College Football Recruiting 2011: The Top 25 Classes Heading Into the Holidays
December is a crucial month in the recruiting period and a hectic month for college football coaches. Aside from installing game plans for their current bowl games and evaluating the players on their teams, coaches also must hit the trail hard to recruit more talent to their program.
School to school, state to state, coaches are traveling to securing a prep star's pledge to play for them. Some players have already chosen their schools while others are still deciding where to sign their names on National Signing Day on February 2nd.
Here's a rundown on the top 25 football recruiting classes right now!
25-16.
1 of 16
25. TCU
24. Michigan
23. Arkansas
22. Auburn
21. Tennessee
20. Oklahoma State
19. South Carolina
18. Georgia
17. California
16. Texas Tech
15. Ole Miss
2 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Seven
Total commits: 24
Like any normal SEC team, Mississippi has based most of their recruiting efforts from the talent-rich South. East St. John (Louisiana) defensive back Floyd Raven has good size at 6'2", 185 pounds to hold up in the SEC, and 4-star big offensive lineman Ethan Hutson looks to be another in a long line of Ole Miss stud big uglies.
Cody Prewitt is a 6'3", 200-pound football player, who's listed as an athlete. The Rebel coaching staff will be at odds over where to line him up as he can excel all over the field.
Look for Ole Miss to creep up the rankings before it's all said and done, and they will add a few more talented players to this great class over time, as they already have four JC commitments.
14. Notre Dame
3 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Six
Total commits: 19
Brian Kelly went through his first year in South Bend and led to Irish to the Sun Bowl while still fighting a plethora of injuries, including starting QB Dayne Crist and star tight end Kyle Rudolph.
The Irish check in our list at No. 15, and their recruiting class is led by 4-star Monroe, Georgia, defensive end Stephen Tutt. At 6'5" and 260 pounds, Tutt has the athleticism to play strongside defensive end, but may see himself in the interior defensive line before his time is up with Notre Dame.
The Irish have done a good job of national recruiting, hailing in prospects from Florida, California, Texas, Ohio, New Mexico and Connecticut, among other states, Look for other 4-star prospects such as tight end Ben Koyack and athlete George Atkinson III to make an early impact for the Golden Domers next year.
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13. Florida
4 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 16
There is change in the air in Gainesville; as you likely know, Urban Meyer has stepped down, citing health reasons. Enter Texas defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, a Gainesville native who is fulfilling his dream job and destiny.
Make no mistake folks, Muschamp is an SEC veteran who knows what it takes to win the recruiting wars that go on in the South, having been at stops like LSU and Auburn, and playing at Georgia.
Muschamp's first order of business was to keep the talent that Meyer and his staff secured for Florida and supplement that with more talented prospects. Announcing that the Gators will be moving to a pro-style offense only will enhance 4-star quarterback Jeff Driskel's value to the class. Four-star running back Mike Blakely will look to break the depth chart for early playing time and Nick Waisome looks like a promising defensive back.
12. Oregon
5 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 19
Always providing recruits with one the best visits by showing off their campus's great scenery, plush facilities and the cool uniform combos, Oregon is at No. 13 right now. Four-star QB Jerrard Randall will take his speed and playmaking ability to Eugene to learn at the feet of Darron Thomas.
Chip Kelly has also been heavy on linebacker recruiting in this year's class, taking six so far, led by 6'2", 220-pound Anthony Wallace from Skyline (Texas) High School. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is a defensive back who will be able to match up on an island against Pac-12 receivers.
11. Stanford
6 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 21
Not known nationally as a recruiting powerhouse, Stanford is making noise this year. A charismatic and enthusiastic coach, Jim Harbaugh is a great draw to appeal to high school recruits. His recruiting strategy is to recruit smart, tough and physical football players, and this year's class fully embodies that strategy.
Six-foot-six, 240-pound defensive end Charlie Hopkins, a 4-star recruit out of Spokane, Washington, has the wingspan of an airplane. Offensive lineman Brandon Hopkins has the makings of a versatile trench player who could see time at all five spots upfront.
With all that said, running back has been the most impressive position so far in this class. With three 4-star rock-toters secured in Kelsey Young, Amir Carlisle and Remound Wright, a three-headed monster is on its way to The Farm.
10. Nebraska
7 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: 11
Total commits: 18
When he's not screaming at officials in front of "A Sea of Red" on Saturdays, it is clear that Bo Pelini is recruiting. Eleven 4-star recruits say it all. This isn't your father's Cornhusker program, and Pelini is proving that.
