Recruiting 2009 ... The Rankings

[Lumi]

Recruiting 2009 ... The Rankings

CFN's Ranking of the 2009 Classes - The Bottom 30

- CFN Recruiting 2009

- CFN 2009 Recruiting Rankings
No. 1 to 30 | No. 31 to 60 | No. 61 to 90

91. Northern Illinois
The class is heavy on ... The passing game. Head coach Jerry Kill got a full recruiting season to work, and he brought in some playmakers to beef up a passing attack that struggled last year. Quarterbacks A.J. Hill and Jordan Lynch are strong prospects, and while there aren?t any receiver standouts, there are a lot of them and they can move.

92. Syracuse
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. Understanding the need to address a secondary that was last in the Big East in pass efficiency defense, the staff loaded up on defensive backs. In fact, almost half of the entire class was either a safety or a cornerback. The best of the lot are corners Torian Phillips, Phillip Thomas, and Dale Peterman, who?ll all have a shot for immediate playing time.

93. Ball State
The class is heavy on ... Skill players and linebackers. The defense got three interesting linebackers for the inside, led by Jacob Green, while the outside was addressed with a few players. It?s strength in numbers time for the offense with several running backs and receivers to go along with QB Aaron Mershman. RB Eric Williams is the best prospect of the bunch.

94. Miami University
The class is heavy on ... Bodies. This is a big class full of a variety of prospects that don?t necessarily fit a type, and with a program that fell off the map with one of the most disappointing, disastrous seasons of any team in America, it?s rebuilding time. The idea will be to use this class to build towards the future; don?t expect a whole bunch of help right away.

95. Memphis
The class is heavy on ... offensive linemen. Faced with some turnover in the trenches, Tommy West aimed to keep the area replenished by inking five linemen no smaller than 6-4 and 275 pounds. Of the group, G Ricky Hart really has Tiger fans excited. A 6-3, 315-pound drive blocker, who was pursued by the ACC and SEC, he?ll likely spend just one year as a backup before moving into the starting lineup.

96. UAB
The class is heavy on ... safeties. Of the 24 new Blazers signed by Neil Callaway, a big portion is projected as safeties once they arrive in Birmingham. That?s not such a bad thing, considering last year?s starters, Will Dunbar and Matt Taylor, were seniors. The two junior-college transfers, Hiram Atwater and Elliott McGaskin, should be ready to compete right away, and David Conner was good enough to get mail from Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State.

97. San Jose State
The class is heavy on ... 2010. With one of the smallest recruiting classes in the country, next year will be all about bringing in the bodies. There might not be many players coming in from this class, but there are some good ones with JUCO transfer Lamon Muldrow ready to be one of the main running backs right away, while the pitch-catch combination of Dasmen Stewart to James Orth looking to be rolling in a few years.

98. FIU
The class is heavy on ... Defensive back. This was a decent class all the way around, but the major focus was on stopping the pass with some good defensive ends in Joshua Forney and Thatcher Starling, and several defensive backs with decent speed, and surprisingly, a lot of size. Terrance Taylor was a nice pickup at safety while Wayne Times is a good-looking corner prospect.

99. Middle Tennessee
The class is heavy on ... Skill players. There?s a sprinkling of new recruits here and there, but the stars are at the skills with QB Jamal Ramsey one of the league?s best prospects and running backs David Jones and William Pratcher each good enough to change around the woeful running game. The receivers have size and speed, but they?re extremely unpolished.

100. UTEP
The class is heavy on ... defensive linemen. In an attempt to beef up one of the perennially weakest defenses in the country, the Miners are bringing in a couple of speedy rush ends and a tackle with considerable upside. At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Adam Ayala can snap off a sub-5.00 in the forty. If he can add some muscle without losing a step, he has a chance to be an impact player on this defense.

101. Florida Atlantic
The class is heavy on ... Cornerback. By far the best prospects of this year?s class are in the secondary where De?Andre Richardson and Keith Reaser are two really fast, really good corners who should be fixtures in the FAU defensive backfield for years. Winfred Strickland and Treon Howard aren?t as fast or as good, but they should provide decent depth down the road.

102. Marshall
The class is heavy on ... wide receivers. The Herd has loaded up on a bunch of big, physical wide receivers that other schools felt were a little unpolished at this stage of their careers. A collection of athletes who all go at least 6-2, most are expected to do an apprenticeship in 2009 before being turned loose. A local kid, C.J. Crawford is both big and very fast. Wayne Bonner, on the other hand, comes via East Mississippi Junior College, and is most likely to chip in right away.

