College Football Recruiting: The Elite Recruiting Classes of the Last 5 Years

NOTE: For this read, we're only focusing on the five years from 2006-2010.

Over just the past five years, we've seen some schools haul in some serious talent en route to stocking their rosters with great players. We're going to focus on the past five years of recruiting classes for this read.

Some coaches are not at their respective schools any longer for various reasons, but in the past five years, they still lured elite high school prospects to their campus on the regular. So what we're going to do is is rattle off some top classes we remember from the past five years.

Here we go.

2006: USC

USC was a juggernaut on the trail in the middle of the decade, as it seemed they drafted instead of recruited.

Taylor Mays was a 5-star safety who became a freshman All-American and second-round pick for the 49ers. Allen Bradford fought through position switches,—from outside linebacker to fullback to tailback—but still endured a solid career at USC.

Stafon Johnson chose USC over Georgia and spent his freshman campaign in Carroll's doghouse. Until he suffered a freak weightlifting accident, Johnson was one of the better runners on the Trojans' roster. Butch Lewis was a stalwart along the Trojan offensive line during his tenure, and Zach Herberer was a spot starter in the trenches.

The most important and valuable player in this class, without question, was Stanley Havili.

He came in as a 4-star running back, but developed into an elite do-it-all type of fullback. Havili was the glue that held the Trojans' offense together, especially as a junior and senior. David Buehler developed into a solid kicker (now with the Dallas Cowboys), Shareece Wright overcame academic issues and Mike Morgan was a two-year starter at SAM linebacker.

2006: Florida

You want to know who the most important player in this class was? Brandon Spikes, easily.

Spikes was a 5-star recruit at linebacker who went on to become an All-SEC player, team captain and second-round pick for the New England Patriots.

The top player in country was a receiver by the name of Percy Harvin from Virginia, who became a prototypical fit in Meyer's offensive scheme. Harvin was used as a receiver, runner and returner in Gainesville en route to a first-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings. A.J. Jones was a solid starter at linebacker, and Carl Johnson saw a good amount of time at guard.

But the player who was the MVP of this class was Tim Tebow.

Say what you want about Tebow's passing skills, but he got it done. He won a Heisman Trophy and became an absolute legend, not only in Gainesville, but in college football history.

Marcus Gilbert became a solid starter, and Riley Cooper was as reliable as they come at receiver.

2007: Florida

Not sure about you, but this class proved Meyer could recruit big time since he followed an elite class with another elite class.

Aaron Hernandez dazzled at tight end en route to being drafted by New England. Maurkice Pouncey became a first-round pick at center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and his twin brother Michael became a solid starter with high-pick potential as well.

James Wilson de-committed from USC to head to Gainesville. Major Wright and Chris Rainey became solid starters. Carlos Dunlap flashed oozing potential as a defensive end and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. Ahmad Black started at safety, and Cam Newton was an elite QB prospect in the Florida recruiting class.

Joe Haden was a QB/WR before developing into the top cornerback in the country and a Top 10 NFL Draft pick for the Cleveland Browns.

2007: USC

Joe McKnight never lived up to the Reggie Bush-like comparisons and hype, but he was a solid player for the Trojans. Rumor has it that the saga of his recruitment was a false one between USC and LSU, as it is believed by some that McKnight gave USC a silent verbal the summer before his senior year.

Kris O'Dowd was the nation's best center and, when he was healthy, he was in the lineup and solid in the pivot. Marc Tyler broke his leg during his last year in high school, and thus had to redshirt as a freshman. He battled other injuries, the depth chart and transfer thoughts to become the opening day starter in his junior season.

Ronald Johnson came to USC as a corner, but his speed was too good not to play him at receiver, where he was very solid overall. Malcolm Smith, Steve's brother, developed into a WILL linebacker and starter, so has Rhett Ellison at tight end, and Christian Tupou has been a solid DT when healthy.

2008: Alabama

Julio Jones was then considered a better WR prospect than A.J. Green, and he opted to stay in-state and play for the Tide.

Mark Barron has developed into the solid safety he expected to become.

