Putting it in writing

Sporting News, The, Feb 16, 1998 by Kevin Haskin, Suzanne Halliburton, Andy Boogaard, Neal Farmer, Tom Dienhart, Mike Huguenin, Bob Clark, Mike Strange, Jeff Wood, Michael Vega, Doug Doughty

A look at how the majors fared in this year's recruiting battles

How did your school do on National Signing Day? Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but here's how our national panel of experts (Bill Buchalter, Bobby Burton, Phil Grosz, Rick Kimbrel and Tom Lemming) rated the classes: 1. Michigan; 2. UCLA; 3. Notre Dame; 4. Georgia; 5. Florida State; 6. Alabama; 7 Florida; 8. LSU; 9. Tennessee; 10. North Carolina.

BIG 12

Baylor needs the help nine junior college players figure to provide. However, there are few skill-position players and several may not qualify. ... Colorado used its national appeal to sign California LB Jashon Sykes and Alaska FB Brandon Drumm.... Iowa State signed 17 JC transfers, 14 play defense. The help is needed. ... One of Kansas' biggest needs was DB, where it signed four. Two of the plum are KC-area signees Byron Gasaway (WR) and Henri Childs (RB). ... Kansas State missed many big-time recruits but nabbed RB Frank Murphy, the nation's top JC. ... Missouri's Larry Smith calls this one of his best classes in 21 years. LB Michael Clay is the stud. The Tigers also got RB Zain Gilmore, Florida's "Mr. Football." ... The leader of Nebraska's excellent haul could be the quickest player in the class, DB DeJuan Groce. ... Oklahoma got help on defense with 15 signees. The biggest get was LB Rocky Calmus. ... More was expected from Oklahoma State, but this is a balanced crew headed by QB Matt Holliday. ... Texas' Mack Brown impressed immediately by signing in-staters like OL Antwan Kirk-Hughes and TB Victor Ike. ... Texas A&M needed offensive help and got it from QB Chip Ambres and WRs Bethel Johnson and Choo Freeman. ... Texas Tech was hampered by the specter of probation. Eleven of 15 signees are defenders.

THE RANKINGS

1. Nebraska (TE Jon Bowling/CB DeJuan Groce).

2. Texas (WR Montrell Flowers/DB Lee Jackson).

3. Oklahoma (TE Trent Smith/LB Rocky Calmus).

4. Texas A&M (QB Chip Ambres/LB Brian Gamble).

5. Baylor (RB Ben Gay/DE Eddrick Brooks).

6. Missouri (RB Zain Gilmore/LB Michael Clay).

7. Colorado (FB Brandon Drumm/LB Jashon Sykes).

8. Kansas State (RB Frank Murphy/CB Dale Hall).

9. Oklahoma State (QB Matt Holliday/DB Randy Chappell).

10. Kansas (WR Byron Gasaway/DE Algie Atkinson).

11. Texas Tech (FB Toby Shain/DL Josh Page).

12. Iowa State (WR Damien Groce/DB Jamarcus Powers).

WESTERN ATHLETIC

Air Force doesn't announce its list of incoming freshmen until the summer. ... BYU coach LaVell Edwards called this one of the best classes he has had in his 27 years. The Cougars filled needs with linemen and defensive backs. ... Colorado State's third WAC title in four seasons helped the Rams garner a class that met needs at receiver, defensive back, linebacker and in the offensive line. ... Seeking to rebuild the offensive line, Fresno State signed six prospects, beating top WAC programs in the process. ... Hawaii bolstered its defensive line and secondary in what clearly is the program Is best class in years. But several recruits' academic eligibility is in doubt. ... New Mexico was hurt when former coach Dennis Franchione left for TCU and took some recruits with him. Coaches expect four JC transfers to contribute this fall. ... Rice coach Ken Hatfield thinks this is the best class in his six years at the school. One selling point: Rice had back-to-back seven-win seasons for the first time since 1960-61. ... Versatility and defensive speed define a solid class at San Diego State. The Aztecs did especially well in signing local prep products. ... San Jose State reversed tradition and kept seven highly regarded Bay Area preps at home. ... SMU signed four consensus Top 100 Texas high school players, with the best being linebacker Marcus Mosley. He is the most highly decorated Mustangs signee since pre-death penalty days. ... New coach Dennis Franchione was pleased with his first class at TCU. Six players reportedly changed their minds and signed with TCU instead of New Mexico. ... Texas-El Paso signed 14 players, which is all it had room for because of NCAA sanctions. ... Tulsa was last in the nation in rushing defense last season and signed 19 defensive players. ... UNLV signed a 34-man class, but despite the Rebels' defensive problems, 23 of the signees play offense. ... Utah's priority areas were defensive linemen, secondary and running backs, and those needs were fulfilled. Touted RB Mike Anderson, a JC transfer, fills a big need. ... In all, 27 states and Canada are represented in Wyoming's class. The Cowboys signed speedy guys last season; this season, they pursued heavily for linemen.

THE RANKINGS

1. San Diego State (QB Lon Sheriff/DL Josh Allen).

2. BYU (RB Junior Mahe/DB Brian Gray).

3. Colorado State (QB Steve Cutlip/S Aaron Sprague).

4. Utah (RB Mike Anderson/DL Laudale Sape).

5. SMU (QB Steve O'Neill/LB Marcus Mosley).

6. UNLV (OL Glenn Pilarowski/ LB Dusty Pearce).

7. Fresno St. (RB Marcellus Armstrong/DL Jason Stewart).

8. Rice (OL Keith Meyer/DL Larry Brown).

9. TCU (OL Josh Harbuck/CB Demario Wesley).