103. Colorado State
The class is heavy on ... Quarterbacks. Billy Farris is gone opening up a hole at quarterback, and while there are options in Grant Stucker and Klay Kubiak waiting to step in, JUCO transfer Jon Eastman will be in the mix right away, Nico Ranieri might be the most talented player of the bunch, but the new recruit might have to wait around for a few years before getting his shot.

104. Utah State
The class is heavy on ... JUCO. New head coach Gary Andersen is looking to make an impact early on, and he needed more bodies to do it. While the incoming junior college players will mostly be used for depth, the program needed players to push for spots and to provide more competition. OT Christian Browne-Frazier and LB Reuben Willis will do that.

105. Wyoming
The class is heavy on ... Quarterbacks. The rest of the class is mediocre, at generous best, but the quarterback recruits might be the best in the Mountain West. Austyn Carta-Samuels isn?t big, he isn?t fast, but he?s a player who could be the franchise sooner than later. For now, considering the woes at quarterback last season, the signing of JUCO transfer Robert Benjamin is a nod toward the present.

106. Nevada
The class is heavy on ... Quarterbacks. With Colin Kaepernick set to be the franchise for the next few years, Nevada?s two new passers, Mason Magelby and David Fales, will get plenty of time to develop. However, JUCO transfer Maurice Patterson is a good-looking receiver who?ll get Kaepernick throwing to him this year.

107. Kent State
The class is heavy on ... Wide receivers. There aren?t a lot of them, but a team that has been so reliant on the running game got a few decent targets to help the passing attack. Is Tyshon Goode a running back or a receiver? It doesn?t matter; he?s the best incoming playmaker who could make an impact right away in a variety of ways. The defensive line was all but ignored.

108. Navy
The class is heavy on ... quarterbacks and running backs. This was a huge class for Navy loaded with linebackers, receivers, and mostly players for the backfield. There are four quarterback prospects and all of them can move. Kenneth Cluley fits the mold, while Jarvis Cummings is even faster. At least two of the signal callers will move to another spot. Also coming in are seven running backs, and outside of Matt Warrick, they?re all smallish and quick. There isn?t a thumping fullback in the group.

109. Toledo
The class is heavy on ... Defensive backs. There are several decent incoming defensive ends/linebackers, and the passing game got a boost for the future, but it?s the secondary that got the most help with four corner prospects, led by the lightning fast Byron Best, and safety Jermaine Robinson, who might be ready to play right away.

110. Army
The class is heavy on ... receivers. The program went from being all about running, and then it became about throwing the ball, and then it tried to be Navy. Now the team needs players to fit the system, which will be an option running attack that still throws the ball, and while plenty of running backs were brought in, the team needed pass catchers. Five wide receivers were signed with Scott Williams, a speedster out of southern California, a potential field stretcher.

111. Akron
The class is heavy on ... Wide receivers. The immediate help is at cornerback, but the bulk is at receiver. There aren?t any five-star, sure-thing prospects, but there are a lot of them with various types and sizes. New QB Patrick Nicely, a passer, will have targets to work with once he becomes part of the mix in three years.

112. Ohio
The class is heavy on ... Hope for last year?s class. Last year?s class was about boosting up the passing game, and this year?s group is really, really light in all areas. There weren?t a lot of openings, so the staff went heavy on a few stars. Jon Lechner could be a special offensive tackle, while LB Dylan Reda should be a good one.

113. Eastern Michigan
The class is heavy on ... Defensive line. The last few classes have addressed the offense with a bulk of prospects coming in, and this year?s smallish class got a little bit of help on the ends. Melvin Crews is more of a tweener and Devon Davis should be moved to linebacker early on until he hits the weights, but Orlando McCord could grow into a player early on.

114. Idaho
The class is heavy on ... Variety. What do you get for the team that needs everything? The class is spread out over all the positions with enough JUCO players here and there to provide a few more options, while the top position might be linebacker with Jared Heston and Conrad Scheidt arguably the team?s best recruits. The junior college players help boost this class, only because the team needs players. CB Kevin Williams and WR Michael Lindsey will almost certainly play right away.

115. Buffalo
The class is heavy on ... Offensive line. The small class didn?t get much in the way of bulk talent, but a few decent offensive linemen, especially at guard, are coming in to build for the future. There aren?t a lot of holes to fill right away with depth already built in from the last two classes, and this class showed it.

116. Arkansas State
The class is heavy on ... Receivers. QB Phillip Butterfield is the star of the show here, and he?ll have plenty of targets to work with including Carlos McCants, a smallish, quick receiver who should be a number one target at some point. JUCO transfer Lucious Henderson is for right now. The defense was almost completely ignored.

