jasonb56 Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 347 Content Count: 1,867 Reputation: 202 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/13/2003 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Crimson Tide return to top of class with 21 ESPN 300 commitments play Ad (0:16) 9:04 PM ET Derek TysonRecruitingNation Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email print comment Alabama might have finished national signing day with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country -- its fifth top-ranked class in the past six years -- but USC enjoyed the biggest rise, pulling in the Pac-12's top recruiting class on Wednesday. Highlighted by the signing of LaBryan Ray, the No. 17 overall player -- and second-ranked defensive end -- in the ESPN 300 rankings, the Crimson Tide now have 21 ESPN 300 commitments, which is the most in a class since ESPN started keeping rankings in 2006. Alabama also has two ESPN JC 50 commitments. Alabama also signed receivers Henry Ruggs III (No. 166 in the ESPN 300) and Devonta Smith (No. 227) on Wednesday, while four-star defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis committed on Tuesday. EDITOR'S PICKS National signing day's winners and losers Several programs, including USC and Florida, made some big moves on national signing day, but the day wasn't a great one for several Big 12 programs. Top-ranked DT Wilson bolsters Seminoles class Florida State snagged the nation's top-ranked defensive tackle as Marvin Wilson (Episcopal High, Houston) committed to the Seminoles on Wednesday. Michigan St. commit jailed, doesn't send LOI Michigan State commit Donovan Winter was arrested in Florida on Monday night and did not send his letter of intent to the Spartans on Wednesday. Nick Saban's class is so deep, he had to tell ESPN 300 defensive end Jarez Parks that the class was full and there was no room for him to sign. A source close to the program told ESPN that while Parks has committed, he would have to grayshirt and wait until next January to sign and enroll at Alabama. "I don't know how we're rated,'' Saban said. "I didn't know these guys, where they were rated, how many stars they have. I don't know anything about that. We kind of evaluate the players like we're going to draft them and take the guys that meet the criteria, the critical factors that we want at positions.'' The No. 1 overall recruit in the ESPN 300, offensive tackle Trey Smith, signed early with the Tennessee Volunteers and enrolled early. Entering signing day, 93 players in the ESPN 300 rankings had enrolled early. The lone remaining five-star uncommitted prospect in the ESPN 300, Marvin Wilson, committed to FSU on Wednesday, selecting the Seminoles over Texas, LSU, TCU and South Florida. The fourth-ranked player in the ESPN 300 capped off a solid class for FSU. Wilson, a product of Houston's Episcopal High School, gives the Seminoles 13 commitments/signees who are ranked in the ESPN 300. USC coach Clay Helton had a strong class in his first season a year ago -- bringing in a class that was tops in the Pac-12 and ninth overall in a composite ranking -- but his second season in the recruiting chair was even better. The Trojans landed four-star receiver Joseph Lewis, ranked 16th overall, among their 14 ESPN 300 commitments/signees Wednesday. Linebacker Levi Jones put a different spin on the pick-a-hat ceremony Wednesday, removing layers of clothing to reveal a long-sleeve Florida T-shirt, then a Florida State shirt and finally a USC shirt. Erich Schlegel/USA TODAY Sports It started early for the Trojans with linebacker Levi Jones, the 65th-ranked player in the ESPN 300 out of Austin (Texas) Westlake High School, choosing the Trojans over Florida State, Florida and UCLA. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound linebacker visited all of his finalists, but he said it was his visit on Jan. 20 that persuaded the four-star prospect to sign with the Trojans. Jones put a different spin on the pick-a-hat ceremony as he revealed his decision. He took off his jacket to reveal a long-sleeve Florida T-shirt. He then pulled off the Florida shirt to reveal a Florida State shirt underneath. He then removed the Florida State shirt and was left with a USC shirt on. Jones then put on a USC hat and said, "Fight on." The Trojans weren't done there, as they also landed offensive tackle Austin Jackson (No. 54 in the ESPN 300), No. 1 receiving tight end Josh Falo (No. 92 overall) and defensive tackle Jay Tufele (No. 119). They also got athlete Greg Johnson (No. 116), who is a teammates of Lewis' at Los Angeles' Augustus F. Hawkins High School. Helton downplayed the big day. "As a coach, you can't get caught up in the stars or the rankings," Helton said. "You have to look at the holes you need to fill and the needs you need." LSU also enjoyed a productive signing day -- its first under new coach Ed Orgeron. The Tigers signed Under Armour All-American K'Lavon Chaisson, the fourth-ranked defensive end who is ranked No. 34 overall in the ESPN 300. LSU also landed four-star safety Todd Harris (No. 83) and linebacker Tyler Taylor. In all, the Tigers now have 15 ESPN 300 signees/commitments. Orgeron is attempting to have the highest-ranked recruiting class by a new head coach since ESPN's rankings began in 2006. Urban Meyer had the No. 6 class at Ohio State in 2012, matching the ranking of Jimbo Fisher at Florida State in 2010. Michigan also made a splash by landing a commitment from Aubrey Solomon, the 63rd-ranked player in the ESPN 300. The fifth-ranked defensive tackle in the country picked the Wolverines over Alabama and Georgia. Lee County High School defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon, ranked No. 63 in the ESPN 300, committed to the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday. Adam Hagy/USA TODAY Sports Solomon originally committed to Michigan several months ago, but he backed off that pledge when he received a thank-you note for a Michigan recruiting event