2015 Rankings: 2015 Team Recruiting Rankings | 2015 247Sports Composite

Five-star DT Daylon Mack headlines the early No. 1 class in 2015 for Texas A&M.

An inside look at ten programs that could potentially have big recruiting classes in 2015.

TEXAS A&M - The Aggies are already off to a hot start with the nation’s No. 1 class 363 days out from next year’s National Signing Day. They have seven commits, all from the state of Texas and all of them are four-star material or higher. Five-star defensive tackle Daylon Mack heads the pack. A&M is just warming up with this class as well. They are in the lead group for four-star QB Kyler Murray, a legacy prospect, four-star wide receiver Kemah Siverand, five-star linebacker Malik Jefferson, five-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield and four-star offensive lineman Conner Dyer. The Aggies could potentially land half of the top 20 prospects in Texas. Kevin Sumlin is selling an exciting brand of offensive football, playing in the SEC and a stadium expansion and the top recruits in Texas are lining up to play for him in College Station. The 2015 class has the makings to be very special for the Aggies.

ALABAMA - Recruiting at an elite level starts and ends in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide are fresh off its fourth consecutive recruiting title. They’ve already secured seven early verbal commitments including five-star pass-rusher Mekhi Brown, one of the top recruits in Georgia. Alabama will continue to go after the best in the Southeast and nationally at each position. They are in good shape for players such as four-star wide receiver Jovon Durante, four-star tight end Devonaire Clarington, four-star offensive tackle Jake Fruhmorgen (a legacy prospect), four-star offensive tackle Drew Richmond, four-star offensive guard Richie Petitbon, five-star defensive tackle Daron Payne, five-star defensive tackle Tim Settle, five-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick and five-star athlete Kerryon Johnson. Those are some of the top prospects in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic region and locally for Alabama. The Tide will have their work cut out for them to five-peat as recruiting champs but its not unconceivable that it would happen again.

FLORIDA STATE - Fresh off a huge finish on signing day and inking one of the nation’s best classes, the Seminoles staff will carry the glow of the National Championship everywhere with them this off-season. In the process, tons of the nation’s best figure to jump in the boat and pledge to the Seminoles as few, if any, programs have as much momentum right now. The Seminoles have two of the nation’s best defensive backs - Derwin James and Tyrek Cole - already on the commit list. They are in the early lead group for studs like five-star wide receiver George Campbell, four-star wide receiver Da’Vante Phillips, four-star wide receiver John Burt, four-star athlete Deon Cain, four-star tight end Garrett Williams and four-star defensive tackle Darvin Taylor. Its looking like its going to be more of the same for the Seminoles as even more big-time talent is likely heading their way.

LSU - The Tigers are a fixture among the nation’s best recruiting classes and 2014 was more of the same. They tend to almost always land all of the elite talent Louisiana and compliment it by signing some of the best in Texas and in the Southeast. The Bayou Bengals already have two of the nation’s top five-star recruits in the boat with Kevin Toliver II and Maea Teuhema. Those are elite high-level talents. They have early pledges from in-state studs like Nick Brossette, a four-star running back, and four-star safety Kevin Henry. LSU has also positioned itself well instate for the likes of four-star wide receiver Tyron Johnson and four-star cornerback Xavier Lewis. Outside of Louisiana, the Tigers are in good standing with four-star wide receiver Carlos Strickland.

OHIO STATE - The Buckeyes figure to contend for top 5 honors for the best recruiting class in the country. They will continue to do so as long as Urban Meyer is running the operation. They’ll dominate the rich instate grounds in Ohio and pluck some of the country’s best throughout the Midwest and all the way down the East Coast and at times get into Texas. The Buckeyes have two early pledges from four-star cornerbacks Eric Glover-Williams and Jamel Dean. But they are only getting started. The Buckeyes are in the lead groups for some of the country’s best at almost every other spot including five-star dual-threat quarterback Torrance Gibson, four-star quarterback Brandon Wimbush, four-star offensive tackle Steven Gonzalez, four-star defensive end James Lockhart, four-star athlete Bryce Love, linebacker Sh’mar Kilby-Lane and four-star athlete Jerome Baker. The Buckeyes had the best class in the Big Ten again in 2014 and have positioned themselves early on to maintain that status going forward.

