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Lynne Sladky / Associated Press
The transfer portal is a living, breathing organism that can completely change the landscape of college football, depending on who goes in and where the guys who are already there end up.
But after Wednesday’s national signing day, most of the pieces are in place, and we can make a sensitive riddle about how things are going to shake things up in the rankings, at least to start the season.
As national champion Alabama is defeated by the loss of many star players heading to the NFL, and the other three contenders for the College Football Playoff series also lose important pieces, 2021 could end up with more equality at the top than any other season in recent memory. .
At this point, however, it is difficult to bet on any of the teams they usually find at the top of the rankings.
It’s hard to pick a leading season, but where’s the fun of not trying? Although the usual suspects will still be there, others may come forward and swing up.
Please note that this ranking is for personal opinion only. B / R University soccer staff has already released a super-early pre-season top 25 after Alabama beat Ohio State for the national title.
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Josh Morgan / Associated Press
Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Oklahoma Sooners
Clemson Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs
Ohio Buckeyes
6. Iowa State Cyclones
7. North Carolina Tear Heels
Cincinnati Bearcats
9. Texas A&M Aggies
10. Oregon Ducks
11. Notre Dame fights Irish
12. Iowa Hawkeyes
13. USC Trojans
14. Longhorns of Texas
15. Hurricanes in Miami
16. Indiana Hoosiers
17. Florida Gators
18. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
19. Wisconsin Badgers
Arizona State Sun Devils
21. LSU Tigers
22. Northwestern Wildcats
23. Penn State Nittany Lions
Louisiana Ragin ‘Cajuns
25. Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press
The Alabama Crimson Tide has put together what is widely regarded as the nation’s top-ranking recruiting class by all three major services. In fact, it is the best ever, according to 247Sports’ Hank South.
However, the Ohio State Buckeyes are snapping at their crimson cleats, with second-class teams at 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN. No one is really that close to the Tide and Buckeyes.
It sounds pretty much like the 2020 football season, doesn ‘t it?
Both teams made the final round on Wednesday for the outstanding results, while Tide prospect Terrion Arnold struck out over Florida and Georgia.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day will try to close an insurmountable gap with Alabama, hoping that the country’s third overall player, Washington’s defensive end JT Tuimoloau, will sign with the Buckeyes and Emeka Egbuka of the Apple state in scarlet and gray will join. .
Tuimoloau did not sign on Wednesday, and that could take a while, according to Matt Howe of 247Sports. The Buckeyes hold the Crystal Ball lead for him, but Alabama is in the mix as well.
Alabama finishes with an astonishing seven 5-star prospects in its massive, loaded class of 27 players. The Buckeyes so far have five of their own in a slightly smaller class of 21. Each has playmakers at all levels of offense and defense.
Both Alabama and the state of Ohio have a lot of quality among the quantity, and if you’re tired of hearing about Nick Saban and Day’s programs, you should rather get a rock and hide under it.
They are not going anywhere for a long time.
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Ron Jenkins / Associated Press
As long as Nick Saban is in Alabama, the Crimson Tide will be above or near the top of the recruiting rankings. Saban pupil Kirby Smart also did not fall far from the tree, as the Bulldogs have drawn the biggest group of talent in the country for the past two years.
Georgia is once again third in the national cycle.
But the SEC’s dominance of recruiting rankings is nowhere near what it was a year ago, when a remarkable seven of the top 10 teams on the 247Sports composition rankings came from the battlefields of the Southeast.
In the 2019 cycle, it was not that high, but the SEC made up half of the teams in the top 10 and seven of the top 13.
This year, there were only four SEC teams in the top 10, which saw Notre Dame sneak into the group after a deep, steady class of 27 contestants that included 12 prospects for 4 stars. USC’s loaded class, which will drop nationally, also occupied a place in the top-10 (more on the Trojans later).
It’s no surprise that LSU head coach Ed Orgeron has rekindled his annual recruiting magic, even after a disappointing entry into the Bayou Bengals National Championship in 2019. They put together one of the deepest, most talented classes in the country.
Jimbo Fisher also maintained his momentum after finishing Texas A&M Aggies fourth in the country by signing another top-10 class. The Aggies took another great class by signing LJ Johnson, a 4-star full-back, against rival Texas on wednesday, and three-star attacking linebacker Jordan Moko could follow on Thursday morning.
However, if you have SEC fatigue, it has been a strong year for the other conferences that have tried to close the gap.
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Ashley Landis / Associated Press
Oregon did not have the season he wanted to kick off in 2020 after the Justin Herbert era, but the Ducks still teamed up, pulling together and beating USC for the Pac-12 title.
The way head coach Mario Cristobal stores talent in Eugene is going to get the Ducks ready for conference championships—If not national titles– For the next few years.
They highlighted another banner class on Wednesday when Avante Dickerson, a four-star cornerback formerly dedicated from Minnesota, was a little surprised and committed himself to the Ducks over the home state of Nebraska.
But the team that sent them into the league championship game can also return on and off the field. With the signing of star defender Raessie Davis over the state of Ohio and LSU, the USC Trojans remain two places behind the Ducks on the overall recruitment rankings.
