The 2021 recruiting cycle in college football has been a difficult one to navigate for both coaches and recruits. With no visits this spring, summer and now into the season, coaches have had to adjust accordingly to fill their classes by the time the early signing period rolls around.
Some teams and coaches are doing a better job than others of navigating this new process, but everyone is pushing forward to avoid falling behind. Whether it's through relying on relationship building, utilizing video calls or whatever else it takes to secure commitments, coaches are doing what they can to meet their goals.
Now, sitting in September with the season starting, these are the assistant coaches who have had the most success thus far on the recruiting trail for the 2021 class.
1. Charles Huff
Alabama running backs coach
Top commit: OL J.C. Latham
Huff has always been an outstanding recruiter going back to when he was at Western Michigan and Penn State. His coaching matches his recruiting prowess as well, but this has been an excellent recruiting cycle for Huff.
He has had a hand in five of Alabama's commitments, four of whom are ESPN 300 prospects. That includes Latham, a five-star ranked No. 8 overall, as well as five-star defensive lineman Dallas Turner, ranked No. 12. Huff also played a part in recruiting defensive lineman Damon Payne, the No. 24 prospect, Jacorey Brooks, ranked 51st overall, and three-star Devonta Smith. It's an impressive list, to say the least.
2. Kerry Coombs
Ohio State defensive coordinator
Top commit: CB Jakailin Johnson
Coombs was the defensive backs coach for the Buckeyes before leaving for the NFL. He is known for his energy and was one of Ohio State's better recruiters in his first stint. Now that he's back as defensive coordinator, it's as if he never left.
Johnson is a 6-foot, 170-pound corner out of Missouri, ranked No. 86 overall. Coombs was also instrumental in landing Jordan Hancock, another corner the same size as Johnson. Hancock, ranked No. 99 overall, had been committed to Clemson but decommitted and eventually picked Ohio State a few days after. Coombs has also played a part in landing four other ESPN 300 commitments for the Buckeyes, including safety Jaylen Johnson, the No. 298-ranked recruit overall.
3. Jeff Banks
Alabama special teams coordinator/tight ends coach
Top commit: ATH Christian Leary
Banks and Huff have been a big part of Alabama's rise up the rankings since May. The Crimson Tide have landed 14 ESPN 300 commitments in the past five months, going from outside the top 25 in the class rankings to No. 1 overall.
Banks was responsible for landing Leary, the No. 73-ranked recruit overall, out of Orlando, Florida. He also played a part in landing wide receiver Agiye Hall, ranked 56th, who is also out of Florida. Banks has helped with quite a few of the commitments in this class and even had a part in flipping ESPN 300 quarterback Jalen Milroe from Texas.
4. Tony Alford
Ohio State running backs coach
Top commit: RB TreVeyon Henderson
Alford is another excellent recruiter at Ohio State who relates extremely well to recruits. He has an honest approach that is geared around relationships, and that will always translate on the recruiting trail.
Alford has stepped things up in this 2021 class, landing quite a few big-name recruits for the Buckeyes. Henderson is the No. 1-ranked running back in the class and was recruited by Alford. Evan Pryor, the No. 7 back in the class, also committed to Ohio State thanks to Alford. In all, Alford had a part in five of Ohio State's commitments, four of whom are ranked among the top 150 prospects in the ESPN 300.
5. Brian Johnson
Florida quarterbacks coach
Top commit: CB Jason Marshall
Still in his 30s, Johnson is a younger coach, but he has seen a lot of success on the field and in recruiting. He has improved the Florida quarterback room and is helping on the recruiting trail as well.
Marshall is the No. 42-ranked prospect overall, the No. 2-ranked corner and also happens to be from Miami. For as well as the University of Miami is at recruiting -- and considering the Hurricanes were on Marshall's final list -- it's significant that Johnson was able to reel in the elite corner. Johnson was also part of landing the two quarterbacks in the class, Carlos Del Rio and Jalen Kitna, as well as safety Corey Collier.
6. Sherrone Moore
Michigan tight ends coach
Top commit: QB J.J. McCarthy
Moore is another young coach who is rising up the ranks quickly, especially with how well he recruits. He has been one of Michigan's best recruiters the past few classes and is keeping that up for the Wolverines in this 2021 cycle.
Moore played a big part in landing McCarthy, who is the No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback, No. 23 overall. McCarthy has a chance to help build consistency at the position for Michigan, something the program has lacked in recent years. Moore also helped land ESPN 300 offensive linemen Giovanni El-Hadi and Raheem Anderson II as well as a few three-star recruits, including tight end Louis Hansen out of Massachusetts.
7. Jay Bateman
North Carolina co-defensive coordinator
Top commit: DE Keeshawn Silver
Bateman was on Army's staff before joining head coach Mack Brown at North Carolina. He was someone Brown targeted when he was hired, and Bateman has been a big part of the Tar Heels' early success.
Landing Silver, the No. 3-ranked defensive end and No. 7-ranked prospect overall, was a big deal. It's the second class in a row North Carolina has landed a five-star defensive end, as the staff signed Desmond Evans, the No. 2 defensive end, in the 2020 class as well. Bateman has played a role in landing at least six North Carolina commitments, including ESPN 300 linebacker Raneiria Dillworth.
8. Mickey Joseph
LSU wide receivers coach
Top commit: WR JoJo Earle
As wide receivers coach at LSU, Joseph's results on the field speak for themselves, as he has developed some of the best wide receivers in college football over the past few seasons. That certainly helps in recruiting, and it doesn't hurt that Joseph is an excellent recruiter, either.
He played a part in landing Earle, a playmaker who will fit right in LSU's offense. Joseph also helped land ESPN 300 wide receivers Deion Smith and Chris Hilton, ranked 117th and 167th, respectively. Joseph has done a lot for the future of his own wide receiver room and added plenty of talent at the position in this class.
9. Larry Johnson
Ohio State defensive line coach
Top commit: DE Jack Sawyer
Johnson is an institution in college football, having spent 18 years at Penn State, always having success in recruiting. He has carried that over at Ohio State and has helped produce some outstanding defensive linemen, including Chase Young from last season.
Johnson was able to land Sawyer, the No. 1 overall prospect in this class and an in-state defensive end who should help continue that tradition of outstanding defensive ends in the program. Johnson was also able to help land ESPN 300 defensive tackles Mike Hall and Tyleik Williams in this class, adding to the future defensive line.
10. Donte Williams
USC cornerbacks coach
Top commit: ATH Julien Simon
Williams has a ton of connections in California and had spent the past two seasons taking prospects out of the state while coaching at Oregon. USC hired him and he is already helping keep those California recruits at home as part of the program's "Take back the West" mantra.
Simon is the highest-ranked commit Williams has helped with so far, ranked No. 140 overall. Simon isn't from California, but he's an important part of this class for USC. Williams was able to keep athlete Anthony Beavers, running back Prophet Brown, wide receiver Calen Bullock and athlete Jaylin Smith in state. Williams was one of the more important hires for USC in terms of recruiting, and his addition is already paying dividends to help get USC back to where it wants to be.