It's time to take another look at the teams we're expecting to compete for the national championship in 2016.
So, with signing day a mere weeks away, here's how the teams in the Way-Too-Early Top 25 are looking on the recruiting trail:
1. Clemson Tigers
Who they have: Clemson currently sits at No. 10 in the RecruitingNation class rankings as the Tigers continue to stockpile talent. With a continued focus on the front seven, the class is headlined by five-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence along with ESPN 300 linebackers Rahshaun Smith and Tre Lamar with a continued focus on loading up in the defensive front seven. In the 2015 class, Clemson inked seven four-star defensive lineman including a trio of ends. This year, ESPN 300 Xavier Kelly is the DE in the fold, and will bring big-time athleticism, as will ESPN 300 tackle Nyles Pinckney. On offense, No. 2-ranked running back Tavien Feaster will add 10.4 100-meter speed and terrific hands to an already talented backfield. ESPN 300 quarterback Zerrick Cooper is expected to compete for the job after Deshaun Watson goes pro. Four-star receiver Diondre Overton and T.J. Chase are two more playmakers headed to the ACC champs.
Who they want: Adding quality and depth to the offensive line continues to be a goal for the Clemson staff, and the top target remaining is in-state, four-star guard John Simpson. Cornerback is also a position of need, and the Tigers will get No. 2-ranked cover guy Trayvon Mullen in this month for an official visit. ESPN 300 Lavert Hill is another that is expected on campus this month. ESPN 300 defensive tackle Michail Carter is on the visitor list this weekend as well.
Storyline to watch: Can the Tigers get No. 1 player Rashan Gary on campus for an official visit? The Under Armour All-America Game MVP has Michigan, Ole Miss and Auburn official visits behind him with a trip scheduled to USC this weekend. That leaves one visit left, and Clemson is in contention. -- Gerry Hamilton
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
Who they have: The class is anchored by a talented collection of offensive linemen in ESPN 300s Jonah Williams, Deonte Brown and Chris Owens, but it's ESPN JC50 No. 1-overall Charles Baldwin who probably will hit the field first. Defensive tackle commit Raekwon Davis could be on the offensive line in Tuscaloosa as well. There might not be a bigger commitment in the country than ESPN 300 Kendell Jones -- big as in 6-5 and 361 pounds of granite. ESPN 300 running back B.J. Emmons will report to Tuscaloosa with a college-ready body.
Who they want: Alabama is hoping to finish off with a bang. The Crimson Tide are looking to two elite in-state ESPN 300 linebackers in Lyndell "Mack" Wilson and Ben Davis. Dynamic athlete Mecole Hardman also has Alabama near the top of his list and could play on either side of the ball on the next level. Nigel Knott, A.J. Brown, Shyheim Carter, Keith Gavin and Demetris Robertson are also heavily considering the Crimson Tide.
Storyline to watch: Alabama has finished with the top-rated class in each of the last four years. The storyline to watch will be just how strong Nick Saban and his staff finish. With so many ESPN 300 still remaining on their board, there is somewhat of a chance that Alabama could, again, finish with the top-ranked recruiting class. -- Derek Tyson
3. Baylor Bears
Who they have: Baylor has the top-ranked recruiting class in the Big 12 thanks to eight ESPN 300 commitments. In year's past, the Bears would be lucky to land one, maybe two top-300 players, but that shows you how far this program has climbed under Art Briles. Offensive lineman Patrick Hudson is the top-ranked guard prospect in the country, and he has remained loyal to his Baylor commitment for almost two full years. Add in pledges from solid linemen like J.P. Urquidez and top juco guard Branton Autry, and it's the type of foundation that will help Baylor's offense continue to thrive in the future. Another key offensive commitment is from third-ranked receiver Devin Duvernay.
Who they want: Baylor's class is virtually in place and the biggest key for the Bears in the final few weeks of the recruiting cycle is keeping all the players on board. One name to keep an eye on is kicker Quinn Nordin, who is currently committed to Penn State. Nordin has continued to look around and many expect him to flip to Michigan, but he does have a Jan. 29 visit to Baylor scheduled.
