By Manny Navarro, McClatchy Newspapers –
1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Comment: National champions cleaned up with a dozen ESPNU Top-150 recruits and built a superstar secondary.
Top players: S Landon Collins, ATH Eddie Williams, ATH Cyrus Jones, WR Chris Black, CB Geno Smith.
2. TEXAS LONGHORNS
Comment: Scout.com’s No. 1 recruiting class featured 11 ESPNU 150 recruits — including the nation’s top running back in Johnathan Gray.
Top players: DT Malcolm Brown, OLB Peter Jinkens, OT Kennedy Estelle, OG Curtis Riser, DE Torshiro Davis.
3. FLORIDA GATORS
Comment: The Gators beefed up their offensive and defensive lines and also brought in two stellar tight ends.
Top players: OT DJ Humphries, DE Jonathan Bullard, OG Jessamen Dunker, DE Dante Fowler Jr., CB Brian Poole.
4. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
Comment: The Seminoles don’t have huge numbers in terms of recruits, but quality abounds — especially on the defensive line
Top players: DE Mario Edwards, QB Jameis Winston, DE Chris Casher, DT Eddie Goldman, RB Mario Pender.
5. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
Comment: Some of the nation’s top recruits flocked to new coach Urban Meyer, who loaded up on stellar pass rushers.
Top players: DE Noah Spence, DE Adolphus Washington, DE Se’Von Pittman, DT Tommy Schutt, OG Joey O’Connor.
6. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Comment: Defense was the theme for the Wolverines, whose top recruits all seem to line up on that side of the ball.
Top players: CB Terry Richardson, OLB Royce Jenkins-Stone, ILB Joe Bolden, OG Kyle Kalis, DT Ondre Pipkins.
7. STANFORD CARDINAL
Comment: The Cardinal loaded up on the offensive line with four blockers rated four stars by Rivals.com
Top players: OL Kyle Murphy, OL Andrus Peat, DE Aziz Shittu, OG Joshua Garnett, RB Barry Sanders.
8. MIAMI HURRICANES
Comment: Canes put together one of the biggest classes in the country featuring eight devensive backs and a handful of gems on offense.
Top players: CB Tracy Howard, RB Duke Johnson, DE Jelani Hamilton, DE Tyriq McCord, DB Deon Bush.
9. OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Comment: Offensive heavy class for the Sooners features a talented group of receivers.
Top players: WR Trey Metoyer, WR Sterling Shepard, WR Durron Neal, RB Alex Ross, WR Derrick Woods.
10. LSU TIGERS
Comment: Tigers have good, balanced class featuring three of the nation’s top linebackers in Ronnie Feist, Lorenzo Phillips and Kwon Alexander.
Top players: OG Vadal Alexander, WR Travis Dural, WR Avery Johnson, DE Danielle Hunter, ATH Lamar Louis.
11. CLEMSON TIGERS
Comment: Defending ACC champions landed well-rounded class featuring six ESPN Top-150 recruits.
Top players: S Travis Blanks, WR Germone Hopper, QB Chad Kelly, DT Carlos Watkins, OL Isaiah Battle.
12. GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Comment: The majority of Georgia’s class is from in-state, led by a trio of ESPNU Top-150 defensive linemen.
Top players: RB Keith Marshall, OT John Theus, DT Jonathan Taylor, DE Jordan Jenkins, DT John Atkins.
13. USC TROJANS
Comment: Small class in terms of numbers, but not in quality for the Trojans, who have five ESPNU Top-150 recruits.
Top players: WR Nelson Agholor, OLB Jabari Ruffin, OT Max Tuerk, OG Jordan Simmons, OT Zach Banner, DB Gerald Bowman.
14. UCLA BRUINS
Comment: The Bruins picked up 11 of their commitments in January, after Jim Mora took over and began tearing up the recruiting trail.
Top players: DT Ellis McCarthy, ATH Devin Fuller, WR Jordan Payton, DB Ishmael Adams, DB Marcus Rios.
15. AUBURN TIGERS
Comment: Small, talented class for the Tigers that had pretty much been in place since August — only two new additions since then.
Top players: WR JaQuay Williams, OL Shane Callahan, DB Joshua Holsey, LB Cassanova McKinzy, OL Patrick Miller.
16. SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Comment: Gamecocks cleaned up in the Carolinas, bringing in a solid group of skill position players on both offense and defense.
Top players: WR Shaq Roland, RB Mike Davis, S Chaz Elder, OT Brock Stadnik, WR Jody Fuller.
17. TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Comment: The Aggies got out of the gate fast and are holding onto good players even after the coaching change.
Top players: RB Trey Williams, WR Thomas Johnson, QB Matt Davis, CB De’Vante Harris, OL Mike Matthews.
18. OREGON DUCKS
Comment: Offensive tackle Arik Armstead was a nice big addition late for the Rose Bowl champs, who got off to a bit of a slow start.
Top players: RB Byron Marshall, QB Jake Rodrigues, WR Dwayne Stanford II, WR Bralon Addison, TE Evan Baylis.
19. NOTRE DAME IRISH
Comment: Irish focused on adding speed and quickness to the skill positions on both offense and defense.
Top players: QB Gunner Kiel, WR Justin Ferguson, CB Tee Shepard, DT Sheldon Day, DT Jarron Jones.
20. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS
Comment: Despite the coaching turnover, the Vols pulled in six four-star prospects, including two from the ESPNU 150.
Top players: WR Cordarrelle Patterson, DT Daniel McCullers, DB LaDarrell McNeil, Deion Bonner, ATH Davante Bourque.
