Signing day has come and (nearly) gone, filled with celebration and upheaval. Sort of like life. We're here to parse what can be parsed and detail the recruiting classes that were for the major conferences.You've got to feel for Kentucky and Vanderbilt today, at least a little bit. In Scout's team-by-team rankings, there are 10 SEC representatives in the top 25, led by LSU at No. 2. Over at Rivals, those same 10 SEC teams cracked the top-25 overall, with Alabama claiming the top class.
In both cases, Kentucky and Vandy are the lone SEC teams unable to find a spot up top. Tough for those two, sure, but that hardly takes the luster off another ridonkulous recruiting year in the conference.
You can take your pick between Alabama and LSU for top dog down south. Both teams put together recruiting classes that basically every other team in the nation would gladly take.
The Tigers started off signing day strong, plucking linebacker Barkevious Mingo (Best name competition? We have a winner!!) and defensive lineman Sam Montgomery. Things only got better when the nation's top receiver, Rueben Randle -- after stating that he might put off his college decision past Wednesday -- packed his bags for Baton Rouge.
With all those bullets in the gun, it looked for a long while like LSU would grab the stranglehold on the SEC's best class. Some might argue that the Tigers still did -- but no one making that argument lives in Tuscaloosa.
Nick Saban led Alabama to an incredible signing day haul (and, obviously, an incredible overall class). The two biggest highlights for the Crimson Tide came in the form of defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick and running back Trent Richardson. One star for each side of the ball, and both are capable of earning playing time right off the bat, even with Alabama's already-loaded roster.
And could there be a major quarterback battle-of-the-future brewing here? LSU brought in five-star stud Russell Shepard, while you'll want to remember the name A.J. McCarron before he takes over the Tide's offense.
Those two classes were great, but sweet sassy molassey, the SEC just dominated again. The conference's reputation helps in that regard, of course, but the simple fact is that there is maybe more talent coming from the southern part of the U.S. right now than ever before.
Georgia cashed in on that bumper crop as well and Mark Richt's Bulldogs find themselves with a top-notch class again. Richt's big signing day move came when he stole wide receiver Marlon Brown out from under the nose of home-state Tennessee. As of right now, there are only 18 faces in this class -- and just four of them are less than four-star talents, according to Rivals. Quality over quantity.
Defending national champion Florida batted .500 in its pursuit of last-second coups. The Gators got the yay vote from the Old Line State's top player, Jelani Jenkins. Picking up the linebacker probably eased the pain of another linebacker, Frankie Telfort, turning down UF for USC.
A name you may not expect to have among the highest-ranked is South Carolina, which landed 29 total commitments. This is sort of the opposite of Georgia -- the Gamecocks went quantity-centric with its approach. That's not to say that there aren't any studs here, but 14 four-stars and 11 three-stars don't equal to a handful of five-stars.
Arkansas traveled down a similar path, bringing in a whopping 30 letters-of-intent. The Razorbacks, like the Gamecocks, will have to figure out what to do with all these players. The headliner is five-star Darius Winston.
Down Dixie way, Ole Miss brought in a strong group as well -- and the Rebs may have to start airing it out after bringing in stud receiver Patrick Patterson. He wasn't the only huge pickup for Ole Miss, with offensive lineman Bobby Massie joining.
Auburn didn't get to South Carolina or Arkansas territory ... but close. The Tigers signed 28 guys, 16 of which are Rivals' three-stars.
Mississippi State, undergoing a coaching change like Auburn, also found a place in the top 25 with a recruiting class of 27.
The Vols of Tennesssee also only brought in 18 guys, but still managed to get into the top 25 (despite yet another SEC coaching change falling down in Knoxville). They did make a signing day splash, getting safety Darius Myles on board.
And that brings us down to Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The Wildcats actually have 29 commitments and, even though none are going to bring down the recruiting house, they will help the team stay competitive.Keep in mind the name Ryan Mossakowski, a four-star quarterback who may eventually be a sleeper star in the conference.
The Commodores -- as the Commodores tend to do with football recruiting -- slumped down to the back of the pack. Of their 17 commits, Rivals awarded exactly zero of them four or five stars.
FanHouse takes you into the belly of the college football beast that is recruiting. We'll be around before, during and after Signing Day '09.