Tyler Love is a solid offensive tackle, Courtney Upshaw has defined the type of JACK linebacker Nick Saban looks for at the high school level and Dont'a Hightower is one of the best inside linebackers in the country. Terrence Cody became a stalwart at the nose tackle spot for the 3-4 Alabama defense and was a second-round pick for the Baltimore Ravens.

Marcell Dareus was drafted third overall this year and knocked Colt McCoy out of the National Championship game in 2010.

But Mark Ingram, a 3-star running back, came out of nowhere to win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore and is easily this class' MVP.

2008: Notre Dame

This class brought in at least five cornerstone players for the Irish: Kyle Rudolph, Darius Fleming, Dayne Crist, Michael Floyd and Ethan Johnson.

All five players have gone on to become great starters for the Irish, and while Crist may still have a couple questions around him, reports have it that he has looked pretty good in camp. Rudolph is in the NFL, and the other four players will be one day as well.

Floyd is possibly the best WR to ever play at South Bend. Fleming is a solid LB and multi-year starter, and Johnson has been rock-solid on the DL.

Some even say Notre Dame's 2008 class was better than Alabama's.

2009: Ohio State

This class was led by Johnny Simon, a 5-star defensive tackle who, at 6'4" and 290 pounds, has gone on to become a solid starter in the defensive trenches.

Dorian Bell was a 5-star linebacker who will be a full-time starter this fall. Kenny Guiton was a little-known 3-star recruit at quarterback from Texas and will have something to say about 2011 recruit Braxton Miller taking over fpr Terrelle Pryor.

Melvin Fellows, a 6'5", 250-pound 5-star defensive end, really has not lived up to his status coming in and has struggled to stay on the two-deep.

Jaamal Berry has added muscle mass to his 4.3 speed and will look to get some carries this fall. Carlos Hyde was regarded as the top fullback prospect in the country, yet with the offensive sets the Buckeyes have lined up in, his services have rarely been needed.

2009: Alabama

Trent Richardson was a lot bigger coming out of high school than I remember at 5'11", 225 pounds. He has shared the load much of his career with Mark Ingram, but this year he will become the man.

When Ingram missed the start of the 2010 season with a knee injury, Crimson Tide fans didn't panic because they knew Richardson was more than capable of handling the load.

Nico Johnson was a 5-star linebacker during this cycle and has become a good starter in Tuscaloosa. Dre Kirkpatrick has lived up to his 5-star billing to become a solid big corner. D.J. Fluker is a starter at right tackle, and A.J. McCarron enters the fall as the favorite for the QB job.

Brandon Moore, who switched from OT to DT, and Mike Bowman, a top incoming receiver prospect, have not yet gotten past the depth chart monster.

2010: Florida

Ah yes, Meyer's final recruiting class as lead Gator. Yeah, he went out on top alright.

Ronald Powell was the top defensive end and is a very similar player to Jadeveon Clowney.

Shariff Floyd is a massive, but quick DT. Matt Elam is a safety and played a large role in getting Jacoby Brisset to Florida. Jon Dowling, Josh Shaw, Cody Riggs and Jaylen Watkins are all future starters in the secondary.

Mack Brown is a running back with high 4.3 speed, Chris Dunkley is a 5-star receiver and Trey Burton has already seen time as a Wildcat quarterback and package player.

Big things are expected from linebacker Chris Martin, offensive tackle Chaz Green, safety Jordan Haden (Joe's brother) and tight ends Gerald Christian and Michael McFarland.

If Lynden Trail, a 6'7", 200-pounder, adds weight, he could be a dynamic pass-rushing defensive end. This class is loaded and took 12 of the top 100 players in the nation just a year ago.

2010: Oklahoma

This class was very solid, but it falls just short of Florida's at this time. Maybe in a year or two when things shake out more, the Sooners' 2010 class will be re-ranked at the very top.

Oklahoma looks like it found its future replacement for Landry Jones in Blake Bell, a 6'6", 220-pound 5-star QB.

Tony Jefferson has gained almost every freshman honor possible and could become better than Roy Williams was at the strong safety/outside linebacker spot.

Kenny Stills and Brennan Clay are the 2010 versions of 2011 signees Branden Williams and Trey Metoyer at receiver and running back. Bronson Irwin, Austin Woods, Tyrus Thompson, Daryl Williams and Adam Shead give the class depth in the offensive front.