Ultimate Guide to 2016 National Signing Day
Championship teams are not first assembled on sweltering practice fields in the heat of August. They do not come together during the quaint, unorthodox December intermission. They are constructed on days like February 3—a national football holiday known as national signing day.
On this celebrated calendar moment, the sport's future will become its present. The nation's premier crop of high school players will confirm where they plan to spend the next three or four years.
Time-honored fax machines will give off a distinguished hum before spitting out commitments one by one. Logoed hats will be lifted off tables to dramatic applause.
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And on the outside, otherwise responsible adults with children and mortgages and successful jobs will call in sick—developing a "cough" in the wee hours of the morning—all to watch this grandiose spectacle unfold.
In the normal world, none of this would make sense. But in our world, the absurdity of national signing day is strangely comforting. This year is no exception.
There is still much work to be done. With unexpected surprises waiting around every corner, 2016's recruiting Super Bowl promises to deliver yet again. Just what it will deliver is yet to be determined; that's why we'll all be glued to the madness of it all.
So, manufacture the appropriate illness yet again and make it a good one. This statured day deserves more than, say, the common cold.
Who Is the Best Player in the Country?
I'm glad you asked.
It's rare to see all recruiting outlets acting as one. In the instance of the No. 1 overall recruit for the 2016 class, however, debate is essentially nonexistent.
The top overall player in this class, according to 247Sports and everyone else, is defensive tackle Rashan Gary—a 6'5", 293-pound quarterback-eating, offensive lineman-destroying monster. He runs the 40-yard dash somewhere right around 4.8 seconds, which is a terrifying bit of football physics.
Gary has the knack of making his entire deep catalog look entirely too natural. At some of the elite gatherings of prospects, he regularly made gifted linemen look helpless.
It was much more about him than them; he is a physical rarity and a potential once-in-a-decade type of player.
The growing buzz is that Gary will take his talents to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to play for Jim Harbaugh—the tree-climbing, sleepover-having head coach currently doing anything possible to make an impression.
Chris Partridge, Gary's former high school coach at Paramus Catholic (New Jersey), is now on the staff and recently received a promotion. Obviously, his presence can only help nurture this connection that seemingly felt right from the onset.
It would seem that the only team that is still standing in the way of this connection is Clemson, according to Brian Dohn of Scout.com (h/t the Detroit News). A race that began with many is down to two. Stay tuned.
So Alabama Is Going To End Up with the No. 1 Class Again, Right?
For the first time in a long time, the answer to this question will likely be no. I say this with full understanding that I am regularly, um, wrong and could be once again.
Now is not the time to dump your Nick Saban stock and question why college football's great empire is crumbling. Alabama has a top-10 class heading into signing day and will likely close remarkably strong.
Legacy recruit Ben Davis, the nation's top inside linebacker, and Mecole Hardman Jr., the nation's top athlete, are considering Alabama's enticing offer. More on them in a bit.
Outside of some names near the very top, A.J. Brown (No. 5 WR) and Jared Mayden (No. 13 CB) could both sign on the dotted line and call Tuscaloosa home soon enough.
Saban won't lure away all of the players Alabama is vying for—and there are quite a few. But he will land a last-second wave of talent that will push this class even higher.
In the end, Alabama likely will have to settle for (sigh) a deep class loaded with prospects and finish somewhere around the top three in the team rankings.
If Not Alabama, Then Who Will Win the Recruiting National Championship?
Let's assume Alabama does not climb its way to the top for another recruiting national championship. If that is indeed the case, someone will have to lift the heavy recruiting crown.
Here are some of the likely contenders.
LSU
Even if Les Miles' team simply holds serve from this point—capping off an unbelievable recruiting year—it still might be the top class in the country. There's a possibility LSU could land Kristian Fulton, the nation's No. 2 cornerback. If not, it still will have absolutely dominated the talent-rich state of Louisiana. Remember when Miles was almost fired a few months ago?
