Rivals Rankings Week: Predictions as 2020 recruiting cycle ramps up
With Rivals.com’s rankings release week winding down, we turn an eye to the team rankings and to the future. Below, Recruiting Analyst Chad Simmons takes a look at the way things stand now and makes five predictions for how things may shake out on National Signing Day.
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK:
Monday: Top 10 revealed
Tuesday: Rivals100 revealed | Mind of Mike | New five-stars
Wednesday: Rivals250 revealed | Analyst roundtable
Thursday-Friday: Updated position rankings
Saturday: Team rankings analysis
Sunday: Updated state rankings
OHIO STATE MOVES BACK TO THE TOP OF BIG TEN
Ohio State was dethroned in 2019 after eight years on top of the Big Ten recruiting rankings. Michigan finished the cycle with the league's best class while the Buckeyes finished fourth thanks to their small class size and coaching transition.
Don’t get used to that.
Ryan Day has settled in as Ohio State's new head coach and has the Buckeyes positioned atop the Big Ten recruiting rankings with seven commitments in the 2020 class.
Paris Johnson, the nation's top offensive tackle and the No. 5 prospect in the Rivals100, leads the way. The Buckeyes also have Rivals100 commits from Arizona quarterback Jack Miller and Washington wide receiver Gee Scott.
Look for Ohio State to ink many more high-profile standouts in 2020. Fred Davis, Darrion Henry, Justin Rogers, Rakim Jarrett, Mekhail Sherman, Marcus Rosemy and RJ Mickens are some prospects to know.
NO THREE-PEAT FOR GEORGIA
Kirby Smart and Georgia surprised everyone on National Signing Day by flipping five-star wide receiver George Pickens from Auburn and overtaking Alabama for the nation's top recruiting class. That made two recruiting titles in a row for the Bulldogs, ending the Crimson Tide's seven-year run of dominance.
Georgia is not expected to seriously challenge for a third No. 1 finish. It is not due to the talent they are likely to bring in, but UGA is not expected to sign full class of 25 in the 2020 cycle. In fact, the Bulldogs may sign closer to 20 prospects when all is said and done, which would make it very difficult to secure a top finish next February.
LONGHORNS LAND EVANS
Zachary Evans is the top-ranked prospect in the Lone Star State and Texas not only wants him, but desperately needs him. Tom Herman saw three of his running backs put their names into the transfer portal, then Derrian Brown, the lone running back he signed in 2019, had to emergency surgery late in January to remove a blood clot from his brain.
The Longhorns have a big need at running back and landing Evans could take the program's recruiting efforts to another level this cycle. Texas signed the No. 4 class in both 2018 and 2019, but adding Evans could push the Longhorns to a top-three finish in 2020.
This is not going to be an easy recruitment for Texas to win. The Longhorns will have to battle in-state rivals Texas A&M along with Alabama, Georgia and LSU to name a few. In the end though, the prediction is, Texas keeps the top prospect in the Lone Star State home.
HURRICANES WILL FALL
The 2020 recruiting champion will be crowned in a little less than a year from now. LSU is on top now, followed by Alabama and Miami.
The Hurricanes have already seen a lot of shake-ups in their 2020 class due to Mark Richt’s resignation and the hiring of Manny Diaz.
Diaz kept most of the program's defensive staff together, but brought in an entirely new offensive staff. Since Diaz took over, Miami has picked up three commitments, two four-stars and a three-star. The Hurricanes will add more, and this could be a strong class for the program, but Miami has little chance of staying in the top three of the Rivals.com Team Recruiting Rankings. Miami will finish higher than its No. 35 finish in the 2019 class, but a top-three ranking in the 2020 class is not in the cards.
TENNESSEE WILL DO IN-STATE DAMAGE
Out of Tennessee's 23 signees in 2019, only four came from its home state. Look for the Vols to do much more damage in their backyard in 2020. Tyler Baron, Bryson Eason and Reggie Grimes are among the more than 20 in-state prospects that have received an offer from Jeremy Pruitt's program so far in this recruiting cycle.
Who do the Volunteers have the best shot at landing this cycle? Things look good right now with Baron, Chris Morris, Cooper Mays, Omari Thomas and Jay Hardy. Tee Hodge and Jabari Small could also be considered early Tennessee leans.
In the end, the Volunteers will sign more home-state talent in 2020 than they did in 2019.
