2020's Top Ten College Football Recruiting Classes

The College Football season is still several months away and we all are hoping the season gets played as expected. The pandemic that has gripped our nation has a hold on everything, including the sports world. Still, there are things to talk about during this downtime and today I will be taking a look at the Top 10 College Football Recruiting Classes for the upcoming season. We will begin with Number 10 and countdown to (drumroll, please)... Number one. Note: I will not be going over all signees, just some of the key ones.

All Rankings are from 247 Sports.

10. Tennessee Volunteers

5 Star Recruits (0)

4 Star Recruits (13)

3 Star Recruits (9)

The Volunteers went 7-5 overall, including 5-3 within the SEC and they could be headed for a strong season after landing the 10th best-recruiting class in the nation. Jeremy Pruitt has done a nice job in getting Tennessee football back to respectability but the one thing he has lacked has been able to recruit a top QB. That may have changed this year with the recruitment of Harrison Bailey from Marietta, Georgia. He has been rated as the 3rd best pro-style recruit in the nation and he is also the 13th best recruit in the state of Georgia overall. Bailey is a 6-5, 211-pound four-star recruit and he should finally give the Vols a huge boost at the QB slot.

Tennessee also signed Jimmy Holliday whos is a three-star recruit and is ranked 38th among dual-threat QBs in the nation. Dominic Bailey (4 Star) is a 6-3, 293-pound DT from Baltimore, Maryland and he will help a defense that was 29thin the nation in points allowed at 21.7 ppg. Lastly, I will take a look at another four-star recruit in Safety Keshawn Lawrence, who was rated as the 5th best recruit at that position while ranking as the top player in the state of Tennessee overall. He will help bolster a unit that was 17th in the nation against the pass. Overall, Tennessee had 23 recruits in their class of 2020.

9. Texas Longhorns

5 Star Recruits (1)

4 Star Recruits (14)

3 Star Recruits (4)

Tom Herman did an amazing job in building up the Houston Cougars and now he has done a solid job here at Texas. After three losing seasons under Charlie Strong, Herman has guided the Longhorns to three winning seasons in a row, which includes three bowl wins. He could be in store for a big season this year after landing the top recruiting class in the Big 12 and the 9th in the nation overall. Their top recruit is Bijan Robinson (5 Star), who is a 6-0, 200-pound Running Back from Tucson, Arizona. He has great patience and many compare him to Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints. He rushed for 2235 yards and had 314 receiving yards while posting 41 total Touchdowns in his senior year at Salpointe Catholic. Texas was 53rd in the nation in rushing last year but that could change this year. Robinson is ranked as the top RB recruit in the nation and the 2nd best overall player in the state of Arizona.

Sam Ehlinger is still the QB and he has a strong season last year but waiting in the wings will be Hudson Card, who is rated as the 2nd best dual-threat QB recruit in the nation and the 2nd best player in the state of Texas overall. He will learn behind Ehlinger this year. Texas was 19th in passing last year. The Longhorns were 127th in the nation against the pass but signing two four-star safeties will help them out greatly. Xavion Alford ranks as the 15th best safety recruit in the nation while Jerrin Thompson rates as the 17th best. Don’t sleep on the Longhorns this year.

8. Florida Gators

5 Star Recruits (1)

4 Star Recruits (16)

3 Star Recruits (6)

The Florida Gators have gone 21-5 in Dan Mullen’s first two years at the helm and they are getting stronger with the 8th best-recruiting class in the nation. The strength of the Gators has been their defense over the years and last season they ranked 10th in total yards allowed (301 ypg) while also ranking 8th in points allowed, giving up just 14.4 ppg. That defense has just gotten stronger with the addition of defensive Tackle Gervon Dexter, who is a five-star recruit from Lake Wales, Florida. He rates as the 6th best recruit in the nation overall, the 3rd best defensive tackle in the nation and the top overall recruit in the state of Florida. Dominating the line of scrimmage, especially in the SEC is huge and Dexter will do his part to make sure they do.

The secondary also got bolstered with the addition of a couple of four-star cornerbacks in Jahari Rogers and Ethan Pouncey while also adding in a four-star safety in Rashad Torrence II. Pouncey rates as the 11th best CB in the nation while Rogers is the 7th best. Torrence II is the 32nd best safety in the land. This defense will be scary good next year. The Gators did not recruit any running backs but they did get a five-star transfer from the University of Miami in Lorenzo Lingard. He was rated 2nd best running back to come out in 2018 and the 6th best player in the state of Florida overall. He played in just four games for Miami in 2018 and none last year. Lingard will help a Florida ground game that was 122nd in the nation last year.

