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Hot starts Who has the top recruiting class in the country right now?
-- Steve from Cincinnati
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Right now, it's USC all the way. I love what Pete Carroll and his staff are doing. They are making a statement ? and a big one at that.
The rest of the Pac-10 is trying to catch up to Carroll and Co., and the only way to do that is through recruiting. Last season, UCLA, Arizona State and Washington had top-25 classes ? but none as good as USC's.
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</td></tr><tr><td align="center">Pete Carroll and Co. are off to another hot start on the recruiting trail in 2009.</td></tr></tbody></table><!-- End Image-->California and Oregon always seem to recruit well. There is a new regime and excitement at UCLA, and Arizona State is on the rise. Recruiting for USC should get tougher ? or at least one would think that would be the case. So far, nothing has stopped the Trojans' recruiting machine.
Here's a look at my top five classes:
1. USC: The Trojans always have had a nice blend of local and national, but this season they are starting out by dominating their state. Headlining this class is the nation's top prospect, quarterback Matt Barkley (Santa Ana, Calif.). He committed early and USC has not looked back. Also committed to USC are Rivals100 members in linebacker Vontaze Burfict (Corona, Calif.), wide receiver Randall Carroll (Los Angeles), athlete Patrick Hall (Ventura, Calif.) and defensive back T.J. McDonald (Fresno, Calif.). Barkley, Burfict, Carroll and Hall are five-star prospects.
Eleven of USC's 12 commitments are in the Rivals250, and the Trojans have commitments from nine of the top 123 prospects.
2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have six Rivals100 prospects, one more than USC. Leading the way are linebackers Dorian Bell (Monroeville, Pa.) and Jordan Whiting (Louisville), defensive backs Jamie Wood (Pickerington, Ohio) and C.J. Barnett (Clayton, Ohio), defensive end Melvin Fellows (Garfield Heights, Ohio), wide receiver Chris Fields (Painesville, Ohio) and defensive tackle John Simon (Youngstown, Ohio).
In all, 10 of Ohio State's 17 commitments are Rivals250 members. If the Buckeyes can close with some standouts from Florida, they could make a run at USC for the top class.
3. Texas: One thing you can count on is Mack Brown to start fast in recruiting. It seems his Longhorns always finish with a top-10 class. This year is no different. Texas has commitments from five Rivals100 members: quarterback Garrett Gilbert (Austin, Texas), defensive end Alex Okafor (Pflugerville, Texas), offensive linemen Garrett Porter (Odessa, Texas) and Mason Walters (Wolfforth, Texas) and running back Chris Whaley (Madisonville, Texas). The Longhorns have nine of the top 150 prospects committed, and all but one of the 17 commitments is a Texan.
4. LSU: The Tigers are following up their championship season with the makings of another stellar recruiting class, highlighted by electrifying quarterback Russell Shepard (Houston). Shepard is the top-rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation. Another Rivals100 member committed to LSU is the versatile Janzen Jackson (Lake Charles, La.), who has a chance to be another special defensive back for the Tigers. Other standouts headed to LSU are running backs Michael Ford (Leesville, La.) and Dexter Pratt (Navasota, Texas), defensive end Michael Brockers (Houston), athlete Drayton Calhoun (Tucker, Ga.), quarterback Chris Garrett (Tupelo, Miss.), linebackers Kevin Minter (Suwannee, Ga.) and Willie Ferrell (Tallahassee, Fla.) and offensive lineman Chris Faulk (Slidell, La.).
5. Georgia: The Bulldogs get the nod over Florida State for the fifth spot simply because they have two exceptional quarterback commitments in Aaron Murray (Tampa) and Zach Mettenberger (Watkinsville, Ga.). Other commitments include running back Washaun Ealey (Twin City, Ga.), defensive tackle Abry Jones (Warner Robins, Ga.), linebacker Michael Gilliard (Valdosta, Ga.), and offensive linemen Austin Long (Memphis) and Chris Burnette (LaGrange, Ga.).
-- Steve from Cincinnati
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Right now, it's USC all the way. I love what Pete Carroll and his staff are doing. They are making a statement ? and a big one at that.
