Early Top 25 College Football Recruiting Classes for 2017
We may still be digesting the developments of an exciting 2016 national signing day, but college coaching staffs can't afford to rest on their laurels. Programs across America are well underway with their recruitment of the 2017 class, and America's high school juniors are now thrust into the spotlight as top targets.
It remains extremely early in the 2017 cycle, but several squads have already made big moves. Here's how we size up the nation's top 25 classes one year away from next signing day, with a nod toward talent value or sheer volume.
25. Houston
1 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (one 4-star)
Best of the Bunch
Houston surged up national recruiting rankings in 2016 with a lot of in-state success, and head coach Tom Herman aims to carry that into a fresh cycle. Jaylon Mascorro, a 4-star athlete, has plenty of potential at quarterback (his breakout sophomore season featured 4,400 offensive yards and 46 touchdowns), though he may be just as dangerous in another role if the Cougars have other plans.
In-state defenders Terry Petry (cornerback) and Derek Parish (inside linebacker) are both considered top-30 prospects at their respective positions.
24. Oregon
2 of 25
Total Commitments: Two (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Oregon found its 2017 quarterback in Arizona, landing Ryan Kelley late in his junior season. Rated No. 3 among pro-style passers, he emerged as a coveted Pac-12 target after a sophomore campaign that included 3,100 passing yards and 34 total touchdowns.
Former Utah commit Langi Tuifua joined the class last summer. He is the No. 12 weak-side defensive end in this cycle, still presenting plenty of room for physical growth.
23. Mississippi State
3 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (one 4-star)
Best of the Bunch
The Bulldogs reached into New Orleans this winter for a commitment from 4-star quarterback Keytaon Thompson. Rated No. 8 among dual-threat recruits, he's coming off a junior campaign that included 2,760 total yards and 40 touchdowns.
Thompson, who stands 6'4", 210 pounds, will receive some support in the form of junior college products. Tight end Ravian Pierce and offensive tackle Tommy Champion are expected to play at Mississippi State after arriving via the JUCO route.
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22. TCU
4 of 25
Total Commitments: Two (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
The Horned Frogs coaching staff had reason to celebrate early in this cycle when 4-star quarterback Shawn Robinson committed to TCU shortly after his sophomore year. The 6'3", 207-pound playmaker, rated No. 2 among dual-threat prospects, has passed for 5,396 yards and 55 touchdowns in his high school career, adding another 3,718 yards and 41 scores on the ground.
He joined in-state offensive lineman Wes Harris in the Horned Frogs' class. The 6'3", 285-pound blocker is also considered a top-100 overall talent in this cycle and rates No. 3 among guards.
21. Arizona State
5 of 25
Total Commitments: Three (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
The Sun Devils enjoyed a couple of key recruiting victories in Pac-12 territory during earlier stages of this cycle. Arizona State snagged 4-star Las Vegas cornerback Alex Perry midway through his sophomore season, and he's developed into America's No. 13 prospect at the position.
California playmaker Jermani Brown, a fellow 4-star talent, could join Perry at cornerback, though he also shows plenty of potential on offense. Some view the 5'11", 175-pound athlete as a high-ceiling receiver recruit.
20. Michigan
6 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (one 4-star)
Best of the Bunch
Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh went three months on the job without landing a high school junior last year, but he's ahead of that pace after landing a top-10 2016 class. In-state offensive tackle JaRaymond Hall, a 6'5", 270-pound lineman rated No. 5 among Michigan prospects, is the early headliner here.
Carter Dunaway, a 6'6" tight end, continues Michigan's strong recruiting run at the position. Newton High School (Georgia) teammates Kurt Taylor (running back) and Jeremiah Holloman (receiver) represent the Wolverines' latest package deal after Harbaugh signed three sets of high school tandems in 2016.
19. Texas Tech
7 of 25
Total Commitments: Four (one 5-star)
Best of the Bunch
The Red Raiders will welcome America's top-rated interior offensive lineman when Jack Anderson gets to campus. The 5-star center was a rare early invite last summer at The Opening, an elite showcase held at Nike's world headquarters in Oregon.