117. Air Force
The class is heavy on ... Defense. As always, Air Force had to get a specific type of player, and as always, it went with smallish, quick defenders for the line and the secondary. Dan Zotto leads the way up front, while head coach Troy Calhoun brought in a few short, athletic corners. James Chambers could be a fixture at inside linebacker sooner than later.

118. North Texas
The class is heavy on ... Receivers. If you?re going to run the offense head coach Todd Dodge wants to run, you need targets. The Mean Green passing game got an influx of receivers with two JUCO transfers for right now in Jamaal Jackson and Mike Outlaw, while freshman Daniel Mayberry might be the most talented of the lot.

119. UL Lafayette
The class is heavy on ... Defensive line. The receiving corps is also a strength, but the stars are on the defensive front with two JUCO transfers, Tyrell Gaddies for the middle and Jordan Topp for inside or out. Two of the team?s best recruits are for the future with Brandon McCray a top tackle and Justin Anderson an interesting tweener who could end up at linebacker or in a hybrid role.

120. New Mexico State
The class is heavy on ... Defensive tackle. New head coach DeWayne Walker is a defensive coach by trade and he wanted to start off his era by improving the interior of the defense ? now. Three JUCO transfers are coming in, John Finau, D?Juan Yates, and Vincent Federico, and they?re all expected to make an impact. Walker was also able to get two JUCO receivers, William Bullock and Marcus Allen, who would?ve been big-time producers in the Hal Mumme era.

 

[Lumi]

Recruiting 2009 ... The Rankings

CFN's Ranking of the 2009 Classes - No. 31 to 60

- CFN Recruiting 2009

- CFN 2009 Recruiting Rankings
No. 1 to 30 | No. 61 to 90 | No. 91 to 120

31. Nebraska
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. It was a common theme for teams throughout this recruiting season after everyone?s defense got ripped apart ? get better against the pass. Nebraska was no exception with five good defensive backs to go along with DE Jason Ankrah and linebackers Eric Martin and Chris Williams for the front seven. JUCO transfer Dejon Gomes is a big, fast corner, while Lazarri Middleton and Andrew Green have good size and excellent speed.

32. Kentucky
The class is heavy on ... the passing game. Three quarterbacks, five wide receivers and two tight ends ? head coach Rich Brooks is looking for more out of a passing attack that was supposed to feature Curtis Pulley, before he was booted off the team. There aren?t any stars at receiver, but Anthony Kendrick, Ridge Wilson, LaRod King and Chris Matthews are big. Really big. 6-3 and up big. The quarterback battle will be tremendous with Morgan Newton, Ryan Mossakowski and Brian Adams all starting-quality prospects.

33. California
The class is heavy on ... linemen. The Bears did not discriminate when it came to big bodies this year; they?re feeding both sides of the ball with an impressive array of linemen. The program was especially effective on the offensive line, going all the way to New Jersey to land top-ranked C Mark Brazinski and robbing Oregon of T Charles Siddoway. Both are the type of players who are capable of cracking the starting lineup by their second season.

34. Georgia Tech
The class is heavy on ... linemen. For Paul Johnson, success starts on the lines, and he recruited with that thought in mind. With both sides of the ball being hurt by graduation, the Yellow Jackets added four big bodies to the offense and five on defense. The front four returns just one starter, creating an opening for 345-pound tackle J.C. Lanier to avoid a redshirt and make a quick ascent up the depth chart.

35. Michigan State
The class is heavy on ... linebackers and running backs. MSU?s early success under Mark Dantonio has come from a strong running game and athletic linebackers, and this class reflects that. Edwin Baker and Larry Caper are in to help try to replace Javon Ringer in the backfield, while Chris Norman and Tyquan Hammock are linebackers who can move. Norman, especially, was a coup for the program with the athleticism and toughness to be a star early on.

36. North Carolina State
The class is heavy on ... defensive linemen. Tom O?Brien and his assistants absolutely loaded up on defensive linemen with this class, going as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Georgia to find space-eaters. Willie Young, Alan-Michael Cash, and Shea McKeen have only one year of eligibility remaining, so this group will be expected to eventually form the backbone of the defensive front for the next four or five seasons.

37. Arizona State
The class is heavy on ... backs. Four backs are headed to Tempe determined to light a spark under a running game that floundered a year ago. Cameron Marshall, Shane McCullen, and Jamal Miles are three-star Sun Devils and among the top 100 high school runners in the country. While Marshall is a 208-pound thumper, McCullen is an intriguing blend of good size and blazing speed, who could also wind up playing on defense if the need arises.

