Predicting The Top 15 College Football 2015 Recruiting Classes

By Michael Briggs

Predicting The Top 15 College Football 2015 Recruiting Classes

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

National Signing Day is still a few months away, but with a good deal of top prospects looking to make their decisions before their senior seasons begin, the 2015 recruiting picture has already begun to form with winners and losers. The crystal ball projects these top 15 classes as the cream of the 2015 college football recruiting crop.

15. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

15. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — OU is riding the wave of their dismantling of Alabama in the Sugar Bowl into recruiting with efficiency, as five of the Sooners' seven commitments are ranked in the ESPN 300. OU has already made its mark in Texas as well, with five of those commits hailing from the Lone Star state. With more room to grow in this already-solid class, Oklahoma will rise into the top 15 with a strong season on the field, spurring pledges from more top-rated targets.

14. Florida Gators

Florida 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

14. Florida Gators

Florida 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Florida had a rough season last year, but is still in the thick of the top recruiting classes for 2015 after landing eight four-star commits out of their first nine. However, the Gators aren't close to done, as four of the top 11 players ranked in the ESPN 300 are considering committing to UF, including the No. 2 overall prospect, OT Martez Ivey.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

13. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Steve Spurrier is off to a fast start in the 2015 recruiting cycle, with 19 commitments already in place. The Gamecocks' top four commits all star on defense, which isn't all that surprising considering a former USC defensive star was just drafted with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Although this class is ranked in the top 10 by ESPN, expect a few programs with more room for commitments to pass South Carolina on the way up.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

12. Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Urban Meyer was off to an uncharacteristically slow start in the construction of his 2015 class, but have no fear Buckeyes fans: OSU is on the rise. The recent commitments of five-star prospects OLB Justin Hilliard and DE Jashon Cornell were massive hauls for the Buckeyes, who will ask these guys to team up with fellow ESPN 300 commit Eric Glover-Williams and four-star QB Joe Burrow to sway more recruits to sign with Ohio State.

11. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

11. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Like South Carolina, Butch Jones already has a solid haul of southern talent on board to join Vols nation, including ESPN's second-ranked receiver in the country, Preston Williams. Although Tennessee has provided the bulk of the class, Jones was also able to dip into Georgia, Texas, Florida and North Carolina for several top players. A few more will join to solidify another top 15 class for the rising Volunteers.

10. LSU Tigers

LSU 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

10. LSU Tigers

LSU 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — LSU is on its way to a top 10 class with a boatload of Louisiana stars already preparing for a future under Les Miles. However, the Tigers' 2015 class is currently led by two out-of-state players in Florida prospect Kevin Tolliver II, ESPN's top-ranked corner in the country, and OG Maea Teuhema, who hails from talent-rich Texas. That being said, Louisiana's top-ranked player, WR Tyron Johnson could be the next big-time player to join the mix.

9. USC Trojans

USC 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

9. USC Trojans

USC 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — New coach Steve Sarkisian's first class is going to be star-laden if QB Ricky Town's flip to the Trojans from Alabama serves as any indication. Third-ranked OT Chuma Edoga was also a big commitment out of Georgia. The crystal ball forecasts USC to keep the momentum going, as eight current USC commits means there is plenty of space for top 20 stars — and California natives — Iman Marshall, Rasheem Green and Keisean Lucier-South.

8. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

8. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — James Franklin has been relentless on the recruiting trail for the 2015 class, with the pledge from Pennsylvania's top prospect, OT Sterling Jenkins, serving as a major statement. The Nittany Lions clearly have cast a net over the Northeast as their top nine commits all hail from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. PSU currently has a top-five class, but a few programs right behind them will likely rise ahead in the coming months.

7. Florida State Seminoles

Florida State 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

7. Florida State Seminoles

Florida State 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — FSU's bid for back-to-back titles will spur a top-10 class for 2015. The Seminoles have already boosted their secondary with in-state commits from safety Derwin James Jr. and CB Tyrek Cole, while dual-threat QB De'Andre Johnson looks like another star in the making under center. Although they have just four ESPN 300 players currently on board, the list of uncommitted stars is not short on interest in Florida State.

6. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

6. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — The Georgia Bulldogs will end up with a class ranked just outside of the top five, but very well could land the nation's top overall prospect in Georgia native Trenton Thompson. Although the Dawgs have already secured some of the state's best players, securing Thompson would likely create a domino effect for players interested in taking their talents to Athens. The nation is going to hear the Bulldogs' bark loud and clear.

5. Texas Longhorns

Texas 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

5. Texas Longhorns

Texas 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — The arrival of former Louisville head coach Charlie Strong is going to make all the difference for UT this season, as an improved team on the field will only be overshadowed by a top-five recruiting class. Strong has proven to be a great recruiter at his previous stops, and there's a lot of excitement around the Longhorns program right now. Couple this with Texas' trove of talent in its own backyard, and you have the best class in the Big 12.

4. Auburn Tigers

Auburn 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

4. Auburn Tigers

Auburn 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — 10 four-star pledges currently lead the Tigers' 2015 class, including the nation's third-ranked athlete, Kerryon Johnson, who serves as a big win for Auburn over Alabama and Florida State. Junior college players Jason Smith and cornerback Tony Bridges also appear to be immediate impact players. Auburn will flex its muscle before signing day by landing a few more pledges from a selection of stars.

3. Clemson Tigers

Clemson 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

3. Clemson Tigers

Clemson 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Georgia native and five-star OT Mitch Hyatt was a huge commitment for coach Dabo Swinney, but there's a lot of depth to this class too. 10 ESPN 300 players coming from Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina headline, but there are six additional four-star prospects in this class as well. No matter who else they end up adding, it's going to be difficult for other programs to beat that.

2. Texas A&M

Texas A&M 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

2. Texas A&M

Texas A&M 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Johnny Football mania has clearly taken over the state of Texas, but the rest of the nation is also getting in on the fun. Kevin Sumlin has capitalized on Manziel's legend and A&M's instant success in the SEC by putting together a class that rivals the best, including five-star players QB Kyler Murray and DT Daylon Mack. A&M's top 11 players come from Texas, but the addition of four-star Louisiana native Deshawn Capers-Smith was a statement.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama 2015 College Football Recruiting Top Classes — Saban will continue his domination of college football recruiting in 2015 with a class that will not be rivaled for its depth. The commitment of New Jersey cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick and California QB Blake Barnett proves 'Bama can recruit anywhere with anybody and come out on top. Although they already have 16 ESPN 300 commits, a few more will undoubtedly join. Roll Tide, roll.

Michael Briggs is a College Football Writer for Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter or Google Plus.

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