Recruiting U: The Top 10 College Football Running Back Recruiters
We'll get straight to the point.
Who are the best schools are recruiting for each position?
It's a debate that many college football fans have amongst each other all the time, and for the most part, everyone has their own two cents to throw into the discussion. Well, we at B/R will be offering our two cents into the arena of debate in a new series called Recruiting U.
Over the next few weeks, we'll look back at the recruiting classes of the last five years and pick out the top 10 schools that have brought in the most talent from 2007 to 2011. To simplify things a bit, only 4-star and 5-star talents will be considered.
For running backs, due to the high quantity of prospects that meet these requirements we'll only be looking at the top 25 backs from each class. Rivals and Scout databases will be used as reference, with a back being awarded their highest ranking for either.
Here's Recruiting U: The Top Running Back Recruiters.
Honorable Mention
1 of 11
- UCLA
- Alabama
- Texas
- Florida
- Pittsburgh
All of these schools have recruited at least three top 25 running backs in the last five years with Clemson and UCLA bringing in four a piece.
You could make an argument that Alabama, with Mark Ingram in 2008 and Trent Richardson in 2009, as well as the possibilities of landing Malcolm Brown and Isaiah Crowell this year should put the Tide in the top 10, but all is not as it appears.
Ingram wasn't actually that highly-rated and we can't count recruits who haven't committed, so we'll revisit the argument later in the year.
This list isn't just about top-ranked talent, it's about quantity and consistency as well. The top 10 schools are brought in high-rated talent, more talent, or more consistently brought in the talent; in some cases all three.
10. Clemson
2 of 11
2007: None
2008: Jamie Harper (5), Andre Ellington (24)
2009: None
2010: None
2011: Mike Bellamy (2), Marlin Lane (8)
Clemson narrowly misses out on including C.J. Spiller amongst their running backs but he came in with the 2006 class and can't be counted. The Tigers still have three top 10 backs to chose from including two from their 2011 recruiting class.
Mike Bellamy might just prove to be the next Spiller and has as much potential as any back in the class.
Clemson hasn't had much consistency recruiting though, bringing in top 25 backs in just two of the last five years, but Spiller can be partially blamed for than considered he was the main reason the depth chart at running back was so clogged.
9. LSU
3 of 11
2007: None
2008: None
2009: Michael Ford (3)
2010: Spencer Ware (10)
2011: Kenny Hilliard (3), Jeremy Hill (17)
LSU might have started slow in the sample space, but they've certainly picked it over the last three years.
Starting with Michael Ford in 2008, they've brought in a top 10 running back every season and might have their best one yet in Kenny Hilliard.
Jeremy Hill is the piece that seperates them from the rest of the pack in the honorable mention category, though both Clemson and UCLA have good arguments to be here instead. It's the consistent top-end talent that really won this over.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
8. Miami
4 of 11
2007: Graig Cooper (6)
2008: None
2009: Lamar Miller (7), Mike James (18)
2010: Storm Johnson (7), Eduardo Clements (11)
2011: None
It was very close between Miami and Texas A&M for the No. 8 spot, but the Aggies got the advantage for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the Hurricanes didn't bring in any top five running backs and secondly the Aggies brought in a top 25 running back for four straight years.
Still, ranking No. 8 rather than No. 7 isn't too big of a deal for the U, they still can claim to be up there with the best of them.
Graig Cooper is the best-rated running back the Hurricanes have brought in since 2007, but he's joined by Lamar Miller and Storm Johnson as top 10 rated running backs Miami's recruited in the last five years.
7. Texas A&M
5 of 11
2007: Bradley Stephens (12)
2008: Cyrus Gray (5)
2009: Christine Michael (3)
2010: Ben Malena (25)
2011: None
Texas A&M might not be considered a recruiting powerhouse like most of the schools on this list, but when it comes to the running back position you can't deny the success they've had recruiting over the last five years.
With top five backs two straight years in 2008 and 2009 with Cryrus Gray and Cristine Michael the Aggies stack up as not only not only a recruiter of top-end talent, but one of the most consistent schools as well.
