25 College Football Teams with Deepest Depth Chart Post-NSD

Now that national signing day has come and gone, it is time to take a look at what teams in college football have the deepest depth charts heading into the 2013 season.

A lot of the teams on the list are so high because of talent coming back, while others have vaulted up the list because of the signing day turnout.

This is not necessarily the top 25 teams in the nation, but those teams who are the deepest when it comes to a position-by-position breakdown.

Here they are, from No. 25 all the way to the top spot.

*Rankings are according to 247Sports.com

Honorable Mentions

Louisville Cardinals: A subpar recruiting class compared to the teams ahead of Louisville on the list, keeps the Cardinals on the outside looking in.

Oregon State Beavers: With an excellent 2012 season, there is plenty of talent coming back for the Beavers, but just not enough depth to crack the top 25.

Michigan State: The Spartans had a down year in 2012, but a decent recruiting class and some returning talent could bode well for head coach Mark Dantonio and his squad.

Arkansas Razorbacks: With a top 25 recruiting class and some talent returning, Arkansas will be much better in 2013.

Missouri Tigers: Just another of the very talented teams in the SEC. If the Tigers can stay healthy, they will be much improved this coming season.

25. TCU Horned Frogs

The return of quarterback Casey Pachall to the team for the 2013 goes a very long way toward improving the depth of this program.

There is plenty of talent coming back on both sides of the ball, but the loss of wide receiver Josh Boyce early to the 2013 NFL draft does not help.

The subtraction of some key offensive linemen also hurts, but the Horned Frogs are young, deep and very talented along the defensive line.

A solid recruiting class that ranks No. 39 according to 247Sports.com will also help improve on the depth.

24. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State surprised a lot of people in 2012 and will be a perennial top 25 team next season. The big question will be who takes over for the departed Matt McGloin at the quarterback position.

There is plenty of depth, however, at the running back position and a ton of youth as far as wide receivers are concerned.

Not many people expected Penn State to have as good of a recruiting class as it ended up having in 2013 for quite some time.

Head coach Bill O'Brien did a wonderful job putting together a class that ranks No. 26 according to 247Sports.com.

23. Miami Hurricanes

Miami is a team that has depth everywhere, and could break out for an excellent 2013 season.

Talented sophomore running back Duke Johnson leads the way as the team returns virtually everybody on the defensive side of the ball.

There is youth and depth scattered throughout the Al Golden's roster, and it only got better on national signing day as the Hurricanes came away with the No. 17 class according to 247Sports.com.

With eight 4-star recruits, the Hurricanes added a lot of depth all over the field on national signing day and could be headed back into the national spotlight in coming years.

22. Oklahoma State Cowboys

There is no question that Oklahoma State is going to score points, and while the team had a lot to replace on offense before the 2012 season, that is not the case in 2013.

While it might not be a good thing for those involved, the depth at quarterback is something few other teams in the country possess.

The wide receivers are also very deep, but running back may be a different story as Joseph Randle declared early for the NFL draft.

The recruiting class for Oklahoma State was also solid with enough depth to help the Cowboys immediately.

21. Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss may not be a top 25 team as far as talent is concerned, but with some excellent players coming back and a recruiting class that surprised a lot of people, the Rebels crack the top 25.

The skill positions, particularly running back, have a lot of youth and the depth along the defensive line is also very good.

Where a lot of the depth will become evident is with the recruiting class. The Rebels made a splash on national signing day by acquiring the top recruit in the country in defensive end Robert Nkemdiche.

The Rebels finished with four 5-star recruits and the No. 6 class overall. No team made a bigger splash on national signing day than the Rebels.

A few years from now, the depth here might be be near the top of the nation.

20. Stanford Cardinal

Even though Stanford will likely be ranked much higher in the polls when the season began, the Cardinal do not have as much depth as the teams in front of them on the list.

Replacing running back Stepfan Taylor and tight end Zach Ertz will not be easy, but quarterback will certainly be a strength.

There is also plenty of depth along the secondary for the Cardinal and linebacker never seems to be a problem.

What hurt Stanford was a recruiting class that did not even come close to cracking the top 50, finishing at No. 63.

Only time will tell if that will come back to haunt the Cardinal down the road.

19. Washington Huskies

Washington did not have a good year in 2012, but with an excellent recruiting class coming in and some talented players coming back at the skill positions, it cracks the top 20 on the list.

Quarterback Keith Price returns for his senior season and junior running back Bishop Sankey burst onto the scene for the Huskies a year ago.

One of the other strengths as far as depth is concerned is along the offensive line.

The Huskies also made some noise on national signing day with a top 20 class.

18. Virginia Tech Hokies

Virginia Tech was a huge disappointment last year. In 2013, a solid recruiting class as well as the return of quarterback Logan Thomas will help improve on the talent and depth of this squad.

