College football coaches pick their top 2020 recruits

College football's early signing date and accelerated recruiting cycle force coaches to always look forward, not backward. Most coaches are already examining the 2021 recruiting cycle, or even peeking ahead to 2022.

For this story, we asked coaches to reflect a little. The 2020 recruiting class is signed and sealed, and many top prospects have already spent time on campus, going through spring practice or at least being around their new college teammates. But who are the top newcomers? We asked coaches to identify the best players they saw in the 2020 cycle.

We polled head coaches, coordinators, position coaches and personnel directors from every Power 5 conference, as well as a handful from the Group of 5 ranks. Some coaches are in different jobs than they had for most of the 2020 recruiting cycle. Some evaluated specific position groups rather than the national landscape. Coaches were granted anonymity, which made many more comfortable picking players who ended up signing with other programs.

We gathered responses from 66 coaches and tallied the votes. The results validated Clemson's spot atop ESPN's national recruiting rankings, as coaches love the Tigers' top prospects on both sides of the ball. An LSU player again received the most votes, but this time on offense, while Ohio State's offensive line and Oregon's linebacking corps added transcendent talents.

Here's a look at the 2019 recruit survey, which correctly identified some immediate contributors (LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., Michigan safety Daxton Hill, Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux) and missed on some others (USC wide receiver Bru McCoy).

Let's see how the voting went this year.

Eight votes

TE Arik Gilbert
6-foot-6, 255 pounds
Marietta, Georgia/Marietta High School
ESPN 300 rank: 6
Signed: LSU Tigers

LSU had the highest-voted prospect last year with Stingley, and now has the top recruit with Gilbert. His combination of size, speed, athleticism and sheer playmaking ability had a lot of coaches talking about what he will be able to do at the next level. With Thaddeus Moss moving on, LSU could use another big-time tight end to step in, and Gilbert could be that guy.

SEC director of player personnel: "I think he has a rare blend of size, speed and athleticism to go along with elite movement skill and ball skills. He also processes well and plays fast. He can be an elite tight end, but I think he could be just as successful as a rush end and be a first-rounder eventually there. Just crazy to find guys that big that are ready made physically, yet possess the flexibility and processing skills to literally do anything."

SEC assistant coach: "There was not a more college-ready player in the nation. Physical and fast, and an absolute matchup problem wherever he lines up."

Pac-12 coach: "I thought Kellen Winslow was so ahead of the times back in the day, and that's what this guy reminds me of. He is so good."

DT Bryan Bresee
6-foot-5, 290 pounds
Damascus, Maryland/Damascus High School
ESPN 300 rank: 3
Signed: Clemson Tigers

Bresee was tied with Gilbert as the most-voted prospect. Bresee was a five-star recruit in the 2020 class and is a versatile defensive lineman for his size, with speed and power. Clemson has done a lot with elite linemen in the past few years, and there's no reason to think Bresee can't continue that success up front.

Big Ten director of player personnel: "Size, speed, power. He moved like a defensive end at a defensive tackle's size. Had a motor, played tough and tried to be dominant every play."

SEC director of player personnel: "A high-character kid that has great twitch for his size and strength. Moves really well, too. Tough kid, high motor and work ethic. He will make other people around him better."

MAC director of player personnel: "His combination of size, strength and athleticism -- for a kid coming out of high school -- is different. He's got the ability to be versatile as far as where he lines up. Once he starts getting his technique refined for the college game, he's going to be an absolute nightmare to deal with."

Four votes

OT Paris Johnson Jr.
6-foot-6, 280 pounds
Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton High School
ESPN 300 rank: 11
Signed: Ohio State Buckeyes

Johnson was a heavily recruited offensive lineman who is a prototypical tackle at the next level. He has an excellent work ethic and was a huge target for Ohio State to keep in-state. Coaches were impressed with Johnson and gave him four votes as the top recruit because left tackles don't grow on trees.

LB Noah Sewell
6-foot-2, 245 pounds
Orem, Utah/Orem High School
ESPN 300 rank: 27
Signed: Oregon Ducks

Sewell is the younger brother of Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell and is now a Duck himself. He is an incredible athlete for his size and was targeted by nearly every big program in the country. Oregon has a good foundation on defense, and adding in Sewell gives the Ducks even more depth and talent.

ACC coordinator: "Kid can do it all for a player his size. He's a specimen. He's unreal. Great movement skills. Ball skills for a player his size are absurd. Knock-back tackler. High football IQ. Very instinctive. Absolute stud."

Pac-12 director of player personnel: "I loved him."

SEC coordinator: "Big, athletic kid who was violent, very instinctive, extremely quick. On his highlight tape, he is unblockable. He uses his hands well and was very powerful and you can see the power in how he takes on blocks."

