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Footballguy
Rivals team rankings are up:
1. Texas - Total commits: 23 The Longhorns check in at No. 1 and have done so numerous times over with years with early commitments and a nearly full class by the end of the summer. But can Texas hold off the competition until Signing Day? Texas has by far the most four-star commitments with 16 and has met almost all of its needs.
2. Alabama - Total commits: 17 Nick Saban is no stranger to winning recruiting titles and he certainly has a chance to surpass Texas to take another one. Saban already boasts two five-star prospects, tied with Florida State for the most.
3. LSU - Total commits: 17 Les Miles is under the gun for both on-the-field results as well as recruiting, but the latter has been going extremely well for the 2011 class. LSU has a few too many three stars but if a few of them turn into fours and they close strong, they could be No. 1.
4. Oklahoma - Total commits: 17 Bob Stoops had a rough year on the field last season as injuries mounted, but he's having little trouble off the field recruiting. It's doubtful the Sooners can overtake Texas in the national or Big 12 rankings, but can they make it a pair of Big 12 teams in the Top 5 come Signing Day? They are the only other team aside from the Longhorns with double-digit four-star commitments.
5. Ohio State - Total commits: 17 After what was deemed by fans as a subpar recruiting year in 2010, Jim Tressel and his coaches are back with a bang. This class lacks a five-star right now but it is loaded, especially with in-state commitments. It will be hard for anyone else in the Big Ten to challenge them for the top spot.
6. Stanford - Total commits: 20 Here's the first big surprise as Jim Harbaugh has to deal with so many academic restrictions yet still puts together solid classes. This is his best effort to date and a class that could remain in the Top 10 barring any academic casualties late.
7. Florida State - Total commits: 15 Florida State recruiting never went away, but it is certainly at a higher level than it has been in previous years. Last year's class was impressive but this year's class has a chance to push near the top. With only 15 commitments, there is plenty of room to fill the class and jump some other teams.
8. Florida - Total commits: 14 The Gators are always near the top and have the fewest commitments of any program in the Top 10 so they'll make a move for No. 1 before it's over. Surprisingly, Florida does not have a five-star commitment but surely that will change.
9. Georgia - Total commits: 16 The Bulldogs have been the model of consistency over the last decade, always finishing in or around the national Top 10. However, things didn't end well in the 2010 recruiting class so a big year is a must for Mark Richt in 2011. So far so good, but they'll need some more four stars and possibly a five to stay this high.
10. Ole Miss - Total commits: 17 The Rebels are another surprise in the Top 10. Not because they haven't recruited well under Houston Nutt but because they are ahead of some major programs early on. Ole Miss could finish strong with some terrific targets left on its board, but staying in the Top 10 will be a challenge unless it pulls a few surprises.
11. Notre Dame - Total commits: 16 The first full class under head coach Brian Kelly will be of great interest to Notre Dame fans and Notre Dame haters. So far so good with a group that sits right outside the Top 10. With few slots left, Notre Dame could slide a bit as Signing Day approaches, but after a slow start this is becoming a very nice class.
12. Clemson - Total commits: 16 Dabo Swinney and his staff have done a great job early on securing key commitments, especially in Florida where two of the Tigers' top three commitments call home. Clemson has become a major player for talent in the Southeast and could push FSU for the top class in the ACC.
13. USC - Total commits: 11 Lane Kiffin and company have limited scholarship numbers so it will be interesting to see how high their number goes this year, and for the ensuing two years. USC is expected to finish at or near the top, but the scholarship limits will keep it closer to the 15-25 range.
14. North Carolina - Total commits: 17 Amid an NCAA investigation, head coach Butch Davis still has managed to put together one of the best classes in the country so far, and it could get even better. If the Tar Heels need a few of their 11 three stars to move up to four and keep some studs in state, this will be a Top 15 class in the end.
15. Pittsburgh - Total commits: 15 The Panthers are not only dominating the Big East in 2011 recruiting but they are also dominating in-state rival Penn State when it comes to head-to-head battles, something that doesn't occur often. Pitt has a chance, with a strong finish, to push toward the Top 10, unheard of by a Big East team since Miami left.
