College Football Recruiting: The 10 Best Recruiting Classes in the Last 10 Years

Over the past 10 years, we have seen some very, very good recruiting classes be assembled. But, we've also seen some all-time greats that were even better.

Today, we're going to whittle off the 10 best recruiting classes hauled in over the past 10 years. Sure there were many good ones, but who made the elite group that make up this list.

Come inside and see!

10. Florida, 2003

A bit underrated in my opinion when this topic is discussed, but the Gators got some solid production out of this class led by QB Chris Leak, who at the time was considered something of a prodigy when he signed.

Chad Jackson and Andre Caldwell were two of the best receivers in the country in high school and had solid star careers in Gainesville. 

But the player that everyone overlooked was a 3-star LB by the name of Channing Crowder. Though Crowder may not be a guy that is liked by everyone he encounters, he still was a great player for Florida as he was solid with the Dolphins.

9. Notre Dame, 2008

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.

8. Florida, 2010

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.

7. Florida, 2007

Florida's class the year before will be covered in a few more slides next, but the 2007 class was a great sequel to the 2006 legendary unit.

This class is home to players like TE Aaron Hernandez, DE Carlos Dunlap, the Pouncey Twins, QB John Brantley, DT Torrey Davis, CB Joe Haden, DS Major Wright, RB Chris Rainey and even some big 6'6", 220-pound specimen QB named Cameron Newton.

Combine this class with the 2006 class at Florida and now comes into focus the recruiting prowess that was Urban Meyer. 

6. USC, 2005

The Trojans' 2005 class was not a No.1 ranked class, but it did haul some superstars along with some solid and productive players.

Notable players include No.1 rated QB Mark Sanchez, 5-star WR Patrick Turner, two 5-star LBs in Brian Cushing and Rey Mauluaga, a starting TE-turned-LT in Charles Brown and starting DE in Kyle Moore.

Toss in starting LB Kaluka Maiva and kicker David Buehler and you see this class was better than people realize as all players I have named are in the NFL.

5. Alabama, 2009

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 has basically won the QB job.

4. Florida, 2006

Told you I'd get to the 2006 Gator class, as this was the type of recruiting class that was program altering. These guys changed the culture of Florida football. Two national titles. 48 wins.

Come on now.

In this class you have stars and legends like Tim Tebow, Percy Harvin, Brandon Spikes, Riley Cooper, Marcus Gilbert and Carl Johnson.

This class was the signature class that showed the nation that Florida recruiting was back, and also served as the foundation to some dominant Gator squads. 

3. Texas, 2002

You want to know how important recruiting is? Say you're the No. 2 ranked team in the country and feel you're the best.

But the No.1 ranked team is deemed one of the very best CFB squads ever assembled and you know how you will have a showdown with them for the national title.

You're going to need some talented players right? Well, thanks to their recruiting efforts in 2002, Texas had the horses to beat USC in 2006.

Vince Young, Justin Blalock, Rodrique Wright,  David Thomas, Aaron Ross, Selvin Young and even 3-star LB/DE Brian Robison all were top flight players for the Longhorns in their title run. 

2. USC, 2003

USC has become a juggernaut on the recruiting trail, and it seems like this 2003 class was the one that made everyone take notice. This class was the foundation to the teams that fell just short of winning three straight AP national titles.

Even though Whitney Lewis is considered one of the biggest recruiting busts of all time, this class hauled in LenDale White, Sedrick Ellis, John David Booty, Lawrence Jackson, Sam Baker, Terrell Thomas, Ryan Kalil, Fili Moala and Eric Wright.

Then it also brought in a skinny, but lightning quick RB from San Diego named Reggie Bush. 

1. Alabama, 2008

Talk about some talent. Wow. I think years from now, this class will be deemed too low on this list as time moves forward.

I'm just going to rattle off some names that you may recognize: Julio Jones, Marcell Dareus, Mark Barron, Tyler Love, Courtney Upshaw, Barrett Jones, Terrence Cody and Dont'A Hightower.

Oh. Right. Almost forgot. Mark Ingram. All he did was win a Heisman.