Storyline to watch: Can the Bears keep their momentum in the 2017 class? Most likely the answer is yes, as Baylor has already landed pledges from five ESPN Junior 300 recruits, including coveted quarterback Kellen Mond and star outside linebacker Baron Browning. If the Bears could hang on to the top spot in the Big 12 all the way to signing day, it could really propel them to another elite class in 2017. -- Jeremy Crabtree
4. Michigan Wolverines
Who they have: Michigan currently has the No. 5-ranked recruiting class in the country with nine ESPN 300 commitments. The highest-ranked prospect in the class is running back Kareem Walker, who has already enrolled and is on campus along with ESPN 300 linebacker Devin Bush Jr. and running back Kingston Davis from this class. The Wolverines have their quarterback of the future in ESPN 300 Brandon Peters, and should have some excellent blockers for Peters with Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu, Erik Swenson and Devery Hamilton in this class.
Who they want: The Wolverines still have some huge targets on the board, but none are bigger than No. 1 ranked Rashan Gary, who will decide on signing day. The staff is also in on ESPN 300's David Long, Dylan Crawford, Lavert Hill, Keyshawn Young and Jacob Mathis. It isn't out of the question that Michigan pulls in most of those targets as well.
Storyline to watch: The biggest storyline for Michigan is the biggest national storyline, which is Gary and where he ends up. There is a very good chance he chooses the Maize and Blue on signing day, but if we have learned anything with recruiting, it's that anything can happen. -- Tom VanHaaren
5. Oklahoma Sooners
Who they have: The Sooners are still relatively young at defensive tackle, but Chris Daniels is talented enough to make an immediate contribution for the Sooners. Daniels is the 15th-ranked defensive tackle out of Euless (Texas) Trinity and was a nice recruiting victory for the Sooners over Michigan and a host of other national programs. It still looks as if they will have to fight to retain his commit all the way to signing day. The Sooners turned to the junior college ranks to help beef up their depth at receiver, and No. 2 juco receiver Ryan Parker has the type of tools that should help him be a star in the OU offense. Quarterback Austin Kendall looks to be the Sooners' signal-caller of the future, and linebacker Bryce Youngquist out of California continues OU's Golden State pipeline, and he ranks as the 10th-best outside linebacker in the country.
Who they want: If OU can reel in some top targets like receiver Velus Jones, offensive tackles Tramonda Moore and E.J. Price, defensive end Amani Bledsoe and linebacker Elysee Mbem-Bosse, then the Sooners will have a strong case for the best in the conference.
Storyline to watch: The biggest question for the Sooners simply is whether they can close strong enough to finish with the top class in the Big 12. Currently the Sooners trail both Baylor and TCU, but OU does have a long list of elite players still looking hard at it. -- Jeremy Crabtree
6. Florida State Seminoles
Who they have: A fixture in the top five of the RecruitingNation class ranking on annual basis under Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles are one of a handful of teams in contention for the No. 1 overall class. With Jalen Ramsey going pro, there is a need for corners in 2016, and five-star Levonta Taylor more that fits the bill. The future of the quarterback position in Tallahassee probably will go through Under Armour All-America Game standout Malik Henry. The Seminoles have the nation's top center, Baveon Johnson, in the fold, along with ESPN 300 tackle Josh Ball. Speedy running back Amir Rasul is a wanted man by high-profile programs, but has remained committed to FSU. Junior college defensive tackle Walvenski Aime is expected to work into the rotation quickly, as could ESPN 300 Cedric Wood. Rangy defensive back Jamel Cook, and ESPN 300 defensive end Janarius Robinson have very high ceilings.
Who they want: The "must-get" recruit remaining on the board is No. 2-ranked corner Trayvon Mullen. FSU will battle LSU and Clemson for him. Defensive end is also a need, and ESPN 300 Terrell Hall is at the top of the wish list, along with ESPN 300 Brian Burns. Two big-time receivers are also coveted in former commit Keith Gavin from nearby Wakulla High, and Nate Craig-Myers. Offensive tackle remains a need as well, and ESPN 300 Jauan Williams is a lean to the Seminoles. ESPN 300 guard Landon Dickerson still has Florida State on the list as well. Linebacker continues to be a key need, and Under Armour All-America Game LB Dontavious Jackson is also favoring the Seminoles. Alabama defensive tackle commitment Raekwon Davis continues to take calls from the Seminoles.
