The first major recruiting rankings launched in 2000 with Miami linebacker D.J. Williams finishing No. 1 overall. A decade later, 247Sports entered the fray, declaring Florida’s Ronald Powell its first ever No. 1 in the Top247. Last cycle, Clemson claimed the No. 1 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, nabbing Bryan Bresee.

Twenty years have passed since the recruiting industry’s humble beginnings, and thousands of players have been ranked in the time since. Given that we recently passed our 20th anniversary as an industry, 247Sports thought this would be a good time to look back. Thus, 247Sports will use the time usually occupied by the NCAA Tournament to make a bracket of our own. We’re going to put our heads together to crown the greatest football recruit of the modern era.

How will this work? Let’s go over some guidelines:

The tournament will be based solely on high school-production, projectability and potential. College results should not be considered.

The top 32 players in 247Sports Composite history earned automatic bids.

The next 30 at-large players were selected by our 247Sports Rankings Council.

The final two at-large spots will be determined by you, the fans (more on that in a bit).

The automatic bids were seeded 1-32. The at-large teams were ordered by national analyst Charles Power.

This will be a single-elimination bracket. The results of the first round will be determined by a vote from the five-man 247Sports rankings council, which consists of Barton Simmons, Steve Wiltfong, Brandon Huffman, Greg Biggins and Power.

The Round of 32 and onward will be voted on by fans on Instagram and Twitter — so make sure you're following us there.

The regions will be named after historic recruits from the early-internet era (prior to Rivals’ first published rankings): Peyton Manning , Charles Woodson , LaVar Arrington and Randy Moss

, , LaVar Arrington and The bracket will start Monday with the Charles Woodson region. The tournament will run through the first week of April.

Without further ado, let’s look at the bracket (you can zoom in on this via desktop and mobile).

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

The last two at-large spots are up for grabs ahead of the bracket’s release. These will be No. 16 seeds in the bracket, but who doesn’t love a Cinderella? Voting is available now on Twitter and will open Saturday on Instagram.

At-large voting: Who ya got? — 247Sports (@247Sports) March 20, 2020

Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia: A sensation thanks to his absurd highlight tapes, Devine ranked as the No. 10 overall player in the 2007 class. Devine rushed for a combined 4,081 yards and 54 touchdowns on 10.5 yards per carry as a high school upperclassman.

vs.

Charles Rogers, WR, Michigan State: No. 42 overall player in 247Sports Composite history. No. 3 overall in the class of 2000. Three-time all-state selection. State champion. All-state level basketball and track prospect as well.

AND

Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama: Legendary recruit. Moses received his first offer from LSU ahead of eighth grade. No. 13 overall player in the 2017 class. Parade Magazine National Player of the Year as a senior.

vs.

Shaun Cody, DT, USC: No. 5 overall player in 2001 class. No. 101 overall player in 247Sports Composite history. Multiple-time state champion. Had 150 tackles, 51 tackles for loss and 35 sacks as a junior. Helped kicked off the Pete Carroll run at USC by picking the Trojans.