College Football Recruiting 2013: Ranking 10 Best Offensive Recruiting Classes

In today's football, relying on a strong defense to carry your team just isn't going to work anymore. You even see that at Alabama, as the Crimson Tide have upgraded its offensive roster the past several recruiting cycles.

The rules of the game have steadily been changed to induce more scoring and favor the offense. Programs are recruiting top offensive talent harder than ever nowadays and this piece will look into that.

Let's check out the top offensive recruiting classes for 2013 and rank the top 10 programs who have assembled the best offensive talent this year.

10. Clemson

Offensive Commits: 8

The Tigers don't have a QB committed this year, but they have a good offensive class in the works. The group is led by RB Tyshon Dye, as the 6'0", 205-pound back is a good one.

WRs Mike Williams and DeMarcus Robinson are both studs who stand 6'4" and 6'2", respectively. RB Wayne Gallman is a silky and athletic back, plus TE Jordan Leggett's 6'6" frame will give people some fits.

9. Oklahoma State

Offensive Commits: 10

Mike Gundy has added to his offensive front especially in this class as the lead Cowboy has five OL prospects committed. 

However, the prime gets of this offensive group are the three stud WR commitments of Fred Ross Jr., Ra'Shaad Samples and Marcell Ateman. 

QB Luke Del Rio is also a part of this class. 

8. Florida

Offensive Commits: 9

An interesting side note for the Gators is that they will get Tyler Moore in as a transfer from Nebraska included in this class.

This is a group that features elite talents such as RB Kelvin Taylor, WR Ahmad Fulwood and WR/RB Alvin Bailey.

Toss in names like RB Adam Lane and QB Max Staver to UF's offensive class plus a few talented OLs and you can see why scoring points shouldn't be hard in Gainesville.

7. Texas

Offensive Commits: 8

The foundation of Texas' offensive recruiting class, and probably the class as a whole, is its trio of elite OL commitments. Darius James, Jake Raulerson and Kent Perkins are among the top 10 OL prospects on my board nationally.

This is a class that also has QB/ATH Tyrone Swoopes, WRs Jake Oliver and Jacorey Warrick plus two 6'5" TEs in it. Also, A'Shawn Robinson could be a great OG if he were to be moved there.

6. Notre Dame

Offensive Commits: 12, plus three ATHs

If you like Texas' OL class, then you'll love Notre Dame's. Brian Kelly has five big uglies locked up. The best of the bunch is OT Colin McGovern.

QB Malik Zaire has also pledged, but WR Torii Hunter may be the guy that gets the most shine. Don't sleep on RB Jamel James nor TE Mike Heuerman.

5. Texas A&M

Offensive Commits: 15, plus 1 ATH

The Aggies boast some of the best offensive prospects in the country in their class. It starts with 6'6", 228-pound WR/TE Derrick Griffin.

WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez is a bit underrated and his speed can make defenses pay. QBs Kenny Hill and Kohl Stewart are both solid and OG Joas Aguilar is a tough road grader in the trenches. 

TE Cameron Clear is a 6'6", 285-pounder that could grow into a LT.

4. Ohio State

Offensive Commits: 7

The player that really excites me in this offensive class that Urban Meyer is bringing in is WR/RB Jalin Marshall. Marshall is a 6'0", 200-pounder that can ball in Meyer's offense a la Percy Harvin at Florida.

QB J.T. Barrett is going to come up and shock some people from Texas. OT Evan Lisle will add some bulk and become a starter in time, and RB Ezekiel Elliot has many good tools to succeed in Columbus.

3. Michigan

Offensive Commits: 12, plus 3 ATHs

The foundation of Michigan's class is QB Shane Morris, as having a 5-star caliber QB in your class can do many things for you. 

The next staple of Big Blue's class is its OL unit. The Wolverines have commitments from four great offensive trench players who have the ability to grow into starters before they depart Ann Arbor.

The skill position talent includes WR Jaron Dukes, RB DeVeon Smith, TE Jake Butt and a classic-style FB in Wyatt Shallman. 

2. USC

Offensive Commits: 7

USC's offensive class is rich at the skill positions, as five of its seven offensive commits are skill guys. The two OL prospects are athletic OT Nico Falah and stout OG Khaliel Rodgers.

The center of the group is QB Max Browne, the top-rated field general on my board. RBs Ty Isaac and Justin Davis are both excellent runners that have difference-making talent.

WR Steven Mitchell is among the best RAC players in the country, and WR Sebastian LaRue is also in this class. 

1. Alabama

Offensive Commits: 11, plus 2 ATHs

The RB group that 'Bama is bringing in is downright ridiculous. Any year you bring in Derrick Henry, Tyren Jones and Altee Tenpenny along is great, but to have all three committed in the same year is fantastic.

QB Cooper Bateman is a top-tier QB prospect and probably has the strongest arm of any elite QB in the country. The TE position will get infused with primetime pass-catchers as both O.J. Howard and Josh McNeil are 6'5" "joker" types.

OL Grant Hill is a class 'Bama power-style road-grader and OT Leon Brown could be the top JUCO OL prospect in the country. Also watch out for WR/ATH ArDarius Stewart.

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (formerly ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.