Re-Grading Top 10 2015 College Football Recruiting Classes
Return on investment. It's more than profitability terminology in business and economics.
In college football recruiting, "ROI" is a little different from the business world of equating net profit and total assets. College coaches invested their time in their current athletes during the recruiting process, and the goal is to see their players emerge into the superstars of the college football world.
For many coaches, the ROI has been high with the members of the 2015 class. There's still time for many players to blossom into stars—and potential NFL athletes—but for some athletes in that class, life as a freshman football player was more than what some expected.
Here's our early take on athletes from the 2015 cycle and their development over the past year. The top 10 classes from 2015 are based on 247Sports' composite rankings and includes our overall assessments.
10. Texas
1 of 10
TOP DOG
5-star LB Malik Jefferson: The recruiting race for Jefferson was so competitive between Texas and Texas A&M, and when Jefferson chose the Longhorns, the entire coaching staff and fanbase went crazy. After one year, college football saw why Jefferson was such a highly touted prospect. He finished the year with 61 tackles and 2.5 sacks and, despite being a freshman, was a leader for Charlie Strong's defense.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
3-star OT Connor Williams: Williams didn't let his 3-star status get in the way of raising the bar for Texas' offensive linemen. He won the left tackle position early and played like a veteran all season.
4-star WR John Burt: Burt caught 28 passes on the season, but he led the team in receiving yards with 457. Burt also had the longest receiving play of the year for Texas, an 84-yarder against Kansas in November.
GRADE: A
Texas' record was subpar, but the fact that Strong played so many freshmen during the 2015 season—and that those freshmen held their own—speaks volumes. The rookies will turn to veterans in 2016, and the expectations will be high.
9. Clemson
2 of 10
TOP DOG
5-star OT Mitch Hyatt: As one of Clemson's top-ranked pledges of the 2015 class, Hyatt was expected to be a leader on and off the field. He didn't disappoint for the Tigers, starting every game at left tackle and doing his part to get Clemson to the College Football Playoff championship game. He made fans forget the potential questions Clemson had early with its offensive line.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
5-star WR Deon Cain: Cain was a major cog in the offense particularly during the latter part of the season and finished with 34 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He was clutch after Mike Williams went down with a neck injury.
5-star DT Christian Wilkins: Wilkins held his own alongside a bunch of veterans, playing in all 15 games and finishing with 33 tackles and two sacks.
GRADE: B
It was tough to shine on a national runner-up team, but Hyatt and Cain found their opportunities. Head coach Dabo Swinney and his coaching staff got the most out of a few freshmen and will look to groom the next class to be equally reliable.
8. Auburn
3 of 10
TOP DOG
4-star CB Carlton Davis: As a true freshman, Davis won a starting cornerback position and was the first Auburn athlete to make the SEC All-Freshman Team since 2009. Davis finished the year with 56 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. He recorded a career-high 11 tackles in a win against Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 30.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
4-star running back Jovon Robinson: Robinson only played in eight games, but he finished the year as Auburn's second-leading rusher. The junior college transfer rushed for 639 yards and three touchdowns and was the MVP of the Birmingham Bowl with a 126-yard performance.
4-star fullback Chandler Cox: In the days of where fullbacks are seldom used, Cox delivered for the Tigers. He was a major reason why Auburn as a unit rushed for more than 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns.
GRADE: B-
Auburn didn't get a ton of production from its incoming class, but it did get glimpses of the future with Davis in the secondary and Robinson and Cox out of the backfield. Auburn also is hoping to get more out 5-star defensive end Byron Cowart next season.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Ohio State
4 of 10
TOP DOG
4-star OT Isaiah Prince: Because Ohio State's depth chart was so stacked, it was extremely tough for freshmen to get field time unless it was late in the game. Prince took advantage of his opportunity to get valuable game time at right tackle when it came. He was the only true freshman reserve listed on Ohio State's depth chart.
HONORABLE MENTION
4-star CB Denzel Ward: Ward did most of his damage as a special teams contributor. He appeared in 11 games and even earned late-game reps in the secondary.
GRADE: I (Incomplete)
When your team is loaded with talent at every position, there oftentimes isn't an opportunity for freshmen to make early impacts. Head coach Urban Meyer played only four of 25 freshmen last season. The good news for the Buckeyes is that the 2016 season will be the perfect chance for this year's freshmen to become leaders as sophomores.
6. LSU
5 of 10
TOP DOG
4-star OG Maea Teuhema: As a trimmed-down offensive lineman at 6'5" and 327 (he was 340 in high school), Teuhema was one of the reasons why LSU rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns as a unit. At left guard, Teuhema made holes for running back Leonard Fournette, who recorded 1,953 of LSU's 3,082 rushing yards this past season. He played in all of LSU's 12 games and started the last 11.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
4-star DE Arden Key: Key was one of LSU's best pass-rushing options. He had five sacks and a team-high nine quarterback hurries to go along with his 41 tackles for the season.
