THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE DOTTED LINE
KEY
Teams were awarded with three points for every five-star prospect from the last four years, two for every four-star and one for every three-star. Colored blocks proportionally represent the recruits signed in that year.
2008
2009
2010
2011
[The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.]
1. Alabama
5-STARS 11*
4-STARS 62
3-STARS 31
The national champs were—surprise!—also the best on the recruiting trail, with the top-ranked classes of 2008, '09 and '11, which included RB Trent Richardson and CB Dre Kirkpatrick.
2. LSU
5-STARS 10
4-STARS 46
3-STARS 44
The Tigers' run to the BCS national title game was fueled by a 2009 group that ranked No. 2 and was loaded with defensive talent (DT Michael Brockers, CB Morris Claiborne and DE Barkevious Mingo).
3. USC
5-STARS 12
4-STARS 52
3-STARS 20
QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Woods, five-star recruits in 2009 and '10, respectively, keyed the Trojans' 10--2 season, but NCAA sanctions will dock the team 30 scholarships over the next three years.
T4. Florida State
5-STARS 8
4-STARS 44
3-STARS 43
Though they finished last season 9--4, the Seminoles will be able to rely on their second-ranked 2011 class, which produced freshman All-America defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, among others.
T4. Texas
5-STARS 6
4-STARS 57
3-STARS 23
The Longhorns have finished outside the Top 25 the last two seasons, in part because several blue-chippers on offense, including 2009 five-star QB Garrett Gilbert (who transferred to SMU), have not panned out.
* Represents total number of recruits in that star category over the last four recruiting seasons
PHOTO
BOB ROSATO
TRENT RICHARDSON
CHART