Storyline to watch: Can Florida State win out for Mullen, and hold off the hard-charging Miami Hurricanes in South Florida for current verbals Amir Rasul and Jamel Cook. Florida State will reel in good players and sign a top-five class, but can they fill needs while also not giving up a perception loss in Dade County to Mark Richt and the Hurricanes? -- Gerry Hamilton
7. LSU Tigers
Who they have: Defensive line is the big need for the Tigers in the 2016 class, and Ed Orgeron is delivering. His most prominent addition so far is No. 20 overall Edwin Alexander. Alexander is joined by ESPN 300s in end/linebacker Rahssan Thornton, end Andre Anthony, tackle Glen Logan, and four-star end/tackle Caleb Roddy, who has considerable upside. The secondary also needs to be built up, and the Tigers have done just that with ESPN 300s Saivion Smith, Eric Monroe, Cameron Lewis and Andraez Williams all committed. ESPN 300 outside linebacker Erick Fowler is another pass-rusher in the class, while fellow ESPN 300 Michael Divinity is terrific in space. Offensive commitments include ESPN 300 pass-catcher Dee Anderson, elite playmaker Drake Davis and ESPN 300 guard Donavaughn Campbell.
Who they want: The Tigers have already put together an incredible recruiting class, but it could end up being the best in the country if LSU can land some of its top remaining targets. Five-star prospects Rashard Lawrence and Willie Allen are in-state linemen who both have LSU high on their respective lists. Shyheim Carter, Devin White and Kristian Fulton are other top ESPN 300 in-state prospects that have the Tigers near the top of their lists.
Storyline to watch: Can LSU close with the No. 1-ranked recruiting class? It's amazing to think that after how LSU's season ended and the controversy surrounding the future of Les Miles, that the Tigers could still end up with the No. 1 class in the country. Miles and his staff have done a tremendous job this cycle, but it certainly didn't hurt that 19 ESPN 300 members are from the state of Louisiana and LSU has a chance to land 14 of them. -- Derek Tyson
8. Stanford Cardinal
Who they have: The Cardinal needed a quarterback in this class and hit a home run with the commitment of K.J. Costello, the nation's top signal-caller and No. 14 overall prospect. Costello has a couple of talented pass-catchers alongside him in tight end Kaden Smith and wide receiver Simi Fehoko. The running back position will also be restocked with Trevor Speights and Brandon Stephens. Offensive tackle Clark Yarbrough is another talented big man heading to Palo Alto, and the defensive side of the ball adds talent at all three levels, led by defensive tackle Mike Williams, linebacker Curtis Robinson and cornerback Treyjohn Butler -- all ESPN 300 prospects.
Who they want: Wide receiver Demetris Robertson and linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch are the biggest names left on the board and would make huge splashes if either -- or both -- were to commit. Wide receivers Donald Stewart and Dylan Crawford are still targets, as is ESPN 300 safety Brandon Burton. Up front, defensive linemen Jovan Swann and Connor Murphy would solidify the defensive line in a big way.
Storyline to watch: Can Robertson and McCulloch push Stanford over the top? It's already a potential top-10 class for the Cardinal, but the additions of those two stars could push Stanford up among the nation's elite classes. With six ESPN 300 prospects already committed, the Cardinal have a chance to post their top recruiting class since the 2012 group brought in six ESPN 150 prospects, including Andrus Peat, Kyle Murphy and Josh Garnett. -- Erik McKinney
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Who they have: Notre Dame is adding plenty of talented size in this class, as four of its seven ESPN 300 prospects are linemen, including offensive tackles Liam Eichenberg and Tommy Kraemer and offensive guard Parker Boudreaux. Even wide receiver Chase Claypool is 6-5 and athlete Daelin Hayes is 6-4 and 249 pounds. Running backs Tony Jones and Deon McIntosh and safeties Spencer Perry and Devon Studstill were big additions from Florida and Notre Dame was able to flip quarterback Ian Book away from his Washington State commitment.
Who they want: The linebacker position could see a big boost with ESPN 300 prospects Jeffrey McCulloch and Caleb Kelly, as well as Jonathan Jones still on the board. Wide receiver Demetris Robertson and Jordan Fuller, as well as Damian Alloway would be big additions on the offensive side.
Storyline to watch: Can the Fighting Irish load up at linebacker? Notre Dame will need to replace some serious talent at the position over the next two years, so it's important to start bringing that in now. Hayes is a great start, but adding at least one more of those top targets will help soften the blow when Jaylon Smith heads to the NFL either this year or next. -- Erik McKinney
10. Houston CougarsWho they have: Five-star defensive tackle Edward Oliver gave Houston's class a huge boost when he committed in May, and the decision opened the door for three other ESPN 300 recruits to join him. Oliver is a hometown star, and if he remains true to his commitment, could step on the field immediately for the Cougars. He's that good. Along with Oliver, the Cougars have landed pledges from No. 6 receiver Tyrie Cleveland, No. 11 athlete D'Eriq King and No. 36 receiver Courtney Lark. All three are ESPN 300 recruits, and when they're combined with Oliver and No. 4 junior college offensive tackle Na'Ty Rodgers, it's a class that any Power 5 program coach would salivate over.