The strong coach of Clay Helton, head coach, who included Jaxson Dart and Miller Moss with four stars, got even better after December. The country’s leading position, Korey Foreman, announced in January that he had signed with USC in the early session.
The smooth, athletic defensive rugby Ceyair Wright and Davis improved a class that was already very good.
While Oregon’s group prospects, which include elite prospects such as the offensive tackle of Kingsley Suamataia and Bram Walden, receivers Troy Franklin and Dont’e Thornton, quarterback Ty Thompson and returning Byron Cardwell will not force the program to ‘ take a step back, but worth asking if USC reduces the gap.
After a disaster in a ’20 class, it’s more like the Trojans are used to, and there are dissenters who can help bring them closer to the quarrel.
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Michael Conroy / Associated Press
It’s not uncommon to see the Wisconsin Badgers or Iowa Hawkeyes in the top 25. The two hard-hitting Big Ten programs play the kind of grind-out games the conference is known for, and Paul Chryst and Kirk Ferentz are good coaches.
None of the guys are known in February for posting banner headlines.
This has changed in the 2021 recruitment cycle.
Iowa’s class is currently 23rd on the national rankings, which is the best finish Ferentz has put together since his sixth position in 2005, when he was still known as a young, dynamic personality who could attract top talent to Iowa City.
Wisconsin’s 15th class is the best that Badgers has put together in the modern recruiting era. No class ranking even approaches the rankings dating back to 1999, which are as far back as the 247Sports recruiting rankings.
Yes, both classes are heavy on offensive lineouts, as you would expect. But there are also exciting athletes who can help change the perception of both programs.
If you bring Mike Locksley’s surprising 19th class to Maryland, which includes a trio of star defenders talented enough to play throughout the country in Demeioun Robinson, Terrence Lewis and Branden Jennings, it’s an impressive boom for the Big Ten.
Add Nebraska, which will finish with a top-20 recruiting rankings for the third consecutive year, despite the fact that another sub-presentation is appearing in the leaderboard, and the conference is looking forward to it. It’s no longer just the Ohio State show.
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Chris O’Meara / Associated Press
Several big names flew from the board on Wednesday, although there were few high prospects.
However, some of the final destinations surprised casual college football fans.
Destyn Hill, a 4-star wide receiver, despite offers from Alabama, LSU and several other quality teams, they commit to the longtime favorite Florida state. Although Mike Norvell’s Seminoles are off, they put the Louisiana athlete first and got the autograph.
Hill’s was exactly the kind of recruiting battle the Noles needed to win to be relevant again.
After a season highlighted by an explosive offense, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin addressed his team’s defensive needs with his first full class at Oxford, and the Rebels put an exclamation mark on a quality group through the 4 star’s defensive suit to convince Tywone Malone to sign Wednesday with them.
Malone will come from New Jersey to Mississippi and is expected to play baseball and soccer for the Rebs.
Finally, while Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is struggling on the field, he is certainly not on the yard. The Wolverines jumped Oklahoma into the top-10 with some key sheets Wednesday.
The biggest came that morning when they got Rayshaun Benny, a 4-star defender, to change his commitment from Michigan State to Michigan. Dan 3-star medelyn Ikechukwu Iwunnah changed his promise from Colorado to Michigan.
It was a big day for the Wolverines, Rebels and Seminoles.
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Vasha Hunt / Associated Press
As always, there are far too many storylines to talk about in one slide as we look forward to spring football, but it’s exciting to project a few articles that could steal newsprint if teams (hopefully) start the exercise. early next month.
There is probably no greater storyline than what defending national champion Crimson Tide will look like without Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Najee Harris, Landon Dickerson, Alex Leatherwood, Dylan Moses, Patrick Surtain II and others.
Nick Saban has the stars in the line-up, led by Bryce Young, the dynamic full-back, but it’s going to be a different team.
The same goes for the playoffs Ohio State, Clemson and Notre Dame, who all have to replace the superstar signal callers in Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence and Ian Book respectively. The Tigers must also find a striking ball carrier after Travis Etienne’s departure. It’s now the DJ Uiagalelei team, but what will it look like?
Everyone is excited to see the latest version of Texas after the failed tenure of Charlie Strong and, more recently, Tom Herman. It’s Steve Sarkisian’s turn now, and the excitement surrounding Austin is palpable. With Sam Ehlinger gone, a new beginning is needed, but it must be an exciting beginning.
Then there are difficult situations for former SEC powers Auburn and Tennessee, who have new coaches in Bryan Harsin and Josh Heupel respectively. The latter program can handle some NCAA issues, and the roster has been downplayed by deviations.
All of this brings us to Oklahoma Sooners, who have signed three of the UT portal deviations (Eric Gray, offensive linebacker Wanya Morris and defensive back Keyshawn Lawrence). With Spencer Rattler at the helm and a much improved defense, could ’21 be the year OU wins everything?
All statistics with permission from CFBStats and Sports reference. Ranking recruitment via 247Sports’s composite rankings, unless otherwise stated.
Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.