LB Justin Flowe
6-foot-2, 225 pounds
Upland, California/Upland High School
ESPN 300 rank: 10
Signed: Oregon

Flowe, similar to Sewell, is an outstanding linebacker who chose Oregon. Flowe has size without stiffness and instincts that can't be taught. He doesn't lack confidence, and pairing him with Sewell, defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, linebacker Mase Funa and cornerback Mykael Wright, Oregon has a ton of young defensive stars on the roster.

Pac-12 coach: "You can teach offensive line and defensive line, or even outside linebacker, but when it comes to being a middle linebacker, they have to have instincts that they're born with. Justin has that. He's downhill, scraping off double-teams. His suddenness, ability to close. He goes from zero to 60, then hits the brakes and comes to balance. He's a freak."

Three votes

DB Kelee Ringo
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Scottsdale, Arizona/Saguaro High School
ESPN 300 rank: 8
Signed: Georgia Bulldogs

Ringo looks like an NFL cornerback with his size and length. Georgia was able to add Ringo to its class all the way from Arizona, which should indicate how much talent he has if the Dawgs are going into Arizona to get a prospect. He was the No. 8-ranked recruit in the country and has the opportunity to be a star for Georgia's defense in the future.

Pac-12 director of player personnel: "He has upside like very few do. He could be a generational guy at that size and length. He's still raw, but he looks like an NFL guy."

Pac-12 director of player personnel: "He's that rare, big, long corner who is a top-notch, explosive athlete. Very physical at the catch point. Can really track in space and run to the ball. He's a profile tackler, has really natural man-match foot quickness and great long speed. Bends well for a long-levered kid. He can redirect releases off the line with significant impact when pressing. He impales receivers at the top of routes without being too grabby. He's a bit of a project from a foot technique standpoint, as his pedal is unrefined because he can get away with bounding in high school, but he has shown he can do it and he's such a long, fluid kid that he'll develop around that while still being very usable early in his career."

QB Bryce Young
6-foot, 180 pounds
Santa Ana, California/Mater Dei High School
ESPN 300 rank: 5
Signed: Alabama Crimson Tide

Young had been committed to USC but eventually flipped to Alabama. With Tua Tagovailoa off to the NFL, Young has an opportunity to come in right away and start for the Crimson Tide. He will have to earn it, but coaches around the country think he has the talent and aptitude to do it.

SEC assistant coach: "He's a pretty special dude. That guy understands quarterback play, uses his eyes well, pulls the safety. He is really, really good."

SEC assistant coach: "Most consistently dominant player versus quality opponents."

Two votes

QB D.J. Uiagalelei
6-foot-5, 243 pounds
Bellflower, California/St. John Bosco High School
ESPN 300 rank: 43
Signed: Clemson

Uiagalelei was the top-ranked pocket-passing quarterback in the class, and Clemson was able to pull him out of California. He has a unique opportunity to sit his first season behind starter Trevor Lawrence, then compete for the starting spot in 2021. Uiagalelei has a big arm and a big presence, and a lot of coaches think he'll fall in line as the next great quarterback at Clemson.

Big 12 head coach: "He's a dude: 6-5, 240, can do it all."

WR A.J. Henning
5-foot-10, 175 pounds
Frankfort, Illinois/Lincoln-Way East High School
ESPN 300 rank: 112
Signed: Michigan Wolverines

Henning is an explosive receiver who fits exactly with what Michigan wants in its speed-in-space offense. He will provide more options for the offense at receiver and will give Michigan a true playmaker to go along with Ronnie Bell, Nico Collins, Mike Sainristil and Giles Jackson.

Big Ten assistant coach: "As versatile a player in the country. One of the most electric players with the ball in his hands in the country."

DE Jordan Burch
6-foot-4, 250 pounds
Columbia, South Carolina/Hammond School
ESPN 300 rank: 4
Signed: South Carolina Gamecocks

Burch was the No. 4-ranked prospect in the country and the No. 2 defensive end. Despite not signing with South Carolina after committing to the Gamecocks in December, and dragging it out past the February signing day, Burch eventually signed with Will Muschamp's program. Despite the high praise he received during his recruitment, only two coaches felt he was the top prospect overall.

DE Desmond Evans
6-foot-6, 235 pounds
Sanford, North Carolina/Lee County High School
ESPN 300 rank: 2
Signed: North Carolina Tar Heels

Evans was the No. 2-ranked prospect but received only two votes, from two different ACC coaches. He is lanky and needs to put weight on, but was a huge get for Mack Brown and his staff -- not only to keep one of the top prospects in the state home, but also to add a pass-rusher of this caliber.

