LSU, USC Football Recruiting 2011: Why the Tigers, Trojans Have the Best Classes

Les Miles must have had a reason to stay at LSU. 

After turning down more money from Michigan, his alma mater, Miles returned to a Tiger team with a very bright future. 

After a Cotton Bowl victory and eleven win season, LSU fans will have more to cheer about this upcoming season.  

With plenty of recruits already signed and many top unsigned recruits considering the school, LSU will have the top recruiting class for 2011.

Five Star Recruits

LSU has three five-star recruits, the most of any team in the country. 

They include OL La'El Collins, DT Anthony Johnson, and WR Jarvis Landry.  

Collins is the number six overall prospect according to Rivals, and Landry lead all receivers at the Under Armour All-America game with 70 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. 

All three are top-class athletes, which the SEC is full of.  Tiger fans can expect all three to contribute their freshman season. 

Potential Commitment Of Jadeveon Clowney

Anytime your school can get the consensus number one player, it was a good signing day. 

Clowney, a 6'6, 250 pound DE out of South Carolina, is a physically gifted athlete with great speed and lateral quickness.   

He is considering many schools, and LSU is one of them.  If LSU were able to land the top recruit in the country, it would push their recruiting class over the top.

RB Recruit Kenny Hilliard

Hilliard, the number four ranked RB, will be a welcome addition to a Tigers backfield that in recent years has featured future NFL players such as Joseph Addai and Jacob Hester. 

Hilliard set a Louisiana state record with 8603 rushing yards, and his size and strength remind scouts of recent first round draft pick and Ohio State alum Beanie Wells.

Hilliard should be a mainstay in the Tigers back field for years to come. 

USC's Recruiting Class

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Lane Kiffen of the Tennessee Volunteers watches against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 31, 2009 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Coming off a postseason ban did not affect USC's recruiting class one bit. 

Despite the recent turmoil with the program, the Trojans still have a top recruiting class, bolstered by two of the top five recruits, WR George Farmer and ATH De'Anthony Thomas. 

USC also has a large recruiting class, with 24 total commits.  The number of recruits to go along with the top-class talent they have recruited gives USC a class to rival that of LSU.

WR George Farmer

Farmer is the nations top receiving recruit and his size and speed have drawn comparisons to Michael Crabtree. 

At 6'2, he has the height to go up for those jump balls, and he also runs a 4.4 forty yard dash.  Farmer also is a gifted punt returner. 

He should instantly develop a chemistry with QB Matt Barkley, giving the Trojans a true possession receiver and red zone threat.  

ATH De'Anthony Thomas

Thomas played RB in high school, but at 5'9 and only 160 pounds, as of now he does not have the size to be an every down back.  

If Thomas wants to continue playing RB at the collegiate level, he needs to add ten to fifteen pounds of muscle to his frame. 

But Thomas' speed, quickness, and acceleration are all top-notch. 

He is also a great receiver out of the backfield and can return punts as well. 

Although he might end up playing corner, Trojan fans can expect to see Thomas in several packages next year, probably in the same role the team used Joe McKnight in his freshman year. 

Size Of Class

USC also already has 24 recruits, nine of which are four-star recruits. 

The Trojans are also doing a great job recruiting their home state of California.  Despite Oregon's recent dominance of the Pac-10, it has not stopped potential recruits from attending USC. 

Examples of other top recruits coming to USC include QB Cody Kessler, WR Victor Blackwell, and RB Amir Carlisle. 

Other Top Classes

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on from the sideline during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martin

Alabama and Texas are two other schools with great incoming classes.  

Texas has the most number of four-star recruits with 15, and the top RB recruit in the nation in Malcolm Brown.  

However, Brown is their only five-star recruit, so their lack of top talent pushed them out of the top spot. 

Alabama has another great class under Nick Saban, lead by RB recruit Demetrius Hart, the U.S. Army All American POY. 

Alabama's class could also get a boost with the addition of Clowney, who is considering them along with LSU.  

LSU Or USC?

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Quarterback Jordan Jefferson #9 of the LSU Tigers call a play against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Although we will not know all signings until Wednesday, as of now I feel LSU has the top recruiting class in the nation. 

They did a great job recruiting a variety of players and positions, many of which will be able to help right away (they have three recruits in Rivals top twenty). 

Along with Clowney, LSU also is awaiting word on DT Timmy Jernigan, one of the top four-star recruits left. 

At the end of the day, the Tigers 2011 recruiting class will stand alone as the best in the nation.