College Football Preseason Top 25: 2011 Recruiting Report Cards

Now that the preseason Coaches' Poll has been released, it seems like a good time to hand out 2011 recruiting grades for all the schools in the top 25. 

How well you bring in the talent and how well you do in the standings is directly connected, so it should come as no surprise that most of the top recruiting classes in the country will appear on this list. 

But not everyone in the preseason top 25 is doing well on the recruiting trail. Several teams have never been strong recruiters and focus more on development; those schools will survive subpar classes. 

Others won't be so lucky though. There are a few schools on this list who've seen a recent drop in recruiting and could see a similar drop in the standings in a couple years as a result. 

Check out the 2011 recruiting report cards for the top 25 teams in the country. 

1. Alabama

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: Fourth

Five-Star Commitments: 3
Four-Star Commitments: 7
Three-Star Commitments: 6

Alabama has put together one of the best recruiting classes in the country to this point, headlined by five-star recruits Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix at safety, Brent Calloway at outside linebacker, and most recently Trey DePriest at middle linebacker.

The Tide also have a solid cast of offensive weapons, including playmaking receiver Marvin "Marvelous" Shinn. Fans will quickly grow to love this kid.

Grade: A

2. Ohio State

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: Second

Five-Star Commitments: 2
Four-Star Commitments: 10
Three-Star Commitments: 5

Ohio State is one of the few teams in the nation that is close enough to the Longhorns to challenge them for the 2011 recruiting crown. They've got a solid mix of offensive and defensive talents, which is evidenced by their top two recruits, quarterback Braxton Miller and defensive end Steve Miller.

Miller is an especially good addition, as he is a top-10 prospect and the No. 1 quarterback in the nation. He'll slide in nicely behind Terrelle Pryor and take the reins to the offense no later than 2012.

Grade: A

3. Florida

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 12th

Five-Star Commitments: 1
Four-Star Commitments: 6
Three-Star Commitments: 4

Florida's been picking up steam lately, bringing in eight new recruits over the last couple months to triple the size of their class through May. That was enough to bring them from a program behind the game to a fringe top-10 class.

With five-star quarterback Jeff Driskel headlining the group and very promising defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan just a notch behind him, the Gators might not be having their usual recruiting year, but they're still up there with the top tier.

Grade: B+

4. Texas

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: First

Five-Star Commitments: 6
Four-Star Commitments: 9
Three-Star Commitments: 7

Texas' 2011 recruiting class is really just amazing.

Just look at these names: Christian Westerman (OT), Desmond Jackson (DT), Sheroid Evans (S), Garrett Greenlea (OT), Leroy Scott (CB), Steve Edmond (LB), Josh Turner (CB), Sedrick Flowers (OG), Quincy Russell (DT), Quandre Diggs (CB), and Cedric Reed (DE).

What do all these players have in common? They're all ranked in the top eight at their respective positions.

Grade: A+

5. Boise State

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 59th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 0
Three-Star Commitments: 6

Boise State may be returning 21 of 22 starters next season, the most of any team in the top 25, but they've never been known to be strong recruiters. Their game is more on the developmental side, and the results really can't be argued.

The Broncos' best recruiting class in the last five years came in 2007, when they ranked 57th. Since then, they dropped to as low as 97th and for 2011 are currently clinging to a top-60 spot.

Grade: F

6. Virginia Tech

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 38th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 3
Three-Star Commitments: 2

For as good as the Hokies have been on the field, they haven't proven to be a strong recruiting team over the last few years. Sure, they got Ryan Williams and Tyrod Taylor in 2008, but their 20th-ranked class that year was the best they've had since.

For 2011, they've struggled to bring in the talent and lost out on quite a few big-name prospects who opted for other schools instead. The most notable of the bunch was four-star quarterback Marquise Williams, who chose North Carolina.

Grade: C-

7. TCU

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 26th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 1
Three-Star Commitments: 10

Of the Top 100 commitments for 2011, TCU is the only school outside of the BCS conferences that cracks the list. That would be courtesy of wide receiver Cameron White, who ranked at No. 93. White is an underrated talent who can do a little bit of everything at receiver.

Of the Horned Frogs recruits, he's the one to have the most faith in, though they do have double digits of three-star talent to pick from as well.

Grade: C+

8. Oklahoma

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: Fifth

Five-Star Commitments: 2
Four-Star Commitments: 7
Three-Star Commitments: 9

For a while the Sooners didn't have any recruits for 2011 that had received five-star grades, but that recently changed when running back Brandon Williams and wide receiver Trey Metoyer were finally elevated from their ranks among the four-star talent.