Anderson will be joined up front by Tyler Castaneda, who is considered a top-20 offensive guard. Wide receiver Jalen Reagor enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2015, catching 64 passes for 1,108 yards and 13 scores.
18. Stanford
8 of 25
Total Commitments: Three (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Utah running back Sione Heimuli-Lund follows the footsteps of Brighton High School teammate and 2016 Stanford wide receiver signee Simi Fehoko. The 6'0", 220-pound prospect pledged to the Cardinal shortly after a junior season that featured 1,184 rushing yards (10.5 yards per carry) and 14 scores, according to Brandon Huffman of Scout.
Stanford continues to attract top-level tight end talent. In-state 6'6" prospect Colby Parkinson, rated No. 5 nationally at the position, picked the Cardinal over UCLA, USC and Michigan, among others, in December.
17. Florida
9 of 25
Total Commitments: Three (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Gators head coach Jim McElwain intends to elevate Florida's aerial attack in the years to come and already has quite the quarterback-receiver combo for his 2017 class. Jake Allen, rated No. 10 among pro-style passers, is an in-state standout at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and is joined by Tampa Bay Tech wide receiver Daquon Green, who pledged to the Gators over Ohio State and Michigan last summer.
Green set career highs across the board as a junior, according to MaxPreps. He averaged 23.7 yards per catch en route to 734 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
16. Auburn
10 of 25
Total Commitments: Three (one 5-star, one 4-star)
Best of the Bunch
The Tigers made a major splash in June, scooping up a commitment from 5-star Florida lineman Calvin Ashley. The 6'7", 307-pound offensive tackle, rated No. 4 overall in this cycle, chose Auburn over an expansive collection of SEC alternatives.
Alaric Williams, a scintillating in-state athlete, brings 4-star talent to multiple positions. He could become a factor at wide receiver or defensive back depending on his development.
15. Texas A&M
11 of 25
Total Commitments: Three (one 5-star, one 4-star)
Best of the Bunch
The Aggies lost a pair of former 5-star passers to transfers this winter when Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray left town, making the commitment of 5-star 2017 quarterback Tate Martell even more important. The nation's No. 1 dual-threat prospect led Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas) to national title contention in 2014 and 2015, tallying 6,182 total yards and 86 touchdowns during those seasons.
He already has a talented receiver in place alongside him in 4-star Texan Mannie Netherly. The 6'2", 180-pound pass target surpassed 1,000 receiving yards as a junior, racking up 18 touchdown catches.
14. Iowa
12 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (one 5-star)
Best of the Bunch
Iowa welcomed Hawkeyes legacy A.J. Epenesa to the class in January, providing head coach Kirk Ferentz with a foundational 5-star member of a class that should be aided by the team's 12-win 2015 season. The 6'5", 230-pound Illinois product, rated No. 13 overall in this cycle, picked up 11 tackles for loss and six sacks last fall.
Iowa has handled things well on home turf, securing the state's top two recruits in offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and defensive tackle Juan Harris, a massive 6'4", 387-pound lineman who blows up rushing lanes with authority.
13. Texas
13 of 25
Total Commitments: Four (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Things haven't exactly gone according to plan on the field through two seasons of head coach Charlie Strong's tenure at Texas, but the Longhorns managed to close the 2016 cycle well, and there's plenty to like about early 2017 pledges. Defensive end Lagaryonn Carson and wide receiver Damion Miller provide Texas with two of the state's top 20 prospects, a feat the Longhorns failed to achieve until late stages of this past cycle.
Local quarterback Sam Ehlinger's ability and production exceeds his current status as a composite 3-star recruit. The 6'1", 207-pound playmaker compiled 3,833 passing yards, 1,360 rushing yards, 70 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 2015.
12. Kentucky
14 of 25
Total Commitments: Six (two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Kentucky reached into Ohio in July for two of the state's top 20 prospects, picking up pledges from 4-star talents James Hudson (defensive end) and Michael Warren (running back). Warren, a physical 5'10", 185-pound rusher from Toledo, broke out with 2,246 yards and 28 touchdowns as a sophomore.
