MICHIGAN, TEXAS AMONG BIG WINNERS
The true winners of last week’s national signing day won’t be determined for another four or five years, after the prospects joining teams across the Football Bowl Subdivision go through the duration of their college careers.
For now, we’re just guessing. But on the basis of signing day, it is possible to split teams into three categories: those that carried the day, those that met certain requirements and those that fell short of expectations.
Compiling a list of winners and losers won’t touch on Alabama, which has built a dynasty on dominating signing day — landing a top-five class in each of the past nine years, a period coinciding with the Crimson Tide’s four national championships under Nick Saban.
Yet there are others worthy of commendation and several that limped into the official start of college football’s offseason licking their wounds:
WINNERS
Michigan: The Wolverines capped their haul with the nation’s consensus top recruit in defensive tackle Rashan Gary, who chose Michigan over Clemson. Gary is joined by a signing class brimming with the sort of talent Jim Harbaugh needs to overtake Ohio State in the Big Ten and compete for a national championship. In terms of immediate Defensive tackle Rashan Gary, the nation’s consensus top recruit, smiles during a rally in Paramus, N.J., after announcing he had chosen Michigan.
and long-term impact, keep tabs on quarterback Brandon Peters, who joined Michigan in time to participate in spring drills.
Texas: A strong group of players committed to Charlie Strong and the Longhorns in signing-day ceremonies, including five-star linebacker Erick Fowler, four-star linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch and four-star defensive tackles Chris Daniels and D’andre ChristmasGiles. This recruiting class won’t immediately lift Texas to the top of Big 12, but the Longhorns took
an enormous step toward national competitiveness.
Auburn: Auburn is coming off a wildly disappointing seven-win finish, but that didn’t dissuade several key prospects, including a quartet of top-ranked wide receivers clearly impressed with Gus Malzahn’s vision for the Tigers offense.
Stanford: Stanford’s recruiting class is headlined by five-star linebacker Curtis Robinson and four-star quarterback K.J. Costello, the latter perhaps in position to earn the starting job. The meat of the Cardinal’s group joined the fold since the start of January.
Ohio State: Ohio State quietly celebrated signing day with a class ranked ahead of the Wolverines’ crop by every major recruiting service. It’s a helpless feeling for the rest of the Big Ten, perhaps with Michigan the lone exception.
Florida State: The day started with fivestar cornerback Levonta Taylor’s letter of intent, then the Seminoles added five-star defensive end Brian Burns, four-star offensive lineman Jauan Williams, four-star inside linebacker Dontavious Jackson and four-star cornerback Carlos Becker. Four-star offensive tackle Landon Dickerson also joins the the fold, and the Seminoles were able to flip four-star defensive lineman Shavar Manuel from Florida.
LOSERS
Penn State: Once owner of a class ranked among the top five, Penn State ended signing day hovering on the fringes of the top 25. James Franklin landed his quarterback of the future in Jake Zembiec, a top backfield prospect in Miles Sanders and a number of four-star linemen to add to the Nittany Lions’ maligned offensive front, but Penn State had plans for a stronger class.
Oklahoma: The Sooners’ signing class does not include transfers in quarterback Kyler Murray from Texas A&M and wide receiver Geno Lewis from Penn State. There’s still something off about this group, which counts just three players from Texas. Since his arrival in 1999, Bob Stoops has built a longstanding dynasty on the talent secured from Oklahoma’s next-door neighbor.
Maryland: Blame a coaching change and Ohio State for Maryland’s late recruiting swoon. Before firing Randy Edsall during the regular season — and for a few months after doing so — Maryland held verbal commitments from a number of the region’s top recruits. But that changed in January, when four-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins and linebacker Keandre Jones flipped from the Terrapins to the Buckeyes.
Oklahoma State: Fresh off a surge into the College Football Playoff race, Oklahoma State signed its lowest-rated class since 2005, according to the team rankings compiled by Rivals.com. According to Rivals, just one of the Cowboys’ 20 signees, offensive tackle Tramonda Moore, was rated as a four-star prospect — and the coaching staff won’t know if Moore will qualify academically until the summer.