Who they want: At this stage for the Cougars, it's honestly about hanging on to the talent they already have on board. Sure, the Cougars will add some additional offensive and defensive line help over the coming weeks, but priority No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 is hanging on to Oliver, Cleveland and the other elite players that make up the best class Houston has ever assembled.
Storyline to watch: Again, whether Herman and his coaches can keep the elite recruits on board all the way to signing day will be something Houston fans pay close attention to over the next few weeks. Cleveland said at the Under Armour All-America Game that he plans to visit TCU and Florida in January, and Oliver remains a hot target with recruiters from some of the nation's top programs. Keeping the pieces in place is imperative for Herman, but if he can get it done, it could be the type of class that leads them to another New Year's Six game. -- Jeremy Crabtree
11. Tennessee Volunteers
Who they have: Butch Jones and his staff have once again put together a solid recruiting class. Under Armour All-America Game corner Marquill Osborne leads a class that includes ESPN 300 quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and running back Carlin Fils-Aime. ESPN 300 linebacker Daniel Bituli was another huge in-state battle won. Junior college receiver Jeff George will bring size to the position, as will junior college defensive tackle Alexis Johnson.
Who they want: The Volunteers have already put together a solid class but there is room for a few more key additions. ESPN 300 prospects, including safeties Marquez Callaway and Nigel Warrior, wide receiver Binjimen Victor, athlete Mecole Hardman and four-star offensive lineman Marcus Tatum, are some of the top remaining prospects for the Volunteers. Hitting the top five in the class rankings for the third consecutive year might be tough this go-round, but the Vols should still end up with a solid class.
Storyline to watch: The Volunteers are tight on scholarship numbers this year and have lost some commitments over the past few weeks, some by their own choice and some, such as the No. 4-ranked junior college player Jonathan Kongbo, by his choice. The biggest storyline to watch for Tennessee will be just how strong the Volunteers finish with their 2016 recruiting class. With several prospects still on their board, Tennessee could once again have a strong finish. -- Derek Tyson
12. Ohio State BuckeyesWho they have: The Buckeyes currently have the highest-ranked commitment within the Big Ten -- No. 3-ranked Nick Bosa. The staff has reeled in 18 total commitments with nine ESPN 300 prospects within that group. Bosa will help replace his brother, Joey, who is leaving for the NFL and will be joined along the defensive line by ESPN 300 end Jonathon Cooper and four-star Malik Barrow. The staff has a few offensive weapons as well with a pair of tight end commits in Jake Hausmann and Luke Farrell, in addition to running back Antonio Williams and receivers Demario McCall and Austin Mack.
Who they want: The staff would like to add to the offense despite the prospects they already have committed, and one of the bigger targets is ESPN 300 receiver Binjimen Victor out of Florida. Ohio State is still in the mix for Donnie Corley as well, but landing either Victor or Corley would give the Buckeyes a very similar prospect. ESPN 300 prospects Jordan Fuller, Damar Hamlin and Rashard Lawrence are also still considering Ohio State.
Storyline to watch: The Buckeyes have the No. 4-ranked class in the country, so recruiting efforts are paying off. The staff saw nine early entries in the NFL draft after this season, though, some of which were unexpected. That means there are holes that need to be filled and the question will be if any of the 2016 commitments can step in and help out immediately. The offense and secondary could both use playmakers, so those two groups will be watched going forward to see who steps up. -- Tom VanHaaren
13. Ole Miss Rebels
Who they have: The Rebels have the possibility of the No. 1-ranked class led by five-stars Gregory Little (No. 2 overall and No. 1-rated offensive tackle), defensive tackle Benito Jones and ESPN 300 quarterback Shea Patterson. Four ESPN 300 skill players are set to join Patterson in Oxford, including big receivers DeKaylin Metcalf and Octavious Cooley. Four-star offensive guard Chandler Tuitt is one of five offensive line commitments. ESPN 300 defensive end Charles Wiley and Jaylon Jones are key grabs on defense, as is junior college linebacker David Luafatasaga.
Who they want: The No. 1-ranked player in the country, Rashan Gary, has shown considerable interest in the Rebels and Ole Miss is hoping Gary can replace Robert Nkemdiche along the defensive line. ESPN 300 linebacker Mique Juarez has a top two of UCLA and Ole Miss, in-state ESPN 300 defensive end Jeffrey Simmons and Manvel (Texas) native Deontay Anderson also has the Rebels high on his list.
