11/3/2015 football Edit

Rankings breakdown: CFP Top 25

Adam Gorney

Recruiting Analyst

ThecommitteehasspokenandthefirstCollegeFootballPlayoffrankingswerereleasedonTuesday.Hereisalookatthetopfourwithanoverviewoftheirseason,theirrecruitingclassandsomeplayerswhocouldhelpleadtheirrespectiveschoolstothenationaltitle.

ClemsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.

DaboSwinney

Overview:ClemsonisundefeatedwithahugematchuphostingFloridaStatethisweekend.TheTigersbeatNotreDamebytwoinearlyOctoberanda58-0winoverMiamiacoupleweeksagopromptedAlGolden'sfiring.Theregular-seasonfinaleagainstSouthCarolinaisusuallyaninterestinggame.

Recruitingclass:TheTigershavethesixth-bestclassintheACCandNo.23overall.Withonly12commitsintheclass,four-starWRT.J.Chaseandfour-starRBTavienFeasterleadtheway.

Rivals100Player:DeshaunWatson,thetop-rateddual-threatQBinthe2014classoutofGainesville,Ga.,isshootingupHeismanlistsafterthrowingfor1,936yardswith20touchdownsandsevenpickssofarthisseason.RatedNo.31overall,Watsonisalsosecondontheteamwithfourrushingscores.ClemsonbeatoutFloridaandVanderbiltinhisrecruitment.

Rivals250Player:Clemsonisgivingupjust17.6pointspergameandlinebackerBenBoulware,theteamleaderwith49tackles,isabigreasonwhy.Thehard-nosedfour-starfromAnderson(S.C.)T.L.Hannawasratedastheeighth-bestILBandNo.207inthe2013class.Boulware,whoalsohasasack,aninterception,oneforcedfumbleandarecovery,pickedtheTigersoverGeorgia.

Sleeper:WayneGallmanwastheNo.30runningbackinthe2013class,outsidetheRivals250andNo.36inthestateoutofLoganville(Ga.)Graysonbuthe'sputtingupbignumbersandtheNo.1threatintheClemsonbackfield.Thethree-starwhopickedClemsonoverFloridaStateandGeorgiahas874rushingyardsandsevenTDsthisseason.

LSUClickHeretoviewthisLink.

LeonardFournette

Overview:Offtoa7-0startwithitsbiggestwinoverFloridainmid-October,thebiggesttestforLSUyetcomesthisweekendwhenitvisitsAlabama.Arkansas,OleMissandTexasA&Mroundouttheschedule.

Recruitingclass:LSUhasthetop-ratedrecruitingclassintheSECanditssecondoverallbehindOhioState.Despitenothavinganyfive-starpledges,theTigershave11four-starsintheclassledbyDBsSaivionSmithandEricMonroeandQBFeleipeFrankswhoareallinthetop40nationally.

Rivals100Player:Uptothispoint,LeonardFournettehasbeencollegefootball'sbestplayerandistheHeismanfrontrunner.Thefive-starfromNewOrleans(La.)St.Augustinehasrushedfor1,352yardsand15touchdownson176attemptsthisseason.Thetop-ratedRBandfourthoverallinthe2014class,FournettehadtakenofficialtripstoLSUandAlabamaandTexaswasinvolvedintheend.

Rivals250Player:QuarterbackBrandonHarriswasNo.99overallandthefifth-bestdual-threatQBinthe2014classsoit'scloseenoughforthiscategory.Surprisingly,alotofLSU'stopdefensiveplayerswerethree-starsinhighschoolandhavereallyexcelledoncetheygottoBatonRouge.Harrisiscompletingjustabout59percentofhispassesbuthe'sthrownnineTDsandnopicksthisseason.HepickedLSUoverAuburnandOhioState.

Sleeper:Thereisalonglistofthree-starrecruitsonLSU'sdefense.TheonewhostandsoutmostisDELewisNeal,whohasateam-highsevensacksand32tackles.LBDeionJones,who'stiedforateamhighwith51tackles,wasalsoathree-staroutofNewOrleans(La.)Jesuit.

OhioStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.

EzekielElliott

Overview:TheBuckeyesareofftoan8-0startandhostMinnesotathisweekbutithasn'talwaysbeeneasy.NorthernIllinoisscaredOhioStateinmid-September,IndianakeptitcloseinearlyOctoberbutsincethentheBuckeyeshavecruisedpastthreeBig10opponents.

Recruitingclass:OhioStatehasthenation'sNo.2recruitingclassledbyfive-stardefensiveendcommitmentNickBosa.TheBuckeyeshaveanation-high13four-starsintheirclass.

Rivals100Player:EzekielElliott,afour-starfromSt.Louis(Mo.)JohnBurroughsSchool,wasratedastheNo.12runningbackandNo.84overallinthe2013class.ThefringeHeismanTrophycandidateleadstheBuckeyeswith1,130rushingyardsand13touchdowns.

Rivals250Player:QuarterbackJ.T.Barrettwasinthenewsthisweekforallthewrongreasonsafterbeingarrestedforoperatingavehiclewhilebeingintoxicated.Hewillserveaone-gamesuspensionbutshouldbebackforOhioState'stitlerunandcouldbecrucial.Thefour-starfromDenton(Texas)Guyerwastheseventh-bestdual-threatQBandNo.152inthe2013class.HepickedOhioStateoverBaylor,LSUandTexasTech.

Sleeper:OhioStateissoloadedthatafour-staroutsidetheRivals250constitutesasleeper.That'swhereleadingreceiverMichaelThomas,fromWoodlandHills(Calif.)Taftwhodidaprepschoolyear,fitsin.Thomas,theNo.36receiverinthe2011class,leadstheBuckeyeswith35catchesfor536yardsandsixTDs.Nooneelsehasmorethan3TDcatches.

AlabamaClick Here to view this Link.

Derrick Henry

Overview: Alabama lost to Ole Miss in September and survived a scare against Tennessee last weekend. In other games like Georgia and Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide absolutely dominated. Its biggest test is this weekend at home versus LSU.

Recruiting class: The Crimson Tide have the fourth-best recruiting class in the SEC led by five-star OT Jonah Williams from Folsom, Calif. LSU, Ole Miss and Georgia are ahead of Alabama, which is No. 12 overall.

Rivals100 Player: Derrick Henry is having a tremendous season with 1,044 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 180 carries this season. The former Georgia pledge was the fifth-best RB and No. 36 overall out of Yulee, Fla., in the 2013 class. With a strong performance against LSU and a Crimson Tide win, Henry could really put pressure on Fournette in the Heisman race.

Rivals250 Player: Alabama does not have a ton of major contributors who either weren't Rivals100 players or some type of sleeper. Kenyan Drake, rated No. 13 at RB and No. 185 overall in the 2012 class, is one exception. He's been used in the run and pass game and on special teams and can always break a big play with the ball in his hands.

Sleeper: Eddie Jackson was a three-star WR out of Lauderdale Lakes (Fla.) Boyd Anderson in the 2013 class. He's transitioned to defensive back where he has a team-high five interceptions (230 return yards) this season and he's also forced and recovered a fumble. Switching to defense has definitely paid off.

Click Here to view this Link.