Recruiting Grades for College Football's Top 25 Classes of 2011
We're going to take a detour off 2012 recruiting and go back to the 2011 class. We saw some great prospects in the 2011 cycle, and some of the top programs assembled some great classes.
For this, we're going to simply go back and give a quick rundown of the top 25 classes and give a quick grade for each of them. It may be June, and school may be out, but recruiting class is in session.
The bell is ringing.
25. Nebraska
1 of 25
Big red checks in at No. 25 for 2011, signing an 18-man class. The have eight prospects at the the 40 star or higher clip, and the headliner is 5-star RB Aaron Green.
QB Bubba Starling could be a bigger version of Taylor Martinez, but the MLB Draft may keep him from Lincoln. Tyler Moore has a great chance to contribute early in his career, as the 6'6" 300 pounder can play OT or OG.
But Charles Jackson, a 5'10", 175 pound CB may become the best player in the class and follow suit of Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard.
Grade: B+
24. Michigan
2 of 25
The Wolverines scrambled under Brady Hoke to finish in the top 25 after just weeks of Hoke being on the job. I think he did a solid job for his first, albeit rushed, recruiting class.
He got five 4-star recruits in 2011 to go along with other great supplemental players. The class is led by speedy and shifty RB Justice Hayes, as the 5'10", 185 pounder has 4.4 speed.
Keep an eye on Kellen Jones, a 4-star MLB prospect. He's 6'1", 225 pounds, instinctive and athletic— all valuable traits for a potential starter in the middle.
Grade: C+
23. North Carolina
3 of 25
Butch Davis and his staff, in my opinion, do a great job of evaluating players that they like and believe can impact the program on Chapel Hill. This year was no different.
The Tar Heels signed a 22-recruit class, with five recruits rated at 4-stars or higher. Kiaro Holts is a 6'5", 265 pound OT with canvas that Picasso would have killed for.
Marquise Williams is the QB of the class, as the 6'3", 215 pound signal caller has a dual threat skill set capable of making him a top flight starter.
Grade: B
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22. Iowa
4 of 25
Not known as a sexy pick among recruits on the trail, Iowa saw themselves thick in the hunt for Cyrus Kouandjio, falling just short of the 5-star OT's signed LOI.
Yet the Hawkeyes did sign a solid class, with 24 players and four of them being 4-star recruits. Jordan Walsh is one of the top ranked OG prospects for the 2011 class, Rodney Coe is a big 6'3", 240 pound OLB, Darian Cooper is a solid DT and Nico Law is a 6'3", 190 pound DS.
Grade: B
21. Virginia
5 of 25
Mike London is trying and pulling out all of the stops to rebuild the Wahoo program and knows it starts with recruiting. He did a solid job of infusing some talent into the roster in 2011.
An interesting note with this is class is the top two potential players are both CBs. Demetrious Nicholson is top flight corner at 5'11", 170 pounds with great short area quickness. Dominique Terrell is a bit bigger and perhaps more physical at 5'11", 180 pounds.
Grade: B-
20. Oklahoma State
6 of 25
The Pokes got seven 4-star or higher players in 2011, and that includes beating Baylor out for big time RB recruit Herschel Sims.
Sims was rumored to have flirted with the Bears, but the 5'10", 190 pounder signed to tote the rock in Stillwater in the end. The player I really want to see is J.W. Walsh, a dual threat QB that stands 6'2", 190 pounds and reminds some of Zac Robinson.
Grade: B-
19. Stanford
7 of 25
Even though Jim Harbaugh left for the 49ers, David Shaw still convinced 19 players to come to Stanford. With Andrew Luck returning, it was also a coup to sign two QBs in Kevin Hogan and Evan Crower.
Yet the player I love in this is class is physical LB James Vaughters out of Georgia. 6'2" and 235 pounds, Vaughters is a tough and physical presence who explodes upon contact in run alleys. Wayne Lyons plays faster than his timed speed and should be an excellent Pac-12 DS as well.
Grade: B
18. Washington
8 of 25
Within their 21 man recruiting class, the Huskies signed two 5-star prospects in Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Kasen Williams.
Seferian-Jenkins is a big 6'6", 250 pound TE, though I think there is a chance he could be moved to LT ala Eric Winston of the Texans. Williams is a 6'2", 215 pound WR that is not a burner, but has solid hands, runs good routes and has solid ball skills.
Grade: B+
17. Arkansas
9 of 25
Twenty-six recruits decided to play for Bobby Petrino, and seven of them are 4-star players or higher. The Hogs are thinking SEC title in 2011, and there may be a few players from this class that help contribute to that effort.