Notable players already committed: Rashard Lawrence (No. 5 DT), Saivion Smith (No. 5 CB), Michael Divinity (No. 5 OLB), Eric Monroe (No. 3 S), Edwin Alexander (No. 8 DT)
Ohio State
In a year when everyone, including the mascot and ball boy, decided to bolt from Columbus, Urban Meyer has assembled yet another magnificent class. The highlight of this group is unquestionably defensive end Nick Bosa—the gifted younger brother of Joey Bosa. The Buckeyes are also still in the mix for more elite talents, including Hardman (No. 1 ATH).
Notable players already committed: Bosa (No. 1 SDE), Jonathon Cooper (No. 3 WDE), Demario McCall (No. 2 APB), Austin Mack (No. 10 WR), Dwayne Haskins (No. 7 PRO QB)
Ole Miss
The possibility of an enormous close to an already enormous year exists. The Rebels are still in the mix for cheat code Gary, defensive end Jeffery Simmons, safety Deontay Anderson and others. If Hugh Freeze simply hangs onto the pieces he has, it will be a wonderful day. But if he adds more, Ole Miss could be a surprising closer.
Notable players already committed: Shea Patterson (No. 1 QB), Gregory Little (No. 1 OT), Benito Jones (No. 6 DT), DeKaylin Metcalf (No. 18 WR), Octavious Cooley (No. 6 TE)
Others in the Mix
Florida State has quietly put together a monster. A strong few days could push the Seminoles to the top, which would not be surprising in the least. They're right there. The same can be said for Michigan, especially with the nation's No. 1 player feeling good about Ann Arbor. This one, however, will require a few more dominoes. And in the SEC, Florida, Georgia and even Alabama—despite what's written above—are still hovering near the top.
The "Look What We Have Here" Class of 2016
Houston is no longer a cute little story about a nice team with the head coach who got a grill with that rapper you used to listen to from time to time. It has assembled a class that personifies true program momentum.
Ed Oliver, the nation's No. 3 defensive tackle and the No. 6 overall prospect in this class, is committed. So is Tyrie Cleveland, the No. 2 wide receiver, although be sure to keep an eye on him. Tom Herman is assembling a mammoth in a place that has not enjoyed this kind of recruiting success in recent years.
Each year, a team or two tend to pop up on national signing day, make a splash and then fade back to the normal standing. But this feels different. If Herman stays at Houston—which is indeed an enormous "if" given how much interest will continue to come—this might be the start of something spectacular.
National Signing Day Headliners
Eight of the top 20 players listed on 247Sports' composite rankings remain uncommitted. Almost all of these players will commit on signing day.
Outside of the nation's No. 1 still waiting his turn, here are other pieces who will generate tidal waves come commitment time.
Derrick Brown (No. 4 DT, No. 9 overall): In a class seemingly bursting at the seams with elite defensive linemen, Brown will provide an immediate boost to a SEC team. At 6'3 ¾", chances are he'll cause havoc for Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia or Mississippi State. Those are the finalists for the Buford, Georgia, product, whom Kirby Smart (Georgia) would love to welcome.
Ben Davis (No. 1 ILB, No. 10 overall): The nation's premier linebacker also happens to be the son of Wayne Davis, Alabama's all-time leading tackler. That, of course, gives you an idea of one team in the mix, although Saban is not alone in his pursuit of this great tackling machine. The Alabama native is also considering Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Notre Dame.
Mique Juarez (No. 1 OLB, No. 11 overall): A deadly combination of speed and size, the nation's top outside linebacker, who hails from Torrance, California, is going to spend the next three or four years at UCLA, Ole Miss or Alabama. Saban appears to be churning momentum with the product late in the process, but will it be enough to lure him away from the West Coast?
Mecole Hardman Jr. (No. 1 ATH, No. 13 overall): One of 2016's most unique prospects, Hardman could play on either side of the ball. Ultimately, a team will be thrilled to use him on offense or perhaps even play him both ways. Hardman, yet another fascinating piece out of the state of Georgia, is considering the Bulldogs, along with Ohio State, Clemson, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. This feels like the first of many Smart vs. Saban recruiting battles.
