LSU and Ohio State at head of recruiting class, at least for now

LSU and Ohio State have the country’s top recruiting classes entering today’s college football winter extravaganza known as national signing day.

A familiar face, however, is also lurking in the race for No. 1.

“Alabama still has as good of a shot as anybody,” longtime recruiting analyst J.C. Shurburtt said this week. “When you look at the players who are still out there, they could get as many as anybody. If Alabama can land 80 percent of these guys, which they can do, then the numbers would be hard to match for LSU or Ohio State.”

Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide have finished No. 1 nationally in recruiting five straight years according to at least one recruiting service and seven times in the last eight years. Alabama has parlayed these February talent hauls to a 98-12 record since the start of the 2008 season, which includes national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012 and this past year.

Alabama landed four-star tackle prospect Scott Lashley, a former Mississippi State commitment, on Monday and enters today favored to land two five-star linebackers from its state – Ben Davis of Gordo and Lyndell Wilson of Montgomery. The Crimson Tide also lead for Shyheim Carter of Kentwood, La., the nation’s No. 9 cornerback according to 247Sports.com.

Carter would be one of the rare prospects to leave Louisiana, with LSU having entered today with 13 in-state commitments among ESPN’s top 300 players nationally. The Tigers have 19 overall commitments in the ESPN 300, matching what Alabama’s top-rated classes accomplished in 2014 and 2015.

LSU should get at least its 20th today, with the Tigers leading for Metairie, La., cornerback Kristian Fulton, one of the nation’s top 50 overall prospects. Headlining LSU’s class to this point are the defensive tackle trio of Rashard Lawrence, Edwin Alexander and Glen Logan.

“There are two positions in this class that are remarkably strong,” ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said. “The defensive front, both at tackle and at end, is reflected really well in the ESPN 300 and particularly in the top 20 or 25 overall prospects. Also, in the 10 years we’ve been formulating this, we’ve never had this many wide receiver prospects in any given class.

“It’s a very eclectic group with size, speed and strength, so those two positions certainly stand out.”

While most of the Southeastern Conference programs are faring well – LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Auburn were in ESPN’s top 10 classes as of Monday evening – Michigan has joined Ohio State and Florida State as programs outside the SEC bidding for a top-five class.

The Wolverines entered today ranked No. 5 by most of the services and are the favorites for defensive tackle Rashan Gary of New Jersey, who is considered the nation’s top overall talent.

“Jim Harbaugh has put together a fantastic class that is on par with what Ohio State has done in the last few years,” Shurburtt said. “They are making such a big push, and we may end up seeing Ohio State and Michigan sign two of the country’s top three classes. That would certainly make for a more competitive Big Ten moving forward.”

Tennessee signed top-10 classes each of the past two years but is not expected to in this cycle. The Volunteers entered today with a crop of commitments ranked 18th by ESPN, 22nd by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com and 23rd by Scout.com.

“I think they have a chance to close really well,” Shurburtt said. “(Defensive end) Jonathan Kongbo is the No. 1 junior college player in the country and is a guy they could get. (Defensive tackle) Derrick Brown is a guy they could get. (Safety) Nigel Warrior is a Tennessee legacy, being Dale Carter’s son, and Butch Jones has a very high batting percentage with legacies.

“It’s a smaller class that will not rank as high as their past couple of classes, but they could have a very nice finish.”

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.