Storyline to watch: Will the Rebels 2016 recruiting class match its 2013 class, which finished with Nkemdiche, Larmey Tunsil, Tony Conner and Laquon Treadwell? Ole Miss has already put together and outstanding class but finishing it off with Gary would certainly push that 2013 class for the best recruiting class the Rebels have ever landed. -- Derek Tyson
14. Michigan State Spartans
Who they have: The Spartans have the highest-ranked class of coach Mark Dantonio's tenure at Michigan State with the No. 19 ranked class overall. With ESPN 300 defensive ends Auston Robertson and Josh King joined by ESPN 300 receivers Justin Layne and Donnie Corley. This class has 18 total commitments, eight of which are four-stars. Quarterback Messiah DeWeaver is one of those four-stars and he is joined by receiver Cameron Chambers, defensive linemen Naquan Jones and Mike Panasiuk as well as offensive lineman Thiyo Lukusa, who is already on campus.
Who they want: Michigan State would like to land Prince Sammons, Matt Farniok, Aaron Hansford and Tony Poljan among others.
Storyline to watch: The Spartans were a part of the 2015 College Football Playoff, which should continue to help bolster recruiting. As the staff starts to gain more interest from national prospects, their task will be to weed out the recruits who don't fit their culture. Finding the right guys who fit with Dantonio and his staff is a big reason why the coaches have had so much success, and that could be more difficult as they are in on higher-ranked prospects in the future. -- Tom VanHaaren
15. USC Trojans
Who they have: The Trojans are loaded at wide receiver in this class, as Tyler Vaughns, Josh Imatorbhebhe and Michael Pittman are ESPN 300 prospects, Trevon Sidney is an ESPN 300 athlete and Velus Jones is a four-star wide receiver. Quarterback Matt Fink is a top-50 prospect and the defensive line will get a boost with ESPN 300 prospects Oluwole Betiku and Keyshon Camp, as well as Liam Jimmons. Offensive tackle Frank Martin, tight end Cary Angeline and safety C.J. Pollard round out USC's 10 ESPN 300 commitments.
Who they want: Defenders. No. 1 overall prospect Rashan Gary is a longshot, but he'll take an official visit to USC this weekend, along with defensive end Connor Murphy and ESPN 300 cornerback Byron Murphy. Tight end Devin Asiasi is the highest rated in-state prospect still on the board, but Jack Jones, Lamar Jackson and Brandon Burton are all significant ESPN 300 targets for the secondary. The front seven would be bolstered by additions from ESPN 300 prospects Boss Tagaloa and Maxs Tupai, as well as defensive end Leki Fotu.
Storyline to watch: Can USC close under Clay Helton? No Pac-12 program has closed on signing day as well as USC did the past two years under Steve Sarkisian. This year, USC has the same opportunity with the names still left on the board, though there doesn't seem to be the same number of sure-thing commits this year. The potential is there for a top-five class, but can Helton reel it in? -- Erik McKinney
16. Iowa Hawkeyes
Who they have: Iowa is ranked outside of the top 40 of the ESPN class rankings, but that isn't surprising news. The Hawkeyes' system calls for developing players over a few years and landing prospects with whom they think they can win. That formula is obviously working, as Iowa was in the Big Ten championship game this past season. The leading prospect in this class so far is three-star tight end Noah Fant, followed by linebacker Kyle Taylor and defensive end Brandon Simon. If there were predictions made on the underrated prospects in this class they would be running backs Toks Akinribade and Barrington Wade, two guys who could be big contributors down the road.
Who they want: Iowa is in the top three for offensive lineman Matt Farniok along with Michigan State and Nebraska. If Farniok picks the Hawkeyes, he would be the first ESPN 300 commit for Iowa since Jay Scheel in the 2014 class. The Hawkeyes are also after offensive lineman Alaric Jackson, a Michigan prospect, among others. Iowa, and defensive coordinator Phil Parker, have done well with Michigan prospects in the past, so hitting that well again would be beneficial.
Storyline to watch: The Hawkeyes aren't too flashy on the recruiting trail, so there aren't many big flips or huge surprises expected on signing day. Farniok is the biggest storyline in the 2016 class as he could be a huge addition to an already good-looking group for Iowa. -- Tom VanHaaren
17. North Carolina Tar Heels
Who they have: North Carolina has made the most of its 11-win season on the trail. Sitting inside the top 30 of the class rankings, Larry Fedora and staff have addressed many needs in the class, especially along the lines. On offense, the athletic Jay Jay McCargo is one of three linemen in the fold -- including guard Tyler Pritchett. The Tar Heels have gone to three different states for the OLs -- Virginia, Georgia and Alabama. On the defensive line, ESPN 300 end Tomon Fox is a potential difference-maker, while four-star tackle Kyree Campbell is a nice blend of size and athletic ability. Fellow tackle Marlon Dunlap is a name to remember down the line as well. Nine states are represented on the commit list, including Georgia where long and rangy linebacker Tyrone Hopper hails from.