Brey Cook is the headliner, as the 5-star OT is a 6'7" 310 pounder that can play RT, LT or even OG for an offensive front. Kelvin Fisher is a 6'0", 180 pound DS and JC DT Robert Thomas, all 6'3" and 325 pounds of him, can eat up space and clog gaps just by getting off the bus.
Grade: B+
16. Calfornia
10 of 25
The Bears check in at this slot, and I love their class, especially along the DL alone. They have 20 players in the fold, with nine being rated 4-stars or higher.
Viliami Moala is a big time DT prospect that has Haloti Ngata potential at 6'3, 340 pounds and huge motor to go along with elite big man athleticism.
Mustafa Jalil is another talented DT at 6'4", 300 pounds, Todd Barr is a 6'3", 265 pound DE and Jason Gibson will become a dominant DE/OLB hybrid.
Grade: A-
15. Oklahoma
11 of 25
The Sooners being placed here is a bit peculiar, but I think it's due to the fact they only have an 18-man class and it being a big top heavy.
OU signed a staggering four 5-star players, tied for the most of any school, including WR Trey Metoyer, RB Brandon Williams, DE Nathan Hughes and DT Jordan Phillips, who, at 6'6", 300 pounds, is so athletic that he returned punts for his prep team last year.
Grade: A-
14. Tennessee
12 of 25
Give Derek Dolley some credit here. He had a ton of things to get done and get through during "year zero" as he put it this spring and had the Vols competitive on the field and made some noise on the trail.
In his 24-man class, he got seven four-star players and including top in-state recruit, Antonio Richardson, a 6'6", 310 pound OT that will be an All-SEC OL in a few years.
DeAnthony Arnett may be the next Dante Stallworth, Cameron Clear will be a great OL and AJ Johnson should start and contribute early as a MLB. But Curt Maggit, a 6'3" 200 pound OLB, has a chance to be the jewel of the class.
Grade: B+
13. Oregon
13 of 25
Fresh off of a BCS title game appearance, Oregon and Chip Kelly used the great marketing of the on-field success to promote themselves well on the trail.
Twenty-one players are set for Eugene, with an amazing 11 being at the 4-star clip or higher. The headliner is 5-star ATH DeAnthony Thomas, who the Ducks stole from rival USC. Devon Blackmon is a speedy WR who burned some of the nation's best DBs at the UA game.
But Colt Lyerla is a player who has a skill set that translates well to several positions. 6'5" 225 pounds, Lyerla can play DE, TE, LB, WR or FB, but is starting at TE.
Grade: A
12. Texas Tech
14 of 25
Yes, the Red Raiders had a pretty good 2011 recruiting class. Tommy Tuberville even temporarily convinced Marcus Roberson to pick off passes in Lubbock.
Though Roberson ultimately wound up at Florida, Tuberville still got 28 recruits, with nine players rated 4-stars or more. Delvon Simmons is a 6'5", 260 pound DL that was a North Carolina commit, but signed with Texas Tech just recently.
Jace Amaro, a 6'6", 250 pound TE, should be able to contribute as a true freshman thanks to his long frame, soft hands and release quickness in the passing game.
Grade: B+
11. South Carolina
15 of 25
Steve Spurrier signed 31, count 'em, 31 players in 2011, with seven being 4-stars or higher, including two 5-star players.
Brandon Shell is a big 6'7", 310 pound OT, and Damiere Byrd is a 5'10", 160 pound WR that has been timed at 4.27 in the 40.
But we all know this class starts and ends with one Jadeveon Clowney, the top prospect in the country and perhaps the best incoming freshman in recent memory to college football. 6'6", 250 pounds, the mega-talented DE should develop into the next Michael Strahan, Mario Williams, Julius Peppers and Da'Quan Bowers.
Grade: A-
10. LSU
16 of 25
Twenty-two recruits. 10 at 4-stars or higher. More talent on its way to the Bayou. Wow. LSU got four elite prospects from the state alone in super talented and expected freshman starter, 6'4", 300 pound DT Anthony Johnson.
La'El Collins has a chance to be better than Joe Barksdale at LT. Jarvis Landry needs to add weight to his 170 pound frame, but the 5;11" WR has a slew of play speed, and Jermauria Rasco is a solid DE prospect that can also play SAM LB.
Grade: A
9. Notre Dame
17 of 25
Charlie Weis did a good job recruiting at Notre Dame, but he failed to address the defense.Out of the 23 recruits Brian Kelly signed in 2011, 12 are defensive players, including the top three in the class.
Specifically, Kelly got some serious talent in the defensive front seven, as Aaron Lynch is a 6'6", 250 pound DE that can start this fall, Stephon Tuit is another DE at 6'5", 260 and Ishaq Williams is a 6'6", 230 pounder that should develop into an All-American at OLB.