38. Illinois
The class is heavy on ... defensive linemen. Lost in the Ron Zook era amidst the publicity around the offense has been a defense that?s been consistently strong. This year?s recruiting class helped the defensive front more than any other area with promising pass rushers Cornellius Carradine and Michael Buchanan for the outside with Lendell Buckner and Akeem Spence for the inside. Buckner has the body and the upside to be special.

39. Missouri
The class is heavy on ... offensive reinforcements. The defense was hardly ignored with DT Sheldon Richardson a sure-thing All-Big 12 talent and JUCO transfer Josh Tatum is a plug-n-play linebacker, but with all the superstars gone off the offense, head coach Gary Pinkel had to find a new wave of offensive prospects to develop. Blaine Dalton is a smallish quarterback who can move, while RB Kendial Lawrence and receivers Jaleel Clark and Kerwin Stricker are going to be counted on to shine by 2011.

40. Oklahoma State
The class is heavy on ... pass rushers. The Cowboys weren?t bad at getting into the backfield over the last few years, but they weren?t good at closing. Getting to the quarterback in the pass-happy Big 12 South is a must, and OSU put a priority on bringing in players who can do that. David Paulsen will be a starter on the outside within the next three years, while Anthony Rogers could be special with a little seasoning. Linebackers LeRon Furr and Jordan Barnes can move and will be excellent blitzers.

41. BYU
The class is heavy on ... Defensive backs. There are some really nice players being brought in at several positions, but the best combination of star power and bulk is in the secondary with a few fantastic safety prospects, led by Craig Bills, one of the nation?s best, and two excellent corners in Lee Aguirre and Trevor Bateman. The offense loaded up on decent running back prospects with Adam Timo considered among the best in the nation, if he doesn?t move to safety, with Peni Maka?afi and Anthony Heimuli each certain to keep the ground game rolling.

42. Baylor
The class is heavy on ... the passing game. Being in the Big 12 South with all the big-time passing attacks, head coach Art Briles wasted no time in going hard after defensive backs, bringing in several decent safeties, but his reputation as a top offensive head coach helped land a ton of really good, really surprising prospect. Do the receivers want to play with star sophomore QB Robert Griffin? Oh yeah. Darius Jones is a smallish, quick playmaker who could be a No. 1 target right away, but Skyler Scott, Tevin Reese, Willie Jefferson and Glasco Martin are all good enough to emerge as future stars in the system. QB Bryce Petty will be a superstar in a few years.

43. Virginia Tech
The class is heavy on ... backs. Even after watching redshirt freshman Darren Evans emerge as the feature back, the Hokies concentrated on further building depth at the position. Being brought to Blacksburg are three playmakers, which was missing from the offense a year ago. Two of those backs, David Wilson and Tony Gregory, are four-star gems with enough wiggle to make people miss in the open field. Both provide a nice complement to the north-south style of Evans.

44. Washington State
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. The only reason why last year?s pass defense wasn?t worse off was because the run D was so easy to navigate. The Cougars realize there?s still plenty of work to be done in the secondary. They beat out the likes of Arizona State and Boise State for talented CB Nolan Washington, and bagged five safeties with the potential to start at some point in their careers. Heck, Wazzu even got themselves a Locker, beating out Washington for Jake Locker?s cousin, Casey.

45. Clemson
The class is heavy on ... ends. Even with Ricky Sapp and Da?Quan Bowers bringing quickness off the edge, Clemson had little luck getting to the quarterback in 2008. Malliciah Goodman and Spencer Shuey have been brought in to push the starters and kickstart a tired pass rush. Once he sharpens his fundamentals and adds a few more pounds, Goodman has the blazing speed and long arms to be a real nuisance to ACC quarterbacks.

46. Kansas
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. The Jayhawks went out to get better on defense, and it did with LB Huldon Tharp, three JUCO defensive ends, end Kevin Young, and tackle Randall Dent all coming in to form the foundation for the future of the defense, but it?s the secondary that got the most help with six prospects led by corner Prinz Kande, a speedy, big coverman, while the safeties are all terrific led by JUCO transfer Calvin Rubles and true freshmen Bradley McDougald and Darian Kelly.

47. Minnesota
The class is heavy on ... receivers. The Gophers needed to bring in more talented targets for the future, and they might have gotten their No. 2 receiver, alongside Eric Decker, in JUCO transfer Hayo Carpenter. Bryant Allen and Victor Keise come from out of state, Missouri and Florida, respectively, to develop. The real stars of the show might turn out to be tight ends Ra?shede Hageman and Kendall Gregory-MgGhee. Hageman is the total package.