Aaron Green, a 5'11", 190-pound stud running back of James Madison (Texas), will be the next in line of tremendous running backs for Nebraska. Tyler Moore is an offensive tackle who has All-Big Ten potential.
Quarterback Bubba Starling is a 6'5" playmaker with 4.5 speed, and 300-pound center Ryne Reeves may be the best player in Nebraska this year.
9. North Carolina
8 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 21
No one has forgotten that Butch Davis was an elite recruiter going back to his days at Miami. A running joke is that he had an NFL team playing against Big East competition in those days. Since he's gotten to Chapel Hill, Davis has proved he can still lure top-notch talent—check the NFL draft boards to prove that.
This year, Davis is at it again as he has his Tar Heel program at No. 9 at the moment in recruiting class rankings. With 21 players locked up, UNC's has some studs in QB Marquise Williams, offensive lineman Landon Turner, defensive lineman Devonte Brown and linebacker Travis Hughes, among a hoard of talented players.
Davis and his staff have gotten players from Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Virginia and Kansas this year.
8. USC
9 of 16
5-star commits: Two
4-star commits: Six
Total commits: 21
Remember when USC was on top of college football and hauling in top recruiting class after top recruiting class? Well the two main cogs in that machine were Lane Kiffin and Ed Oregeron, who are now back at USC and back after gobbling up top recruits.
Kiffin and Oregeron are so competitive about recruiting that they compete with one another on who can get more talented players. USC is known to be really keen on evaluating players and not following recruiting services, and Kiffin is running his recruiting portion of the program very efficiently.
George Farmer of Serra (California) is the top player in the class. At 6'2" and 200 pounds, Farmer will certainly make an early impact at USC. De'Anthony Thomas is the other 5-star prospect in the class, and can play running back, cornerback, receiver and can return kicks and punts with ease.
The Trojans also have two 4-star QBs lined up in Cody Kessler and Max Wittek, an alum of Mater Dei High School, where former alums include former Trojans Matt Leinart, Matt Grootegoed, Lenny Vandermade and current USC starting quarterback Matt Barkley.
Other studs include Antuan Woods, Tre Madden and John Grimble.
Sanctions? What sanctions?
7. Ohio State
10 of 16
5-star commits: None
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 19
The Buckeyes are always in the top portion of recruiting rankings as Jim Tressel and his staff do a great job of locking up top Ohio talent, then expand across the country to pluck prospects from various states. That is why it is not a surprise in any way that the top two players in this year's class are from Ohio in quarterback Braxton Miller and defensive tackle Michael Bennett.
Miller is about as close to being a celebrity in high school as one can get, as the dual-threat field general can do it all. Bennett is a disruptive force at 6'3" and 275 pounds, and will pose a huge problem for Big Ten offensive linemen.
Brian Bobek is an outstanding center/guard prospect from Illinois, and the Buckeyes have locked up three 4-star defensive ends in Chase Farris, Kenny Hayes and Steve Miller. Jim Tressel and Co. also got revenge on Florida for the national championship debacle a few years back, as they plucked former Gator commit Ryan Shazier, a 6'3" linebacker from Plantation (Florida).
6. LSU
11 of 16
5-star commits: One
4-star commits: Seven
Total commits: 19
People wondered why Les Miles didn't go after the Michigan job harder three years ago, and whether you want to blame Kirk Herbstreit or not is up to you. My theory is Miles knew he was in the middle of a recruiting hotbed in Louisiana and Saturday nights in the Bayou can just about rival Big House Saturday afternoons.
Miles has gotten 19 players to say yes to play for the Tigers, and the top player is La'Ell Collins, a 5-star offensive lineman out of Baton Rouge (Louisiana); at 6'5" and 285 pounds, Collins is the top offensive tackle prospect in the country and a top-five overall recruit with elite athleticism and strength.
Jarvis Landry is a wide receiver with great speed, quickness and playmaking ability, Kenny Hilliard is a big running back with solid speed and vision, and Anthony Thomas is an overwhelming defensive tackle with size, strength and power inside the trenches.
Keep an eye on QB Zach Mettenberger. A former QB at Georgia who ran into some off-the-field problems, Mettenberger has a cannon arm and elite talent to challenge for the starting job next season for the Tigers.
5. Clemson
12 of 16
5-star commits: One
4-star commits: Seven
Total commits: 23
Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney have hit the trail hard this year and have the fifth notch in our rankings at the moment.