The Wildcats are also piecing together parts that could help ramp up passing efforts down the road. Quarterbacks Mac Jones (Florida) and Walker Wood (Kentucky) are on board, along with dynamic receiver and program legacy Craig Yeast II.
11. USC
15 of 25
Total Commitments: Four (three 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
USC is off to another outstanding start when it comes to in-state recruiting, securing two of California's top six prospects, who also rate in the top 50 overall in this cycle. Stephen Carr, considered the country's No. 3 running back recruit, committed last March, though fresh offers from Notre Dame and Miami give him more options to consider.
Defensive backs Thomas Graham and Bubba Bolden are both 4-star talents. Bolden, a safety, plays for Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School, while Graham is considered California's No. 2 overall defender at cornerback.
10. North Carolina
16 of 25
Total Commitments: Four (four 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
The Tar Heels are taking care of business building foundational pieces of this class inside and along the perimeter, securing three of the state's top four overall recruits along the way. North Carolina's haul is headlined by linemen Jonah Melton (offensive tackle) and Jake Lawler (defensive end), who are both rated as top-20 players at their respective positions.
Wide receivers Tyler Smith and J.T. Cauthen also warrant 4-star status. Smith is a product of Georgia powerhouse McEachern High School, while Cauthen (153 catches since 2014, per MaxPreps) served as the top target for 2015 Oklahoma quarterback signee Austin Kendall at Cuthbertson High School in North Carolina.
9. Georgia
17 of 25
Total Commitments: Three (one 5-star, two 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
New Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is familiar with the recruiting territory after spending nearly a decade on Alabama's staff, and he's already cashed in on early efforts. Richard LeCounte III, a 5-star talent considered America's No. 1 overall athlete, could become an immediate difference-maker in the defensive backfield or at wide receiver.
LeCounte committed in mid-December and was joined by fellow in-state standout Breon Dixon on Christmas. Smart paired Dixon with fellow 4-star linebacker Jaden Hunter, a 6'3", 218-pound Atlanta prospect, in January. Hunter and Dixon rate No. 8 and No. 12, respectively, among outside linebackers this cycle.
8. Oklahoma
18 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (four 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
The Sooners have enjoyed an early surge on the Lone Star State recruiting trail, claiming three of Texas' top 30 overall recruits. Tyrese Robinson, a 6'5", 305-pound road-grader rated No. 2 among offensive guards, leads the way.
Chris Robison, No. 2 among Texan quarterbacks in this cycle and the nation's No. 9 pro-style passer, threw for 5,959 yards and 71 scores during the past two seasons. The defense hopes to add more bite with 4-star Texas defensive back Robert Barnes and No. 1 overall Oklahoma recruit Levi Draper, a 6'2", 230-pound linebacker.
7. Notre Dame
19 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (four 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
This group challenges any in America from a physical standpoint, as each commit stands at least 6'4". Joshua Lugg, a 6'6", 288-pound offensive tackle from Pennsylvania, is the biggest of the bunch and climbed aboard before his junior season.
Texas standout Brock Wright, a 6'4 ½", 243-pound prospect who blocks like a bully, is the cycle's No. 1 overall tight end recruit and racked up 45 receptions during the past two seasons. He's joined by fellow 4-star tight end Cole Kmet, who is considered the No. 3 rising senior in Illinois, while Georgia defensive end Robert Beal could challenge for 5-star status as his prep career progresses.
6. Florida State
20 of 25
Total Commitments: Five (four 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher got the fun started early in this recruiting cycle, landing 4-star prospects D.J. Matthews and Ja'len Parks in July 2014. Matthews, a 6'0", 170-pound wide receiver, and Parks, a 6'4", 275-pound defensive tackle, are considered top-10 overall talents at their respective positions.
VanDarius Cowan, rated No. 6 among outside linebackers, collected 104 tackles and seven sacks last season. Running back Zaquandre White, who pledged to the Seminoles as a sophomore, rushed for 956 yards in just five games in 2015, according to David Dorsey of the News-Press.
