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The fight for blue-chips: Texas is off to the fastest start, but Rivals.com recruiting expert Jeremy Crabtree sees several perennial contenders—including LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State, Notre Dame and USC—that could claim the title of top class of 2006

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005 by Jeremy Crabtree

Texas coach Mack Brown doesn't like to lose. So, when the Longhorns limped to an uncharacteristic finish at No. 20 in the 2005 recruiting rankings and lost the nation's top quarterback, Ryan Perrilloux, to LSU on signing day, Brown made a decision that has left the rest of college football with a burnt-orange skid mark.

Brown, known as one of the top recruiters in the game, told his assistants to step on the gas early and secure commitments from the top players in Texas. The early push has paid off big time, as the Longhorns already have racked up 22 pledges, including 21 from the Lone Star State.

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What's even more amazing is the quality of players Brown has landed. Rivals.com ranks Sergio Kindle as a five-star player, the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker, the top prospect in Texas and the No. 8 player overall. Longtime Texas high school observers call Kindle the best player to emerge from inner-city Dallas in the past 10 years. The Longhorns' other five-star commitment is defensive end Eddie Jones, the top player in east Texas. The Longhorns also reeled in 11 commitments from four-star players.

The message Brown has sent is clear: Don't mess with Texas when it comes to recruiting.

Several other programs, though, are ready to take on Texas' challenge and could land enough blue-chippers to make things interesting by signing day on February 1.

LSU. New boss Les Miles has continued the success enjoyed in recent years under Nick Saban. The key to the Tigers' early haul has been the ability to land top in-state players, including the best one: Al Woods, a five-star defensive tackle from Elton. The Tigers also have landed the top player in Mississippi, defensive end Marcus Tillman of Meadville, and they are poised to do well in Texas.

Oklahoma. Consecutive appearances in the national title game have allowed the Sooners to extend their reach nationwide and to become involved with numerous top 100 prospects. But Bob Stoops also needs to keep his focus at home, as defensive tackle Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma City and tight end Jermaine Gresham of Ardmore are top 50 players.

Florida State. Nobody closed the 2005 recruiting season better than Bobby Bowden. This season's effort still is in its infancy, but the Seminoles certainly will battle for the nation's top class. Florida State's early group is small, but it includes three four-star prospects, with the headliner being Brandon Warren, a multipostion player from Alcoa, Tenn.

Notre Dame. The arrival of Charlie Weis has renewed excitement in South Bend. The Fighting Irish haven't gotten off to a start this good in five years, as Weis and recruiting coordinator Rob Ianello logged plenty of frequent-flier miles in the spring. The Irish already have snagged quarterback Zach Frazer, a top 100 prospect from Mechanicsburg, Pa., and James Aldridge of Merrillville, Ind., the No. 3 running back in the nation.

Southern California. Pete Carroll and his staff of seasoned recruiters are like lions stalking prey. The Trojans only have three commitments, but after signing the nation's top classes in 2004 and '05 and winning back-to-back national titles, they have many top 100 players giving them serious consideration.

For more analysis from Jeremy Crabtree and all the in-depth recruiting information you can stand, visit Rivals.com.

The fight for blue-chips: Texas is off to the fastest start, but Rivals.com recruiting expert Jeremy Crabtree sees several perennial contenders—including LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State, Notre Dame and USC—that could claim the title of top class of 2006

Sporting News, The, August 19, 2005 by Jeremy Crabtree

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