With only 12 days until college football's early signing period, many programs are wrapping up their recruiting classes. That means coaches have filled needs and landed prospects to try to help move their teams in the right direction.
While there will be flips and decommitments, most prospects who are committed are planning to sign in December. To provide a look at how the top programs are doing, we are looking at some of the most important commitments in each of the top 25 classes in the country.
Some of the picks are the top-ranked commitment in the class, while some are based on need or talent, but all could make an impact at the next level.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide: OTs Tommy Brockermeyer (No. 2) and J.C. Latham (No. 5)
Pick whichever five-star offensive tackle; both are top-five overall recruits. Alabama has found a ton of success at offensive line, and these two have a good chance of continuing that tradition.
Believe it or not, Alabama didn't sign any ESPN 300 offensive tackles in the 2020 class, so it was important to land some big names in 2021. The staff has three total in this class, which is coming at a good time with Alex Leatherwood, Chris Owens, Deonte Brown and Landon Dickerson all being seniors on the current roster. Emil Ekiyor Jr. is a redshirt sophomore, so he could be headed to the NFL very soon as well.
Along with Brockermeyer and Latham being the Nos. 1- and 2-ranked tackles, Brockermeyer is a Texas legacy and is also committed with his ESPN 300 twin brother, James, a center.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes: RB TreVeyon Henderson (No. 9)
Sure, Ohio State has defensive end Jack Sawyer, the No. 1 overall prospect. Ohio State and defensive line coach Larry Johnson are pumping out NFL prospects almost every year, and Sawyer has a chance to be the next great defensive end to come through.
But while Henderson may not be as obvious a choice as Sawyer, he is still an important piece. The five-star prospect is the No. 1-ranked running back in the class. Ohio State's roster currently features Trey Sermon, who will be gone after this season, and Master Teague III, who will be a junior. The Buckeyes currently rank No. 42 in percentage of rush attempts for five or more yards, 25th in yards per rush and 15th in rush yards per game. Teague is averaging 95 yards per game, which leads the team.
Henderson will bring track speed and can be a threat in the passing game, making him someone who should make an immediate impact in the running back room.
3. Georgia Bulldogs: QB Brock Vandagriff (No. 34)
Vandagriff originally committed to Oklahoma, but decommitted and then pledged to the Dawgs. He's an in-state prospect from Bogart, Georgia, and is the No. 5 pocket-passing quarterback.
It's probably easy to see why Vandagriff is the pick, because Georgia can't have enough quarterbacks on the roster right now. D'Wan Mathis decided to transfer, Stetson Bennett has been replaced by JT Daniels, and Daniels is now the starting quarterback for the Dawgs. Daniels will be a redshirt junior in Vandagriff's first year, so even if Vandagriff doesn't play right away, it's important to bring in a quarterback and ease the transition at the position in the future.
Vandagriff has the talent to compete early on and push Daniels -- and everyone else in the quarterback room -- which will only be a positive.
4. LSU Tigers: ATH Sage Ryan (No. 62)
It's no secret that LSU's defense needs help, so this pick could very well be safety Derrick Davis Jr. from Pennsylvania or linebacker Raesjon Davis. But I'm going with Ryan, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety from Lafayette, Louisiana.
He's an outstanding safety prospect with speed, versatility and physicality who could help the Tigers' defense. Many people thought Ryan would head to Alabama, so keeping one of the top in-state prospects home, away from a rival SEC team in the Crimson Tide, and bolstering the defense is a big win for LSU.
5. Clemson Tigers: RB Will Shipley (No. 21)
Shipley is one of the more intriguing prospects from the standpoint that he could very well become a household name early on in his career. He ran the 55-meter dash in 6.36 seconds his junior year, which broke his school's record and was third in the nation before nationals.
He said he has been laser timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.46, has a 37-inch vertical and a 21.2-foot long jump. He is an all-around athlete who will be able to help Clemson in the run and pass game, and he can be explosive in this offense.
Shipley is coming in at a good time, too, as starting running back Travis Etienne is currently a senior, Lyn-J Dixon will be a senior next season and DeMarkcus Bowman, the No. 4-ranked running back who signed with Clemson in the 2020 class, has already transferred. Shipley should get playing time in some capacity early on once he gets to Clemson.
6. Oregon Ducks: WRs Isaiah Brevard (No. 58), Troy Franklin (No. 69) and Dont'e Thornton (No. 88)
Oregon has recruited very well on the defensive side as of late and has some talented, young defensive players on the roster. This class was about offense, and the staff is bringing in some really good playmakers in the three receiving prospects.
Brevard is the No. 7-ranked wide receiver, Franklin is No. 8 and Thornton is No. 14. Current receivers Johnny Johnson and Jaylon Redd are both seniors, and Devon Williams will be a junior next season. While there are some younger options on the roster, Oregon didn't sign an ESPN 300 receiver in the 2020 class.
Offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead is going to want as many playmakers as he can get in his offense, and he's getting two in the 6-foot-5 prospect Thornton and 6-foot-3 Brevard. The two of them plus Franklin are complementary of the others and will pose as a problem in the future for Pac-12 defenses.
7. Florida Gators: CB Jason Marshall (No. 42)
Programs can't have enough long corners in today's game, and Marshall is exactly what teams look for in a defensive back. He's 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, and can still cover opposing wideouts. Florida doesn't have an immediate need at corner, but that doesn't mean Marshall can't help on defense early on.
Even if he doesn't play right away, Marshall will add depth. Getting him in the program, giving him some time to get acclimated and then plugging him in when the current starters are off the roster will be important.
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: QB Tyler Buchner (No. 39)
Quarterback Ian Book is a senior this season and will be off the roster once Buchner gets to campus. Notre Dame signed Phil Jurkovec in the 2018 class, but he has since transferred. The staff signed three-star Brendon Clark in 2019 and ESPN 300 quarterback Drew Pyne in 2020.
It was imperative that the Irish land a top quarterback, and Buchner, the No. 7 pocket passer, was one of their top targets. Notre Dame will need someone to step up at quarterback, and Buchner should be in the mix to play early on.
9. North Carolina Tar Heels: DE Keeshawn Silver (No. 8)
The answer here would have been cornerback Tony Grimes. However, he reclassified to the 2020 class, enrolled at North Carolina in August and is now playing for the Tar Heels when he should still be in his senior year of high school, so he doesn't technically count.
With him out of the class, Silver is the next option as a five-star defensive end. He's the second five-star defensive end in two classes for North Carolina, joining Desmond Evans, the No. 2-ranked recruit in the 2020 class. Both Silver and Evans should give North Carolina two really talented prospects off the edge.
10. Miami Hurricanes: S/OLB James Williams (No. 32)
Williams is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound safety who has the size to play linebacker if given the opportunity. His size does not hinder his ability to move and play the safety position, and he should bring a lot to the table in Miami's defense.
This was a big win for the Hurricanes because many people thought he would end up at Georgia, and as a top-10 prospect in the state of Florida, he immediately added a lot to Miami's 2021 class.
11. Tennessee Volunteers: DE Dylan Brooks (No. 17)
The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Brooks is a versatile defensive recruit who could provide help on Tennessee's defense in a variety of ways. The Vols have quite a few seniors along the defensive line and at the Jack position, so Brooks is an important commitment.
The staff has lost a few commitments, including linebacker Terrence Lewis and corner Damarius McGhee. Brooks is now the highest-ranked prospect in the class and could fill in at the Jack spot or as a defensive end. His ability to play multiple positions, as well as his talent, are valuable. Given the number of players soon to be off the roster, he is a crucial part of this class.
12. Oklahoma Sooners: LB Clayton Smith (No. 90)
Oklahoma continues to recruit really well on offense with five of its eight ESPN 300 commitments on offense, including No. 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback Caleb Williams and No. 1-ranked wide receiver Mario Williams Jr.
But the Sooners need help on defense. The outside linebacker Smith can help the Oklahoma defense in a variety of ways, notably giving them a presence off the edge. Adding in more top-level players on defense, similar to Smith, needs to be a priority for the staff.
13. USC Trojans: QB Miller Moss (No. 36)
The Trojans have Moss committed in this class as the No. 6-ranked pocket passer. The staff also had ESPN 300 quarterback Jake Garcia, the No. 2 pocket passer and the No. 18 recruit overall, until he Garcia decommitted Thursday night, leaving USC with one quarterback in the class.
It's the second straight cycle in which USC lost a top quarterback prospect. The staff lost Bryce Young, the top quarterback in the 2020 class, when he flipped and eventually signed with Alabama last recruiting cycle. USC didn't sign a quarterback last year.
Kedon Slovis will be a junior next year, so there's a chance he could take off for the NFL with a good season. There isn't much depth behind him, as Matt Fink is currently a redshirt senior and will be off the roster after this season.
While Moss is a top-40 prospect and a good get, quarterback depth is very important. There is a chance USC will still try to sign two quarterbacks in the class, as the Trojans extended an offer to ESPN 300 quarterback Jaxson Dart as well.
14. Michigan Wolverines: QB J.J. McCarthy (No. 23)
The answer for Michigan could be a number of players in this class. It's possible to make the argument for ESPN 300 linebacker Branden Jennings or defensive end Quintin Somerville.
But Michigan needs consistency under center, and the coaches need an elite quarterback with a personality that can lead the offense. Jim Harbaugh and his staff have not had that on their roster yet, but McCarthy could be the first. He is the No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class and played this past season at IMG Academy with some of the best prospects in the country.
McCarthy should bring even more competition to the quarterback room and will push both Cade McNamara and Joe Milton. Michigan needs someone who can win the job outright and lead the team the entire season.