The rest of the Pac-10 is trying to catch up to Carroll and Co., and the only way to do that is through recruiting. Last season, UCLA, Arizona State and Washington had top-25 classes ? but none as good as USC's.
<!--Start Image--><script language="Javascript">document.write(insertImage('/IMAGES/Coach/PHOTO/1121-USCPETE_250.JPG', '', 0, 300, 250, 1, 'Pete Carroll and Co. are off to another hot start on the recruiting trail in 2009.', 'Rivals.com', 1213298639000, '', 1014, 'Align=Right'));</script><table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="258"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="3" width="6">
</td><td width="252">
</td></tr><tr><td height="3">
</td></tr><tr><td align="center">Pete Carroll and Co. are off to another hot start on the recruiting trail in 2009.</td></tr></tbody></table><!-- End Image-->California and Oregon always seem to recruit well. There is a new regime and excitement at UCLA, and Arizona State is on the rise. Recruiting for USC should get tougher ? or at least one would think that would be the case. So far, nothing has stopped the Trojans' recruiting machine. Here's a look at my top five classes:
1. USC: The Trojans always have had a nice blend of local and national, but this season they are starting out by dominating their state. Headlining this class is the nation's top prospect, quarterback Matt Barkley (Santa Ana, Calif.). He committed early and USC has not looked back. Also committed to USC are Rivals100 members in linebacker Vontaze Burfict (Corona, Calif.), wide receiver Randall Carroll (Los Angeles), athlete Patrick Hall (Ventura, Calif.) and defensive back T.J. McDonald (Fresno, Calif.). Barkley, Burfict, Carroll and Hall are five-star prospects.
Eleven of USC's 12 commitments are in the Rivals250, and the Trojans have commitments from nine of the top 123 prospects.
2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have six Rivals100 prospects, one more than USC. Leading the way are linebackers Dorian Bell (Monroeville, Pa.) and Jordan Whiting (Louisville), defensive backs Jamie Wood (Pickerington, Ohio) and C.J. Barnett (Clayton, Ohio), defensive end Melvin Fellows (Garfield Heights, Ohio), wide receiver Chris Fields (Painesville, Ohio) and defensive tackle John Simon (Youngstown, Ohio).
In all, 10 of Ohio State's 17 commitments are Rivals250 members. If the Buckeyes can close with some standouts from Florida, they could make a run at USC for the top class.
3. Texas: One thing you can count on is Mack Brown to start fast in recruiting. It seems his Longhorns always finish with a top-10 class. This year is no different. Texas has commitments from five Rivals100 members: quarterback Garrett Gilbert (Austin, Texas), defensive end Alex Okafor (Pflugerville, Texas), offensive linemen Garrett Porter (Odessa, Texas) and Mason Walters (Wolfforth, Texas) and running back Chris Whaley (Madisonville, Texas). The Longhorns have nine of the top 150 prospects committed, and all but one of the 17 commitments is a Texan.
4. LSU: The Tigers are following up their championship season with the makings of another stellar recruiting class, highlighted by electrifying quarterback Russell Shepard (Houston). Shepard is the top-rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation. Another Rivals100 member committed to LSU is the versatile Janzen Jackson (Lake Charles, La.), who has a chance to be another special defensive back for the Tigers. Other standouts headed to LSU are running backs Michael Ford (Leesville, La.) and Dexter Pratt (Navasota, Texas), defensive end Michael Brockers (Houston), athlete Drayton Calhoun (Tucker, Ga.), quarterback Chris Garrett (Tupelo, Miss.), linebackers Kevin Minter (Suwannee, Ga.) and Willie Ferrell (Tallahassee, Fla.) and offensive lineman Chris Faulk (Slidell, La.).
5. Georgia: The Bulldogs get the nod over Florida State for the fifth spot simply because they have two exceptional quarterback commitments in Aaron Murray (Tampa) and Zach Mettenberger (Watkinsville, Ga.). Other commitments include running back Washaun Ealey (Twin City, Ga.), defensive tackle Abry Jones (Warner Robins, Ga.), linebacker Michael Gilliard (Valdosta, Ga.), and offensive linemen Austin Long (Memphis) and Chris Burnette (LaGrange, Ga.).
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