Add in four-star talent at quarterback, running back, tight end, defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, and safety, and things are looking very good for Oklahoma.

Grade: A

9. Nebraska

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 14th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 6
Three-Star Commitments: 4

Nebraska has a solid bunch of offensive linemen lined up with Ryne Reeves at center, Tyler Moore at tackle, and Ryan Klachko at guard; all three of them are rated in the top 10 at their respective positions.

Add in Bubba Starling and fellow four-star quarterback Jamal Turner, and the Cornhuskers have some solid offensive pieces. The problem is Starling might end up playing Major League Baseball and bypassing his collegiate eligibility; that means Turner is arguably the more valuable of the two.

Grade: B+

10. Iowa

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 29th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 2
Three-Star Commitments: 5

Iowa falls into the same category as Boise State in that they generally don't recruit strong classes on paper but are very good at developing talent. Spend some time comparing their recruiting ranks to their postseason ranks over the last few years if you want proof.

They're actually not doing too bad recruiting for 2011, though, and if they keep it up, they will rank a lot higher than they're used to. With the No. 2 offensive guard in Jordan Walsh and a top-15 tight end in Ray Hamilton, the Hawkeyes could have some very nice pieces to develop.

Grade: C+

11. Oregon

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 23rd

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 4
Three-Star Commitments: 4

It looks like Oregon will fall short of matching its 2010 recruiting class, which was ranked 13th, but the Ducks are still on pace for a top-25 class and have some solid pieces on the offensive side of the ball to be excited about. With quarterback Jerrard Randall and wide receiver Tacoi Sumler on the books, things look very good for this program.

On the defense, the class is headlined by four-star safety Tyson Coleman, ranked in the top 10 at his position and the type of player that can be a huge difference-maker at the next level.

Grade: B-

12. Wisconsin

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 65th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 0
Three-Star Commitments: 4

Wisconsin isn't known to be a very strong recruiting program, but they still manage the odd top-25 class and more frequently rank in the top 40, as they did last year. Well, that doesn't look likely to occur in 2011, as they currently have only four three-star recruits committed.

It actually looks even bleaker than that, though, as there really aren't many high-profile talents out there that are seriously considering the Badgers. Luckily, Wisconsin is much more of a development team anyway, so they'll have to make do with the subpar recruiting.

Grade: F

13. Miami

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 33rd

Five-Star Commitments: 1
Four-Star Commitments: 1
Three-Star Commitments: 4

Miami doesn't have much on the books right now, but unlike a lot of the schools this far back in the recruiting race, the Hurricanes have the potential to shoot way up the rankings in the coming months partially due to their only five-star recruit, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater is doing his best to recruit more talent to the program, and along with coach Randy Shannon, they have a lot of five-star talent teeming with interest in the program. So consider this a "soft" grade with the chance to improve dramatically.

Grade: C

14. Penn State

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 58th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 2
Three-Star Commitments: 1

Up until July 1, Penn State had only one recruit on the books for 2011. That would be two-star tight end Kyle Carter. Since then the Nittany Lions have bolstered their ranks with four-star defensive end Shawn Oakman, four-star offensive tackle Angelo Mangiro, and three-star defensive end Jordan Kerner.

That may be a drastic improvement over their situation through June, but it still is a massive drop-off from Penn State's top-10-ranked recruiting class in 2010.

Grade: F

15. Pittsburgh

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 18th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 4
Three-Star Commitments: 7

Pittsburgh bolstered its 2011 recruiting class on both sides of the ball with the late July additions of safety Terrell Chestnut and running back Jameel Poteat. Those two complement the skills of four-star receiver Bill Belton and four-star defensive tackle Marquise Wright, who joined up in June.

Poteat is the prospect to pay the most attention to of the bunch, as he's the heir apparent to Dion Lewis. He's a very well-rounded back with an underrated ability to contribute in the passing game and could end up being a force at the next level.

Grade: B

16. LSU

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: Third

Five-Star Commitments: 2
Four-Star Commitments: 5
Three-Star Commitments: 6

LSU really should have five five-star talents because receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Kenny Hilliard, and outside linebacker Trevon Randle are straight disrespected by not receiving another star.

Landry might be a little small and not as fast as some of the other receivers in the country, but he might go down as the best in the bunch. They guy just gets it done regardless of the situation and definitely puts together the most impressive highlight reel.

