200 prospects helped to get Nebraska into the Rivals top 15. The 'Huskers signed 11 four-star recruits. 

Grade: B+

19. Mississippi State

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Mississippi State was somewhat of a surprise on National Signing Day given Dan Mullen's recent success in Starkville. The Bulldogs pulled off a ton of three-star recruits, but only one, the lone four-star, was ranked in the Rivals top 250. The class was ranked No. 42.

Grade: C

20. Texas

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It's Texas. Enough said. The 'Horns ended up with a consensus top-five recruiting class. 

Grade: A+

21. USC

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Somehow, despite losing 15 scholarships, Lane Kiffin was able to sign 30 players on National Signing Day. The class spent a few hours at No. 1, but has leveled off around fifth. It's another stellar class with 14 four-star recruits and 13 three-stars for Lane Kiffin.

Grade: A+

22. Florida

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Florida missed out on some bigtime prospects, but the Gators moved up at least four spots on National Signing Day to end up at No. 14. There were no five-star recruits, but there were three top 40 prospects and five from the top 60. 

Grade: A

23. Arizona State

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Arizona State only signed 14 players. The Sun Devils did not crack the top 50 at Rivals. While Dennis Erickson believes those players met some team needs, this will be the only F given out among the top 25 teams. 

Grade: F

24. Georgia

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Mark Richt just put some more pressure on himself. Georgia had an unbelievable signing day. Richt used the words "Dream Team" in regards to his consensus top-seven recruiting class. Two five-stars, 11 four-stars and 11 three-stars signed with Georgia, according to Rivals. 

Grade: A+

25. Virginia Tech

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Virginia Tech signed 21 players. Four of those players were four-star recruits according to Rivals. The Hokies signed zero players in the top 150. The class ranked No. 33 according to Rivals. 

Grade: C