Winners and Losers of May on the 2016 College Football Recruiting Trail
May represents a transition from spring to summer on the college football recruiting trail, as several states wrap up the school year. It allows rising high school seniors to explore options in greater detail, months before their final prep seasons.
Spring evaluations have altered prospect boards in recruiting departments across the country, while recent commitments completely alter the outlook for various programs moving forward. Here's a look at a few teams that flourished in May and some that sputtered in the recruiting spectrum.
Winner: USC
1 of 7The Trojans continue to show signs of national recruiting clout that previously built perennial championship contenders. USC holds eight commitments—seven 4-stars—from four states so far in the 2016 cycle.
Coveted Georgia wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe joined the class May 18, picking USC over several contenders. The Trojans edged out Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Stanford and others for his pledge.
The 6'2", 205-pound playmaker is coming off a career year at North Gwinnett High School. He hauled in 59 passes for 1,072 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2014.
Imatorbhebhe spent a portion of his childhood in Southern California and called USC a "dream school" after the team offered during a campus visit in April. Speculation is now mounting that older brother Daniel, a 2015 tight end prospect who enrolled early at Florida, is targeting a transfer to the Trojans.
In-state quarterback Matt Fink also announced his commitment in May, two weeks before Imatorbhebhe. Rated seventh nationally among dual-threat players at the position, he tallied 2,111 total yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior.
USC has now collected three 4-star quarterback commitments during the past two cycles, creating a deep and competitive depth chart.
"I wanted to stay in California and wanted my family to have an easier time to see me," Fink told Aram Tolegian of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. "... [USC was] the team that showed me the most love. ... Plus, they're a good, tight family that would bring me in and consider me as family."
Loser: Texas
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The recent acquisition of 3-star offensive lineman Tope Imade helps take some of the sting off a month that was otherwise frustrating in Austin. Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong watched the top three in-state defensive linemen commit elsewhere during a two-day stretch leading up to Memorial Day weekend.
Ed Oliver and Jordan Elliott each elected to stay in their home city with a pledge to Houston. They are rated second and 12th overall, respectively, among Lone Star State recruits.
The Cougars' stunning recruiting success is a notable loss for the Longhorns. An unfavorable situation became even worse for Texas when 4-star defensive tackle Kendell Jones committed to Alabama.
The dominant 6'4 ½", 361-pound prospect considered Texas as a fellow finalist. To add insult to injury, former Texas defensive assistant Bo Davis was instrumental in his recruitment to Tuscaloosa.
Texas is attempting to rebound from an underwhelming string of seasons, and improvement in the trenches needs to be a top priority. Through two cycles, Strong has secured just two linemen on either side of the ball who warranted 4-star status or better.
Winner: Maryland
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Maryland received a major momentum boost May 15 when it landed a commitment from 4-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The dynamic prospect and Elite 11 finalist was the top-rated available passer at the time of his decision.
Haskins, a 6'3", 198-pound playmaker, chose the Terrapins over top contenders Florida, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. The announcement created a watershed moment for what Maryland refers to as "The Movement," an effort to keep local talent home.
"It's definitely a big deal because 'The Movement' can be huge if it's something other players are willing to believe in," Haskins told Bleacher Report. "It could really change the way people view the program."
Though he is a New Jersey native, Haskins has spent his high school career at The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. Bleacher Report learned his focus ultimately centered on Florida, Rutgers and the Terrapins.
He is already ardently pursuing several top-tier prospects, including Philadelphia tight end Naseir Upshur and in-state wide receiver Trevon Diggs. Haskins continues to maintain he and Diggs are a "package deal", which bodes well for Maryland.
"He's just a playmaker," he said. "Tre and I go way back since freshman year. We definitely learned how to play with each other. I feel like I know when he's open and when he's looking for me to throw him the ball. The relationship I've built with him at receiver, I want to continue that in college."
Maryland also landed a pair of Ohio linemen—Terek Zingale and Jeffery Pooler—one day after Haskins' announcement. The Terrapins have soared to fourth in the Big Ten composite class rankings.
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Loser: South Carolina
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The Gamecocks are riding a five-year streak of top-20 recruiting classes. South Carolina has serious work to do if it aims to extend the trend.