5-star CB Kevin Tolliver II: Tolliver started eight out of 12 games and finished the year with 35 tackles, six pass deflections and an interception. He also had five pass breakups.
GRADE: B+
With athletes like Teuhema on the offensive line and Key and Tolliver contributing to the defense, the future is looking bright for LSU. Head coach Les Miles is hoping to see even more from his young athletes as they prepare for their sophomore seasons.
5. Georgia
6 of 10
TOP DOG
5-star WR Terry Godwin: Godwin had a solid freshman campaign where he was the second-leading receiver. On a team that loves to run the football Godwin accounted for 35 receptions, 379 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Listed as an athlete out of college, Godwin also scored a rushing touchdown and shared punt return duties. He averaged a team-high 14.5 yards per punt return.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
5-star DT Trent Thompson: Thompson played in 12 games and recorded 25 tackles and three quarterback hurries.
4-star DE Natrez Patrick: Patrick had 22 tackles and a sack for Georgia's defense. He played in 11 games and started two of them.
GRADE: C+
Godwin had a breakout season at receiver, but the defensive standouts of the 2015 class didn't completely live up to their expectations. Part of that was the depth surrounding Georgia's defense. Look for 2016 to be a breakout year for several 2015 studs.
4. Tennessee
7 of 10
TOP DOG
4-star RB Alvin Kamara: Kamara's first game in Tennessee orange saw impressive numbers—15 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns against Bowling Green on Sept. 5. Kamara, a junior college transfer, finished with 698 rushing yards, 34 receptions for 291 receiving yards and 11 combined touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving and one via punt return). Kamara was a true all-purpose back for the Volunteers and is expected to be a force in 2016.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
4-star LB Darrin Kirkland Jr.: Kirkland was a big piece to the Volunteers defense. He had 66 tackles (43 solo), three sacks and five quarterback hurries. He also had an interception on Halloween against Kentucky.
5-star DT Kahlil McKenzie: McKenzie played in 12 games and recorded 24 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Half of those tackles were unassisted.
GRADE: A-
The first-year productivity from Kamara alone was enough reason for Tennessee to smile. Add in that 3-star offensive tackle Chance Hall was impressive in his first season, and it's easy to see why Butch Jones and his coaching staff are excited about the immediate future.
3. Florida State
8 of 10
TOP DOG
5-star S Derwin James: As a big safety, James had 91 tackles and 4.5 sacks during his freshman campaign. James showed that he was fast enough to cover like a cornerback and physical enough to hit like a linebacker. He was a major part of Florida State's defense, and much is expected of him for the 2016 season.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
5-star DE Josh Sweat: Sweat saw action in all 13 games for the Seminoles, recording 41 tackles and a team-high three fumble recoveries. Sweat also had two sacks.
4-star RB Jacques Patrick: Patrick spelled Dalvin Cook in the backfield and finished as Florida State's second-leading rusher. He rushed for 314 yards and five touchdowns for the season.
GRADE: B-
Aside from James at the safety spot, Florida State had some but not much success with their freshmen in 2015. Many of the athletes in the freshmen class will be called on to produce on offense, defense and special teams for the 2016 season.
2. USC
9 of 10
TOP DOG
4-star LB Cameron Smith: A knee injury slowed down an outstanding freshman season for Smith, who had 78 tackles and tied for the team's lead in interceptions with three. All three picks came on Oct. 24 in a win against Utah, and one of those three were returned for a touchdown. Smith tore his ACL on Nov. 13 in the first half against Colorado.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
4-star RB Ronald Jones II: Jones led the Trojans' ground game, finishing the year with 987 yards and eight touchdowns and averaging a team-high 6.5 yards per carry.
5-star CB Iman Marshall: Marshall finished his freshman season with 67 tackles and had a team-high 12 pass deflections. Marshall also tied with Smith in interceptions with three.
GRADE: B
USC's freshmen gave coach Clay Helton plenty of hope for the immediate future. The class also saw linebacker Porter Gustin see legitimate minutes in Pac-12 play.
1. Alabama
10 of 10
TOP DOG
5-star WR Calvin Ridley: Ridley wasn't Amari Cooper out there, but he had multiple Cooper-like moments throughout the 2015 season. Ridley finished his freshman year with a team-high 89 tackles for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns. Ridley made the transition from high school to college look effortless, and the expectations for him are now through the roof.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
5-star CB Minkah Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick was a ball hawk for Alabama, recording team highs in pass breakups (11) and pass deflections (13) and 45 tackles to go along with two interceptions.
5-star DT Daron Payne: The Crimson Tide were deep at the defensive line position, and Payne not only found a place in the rotation but also proved to be a solid run-stopper.
GRADE: B+
Alabama relied on its veteran play to claim a national championship, but with the play of freshmen like Ridley, it was easy to tell that the best players got on the field for head coach Nick Saban, regardless of classification.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