48. Oregon State
The class is heavy on ... offensive linemen. With so much turnover going on here, it was time for Mike Riley to replenish in the trenches, a key to the program?s success in recent years. A half-dozen new linemen are set to hit Corvallis, hoping to open holes for Jacquizz Rodgers as soon as possible. The name to remember in the short term is Michael Philipp, a can?t-miss guard, who had offers from everyone in the Pac-10 and is physically ready to play right now

49. Virginia
The class is heavy on ... offensive tackles. After losing Branden Albert and Eugene Monroe to the NFL in successive seasons, the Cavaliers have bolstered their offensive line with a whopping six tackles standing 6-5 or taller. Like the last three great Virginia linemen, including D?Brickashaw Ferguson, the school traveled north to get Oday Aboushi, a 305-pounder with considerable upside and nasty demeanor. Landing four-star mountain Morgan Moses was the upset of this group.

50. Arizona
The class is heavy on ... pass-catchers. If you?re going to successfully run Sonny Dykes? offense, you better have depth at the receiver position. The Wildcats took a quantum leap in that direction, signing more than a half-dozen wideouts and tight ends. The hands-down gem of that group is local standout Adam Hall, who had his choice of destinations. Actually, there?s so much talent here, it could free up Hall to move over to safety, where he?s just as dangerous.

51. Cincinnati
The class is heavy on ... tight ends. Can you say overkill? Cincinnati has signed four of the country?s top 100 tight ends, providing plenty of depth for Ben Guidugli and Kazeem Alli. From the program that turned Connor Barwin into the Big East?s sack leader a year ago, you can count on one or two of these tight ends, like Will Saddler and Mitch Kessel, to switch position at some point in their ?Cat careers.

52. Colorado
The class is heavy on ... receivers. Head coach Dan Hawkins and his staff brought in a few nice safeties, signed two good quarterbacks, and landed superstar DE Nick Casa, but the spotlight will mostly be on the three receivers who?ll be asked to contribute early on. JUCO transfer Andre Simmons has the size and the potential to be a No. 1 target from the start, while Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden both very big, very good targets.

53. Wisconsin
The class is heavy on ... defensive linemen. The Badgers have been surprisingly soft up front over the last few years. Poor tackling has been part of the problem; injuries have been the other part. This year?s class addressed the needs up front led by tackle Jordan Kohout, arguably the state?s top recruit. Pat Muldoon and Shelby Harris are strong pass rushing prospects who have to come through and shine sooner than later.

54. Utah
The class is heavy on ... The passing game. The Utes loaded up on receivers big-time last year, but apparently that wasn?t enough with even more targets coming in this year, including JUCO transfers Antoine Smithson and Ray Magee, to help an offense that loses all the starting receivers. Jamal Smith should be the best of the bunch, but he might not emerge for a few years. Meanwhile, JUCO transfer Terrance Cain will make a push for Brian Johnson?s open quarterback spot.

55. TCU
The class is heavy on ... Offensive tackle. The Horned Frogs got commitments from a few very nice running backs like Jurell Thompson and Matthew Tucker, and someone has to pave the way for them. The interior of the line wasn?t ignored, Eric Tausch is a good prospect at either guard or center, but the tackles got the attention with three tall, athletic options in Ty Horn, James Dunbar, and John Wooldridge.

56. Duke
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. The Blue Devils perennially struggle to stop opposing passers, which prompted David Cutcliffe to go extremely heavy on the secondary. Almost one-third of the class is either a safety or a cornerback, led by Taylor Sowell, a 6-0 speedster who garnered a lot of attention from the rest of the ACC. Duke had rare success in South Carolina, a credit to the job being done by secondary coach Derek Jones.

57. UCF
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. After losing the entire starting secondary to graduation, this was an absolute priority for George O?Leary and the Knights. The program did a magnificent job a few years ago of taking two-star players, such as CB Joe Burnett, and molding them into defensive stoppers. It may not have to do much coaching up of CB Josh Robinson, an outstanding all-around playmaker, who also drew interest from Michigan, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

58. Houston
The class is heavy on ... offensive linemen. The loss of three starting linemen to graduation prompted Kevin Sumlin to spend extra time cultivating the next generation of Cougar blockers. Three new tackles and three new guards provide a nice foundation for the future and the present. At tackle, for instance, Ralph Oragwu is a three-star high-schooler with enormous upside and Roy Watts is a ready-made JUCO transfer, who turned away offers from SEC and Big 12 suitors.

59. Wake Forest
The class is heavy on ... linebackers. Now that Aaron Curry and Stanley Arnoux have exhausted their eligibility, it?s time for the Deacons to replenish at linebacker. While this year?s four recruits aren?t very big, they can all fly to the ball, which is exactly the way Wake likes its defenders. The prototype is Justin Jackson, a 6-1, 203-pounder with 4.5 speed and a better vertical leap than most of the ACC?s receivers.

