AP Top 25 Breakdown: How the top five teams are doing in recruiting
There are only four spots in the College Football Playoff and the top five teams in the AP Top 25 have the best shot at landing there right now. Here is a look at how the top five teams are doing on the recruiting trail.
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1. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Current recruiting class ranking: No. 1 - 21 commitments
Top-ranked commit: Najee Harris - No. 1 in the Rivals100, No. 1 RB
Overview: Alabama's top-ranked recruiting class is absolutely loaded. Five-stars Alex Leatherwood, Elliot Baker, Jerry Jeudy and Harris lead the way and there are a few more five-stars that could end up joining this class before all is said and done. Tua Tagovailoa (No. 45 in the Rivals100) and Mac Jones (No. 166 in the Rivals250) should shore up the quarterback position for the next few years. Linebacker is definitely the strength on the defensive side of this recruiting class. Vandarius Cowan and Gary Johnson are both in the Rivals100 while Markail Benton is in the Rivals250. Rivals100 athlete Dylan Moses will likely come in as a linebacker as well.
2. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Current recruiting class ranking: No. 16 - 16 commitments
Top-ranked commit: Dylan McCaffrey - No. 50 in the Rivals100, No. 3 DTQB
Overview: The Wolverines are one of the hottest teams on the field and are generating a lot of interest on the recruiting trail. Their nine four-star commitments is tied for the most of any team outside the top six teams in the team rankings. McCaffrey is the big fish in this class right now but Michigan has been recruiting very well on the defensive side. Defensive end is the strongest position group in this class with four-star Corey Malone-Hatcher and Rivals250 prospects Luiji Vilain and James Hudson. Rebuilding the offensive line has been a top priority for Jim Harbuagh and his staff. They currently hold commitments from five offensive linemen including Rivals250 prospect Kai-Leon Herbert.
3. CLEMSON TIGERS
Current recruiting class ranking: No. 7 - 14 commitments
Top-ranked commit: Hunter Johnson - No. 5 in the Rivals100, No. 1 PQB
Overview: This is going to be a small class for Clemson but it is ranked so highly because of its impressive 3.86 average stars per commitment, behind only Ohio State and Alabama. The Tigers' quarterback future is safe with commitments from Johnson and Rivals250 signal caller Chase Brice. Dabo Swinney and his staff have added major pieces to the puzzle in five-star defensive back AJ Terrell, Rivals100 wide receiver Tee Higgins, Rivals100 linebacker Justin Foster, Rivals250 defensive back LeAnthony Williams, Rivals250 defensive end Jordan Williams and Rivals250 running back Cordarrian Richardson. This Clemson recruiting class also features a trio of offensive linemen with very high ceilings.
4. WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Current recruiting class ranking: No. 26 - 13 commitments
Top-ranked commit: Keith Taylor - No. 123 in the Rivals250, No. 12 CB
Overview: Chris Petersen has the Huskies in great shape on the field and are in position to win the Pac-12. Things could be better on the recruiting trail. Sitting outside the top 25 in the team rankings, there is a lot of room for improvement but momentum could swing their direction as they keep winning. Jake Browning will like that wide receivers Terrell Bynum (Rivals250 prospect), Alex Cook and Ty Jones are currently committed. Washington will see even more offensive firepower with the additions of four-star running back Connor Wedington, Rivals250 tight end Hunter Bryant and tight end Cade Otton. Watch out for Rivals250 athlete Salvon Ahmed on both sides of the ball. Four-star defensive backs Brandon McKinney and Taylor should see early action in the pass-happy Pac-12.
5. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Current recruiting class ranking: No. 20 - 22 commitments
Top-ranked commit: Colin Wilson - No. 170 in the Rivals250, No. 11 RB
Overview: It's fair to say the Cardinals are under-performing on the recruiting trail compared to the success they're having this season. The only teams in the top 20 of the recruiting rankings that have more commitments than Louisville and Texas A&M (22) are Arizona (27) and Tennessee (24), but Louisville's average stars per commitment is 2.91, which is lower than the other three. With that in mind, Bobby Petrino and his staff have targeted important prospects that can help them sustain this success. Wilson along with four-star wide receiver Corey Reed and Justin Marshall should keep this offense among the most explosive in the country. Tight end Kemari Averett is a big-time talent too. It's very clear that reloading on the offensive line and in defensive backfield were top priorities this recruiting cycle. Louisville has five commitments from offensive linemen and seven commitments from defensive backs.