Grade: A
8. Ohio State
18 of 25
Wow, what a difference a few months make, huh? In February, Ohio State had a stable head coach, a top 10 recruiting class and were thinking about winning the national title.
Now, while they still have a top 10 recruiting class coming in, they have an interim head coach, and winning the national title would be a miracle.
But 15 out of the 24 players coming to Columbus are 4-star talents or more, led by Ohio celebrity and legend QB Braxton Miller. Miller is a 6'2", 190 pounder that many say is a cross between Donovan McNabb, Troy Smith and Pat White.
Curtis Grant is also considered as one of the best overall talents in the country.
Grade: A
7. Clemson
19 of 25
Who says Dabo Swinney is on the hotseat? Well, it sure didn't seem like it in 2011 recruiting, as the Tigers got some serious talent to sign to play in Death Valley.
Four 5-star recruits lead the headlines in LB Tony Steward, LB Stephone Anthony, WR Sammy Watkins and RB Mike Bellamy. But it's not over there, as WR Charone Peake and TE Eric MacLain are great, and LB Lateek Townsend will be a standout at LB.
Grade: A
6. Georgia
20 of 25
The Dawgs got the "Dream Team" assembled, and I think a few might even contribute as true freshmen. Mark Richt answered critics who claim he has a leaky fence around the state with a top 10 class, made up of elite Peach State talent.
Isaiah Crowell is a RB that has NFL potential. The 5'11", 200 pounder has breakaway speed and should start vs. Boise State. Ray Drew is a 6'5", 245 pound DE/OLB that I feel can come in as a DPR and contribute to Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense early.
Jay Rome is the top TE on my board and should be an NFL player in a few years, and Malcolm Mitchell, Rome's teammate, should be All-SEC at WR or CB.
Grade: A
5. USC
21 of 25
Fourteen out of USC's 26 incoming freshman have been rated 4-stars or higher, so more talent is en route to Troy, as the Trojans are going to need it due to the now firmly imposed scholarship restrictions and sanctions on the program.
George Farmer, a 6'2", 200 pound WR with 4.3 speed, is the headliner and a future NFL player. Lamar Dawson is a future starter, as the 6'2", 230 LB has No. 55 potential, and Aundrey Walker is the top OG in the 2011 class and stands an enormous 6'6" 355 pounds.
Toss in OG Cyrus Hobbi, DT Christian Heyward, DE Greg Townsend and QB's Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, and you see USC will be able to compete for bowls for years to come.
Grade: A-
4. Texas
22 of 25
Texas is a program that always has the top recruiting class going down the stretch but slips a few spots on NSD, not due to their effort but because they wrap up recruiting so early.
They see some top prospects chose other schools that raise those particular program's ranking.
But make no mistake, the Longhorns get their talent, and they very rarely leave the state, as they feel their backyard of Texas has all the talent they need to pluck from. This year, it's about Malcolm Brown, a 6'0", 220 pound RB that is in line with Ricky Williams and Cedric Benson.
LB Steve Edmond and DT Desmond Jackson are also 5-star recruits.
Grade: A
3. Alabama
23 of 25
The Crimson Tide have seen their program rise to juggernaut status on the field and in recruiting under Nick Saban since 2007.
They have several recruiting championships under their belt and had one in their grasp this year as well. Alabama has basically an all-star team coming with plenty of name power.
OT Cyrus Kouandjio, DS Haha Clinton-Dix and top JC player DT Jesse Williams are just tip of the iceberg. Look up Alabama's class, and tell me it's not good. I dare you.
Grade: A
2. Florida State
24 of 25
Are the Seminoles back? I think so, at least on the recruiting trail, as Jimbo Fisher got an elite class and went down to the wire for some elite players.
Even though FSU struck out with Jadeveon Clowney and Tony Steward, Tallahassee will still welcome elite talent such as DS Karlos Williams, RB James Wilder, OL Bobby Hart, TE Nick O'Leary, CB Nick Waisome, JC DE Cornelius Carradine, WR Kelvin Benjamin and DT Tim Jernigan.
Wow.
Grade: A
1. Auburn
25 of 25
How many times have we seen the national champs come back a few weeks later and take the top recruiting class in February?
Gene Chizik and Co. capitalized on their success in 2010 by winning the 2011 recruiting title. Auburn signed 25 players, 17 being 4-star or higher recruits, and many of these incoming freshmen could crack the Tiger 2-deep.
OL Chrisitan Westerman is the best run blocking OL in the country, combined with Greg Robinson, Reese Dismukes and Tommy O'Reilly, and you have a dominant offensive front, which makes QB Kiehl Frazier happy.
DS Erique Florence, DB Jonathan Rose, DT Gabe Wright, ATH Kris Frost, TE Brandon Fulse and RB Mike Blakely all are potential stars
Grade: A
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