60. Hawaii
The class is heavy on ... JUCO, JUCO, JUCO. Overall, the offense got the biggest boost with three quarterback prospects, including two good ones in Cayman Shutter and Corey Nielsen, and several backs and receivers, but it?s the junior college haul that should make the most noise. Head coach Greg McMackin brought in ten ready-made players with the most help coming for the defensive line with tackles David Hofoka and Zach Masch.

 

[Lumi]

Recruiting 2009 ... The Rankings

CFN's Ranking of the 2009 Classes

- CFN Recruiting 2009

- CFN 2009 Recruiting Rankings
No. 31 to 60 | No. 61 to 90 | No. 91 to 120

The speculation of how good recruiting classes are is hit or miss at best, a fruitless exercise at worst. So how should a class be ranked? How many good prospects did a program get? How many stars? How many needs were filled and how did the program do to get the guys it was targeting? All that matters is how the players who come in develop, handle the pressure of college life, and perform on the field, no matter what they were ranked coming out of high school. However, for now, on paper, here's how well the teams seemed to do in the 2009 recruiting season.

1. Ohio State
The class is heavy on ... everything. Name the position and about 100 other teams would be ecstatic to do as well overall as Ohio State did in any one area other than quarterback (and Kenneth Guiton isn?t a bad prospect). Running back? Jaamal Berry and FB Carlos Hyde are the stars of a good group. The receiving corps, led by Cris Carter?s son, Duron, is special, the offensive tackles are all prototypes, the defensive tackles big and quick, the linebackers fast, and the defensive backs even faster. This class has it all.

2. Alabama
The class is heavy on ... linemen. Nick Saban and his staff brought in yet another loaded class that is among the best in the country with RB Trent Richardson leading the way, but the bulk is up front. From JUCO transfer James Carpenter, who might get a starting spot on the offensive line right away, to Darrington Sentimore, Chris Bonds, and Anthony Orr, who?ll load up the defensive front, the Tide secured the lines for the next several years.

3. Texas
The class is heavy on ... defensive linemen. The Longhorns loaded up with elite players all across the board with the bulk of the star power coming on the defensive front. Alex Okafor will be a killer after he spends a few years in the weight room, and Calvin Howell and Derek Johnson will battle it out for the honor of being the next great Longhorn defensive tackle. Kyle Kriegel is a potential pass rushing terror, while Dominique Jones is a tweener who?ll see time on an All-Big 12 team before he?s through.

4. LSU
The class is heavy on ... the defensive front seven. Russell Shepard has star potential in some way, shape or form either at quarterback or receiver, and WR Rueben Randle and S Craig Loston will make a ton of money someday, but the stars are on the lines with Chris Davenport, Joshua Downs, and Sam Montgomery for the defensive front, with JUCO transfer Akiem Hicks ready to come in right away and play, while Chris Faulk and Stavion Lowe will be starting on the offensive front sooner than later.

5. USC
The class is heavy on ... defense. Ever wonder why the Trojans always have one of the toughest defenses in the country? This class will give you a hint. USC continued its annual tradition of loading up on some of the nation?s premier defenders, landing a top 10 player at each level on the field. S T.J. McDonald and DE Devon Kennard look as if they could move into the lineup from Day 1 if there wasn?t so much talent already ahead of them.

6. UCLA
The class is heavy on ... cornerbacks. In a Pac-10 that?s usually flush with quality passers, the Bruins wisely answered with a quartet of really good cornerbacks. All four earned no less than three stars and were ranked in the top 50 at the position. The best of the bunch is Marlon Pollard, who fielded a slew of offers, and has an enormous upside to match his leaping ability

7. North Carolina
The class is heavy on ... receivers. Carolina?s response to losing Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, and Brooks Foster to the NFL was to sign a half-dozen receivers, headed by four-star stud Jheranie Boyd. No returning wideout caught more than 11 passes a year ago, meaning Boyd and his classmates will get every opportunity to play right away in September. In fact, they?ll be counted on to do so.

8. Oklahoma
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. Everyone in the Big 12 went heavy on the secondary, seeing it as a must after the offensive explosion of this year, but Oklahoma got the best ones of the bunch. Gabe Lynn might be the nation?s best corner, and Marcus Trice isn?t all that far behind. Javon Harris and Kevin Brent will be starting safeties by 2011, while Demontre Hurst and Marshall Musil are interesting prospects.