Who they want: Linebacker continues to be a position of need, and the fingers are crossed on ESPN 300 Aaron Hansford and Keith Simms out of Maryland. The Tar Heels would love to flip Rutgers cornerback verbal Patrice Rene. Adding another defensive tackle is also a possibility.
Storyline to watch: Can the Tar Heels pull off another win in the "DMV" with two commits from Maryland already in the fold? If Fedora and staff do accomplish the goal, it will very likely be at a position of need -- linebacker. -- Gerry Hamilton
18. Oregon Ducks
Who they have: As usual, there are some big-time athletes headed to Eugene, as the three ESPN 300 commitments are all national recruits, in dual-threat quarterbacks Tristen Wallace -- who will play wide receiver for the Ducks -- and Terry Wilson, as well as wide receiver Eddie McDoom. It was a good year in-state and Oregon capitalized with linebacker LaMar Winston, tight end Cam McCormick, quarterback Justin Herbert and safety Brady Breeze. Four-star running back Vavae Malepeai continues the Ducks' recruiting success in Hawaii, and fellow four-stars in defensive end Bryson Young and outside linebacker Darrian Franklin could contribute quickly to the defensive front.
Who they want: After losing ESPN 300 cornerback Jared Mayden to a decommitment, the Ducks are in the hunt for stellar cornerback Nigel Knott. Tight end Devin Asiasi is still on the board, and the defense could see more of an influx of talent with defensive linemen Connor Murphy, Prince Sammons and Amani Bledsoe, as well as linebacker Caleb Kelly and safety Lamar Jackson.
Storyline to watch: Can Oregon tally more ESPN 300 prospects? The Ducks have three ESPN 300 recruits in their class at this point, but that's the same number they've lost during the course of this recruiting cycle -- quarterback Seth Green, wide receiver Theo Howard and Mayden. While Oregon built itself into a national power largely on the back of turning under-recruited prospects into stars, the Ducks have been a recruiting power over the past few years. With prospects such as Knott, Kelly and Jackson still out there, can the Ducks keep the recruiting momentum moving forward? -- Erik McKinney
19. TCU Horned Frogs
Who they have: The Horned Frogs have the second-best recruiting class in the Big 12 and are ahead of traditional powers Oklahoma and Texas. The foundation of the class comes from offensive playmakers like No. 17 receiver Isaiah Graham and fourth-ranked junior-college receiver Taj Williams, but there are also some impact defenders like No. 19 defensive end Isaiah Chambers and No. 1 juco outside linebacker Tyree Horton on the way. Quarterback Brennen Wooten is another name Horned Frogs fans should be excited about. He's not the highest-ranked passer in the country, but is a really nice fit for what Gary Patterson wants from his quarterbacks.
Who they want: The Horned Frogs continue to pursue playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, like receiver Tyrie Cleveland. The ESPN 300 prospect out of Houston is currently pledged to the Cougars, but is still going to visit Fort Worth this weekend. TCU is selling Cleveland hard on the fact that his game is in the mold of record-breaking receiver Josh Doctson. TCU is also fighting hard to pull off one of the biggest recruiting upsets with five-star offensive tackle Willie Allen. LSU is the home-state school and most believe Allen is Baton Rouge-bound, but the Horned Frogs have emerged as a legitimate dark horse.
Storyline to watch: Can the Horned Frogs keep top-10 offensive tackle Austin Myers committed? Myers is TCU's top-ranked recruit, the No. 103 player overall and has been committed since last February, but he said at the Under Armour All-America Game he has plans to visit Ole Miss on Jan. 29. He's scheduled to visit TCU this weekend and the Horned Frog coaches surely will try and persuade him from making the visit to Oxford. If they can keep Myers, then TCU has a legitimate chance to finish with the second-best class in the Big 12. -- Jeremy Crabtree
20. Washington State Cougars
Who they have: Three quarterbacks are listed as commitments, but it's possible that only Quentin Davis takes snaps for the Cougars as D'Jimon Jones and Justus Rogers are capable of playing several other positions. Not surprisingly, the class is full of wide receivers, including four-star prospect Isaiah Johnson, as well as Grant Porter, Josiah Westbrook, Renard Bell, Stephen Houston and Dezmon Patmon. Junior college linebacker Chima Onyeukwu is a potential instant impact addition, and Romello Harris continues the Cougars' streak of bringing very talented running back into a system that can take advantage of their running and receiving abilities.