Grade: A

17. Georgia Tech

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 49th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 0
Three-Star Commitments: 9

Georgia Tech is way behind the game when it comes to 2011 recruiting. They've failed to secure a commitment from a single four-star or five-star prospect, and while their nine commitments bring a wide array of talent and possibility to the table, it isn't the type of stuff to win ACC championships.

Since ranking in the 30s in 2008 and 2009, the Yellow Jackets have seen a steep decline over the last couple of years and could be in trouble down the line as a result.

Grade: D-

18. North Carolina

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 15th

Five-Star Commitments: 1
Four-Star Commitments: 4
Three-Star Commitments: 9

The Tar Heels are known for their defense, but in 2011 they're bringing a strong offensive class to the table, headlined by five-star left tackle Kiaro Holts. Holts is one of the top-rated offensive linemen in the country and should develop into a staple of North Carolina's offensive line.

He's joined by a top-10-ranked offensive guard in Landon Turner, another solid offensive tackle in Jamar Lewter, and two very talented and promising quarterbacks in Marquise Williams and Everett Golson.

Grade: B+

19. Arkansas

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 21st

Five-Star Commitments: 1
Four-Star Commitments: 2
Three-Star Commitments: 7

Arkansas missed out on its native son, quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who instead opted for Auburn, but they're still putting together a good class without him. With five-star offensive tackle Brey Cook headlining the class and four-star prospects like offensive tackle Mitch Smothers and wide receiver Keante Minor, the Razorbacks are strong on offense.

You'd like to see them get the same result on the defensive side of the ball, but to this point they haven't delivered too much talent on that end, which could be a problem to face in the coming years.

Grade: B-

20. Florida State

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 16th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 4
Three-Star Commitments: 9

FSU narrowly misses out on a top-15 recruiting class at the moment, but they're still in the running for some of Florida's best talent and could easily finish the year with a top-10 class. So far they have some of the best athletes in the country committed, and fans should be excited for it.

With four-star safety Karlos Williams, four-star offensive tackle Bobby Hart, four-star receiver Rashad Greene, and four-star defensive end Terrance Smith on board, FSU has four of the top 100 commitments to this point.

Grade: B

21. Georgia

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: Seventh

Five-Star Commitments: 1
Four-Star Commitments: 8
Three-Star Commitments: 5

Georgia has put together a very strong class to this point, and it begins and ends with the right arm of five-star quarterback Christian LeMay. LeMay is a ready-now prospect with about as much potential as any passer in the nation and some amazing leadership qualities.

He's going to lead the the Bulldogs one day, and it doesn't hurt that he has eight four-star prospects and counting to line up behind him for the 2011 season.

Grade: B+

22. Oregon State

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 55th

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 1
Three-Star Commitments: 3

Oregon State got its first commitment of the year in late June, so you could say they've put together a pretty successful recruiting class in such a short time. They have 11 recruits on the books so far, but seven of them are two-star-graded or lower.

Only defensive end Dylan Wynn has received a four-star grade, and all of the three-star recruits are projects that could either make this team look really good in a few years or never really surface at all.

Grade: D-

23. Auburn

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: Ninth

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 7
Three-Star Commitments: 7

Auburn doesn't have the numbers that some of the schools behind them have, but what they do have is one of the best playmakers in the country in quarterback Kiehl Frazier.

He's one of the most underrated players in the country. I have probably undervalued him a bit as well in the latest rankings. Frazier is a born winner, and if the Tigers fail to gain a single further commitment, they'll still be winners with him on board.

Grade: B+

24. Utah

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 42nd

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 0
Three-Star Commitments: 7

While Utah's 2011 recruiting class ranks higher than Oregon State's, they are pretty comparable when you break them down. The Utes don't have any commitments from prospects graded higher than three stars and already have 17 prospects on the books.

That means they don't have too much room for improvement, so the seven three-star recruits lined up might be about as good as it's going to get for Utah.

Grade: D

25. West Virginia

2011 Recruiting Class Rank: 62nd

Five-Star Commitments: 0
Four-Star Commitments: 0
Three-Star Commitments: 4

Like several other schools in the top 25, West Virginia certainly isn't matching that effort on the recruiting trail. Right now they're putting together the fifth-ranked recruiting class in the Big East. That may not seem terrible, but the truth is the Big East is by far the worst recruiter of all the BCS conferences.

When the Mountaineers can't even compete for a top-three spot in circles like that, you should be a little worried about the direction of the team. If it wasn't for Noel Devine sticking around for 2010, this program would already be in trouble.

Grade: F