SEC rules National Signing Day ... again

February, 2, 2011
2/02/11
11:56
PM ET
The rich get richer on National Signing Day in college football. The SEC, which has seen its teams win each of the last five BCS national championships, places four schools (No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide, No. 3 Auburn Tigers, No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs, No. 10 LSU Tigers) in the top 10 ESPNU recruiting classes of 2011, and eight of its 12 schools appear in the top 25.

This should come as no surprise as SEC schools have grabbed 16 top-five classes in the last six years, according to ESPNU 150 rankings. The five other automatic qualifying conferences total 13 top-five classes over this span.

However, for the first time since 2008, an SEC team did not grab the top class. That honor belongs to Jimbo Fisher's Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles signed 12 players ranked in the ESPNU 150, including five-star safety Karlos Williams, who’s rated the fifth overall prospect and top safety in the nation.

Fisher makes it three straight coaches in the state of Florida to grab the nation's top recruiting class in his second season as head coach.

Going into their second season, both Randy Shannon at Miami and Urban Meyer at Florida brought in the top ranked recruiting class, according to ESPNU's rankings. Looking ahead to 2012, Miami's Al Golden and Florida's Will Muschamp will be heading into their second seasons as head coach at their respective programs.

At the end of National Signing Day, 146 of the ESPNU 150 signed a national letter of intent. Of those 146 who have made a commitment, 145 (99.3 percent) are heading to an AQ-conference school. The only player who is going to a non-AQ conference school is WR LaDarius Brown (No. 95 overall), who signed with TCU.

SPONSORED HEADLINES

ESPN Conversations


You must be signed in to post a comment

Already have an account?