The Top 25 2011 College Football Recruiting Classes Heading Into November

The big recruiting winners in October were Nebraska, Florida and Arkansas.

Each team brought in significant pieces to climb the rankings, but the Cornhuskers got the best of the bunch.

Aaron Green committed to Nebraska on Oct. 27, becoming the highest-profile prospect of its 2011 recruiting class and catapulting the Cornhuskers into the top 15. 

While Florida has Mike Blakely to show for itself and Arkansas brought in a trio of 4-star prospects, it's Nebraska who's the clear winner of the month. Green is one of the top 10 overall prospects in the nation. 

The rankings have shifted quite a bit over the last month. Here's the October edition of the top 25 2011 recruiting classes. 

No. 16-25

16. Washington
17. North Carolina
18. USC
19. Texas Tech
20. Pittsburgh
21. Mississippi State
22. Michigan State
23. Mississippi 
24. Tennessee
25. South Carolina

15. Nebraska

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 6
3-Star Commitments: 6

With Aaron Green on board, that's where things begin and end for the Cornhuskers.

But he isn't going it alone out there. 

Nebraska has a solid bunch of offensive lineman 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 4-star quarterback Jamal Turner, and the Cornhuskers have some solid offensive pieces. But they're still lacking on the defensive side of the ball. 

14. Auburn

5-Star Commitments: 0 
4-Star Commitments: 7 
3-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 myself 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.

Add in center Reese Dismukes, rated top five at his position, and tight end C.J. Uzomah, who has the potential to be the best tight end of the 2011 class, and Frazier looks like he has some good building blocks.

13. Oklahoma State

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 6
3-Star Commitments: 12

Oklahoma State's class begins with star running back Hershel Sims.

Sims is a highlight just waiting to happen. He's a player who thrives in big games and saves his best for clutch moments.

He'll be a thorn in the side of the entire Big 12 for years.

The Cowboys also have J.W. Walsh at quarterback, rated top 10 at his position, one of the best offensive guards in the country in Travis Cross and high-upside receiver Desmond Roland.

On defense, Oklahoma State balances out their class with 4-star safety Lyndell Johnson, 4-star defensive end Jimmy Bean and 4-star cornerback Mikeatavius Jones, all of whom are rated top 25 at their position.

12. Clemson

5-Star Commitments: 2
4-Star Commitments: 4
3-Star Commitments: 10

Clemson doesn't have a whole lot of top-end talent, but the pieces they do have are all some of the best out there.

The Tigers have one of the best playmakers in the country in Mike Bellamy as well as 5-star-rated receiver Charone Peake.

Bellamy is one of the fastest, most electric prospects in the country and Peake complements his skill set perfectly with a deadly set of hands. 

With Eric Maclin, ranked as the No. 3 tight end on Rivals, and running back Marlin Lane, another top back, the Tigers have four of the best offensive weapons in the country and players who complement each other's skill sets to a tee.

Sometimes it's not just about how highly rated a class is, but whether it meshes. And this one meshes.

11. Arkansas

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 5
3-Star Commitments: 13

Arkansas missed out on its native son, quarterback Kiehl Frazier, who instead opted for Auburn, but the Razorbacks had a huge weekend at the end of October.

On Oct. 23-24, 4-star tight end Chris Barnett, 4-star safety Kelvin Fisher and 4-star Quinta Funderburk all committed to Arkansas.

With five-star offensive tackle Brey Cook headlining the class and four-star prospects like offensive tackle Mitch Smothers and wide receiver Keante Minor already on board as well, things are looking up. 

10. Florida State

5-Star Commitments: 2
4-Star Commitments: 4
3-Star Commitments: 10

FSU is still in the running for some of Florida's best talent, including 5-star linebacker Tony Steward.

So it wouldn't be surprising to see the Seminoles ranked in the top five by National Signing Day. 

So far, they have some of the best athletes in the country committed, and fans should be excited for it.

With 5-star safety Karlos Williams, 4-star offensive tackle Bobby Hart, 4-star receiver Rashad Greene and 5-star defensive end Terrance Smith on board, FSU has five of the top 100 commitments to this point.

That's, of course, including James Wilder, one of the top five prospects in the nation who will be lining up at running back. 

9. Louisiana State

5-Star Commitments: 2 
4-Star Commitments: 5 
3-Star Commitments: 8 

LSU really should have five 5-star talents because receiver Jarvis Landry, running back Kenny Hilliard, and outside linebacker Trevon Randle are 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. The guy gets it done regardless of the situation and definitely puts together the most impressive highlight reel.

Hilliard and Randle are in the same mold. They're gamers who will shine at the next level, regardless of the flaws some scouts are pointing out.

WIth La'El Collins, who's at worst the second-best offensive tackle in the class, and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, rated top five at his position, the Tigers have the makings of a very well-rounded and extremely high-potential class.

