Top 25 College Football Recruiting Classes | 15-25
Which college football programs from across the nation fill out the final list of the top 25 recruiting classes in 2022?
15) Stanford Cardinal
Signees: 20 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 7 | Composite Points: 226.76 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star EDGE David Bailey
Known for their development, this is quite the class for David Shaw and Stanford. The Cardinal class of 2022 is headlined by Mater Dei’s David Bailey. A four-star edge prospect, Bailey is the fifth-ranked player in the state of California. Shaw’s reach also went to Texas, Hawaii, and Tennessee, among other states, with players signing.
Other notable signings include four-star DL Ernest Cooper IV (No. 23 DL), four-star LB Tevarua Tafiti (Hawaii’s No. 1 player), and four-star OT Fisher Anderson (No. 19 OT).
16) Auburn Tigers
Signees: 17 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 8 | Composite Points: 227.15 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star LB Robert Woodyard
Not even in the top 25 recruiting classes to start the day, Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin pulled off quite a haul on Wednesday. Harsin landed a trio of defensive players as well as one of the country’s top quarterback prospects in Holden Geriner. Auburn’s rise was among the biggest of the day.
Other notable signings include four-star LB Robert Woodyard (No. 11 LB), four-star CB JaDarian Rhym (No. 21 CB), and four-star CB Austin Ausberry (No. 22 CB).
17) Clemson Tigers
Signees: 12 | Five-Star Signees: 1 | Four-Star Signees: 7 | Composite Points: 221.12 | Highest-Rated Signee: Five-star QB Cade Klubnik
A year after battling for the top recruiting class, the Clemson Tigers “fall” to No. 16. Still, this class is top-heavy, with five-star QB Cade Klubnik headlining the group. Klubnik is the nation’s No. 1 quarterback prospect and 18th-ranked player overall.
Other notable signings include four-star CB Jeadyn Lukus (No. 7 CB), four-star CB Toriano Pride (No. 9 CB), four-star WR Adam Randall (No. 17 WR), and four-star OT Collin Sadler (No. 13 OT).
18) LSU Tigers
Signees: 13 Five-Star Signees: 2 | Four-Star Signees: 4 | Composite Points: 218.73 | Highest-Rated Signee: Five-star OT Will Campbell
The LSU Tigers are hoping new head coach Brian Kelly can turn things around in Baton Rouge. It got off to a rocky start with how the hiring was handled and how Kelly left Notre Dame, but he was still able to salvage a top-ranked class so far. This group is headlined by long-time commits in five-star OT Will Campbell and five-star QB Walker Howard.
Other notable signings include four-star iOL Emery Jones (No. 8 iOL), four-star DL Quency Wiggins (No. 15 DL), four-star CB Laterrance Welch (No. 16 CB), and four-star LB DeMario Tolan (No. 21 LB).
19) Arkansas Razorbacks
Signees: 20 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 4 | Composite Points: 217.96 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star WR Isaiah Sategna
It should come as no surprise that Arkansas’ top players come from the offensive line. Of their four four-star signings, Andrew Chamblee and E’Marion Harris each rank in the top 25 among all offensive tackle prospects. Coach Sam Pittman knows his way around the offensive line, and these recruits are in great hands.
Other notable signings include four-star WR Isaiah Sategna (No. 1 player in Arkansas), four-star S Myles Rowser (No. 17 S), and four-star WR Quincey McAdoo (No. 4 player in Arkansas).
20) Indiana Hoosiers
Signees: 18 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 4 | Composite Points: 217.40 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star EDGE Dasan McCullough
The highest-ranked class from a team on the bottom of the barrel of 2021, the Indiana Hoosiers class of 2022 is remarkable all things considered. Head coach Tom Allen headlined his group with 4-star EDGE Dasan McCullough who ranked as the state of Indiana’s second-best player. Not bad for a team coming off a 1-11 season. They also grabbed 4-star legacy CB Trevell Mullen, the younger brother of Las Vegas Raiders CB Trayvon and current Indiana CB Tiawan.
Other notable signings include four-star RB Gi’Bran Payne (No. 21 RB) and four-star DL Dominick James (No. 36 DL).
21) Michigan State Spartans
Signees: 22 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 5 | Composite Points: 215.11 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star DL Alex VanSumeren
Head coach Mel Tucker put a nice bow on his recruiting class this season with the addition of long-committed players. Of their signings, only four-star ATH Dillon Tatum committed prior to the fabulous season that was 2021, and he even committed in September.
Other notable signings include four-star DL Alex VanSumeren (No. 26 DL), four-star QB Katin Houser (No. 13 QB), and four-star ATH Jaden Mangham (No. 12 ATH).
22) Mississippi State Bulldogs
Signees: 18 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 2 | Composite Points: 213.88 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star WR Marquez Dortch
Mike Leach brought in his next band of pirates to Starkville. Headlined by a QB-WR combination, Leach is a signing or two away from topping in-state rival Ole Miss for best class in the ‘Sip. Four-star WR Marquez Dortch ranked as the state of Mississippi’s fifth-best player and is a natural fit for Leach’s offense.