9. South Carolina
The class is heavy on ... linebacker. The Gamecocks loaded up at wide receiver with Alshon Jeffrey and Lamar Scruggs excellent prospects, and the safeties are tremendous with Stephon Gilmore and Quin Smith stars for the future. The stars are at linebacker with Devonte Holloman and Damario Jeffery safety-sized defenders who could blow up after a little bit of time in the weight room, while JUCO transfers Tony Straughter and Josh Dickerson looking to see time early on.

10. Georgia
The class is heavy on ... skill players. This isn?t a big class, but it?s a class full of talent with a few top-shelf skill players looking to be the next big thing now with Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno gone. Aaron Murray is the receiver to combine with A.J. Green to potentially give the Dawgs the SEC?s best 1-2 receiving punch, while QBs Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger should wage an interesting battle for the starting spot in the near future. Only one running back, Washaun Ealey, signed on, but he?s a good one.

11. Penn State
The class is heavy on ... receivers. The strength of the class is at offensive tackle, but the immediate need was at receiver with Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood gone. Joe Paterno and his staff aren?t going to ask the incoming freshmen to step in and start right away, but it would be nice if Justin Brown, Shawney Kersey, Brandon Felder, Devon Smith and Christian Kuntz were able to push for potential playing time. Brown is the star of the bunch, but Kersey and Smith are the speedsters who could make a more immediate impact.

12. Ole Miss
The class is heavy on ... skill players. This is a huge class with a little something for all the spots, but Houston Nutt and his staff mostly tried to get players to get the offense moving even more. Quarterback Raymond Cotton will get time to develop with Jevon Snead already under center, while running backs Darius Barksdale and Rodney Scott are just a few of the good prospects looking to shine in the Nutt system. Pat Patterson is a special receiver prospect, while Ja-Mes Logan and Montez Phillips have size and speed.

13. Florida
The class is heavy on ... quality over quantity. While there were a few misfires with the Gators not getting everyone they were hoping for, especially after the national title season, the stars they did get were top-shelf. Xavier Nixon might be the nation?s best offensive tackle prospect, Jelani Jenkins is arguably the top linebacker, Gary Brown is among the best defensive tackles, Nick Alajajian and Jonotthan Harrison are among the best guards, and Andre Debose is a top receiver. There aren?t a lot of prospects for each spot, so if the stars bust, there isn?t a lot to fall back on.

14. Texas A&M
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. Eight players were brought in to help out the secondary, and head coach Mike Sherman got a slew of really good ones. JUCO transfer Coryell Judie might be penciled into a starting corner spot right away, while four safeties, Steven Campbell, Malcolm Johnson, Colton Valencia and Charlie Thomas are all good enough to challenge for playing time from the moment they set foot on campus.

15. Michigan
The class is heavy on ... QB Tate Forcier. Last year, head coach Rich Rodriguez put all his eggs in the Terrelle Pryor basket, and the plan backfired. The quarterback situation last year was a liability at best, an utter disaster at worst, and something had to be done. Now it?s all about Forcier, a small, quick athlete from San Diego who fits the mold of the type of quarterback needed to take the program out of the doldrums. He might be asked to start from day one.

16. Florida State
The class is heavy on ... safeties. With their secondary going through a bit of an overhaul, the Seminoles focused on that unit, specifically the safeties. Florida State has signed four of them, two who rank among the ten best in the country at the position. Willie Downs and JaJuan Harley are outstanding talents, whose families won?t be traveling far on Saturdays. Both teens hail from Tallahassee, and decided some time ago to remain close to home.

17. Notre Dame
The class is heavy on ... talent. There isn?t any one need here that needed a desperate filling, so Notre Dame went national and brought in some superior talents. Manti Te?o is widely considered to be the nation?s best linebacker prospect, Chris Watt might be the nation?s best offensive tackle, and guar Alex Bullard, RB Cierre Wood, and LB Carlos Calabrese are among the best at their respective positions.

18. Miami
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. Never at a shortage for quality defensive backs, Randy Shannon is making sure it stays that way with this class. All four of this year?s additions are ranked no lower than No. 40 nationally at their position. S Ray Ray Armstrong is a 6-3, 210-pound beast in the mold of former ?Cane Sean Taylor. Corners Brandon McGee and Jamal Reid are a couple of top 10 talents, who were hotly pursued by schools in the ACC and SEC.

19. Auburn
The class is heavy on ... receivers. After the problems on offense over the last few years, Gene Chizik and his staff went hard after players who can put points on the board. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn needs bodies, and he got them with QB Tyrik Rollison a player for the future, Onterio McCalebb a nice running back prospect, and a whole slew of receivers to finally get the passing game going. Travante Stallworth and Emory Blake are the best of a good lot, while tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen could be a centerpiece of the passing game in a few years.