Georgia wide receiver Kyle Davis backed off a 10-month verbal pledge to the Gamecocks in May, stripping the class of a legitimate premier talent. The 4-star recruit is rated fifth nationally among pass-catchers in 247Sports' composite rankings.
South Carolina is left with four commitments in the 2016 cycle, plummeting to 48th in composite class rankings. The Gamecocks have landed just two players since 2015 arrived, and it's fair to wonder if coach Steve Spurrier's uncertainty is a significant part of the equation.
The 70-year-old undoubtedly altered his recruiting efficiency in December with some honest retirement talk.
"Give me two or three more [years]," Spurrier told the State (via the Big Spur) last December. "I used to say four or five, now I'm down to two or three."
He later recanted that sentiment, saying there is no short-term timetable in place. Regardless, it's an issue that South Carolina will be forced to deal with until the Hall of Fame coach walks away from college football.
Winner: Houston
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Move over, big boys—the Cougars are crashing the party.
Houston stunned plenty of fans and analysts by landing a dynamic defensive-line duo that could rival any positional pairing in this class. Head coach Tom Herman hasn't led the Cougars into a regular-season game yet, but the former Ohio State offensive coordinator is already making quite an impact off the field.
Ed Oliver, a 5-star recruit rated No. 1 among Texas defenders, announced his decision May 21. The 6'2", 277-pound prospect follows in the footsteps of older brother Marcus, a Cougars offensive lineman.
Former high school coach Corby Meekins is now a member of Herman's staff.
"My brother and old coach are there. Nobody could top that," Oliver told Joseph Duarte of the Houston Chronicle.
Fellow local standout Jordan Elliott jumped on the bandwagon less than 24 hours later. Rated 12th nationally among defensive tackles in 247Sports' composite rankings, he provides Houston with a potentially terrifying one-two punch up front.
Including the prized pair, Houston has secured six total commitments in May. Quarterback Bowman Sells and edge-rusher Micheal Johnson are other notable additions who should have Cougars fans fired up about the start of this new era.
Loser: Missouri
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What do back-to-back appearances in the SEC championship game get you?
In the case of Missouri, it hasn't meant much for the team's 2016 recruiting efforts.
We're still waiting to see the Tigers capitalize on a two-year stretch that featured 23 victories and a 14-2 record against SEC opponents. Missouri currently sits last in conference recruiting rankings and 86th overall eight months shy of national signing day.
This time last year, Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel already held a pledge from heralded quarterback Drew Lock. The All-American passer served as a recruiting catalyst during a cycle that was capped by a commitment from 5-star defensive tackle Terry Beckner.
Missouri reached national signing day with an impressive amount of recruiting momentum, but things have stalled. The team's two commitments rank outside the top 60 prospects at their positions in composite ratings.
The Tigers have yet to address any defensive positions, an important factor in efforts to continue a steady rise in the SEC hierarchy.
There's a long way to go for Missouri, and judging by Pinkel's reputation, things should get rolling soon. Still, this lull is a bit disheartening for a team that's exceeded early expectations in a new conference.
Winner: Alabama
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Don't look now, but here comes 'Bama.
Coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide began the 2016 cycle in uncharacteristically slow fashion. However, the program is primed to enter June with a top-10 recruiting class.
Alabama, fresh off an unprecedented fifth straight No. 1 class on signing day, leapfrogged the likes of USC, Tennessee and Clemson in May. The rise was spearheaded by a pair of defensive pledges.
Physical safety Joshua Perry joined the class May 11. He teams up with fellow Louisiana defensive back Shyheim Carter, a longtime 4-star Crimson Tide commit.
Texas defensive tackle Kendell Jones pledged 11 days later. The explosive lineman stands 6'4 ½", 361 pounds, earning a nickname that suits him well—"Hulk."
He chose Alabama over the Longhorns, continuing a successful trend for out-of-state recruiting efforts. The Crimson Tide already claim nine players from six different states in this cycle, ranging from California to Missouri.
Saban may have provided some other programs a head start in the race for America's top-rated recruiting class, but Alabama appears to be making a move to the level we're accustomed to with this class.
Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.
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