Clemson Earns Top Billing in Early Signing Day Rankings
Clemson is the defending College Football Playoff Champion and it is in position to secure the top recruiting class in the cycle to follow.
After holding onto a bevy of SI All-American prospects, coach Dabo Swinney and company exit the early signing period atop the rankings. The Tigers even added a flip commitment/signing from Malcolm Greene, a defensive back from Virginia.
SI All-American looks at the current high school seniors, the bulk of whom officially ended their recruitment by signing Wednesday, based on which college has already accepted their signature and/or verbal commitment. After assessing acquisition of top talent on a national scale, filling needs, and everything in between, here are the best of the best.
1. Clemson (23 commitments)
No matter how it's sliced, the Tigers are bringing in the most sheer star-power in the class of 2020. It's filling big needs in looking at a two-year depth chart (quarterback, running back, defensive line, offensive line) with elite seniors across the country. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, the 6-foot-5 dual-threat and popular pick to one day replace Trevor Lawrence at the helm, overshadows difference makers along the defensive front. Demonte Capehart and Bryan Bresee are both SI All-Americans and future Tigers with a strong case for top defensive tackle nationally while Atlanta-area star Myles Murphy is in the conversation for the top defensive end in the class.
This class can still get much better even after adding SI All-American linebacker Trenton Simpson on Saturday. Holding off Florida for SIAA running back Demarkcus Bowman was big in the chase for No. 1, too.
2. Alabama (26)
The Crimson Tide are likely addressing one of the biggest needs in the entire country in replacing Tua Tagovailoa. SI All-American quarterback Bryce Young is arguably the top offensive prospect in the country and he has led the way for perhaps the top prep team in America—Mater Dei Academy—without much resistance in an always-tough Trinity league in California. He'll have the chance to make an early impact much like Tagovailoa did, a note that pairs well with other priority position players Nick Saban is set to bring in, including perhaps the nation's top linebacker class with pledges from another SI All-American in Demouy Kennedy along with Drew Sanders, Quandarrious Robinson and Jackson Bratton. Each has pass-rusher potential, a trait the top Alabama defenses of the last decade shared. Combine the 'backers with new-age edge rushers Will Anderson and Chris Braswell and the youth in Saban's front seven seems like it will again be a story in 2020.
Update: Alabama flipped longtime Oklahoma running back commitment Jase McClellan Wednesday evening.
3. Ohio State (26)
The Buckeyes could be pretty pleased with the two dozen-plus prospects it had on board heading into Wednesday. Add the potential quarterback of the future in CJ Stroud and the OSU haul looks that much better. The group includes what are likely the top two prospects in Ohio, SI All-American offensive lineman Paris Johnson and defensive tackle Darrion Henry. But the centerpiece, in terms of star power, is the only pass-catcher group. Julian Fleming and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are SI All-Americans while either between the two and Gee Scott would be class headliners if they were on another program's list, but they're all future Buckeyes.
Throw in electric slot/all-purpose type Mookie Cooper as well as 6-foot-5 tight end Joe Royer for more proof the OSU skill position talent isn't soon going anywhere. Holding onto SIAA athlete Clark Phillips, as Utah pushes, will be key in just how highly this class will rank.
4. LSU (21)
We'd expect an LSU recruiting class to be loaded defensively and the senior group Ed Orgeron & Co. has corralled looks the part, led by IMG Academy cornerback and SI All-American Elias Ricks. But the play-makers the Tigers have on board on the other side of the football, particularly among pass-catchers, makes this class perhaps the most unique LSU haul in the last decade.
In addition to pulling a complete shocker for the most coveted tight end in the class in Arik Gilbert, an explosive and versatile group of wide receivers is headed to Baton Rouge as well. While not as large after the flips of Rakim Jarrett (Maryland) and Jermaine Burton (Georgia), Kayshon Boutte offers slot ability and explosiveness while Koy Moore offers a bit more size and outside game. The Tigers lost two more verbal commitments Wednesday in Malcolm Greene (Clemson) and Demon Clowney (undeclared), but the additions of offensive tackle Marcus Dumervil and linebacker Phillip Webb balanced the numbers out from there.
5. Georgia (18)
The SEC East power doesn't have the volume those ahead of it do when it comes to commitments, but the quality remains. In a not-so-shocking development, Georgia is recruiting very well up front in particular. We've focused on elite potential position units and the Bulldog offensive line group is just that. The top pair of tackles in the state, and country for that matter in Tate Ratledge (SIAA) and Broderick Jones, are each headed to Athens. The out of state group is among the best, and biggest, in the region with Sedrick Van Pran (Louisiana), Chad Lindberg (Texas) and Devin Willock (New Jersey) each among the most coveted in their state.
Elite running back pledge Kendall Milton (California) pairs well with that group. The future of the Bulldog D-line is in good shape, too, led by two-way talent Jalen Carter of Apopka, Fla. The Sunshine State is again good to the program and its reigning Mr. Football, quarterback Carson Beck, is on board as well. Beck's potential target group expanded on Wednesday as the Bulldogs added the speedy Arian Smith and LSU pledge Jermaine Burton.
No program on this list has the chance to move up like the Bulldogs, who should continue to get good news into the traditional signing day in February.
6. Florida (24)
7. Auburn (24)
8. Texas A&M (22)
9. Notre Dame (18)
10. Oklahoma (20)
Outside looking in: Penn State (27), Oregon (21), Michigan (25), South Carolina (21), Texas (16), Tennessee (23), Washington (22), Miami (19), Nebraska (24), North Carolina (26).