With 96 of the ESPN Junior 300 recruits already committed in the 2020 class, some top recruiting classes are emerging with spring approaching. There are some familiar names already sticking out, which is a given.
Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State are all off to fast starts, but there are also some new teams building momentum from the last recruiting class. On the opposite spectrum, there are also a few teams in need of a big recruiting haul in this cycle based off a disappointing finish to the 2019 class.
Here is a look at teams that are on their way to excellent recruiting classes, some teams that need to finish better in 2020 than they did in 2019, and a few programs that could sneak into the conversation of top classes.
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Who's in line to sign a top class
Alabama
After finishing with the No. 1 class in 2019 with 24 ESPN 300 prospects (including two five-star recruits), Alabama already has 11 ESPN Junior 300 commitments in the 2020 class.
That is the most for any program, leading LSU by two.
The remarkable part about Alabama's class so far is that only one commitment is ranked outside the 300, defensive back Jahquez Robinson. The staff already has five commitments ranked in the top 140 and three within the top 50.
Defensive end Chris Braswell, of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, is the highest-ranked commit at No. 9 overall. Braswell is followed by defensive tackle Jayson Jones at 43 and defensive end Jah-Marien Latham at No. 46.
LSU
The Tigers fall in the top class category, but also are one of the programs on the rise. The staff signed 12 ESPN 300 commits total in the 2019 class and already has nine ESPN Junior 300 commitments for 2020.
Similar to Alabama, LSU has only one commitment ranked outside the top 300, wide receiver Kris Abrams-Draine. The top-ranked commit in the class is California cornerback Elias Ricks (No. 19 overall). Ricks, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, is currently ranked as the top corner in the class.
Pairing Ricks with 2019 signee Derek Stingley Jr., last year's No. 1 corner, will give the Tigers two outstanding defensive backs.
The Tigers also have ESPN Junior 300 quarterback Max Johnson from Georgia committed. Johnson is the No. 5 pocket passer and the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson.
So far, LSU is off to a very good start and should be able to add enough to eclipse its 2019 class, which ranked No. 7.
Ohio State
The 2019 cycle was an anomaly for the Buckeyes, finishing at No. 16, with the third-best class in the Big Ten. A big part of that drop was due to the rumors around head coach Urban Meyer early in the season amid his handling of off-field issues with former wide receivers coach Zach Smith.
New coach Ryan Day now has all the distractions, rumors and issues behind him and is already making a big splash in 2020. Ohio State currently has five ESPN Junior 300 commitments in the class and six total.
Led by No. 7 overall recruit, offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. of Cincinnati, the Buckeyes already have four commits ranked in the top 150.
That includes fellow offensive lineman Luke Wypler and Arizona quarterback Jack Miller, a pro-style quarterback ranked No. 112 overall.
Given how prospects have already spoken about Day and his ability to recruit, this should be a highly ranked class for the Buckeyes, near their usual spot in the top five.
Oklahoma
The Sooners have recruited at a high level under Lincoln Riley and aren't slowing down. Riley and his staff already have four ESPN Junior 300 commits and six total.
Running back Jase McClellan, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound back from Aledo, Texas, is the highest ranked commit at No. 11 overall. Playing into what Oklahoma has become known for, the Junior 300 commits are all offensive prospects.
Athlete Drew Sanders, No. 45 overall, is an athlete who could play offense or defense and is joined by wide receiver Davon Graham II and dual-threat quarterback Michael Henderson, the No. 8 dual-threat passer in the country.
Other top classes to expect: Clemson, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon
Programs that need a top class
Florida State
The Seminoles finished the 2019 cycle ranked No. 22 in the class rankings. That is the lowest for Florida State since 2007, and is part of a steep decline that started in 2018 when the Seminoles had the No. 11 class.
In the four classes prior to 2018, Florida State never ranked outside the top four and had the No. 1 class in 2016.
