Most Surprising 2016 College Football Recruiting Classes so Far
A quick glance at the 2016 recruiting class rankings shows Ohio State sitting comfortably ahead in the race to land the nation’s top-rated group on signing day.
Furthermore, recruiting giants such as Alabama, Florida State and LSU also possess strong classes, and each of those programs are candidates to close strong in the coming months.
However, a few teams that rarely compete for top classes are making a strong push in the current cycle.
Which surprise teams are making a splash on the recruiting trail?
*All schools listed in alphabetical order.
Baylor
1 of 7
Current Commits: 15
4-Year Average Class Rank: 29th
Current Class Rank: 20th
Top Recruit: 5-star OL Patrick Hudson
Baylor head coach Art Briles has a strong reputation in the state of Texas thanks to his background as a former prep coach in the Lone Star State.
While Baylor has won big on the field in recent years, it seems that the 2016 cycle is where the fruits of that labor are beginning to pay off.
All 15 of the Bears pledges are from in-state prospects, including Hudson—who rates as the No. 2 offensive tackle and the No. 14 player overall in the 2016 class.
With Baylor primed to a run at another Big 12 title and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff, expect the Bears to finish with their first top-25 class under Briles.
Duke
2 of 7Current Commits: 17
4-Year Average Class Rank: 61st
Current Class Rank: 22nd
Top Recruit: 4-star ATH Scott Bracey
Recruiting accolades at Duke are usually reserved for the Blue Devils basketball program.
However, head coach David Cutcliffe has helped breath new life into the school’s football program and recruits are starting to take notice.
The most recent addition of 4-star safety Dylan Singleton—who picked Duke over Georgia last month—highlights the progress Cutcliffe and his staff have made.
Given Cutcliffe’s resume as a coach and the direction of the program, the Blue Devils have enough momentum to bring in one of the top classes in the ACC in the current cycle.
Kentucky
3 of 7
Current Commits: 22
4-Year Average Class Rank: 36th
Current Class Rank: 19th
Top Recruit: 4-star OL Landon Young
Similar to Cutcliffe, one of the biggest challenges facing Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops upon his arrival in Lexington was getting fans and recruits to take the football program seriously.
Considering his recruiting class ranks 33 spots ahead of where his brother—Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops—is sitting, it’s fair to say that he’s accomplished his goal of getting his program on the minds of top recruits.
Perhaps more impressive is the fact that he's snagged 11 commitments from the talent-rich state of Ohio—despite the success of the Buckeyes program.
While he’s still searching for a breakthrough on the field in the SEC East, Stoops has done a good job in remaking the Wildcats roster and turning the program into a respectable one in the nation’s toughest conference.
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Michigan State
4 of 7Current Commits: 20
4-Year Average Class Rank: 29th
Current Class Rank: 12th
Top Recruit: 4-star DE Auston Robertson
While Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State are grabbing the recruiting headlines for the Big Ten in the current cycle, Michigan State has quietly assembled one of the nation’s top classes.
It’s rich in talent and depth at defensive line and in the secondary, which are coincidentally two positions that have been traditionally strong since Mark Dantonio took over as the head coach in East Lansing.
What separates this class as potentially the best group Dantonio will land is the wealth of talent on offense. Players such as 4-star receivers Justin Layne and Cameron Chambers, 3-star running back Abdul Adams and 3-star passer Messiah deWeaver rank among the nation's best at their respective positions.
Considering the Spartans are candidates to challenge for the Big Ten title and potentially a College Football Playoff berth, expect Dantonio and his staff to land the program’s third consecutive top-25 class in February.
Ole Miss
5 of 7Current Commits: 19
4-Year Average Class Rank: 22nd
Current Class Rank: 8th
Top Recruit: 5-Star QB Shea Patterson
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze has lured three straight top-20 classes to Oxford.
That success has triggered the Rebels' rise into a legit SEC and national title contender this season.
It’s also paying off in the 2016 cycle, as Freeze already has secured a pledge from the nation’s top quarterback in Patterson.
Ole Miss is also in the running for elite prospects such as 5-star tight end Isaac Nauta, 5-star offensive lineman Greg Little, 4-star defensive end Jeffery Simmons and 4-star receiver Tyrie Cleveland, among others.
With a potential quarterback of the future already in the fold, the Rebels could potentially make a few more waves in the coming months as signing day approaches.
Stanford
6 of 7Current Commits: 16
4-Year Average Class Rank: 24th
Current Class Rank: 10th
Top Recruit: 4-star TE Kaden Smith
USC has traditionally been the premier recruiting powerhouse in the Pac-12.
However, one program that has stepped up to challenge the Trojans in recent years is Stanford.
Cardinal head coach David Shaw has already assembled a 16-member group with players from nine different states.
With Shaw’s reputation as one of the premier coaches in the country, and the program’s academic prowess, the Cardinal program is on its way to developing into a perennial recruiting power.
TCU
7 of 7
Current Commits: 15
4-Year Average Class Rank: 37th
Current Class Rank: 21st
Top Recruit: 4-star WR Taj Williams
Similar to conference rival Baylor, TCU and head coach Gary Patterson have put themselves in position to capitalize off the program’s on-field triumphs in recent years.
The Horned Frogs class is mainly comprised of in-state products, and that list has the potential to grow on Friday when 4-star defensive end Isaiah Chambers makes his commitment.
Given the Horned Frogs' current position as a legit national title contender, it’s likely that Patterson and his staff pull in the school’s first top-25 class during his tenure in Fort Worth.
With the talent he’s currently assembling, the Horned Frogs are on their way toward building a juggernaut that annually competes for Big 12 titles.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
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