5 Programs That Need to Finish Strong in Recruiting After a Slow Start
There are a few days until October. College football is in full swing. Recruits are starting to take official visits.
And while some classes are reloading for the future, others are wondering how to get out of neutral when it comes to recruiting the 2016 class.
For those in anxiety mode, there's no need to panic—at least not yet. There's still plenty of time for a few well-known programs to greatly improve 2016 classes that either are low in numbers, at a standstill with interests or simply lacking the 5-star and 4-star talent that some are used to seeing.
Every team doesn't have the recruiting class Ohio State, LSU or Florida State are currently working with. But there is an opportunity for teams in need to get stud players from now until February. Here are five programs, in alphabetical order, hoping the upcoming weeks are better for them from a recruiting perspective.
Arizona State Sun Devils
1 of 5
Conference: Pac-12
Head coach: Todd Graham
Number of 2016 commits: 11
247Sports team ranking: 49
Arizona State has watched two of the state of Arizona's top players shine at Texas A&M in quarterback Kyle Allen (2014 signee) and Christian Kirk (2015). Keeping more players in state is a priority—and pulling the top athletes from other states is just as important to Todd Graham and the Sun Devils coaching staff.
The Sun Devils found their play-caller—and won a recruiting battle over Texas A&M—when they landed the commitment of Texas 4-star quarterback Dillon Sterling-Cole. They also are looking at 4-star Christian Hill, the nation's top-ranked junior college defensive end, to help them on defense immediately next season.
Arizona State will get news about one player in particular on Friday, as 4-star defensive end Isaiah Chambers announced via Twitter that he will announce his commitment at 2 p.m. CT at his high school. He has an official visit scheduled the weekend of Nov. 20.
Auburn Tigers
2 of 5
Conference: SEC
Head coach: Gus Malzahn
Number of 2016 commits: 12
247Sports team ranking: 18
Since the end of June, Auburn has managed to land only two commitments for its 2016 class. The good news for Auburn is that one of those pledges was 5-star defensive end Marlon Davidson, who committed earlier this month.
The Tigers, however, are still in uphill recruiting battles—in state with rival Alabama and out of state with the rest of the SEC schools surrounding them. Auburn has a few solid commits, but the targeted uncommitted players could be the difference in the Tigers have a top-20 recruiting class and a top-five recruiting class.
Gus Malzahn and his staff have shots at landing any combination of defensive tackles Rashan Gary and Derrick Brown and linebacker Ben Davis, all 5-star prospects. Antwuan Jackson, a 4-star defensive tackle, is strongly considering Auburn, as is 3-star defensive end David Marshall.
Clemson Tigers
3 of 5
Conference: ACC
Head coach: Dabo Swinney
Number of 2016 commits: 11
247Sports team ranking: 22
Let's be clear: Clemson may only have 11 players, but six of those 11 are at 4-star athletes, and a seventh is 5-star all-purpose back Tavien Feaster. The Tigers look good, but they can look better—and there's lots of time.
Clemson hasn't picked up a pledge since Aug. 21, when 4-star defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney gave Dabo Swinney and Co. his verbal. The Tigers have four defensive commits and are looking to beef up that side of the ball with some potential commitments. The jackpot, if Clemson can work its magic, would be 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary, the nation's top-ranked player.
Clemson will have a shot at 4-star linebacker Rahshaun Smith, who told Bleacher Report he would take an official visit the weekend of Dec. 11. Game-changing, 5-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and athletic, 4-star wide receiver Diondre Overton are two other players to keep an eye on, as Clemson looks to boost its class.
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Oklahoma Sooners
4 of 5
Conference: Big 12
Head coach: Bob Stoops
Number of 2016 commits: 10
247Sports team ranking: 52
Slow starts by Oklahoma have become routine, so there normally isn't a lot of panic around this time in Sooner country. Still, with more and more targeted athletes venturing to SEC and Pac-12 schools, it's important that the Sooners land some high-profile targets soon.
Pernell Jefferson, a 3-star linebacker, was the last player to commit to Oklahoma, doing so on Aug. 10. The program only has two 4-star pledges in linebacker Bryce Youngquist and quarterback Austin Kendall, but look for Bob Stoops and his staff to ramp up their recruiting efforts in the next few weeks, using official visits to score a couple of elite-level commitments.
Running back Devwah Whaley and defensive tackle Chris Daniels are two 4-star athletes the Sooners are hoping to add to the class before February's signing day. Oklahoma has been fairly successful with recruiting players from California, and 4-star safety Shurod Thompson would be a solid pickup if it can outrecruit the Pac-12 schools.
Texas Longhorns
5 of 5
Conference: Big 12
Head coach: Charlie Strong
Number of 2016 commits: 9
247Sports team ranking: 50
Heading into the month of October, few expected Texas to be ranked behind five other Texas universities in the 247Sports team rankings. Picking up 3-star cornerback Obi Eboh earlier this month put the Longhorns in the top 50 nationally.
It's been a sluggish start with recruiting in Charlie Strong's second full season. Fortunately, there are still a few big-time targets still uncommitted—and Strong showed with the 2015 class that he can close with a fury. One player to keep an eye on is 5-star safety Brandon Jones, who has the Longhorns in his top six.
Texas could use some help on the defensive side of the ball, and 4-star linebackers Dontavious Jackson and Jeff McCulloch are talented enough to see game time early in their careers under Strong. Jordan Elliott, a 4-star defensive tackle, also would be a nice get for the Longhorns.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
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