College Football Recruiting 2013: Updated Class Rankings for Each Top 25 Team
Using the latest BCS standings as foundation for this piece, let's take a look at where each Top 25 BCS squad falls in the recruiting rankings. Some programs clearly get how things work, as they are highly ranked on the field and doing well in recruiting.
Others are in the BCS standings but are not on pace to land in the top 25 of the recruiting rankings. This should be a pretty interesting read and give you a good sense of how on-field play can and can't affect recruiting.
Let's get this one started up!
25. Kent State
1 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Outside Top 50
Kent State is an 11-2 team and right now their recruiting has hit a wall. It's stalling because KSU lost their head coach Darrell Hazell to Purdue.
However, the Golden Flashes still have nine commitments. LB Dustyn Moore, RB Roman Clay and QB Nate Strock are the top players in this class.
24. San Jose State
2 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Outside Top 50
The Spartans are a growing program and went 10-2 this year. Obviously with Cal and Stanford in their immediate region, recruiting can be a little tricky.
However, SJSU holds nine pledges and will likely add to that total before February comes. They won't finish in the top 25 of the recruiting rankings, but they'll get more solid players to help ascend their program.
23. Texas
3 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Top 10
The Longhorns have a 14-man recruiting class and it's a very good group. This season on the field wasn't up to standards in Austin, but recruiting has gone well as usual.
OL Darius James leads a group that also features OT Jake Raulerson, DT A'Shawn Robinson and QB/ATH Tyrone Swoopes. If UT can land DT Andrew Billings, then they will probably be set.
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22. Utah State
4 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Outside Top 50
The Aggies are another mid-level program with a coach that is on the hot list for other jobs. Gary Andersen appears to be staying at USU—but for how much longer?
I doubt Andersen sees this 12-commit recruiting class graduate. The top prospect is 6'5", 300-pound OG Tyshon Mosley.
21. Louisville
5 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 41-50 Class Ranking
Charlie Strong recently announced that he is staying with the Cardinals. Good, now he can continue to improve his current recruiting class, because if Strong wants to keep winning at Louisville, he's going to have to recruit better than he is right now.
'Ville has 10 commitments and their top prospects are QB Kyle Bolin and LB Danny Elam. If Strong can land WR James Quick, then their ranking could be poised to move up.
20. Northwestern
6 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 41-50 Class Ranking
This class starts and ends with QB Matt Alviti. He's the cornerstone player in Pat Fitzgerald's class and will be the guy the Wildcats hang their hat on when they discuss this class on signing day. They likely won't land any other top flight prospect and will finish around the middle of the pack in recruiting.
19. Boise State
7 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 45-55 Class Ranking
The Broncos have 15 commitments and their class is full of the prospects that the Broncos typically go after. It's made up of players that Chris Petersen and his staff feel are smart, tough and can be developed.
Yet, Petersen has his hand in two big-time uncommitted prospects' pots. CB Mackensie Alexander of Florida and CB Dashon Hunt of California could choose to ball in Boise.
Landing at least one of them would have Boise set to raise their recruiting ranking.
18. Michigan
8 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Top 10
Michigan's class this year is an outstanding group of 22 commitments.
The headliner is QB Shane Morris, but there are other talents such as ATH Dymonte Thomas, OG Patrick Kugler, OT Logan Tulley-Tillman and LB Mike McCray II heading to Ann Arbor.
If Brady Hoke can land S Leon McQuay and RB Derrick Green, then this class will be firmly entrenched in the top five.
17. UCLA
9 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 20-25 Class Ranking
The Bruins have 18 commitments thus far and they are on pace to nestle into the top 25 of the recruiting rankings. They have a talented class with OLB/DE Deon Hollins, ATH Myles Jack, RB Craig Lee and OC Scott Quessenberry all being among the top commitments for Jim Mora.
If UCLA can get DB Priest Willis and LB Isaac Savaiinaea, then this could be a top 15 class.
16. Nebraska
10 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 30-40 Class Ranking
Big Red has 15 commitments thus far and their class is on the small side but still solid. QB Johnny Stanton is a 6'2", 220-pound QB that has dual-threat abilities.
Nebraska is going to try to land CB Mackensie Alexander, DB Priest Willis and maybe RB David Williams. If they can pull that off, then we're talking top 25.
15. Northern Illinois
11 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Outside Top 50
The Huskies won't be moving up in any recruiting rankings, as they just don't have the clout to land any top prospects. They have 12 pledges and only one of them is a 3-star recruit in WR Corey Winfield. Don't expect any big time recruiting shake-ups at NIU.
14. Clemson
12 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 15-20 Class Ranking
Clemson's recruiting has been up and down this year as they got Robert Nkemdiche in June, only to see him de-commit in November. Still, the Tigers have 16 solid pledges and a top 25 class.
RB Tyshon Dye, LB Dorian O'Daniel, WR Mike Williams and DT Scott Pagano are some of the top prospects for Dabo Swinney. DT Montravius Adams, CB Mackensie Alexander and OG Tyrone Crowder could be prime uncommitted targets.
13. Oregon State
13 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Outside Top 50
Recruiting hasn't been electric for Mike Riley in recent years, and that will not change this season. The Beavers have 11 commitments and this won't be a sexy recruiting class at all.
