The first day of the 2018 Early Signing Period for the 2019 football recruiting cycle has largely concluded. 247Sports earlier presented a conference-by-conference breakdown of superlatives to conclude Wednesday’s action, but now it's time to look at things from a national scope, name the big winners, and unpack some odds and ends.

Unless noted otherwise, all player rankings listed are from the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. That includes the 247Sports Composite team recruiting rankings.

WHO WON THE DAY?

Alabama ... Only the Crimson Tide can see a five-star in their class flip and still be considered a clear winner. But those are the recruiting efforts were used to seeing out of Tuscaloosa as Nick Saban and his staff work to start a new streak at the top of the 247Sports Recruiting Rankings after Georgia snapped their seven-year run in the 2018 cycle.

Alabama won what seemed to be an all-out war for 247Sports’ top-ranked running back Trey Sanders, who looked Georgia-bound when the day started. The Crimson Tide secured signatures from two others who entered the day as wild cards, with five-star offensive tackle Evan Neal and Top247 safety Jordan Battle, who flipped from Ohio State.

This Crimson Tide’s class now has 22 commits, including Top247 defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe who stayed true to his word and signed with Alabama despite entertaining Tennessee for several months.

Note: Alabama has not confirmed received LOIs for Trey Sanders and Evan Neal.

MICHIGAN

That aforementioned five-star that flipped from Alabama? That’s the nation’s No. 1 safety, Daxton Hill. He found his way back into the fold with the Wolverines and even signed his letter of intent, something he originally planned to do in February. Hill originally committed to Jim Harbaugh and his staff back in September but unexpectedly flipped to Alabama earlier this month. While Wolverines fans melted down on message boards, the staff stayed the course, and Hill announced his intentions to rejoin the class Wednesday morning. Top247 receiver Cornelius Johnson also committed to the Maize and Blue, and Michigan sits on the country’s No. 7 recruiting class, No. 1 in the Big Ten.

OKLAHOMA

The Sooners moved past Texas for the No. 1 class in the Big 12, securing commitments from Top247 safety Jeremiah Criddell and Top247 defensive Marcus Stripling. Criddell was a slugfest recruitment with Oregon that seemed to go into Wednesday morning. In addition to those pledges, Lincoln Riley and his staff are trending with 247Sports No. 1 ranked receiver Jadon Haselwood who will announce his college decision in January at the All-American Bowl. They’re also, at the time of this article, trending in the 247Sports Crystal Ball to flip Arizona State commit Ty DeArman, a three-star who would play safety in Norman. Oklahoma’s current haul ranks No. 8 nationally.

NORTH CAROLINA

Mack Brown and his staff got their franchise quarterback on Wednesday afternoon as Top247 signal-caller Sam Howell flipped his verbal from Florida State and signed with the Tar Heels. Ranked as the nation’s No. 3 pro-style passer, Howell had a prolific career at Monroe (N.C.) Sun Valley, throwing for 13,415 yards and 145 touchdowns. Offensive tackle Triston Miller and defensive end Tomari Fox also joined the fold on Wednesday. UNC is up to No. 36 in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings, good for No. 6 in the ACC. Not bad for a staff that has just come together.

FLORIDA

Lakeland, Fla. is Gator country, and the three Top247 recruits from the high school all announced for Florida on Wednesday in tight end Keon Zipperer, offensive lineman Deyavie Hammond and defensive end Lloyd Summerall. Dan Mullen and his staff have the nation’s No. 16 recruiting class while being one of the leaders for touted cornerback Chris Steele, who announces early next month and will enroll early.

OTHER NOTABLE STORYLINES

The nation’s No. 4 prospect and No. 1 recruit in Ohio in five-star Zach Harrison committed to Ohio State over Michigan and Penn State capping a roller coaster recruitment that nearly went the Wolverines’ way in November. It was a nice day on the defensive line for the Buckeyes, as Jaden McKenzie also announced for OSU adding to the country’s No. 12 recruiting class.

Georgia beat out Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss for five-star linebacker Nakobe Dean, the top-ranked inside linebacker in the country, giving Kirby Smart and his staff its fifth five-star commit in this 2019 class that ranks No. 2 nationally. The Bulldogs also flipped four-star quarterback Dwan Mathis from Ohio State.

Four-star defensive end Derick Hunter flipped his verbal from Florida State to Texas A&M, adding to the country’s No. 3 class.

LSU’s day started off with a bang beating out Florida and the Pac 12 powers for the country’s No. 11 defensive tackle Siaki Ika, and in the afternoon holding off Ole Miss four four-star defensive back recruit Raydarious Jones. The Tigers have the No. 4 class in the land.

Penn State beat Texas for Top247 running back Noah Cain and moved to No. 10 in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings as James Franklin and his staff aim for a second-straight Top10 class come February.

It was a good day at the office for Auburn as they beat Mississippi State for Top247 linebacker Derick Hall and secured a pledge from four-star running back D.J. Williams who became one of America’s hottest recruits down the stretch. The Tigers have the No. 11 class in America.

Nebraska snagged three more commitments, none bigger than Top247 defensive end Ty Robinson who’s been a prized prospect for Scott Frost and his staff the entire cycle. Robinson becomes one of the jewels of a haul that checks in at No. 23, good for No. 4 in the Big Ten. Also committing on Wednesday were defensive lineman Brant Banks and offensive lineman Jimmy Fritzsche.

USC climbed into the Top25, where they sit at No. 24 now, after landing Top247 defensive end Drake Jackson, linebacker Ralen Goforth, safety Briton Allen and JUCO defensive lineman Nick Figueroa. The Trojans seem to always do their best work around National Signing Day in February, and there are a couple big fish out there in five-star receivers Bru McCoy and Kyle Ford.

BEST RECRUITING WINS

Daxton Hill to the Wolverines addresses a major need in the Michigan secondary, where Harbaugh and his staff have struggled to land a difference-maker. Ranked as the country’s No. 8 prospect regardless of position, Hill is expected to have a major role in defensive coordinator Don Brown’s scheme next fall. As close to a sure thing as there is in this class, the 6-foot ½, 186-pound Hill has laser-timed 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash (Nike The Opening Regional) and is one of the unique athletes in this 2019 cycle.

SLEEPER CLASS

Arkansas has the No. 20 class in America led by a high upside four-star quarterback KJ Jefferson, a bevy of talented receivers led by Top247 recruit Treylon Burks and a deep defensive line group highlighted by four-star Mataio Soli. Sitting on 27 commits, this is a group that can really help Chad Morris and his staff quickly rebuild in Fayetteville.

Conference Whiparound

SEC

ACC

Big Ten

Big 12

Pac-12