Other notable signings include four-star DL Trevion Williams (No. 31 DL), three-star QB Braedyn Locke (No. 24 QB), and three-star OT Percy Lewis (No. 5 JUCO player overall).
23) South Carolina Gamecocks
Signees: 17 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 3 | Composite Points: 210.18 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star S Keenan Nelson Jr.
The South Carolina Gamecocks put pressure on Clemson for the state’s best recruiting class, falling just short in the end. South Carolina finished with a group headlined by a ton of out-of-state talent. Included in that group were Pennsylvania’s No. 7-ranked player in four-star S Keenan Nelson, Delaware’s No. 1-ranked player in four-star QB Braden Davis, and Mississippi’s No. 8-ranked player in four-star LB Stone Blanton.
Other notable signings include three-star S Anthony Rose (No. 33 S), three-star S Emory Floyd (No. 35 S), and three-star WR Landon Samson (No. 62 in Texas).
24) Ole Miss Rebels
Signees: 15 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 4 | Composite Points: 207.33 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star LB Jaron Willis
Head coach Lane Kiffin welcomed in quite a cast in this class. This group was headlined by southern athletes including the state of Mississippi’s fourth-ranked player in four-star DL Zxavian Harris. Kiffin also grabbed one of the top JUCO signings in three-star LB Reginald Hughes. From Northeast Mississippi C.C., Hughes ranked as the 15th-best JUCO player for 2022.
Other notable signings include four-star DL Zxavian Harris (No. 24 DL), four-star S Taylor Groves (No. 25 S), four-star CB Nick Cull (No. 37 CB), and three-star CB Jarell Stinson (No. 44 CB).
25) Oklahoma State Cowboys
Signees: 16 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 5 | Composite Points: 206.16 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star WR Talyn Shettron
Oklahoma State and head coach Mike Gundy made a strong push to crack the top 25 by day’s end. Gundy closed the gab with a trio of well-thought-of offensive players including the nation’s No. 4 overall JUCO player in OT Tyrone Webber.
Other notable signings include four-star WR Talyn Shettron (No. 13 WR), four-star RB CJ Brown (No. 31 RB), four-star ATH Braylin Presley (No. 20 ATH)m and four-star QB Garret Rangel (No. 23 QB).
Other classes just outside the top 25 of note
Here are some notable classes from around college football.
27) Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Signees: 18 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 4 | Composite Points: 205.11 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star iOL Jacob Allen
Greg Schiano is officially back. As if the recent success from the Rutgers program hasn’t been indicative enough, Schiano’s recruiting classes are only getting better. He headlines this class with the states of New Jersey and New York’s best overall players. Jacob Allen (4-star iOL) and Moses Walker (4-star LB) each signed on after being ranked as the No. 1 player in their state.
Other notable signings include four-star LB Anthony Johnson (No. 24 LB), four-star RB Samuel Brown (No. 32 RB), and three-star WR Amarion Brown (No. 55 WR).
31) Oregon Ducks
Signees: 7 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 2 | Composite Points: 201.06 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star CB Jalil Tucker
It’s a small class to start off but new head coach Dan Lanning got the state of Nebraska’s No. 1 player in LB Devon Jackson. Lanning, however, won the day of coach hirings, bringing a new defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator to Eugene officially. Lanning announced former Baylor safeties coach Matt Powledge as his defensive coordinator and former FSU offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to the same position on his staff on Wednesday.
Other notable signings include three-star LB Harrison Taggart (No. 38 LB), three-star OT Michael Wooten (No. 48 OT), and three-star DL Sir Mells (No. 12-ranked player in Nevada).
35) Arizona Wildcats
Signees: 4 | Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 1 | Composite Points: 199.18 | Highest-Rated Signee: Four-star LB Devon Jackson
Give a ton of credit to head coach Jedd Fisch. After a dismal season that saw the Wildcats finish 1-11, Fisch pulled off a solid class. With 20 overall players signed, they rank 35th nationally but third in the Pac-12 by Wednesday’s close of business. They grabbed the nation’s sixth-ranked tight end in Keyan Burnett as well as future starters at nearly every position.
Other notable signings include four-star CB Ephesians Prysock (No. 31 CB), four-star LB Sterling Lane (No. 34 LB), and three-star WR Kevin Green (No. 37 overall player in California).
37) Vanderbilt Commodores
Signees: 21| Five-Star Signees: 0 | Four-Star Signees: 0 | Composite Points: 197.85 | Highest-Rated Signee: Three-star QB AJ Swann
Give head coach Clark Lea and Director of Player Personnel Barton Simmons a ton of credit here. Sure, Vandy ranks as the 13th-best class in the SEC but they’re the 31st-ranked team overall on Early Signing Day. That’s a big rise from ranking 49th a year prior. Their notable signings include the quarterback of the future in three-star AJ Swann, the No. 26-ranked quarterback.
Other notable signings include three-star EDGE Darren Agu (No. 35 EDGE), three-star LB Langston Patterson (No. 50 LB), and three-star RB Maurice Edwards (Illinois’ No. 13-ranked prospect).