7. Auburn Tigers

5 Star Recruits (0)

4 Star Recruits (16)

3 Star Recruits (10)

The Auburn Tigers are another SEC team that just keeps getting better. Gus Malzahn has done a very good job here at Auburn, but after playing in the BCS title game in his first season they have failed to be a factor in the National Championship picture in each of the last 6 years. Auburn has been to bowl games in each of his seven years here, but they are looking to get over the hump and into the NCA A playoffs this year. A 7th ranked recruiting class will aid them greatly in getting there. No five-star recruits this year but they have 16 four-star recruits and the one they seem most excited about is RB Tank Bigsby, who has been on their radar for a couple of years. He is rated as the 6th best RB recruit in the nation and the 1oth best recruit from the state of Georgia overall.

Kobe Hudson is s four-star receiver from LeGrange, Georgia, and Malzahn has been recruiting him since the 8th grade. He did play his final two years of high school at QB but is a far better receiver and should give the Tigers the deep threat that they were missing a year ago. Hudson rates as the 19th best recruit from Georgia overall and the 27th best WR recruit in the nation. On the defensive side, the Tigers brought in defensive end Zykeivous Walker, who is a four-star recruit Ellaville, Georgia. He has been rated as the 3rd best strong-side defensive end recruit in the land and the 11th best recruit from Georgia overall. All three that I have discussed should have a huge impact on Auburn football this year.

6. Texas A&M

5 Star Recruits (2)

4 Star Recruits (13)

3 Star Recruits (11)

Jimbo Fisher has gone 9-4 and 8-5 in his first two years at the helm of Texas A&M and the Aggies have won both bowl games over that stretch. He is a strong recruiter and it is starting to show after landing the 4th best class last year and the 6th best this year. The Aggies could be a force in the SEC this year. The Aggies are the first team that I have discussed so far to land more than one five-star recruit. The first to talk about is wide receiver Demond Demas, who is rated as the 4th best WR recruit in the nation and the 4th best recruit in the state of Texas overall. He has loads of toughness and also Texas Class 4A long jump championship as a sophomore. Demas also has the ability to blow by defenders. He will give the aggies a solid downfield threat.

The defense was solid last year but they did have issues at times against the pass. In their regular-season finale, the Aggies allowed LSU to throw for 425 yards in a 50-7 loss. Jaylon Jones hopes to help the pass defense this year and we note that he is the top safety recruit in the nation and the 3rd best overall recruit in the state of Texas. Fisher knows that you need to recruit well nationally but Texas does have some of the best recruits in the nation and nabbing two of the four best players in the state was the right thing to do. Haynes King (4 Star) is the 7th best dual-threat QB recruit in the nation and the 16th best player from Texas, while safety Antonio Johnson (4 Star) is the 2nd best recruit from the state of Illinois and the 2nd best recruit as his position in the nation. The Aggies look loaded this year.

5. Ohio State

5 Star Recruits (3)

4 Star Recruits (14)

3 Star Recruits (8)

The Ohio State Buckeyes continue to have strong seasons and that only helps their recruiting even more. They had just the 14th best recruiting class last year but bring in the 5th rated class this year overall and the top-rated class in the Big 10. Ohio State has had two or fewer losses in each of the last eight years and they should keep that streak alive this year. The Buckeyes are armed with three five-star recruits this year and I will take a look at all three. The first is Julian Fleming, who ranks as the top wide receiver recruit in the nation and the top player overall that is coming out from the state of PA. He has a 40-inch verticle leap and his speed makes him very dangerous after the catch. Fleming is also one of the toughest WRs around. Speed, leaping ability and strength. He has it all.

Let’s stick with the WR corp and discuss Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is the 2nd best recruit at his position and the 2nd best player overall to come out of the state of Texas. He has a 37-inch verticle leap and has been compared to Roddy White, who was an outstanding WR for the Atlanta Falcons. Smith-Njigba caught 103 passes for 2162 yards and 35 passes in high school last year. Last of the five-star trio is offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., who is the 8th best recruit in all of college football, the top-rated recruit at his position and the top-rated recruit from the state of Ohio. The offense was already loaded and it was 5th in total yards and 1st in scoring last year. It will be just as good this year.

4. LSU Tigers

5 Star Recruits (3)

4 Star Recruits (14)

3 Star Recruits (7)

The LSU Tigers are the defending national champs and after hauling in the 5th rated recruiting class last year, they went one better with the 4th rated class this year. The rich get richer. Like the buckeyes above, the Tigers have brought in three five-star recruits. The Tigers had the 2nd ranked passing attack in the nation and they have now added TE Arik Gilbert and WR Kayshon Boutte to the mix. Gilbert is the top-rated TE recruit in the nation and the 2nd best recruit to come out of the state of Georgia overall. He has caught 190 passes for 2945 yards and 28 TDs the last two years of high school combined. He could be a first-round NFL draft choice in the future. Boutte ranks as the 3rd best recruit in the land and the top recruit from the state of Louisiana overall. He caught 47 passes for 1005 yards and 15 TDs last year at HS but also ran the ball 71 times for 874 yards and 12 TDs. Boutte is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball.

