Beyond Bama: Overshadowed recruiting powers

Alabama has absolutely dominated the Rivals.com team recruiting rankings over a nine-year stretch, winning seven team recruiting titles. The Crimson Tide are currently atop the 2017 list as well, although some other teams are pushing them in the final stretch before National Signing Day.

The SEC power has seven five-star commitments in this class, led by the No. 1 overall prospect in running back Najee Harris, along with JUCO five-stars Elliot Baker and Isaiah Buggs and the top-rated offensive tackle in Alex Leatherwood.

To put it bluntly, Alabama is loading up again, and if it holds on to the top spot the Crimson Tide will have won 80 percent of the recruiting titles in the last 10 cycles. That is absurd.

Over this nine-year run, Alabama has an average finish of 1.55 nationally; they were beaten for the team recruiting titles in only 2010 and 2015, by USC. Ohio State poses the biggest threat to the Crimson Tide this recruiting cycle, as the Buckeyes boast six five-stars among their 19 commits.

Here is a look at five other programs (along with three honorable mentions) that have recruited well during this stretch but are sometimes overlooked because of Alabama’s outright dominance.

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Average class finish: 5.88

Notes: The Seminoles have never finished outside the top 10 during this nine-year stretch, and Florida State has landed at least one five-star in every one of those recruiting classes. FSU finished second in the Rivals.com team rankings in 2011 and 2016 and third in 2015 with five five-star prospects including Derwin James, Josh Sweat and Tarvarus McFadden. Other than Alabama, Florida State has had the best run during this stretch.

Farrell’s take: This is what makes Jimbo Fisher one of those elite recruiting head coaches. He’s not often mentioned in the same breath as Saban or Meyer, but he should be, or at the very least be the next name off the board. Recruiting was amazing at FSU under Bobby Bowden with some historic Signing Day pushes, but it has reached a slightly higher level under Fisher and has been more steady.

Average class finish: 6.77

Notes: The only team to beat Alabama in the recruiting rankings, USC did so in its 2010 and 2015 classes. The Trojans finished out of the top 10 only twice during that stretch, including a No. 12 rank last recruiting cycle. The Trojans ended No. 13 with their 2013 class but landed five five-stars that year including Su’a Cravens. USC’s top-rated class of 2015 was led by Iman Marshall, Porter Gustin, and Rasheem Green.

Farrell’s take: This shows the power of the USC program and what Pete Carroll built. Yes Carroll left behind a mess and some serious scholarship reductions, but the numerous head coaches since have been able to overcome because the Trojans are such a brand. That wasn’t the case when Carroll took over. USC still holds the record for the highest average star ranking in history with an insurmountable 4.42 average in 2013 in a 12-man, NCAA-reduced class.

Average class finish: 7.11

Notes: The best finish for LSU was second in the team rankings in 2009 and 2014 when the Tigers had four and two five-stars, respectively. The worst for LSU was in 2012 when the Tigers had no five-star signees – it also happened in 2016 – and finished No. 18 overall. In six recruiting classes, the Tigers finished sixth overall or better. Five-star running back Derrius Guice and five-star DB Kevin Toliver II led the way in LSU’s 2015 class.

Farrell’s take: I’ve said it before and I will say it again: No program has a bigger in-state advantage in a talent-rich state than LSU, and it shows. Les Miles was an excellent recruiter and we all know what Ed Orgeron can do, but much of this is due to the Tigers keeping elite talent home. Imagine if Saban didn’t steal guys like Landon Collins, Tim Williams, Cameron Robinson and other Louisiana natives?

Average class finish: 7.22

Notes: After a rough patch where the Buckeyes finished No. 26 overall in 2010 and then No. 11 in 2011, Ohio State has not finished outside the top 10 since and has only one finish outside the top four nationally. That’s an excellent run considering Ohio State has not exactly loaded up on five-stars. During this nine-year stretch, Ohio State has only had more than two five-stars in a class once, and that was back in 2008.

Farrell’s take: The Buckeyes have the second-biggest in-state advantage in a power state, and it also shows. Urban Meyer’s arrival took things to a new level for Ohio State, and this year’s class is his best. What Meyer did that his predecessors didn’t do with as much consistency was go into power states like Florida, Georgia, Texas and California and pull top kids. Now Ohio State can recruit with anyone.

Average class finish: 8.88

Notes: The Gators have slipped in recent recruiting classes, finishing No. 14 last cycle and No. 23 in 2015, adding three five-star signees during those two years. Prior to that in this nine-year stretch, the Gators finished outside of the top 10 only twice (No. 11 in 2009 and No. 12 in 2011) and had a second, two third and a fourth place finish along the way. Florida has the top average class finish in the SEC East, narrowly beating out Georgia for that honor.

Farrell’s take: Some of this is Meyer, of course, who has done some of the best recruiting jobs I’ve ever seen at Florida and Ohio State, but Will Muschamp also recruited very well in his tenure, especially on defense. Things have dipped a bit in recent years and this number will go down after the 2017 class as Georgia jumps them into the top five, but the Gators' brand is still strong.

GEORGIA

Average class finish: 9.11

Farrell’s take: Haters of the Dawgs always love to point out the recruiting success without the SEC title, but given the way Kirby Smart is recruiting in year one, perhaps that will end. At the very least, Georgia enjoys a huge advantage over Georgia Tech in the fourth best state for talent, and it has shown over the years.

TEXAS

Average class finish: 10

Farrell’s take: This has taken a bit of a dip in recent years as well as Texas fans were used to Mack Brown picking his class by June and sliding into a top 10 ranking by NSD. Charlie Strong had an inflated first class with some Florida recruits and was up and down since then, and the Tom Herman effect hasn’t happened yet. As a result, 2018 will have to be a huge recruiting year for Texas to remain near at this number.

AUBURN

Average class finish: 10.44

Farrell’s take: A national title and another title game appearance put Auburn among the elite in recent years nationally, and a lot of that is due to great recruiting. Even if Gene Chizek was a flop aside from the Cam Newton run, recruiting was always very good and that continues with Gus Malzahn. Recruiting in the same state as the powerhouse Crimson Tide makes this number even more impressive.