Grading Every 2015 Recruiting Class Position vs. 2014's
With national signing day still fresh in their minds, it may take some recruiting fans awhile to get familiar with the 2015 class. Well, what better way to do that than to compare this new group of recruits with the 2014 crop of prospects?
That's exactly what this piece will do, but there's more. You're also going to get a grade for how each 2015 major position group compares to last year's class.
The 2014 running backs class may be better, but the 2015 group grades higher at the defensive line position. Plus, which class has the better quarterback group?
Cornerbacks
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The 2015 class has several elite cornerback prospects, starting with 5-star cover manย Kevin Toliver II. Like Toliver,ย Iman Marshallย is another 5-star cornerback who stands at least 6'1".
Kendall Sheffieldย is not as big as Marshall and Toliver, but the 5'11", 180-pound Texan is a 5-star corner with excellent quickness.ย Minkah Fitzpatrickย isn't a blazer, but the 5-star cornerback from New Jersey has plenty of instincts.
The 2014 class was an excellent year for cornerback prospects, especially if you include 5-star athleteย Jabrill Peppers. USC may haveย Adoree' Jacksonย play some receiver, but he's a 5-star cornerback for a reason.
Tony Brownย could become the best of the bunch, but he'll also be joined at Alabama by fellow 5-star cornerbackย Marlon Humphrey. Also, Florida has a 5-star cornerback of its ownย coming inย Jalen Tabor, who is 6'1".
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: B
Safeties
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The top safety for the 2015 class is 5-star prospectย Derwin James, who is No. 24 in the 2015 247Sports composite rankings.ย Tarvarus McFaddenย will be counted as a safety for now, but the 4-star defensive back can play cornerback at 6'3".
Other top 4-star safeties include players such asย Jamal Peters,ย Deionte Thompson,ย Rashad Roundtree,ย Larry Pryorย andย Marvell Tell.
Jamal Adamsย andย Quin Blandingย are the two 5-stars safeties from the 2014 class, butย Laurence Jonesย also deserves that honor.ย Edward Paris,ย Todd Kellyย andย C.J. Hamptonย are other notable high-end 4-star safeties.
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: B
Linebackers
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John Houstonย is the best inside/middle linebacker in the 2015 class, while fellow 5-star defenderย Malik Jeffersonย is the top outside linebacker.
Howeverย Justin Hilliardย andย Jeffery Hollandย are also 5-star 'backers, and 4-star prospect Ricky DeBerryย is also among the top overall players.
The 2015 class doesn't hold a candle to the 2014 class right now. Last year, there were 12 linebackers in the top 100 of the 247Sports rankings.
Enough said.
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: C-
Defensive Linemen
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For how dominant a linebacker class the 2014 group has, the 2015 class is as dominant with elite defensive linemen. There are 24 defensive linemen in the initial 100 of the 2015ย 247Sports player rankings.
Among them, 14 are 5-star prospects and it's an even split between ends and tackles.ย Trent Thompsonย is the top defensive tackle, andย CeCe Jeffersonย is the best defensive end.
The 2014 class had 15 defensive linemen within the first 100 prospects of theย 247Sports player rankings.
However, only seven of them were 5-star prospects.ย Myles Garrettย and Da'Shawn Handย were the top defensive ends, whileย Andrew Brownย is the top defensive tackle in the class.
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: Aย
Offensive Linemen
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With four 5-star prospects, the 2015 class has more than 12 offensive linemen within the first 100 players in 247Sports' player rankings.ย Mitch Hyattย andย Martez Iveyย are elite prospects, regardless of position.
The best guard is 5-star recruitย Jalin Barnett.
However, the 2014 class has the 2015 class beat in part because 5-star offensive tackleย Cameron Robinsonย is one of the best overall prospects this century.ย
Damian Princeย is the only other 5-star offensive lineman in 2014 class, but it has more players in the top 100 of the 247Sports player rankingsย with 15.
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: B
Wide Receivers & Tight Ends
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For starters, 5-star athletesย Terry Godwinย andย George Campbellย will be counted as receivers for this piece. That means the 2015 class has four 5-star prospects, and 11 within the first 100 recruits in 247Sports' player rankings.
The guy to watch is 5-star blazerย Christian Kirk. The top tight ends are 4-star prospectsย Aliz'e Jonesย andย Devonaire Clarington.
The 2014 class had four 5-star receivers inย Speedy Noil,ย Malachi Dupre,ย KD Cannonย andย Ermon Lane. The top tight end was 4-star recruitย Dalton Schultz. A total of 15 receivers and tight ends were among the initialย 100 recruits.
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: B+ย
Running Backs
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The 2015 class is a solid group throughout, but there's no "can't-miss" prospect among the class. The lone 5-star runner isย Damien Harris, who is among 12 running backs within the first 100 recruits in the 247Sports player rankings.ย
The 2014 class featured six 5-star running backs, withย Leonard Fournetteย being considered one of the best overall prospects in 10 years.ย Sony Michelย andย Dalvin Cookย are better than Harris, while the same can be said for 4-star running backsย Joseph Yearbyย andย Elijah Hood.
LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson spoke to 247Sports this month about Fournette, saying "Leonard probably had the most high-profile recruitment I can remember ever being a part of."
The 2014 class had 11 running backs in the top 100. Sure, it's one less than the 2015 group, but last year's class was better.
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: B-ย
Quarterbacks
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The 2015 class has an array of solid quarterback recruits, with four them being 5-star prospects.ย Ricky Townย and Josh Rosenย are the best of the bunch.
There are seven passers among the first 100 players in the 247Sports player rankings, including solid 4-star quarterbacksย Blake Barnettย andย Brady White.
Kyle Allenย was the lone 5-star quarterback in the 2014 class, butย Deshaun Watson,ย David Cornwellย andย Keller Chrystย can argue they deserve an extra star.
Like the 2015 group, the 2014 crop of quarterbacks featured seven passers who were ranked within the top 100 overall prospects.ย
2015 grade in comparison to 2014 class: B+
