Ohio State's top-rated 2017 recruiting class got even better Monday when five-star wide receivers Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey announced their pledge to the Buckeyes. And while there's still a long way to go from now until National Signing Day, there's a chance that this class goes down as one of the most elite classes in college football history.
Unless it is met with several departures, Select '17 is set to trump every other No. 1 class in the six-year history of 247Sports Composite Rankings. Only time will tell how this class will stack up, as you'll see in the breakdowns below, but there's no doubt that landing four- and five-star prospects are the first step to winning both conference and national championships.
2017 Ohio State — 18 commitments
6 ★★★★★ 10 ★★★★ 2 ★★★
In addition to Grimes and Lindsey, who are considered the No. 15 and No. 24 players overall according to 247Sports Composite, Ohio State has already locked down commitments from five-stars Josh Myers (offensive tackle), Wyatt Davis (offensive guard), Shaun Wade (cornerback) and Chase Young (defensive end). The Buckeyes remain in on the recruitment of several additional five-star recruits, including safety Jeffrey Okudah, running back Cam Akers, linebackers Anthony Hines and Baron Browning, cornerbacks Darnay Holmes and Lamont Wade and defensive tackle Jay Tufele. Meanwhile, no other program, including second-ranked Alabama, has more than 2 five-star pledges.
2016 Alabama — 24 commitments
3 ★★★★★ 14 ★★★★ 7 ★★★
It's hard to judge a class that has yet to hit the field, obviously, but Alabama's sixth-straight top recruiting class has a lot of potential. The Tide signed 3 five-star athletes, including offensive tackle Jonah Williams and linebackers Ben Davis and Lyndell “Mack” Wilson. Williams will sit behind starter Cam Robinson this year, but would start as a true freshman at nearly every other program in the country. Another true freshman who will likely see early playing time whether it be on defense or special teams is four-star cornerback Nigel Knott, who was considered the most athletic players in this recruiting cycle.
2015 Alabama — 24 commitments
5 ★★★★★ 15 ★★★★ 4 ★★★
Seven players from the Class of 2015 contributed regularly to Alabama's national championship team, including five-star wide receiver Calvin Ridley and five-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick. The pair started at least 10 games as true freshmen, as Ridley finished the season with 89 catches and more than 1,000 yards, while Fitzpatrick made two sacks and two interceptions. Meanwhile, fellow five-stars Blake Barnett (quarterback), Damien Harris (running back) and Kendall Sheffield (cornerback) are all pushing for starting spots this fall.
2014 Alabama — 26 commitments
6 ★★★★★ 16 ★★★★ 4 ★★★
Eligible for the NFL Draft following the upcoming season, five-star Cam Robinson looks to part of a franchise left tackle. Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown, linebacker Rashaan Evans and defensive end Da'Shawn Hand all had a hand in the Crimson Tide winning a national championship as sophomores and are poised for bigger roles this year. Five-star running back Bo Scarbrough has also made a minimal impact.
2013 Alabama — 26 commitments
6 ★★★★★ 12 ★★★★ 8 ★★★
This group finally made its mark as juniors, as five-star running back Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy and the Crimson Tide won the national championship. Five-star defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, while tight end O.J. Howard, linebacker Reuben Foster and defensive end Jonathan Allen played a significant role down the stretch. All three return as seniors this season, but none of had established themselves as every-down starters. This class is otherwise known for the nine players that departed the program.
2012 Alabama — 26 commitments
3 ★★★★★ 15 ★★★★ 8 ★★★
The mother of five-star safety Landon Collins was noticeably upset when her son picked Alabama on national television over in-state LSU, but there's not much to complain about when this class bookended its career with a pair of national championships. Collins and five-star T.J. Yeldon went on to become a first- and second-round pick, respectively, while four-star wide receiver Amari Cooper broke all kinds of school records before being picked by the Oakland Raiders at No. 4 overall. The other five-star, Eddie Williams, was dismissed following his freshman year in connection with an on-campus robbery.
2011 Alabama — 25 commitments
3 ★★★★★ 16 ★★★★ 6 ★★★
This Crimson Tide class opened its career with two straight national championships, and could arguably be the best class results-wise if it weren't for the 2012 cycle. Five-stars Cyrus Kouandijio (offensive tackle) and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (cornerback) were considered consensus all-Americans at one point during their career at Alabama, while linebacker Trey DePriest, of Springfield, never quite lived up to expectations. This group finished with a 48-6 record but ended their careers with a loss to Ohio State in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinals.
2010 Florida — 28 commitments
5 ★★★★★ 17 ★★★★ 6 ★★★
Meyer's final class in Gainesville featured 5 five-star players, including No. 1 overall player defensive end Ronald Powell. He tore his ACL twice and never panned out, but five-stars Dominique Easley (defensive end), Shariff Floyd (defensive tackle) and Matt Elam (safety) went on to become first-round draft picks. The other five-star athlete, Josh Shaw, transferred to and was suspended by USC after he lied about how he injured his ankles. Ten Gators — in addition to Shaw — transferred, and this class struggled to a 29-22 record.
*As of Aug. 23, 2016