20. Tennessee
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. The defensive line got a big boost with Jonathan Hollins and Rae Sykes likely to provide immediate help on the end, and the linebackers are strong with Jerod Askew with all the skills to be special. The secondary got the most help with six defensive backs, and they?re all fantastic. Safety Darren Myles might be the best prospect of the group, while Nyshier Oliver and corners Janzen Jackson, Mike Edwards, Eric Gordon and Marsalis Teague all have the potential to be stars.

21. Stanford
The class is heavy on ... pass-catchers. If the Cardinal is going to continue this forward push that started when Jim Harbaugh was hired, it needs to improve offensively. Like, now. This class provides some exciting weapons for whenever QB Andrew Luck takes over the offense. Stanford bagged a pair of four-star wideouts, Jamal Patterson and Jemari Roberts, to go along with easily the best collection of tight ends in the country. Both Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo are massive targets, who could have gone just about anywhere.

22. Mississippi State
The class is heavy on ... receivers. What do you get a team that?s been among the worst in America in passing over the last few years? Targets. Tyler Russell was a must-get quarterback for new head coach Dan Mullen to develop over the next year or two, and he needs guys to throw to. Seven receiver prospects were brought in with JUCO transfers Maurice Langston and Leon Berry looking to add help right away. Chad Bumphis is the best prospect of the lot.

23. Arkansas
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. The defensive line got a ton of bodies, but few of them were standout prospects. The offense got more players to fit the Bobby Petrino style with the line getting the biggest boost. However, the coaching staff mostly loaded up in the secondary with six nice prospects led by corner Darius Winston and JUCO transfers Anthony Leon, Rudell Crim and Andru Stewart.

24. West Virginia
The class is heavy on ... Skill position players. The Mountaineers have roped in a slew of speedy, dynamic backs and receivers, who can go a long with the ball. What else is new? This class, which is particularly heavy on outstanding wideouts, is tailored-made for an offense that hopes to throw the ball more than in the past. Logan Heastie was fielding interest from the likes of Florida and USC, so he might waste little time getting on the field.

25. South Florida
The class is heavy on ... The defensive line. Can you say epic haul? Jim Leavitt is retooling his defensive front on the fly, with a mix of talented ends and tackles from junior college, post-graduate schools, and high schools. George Selvie, Aaron Harris, and Terrell McClain won?t be around forever, so it was important to bring new reinforcements to ensure the success of the defense for the foreseeable future. DT Leslie Stirrups was supposed to be one of the cornerstones of the 2006 class, but is just now making it to Tampa after problems with grades.

26. Pitt
The class is heavy on ... backs. How do you answer the departure of star LeSean McCoy to the NFL after his sophomore season? You sign four young backs, who?ll be in a position to contribute in a year or two. There?s a nice blend of skills in the group. Dion Lewis and Jason Douglas provide the dash. At 205 pounds, Kevin Adams will bring the punch if he doesn?t move to safety. Raymond Graham, who was also pursued by Rutgers and Maryland, has a chance to be the best of the group.

27. Rutgers
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. The departures of S Courtney Greene and CB Jason McCourty made this unit a priority for Greg Schiano and the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers didn?t have to travel very far to land S Abdul Smith and CB Duron Harmon, two of the best at their positions in the region. Schiano added quality and quantity to the secondary, which will prove especially valuable a year from now.

28. Maryland
The class is heavy on ... linebackers. Maryland continues to stockpile the type of versatile linebackers that eventually move on to play on Sundays. Seven, in fact, are packing their bags for College Park, even though there?s no urgency for any to play right away. From New Jersey to South Carolina, Ralph Friedgen swept down the Eastern seaboard searching for athletic defenders who can play with range. It?s obviously early in the process, but Lorne Goree appears to be the best of a deep bunch.

29. Oregon
The class is heavy on ... special teams. The Ducks made an investment in their future on special teams with the signings of P Jackson Rice and PK Mike Bowlin. Both were ranked in the top 3 at their respective positions, and will have an opportunity to become the cornerstones of the unit now that P Josh Syria and PK Matt Evensen are gone. Rice and Bowlin won?t get the attention of, say, a Cliff Harris or Boseko Lokombo, but that doesn?t they won?t play an integral role down the road.

30. Texas Tech
The class is heavy on ... defensive backs. Tech can?t beat Texas or Oklahoma without being able to slow down the pass, and it made sure the defense got plenty of attention to try to upgrade the secondary. D.J. Johnson and Yahshua Williams are very big corners who?ll get time to develop. Adding more size are safeties Will Ford and Terrence Bullitt, while Daniel Cobb will be in the starting mix in