DT Jalen Carter
6-foot-4, 300 pounds
Apopka, Florida/Apopka High School
ESPN 300 rank: 12
Signed: Georgia

Carter receiving only two votes was surprising to the two coaches who voted for him because of how athletic he is. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Carter won the MVP for his team at the Under Armour All-America game and even helped out at tight end when depth issues were a concern.

DT Dayon Hayes
6-foot-2, 250 pounds
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania/Westinghouse Academy
ESPN 300 rank: Unranked
Signed: Pittsburgh Panthers

Hayes is an interesting prospect who wasn't rated as highly as the others on this list. He received two votes from ACC coaches, though, and has an opportunity to help Pitt's defense in a few ways.

MAC head coach: "Explosive edge player, great first step. Big-time ability."

One vote

WR Demond Demas
6-foot-2, 180 pounds
Tomball, Texas/Tomball High School
ESPN 300 rank: 47
Signed: Texas A&M Aggies

SEC assistant coach: "I have never seen a player jump higher in the air to high point balls than he did, and he can run past anyone. He's a freak."

ATH Drew Sanders
6-foot-5, 220 pounds
Denton, Texas/Billy Ryan High School
ESPN 300 rank: 36
Signed: Alabama

Big 12 assistant coach: "He can play multiple positions and will be really good."

QB Haynes King
6-foot-2, 185 pounds
Longview, Texas/Longview High School
ESPN 300 rank: 46
Signed: Texas A&M

Big 12 assistant coach: "Tough competitor."

RB Zachary Evans
6-foot, 200 pounds
Houston, Texas/North Shore High School
ESPN 300 rank: 16
Signed: Uncommitted

SEC assistant coach: "Raw strength and power, rare combination of size, flexibility, speed, physical toughness. Phenomenal vision and ability to make big plays look easy."

OL Peter Skoronski
6-foot-4, 265 pounds
Park Ridge, Illinois/Maine Township South High School
ESPN 300 rank: 150
Signed: Northwestern Wildcats

Big Ten assistant coach: "Possibly the best OL prospect to come out of Chicago in the last 10 years. Always displayed natural tools and bend, but really displayed his athleticism in space on his senior tape."

S Christian Gonzalez
6-foot, 180 pounds
The Colony, Texas/The Colony High School
ESPN 300 rank: Unranked
Signed: Colorado Buffaloes

Pac-12 assistant: "One of the best athletes I've seen in Dallas the last five years."

WR Julian Fleming
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
Catawissa, Pennsylvania/Southern Columbia High School
ESPN 300 rank: 1
Signed: Ohio State

OT Marcus Dumervil
6-foot-5, 295 pounds
Fort Lauderdale, Florida/St. Thomas Aquinas
ESPN 300 rank: 59
Signed: LSU

DB Elias Ricks
6-foot-2, 190 pounds
Bradenton, Florida/IMG Academy
ESPN 300 rank: 39
Signed: LSU

ATH Ja'Quinden Jackson
6-foot-2, 220 pounds
Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville High School
ESPN 300 rank: 37
Signed: Texas Longhorns

WR Jordan Johnson
6-foot-1, 185 pounds
St. Louis, Missouri/De Smet Jesuit High School
ESPN 300 rank: 54
Signed: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

RB Jahmyr Gibbs
5-foot-10, 190 pounds
Dalton, Georgia/Dalton High School
ESPN 300 rank: 178
Signed: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

DB Dontae Manning
6-foot, 185 pounds
Rayton, Missouri/Raytown High School
ESPN 300 rank: 24
Signed: Oregon

DT McKinnley Jackson
6-foot-2, 324 pounds
Lucedale, Mississippi/George County High School
ESPN 300 rank: 98
Signed: Texas A&M

DE James Sylvester
6-foot-4, 225 pounds
Newton, Texas/Newton High School
ESPN 300 rank: 232
Signed: Baylor Bears

OL Andrew Raym
6-foot-4, 309 pounds
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma/Broken Arrow High School
ESPN 300 rank: 61
Signed: Oklahoma Sooners

TE Michael Mayer
6-foot-5, 235 pounds
Covington, Kentucky/Covington Catholic High School
ESPN 300 rank: 81
Signed: Notre Dame

LB Ruben Hyppolite II
6-foot, 225 pounds
Hollywood, Florida/McArthur High School
ESPN 300 rank: 250
Signed: Maryland Terrapins

DB Jalen Kimber
6-foot, 170 pounds
Arlington, Texas/Timberview High School
ESPN 300 rank: 84
Signed: Georgia

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
6-foot-1, 200 pounds
Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall High School
ESPN 300 rank: 91
Signed: Ohio State