College Football Recruiting 2011: The 10 Most Surprising Recruiting Classes
Year in and year out, some of the perennial powers put together recruiting classes equally as impressive as their play on the field.
But throughout the recruiting process each and every year, there are some programs that come out of the blue to surprise recruiting analysts and fans; this year is no different.
Looking past teams like Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma, 10 schools in particular have impressed the college football world with their ability to acquire the level of talent necessary to improve the next season.
Here are the 10 most surprising recruiting classes in 2011.
Clemson Tigers
1 of 9
Following a year in which Clemson went 6-7 and just 4-4 in the ACC, the Tigers have assembled a first-class recruiting class.
With two-plus weeks to go before national signing day, Clemson already has six ESPNU Top 150 players committed, including six 4-star and one 5-star recruits.
It starts with top-ranked wideout Charone Peake, who combines a blend of speed and size that can't be found in many other wideouts.
Clemson's recruiting class, of course, can only improve from here. Jan. 21, the Tigers will host the Nos. 1 and 3 players in the country, Jadeveon Clowney and Ray Drew, respectively. If Clemson lands even one of these prized recruits, it would propel them into the top of recruiting class rankings.
Tennessee Volunteers
2 of 9
Tennessee went just 6-7 this year and the jury is still out on head coach Derek Dooley.
Yet, Tennessee has assembled the type of recruiting class that will help it improve in the highly competitive SEC.
The Volunteers lack a 5-star recruit, but picked up five 4-star players and 12 3-star recruits to put together a Top 25 class.
Wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett highlights the class and the Vols recently got a verbal from Marcus Jackson, a former Miami recruit and the type of talent at offensive guard that can help push Tennessee forward.
North Carolina Tar Heels
3 of 9
North Carolina had a down year in the ACC, going just 4-4, but has made up for it throughout the recruiting season.
T.J. Thorpe, a 4-star athlete, heads up the Tarheels' class while offensive guard Kiaro Holts will be a surefire anchor on the offensive line.
With Clemson, Virginia and Florida State at the top of many recruiting rankings, UNC needed to put together a strong class to keep pace in the ACC.
And that's exactly what they did.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Louisville Cardinals
4 of 9
Louisville's class is surprising for the fact that head coach Charlie Strong went straight into Miami and pulled top talent out from under the nose of Miami and Florida, which typically rule that highly talented area.
The Cardinals got top safety prospect Gerod Holliman, explosive dual-threat quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and wide receiver Eli Rogers from the Miami area.
All told, Louisville has three 4-star commits and 17 3-star players committed for 2011.
Virginia Cavaliers
5 of 9
After going 4-8 overall with just one win in the ACC, Virginia has compiled one of the best recruiting classes in the nation.
WIth the focus on defense, Virginia gained commitments from two of the nation's top cornerbacks in Demetrious Nicholson and Brandon Phelps.
On the defensive line, David Dean and Vincent Croce round out the Cavaliers' stellar class.
Ole Miss Rebels
6 of 9
The Ole Miss recruiting class is an interesting case.
At one point in the recruiting process, the Rebels were flying high. The decommits from Louisville-bound Gerod Holliman and Eli Rogers, however, have led to the downgrade of the 2011 class for Ole Miss.
After going 4-8 and just 1-7 against the SEC, the Rebels needed to make a big move in order to compete with Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia, which have all put together solid classes.
Boston College Eagles
7 of 9
In an area not known as a college football hotbed, the Eagles have compiled a solid recruiting class in a year that their ACC opponents have only improved. After going 7-6 and on the cusp of becoming a major contender in the conference, it's exactly what BC needed.
A solid class became even stronger when ninth-ranked safety and Massachusetts native Albert Louis-Jean decommited from Miami and gave his verbal to the Eagles. Louis-Jean is an explosive kick returner and has the speed and size to cover almost anyone.
Defensively, the Eagles added outside linebacker Sean Duggan, tackle Kieran Borchich and end Connor Wujciak.
Kansas Jayhawks
8 of 9
The Jayhawks went just 3-9 last season but were able to land a pair of 4-star recruits to build around. Darrian Miller, the 18th-ranked running back, and quarterback Brock Berglund, who ranks 13th among signal callers, stand at the top of a solid class that includes 16 3-star commitments.
Receiver JaCorey Shepherd and linemen Damon Martin, Luke Luhrsen and Dylan Admire complete what is a terrific front line of commits on the offensive side of the football.
The offensive additions come at the right time for Kansas, which boasted just the 111th-ranked offense in the nation this past season. Averaging just 17.1 points per game, including 161 yards through the air on average, it was clear Kansas' focus was on offense this recruiting season.
Cal Golden Bears
9 of 9
Despite going just 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Pac-10, Cal has put together an impressive recruiting class and it has come at the expense of USC.
When Viliami Moala, the seventh-ranked defensive tackle in the country, opted for Cal over USC this past weekend at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, it ensured that the Bears' class in 2011 would be the type that can help them compete in the ever-improving Pac-12.
Todd Barr and Avery Walls, both 4-star recruits, will lend a hand to the Bears' defense along with Moala and sixth-ranked outside linebacker Jason Gibson.
Offensively, 14th-ranked wide receiver Maurice Harris and Top 20 running backs Jason Gibson and Brendon Bigelow will help lead the way.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