16. Nebraska - Total commits: 13 The Huskers will be taking their program to the Big Ten after this season and recruiting could shift, but for now they are killing it in the places they recruit best, such as Texas, areas of the Southeast and the rest of the Midlands. With only 12 commitments, there is plenty of room in this class and a chance to move up the charts if they finish strong.
17. Auburn - Total commits: 15 Auburn could have been categorized as the biggest surprise of the 2010 recruiting year, finishing fourth in the nation overall and ahead of the national champion Crimson Tide. But now Gene Chizik and his crew won't be sneaking up on anyone. With plenty of room left in the class, they will push Ole Miss, Georgia and possibly others in the SEC before Signing Day.
18. Texas Tech - Total commits: 19 Tommy Tuberville brings a different approach and reputation to recruiting for the Red Raiders and it's clearly working. To be fourth in the Big 12 right now in recruiting, following last year's eighth-place finish, shows marked improvement. Tuberville and his staff are backfilling 2010 while focusing on 2011 and beyond. Things are looking up in Lubbock.
19. Michigan State - Total commits: 14 That's right, it's not Michigan in the Top 20 right now but the rival from East Lansing. Eleven of the 14 MSU commitments are three stars and while they don't have any four stars yet, five-star Lawrence Thomas is a huge get. Close strong and the Spartans could be No. 2 in the Big Ten.
20. Washington - Total commits: 16 Steve Sarkisian is becoming a royal pain to USC, UCLA, Cal and others in California, while also doing a good job at keeping in-state talent at home. He's already pulled a few upsets and is holding off teams after his most coveted commitments. If he can continue to do both, a Top 25 finish is in the works.
1. Texas - Total commits: 23 The Longhorns check in at No. 1 and have done so numerous times over with years with early commitments and a nearly full class by the end of the summer. But can Texas hold off the competition until Signing Day? Texas has by far the most four-star commitments with 16 and has met almost all of its needs.
2. Alabama - Total commits: 17 Nick Saban is no stranger to winning recruiting titles and he certainly has a chance to surpass Texas to take another one. Saban already boasts two five-star prospects, tied with Florida State for the most.
3. LSU - Total commits: 17 Les Miles is under the gun for both on-the-field results as well as recruiting, but the latter has been going extremely well for the 2011 class. LSU has a few too many three stars but if a few of them turn into fours and they close strong, they could be No. 1.
4. Oklahoma - Total commits: 17 Bob Stoops had a rough year on the field last season as injuries mounted, but he's having little trouble off the field recruiting. It's doubtful the Sooners can overtake Texas in the national or Big 12 rankings, but can they make it a pair of Big 12 teams in the Top 5 come Signing Day? They are the only other team aside from the Longhorns with double-digit four-star commitments.
5. Ohio State - Total commits: 17 After what was deemed by fans as a subpar recruiting year in 2010, Jim Tressel and his coaches are back with a bang. This class lacks a five-star right now but it is loaded, especially with in-state commitments. It will be hard for anyone else in the Big Ten to challenge them for the top spot.
6. Stanford - Total commits: 20 Here's the first big surprise as Jim Harbaugh has to deal with so many academic restrictions yet still puts together solid classes. This is his best effort to date and a class that could remain in the Top 10 barring any academic casualties late.
7. Florida State - Total commits: 15 Florida State recruiting never went away, but it is certainly at a higher level than it has been in previous years. Last year's class was impressive but this year's class has a chance to push near the top. With only 15 commitments, there is plenty of room to fill the class and jump some other teams.
8. Florida - Total commits: 14 The Gators are always near the top and have the fewest commitments of any program in the Top 10 so they'll make a move for No. 1 before it's over. Surprisingly, Florida does not have a five-star commitment but surely that will change.
9. Georgia - Total commits: 16 The Bulldogs have been the model of consistency over the last decade, always finishing in or around the national Top 10. However, things didn't end well in the 2010 recruiting class so a big year is a must for Mark Richt in 2011. So far so good, but they'll need some more four stars and possibly a five to stay this high.
