Top Storylines 50 Days Away from 2016 National Signing Day
As of Tuesday, there are 50 days remaining until a large majority of the nation’s top recruits in the 2016 class will officially sign letters of intent. That will be Feb. 3—otherwise known as national signing day.
With less than two months until the most important day on the recruiting calendar, there are a handful of intriguing storylines set to dominate the headlines over the next few weeks.
Forty-two of the nation’s top 100 prospects remain uncommitted, including 13 of the country's 25 5-star recruits. Additionally, the Big Ten and the SEC combine to have eight of the nation’s Top 10 classes.
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But what are some of the main themes that fans across the nation should be paying attention to in the days leading up to signing day?
Let’s take a look some of the storylines to watch out for over the next 50 days.
Can Alabama Land 6th Straight No. 1 Class?
As much as Alabama has dominated on the field under Nick Saban, the true origins of the Tide’s dynasty begin and end on the recruiting trail.
Case in point: Alabama will try to land its sixth consecutive top-rated class on signing day.
Currently the Tide’s class sits at No. 4 nationally—with several top targets remaining on Saban’s radar.
Alabama is in the mix to try to land top talents such as 5-star offensive lineman Gregory Little, 5-star linebackers Lyndell Wilson and Ben Davis and 5-star athlete Demetris Roberston.
Given the Tide’s push toward another national title and Saban’s history of closing strong on signing day, expect a popular topic of discussion to be the Tide’s quest to net another No. 1 class.
Sunshine State Happenings
If there’s one state that is the epicenter of the recruiting world leading up to signing day, it’s the Sunshine State.
Coaches from around the country will be pounding the pavement in Florida, with good reason.
For starters, eight of those uncommitted 42 recruits in the Top 100 are from Florida. Where those prospects land is likely to have a big impact on the final rankings.
Also, among in-state powers Florida, Florida State and Miami, all three Sunshine State titans have classes in the nation’s Top 15 groups.
The Seminoles, who have the nation’s No. 3 class, currently hold the crown as kings of Florida on the field and on the recruiting trail.
However, both the Gators (No. 7 class) and the Hurricanes (No. 15) have reason to be optimistic about finishing strong.
With the success the program enjoyed under Jim McElwain’s in his first season as head coach, the Gators are making moves with prospects such as 4-star receiver Nate Craig-Myers and 4-star defensive tackle Shavar Manuel.
Meanwhile, the Mark Richt era begins in Coral Gables, and the excitement surrounding the former Georgia head coach’s arrival should translate into a new energy with the ‘Canes recruiting efforts.
Where Does Georgia Finish?
In Athens all eyes are on Richt’s successor—former Alabama defensive coordinator and first-time head coach Kirby Smart.
Smart was a tenacious recruiter on Saban’s staff, and that passion will be needed to keep the foundation on solid footing and land a class with the potential to challenge for the No. 1 spot.
Of course, the Bulldogs have lost a few commitments due to the coaching transition.
Class linchpin and 5-star quarterback Jacob Eason reaffirmed his commitment to the Bulldogs on Tuesday, which could set up a run that helps Georgia land at least three additional 5-star recruits on Feb. 3.
However, if Smart is unable to close on top targets such as 5-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, 5-star tight end Isaac Nauta and 5-star athlete Mecole Hardman Jr., it could prove to be a blow to the 2016 class.
How Smart and his staff finish will prove to be one of the more intriguing subplots leading up to signing day.
Conference Clash
Paced by the Tide, the SEC has been the dominant conference in terms of having the most clubs that finish with top-flight classes.
That theme is still prevalent, with eight of its programs possessing Top 25 classes.
However, buoyed by the recent success of Michigan State and Ohio State—and the resurrection of Michigan under head coach Jim Harbaugh—the Big Ten has emerged as a league that is acquiring top talent at a high level.
While the Big Ten and the SEC are dominating the top of the rankings, the Big 12 lands on the opposite end of the spectrum with just two clubs—Baylor at No. 13 and TCU at No. 23—with classes among the nation’s 25 best.
Heavyweights such as Oklahoma and Texas are lagging behind with classes outside of the Top 30, and the Big 12 is in danger of a disappointing cycle unless those two clubs and its other members close strong.
QB Dominoes
The recent wave of coaching changes has greatly impacted a quarterback class that seemingly had its top talents all but locked into their destinations just a few weeks ago.
Eason’s decision to stick with his Georgia commitment was the first domino to fall, but it appears as if there could be more touted passers who could potentially end up flipping in the coming weeks.
Current Ole Miss pledge Shea Patterson, a 5-star recruit, has been locked in with the Rebels since February, but Alabama is trying to make a late run at the reigning Elite 11 MVP, as detailed by Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.
Ohio State also is making a strong push to add another talented arm to its stable in the wake of losing 4-star quarterback pledge Tristen Wallace to Oregon last week.
As Bleacher Report’s Tyler Donohue notes, Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has his sights currently set on 4-star Maryland pledge Dwayne Haskins—who made an official visit to Columbus last weekend.
The Buckeyes have also been active recently, looking at other passers such as 4-star Auburn commit Woody Barrett and 3-star Louisville pledge Tylin Oden, as Kurelic detailed.
Given the nature of recruiting and how crazy things get as signing day approaches, the quarterback carousel will be worth monitoring until signing day.
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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