There were some key freshmen who burst onto the scene last year for the Hokies, particularly at running back and wide receiver.

One of the deepest positions on the field is the secondary. It will remain intact from 2012, with the possible exception of cornerback Antone Exum who suffered a knee injury that could keep him out for part of 2013.

Head coach Frank Beamer came through once again on signing day with a top 20 class.

17. Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska proved just how deep it was at running back in 2012 when starter Rex Burkhead went down with an injury, as backup Ameer Abdullah filled in nicely.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez will return for his senior season, but one area where depth might be an issue is protecting Martinez along the offensive line.

Perhaps the deepest position on the field is wide receiver. The Cornhuskers are two-deep at all three wide receiver positions.

Seven 4-star recruits and a top 25 class will certainly add to the depth of this team in 2013 and beyond.

16. Texas Longhorns

The Texas Longhorns almost always have a very talented recruiting class, and 2013 was no different. The group finished No. 16 according to 247Sports.com.

With plenty coming back on the defensive side of the ball, there is no shortage of talent for the Longhorns defense. Even though the secondary will not be quite as strong, the front seven should be better than it was a year ago. 

On offense, the quarterback position will continue to b a question, but running back features a bevy of talented players for head coach Mack Brown to choose from.

15. UCLA Bruins

The depth for UCLA starts with the quarterback position, and with Brett Hundley coming back for his sophomore season, it will be stronger than it has been in quite some time.

With four offensive linemen coming back, including three that were freshmen a year ago, there is plenty of depth to go around at this position.

The running back position will be a little bit of a different story, however, as James Franklin has graduated.

What bumps UCLA even higher up the list is a recruiting class that finished No. 9 according to 247Sports.com.

It is hard to argue with 18 4-star recruits. Quite a day for head coach Jim Mora Jr. and the Bruins.

14. Clemson Tigers

Clemson has depth all over the field, but particularly on offense. The return of quarterback Tajh Boyd will do wonders for the Tigers. Even though DeAndre Hopkins departed early for the NFL draft, the wide receiver position will still be solid.

There is young talent at the running back spot, but former starter Andre Ellington is now preparing for the NFL draft, and there is a lot of unproven talent under him.

The depth along the offensive line is excellent as well.

Signing day was also good to the Tigers as Clemson inked 5-star recruit MacKensie Alexander, rated the No. 4 cornerback in the nation.

The class also cracked the top 20, which will add to the depth down the line.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

We all know how much talent South Carolina had on the field last season. In 2013, that group will be just as deep and possibly better than last year.

The Gamecocks were a very experienced bunch last year, particularly on offense, but will be even more experienced in 2013.

Both quarterbacks return and the depth at wide receiver will be there once again.

Of course, we all know just how talented the defensive line is beginning with Jadeveon Clowney.

Spurrier secured a solid class, but nothing quite like some of the other SEC schools.

12. Oklahoma Sooners

There is no question that Oklahoma lost a ton of talent from its 2012 team, but as usual Bob Stoops has plenty of depth to work with.

Unlike a lot of other Oklahoma teams, the 2013 squad will be extremely young. There is a chance that there will only be a few seniors starting on each side of the ball.

The youth of the team can be found along the defensive line and throughout the secondary.

Oklahoma further added to the depth in the secondary with the signing of safeties Hatari Byrd and Ahmad Thomas as well as cornerback L.J. Moore.

Defensive end D.J. Ward could also contribute immediately.

11. Oregon Ducks

Oregon has plenty of depth coming back, but what keeps the Ducks just outside of the top 10 is a recruiting class that did not end up as high as anticipated.

The Ducks only finished No. 19 in the nation, only securing 19 commitments.

As always the depth at running back will be as good or better than almost any team in the country with De'Anthony Thomas and Byron Marshal returning as well as some very talented incoming recruits.

Throw in 5-star recruit Thomas Tyner and the Ducks will be dominant for years to come at running back.

The possible transfer of backup quarterback Bryan Bennett will hurt a little, but there is still plenty of talent there.

10. USC Trojans

Even though USC did not show it on the field, the Trojans have top 10 talent when it comes to depth.

There are former 5-star recruits all over the field for USC, but the Trojans have not been able to put it all together.

Quarterback could be an issue, but the wide receiver spot is as deep as any group in the nation.

Throw in another very talented recruiting class and the Trojans have some of the best depth in the entire country.

When it comes to top heavy talent, few teams in the country possess what USC does, despite everything that has happened with the program in recent months.

9. Michigan Wolverines

Michigan and head coach Brady Hoke quietly put together another outstanding recruiting class, and that will only add to the talent and depth of this program.

The Wolverines class finished fourth according to 247Sports.com and Brady Hoke continues to show why he is one of the best recruiters in the country.