Always signing a wealth of talent such as CJ Spiller and DaQuan Bowers, Clemson has a plethora of studs in this year's class, starting with electric running back Mike Bellamy of Punta Gorda Charlotte (Florida). Bellamy stands 5'10", weighs nearly 190 pounds, and can run like the wind after being clocked at 4.4 in the 40.
Running back Marlin Lane and tight end Eric Maclain are two other offensive standouts.
Sammy Watkins is also another big-timer, as the wide receiver can blaze defenders deep, run solid routes, and make plays after the catch. Martis Bryant is a 4-star receiver who has great size at 6'4", 195 pounds, and defensive end Corey Crawford could play strong side end or slide down to defensive tackle for the Tigers.
Defensive back Charone Peake and receiver Cortez Davis are sure to have some epic battles in practice as they both stand 6'3" and possess elite athleticism.
4. Oklahoma
13 of 16
5-star commits: Two
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 17
Everyone who follows recruiting passionately always wants to argue over their school getting the most 5-star recruits. Well, it really doesn't matter, as some 3-star recruits have developed into first-round NFL draft picks. Former Sooner QB Sam Bradford was a 4-star recruit.
Anyways, just so Sooner fans know, they have two 5-star players locked up in receivers Trey Metoyer and Brandon Williams, who both are from the state of Texas.
Six-foot-six, 290-pound defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is a big force in the middle and may be well over 300 pounds before he leaves Norman. Nathan Hughes is a 6'6" defensive end from Klein Oak (Texas) who will certainly get after Big-12 quarterbacks.
Dan Tapko and Mike Stevenson will allow the Sooners to employ more two-tight end sets in their offense. Nothing to see here folks, just a normal Bob Stoops talent-laden recruiting class.
3. Florida State
14 of 16
5-star commits: Two
4-star commits: Eight
Total commits: 21
Jimbo Fisher and his staff are adamant on bringing Florida State back into the national spotlight, and they have used the recruiting trail as their No.1 weapon.
Fisher has gotten two 5-star recruits in big safety prospect Karlos Williams and powerful athlete James Wilder Jr. Williams could line up at safety or move down to outside linebacker at FSU, and Wilder could play running back, linebacker or defensive end.
The Seminoles have also secured some solid JC talent in defensive lineman Cornelius Carradine, offensive lineman Jacob Fahrenkrug, running back Devonte Freeman and defensive end Aaron Williams, all 4-star prospects who will provide immediate help.
The Seminoles are also in the mix for some of the top uncommitted players in the nation, and are the favorites to land No.1 tight end Nick O'Leary. The No. 3 spot likely will be too low for FSU come Signing Day.
2. Alabama
15 of 16
5-star commits: Two
4-star commits: 12
Total commits: 20
Alabama football is a way of life in the state, and their fans can boast two secured 5-star recruits in this year's recruiting class, with Brent Calloway and Hasean Clinton-Dix headed for Tuscaloosa.
Calloway defines versatility from the linebacker position as he can play Sam, Will, Mike, 3-4 outside, and some strong safety/rover. Clinton-Dix is a big defensive back from Florida who stands 6'2" and has great length and athleticism.
Nick Saban has a fantastic amount of 4-star recruits in this year's class, including defensive tackle Jesse Williams, receiver Marvin Shinn, linebackers Trey DePriest and Shannon Brown, and defensive back Chris Jones.
There are so many standouts in this year's class that the Crimson Tide have gotten downright greedy as they wait on Jadeveon Clowney and Nick O'Leary to make their choices known.
1. Texas
16 of 16
5-star commits: One
4-star commits: 16
Total commits: 23
Mack Brown and the Longhorns get a head start on recruiting before everyone else. They are pretty much done with 2011 recruiting and are putting together the opening stages of their 2012 effort already. Brown and his staffers have a great recruiting system where they evaluate juniors effectively and secure early pledges to stay ahead of the rest of the country.
This year was same ole, same ole and Texas has the top class in the nation.
Five-star running back Malcolm Brown has been a man amongst boys in high school and could make it that way when he's in Austin.
The Longhorns have a cornucopia of 4-star prospects who probably deserve five stars. Linebackers Steve Edmond, Chet Moss and Kendall Thompson are elite defenders. Christian Westermann, Josh Cochran, Garrett Greenlea and Sedrick Flowers are four of the very best offensive linemen in the country.
Defensive tackle Desmond Jackson, athlete Quandre Diggs, and receiver Jaxson Shipley (name ring a bell?) are other standouts in a who's-who of high school recruits that make up incoming Longhorn players.
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