Perhaps landing CB Dashon Hunt would give Riley a player he can center his class around.
12. Florida State
14 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 10-15 Class Ranking
Jimbo Fisher is one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country and that is showing out this year. Fisher has himself a solid 17-man class and it's led by RB Ryan Green and OL Austin Golson.
The 'Noles are still waiting on OLB Matthew Thomas, CB Mackensie Alexander, OT Laremy Tunsil and DE Tim Williams to make their decisions. All are big-time prospects who could definitely move FSU up the board.
11. Oklahoma
15 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 20-25 Class Ranking
This isn't the most dominant class Bob Stoops will ever bring in, but this class isn't chopped liver either. It has 14 commitments, among whom are players like RB Keith Ford, QB Cody Thomas and DE D.J. Ward.
DT Justin Manning and WR Laquon Treadwell are the two biggest targets remaining for OU and landing them could put Stoops' class back in the top 15.
10. South Carolina
16 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 15-20 Class Ranking
Columbia will enjoy their recruiting class this year, as 21 players are committed and it is a great group. QB Connor Mitch will be a starter one day, LB Larenz Bryant is a very good player and OL D.J. Park should be a key contributor.
The headliner, however, is LB Matt Rolin. This is a 6'4", 210-pound Virginia native that can play ILB, OLB and even some DE.
RB Greg Bryant is the Gamecocks' top remaining target.
9. Texas A&M
17 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 10-15 Class Ranking
Kevin Sumlin is working with a large class that has over 30 commitments already. The headliner is WR/TE Derrick Griffin, along with DT Isaiah Golden, QB Kohl Stewart and OG Joas Aguilar.
The top remaining target is WR/TE Ricky Seals-Jones. The Aggies will probably finish in the top 15.
8. LSU
18 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 10-15 Class Ranking
LSU's class may lack a clear-cut headliner, but it is a good 23-man group as a whole. CB Jeryl Brazil, OT Ethan Pocic, QB Hayden Rettig and DE Frank Herron are all solid prospects.
Landing any combo of DE Tim Williams, DT Montravius Adams, ATH Kendell Beckwith and WR/TE Ricky Seals-Jones would be huge for the Tigers.
7. Georgia
19 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Top 10
Like A&M, Georgia has a very large class that has around 30 commitments. QB Brice Ramsey, CB Shaq Wiggins, S Tray Matthews and ATH Tramel Terry are the top commits for the Bulldogs so far.
If Mark Richt can flip LB Reuben Foster, get DT Montravius Adams or RB Alvin Kamara and seal up OT Laremy Tunsil, then UGA will have a top-five argument to be heard.
6. Stanford
20 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 25-35 Class Ranking
Stanford has a small class that only has 10 commitments so far. QB Ryan Burns is the headliner and watch out for TE Greg Taboada.
The Cardinal probably will run after WR Jordan Cunningham and CB Johnny Johnson as top targets to get. They could squeeze into the back end of the top 25, but it will be tough.
5. Kansas State
21 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Outside Top 50
The Wildcats are not going have a top 25 class this year and their class won't be highly regarded by hardly anyone outside of Manhattan. I like speedy WR LeAndrew Gordon and OLB/DE Tanner Wood, though. Landing JUCO DT Marquel Combs would also be a good get for Bill Snyder.
4. Oregon
22 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: 25-35 Class Ranking
The Ducks also have a class that is small like Stanford's with just 10 pledges. The group features two explosive RB prospects in Thomas Tyner and Dontre Wilson.
Convincing S Leon McQuay, DB/ATH Max Redfield, RB Derrick Green and WR James Quick to sign up in Eugene would help a lot.
3. Florida
23 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Top 5
The Gators' recruiting cycle has been a most joyous one and they are not done. OT Laremy Tunsil and DT Montravius Adams remain realistic targets for Will Muschamp to add to his 22-man class.
UF will see several elite talents sign with them in February. Names like CB Vernon Hargreaves III, RB Kelvin Taylor and LB Daniel McMillan are only the tip of the iceberg.
2. Alabama
24 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Top 5
'Bama is up to its old tricks as they have a solid chance to repeat as both national champions and recruiting champions. Nick Saban has 19 commitments and could add some more exceptional talent to his already great recruiting class.
Uncommitted prospects like OLB Matthew Thomas, DT Montravius Adams, OT Laremy Tunsil, RB Alvin Kamara and DB Vonn Bell could choose to play for the Tide. TE O.J. Howard, QB Cooper Bateman, RB Derrick Henry and DL Demarcus Walker are the headliners of those already committed to Alabama.
1. Notre Dame
25 of 25Updated Recruiting Class Rankings Tier: Top 5/Top 10
Is it safe to say that Notre Dame is "back"? The Irish will play for the BCS National Championship and could also sign a top five recruiting class.
Seems like the old days are now the new days. Brian Kelly has 22 commitments and his class is highlighted by 5-star OLB Jaylon Smith and a great OL unit coming in.
CB Mackensie Alexander, DB/ATH Max Redfield and DE Alquadin Muhammad would be good final prospects to land.
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.
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