5. Clemson
21 of 25
Total Commitments: Six (one 5-star, three 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
We're compelled to see if Clemson can maintain its current two-quarterback class through next signing day, as 5-star Hunter Johnson and 4-star Chase Brice committed to the Tigers in December. Johnson, a 6'3", 200-pound Indiana product who previously pledged to Tennessee, is rated No. 1 overall among passers in this cycle and collected a career-high 31 touchdown tosses in 2015.
Clemson is also gathering talent along the offensive front, with three linemen in the fold. That group is headlined by 6'7", 317-pound New Jersey tackle Noah DeHond and 6'4 ½", 290-pound Ohio guard Matt Bockhorst, both 4-star talents.
4. Miami
22 of 25
Total Commitments: 10 (four 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
It will be interesting to see how things play out here under the direction of new Hurricanes leadership. The vast majority of players pledged during the Al Golden era, which routinely saw Miami build up big early commitment totals each cycle, and first-year head coach Mark Richt has some decisions to make with the prospects he inherited.
Miami Central High School teammates Navaughn Donaldson (offensive tackle) and Waynmon Steed (linebacker) both committed before their junior seasons, while local 4-star running back Robert Burns joined the class as a sophomore. The same can be said for No. 7 inside linebacker Tyler Dunning and 4-star Fort Lauderdale defensive end Jonathan Ford, who recorded 78 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior, per Ryan Bartow of 247Sports.
3. Baylor
23 of 25
Total Commitments: Seven (one 5-star, four 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Baylor head coach Art Briles annually brings in top-tier talent at wide receiver, and his staff is off to a strong start on the 2017 recruiting trail in that regard. The Bears bagged commitments from 4-star pass targets Hezekiah Jones (No. 12 receiver) and Jhamon Ausbon (No. 16) last summer.
Ausbon, a 6'3", 206-pound playmaker who transferred from the Houston area to Florida powerhouse IMG Academy for his senior season, joins forces with his future collegiate quarterback. Kellen Mond, rated No. 5 among dual-threat recruits, replaces No. 1 overall 2016 quarterback prospect Shea Patterson under center at IMG after an impressive junior campaign at San Antonio's Reagan High School (1,991 passing yards, 898 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns), according to David Flores of KENS 5.
2. Alabama
24 of 25
Total Commitments: Nine (one 5-star, seven 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
The Crimson Tide continue to stockpile elite talent in the offensive backfield, with Najee Harris (No. 1 running back in composite rankings) and Cam Akers (No. 4) on board. Harris, a 6'2", 220-pound California playmaker, is considered the No. 2 overall talent in this cycle after rushing for 5,007 yards and 59 touchdowns in the past two seasons.
Akers is the top-ranked recruit in Misssissippi, and Alabama has also exploited fertile SEC recruiting territory in Georgia (quarterback Jake Fromm, offensive lineman Netori Johnson, safety Xavier McKinney and defensive end Aaron Sterling are each considered top-25 prospects in the Peach State). Fromm, a 6'3", 220-pound passer, has totalled 7,728 yards and 67 scores through the air since 2014.
1. Ohio State
25 of 25
Total Commitments: 10 (two 5-stars, seven 4-stars)
Best of the Bunch
Offensive tackle Josh Myers and cornerback Shaun Wade provided Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer with a pair of 5-star pledges in January 2015, when they were just midway through their sophomore years. Myers, an in-state 6'6", 290-pound prospect, is considered the country's No. 3 overall recruit.
While Wade, a Florida standout, and 4-star Georgia safety Isaiah Pryor provide further evidence of Ohio State's reach into the Southeast, much of the work here has been accomplished on home turf. The Buckeyes already claim commitments from six of the state's top 12 recruits, including Archbishop Hoban High School teammates Danny Clark (quarterback) and Todd Sibley (running back), who tallied 2,152 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns in 2015, according to Bill Kurelic of 247Sports.
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