15. Texas Longhorns: ATH Ja'Tavion Sanders (No. 13)
Sanders is a five-star recruit out of Denton, Texas. He is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and will likely play defensive end in college. He plays on defense in high school, but also plays on offense as well, which helps show how athletic and versatile he could be for the Longhorns.
Texas needs help on defense, and adding someone like Sanders was crucial. He's the No. 2-ranked prospect in the state, and though losing out on Tommy Brockermeyer, the No. 1 recruit from Texas, is a tough loss, keeping Sanders in state helps the optics.
16. Wisconsin Badgers: OT Nolan Rucci (No. 33)
Wisconsin is synonymous with giant, strong offensive linemen, and Rucci fits the bill perfectly. He's a 6-foot-7, 290-pound tackle and is the top-ranked recruit in Wisconsin's class.
Unsurprisingly, offensive linemen make up three of the top four commitments for the Badgers. Combine Rucci with fellow tackles Riley Mahlman (6-7, 265), and J.P. Benzschawel (6-6, 260). Quite a few of the Wisconsin starters along the offensive line are either seniors or juniors, so getting more depth and adding in more prospects now is key to future consistency.
17. Texas A&M Aggies: OT Reuben Fatheree II (No. 155)
Fatheree, an in-state prospect who plays for Foster High School in Richmond, is a 6-foot-8, 300-pound tackle and the third-highest-ranked commit in the class for the Aggies.
He's the only ESPN 300 offensive line commit for a staff that landed only one ESPN 300 offensive lineman in the 2020 class. Adding more top linemen is going to be a priority going forward, but Fatheree is an excellent get for the coaches in this staff to help build some future depth at tackle.
18. California Golden Bears: WR J. Michael Sturdivant (No. 104)
Sturdivant is the highest-ranked commitment in the class for Cal at No. 104. He's one of quite a few good prospects in Cal's 2021 class, including ESPN 300 quarterback Kai Millner.
The Bears have four ESPN 300 prospects in 2021 and at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, Sturdivant should give them a big receiver and big target in the future offense. Cal's leading receiver, Kekoa Crawford, is a senior, and the coaches will need someone to step up at the position next year.
19. Maryland Terrapins: LB Demeioun Robinson (No. 35)
Maryland coach Mike Locksley has said he wants to keep the top in-state recruits home and try to recruit the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area as well as he can. Robinson is the No. 1-ranked recruit in the state of Maryland and was a big get for Locksley & Co.
From a talent standpoint, there aren't many players on Maryland's current roster similar to the 6-foot-4, 220-pound linebacker from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg. He should help elevate the defense early.
20. Arkansas Razorbacks: ATH A.J. Green (No. 188)
Arkansas is getting a playmaker in Green, who could play running back or defensive back. He will likely end up as a running back, and at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, he is the highest-ranked commit for the Hogs.
He's joined by ESPN 300 wide receiver Ketron Jackson; they are two prospects who can help boost Arkansas' offense in the future.
21. Washington Huskies: QB Sam Huard (No. 14)
Huard is the son of former NFL quarterback Damon Huard and the nephew of Brock Huard. He's the No. 1 pocket passer in the class, and the No. 2 recruit from the state of Washington.
The importance of keeping the top in-state quarterback home cannot be overstated, and the Huskies are adding an excellent quarterback to their roster in Huard.
22. Auburn Tigers: DT Lee Hunter (No. 59)
Hunter is Auburn's highest-ranked recruit this cycle. The staff has some young options at defensive tackle already on the roster, but Hunter looks like he could play right now as a high school senior.
It's possible to make the case for safety Ahmari Harvey and playmaking ESPN 300 quarterback Dematrius Davis, but having a big body in the middle like Hunter is going to be a big benefit to the Auburn defense in the future.
23. Minnesota Golden Gophers: CB Avante Dickerson (No. 47)
At No. 46 overall in the 2021 class, Dickerson is the highest-ranked prospect Minnesota has ever signed. He's the No. 2 corner in the country and chose Minnesota over other national offers.
The Gophers' defense needs help, especially in the secondary, and Dickerson should be able to come in and play very early in his career. He's 6 feet, 170 pounds with strong speed and the ability to cover.
24. NC State Wolfpack: QB Aaron McLaughlin (No. 51)
NC State has a string of good recruiting classes going, and McLaughlin leads the way in 2021. Sitting just outside the top 50 of the ESPN 300, he's the Wolfpack's highest-ranked commit.
He's the No. 9 pocket passer and had quite a few other options outside of NC State. Devin Leary was injured this year and Bailey Hockman will be a senior next season, so adding McLaughlin now is going to improve the future of the quarterback room and help with depth and consistency.
25. Florida State Seminoles: CBs Omarion Cooper (No. 136) and Hunter Washington (No. 220)
The two defensive backs are the highest-ranked commits in the Seminoles' class, and they are going to add some much-needed help on defense.
Florida State ranks 103rd in pass yards allowed per game this season, and while the coaches need help throughout the roster, adding Cooper and Washington should bring some help on defense.