Lyndell Wilson (No. 2 OLB, No. 15 overall): A fascinating recruitment will finally come to an end; Wilson, after dropping his leader, Florida, late in the process—or so a tweet said before it was quickly deleted—will likely decide between Alabama, Georgia and Auburn on signing day. Just how bad does the head coach of the Crimson Tide want to add Wilson to an already impressive stable?
Well, this bad.
Teams to Watch on Signing Day
Texas: The strong finish for Texas is already underway, although no team situated outside the top 25 in 247Sports' team rankings could surge higher than Charlie Strong's Longhorns. Brandon Jones (No. 1 S) and Jeffrey McCulloch (No. 4 OLB) are two of the key pieces in this late movement, although they are not alone. There is work to be done, and Strong is in a position to add many new pieces at the finish line.
Georgia: It's easy to see why Georgia will be featured in so many places on signing day. With many of the state's top players waiting to announce (see: above) and the Bulldogs under consideration in almost every major recruiting battle, it could be a busy day in Athens. They won't hit on all of them, but they will hit on some. A top-10 class is almost guaranteed. Now, let's see how much higher they can climb.
Alabama: I just finished telling you why Alabama likely won't finish with the nation's top recruiting class, although I am already second-guessing myself for this proclamation. Alabama is still in the mix for just about every 5-star player on the board. It won't land them all—and I still don't believe it'll finish with the nation's top class, final answer—but it will close with a bang. And if the day somehow all comes together, look out.
What Will This Year's Most Original and Elaborate Commitment Include?
Welcome to the best part of signing day. Pledging a commitment to a university is fine; pledging a commitment to that team with the help of a live animal or dangerous prop is where this day separates itself.
At the very least, there could be baked goods involved. Hardman, while speaking with Rivals' Jason Howell (h/t Georgia site DawgNation), revealed as such:
"I think I am going to throw a school out on signing day. Like on that day I am going to throw a school out so I can have probably a set six. I don't know what that school is going to be. I will probably make that decision soon. It will be probably be hats or cakes. I don't know what. However my momma wants to do it, we will do it like that.
"
Cakes are a start. They are delicious and can be smashed. But we can do better than stopping at cakes.
I hope this is the year a recruit rides an elephant around his high school's parking lot, making his commitment to Alabama final. This will happen at some point. Hopefully, it's 2016.
If not an elephant, let's just hope other animals will be involved, and general weirdness—all in good fun, of course—will take place.
This is your day, recruits. Go nuts.
Best Names in the Class of 2016
We spend such an exorbitant amount of time assessing body size, scheme fit and growth potential that it's easy to look beyond one of signing day's most precious commodities.
Names. Yes, names.
This is a welcome party of sorts. College football isn't just being infused with a tidal wave of talent. Some of the great, original names headed our way are spectacular in nature.
Here are some of the highlights of a deep class.
Should I Tweet at Recruits?
No.
But let's continue. If a player picks up a hat off the table that does not display the logo you worship, the entire exchange ends right there. Sure, your program just missed out on a must-get prospect. You read that on a message board or recruiting outlet, so it must be true.
Why a perfect stranger would possibly contact this young man through Twitter or Facebook remains a great mystery. It's also creepy. Do not be that guy.
To the young man who is making an important decision on an important day, it means so much more. It's only football to the rest of us; there's no need to offer up any further direct commentary.
This is widely known and understood. And yet when a player announces a commitment, he is bombarded with atrocities through social media—anonymous words of hate and bitterness that no one should have to deal with.
It is a small, vocal minority exercising maximum stupidity. It still doesn't make it any easier to swallow when you sift through a dumpster fire of a recruit's timeline.
This probably isn't you. I hope this is not you. Thank you for exercising common sense and human decency. But because it cannot possibly be said enough, let's say it together one more time with feeling.
Do not tweet at recruits.
Unless noted otherwise, all quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Adam Kramer covers college football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @KegsnEggs.
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