Top 10 Recruiting Classes Before Signing Day
Clemson was crowned Early Signing Period champions by quite a wide margin in December. Dabo Swinney signed all 23 prospects expected in the haul and hasn't looked back, helping the Tigers gets off to a strong start in the class of 2021.
The rest of the top recruiting programs this cycle aren't quite in the same boat. That potential for addition, though, means the Tigers could have their lead in the rankings challenged through the end of the day next Wednesday.
One of those top five programs, Ohio State, had signed 24 of 25 verbal commitments last month. But on Tuesday, lone holdout and all-purpose athlete Cameron Martinez (Muskegon, Mich.) eased any potential for a late change of heart. He will ink scarlet and gray.
That leaves contenders like Alabama, Georgia, LSU and others in the top 10 of the rankings with the potential to rise in the next seven days or so.
SI All-American updates what is left for each program down the final stretch relative to current ranking.
1. Clemson
Verbal Commitments: 23
Transfers: 0
Signed: 23
Top Targets Remaining: None, Clemson has moved on to 2021 in a big way.
2. Alabama
Verbal Commitments: 26
Transfers: 0
Signed: 22. Defensive line prospects Jamil Burroughs and Jayson Jones kept their process open through this month. Burroughs says he is all Alabama while Jones has taken official visits to Oregon and Baylor over the last two weeks. He told SI All-American he does not have anything scheduled for this weekend. Javon Baker took officials to Alabama and Arkansas to this point and Damieon George has only seen Tuscaloosa on record this month. Jones and/or Baker could eventually sign somewhere else.
Top Targets Remaining: Defensive linemen McKinnley Jackson and Alfred Collins, offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran, defensive back Ennis Rakestraw. The numbers will play tricky for Nick Saban but it would be hard to imagine the staff turning down either of the line prospects. Landing any two could vault UA to the top of the rankings in a week.
3. Georgia
Verbal Commitments: 21
Transfers: 3
Signed: 19. Offensive linemen Broderick Jones and Sedrick Van Pran have taken official visits elsewhere. Jones has seen Arkansas and Illinois with a trip for Auburn scheduled this weekend. Van Pran has been to Alabama and has Florida upcoming. Each seems likely to stick with the Bulldogs though Jones' final trip to AU will be worth watching.
Top Targets Remaining: Running back Zach Evans, who signed with Georgia in December and was released, and Daijun Edwards. Offensive lineman Marcus Henderson will visit this weekend. Athlete DJ Lundy could jump on board provided the numbers work out. UGA will have a strong case for the top class when all is said and done.
4. Ohio State
Verbal Commitments: 24
Transfers: 1
Signed: 23
Top Targets Remaining: Ohio State seems all but wrapped-up with the 2020 cycle.
5. LSU
Verbal Commitments: 24
Transfers: 0
Signed: 19. LSU has closed well on the offensive side of the ball, landing wide receiver Alex Adams and running back Kevontre Bradford last weekend.
Top Targets Remaining: SI All-American defensive end Jordan Burch, who took an unofficial visit last weekend despite a commitment to South Carolina. DL McKinnley Jackson, who was on campus for his official visit last weekend. Offensive lineman Ty'Kieast Crawford could round out the class on that side of the ball. Any of these additions should vault the Tigers over Ohio State in the final rankings.
6. Texas A&M
Verbal Commitments: 24
Transfers: 0
Signed: 22.
Top Targets Remaining: DL McKinnley Jackson, RB Zach Evans, OL Ty'Kieast Crawford. Seeing the theme between these SEC programs near the top of the leaderboard? A&M is battling the best of the best for their top prospects in what will be a photo finish. We know Jackson will take it the distance.
7. Florida
Verbal Commitments: 24
Transfers: 6
Signed: 21. In-state prospects Leonard Manuel and Marc Britt have looked around but Britt is expected to remain in the class should UF have him. Manuel is signing on April 1 between Florida, Ole Miss, Baylor and Oregon.
Top Targets Remaining: OL Sedrick Van Pran, RB Jahymr Gibbs, RB Ashaad Clayton, DB Avantae Williams, TE Dee Beckwith, DE Princely Umanmielen. Williams and Beckwith seem like safe-ish bets to be Gators within the next week while adding either of the two running backs on top of that would vault this UF class comfortably into the top five of the final rankings.
8. Auburn
Verbal Commitments: 24
Transfers: 0
Signed: 23. No worries on the lone unsigned prospect committed in JUCO star Deandre Butler, who shut his recruitment down after visiting Auburn last weekend.
Top Targets Remaining: OL Broderick Jones, DL McKinnley Jackson, DE Princely Umanmielen. Jones is the biggest need left on the board for AU by far and he will be in town this weekend barring a change of plans.
9. Oregon
Verbal Commitments: 21
Transfers: 1
Signed: 21.
Top Targets Remaining: WR Malachi Wideman, WR Leonard Manuel, DL Jayson Jones, TE Seth Figgins, LB Peter Latu. Wideman and Jones were on campus last weekend and it would be a surprise to see the Ducks fail to add at least one of the two committed elsewhere. How much room will UO have in the end? The Ducks are a lock for top class out west.
10. Oklahoma
Verbal Commitments: 23
Transfers: 1
Signed: 22. Edge rusher Reggie Grimes wasn't planning on signing early so there isn't much buzz about him bolting this class.
Top Targets Remaining: DL Alfred Collins, DE Princely Umanmielen. OU is in danger of losing a top 10 spot in the final rankings should it not land one of the two D-linemen. Consequently, Texas (11th in these rankings at this time) may be the favorite for each down the final stretch.
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