8. Georgia

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 8
3-Star Commitments: 6

Georgia is in the running for a few blue-chip prospects, so the Bulldogs still have the chance to pass LSU, and maybe even Alabama, for the top spot in the conference. 

It remains to be seen how it will play out, but with Alabama and Georgia battling for 5-star running back Isaiah Crowell, that could be the difference when it comes to 2011 recruiting. 

As of now, 5-star quarterback Christian LeMay, a top three player at his position, is the highlight of the Bulldogs class and has the potential to be one of the top players of the class.

He's got a very, very high ceiling. 

7. Florida

5-Star Commitments: 2 
4-Star Commitments: 8 
3-Star Commitments: 8 

The Gators really started picking up steam since June, with 15 commitments in the last five months, with 4-star running back the most recent and one of the most coveted. 

Florida's two 5-star prospects, defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan and quarterback Jeff Driskel, are two of the most intriguing prospects in the country, headlining what's turning out to be one of the top classes in the country. 

The Gators still have some catching up to do if they're going to pass Alabama for the top class in the SEC. But with the addition of Blakely, they're getting closer. 

6. Notre Dame

5-Star Commitments: 1
4-Star Commitments: 9
3-Star Commitments: 8

After a quiet month in August, the Irish brought in three 4-star prospects as well as 3-star cornerback Josh Atkinson in September, but haven't had a commitment since. 

First it was safety George Atkinson, then cornerback Josh Atkinson, followed by defensive end Stephon Tuitt, and most recently wide receiver DaVaris Daniels. 

The problem is while Notre Dame doesn't have any new additions, it's already lost two of the top recruits from its class. 4-star defensive end Aaron Lynch, as well as 4-star offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood, both have decommitted. 

5. Stanford

5-Star Commitments: 0
4-Star Commitments: 8
3-Star Commitments: 14

Stanford has 22 commitments to this point, which is one of the highest totals in the country.

They may not have any 5-star talent on the books, but the Cardinal are buying in bulk. And the quantity makes up for the slight lack of quality.

James Vaughters headlines the class, and is one of the top middle linebackers in the country. With a solid senior year, he'll emerge as a 5-star talent. 

Stanford also has Evan Crower, who is rated top 10 at his position, at quarterback, tight end Charlie Hopkins, offensive tackle Brendon Austin, receiver Ty Montgomery and running backs Amir Carlisle, Remound Wright and Kelsey Young. All 4-star talents.

For a team that relies on their offense, the Cardinal should be delivering more of the same in 2011.

4. Oklahoma

5-Star Commitments: 2
4-Star Commitments: 6
3-Star Commitments: 10

Oklahoma has two of the top offensive players in the country in running back Brandon Williams and wide receiver Trey Metoyer, both of whom have the chance to be the top prospect at their position when their careers are over. 

With quarterback Kendal Thompson, ranked top 15 at his position, tight end Max Stevenson and running back Danzel Williams, the offensive weapons should be strong for the Sooners.

On the defensive side of the ball, Oklahoma has three 4-star defensive tackles and top 25 talent at defensive end, safety and linebacker.

3. Ohio State

5-Star Commitments: 2
4-Star Commitments: 10
3-Star Commitments: 5

Ohio State should be in good shape at the quarterback position for years to come thanks to Braxton Miller committing to follow in Terrelle Pryor's footsteps.

Miller is one of the top overall prospects in the country, and hands down the top quarterback of the 2011 class. He's a dangerous dual-threat passer who can dismantle a defense in any number of ways.

It all comes down to how the defense wants to lose.

He's joined by a stacked class of talent that includes defensive end Steve Miller, ranked top five at his position, the No. 1 center in the country in Brian Bobek, two of the best defensive tackles in the country in Michael Bennett and Chase Farris, as well as their newest addition, safety Ron Tanner, ranked top 10 at his position.

That's just naming the headliners too. The rest of the class is pretty darn good as well.

2. Alabama

5-Star Commitments: 3 
4-Star Commitments: 8 
3-Star Commitments: 8 

Alabama fans will not like to see themselves at No. 4, but that's probably a good thing if you're complaining about being snubbed for the top three.

The Tide bolstered an already strong class with another 5-star addition last week: linebacker Trey DePriest.

He joins linebacker Brent Calloway and safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix as the headliners for the Crimson Tide's 2011 recruitment campaign.

It's a very close call between Alabama, Ohio State and LSU, but for the moment the Tide come in third out of the group.

That could change in a heartbeat, though. The No. 1-rated recruit in the country, Jadeveon Clowney, and the No. 2 running back Isaiah Crowell are both considered Alabama leans and will likely commit to the Crimson Tide.

1. Texas

5-Star Commitments: 7
4-Star Commitments: 9
3-Star Commitments: 7

Just look at these names.

Malcolm Brown (RB), 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.

That's just a scary amount of talent, and it makes it easy to see why many experts believe this might be Mack Brown's best recruiting class yet.