College Football Recruiting 2011: The 10 Most Disappointing Recruiting Classes
During the college football recruiting season, there are winners and losers.
For every team that strikes gold with their commitments, there are multiple schools that fall flat on the recruiting trail.
Some teams have it worse than others, depending on their schedules and the classes of their league or conference opponents. Others have it easy and compete year in and year out regardless of the strength of their recruiting class.
As national signing day approaches, here are the 10 most disappointing college football recruiting classes for 2011:
Penn State
1 of 10
The Nittany Lions have two four-star offensive linemen committed for next season but don't have the big name needed to get back to the top of the Big Ten.
Guards Angelo Mangiro and Anthony Zettel should help move along the running game, but Penn State needed assistance on the defensive side of the ball and will hope for sixth-ranked defensive end Ishaq Williams to choose the Nittany Lions.
Virginia Tech
2 of 10
With Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina putting together top 20 recruiting classes, the Hokies have slipped a bit after taking the ACC's BCS bid this past season.
When you add to it the fact that Virginia has compiled the 21st-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to Scout.com, things have clearly taken a turn for the worse for Virginia Tech.
After going 11-3 last season, the Hokies await word on three players who could make or break their 2011 recruiting class. Top-ranked outside linebacker Stephone Anthony and top 20 athletes Darius Jennings and Dominique Terrell are considering Virginia Tech.
And given the strides the Hokies' opponents and rivals have made, they'll need to make a big splash in the final weeks.
West Virginia
3 of 10
Much that is said about Virginia Tech can be applied to West Virginia.
In an area and at a school that typically attracts some of the top recruits in the nation, the Mountaineers have swung and missed up to this point in the recruiting process.
The Mountaineers have 18 commitments but lack a four-star recruit and have gained verbals from no players in ESPNU's Top 150.
Depending on the decisions of four-star athletes Dominique Terrell, Zachary Witchett and Bill Belton, who are all considering West Virginia, the Mountaineers have a shaky class heading into Big East play in 2011.
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UCLA
4 of 10
As the Pac-10 becomes the Pac-12, the Bruins needed to get after the recruiting trail this season.
Things haven't necessarily gone as planned.
As Oregon, USC, Cal, Utah and Stanford all put together above average or standout classes, the Bruins have fell a few notches.
After four-star and fifth-ranked quarterback Brett Hundley, UCLA lacks a special recruit. It is reported that top-ranked inside linebacker Tony Steward is considering the Bruins, but the Florida native is likely leaning to and SEC or ACC school.
South Carolina
5 of 10
While this thought will all change if the Gamecocks can indeed land the nation's top-ranked player and South Carolina native Jadeveon Clowney, we have to go on the facts. And at this point in the recruiting process, the facts state that South Carolina's class isn't strong enough to keep its improvement moving in the extremely difficult SEC.
While three four-star recruits and a host of top 20 position players would cut it in many conferences, the SEC is a different animal.
Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Florida have gathered terrific 2011 classes and Clowney is the only addition that could put the Gamecocks' in the same atmosphere.
TCU
6 of 10
After going undefeated and reaching a BCS Bowl, the Horned Frogs should be pulling in the talent that typically heads to Texas, Texas Tech and the other perennial powers in that region.
Yet, TCU has two four-star commitments and has only marginal prospects considering the Horned Frogs as signing day approaches.
LaDarius Brown, the 16th-ranked wide receiver and ninth-ranked outside linebacker Deryck Gildon have committed verbally to TCU, but past those two top recruits, the Horned Frogs' 2011 class has been a let down.
Boise State
7 of 10
Much like TCU, the Broncos should be at a point given their recent and likely future success that recruiting becomes a bit easier.
Still, Boise has not one four-star recruit and haven't addressed many needs despite a 12-1 season and near BCS Bowl-bid.
Barring a complete turnaround from a top recruit, Boise State will see national signing day come and pass without signing an impact player to its 2011 class.
Colorado
8 of 10
After going 5-7 overall and just 2-6 in the Big 12, the Buffaloes needed to find a way to up their recruiting efforts to become relevant again in the conference.
Little has been done, however, to help that cause.
Colorado lacks a four-star commitment and there is possibility for only one on the way before national signing day.
While the commitment of 18th-ranked defensive end Ian Seau—Junior Seau's nephew—would sure help the Buffaloes, he is hardly the type of recruit to turn the tables.
Iowa State
9 of 10
Much said about Colorado can easily be applied to Iowa State.
To compete in the Big 12, the Cyclones also needed a splash but have yet to get one this recruiting season.
DeVondrick Nealy, the 37th-ranked running back is Iowa State's top-ranked recruit and numbers like that simply won't cut it against league powers like Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Miami
10 of 10
All of the reasons the recruiting classes for the previous schools on this list are disappointing can certainly be applied to Miami.
In what is perhaps the most talented region for high school recruits, the Hurricanes have put forth an average recruiting class at best.
The Hurricanes have acquired four-star defensive end Anthony Chickillo, but he is the team's only four or five-star recruit.
A host of standout recruits, including tight end Nick O'Leary, tackle Antonio Richardson, defensive end Aaron Lynch and linebacker Curt Maggitt, still consider Miami as a destination. But a lot has to happen between now and national signing day for the Hurricanes' class to turnaround.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