So far they haven't secured a commitment from a top 25 back in 2011, but they've been able to do so each of the four years prior and still have time to make it five for five.
6. Stanford
6 of 11
2007: None
2008: Delano Howell (17)
2009: Stepfan Taylor (20) Usua Amanam (22)
2010: Anthony Wilkerson (16)
2011: Amir Carlisle (12), Remound Wright (16), Kelsey Young (18)
Stanford might not have any running backs rated in the top 10 in any given year, but they've brought in seven top 25 backs in last five years, the most of anyone in the country.
They've also managed to get their hands on a top back every year besides 2008, so while they're missing the elite pieces, the quality is still good, the quantity can't be argued, and the consistency is up there with the best of them.
For a team known for their passing game, this news should come as a bit of a surprise to most college football fans.
5. Notre Dame
7 of 11
2007: Robert Hughes (7), Armando Allen (21)
2008: Jonas Gray (4)
2009: Cierre Wood (6)
2010: None
2011: Justice Hayes (14)
If not for a down recruiting year in 2010, Notre Dame would be right up there at the top of the list considering they've brought in a top 10 running back in three of the last five years and most recently added a top 15 back in Justice Hayes.
They have comparable numbers to some of the teams ranked ahead of them, but it came down to who brought in the most top-end talent and Jonas Gray back in 2008 was the only top 5 running back the Irish can lay claim to.
4. Oklahoma
8 of 11
2007: None
2008: Justin Johnson (2), Jermie Calhoun (2)
2009: None
2010: Brennan Clay (6), Roy Finch (20)
2011: Brandon Williams (7)
Oklahoma brought in the best haul of anyone in the country in 2008 when they secured the No. 2 running back in the country, twice.
Justin Johnson was ranked as the No. 2 back on Scout and Jermie Calhoun was the No. 2 back on Rivals.
Add in top 10 running backs Brennan Clay and most recently Brandon Williams and it's easy to see why Oklahoma finds themselves so high up the rankings even though they haven't been the most consistent recruiters.
3. USC
9 of 11
2007: Joe McKnight (1), Marc Tyler (2), Broderick Green (12)
2008: None
2009: None
2010: Dillon Baxter (5), D.J. Morgan (10)
2011: None
USC somehow managed to convince the No. 1 running back, the No. 2 running back, and the No. 12 running back from the 2007 class to all come to the same school; that's something that requires exceptional recruiting skill.
The Trojans have brought in four top 10 running backs in the last five years, but they've been inconsistent doing so and claimed them all in just two recruiting classes.
The prized recruit of their 2011 recruiting class, De'Anthony Thomas, might end up at running back but Scout lists him as a cornerback and Rivals recently switched their vote from running back to athlete. That means he can't be included.
2. Ohio State
10 of 11
2007: Brandon Saine (5), Dan Herron (18)
2008: Lamaar Thomas (10)
2009: Jaamal Berry (5)
2010: Roderick Smith (6)
2011: None
Ohio State has been one of the most consistent running back recruiter in the country for the last five years, bringing in a top 10 running back like clockwork from 2007 to 2010.
They have one of the best 2011 recruiting classes in the country to this point, but running back is one of the few things this time has still been unable to get their hands on.
There isn't much space left for further additions to the Buckeyes class, but it isn't out of the realm of possibilities Ohio State adds yet another top 25 running back to their ranks.
1. Georgia
11 of 11
2007: Caleb King (4)
2008: Richard Samuel (4), Dontavius Jackson (8), Carlton Thomas (14)
2009: Washaun Ealey (11)
2010: Ken Malcome (24)
2011: None
Georgia might have missed out on 5-star athlete James Wilder, who committed to FSU instead, but they're still in the running for another top back from the 2011 class.
If Isaiah Crowell, who is down to Alabama and Georgia, commits to the Bulldogs that would make them the only school in the country who's brought in a top 25 running back every single year since 2007.
The six backs they've already bought in, three of whom were ranked in the top 10, is second only to Stanford for the most in the country.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