Who they want: The defensive line could see a major upgrade, as ESPN Junior College 50 defensive end Josh Allen will take an official visit, and defensive tackle Wayne Kirby is in play following his decommitment from BYU. Offensive guards Fredrick Mauigoa and Cal commit Francisco Perez are still on the board as well and would be nice additions for the Cougars, as would former Stanford offensive line commit Nate Herbig.
Storyline to watch: With 27 commitments already, there really isn't much room left to add more commitments, so if there is any shuffling between now and signing day for Washington State, it probably will be good news for the Cougars as they continue chasing some top uncommitted talent. The Cougars aren't exactly going toe-to-toe with the nation's elite on the recruiting trail, but reeling in Johnson, a former Florida commit, as well as the possibility of grabbing Allen, Mauigoa and Herbig, should keep Washington State moving in the right direction both on the field and the trail. -- Erik McKinney
21. UCLA Bruins
Who they have: The group of linebackers is tremendous, as the Bruins top three commitments -- Lokeni Toailoa, Krys Barnes and Breland Brandt -- will line up there for UCLA. ESPN 300 wide receiver Theo Howard will be joined by four-star athlete Demetric Felton, four-star wide receiver Darian Owens, wide receiver Dymond Lee and tight end Jordan Wilson as pass-catchers in this class. Offensive linemen Michael Alves and Alex Akingbulu were big Southern California additions along the line, and junior college defensive tackle Nick Terry will hopefully step in for Kenny Clark, who left early for the NFL. The special teams spots are loaded, with kicker J.J. Molson, punter Austin Kent and snapper Johnny Den Bleyker.
Who they want: The linebacker class could get even better as UCLA looks like the favorite for ESPN 300 linebacker Mique Juarez. Safeties Lamar Jackson and Brandon Burton, as well as cornerback Jack Jones, would be significant additions in the defensive backfield. ESPN 300 defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa has long appeared to be a UCLA lean and could work hard to bring along teammate and good friend, tight end Devin Asiasi. UCLA already holds a commitment from a quarterback in this class but recently extended an offer to Nick Starkel. In addition to Starkel, wide receivers Quartney Davis and Audie Omotosho are Texas targets looking at UCLA.
Storyline to watch: This could be the year UCLA steals headlines from USC on signing day as far as in-state recruits are concerned. The Bruins hit it big with out-of-state prospects last February, but with Juarez, Tagaloa and Burton all looking hard at UCLA, this won't be a situation like in 2014, where USC grabbed Adoree' Jackson, Juju Smith and Damien Mama with UCLA chasing all three, or 2015, where USC signed Iman Marshall, Rasheem Green and John Houston. -- Erik McKinney
22. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Who they have: The Cowboys are still really young on both sides of the ball and Mike Gundy loves to let his freshmen develop before throwing them into the fire, so that's why you can expect junior college recruits like No. 9 defensive end Tralund Webber of Blinn College and No. 10 cornerback Malik Kearse of Fort Scott C.C. to be the biggest impact of the 2016 class. The Cowboys' top high school prospect is Tyrell Alexander, a 6-foot-2, 170-pound athlete from Lancaster (Texas) High School. Alexander is a four-star recruit and could project at a number of positions but look for him to fit in at receiver for the Cowboys. Offensive lineman Tyler Brown was a nice mid-November get for OSU. Brown is the 27th-ranked guard in the country, but he is the type of player who usually ends up excelling in Stillwater.
Who they want: The biggest target left on the board for Oklahoma State is offensive lineman Tramonda Moore, the top-ranked player in Oklahoma. Moore has been focused on Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and TCU for most of the recruiting process and beating out Big 12 rivals for him, could go a long way toward easing some concerns after the Cowboys had a rough December. OSU would also like to add some additional depth at defensive tackle, with Marcel Southall being a top target.
