What You Need to Know About Class of 2015 5-Star Recruits
With the 2015 recruiting cycle now fully under way, it's time to take a look and examine the 5-star prospects among the crop. It's early in the year, so many prospects are still being evaluated by college coaches and recruiting analysts.
However, 247Sports has already handed 36 5-star labels in its composite rankings to recruits in the 2015 class. This piece will let you in on what you need to know.
From position breakdowns by the numbers to commitments to finding out who is the best player, it's time you get educated on the 5-star prospects for 2015 recruiting.
There Are Three 5-Star Quarterbacks in the 2015 Class
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Admit it, one of the first things you do when looking at a new batch of prospects is check out the quarterbacks. Well, that's why they're first on this list.
The class of 2015 has three 5-star quarterbacks. California nativesย Josh Rosenย andย Ricky Townย are No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, while Florida nativeย Torrance Gibsonย is slotted at No. 11 overall.
Town is already committed to USC, while Rosen and Gibson are uncommitted.ย
Florida Has the Most 5-Star Recruits
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Florida is one of the very best states when it comes to producing football players, so it should be no surprise that the Sunshine State has the most 5-star prospects with seven.
California, Texas and Georgia each have five 5-star prospects. So, it seems like the normal hotbeds will again be hot during the 2015 recruiting cycle.ย
10 Other States Have a 5-Star Prospect
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Florida, California, Texas and Georgia are not the only states with a 5-star recruit within their borders.ย
South Carolina, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia and Minnesota all have at least one 5-star recruit for 2015.ย
While the usual suspects have the most elite talent, the 2015 class of 5-star prospects actually reaches coast to coast.ย
Nine 5-Star Recruits Have Already Committed and LSU Has Two of Them
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While there are 36 5-star prospects for 2015, nine of them have already made up their minds. LSU has plucked two of them in cornerbackย Kevin Toliver IIย and offensive linemanย Maea Teuhema.
Alabama lost quarterback Ricky Townย to USC butย has a pledge from defensive endย Mekhi Brown.ย Safetyย Derwin Jamesย is headed to Florida State, and Georgia will be home for athleteย Terry Godwin.
Defensive endย Shameik Blackshearย is staying in the Palmetto State to play for South Carolina, Texas A&M has a commitment from defensive tackleย Daylon Mack,ย and offensive tackleย Mitch Hyattย is pledged to Clemson.ย
There's No Leonard Fournette This Year
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In the 2014 class, 5-star running backย Leonard Fournetteย was the nation's No. 1 recruit. For 2015, the highest-rated running back isย Damien Harris, who is No. 23 overall.
So that just shows you how highly regarded Fournette is, as the running back position has already been devalued enough by coaches and evaluators. He was the best player in the country last cycle even though he played a position that has lost its luster.
This year, Harris is the top runner in the nation, but he's not even a top-20 player.ย
Defense Leads the Way
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Defense wins championships; the Seattle Seahawks proved that a few weeks ago. The rules in football have become favorable for offenses, but there's a ton of defensive 5-star recruits in the 2015 class to make things even.
The 36-man 5-star group features 21 players on defense, 12 offensive recruits and three athletes. While athleteย George Campbellย can play safety, he likely will be viewed more as a receiver prospect as things unfold.
Defensive Tackle Is the Most Talented Position for 2015
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If your favorite school is in need of talent in the defensive trenches, this is the year for rich pickings. Out of the 36 5-star recruits, seven of them play defensive tackle.ย
The best of the bunch isย Trent Thompson, a 6'4", 292-pounder from Georgia who is the No. 2 overall player in the country.ย
Further, the defensive line as a whole is rich with 5-star talent, as there are also five defensive ends who are 5-star recruits. On the other end of the spectrum is safety and tight end, with one and no 5-star talents, respectively.ย
Chad Simmons of Scout.comย wrote this about Thompson on Feb. 7:ย "Thompson looks the part and he is put together like a college defensive lineman, not one in high school. He is very strong, he has very little body fat, and he can move."
Six 5-Star Recruits Weigh at Least 300 Pounds
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Among the things that draw eyes to a player is his size, and six 5-star prospects qualify as "big." Offensive tackleย Maea Teuhemaย leads the way, as the LSU commit stands nearly 6'5" and weighs 345 pounds.
Defensive tackleย Daron Payneย is 316 pounds, and guardย Jalin Barnettย is 315. Tipping the scales at 314 is defensive tackleย Shy Tuttle,ย and defensive tackleย Daylon Mackย is 310.
The "smallest" of the 300-pounders is defensive tackleย Tim Settle, who weighs "only" 305 pounds.
The Top Offensive Recruit Is Not a Skill-Position Player
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Many times in football, be it recruiting or the NFL draft, people think the best offensive player has to be a quarterback. That's wrong, as it should come down to who is the best football player who plays an offensive position.
Well, for the 2015 class, the best offensive player in the country right now is not a quarterback, running back or receiver. It'sย Mitch Hyatt, an offensive tackle from Georgia who is committed to Clemson.
He is ranked No. 3 overall, but it should be noted that quarterbacksย Josh Rosenย andย Ricky Townย are right after him at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.ย
Kevin Toliver II Is the No. 1 Overall Recruit Right Now
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Again, it's still early, folks. Many prospects are still being studied and evaluated, recruiting boards are far from being set, and there's going to be shuffling in the rankings.
However, as it stands right now, cornerbackย Kevin Toliver IIย is the nation's No. 1 recruit. The 6'2", 185-pounder is a solid athlete who is raw technique-wise but projects as a solid press corner in the SEC at LSU.
It'll be interesting to see if he can hang onto his No. 1 spot through national signing day in 2015, as he would give LSU back-to-back No. 1 overall recruits.
