Ten teams off to a hot start in 2018

RELATED: Class of 2018 Rivals250 | Class of 2018 Position Rankings

There are roughly 17 months until Signing Day 2018. Predicting what may transpire between now and then or projecting which programs may end up with the best classes is akin to attempting to solve a math problem by juggling apples. Still, that doesn’t mean a quick survey of the scene is futile.

Below are 10 programs that are off to nice starts when it comes to cultivating a 2018 class. Schools are listed alphabetically.

Number of commits: 2

The headliner: QB Joey Gatewood

The class: Auburn has just two prospects in the fold for 2018 but both are Rivals250 members. Gatewood, the No. 99 player in the country, is has incredible upside and is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks we’ve seen in some time. The Tigers have momentum in the class, and a big season one the field will only add to it. A step back this fall, on the other hand, could squash things entirely

Number of commits: 9

The headliner: DE Campbell Barrington

The class: BYU isn’t overloaded with highly-ranked prospects, but the fact that it already holds nine commitments is certainly notable. The Cougars have impressive size already in the fold for 2018, and early commitments from six linemen show the focus of the class.

Number of commits: 6

The headliner: RB James Cook

The class: Cook, a five-star and younger brother of current FSU star Dalvin Cook, is one of the top prospects in the 2018 class. Add in the fact that the Seminoles also hold pledges from two other Rivals100 prospect and you have the foundation of what could be a monster class down the road. Four-star athlete Justin Watkins, a former LSU commit, is one of the more explosive juniors in the region.

Number of commits: 3

The headliner: CB Kelvin Joseph

The class: A prospect already flirting with five-star status, Joseph brings length and star power to LSU’s 2018 class. The Tigers have a pair of big defensive backs in Joseph and fellow cornerback Nadab Joseph. They also have a quarterback in place at an early juncture, as Texas-based prospect Zadock Dinkelmann has been committed to LSU since he was in eighth grade.

Number of commits: 6

The headliner: DB Josh Jobe

The class: Miami has specialized in fast starts in recent years. Retaining the momentum and the early commitments has been where the trouble lies. The Hurricanes already have a pair of four-stars, as Jobe is joined by defensive back Gilbert Frierson, a 6-foot-2 specimen from the programs’ Coral Gables backyard.

Number of commits: 4

The headliner: TE Leonard Taylor

The class: Jim Harbaugh is one of college football’s largest personalities and that is starting to pay off. Two of Michigan’s four 2018 commits are Rivals250 members, and the momentum the program is building seems to compound by the month. Offensive lineman Jalil Irvin is one of two Georgia-based prospects in the class, which is a microcosm of the Wolverines’ truly national recruiting pull.

Number of commits: 3

The headliner: WR Malik Heath

The class: Mississippi State is off to a nice start in Mississippi and should see that continue should in-state rival Ole Miss be slapped with significant sanctions. Heath and Marcus Murphy are both explosive athletes with impressive physical builds.

Number of commits: 6

The headliner: QB Phil Jurkovec

The class: Three Rivals250 prospects headline the foundation of a Notre Dame class that is on pace to make serious waves. The Irish already have three linebackers in the fold in addition to a top-flight quarterback. A big season on the filed could provide Notre Dame with the recruiting momentum to build a special class.

Number of commits: 2

The headliner: QB Emory Jones

The class: Two is hardly an overwhelming number of commits, but when one is a five-star quarterback (Jones) and the other is a Rivals250 running back (Brian Snead), it qualifies as a hot start. Ohio State goes after big fish nationally and they’re already landing them in this case.

Number of commits: 3

The headliner: QB Matt Corral

The class: All three of USC’s 2018 commits are ranked in the Rivals250. All three are also from California. The Trojans rarely have trouble recruiting their own state. What makes the difference in USC recruiting is how the program is able to draw nationally. How the Trojans preform in Clay Helton’s first full season as head coach will likely determine that.