USC - What USC closed with on Wednesday, landing Damien Mama, JuJu Smith and Adoree’ Jackson on the same day was as big as it gets on the recruiting trail. It could be a potential taste of what’s head this cycle as the state of California is absolutely in 2015. Five of the nation’s elite junior quarterbacks reside in southern California. The Trojans have already landed the best with the recent pledge of five-star Ricky Town. Landing Jackson will help continue USC’s pipeline at Serra High School. The powerhouse has one of the nation’s top defensive tackles (Rasheem Green) and linebackers (John Houston). USC is already in great standing with both of the elite four-star prospects. The Trojans also lead or are in the lead group for four-star wideout Cordell Broadus, five-star wideout Christian Kirk, four-star wide receiver Desean Holmes, four-star guard Zach Robertson, five-star cornerback Iman Marshall, four-star athlete Kanya Bell, four-star defensive tackle Jacob Daniel and four-star defensive tackle Joseph Wicker. If USC can keep the best in L.A. at home this group will not only be a Top 5 recruiting class but also be the foundation in returning the Trojans to national prominence as the NCAA sanctions wind down.

GEORGIA - The Bulldogs traditionally land Top 3-10 classes year in, year out. They reside in the nation’s fourth best state for Division I talent and they usually get who they want in that state when they push for that prospect. In his first week on the job as Georgia’s new defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, landed five-star athlete Terry Godwin and four-star defensive back Rico McGraw. The Dawgs figure to land several more as early as this spring and into the summer. They sit in favorable position with running back Ty’Son Williams, three-star tight end Chris Clark, four-star offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, four-star defensive end Natrez Patrick, five-star defensive tackle Trent Thompson, four-star linebacker Roquan Smith and four-star safety Rashad Roundtree. The beat goes on in Athens.

Kevin Toliver II is one of two out-of-state five-star prospects already committed to LSU.

FLORIDA - Even off of a 4-8 campaign, the Gators finished with a Top 10 recruiting class in 2014. The national brand, program history and location continues to be a favorable option for some the nation’s best prospects. The strength of the 2014 class was landing three of the nation’s best defensive tackles with Thomas Holley, Gerald Willis and Khairi Clark. The Gators look to compliment that front this cycle as they are in good standing for five-star defensive end CeCe Jefferson and four-star defensive Byron Cowart. Both grew up liking the Gators and are the top two junior defensive ends in Florida. The Gators are also in good position for linebacker Tevon Coney, safety Jaquan Johnson, four-star linebacker Jeffery Holland and fullback Chandler Cox. The Gators lead for five-star offensive tackle Martez Ivey and are also standing well early on for offensive tackles Isaiah Prince and Abdul Bello. The key, however, will be if they can add elite, explosive offensive playmakers. That’s something that went unfixed in the 2014 haul and can’t be missed again. Recruits at receiver and back are hesitant to jump in the boat right now with what they see in terms of personnel use on the offensive side of the ball. Their minds may not change unless new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper can significantly upgrade the attack this fall. The Gators will push for the likes of four-star speed back Taj Griffin, four-star running back Eric Swinney, the best two backs in Georgia as well as wide receivers like George Campbell, Calvin Ridley and Deondre Farrier. The proof will be in the pudding for not only the elite skill talent but also under the cloud of Will Muschamp’s status as he’s on one of the nation’s biggest hot seats.

ARKANSAS - Here’s a potential surprise to watch. Even coming off of 3-9 campaign the Razorbacks have the makings for a potential special recruiting class in 2015. The secret is a very solid year of talent instate. The Hawgs have already secured a pledge from four-star quarterback Ty Storey, the No. 1 recruit in Arkansas. They’ve also landed verbal commits from four-star defensive end Jamario Bell and offensive tackle Colton Jackson. It’s helped them establish the No. 7 class early on. The key will be if Bret Bielema’s staff can compliment the in-state gets by landing top talent from south Florida, metro Dallas and into pockets of the Southeast. They’ve already went out-of-region to land four-star defensive tackle Hjalte Froholdt from Ohio. Bielema’s staff, which features some outstanding recruiters like Joel Thomas, Randy Shannon and Sam Pittman, have prioritized and targeted this specific cycle and class since arriving in Fayetteville. We’ll see if they can capitalize.

MICHIGAN STATE - Coming off a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl victory, the Spartans are hot right now. They look to take that momentum and really cash in by landing what could be their best recruiting class in quite some time. They already have three four-star recruits in the boat with offensive lineman Kyonta Stallworth, Tyson Smith and Jayru Campbell. The earlier buzz has them in very good position with almost all of the Top 10 recruits within Michigan’s borders for 2015 including four-star athlete Brian Cole, four-star running back Michael Weber and four-star lineman Joshua Alabi. The Spartans are also in good standing with athletes John Kelly and Khari Willis.