that he never attended. Jim Harbaugh and his staff were able to overcome the small blunder to sign one of the top defensive linemen in the country. Michigan now has 17 ESPN 300 commitments/signees and currently has the fourth-ranked recruiting class in the country, trailing only Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. In other signing-day news around the country: • Jeff Thomas, the eighth-ranked wide receiver in the country and No. 55 overall in the ESPN 300, announced his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes over Tennessee, Illinois and Oregon. Coach Mark Richt has put together a solid class for the Hurricanes by landing 10 ESPN 300 players. • Under Armour All-American DE Markaviest Bryant (No. 100) signed with Auburn. He also had offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and LSU. • CB Chevin Calloway (No. 120), another Under Armour All-American, signed with Arkansas. Calloway, who originally committed to Iowa, also had offers from Nebraska, Ole Miss, Texas and Texas A&M. • Leonard Warner, the second-ranked inside linebacker in the country (No. 130), committed to Florida State over Georgia and Stanford. • Javon Kinlaw (No. 17 in the ESPN JC 50) signed with South Carolina over Texas A&M and Tennessee. • Charlie Strong, who landed with South Florida after being fired at Texas, had two notable signings in his first class for the Bulls -- four-star receiver Kevaughn Dingle, who had originally committed to the Hurricanes, and cornerback Naytron Culpepper, who chose USF over Maryland, Michigan State, Mississippi State and South Carolina. • The Longhorns' first class under coach Tom Herman will rank outside the top 20 nationally, making it one of the lowest-rated UT classes since the ranking started more than a decade ago. It also will not include any of the players ranked among the 10 best in the state of Texas. • Hunter Rison, the son of former NFL receiver Andre Rison, signed with Michigan State, the same school where his father was a star. Hunter Rison is also a wide receiver. He's already enrolled at Michigan State and will participate in spring practice. • Best name of the day? That goes to Illinois State signee Kobe Buffalomeat, a 6-foot-7, 287-pound offensive tackle from Lawrence, Kansas. After tweeting the signing, the Redbirds commit quickly became an Internet favorite. • Deommodore Lenoir, a four-star athlete from Los Angeles, picked Oregon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastiebull Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 135 Content Count: 3,809 Reputation: 82 Days Won: 4 Joined: 12/26/2001 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Charlie Strong is THE reason we are getting these mentions re recruiting, which is great btw. Great hire already. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple B Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Moderator Topic Count: 1,610 Content Count: 74,526 Reputation: 10,811 Days Won: 422 Joined: 11/25/2005 Share Posted February 2, 2017 7 minutes ago, beastiebull said: Charlie Strong is THE reason we are getting these mentions re recruiting, which is great btw. Great hire already. Agree 100%. If CWT had pulled off the NSD run, considering where we still ended up, I don't think we get the attention .... so it's definitely a great hire from that standpoint. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bull Dozer Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 343 Content Count: 13,697 Reputation: 2,041 Days Won: 45 Joined: 09/04/2006 Share Posted February 2, 2017 4 minutes ago, Triple B said: Agree 100%. If CWT had pulled off the NSD run, considering where we still ended up, I don't think we get the attention .... so it's definitely a great hire from that standpoint. I totally agree. CCS has been paying dividends since he inked the deal. If we can back up the hype going into this season we should be a household name. Having an established national brand as a coach is a whole different world for USF football. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaUSFBull Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 263 Content Count: 24,750 Reputation: 3,107 Days Won: 87 Joined: 12/15/2009 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I just want to say I 100% agree with every comment this thread has ever had to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeB Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 961 Content Count: 9,759 Reputation: 592 Days Won: 9 Joined: 08/05/2005 Share Posted February 2, 2017 4 Star WR Dingle? I thought he is a 3 Star 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisdashley Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 53 Content Count: 818 Reputation: 330 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/23/2003 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Just now, JoeB said: 4 Star WR Dingle? I thought he is a 3 Star My dingle is definitely a 5 Star... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TarHeel_Bull Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 97 Content Count: 1,180 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 2 Joined: 09/19/2015 Share Posted February 2, 2017 12 minutes ago, JoeB said: 4 Star WR Dingle? I thought he is a 3 Star Depends on the recruiting site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaUSFBull Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 263 Content Count: 24,750 Reputation: 3,107 Days Won: 87 Joined: 12/15/2009 Share Posted February 2, 2017 13 minutes ago, chrisdashley said: My dingle is definitely a 5 Star... Don't let your dingle dangle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hueyhog20 Posted February 2, 2017 Group: Member Topic Count: 22 Content Count: 715 Reputation: 97 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/02/2008 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Think maybe Dingle could be starting this year, or at least an impact player? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now