Preview of the 2015 Recruiting Season for Dummies
Don’t be afraid, friend. Deep, deep breaths. There’s nothing to fear about the game-less chasm that is the college football offseason. There is still much to do, so much to see and discuss.
May I interest you in this hot new craze known as "recruiting"?
Have you heard of this? All the kids love it. In fact, "recruiting" is more widespread than it has ever been; some might say the practice has grown a bit too robust.
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It’s why websites (like this one) will spend the entire year covering what college the nation’s premier high school athletes will attend. It’s why three hats on a table mean a lot.
It is an eyeball-grabbing machine that has morphed into a year-round business. And yet because games are played, conferences are won, playoffs are chosen and oddly-shaped trophies are handed out, it can be difficult to stay current on all the latest recruiting happenings.
With national signing day somehow less than two weeks away, this presents something of a quandary.
Have no fear; the crash course is here.
Where are the nation’s elite players headed? What team will deliver the best class? What should you look for on national signing day? What are some of the best names in this class? Will committing with snorting, biting, defecating live animals as props become the only acceptable way to announce a decision?
Hopefully.
Gather ‘round, and let’s assess some of the necessary storylines to follow as recruiting consumes us all.
The New No. 1 Is the Same as the Ol’ No. 1
It’s going to take a gargantuan effort to dethrone the Alabama Crimson Tide in the recruiting world, and they won't be knocked off this year. The suspense has already departed. Alabama will land the nation’s No. 1 class (again) by a considerable margin.
This is nothing new, of course. Nick Saban has a knack for these kinds of Herculean recruiting feats, something he has done ever since he touched down in Tuscaloosa. The 2015 class is no different. It is balanced, versatile, deep and, above all, immensely skilled.
According to 247Sports, Alabama has more 5-star commits (six) and more 4-star commits (15) than any other team in the country. Florida State (four) and Clemson (three) are the only other teams with more than two 5-star players committed.
Alabama has six. Act surprised.
The headliners of this class include Blake Barnett (No. 2 pro-style QB), Calvin Ridley (No. 1 wide receiver), Damien Harris (No. 1 running back), Deionte Thompson (No. 2 safety), Kendall Sheffield (No. 4 cornerback), Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 5 cornerback) and Daron Payne (No. 7 defensive tackle).
And there are more. In fact, there are a lot more. Those not mentioned above are still coveted by other schools. That’s perhaps the highest compliment one can pay to college football’s great, unrelenting recruiting machine.
“Top to bottom, you look at each individual player and you realize that this guy has a chance to be really good,” 247Sports’ national recruiting director JC Shurburtt told Bleacher Report. “That's what separates the Tide from the rest of the classes. It’s the fact that their No. 25 guy is as good as everyone else's No. 10 guy in terms of potential and upside.”
The “Look What We Have Here” Class of 2015
It’s not that Clemson hasn’t been recruiting at a high level over the past few years. The Tigers have hauled in top-20 classes in each of the last three offseasons, and last year’s haul might have landed them the best young quarterback in the country.
With that consistency fully considered and appreciated, Dabo Swinney is on the verge of landing a historic class for his program.
The Tigers currently have the No. 5 class in the country, according to 247Sports’ team rankings, checking in behind Alabama and ACC mate Florida State. Clemson hasn’t just held its recruiting ground after losing offensive coordinator and prized recruiter Chad Morris to SMU; it has thrived down the backstretch of the cycle.
Mitch Hyatt (No. 2 offensive tackle), Deon Cain (No. 3 wide receiver), Garrett Williams (No. 4 tight end) and Christian Wilkins (No. 6 defensive tackle) are the prized commits, although this class will also add some impressive—and needed—depth, especially on defense with so many key pieces departing.
With two of the nation’s top eight offensive linemen and intriguing defensive linemen coming in, the Tigers are beefing up. Deshaun Watson, the quarterback of the present and future, is also getting plenty of help. There is so much to like here.
The Year of the Oversized, Mean (In a Good Way) Human Being
Each recruiting class takes on a different shape depending on the position featured prominently near the top of the rankings. The 2014 recruiting cycle was all about the running back, a collaboration of skilled and developed runners that commandeered the position during the regular season.
In 2015, the shape is getting much larger. Welcome to the year of the defensive tackle.
"It's the best defensive tackle class I have personally ever evaluated,” Shurburtt said.
Six of the top 24 players on 247Sports’ rankings are interior defensive linemen, including Trent Thompson, the No. 1 player overall. Thompson, a Georgia commit, figures to contribute to the Bulldogs’ defensive efforts immediately. As does Kahlil McKenzie, a Tennessee commit and a 354-pound tank operating with a jet engine.
Good luck with him, SEC.
McKenzie and Thompson are not alone in their potential. Terry Beckner Jr., Daylon Mack and Rasheem Green—the next three DTs in the class on 247Sports, all of which are 5-stars—remain uncommitted. And there are plenty more, too. The position is deep, large and collectively too fast for its size.