10. Ole Miss - Total commits: 17 The Rebels are another surprise in the Top 10. Not because they haven't recruited well under Houston Nutt but because they are ahead of some major programs early on. Ole Miss could finish strong with some terrific targets left on its board, but staying in the Top 10 will be a challenge unless it pulls a few surprises.
11. Notre Dame - Total commits: 16 The first full class under head coach Brian Kelly will be of great interest to Notre Dame fans and Notre Dame haters. So far so good with a group that sits right outside the Top 10. With few slots left, Notre Dame could slide a bit as Signing Day approaches, but after a slow start this is becoming a very nice class.
12. Clemson - Total commits: 16 Dabo Swinney and his staff have done a great job early on securing key commitments, especially in Florida where two of the Tigers' top three commitments call home. Clemson has become a major player for talent in the Southeast and could push FSU for the top class in the ACC.
13. USC - Total commits: 11 Lane Kiffin and company have limited scholarship numbers so it will be interesting to see how high their number goes this year, and for the ensuing two years. USC is expected to finish at or near the top, but the scholarship limits will keep it closer to the 15-25 range.
14. North Carolina - Total commits: 17 Amid an NCAA investigation, head coach Butch Davis still has managed to put together one of the best classes in the country so far, and it could get even better. If the Tar Heels need a few of their 11 three stars to move up to four and keep some studs in state, this will be a Top 15 class in the end.
15. Pittsburgh - Total commits: 15 The Panthers are not only dominating the Big East in 2011 recruiting but they are also dominating in-state rival Penn State when it comes to head-to-head battles, something that doesn't occur often. Pitt has a chance, with a strong finish, to push toward the Top 10, unheard of by a Big East team since Miami left.
16. Nebraska - Total commits: 13 The Huskers will be taking their program to the Big Ten after this season and recruiting could shift, but for now they are killing it in the places they recruit best, such as Texas, areas of the Southeast and the rest of the Midlands. With only 12 commitments, there is plenty of room in this class and a chance to move up the charts if they finish strong.
17. Auburn - Total commits: 15 Auburn could have been categorized as the biggest surprise of the 2010 recruiting year, finishing fourth in the nation overall and ahead of the national champion Crimson Tide. But now Gene Chizik and his crew won't be sneaking up on anyone. With plenty of room left in the class, they will push Ole Miss, Georgia and possibly others in the SEC before Signing Day.
18. Texas Tech - Total commits: 19 Tommy Tuberville brings a different approach and reputation to recruiting for the Red Raiders and it's clearly working. To be fourth in the Big 12 right now in recruiting, following last year's eighth-place finish, shows marked improvement. Tuberville and his staff are backfilling 2010 while focusing on 2011 and beyond. Things are looking up in Lubbock.
19. Michigan State - Total commits: 14 That's right, it's not Michigan in the Top 20 right now but the rival from East Lansing. Eleven of the 14 MSU commitments are three stars and while they don't have any four stars yet, five-star Lawrence Thomas is a huge get. Close strong and the Spartans could be No. 2 in the Big Ten.
20. Washington - Total commits: 16 Steve Sarkisian is becoming a royal pain to USC, UCLA, Cal and others in California, while also doing a good job at keeping in-state talent at home. He's already pulled a few upsets and is holding off teams after his most coveted commitments. If he can continue to do both, a Top 25 finish is in the works.
He already flipped from Alabama to Michigan once....go figure.
He already flipped from Alabama to Michigan once....go figure.
He already flipped from Alabama to Michigan once....go figure.
He already flipped from Alabama to Michigan once....go figure.
NOTE: Michigan's class is officially a shell of itself. Frost was supposedly a sure thing and jumped ship for Auburn.
NOTE: Michigan's class is officially a shell of itself. Frost was supposedly a sure thing and jumped ship for Auburn.
I can't believe people pay for this stuff.
The part of this recruiting class thing that gets me every year is the changing of stars depending on where the kid goes.
