Team rankings: Alabama at No. 1, with Georgia nipping at its heels

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position

Most of the Early Signing Period’s action took place on Wednesday. In fact, most of the prospects that will sign with an FBS college this recruiting cycle did so on the period’s first day. Nothing on the team-rankings front is final, of course, but now seems like as good a time as ever to check in on the nation’s top-five classes as they stand today.

MORE EARLY SIGNING PERIOD: Social Slant - How programs announced signees | NSD Blog | Alabama flips five-star OL | James Franklin talks NSD |

TOTAL COMMITS: 26

SIGNEES: 23

AVERAGE STAR RANKING : 3.96

HIGHEST-RATED SIGNEE: Five-star running back Trey Sanders

Things started quickly for Alabama on Wednesday morning, as the Tide flipped four-star defensive back Jordan Battle from Ohio State minutes before losing a defensive back commit of their own, as five-star Daxton Hill opted to sign with Michigan. Nevertheless, the day was a net success for Nick Saban, as his team landed a pair of five-stars in running back Trey Sanders and tackle Evan Neal, both of whom announced their choices on ESPN. Alabama finished the day with the nation’s top-ranked class, but Georgia is nipping at The Tide’s heels with plenty of time between now and February’s traditional signing day.

TOTAL COMMITS: 21

SIGNEES: 20

AVERAGE STAR RANKING: 4.05

HIGHEST-RATED SIGNEE: Five-star defensive end Nolan Smith

Georgia missed out on five-star running back Trey Sanders, but made up for that in a number of ways. Scoring five-star linebacker Nkobe Dean in the afternoon was a major victory over SEC rival Alabama, and flipping four-star quarterback Dwan Mathis from Michigan was also a notable victory. There’s plenty still on the table for UGA, as Kirby Smart looks toward February and the chase for his second straight recruiting title. The Bulldogs class includes nine defensive players rated four-stars or higher. Georgia’s average star ranking of 4.05 is tops in the country. Four-star defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, a Georgia target, will sign a letter of intent with either UGA or Miami on Friday but will wait until early January to announce his destination.

TOTAL COMMITS: 25

SIGNEES 22

AVERAGE STAR RANKING : 3.8

HIGHEST-RATED SIGNEE: Five-star offensive tackle Kenyon Green

One of the recruiting cycle’s most pleasant surprises, Texas A&M finds itself solidly inside the national top five. Jimbo Fisher built a reputation as an elite recruiter during his run at Florida State and seems to be effortlessly backing it up now that he’s settled into his new home in the Lone Star State. The Aggies’ class boasts two signed five-star prospects in defensive back Erick Young and offensive lineman Kenyon Green. A&M’s average star ranking is currently the sixth highest in America, so the Aggies remaining in the top five until things are said and done isn’t exactly a given, but the class they’ve assembled is impressive nevertheless.

TOTAL COMMITTS: 21

SIGNEES: 18

AVERAGE STAR RANKING 3.7

HIGHEST-RANKED SIGNEE: No. 1 overall prospect Derek Stingley Jr

LSU signed the 2019 class’ top prospect when Derek Stingley Jr. made things official on Wednesday and that alone is enough to get any Tiger fan excited. Of course there was more. Five-stars Kardell Thomas (OL) and Trey Palmer (ATH) also signed letters, giving LSU’s class some serious star power. So while head coach Ed Orgeron’s program currently ranks eighth when it comes to average star ranking, the top of the Tigers’ commitment list can stand toe-to-toe with anyone’s. Rivals250 offensive lineman Siaki Ika chose LSU on Wednesday, giving an already formidable haul yet another boost.

TOTAL COMMITS: 26

SIGNEES: 26

AVERAGE STAR RANKING 3.58

HIGHEST-RANKED SIGNEE: Five-star cornerback Andrew Booth

Clemson rarely loses committed recruits and continued that trend on Wednesday, as every player that entered the day pledged to Dabo Swinney and Co. signed a letter of intent. Clemson added just two prospects on Wednesday, securing both offensive lineman Kaleb Boateng and defensive tackle Tyler Davis. The Tigers are the most efficient team in America when it comes to recruiting and are looking to finish in the top five for the first time since 2015.