Here is a look at the best recruiting classes from teams that are not in BCS conferences (schools are in alphabetical order).
Boise State Broncos
Top prospect: Ben Weaver (Klein, Texas/Klein). Weaver is an outstanding linebacker prospect with excellent production defending the run and pass. His athleticism and strength could allow him to come in and play early for the Broncos.
Breakdown: Even though the Broncos are limited on four- and five-star prospects, they show how they can recruit the players needed for their system. Quarterback Nick Patti (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) is undersized but shows good confidence and can compete with the best. Weaver was one of the region's top linebacker prospects and has the size and physicality to come in and play early for the Broncos. Travis Averill (Anaheim, Calif./Servite) is a versatile offensive lineman with good athleticism and can play multiple positions on the line. Donte Deayon (Fontana, Calif./Summit) brings great ball-awareness skills and linebacker Christopher Santini (San Jose, Calif./Leland) is a safety/OLB tweener with great thickness and functional strength.
BYU Cougars
Top prospect: Tanner Mangum (Eagle, Idaho/Eagle). Mangum is an efficient, technically consistent pocket passer with above-average athleticism. A late bloomer, his stock rose dramatically over the summer. He will make a big impact for the BYU program once he returns from his two-year mission.
Breakdown: Mangum is a guy who is still blossoming and is accurate and effective, making good decisions with the ball. He really emerged as an Under Armour All-American in Orlando. Linebacker Butch Pauu (Anaheim, Calif./Servite) is a tough middle linebacker, showing very good inside run-stopping production. Wide receiver Dylan Collie (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge) is a scrapper who is quick in the slot and can run multiple quick-hitting routes. The Cougars hope he can match the production of his older brother, Indianapolis Colts receiver Austin Collie.
East Carolina Pirates
Top prospect: Lucas Thompson (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange). Thompson is a sleeper with safety size and physicality along with the quickness of a cornerback. He's a huge pickup for East Carolina, as he committed over multiple offers from other BCS schools.
Breakdown: East Carolina picked up a huge prospect when Thompson signed with ECU over scholarship offers from several other BCS schools. Aside from being a huge pickup, Thompson selected East Carolina during the national telecast of the Under Armour All-America Game. As one would expect, many of the Pirates' commitments are from bordering states, but credit East Carolina's coaching staff with going beyond its borders to land six junior college players who could help immediately: cornerback Colby Brown (Augusta, Ga./Highland C.C.), receiver Lance Ray (Havana, Fla./NW Miss. C.C.), linebacker Gabe Woullard (Valencia, Calif./Pierce College), offensive lineman DeShawn Byrd (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids C.C.), cornerback Adonis Armstrong (Raymond, Miss./Hinds C.C.) and safety Godfrey Thompson (Raymond, Miss./Hinds C.C.).
Houston Cougars
Top prospect: Deontay Greenberry (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union). Houston gains a surprise signee in the four-star ESPNU 150 wide receiver who de-committed from Notre Dame. Greenberry is a very athletic and rangy prospect on both sides of the ball.
Breakdown: Tony Levine had to take over the class in December, as Kevin Sumlin left Houston for the vacant Texas A&M job. Greenberry was a huge surprise, as his size and athleticism allow him room to grow and refine his tools. An Under Armour All-American, four-star Donald Hopkins (Lago Vista, Texas/Lago Vista) brings quickness and disruptive ability at the defensive tackle position. Joining Hopkins on the list is four-star offensive tackle Mac Long (Edna, Texas/Edna), who displays the balance and agility to contribute in pass production. Another three-star to sign is defensive end Bryan Singleton (Destrehan, La./Destrehan), who could give good scheme versatility along the defensive front. The Cougars have plenty of talent as they prepare for competition in the Big East in 2013.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Top prospect: Gunner Kiel (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East). Brian Kelly has a quarterback with the arm and physical ability to put up prolific numbers in his offense. While Kiel's athleticism and competitiveness have been questioned, it's hard to deny his throwing tools.
Breakdown: The Fighting Irish's luck started to change with this class when Kiel enrolled early. The No. 3-rated quarterback in the ESPNU 150, Kiel will have a future weapon to throw to in Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Flanagan). Ferguson will be counted on to contribute early, as the departure of Michael Floyd leaves a hole. The loss of ESPNU 150 wide receiver Deontay Greenberry (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) is a bit of a setback for the Irish.
The Irish also have a great defensive tackle tandem heading to South Bend in ESPNU 150 lineman Jarron Jones (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas) and early enrollee Sheldon Day (Indianapolis/Warren Central). Cornerback Tee Shepard (Fresno, Calif./Washington Union) is tall, versatile, athletic and fills a need out on the perimeter. William Mahone (Youngstown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch) and KeiVarae Russell (Everett, Wash./Mariner) -- ESPNU's No. 16 and No. 26 running backs, respectively -- help ND reload at the running back position, which needed emphasis.
SMU Mustangs
Top prospect: Neal Burcham (Greenbrier, Ark./Greenbrier). Burcham is a four-star quarterback who has the qualities to blossom at the collegiate level. He has the frame and physical tools to become a very crisp, polished passer, along with the athleticism to buy time and get out of trouble.
Breakdown: The Mustangs are looking to build off their success from 2011 and continue to grow their program under the direction of fifth-year coach June Jones. SMU signed Burcham, who excels at throwing in rhythm and timing off three- and five-step drops and does a great job of throwing to where his receivers can make the catch. On the defensive side of the ball, Lincoln Richard (Everman, Texas/Everman) provides versatility as he can play up on the line in a three-point stance or drop to a linebacker in a two-point stance. Athlete Daijuan Stewart (Baldwin, La./West St. Mary) could potentially be a threat on either side of the ball. Shakiel Randolph (Waco, Texas/Midway) is a tall, rangy safety who could see a move to outside linebacker with his tools and growth potential.
Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Top prospect: Anthony Alford (Petal, Miss./Petal). Alford is a dynamic athlete who is a four-star ESPNU 150 prospect. He was a productive, dual-threat quarterback in high school who could see a move to multiple positions on either the offensive or defensive side of the ball.
Breakdown: Gaining an athlete such as Alford provides Southern Miss with playmaker ability at a variety of positions. He is in position to be selected early in the upcoming MLB draft. Additional players who signed and will compete quickly for playing time are safeties Derrick Moncrief (Prattville, Ala./Prattville) and Marcus Turner (McCalla, Ala./McAdory), defensive tackle Dalvin Craft (Atmore, Ala./Escambia County) and wide receiver D.J. Thompson (Pearl, Miss./Pearl).