The running back position might be a bit of a question mark, and the receivers leave something to be desired, but the Wolverines are very deep along the offensive line.

On defense, the Wolverines have a strong secondary to back up a linebacker group that is one of the best in the Big Ten.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

For Notre Dame, the depth is virtually everywhere on the field, beginning at quarterback.

Both Everett Golson and Tommy Rees are back in what should be a year with no quarterback controversy.

With Cierre Wood leaving early for the NFL draft, running back might be a position of question and tight end could be an issue.

Other than that, the group appears solid at the other spots.

The depth does not end with the offense, as the defensive line will once again be one of the best in the country. The return of Louis Nix III and Stephon Tuitt makes this group formidable yet again.

Brian Kelly finally got the national signing day results he was looking for with a three 5-star recruits and 17 4-star commitments.

7. Georgia Bulldogs

Not many thought it possible that Aaron Murray would return for his senior season, but when he did Georgia quickly became a national title contender.

The depth for this team starts at running back with two very talented sophomores in line to get the bulk of the carries. Both Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall excelled last season as freshmen and will be even better in 2013. 

There is some talent to replace on the defensive side of the ball, but an excellent recruiting class will certainly help with that.

Head coach Mark Richt is bringing in 12 4-star recruits just on the defensive side of the ball.

Look out for the Georgia defense in the years to come.

6. Florida State Seminoles

With the exception of the very talented SEC, there has not been a team in the country with as much depth as the Seminoles over the past half decade.

In 2013, the Seminoles had another top 10 recruiting class and enough talent already on the roster to go with it.

A pair of 5-star recruits could make an impact as outside linebacker Matthew Thomas is one of the highest rated players in the country and cornerback Jalen Ramsey should be able to make an impact as well.

Even though quarterback EJ Manuel is gone, as well as some talent on defense, the Seminoles still return plenty of talent at running back as well as an offensive line that was very young a year ago.

5. Florida Gators

Florida head coach Will Muschamp is quickly building a program in Gainesville.

He put together one of the best recruiting classes in the country on national signing day, and if quarterback Jeff Driskel could develop, this team could be a national championship contender.

There was a time on national signing day when Florida had a shot to finish with the top class in the country. That did not come true, but the group still finished No. 3 according to 247Sports.com.

The defense is where most of the depth for the Gators lies. The group was young and talented in 2012. Look for them to be a little more experienced and even better in 2013.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin has made the program a national title contender in only one year.

A top 10 recruiting class in 2013 will go a long way toward helping the depth and talent in the program.

Led by Johnny Manziel, the quarterback position is very talented. With the wide receivers coming in, Manziel will have plenty of targets in 2013 and beyond.

The defense should also be deeper and improved in 2013.

Sumlin secured quite a talent on national signing day in 4-star wide receiver JaQuay Williams. Williams is one of the best players in the country and could be a huge target for Manziel in 2013.

Who might be an even bigger target is 5-star wideout Ricky Seals-Jones. Jones is rated the No. 23 player in the high school class and will also likely contribute immediately.

3. LSU Tigers

LSU is one of the deepest teams in the country nearly every year, and the 2013 season will be no different.

With one of the best recruiting classes in the country and an improved quarterback in Zach Mettenberger, this team will be ultra-talented once again. 

Even though the Tigers lost 10 players early to the NFL draft, there is still enough coming back to contend for a national championship.

With Spencer Ware and Michal Ford leaving early for the NFL draft, most would think the running back position would be a question. That is not the case with three talented backs returning, including Alfred Blue, Jeremy Hill and Kenny Hilliard.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes

It has not taken Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer long to build a very deep squad at Ohio State.

It all begins at quarterback with starter Braxton Miller returning along with backup Kenny Guiton. At running back, the Buckeyes have everybody back, including Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall and Rod Smith. Wide receiver will be a strength as well. 

On defense, the secondary will be excellent led by Bradley Roby and C.J. Barnett. While there is some talent to replace along the defensive line, the group features some very exciting sophomores ready to come into their own, including Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington.

Throw in the second-best recruiting class in the nation and the Buckeyes should be near the top of the national rankings for quite some time.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Early departures for the NFL draft and graduating some very talented seniors means nothing to head coach Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

There is enough depth everywhere to replace those who left early for the NFL draft, and Saban put together the top recruiting class in the country.

On offense, wide receiver will be a strength as will running back. Of course, quarterback AJ McCarron returns or his senior season with a chance to be on four national championship squads.

The defense, led by coordinator Kirby Smart, lost a ton of talent, but that is what everybody said after the 2011 season, and we all know how that turned out.

Adding to the depth is the best recruiting class in the nation as Nick Saban struck gold once again with six 5-star commitments, per 247Sports.com, on national signing day.

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