College Football Recruiting Rankings: Top 2016 Schools Post-National Signing Day

The winners keep getting winners.

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide landed the No. 1 recruiting class following national signing day on Feb. 3, per 247Sports' national composite rankings.

While head coach Nick Saban continues to build a dynasty at Alabama, there could be a new recruiting sheriff in town. Jim Harbaugh, in his second year as Michigan Wolverines head coach, might not have landed the top class, but he was No. 5 and scooped up the No. 1 talent in the country, defensive tackle Rashan Gary of Paramus (New Jersey) Catholic.

Even though a few schools, such as the Florida State Seminoles at No. 2 (who ESPN.com ranked No. 1) and the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 4, crashed the party, the Top 10 was still owned by the SEC with five teams.

Here's a look at the Top 25 classes, as well as some analysis of a few teams and top prospects:

Rank	Team	5-Star	4-Star	3-Star
1	Alabama Crimson Tide	3	14	7
2	Florida State Seminoles	1	17	7
3	LSU Tigers	2	16	6
4	Ohio State Buckeyes	1	17	7
5	Michigan Wolverines	1	14	14
6	Ole Miss Rebels	3	12	9
7	Georgia Bulldogs	3	10	7
8	USC Trojans	2	12	6
9	Auburn Tigers	1	11	9
10	Clemson Tigers	1	12	7
11	Texas Longhorns	0	13	11
12	UCLA Bruins	1	10	16
13	Florida Gators	0	9	16
14	Tennessee Volunteers	0	10	11
15	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0	10	13
16	Stanford Cardinal	0	9	14
17	Baylor Bears	0	8	14
18	Texas A&M Aggies	0	8	13
19	Penn State Nittany Lions	1	7	11
20	Miami Hurricanes	0	10	7
21	Michigan State Spartans	0	9	10
22	TCU Horned Frogs	0	8	15
23	Oklahoma Sooners	0	8	9
24	Nebraska Cornhuskers	0	5	16
25	Arkansas Razorbacks	1	5	15

Alabama Just Keeps on Winning

It's starting to get a little ridiculous in Tuscaloosa. Saban and the Tide finished atop the 247Sports' rankings for the sixth straight year, a stretch where they have won three national championships.

Paul Myerberg of USA Today remarked on Alabama's recent recruiting dominance:

Two offensive linemen from opposite coasts, Jonah Williams and Charles Baldwin, lead the class. Williams, from Folsom, California, is a 6'5", 296-pound lineman who is ranked as the No. 2 tackle in the country. The only player ranked higher, fittingly, is Baldwin, a junior college transfer who stands 6'5" and 315 pounds.

Baldwin talked about his decision to attend Alabama, per Drew Champlin of AL.com.

"

They were telling me they want me to come in and contribute right way, and the fact I'm coming in as an early enrollee is really going to help.

I think it's a good chance I'll play early as long as I work hard and buy into the system. That's what the coaches are telling me and that's what I plan on doing.

As long as I buy into the system, learn the playbook and do what I'm taught, that's the plan.

"

Alabama currently has 24 in its 2016 class with seven early enrollees—including Baldwin and Williams—and 17 who signed letters of intent. Other top prospects include No. 1 inside linebacker Ben Davis (Gordo, Alabama), No. 2 outside linebacker Lyndell "Mack" Wilson (Montgomery, Alabama) and No. 2 running back B.J. Emmons (Morganton, North Carolina).

Although Saban noted his team failed to add another wide receiver in the class, John Talty of AL.com wrote the head coach seemed to like the signees.

"Saban says this recruiting class is the culmination of a lot of hard work from his staff. He says it's been an honor to play in the national championship but that it pushed his coaches harder to have to put together a strong recruiting class."

Those wanting Alabama to fade away and allow new blood to enter the championship picture are going to be waiting a long time for that to happen—at least as long as Saban is in town.

Click here for a full list of Alabama recruits.

Michigan, Harbaugh Making a Move

Michigan's rise on the recruiting trail was especially impressive considering it was ranked No. 37 in 2015 and No. 20 the year before. FS1 radio host Colin Cowherd is excited to see the Wolverines doing well:

Harbaugh, known for his unusual recruiting tactics, could begin to build an inevitable rivalry with Saban. The two teams will rarely meet in the regular season, but they will certainly be going head-to-head for top prospects.

The Michigan coach quipped during national signing day that one of his school's biggest problems, dealing with cold weather, is becoming less of an issue, per SportsCenter:

Whether that comes across in poor taste to some—or many—likely doesn't matter to Harbaugh. He offered to sleep over at one recruit's house and even attend class with him. While that might seem like fun and games, some coaches and others think there is a dark side to his process.

Nine players as of Jan. 26 had either decommitted or had their scholarship pulled from Michigan, per Brian Manzullo of the Detroit Free Press. The most notable was offensive lineman Erik Swenson, who had been committed to the Wolverines since 2013 but ended up with the Oklahoma Sooners after he said Michigan yanked his scholarship late last month.

According to Dan Murphy of ESPN.com, Harbaugh's reputation is starting to take a hit:

"

Harbaugh’s reputation through most of his coaching career has been that of a brutally honest evaluator. His players say they know where they stand at all times. The events of the past week have called into question whether or not his recruits enjoy the same clarity. Suddenly a month full of entertaining and peculiar recruiting trail hijinks can be spun as calculated and disingenuous.

"

The 52-year-old coach, who formerly was the head man for the Stanford Cardinal and took the San Francisco 49ers to three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl, isn't bothering every recruit with his odd ways. In fact, he used them to land the No. 1 prospect in Gary.

Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown raved about his potential, per Jim Halley of USA Today:

"

Rashan is a difference maker. He can rush on the edge. He’s extremely physical and talented. He has a great motor and plays hard every down. Rashan is also a guy we can move around and play at any of the four-down defensive line positions. I was really impressed with how hard he played in the Under Armour All-American Game.

"

The Wolverines added the most combined 3- and 4-star recruits with 14 apiece, including seven early enrollees. Gary wasn't the only No. 1 recruit at his position for Michigan, as it signed the top fullback and kicker in the country.

Harbaugh and Michigan are clearly here to stay, and it's going to be fun to see them battle it out against Saban and the Tide.

Click here for a full list of Michigan recruits.

Top Five Recruits

The SEC is clearly the big winner when it comes to recruiting, but it was the Big Ten and ACC that nailed down the Top Two recruits.  Here's a quick snapshot of the Top Five, per 247Sports:

1. Rashan Gary, Michigan, Paramus Catholic (Paramus, New Jersey) DT 6'5", 293 pounds

Versatile lineman ready to make an early impact.

2. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson, Wake Forest (Wake Forest, North Carolina) DT 6'4", 327 pounds

Massive talent who should help the Tigers continue their front-seven dominance. 

3. Gregory Little, Ole Miss, Allen, Texas (Allen) OT 6'5.5", 305 pounds

Potential replacement for possible No. 1 NFL draft pick Laremy Tunsil.

4. Shea Patterson, Ole Miss, Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy) QB 6'1.5", 192 pounds

Polished quarterback could benefit from sitting a year behind senior Chad Kelly.

5. Jacob Eason, Georgia, Lake Stevens, Washington (Lake Stevens Sr), QB 6'5.5", 208 pounds

Pro-style quarterback drawing comparisons to former Bulldog and No. 1 overall draft pick Matthew Stafford.