Storyline to watch: OSU looked as if it had its quarterback of the future lined up in Nick Starkel, but he backed away from a longtime pledge to the Cowboys in mid-December. So now the big question for OSU is what do they do at the position before signing day. It wasn't absolutely critical for Oklahoma State to land a QB in the class, but Gundy wanted some depth for sure. Unfortunately, most of the elite signal-callers are already off the board, which means the focus might have to shift to the 2017 class. -- Jeremy Crabtree
23. Georgia Bulldogs
Who they have: The Bulldogs' class is led by quarterback Jacob Eason, who spurned a late push from Florida and Washington to stick with Georgia, and five-star tight end Isaac Nauta. The 6-6 quarterback has future protectors on the offensive line in No. 142 Ben Cleveland and four-star Chris Barnes. On defense, ESPN 300 tackle Julian Rochester, No. 109 Chauncey Manac and four-star tackle Tyler Clark fit well with the group inked in 2015. Also in the fold is another member of the ESPN 300, Jaleel Laguins, and three cornerbacks, including ESPN 300 Chad Clay.
Who they want: Since Kirby Smart took over, there have been a number of prospects show renewed interest in the Bulldogs. ESPN 300 linebackers Lyndell "Mack" Wilson and Ben Davis have both shown considerable interest in the Bulldogs recently, and Mecole Hardman is a Georgia native and had the Bulldogs near the top of his list for some time.
Storyline to watch: Just how much will the coaching transition from Mark Richt to Kirby Smart affect the Bulldogs' recruiting? So far it hasn't seemed to hurt Georgia's recruiting efforts, but with several top prospects remaining, it will be interesting to watch just how the Bulldog's class finishes. -- Derek Tyson
24. Louisville Cardinals
Who they have: Louisville sits inside the RecruitingNation top-40 classes with a class headlined by ESPN 300 quarterback Jawon Pass. Pass is joined at quarterback by three-star Tylin Oden, who continues to look at other programs as signing day approaches. Wide receiver is a position of need, and four-stars Chris Taylor-Yamanoha and Seth Dawkins are need-fillers. Running back Malik Staples out of Georgia will add depth in the backfield. For Bobby Petrino and his staff, however, it's the defensive side that needs replenishing. Junior college signees Ronald Walker and Chris Williams will be in for spring practice and are expected to compete for jobs. Four-star outside linebacker P.J. Blue has a nice ceiling, as does four-star safety Jaquelle Green. All told, eight states are represented on the commit list led by Georgia with seven.
Who they want: ESPN 300 athlete Keyshawn Young out of Miami is a top target, as is former Tulane linebacker commit and senior riser Giovanni LaFrance. Peach State running back Arkeem Byrd is another senior riser who has the Cardinals' full attention. Louisville is in the mix for a number of prospects out of Florida as well.
Storyline to watch: Holding onto both Pass and Oden with the emergence of star freshman Lamar Jackson is a legitimate question, and one that will be key in the future depth at the quarterback position. Louisville enjoyed great success in the Sunshine State under Charlie Strong, but winning battles has become tougher with the new staff. The Cardinals also are in need of running back talent still, and need to hit on a top target. -- Gerry Hamilton
25. Washington Huskies
Who they have: Head coach Chris Petersen has found huge success in-state the past two years. After signing six of the top-10 Evergreen State recruits in 2015, Washington holds commitments from four of the top six this year, including ESPN 300 athlete Isaiah Gilchrist, four-star running back Brandon Wellington and four-star safety Taylor Rapp. ESPN 300 linebacker Camilo Eifler and four-star running back Sean McGrew were big recruiting wins in California, ande center Nick Harris and tackle Luke Wattenberg will help continue to build the offensive line. After signing Jake Browning in 2015, quarterback wasn't a huge need in this class, but the Huskies have Daniel Bridge-Gadd on campus as an early enrollee and he will add depth to the position.
Who they want: Former Stanford commit and ESPN 300 athlete David Long is right at the top of the list, with the Huskies battling Michigan for him. Junior college defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo will also be a battle, but he would add more talent to an already strong front seven. Teammates and ESPN 300 prospects Devin Asiasi and Boss Tagaloa might be longshots at this point, but both will take visits to Seattle. Washington has looked into Texas the past few classes and wide receiver Zach Farrar and defensive end Levi Onwuzurike are on the board this year.
Storyline to watch: Petersen has already proven he's a terrific closer on the way to signing day and there should be plenty of room left to maneuver this class up the Pac-12 rankings. The biggest question might be whether Washington can close with any of the ESPN 300 prospects who have visited or will visit over the coming weeks. Washington looks like a young team capable of competing sooner rather than later in the Pac-12 North, and Petersen has proven that he'll throw true freshmen out there in important positions. If the right combination of top-tier talent jumps on board, this could quickly become a very dangerous team. -- Erik McKinney