Willie Taggart and his staff did not sign a quarterback for the second straight recruiting cycle after losing ESPN 300 quarterback Sam Howell to North Carolina, then missed on a few targets late in the process.
Taggart finished the 2018 season 5-7, which isn't going to help. The staff already has five Junior 300 commits in 2020, which is a fantastic start. Keeping them on board if the season doesn't go as planned will be a challenge, though, and Taggart needs a strong finish to quiet any whispers.
Miami
The Hurricanes are off to a fast start, but the key for Miami the past few classes has been closing strong and keeping those prospects committed. In 2019, Miami saw 15 decommitments throughout the entire cycle.
It's a good start, though, for new coach Manny Diaz, who has inserted a new sense of energy into the program. If Diaz can change the perception of Miami, keep prospects committed and finish near the top, it would go a long way for the future of the program.
Diaz is implementing a new strategy within recruiting, relying more on the assistant coaches to evaluate, rather than using a larger recruiting department. He has things headed in the right direction, which is a good sign his strategy might work.
UCLA
The Bruins got off to an incredibly slow start in 2019 under Chip Kelly and finished the class ranked No. 53. That is down from the No. 19 class in 2018 and the No. 18 class in 2017.
This 2020 class is an important one, with a need for playmakers on offense and defense. Similar to last year, this class is off to a slow start with no commits as of right now.
That isn't the end of the world, but if Kelly is going to take a slow approach to his evaluations and process, he is going to give himself a significantly smaller pool of prospects to choose from.
USC
This is an interesting year for USC as well, after finishing the 2019 class ranked No. 19. The Trojans finished behind Oregon and Washington and saw the Ducks land eight four-star recruits from California, including Kayvon Thibodeaux, the No. 1 overall prospect.
The staff took a big hit after the early signing day when ESPN 300 athlete Bru McCoy decided to transfer to Texas after signing in December and enrolling early in January.
Oregon doesn't look as though it will slow down any time soon, teams are coming after California prospects harder than ever and there are still questions about USC on the field, specifically with the offense. If this isn't a top class for the Trojans, it could be a big problem for the next couple seasons and for head coach Clay Helton.
Teams on the rise
North Carolina
Mack Brown took over at North Carolina and was able to finish the 2019 cycle ranked No. 35 overall. That doesn't sound great on the surface, but Brown was able to steal Howell from Florida State and built a lot of positive momentum headed into this 2020 class.
The staff finished with three ESPN 300 commitments last year and already have two committed in 2020 among seven total recruits.
Brown and his staff have a lot going for them in this class and should be able to keep climbing the recruiting rankings once the early signing period hits in December.
Florida
The talk around the Gators after the early signing period for the 2019 class was much different than it was after the February signing period. Florida finished the early signing period ranked No. 16 overall, but climbed to No. 9 after February.
The staff added some big pieces to the class and are now carrying that momentum over to 2020 as well. Dan Mullen already has five ESPN Junior 300 commits in the class, led by wide receiver Leonard Manuel, ranked No. 61 overall.
With 13 ESPN 300 commits in 2019, and five already on board in 2020, look for Florida to make another splash in the rankings.
Maryland
The Terps have been making some noise on the recruiting trail since Mike Locksley was hired as coach. The 2019 class was tough to judge as Maryland fired head coach DJ Durkin after an investigation stemming from the death of Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNair.
Locksley was able to add ESPN 300 wide receiver Isaiah Hazel, ESPN 300 quarterback Lance Legendre and eventually flip ESPN 300 safety Nick Cross from Florida State in 2019. Those are the only three ESPN 300 commits in the class, all coming after Locksley was hired.
The 2020 class is off to a slow start, but higher-profile prospects around the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia areas are already taking notice of Locksley and his staff and a few big prospects have already made it to campus this spring.
Maryland should be on the rise in this cycle, but will still likely be in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. If Locksley can put together a solid season on the field and continue recruiting at a high level, we could see the class ranking continue to climb as December approaches.