Names You Need to Know on National Signing Day
Last year’s national signing day lacked the usual punch. Given the long list of names poised to commit on the actual day this year, however, this likely won’t be the case again.
Some of the most elite names will make their decisions in short order. Here are a handful that you can't miss. (All rankings below courtesy of 247Sports.)
Martez Ivey (No. 1 OT, No. 2 player overall): Ivey looks more like a tight end than an offensive tackle. His 275-pound frame is remarkably lean and muscular and will welcome more weight once a college strength coach gets involved. Florida or Auburn appears to be the likely destination, and both would love to shore up the left tackle position for the next three years.
Byron Cowart (No. 1 SDE, No. 3 player overall): This is more of a science project than a prospect. Perhaps that will explain how a 250-pound high school defensive end runs a 4.6 40-yard dash. Cowart will be a huge, destructive addition to either Auburn, Florida or Florida State, and he’ll be coming to a Saturday near you soon regardless of where he ends up.
Iman Marshall (No. 1 CB, No. 4 player overall): There just aren’t many defensive backs with this kind of physical makeup. Iman Marshall checks in at 6’1” and 190 pounds; he also runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and is the most physical cornerback in the class. USC has been the favorite for a while, although LSU and fast-riser Michigan are still lingering.
CeCe Jefferson (No. 2 SDE, No. 7 player overall): It’s not just a deep class for defensive tackles. The defensive ends are also immensely gifted. CeCe Jefferson, checking in at 275 pounds, will thrive in a variety of different defenses. Florida appears to be the favorite, but Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and LSU are in the mix.
Terry Beckner Jr. (No. 3 DT, No. 13 player overall): He might not be as explosive as Robert Nkemdiche was coming out of high school, but Terry Beckner Jr. delivers the same “I can’t believe he almost weighs 300 pounds” plays time and time again. The Missouri product has the chance to be special, and he’ll take his talents to Missouri, Ohio State or Florida State.
Daylon Mack (No. 4 DT, No. 14 player overall): The former Texas A&M verbal commit could very well get back together with the Aggies and make it official. Mack is also looking at Texas and TCU. A powerful defensive tackle, he also played some fullback in high school at 330 pounds. He still outran everyone. That’s how you become my favorite player.
Storylines to Watch on National Signing Day
How much will Florida rise: The Gators currently have the No. 87 class, according to 247Sports’ team rankings, putting them behind Old Dominion, South Alabama and others they should never, ever be behind. That will change—thanks in large part to some of the names mentioned above—but the team only has eight commits and needs bodies.
What about Michigan: Well, as it stands, the Wolverines have the No. 100 class in the nation, according to 247Sports. They have six commits, one of which is a kicker. Michigan is still in the mix for Chris Clark (the nation’s No. 2 tight end) and Iman Marshall (the nation’s No. 1 corner). No one expected Jim Harbaugh to set the recruiting world on fire (yet), but a solid close would help.
What about Auburn: The Tigers are already in fabulous shape—holding down the No. 11 spot on 247Sports’ team rankings—but they could gobble up all the national signing day headlines. Be on alert. “If the Tigers can land the three Florida 5-stars (Martez Ivey, CeCe Jefferson and Byron Cowart), it'll be the biggest signing day storyline in the country,” Shurburtt said. “Even if they get one of the three, it'll be tremendous."
What about Ohio State: Following the national championship game, Urban Meyer put it best. "I can't wait to go out recruiting," Meyer said, via ESPN.com. "[If] you can't recruit to this now, you're officially a bad recruiter, and not just because of the championship. There's just so much going on in our program right now on the positive side, and it's not theory, it's testimony." With a quality class already in place, Meyer could add more pieces to a loaded roster with a strong close.
Will we have some flipping: Probably! There was minimal drama during last year's national signing day. Don’t expect the same radio silence this year with plenty of gifted players still visiting. Kyler Murray, one of the nation’s premier quarterback prospects and a Texas A&M commit, recently took a quiet—and not-so-quiet—voyage to Texas. If he flips, the state of Texas might combust. Even if he doesn't, there are guaranteed to be a few surprises.
Best Names in the Class of 2015
Welcome to the most important part of this piece.
Far too much is made of skill level. What about assessing player greatness based on names and future business card potential?
Pull up a chair, friend, and behold the best names that a deep 2015 class has to offer. When Zach Morris just makes the board, well, clearly the competition is fierce.
Top Five Ways to Announce a Commitment
1. Use a live animal: Sure, it might end in causalities—especially if there’s a large cat or elephant involved—but that doesn’t mean it is a bad idea. OK, maybe it does. But using a wild animal to announce would make for a wildly entertaining commitment. A dog will work, sure, but let's aim for more this year.
2. See No. 1
3. See No. 1
4. See No. 1
5. Get a tattoo? Sure, get a tattoo. Then, see No. 1
Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. All rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
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