Rounding out the trio of five-star recruits is cornerback Elias Ricks, who is rated as the 2nd best player at his position and the 3rd best player from the state of California overall. He has a 35-inch vertical leap and has incredible instincts, along with ball skills. The Tigers were 57th against the pass and could use his help in that area. Joe Burrow had an amazing season last year, but he is off to the NFL and so they needed a quality QB and got one in 4-star recruit Max Johnson. He is ranked 10th in the nation among pro-style QBs and the 26th overall player from the state of Georgia. Johnson will most likely battle Myles Brennan for the starting spot this year.

3. Clemson Tigers

5 Star Recruits (5)

4 Star Recruits (12)

3 Star Recruits (6)

The Clemson Tigers have played in the NCAA playoffs in each of the last five years and they have reached the title game in four of those years, winning it twice. The Tigers had the 10th rated class last year and this year they have the 3rd rated class. This is a team that just keeps getting better and it could be a 6th year in a row that we see them in the playoffs. Clemson is the only team in the nation to nab five five-star recruits. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee is the 3rd rated recruit in the nation overall, the top-rated recruit at his position and the top-rated recruit from the state of Maryland. Strong-side defensive end Myles Murphy is rated tops in the nation at his position and 3rd from the state of Georgia overall. Also on defense is Trenton Simpson, who is rated as the best recruit at his position and tops from the state of North Carolina overall. This defense could be scary good and after ranking 1st in total yards allowed at 244.7 and 1st in points allowed at 10.6 ppg a year ago.

Travis Etienne has one more year of eligibility but after he is gone RB Demarkcus Bowman will take over. He is rated as the 2nd best RB recruit in the nation and the 5th best player overall coming out of the state of Florida. Bowman rushed for 2422 yards and 36 TDs last year in high school. Trevor Lawrence still has two years left and after he leaves, DJ Uiagalelei will take over. He is rated as the 2nd best recruit in the nation overall, the top-rated pro-style QB recruit and 2nd rated player from the state of California. He threw for 10, 324 yards with 125 TDs and just 11 INTs in three years of high school. The Tigers are set at QB for a long while.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

5 Star Recruits (4)

4 Star Recruits (17)

3 Star Recruits (4)

When was there a time that the Crimson Tide did not have a top-five recruiting class? I can’t remember. Last year, they had the top recruiting class in the nation and this year they are number two. Alabama has a bit of regrouping to do after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in five years. Alabama should be able to bounce back with a recruiting class that includes four five-star recruits. The Tide are all set at QB this year with Tua Tagovailoa but waiting in the wings will be top recruit Bryce Young, who is rated as the top recruit in the nation overall, the top dual-threat QB recruit and the top player from the state of California. He threw for 4528 yards with 58 TDs and just six INTs while rushing for 357 yards and 10 TDs a year ago in high school. The defense was not as tough as in years past and the Tide nabbed three five star recruits on that side of the ball.

Weak-Side defensive end, Will Anderson is the top recruit in the nation at his position and the top-rated player from the state of Georgia. He had 25 tackles for loss and 22 sacks last year in high school. Chris Braswell is also a WDE and he ranks as the 2nd best recruit at his position in the nation, plus the 3rd best player from the state of Maryland overall. He had eight tackles for loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles a year ago. Outside Linebacker, Drew Sanders is their final five-star recruit and he is ranked tops in the nation at his position and the top-rated player to come out of Texas. With a very strong offense and an improved defense, you can expect to see the Tide make a return to the playoffs this year.

1. Georgia Bulldogs

5 Star Recruits (4)

4 Star Recruits (15)

3 Star Recruits (6)

The Georgia Bulldogs had the 2nd rated class last year and this year they are tops in the nation. The Bulldogs have been one of the best teams in the nation in the last three years and this coming season will be no different. The Dawgs worked on their defense some as two of their four five-star recruits were on that side of the ball. Leading the way is cornerback Kelee Ringo, who is ranked as the 7th best player in the nation overall, the top-rated player at his position and the top-rated player from Arizona. He has elite speed and ran 200 meters in 21.44 seconds. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter is rated as the 9th best recruit in the nation overall, the 3rd best recruit at his position and 2nd best player from the state of Florida. He has a great combination of power and finesse.

Tight end Darnell Washington has a chance to make an immediate impact in the passing game. He ranks as the 2nd best recruit at his position and the top-rated recruit from the state of Nevada. The Dawgs could use some help in the passing game as they were 76th in the nation in passing a year ago. The offensive line has always been a strength of the Bulldogs and this year should be no different with the addition of Broderick Jones, who ranks as the 3rd best recruit at his position and the 4th best player from the state of Georgia. He is a quick-footed player with a great combination of athleticism and strength. Georgia has all the tools to make a run at the NCAA playoffs this year and it is hard to see them coming up short with the top-rated recruiting class in the nation.