Teams who signed the most five-star recruits since 2021
The number of college programs with five-star recruits seems to grow each year in the NIL era. In the 2024 cycle, 17 different programs landed a player ranked among the top 32 prospects in the final On3 Industry Ranking. And while landing one five-star is great, a major key to competing year in and year out for conference and national titles is being able to stack multiple elite-level prospects every year.
And these 10 programs did that better than anyone else in the past four cycles:
Alabama – 20
Notable 5-star signees: OT JC Latham, EDGE Dallas Turner, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, EDGE Jihaad Campbell, OT Tyler Booker, OT Kadyn Proctor, DL James Smith
The Crimson Tide were dominant on the trail in Nick Saban’s final four years, twice finishing with the No. 1 class and coming close to a third in 2022.
Georgia – 16
Notable 5-star signees: OT Amarius Mims, LB Smael Mondon, SAF Malaki Starks, DL Mykel Williams, OT Monroe Freeling, EDGE Damon Wilson, CB Ellis Robinson IV
Much like Alabama, there was no one recruiting better (especially on defense) than the Bulldogs over the past four cycles. Kirby Smart and Co.’s 2024 haul ranked No. 1 nationally and featured five five-star defenders.
Ohio State, Texas A&M – 12
Notable Ohio State 5-star signees: WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Brandon Inniss, ATH Sonny Styles, QB Devin Brown, EDGE Jack Sawyer, DL J.T. Tuimoloau, WR Emeka Egbuka
The Buckeyes have made their hay in recent classes on the defensive line and at the wide receiver group, when coach Brian Hartline is recruiting the position better than any other WRs coach in the country.
Notable Texas A&M 5-star signees: DL Shemar Turner, DL Shemar Stewart, DL Walter Nolen, WR Evan Stewart, DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, QB Conner Weigman
Of Texas A&M’s 12 five-star signees in the past four cycles, nine of them came in the 2022 class, which was the highest-rated class ever in the recruiting era. However, a number of those players have already transferred out after the firing of Jimbo Fisher in December.
Texas – 8
Notable 5-star signees: IOL DJ Campbell, OT Kelvin Banks, QB Arch Manning, LB Anthony Hill, CJ Baxter Jr., WR Johntay Cook II, EDGE Colin Simmons
Steve Sarkisian and his staff have majorly upgraded Texas’ roster across the board since taking over in 2020. The Longhorn have notched back-to-back-to-back top six classes and will be looking to do the same again in 2025.
Clemson, Miami – 7
Notable Clemson 5-star signees: LB Sammy Brown, WR TJ Moore, DL Peter Woods, QB Cade Klubnik, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
While the Tigers’ recruiting has dropped off a bit in recent years after the introduction of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), they’ve still managed to pull a number of elite prospects out of the high school ranks. And that includes a pair in the 2024 class with Brown and Moore.
Notable Miami 5-star signees: DL Leonard Taylor, SAF James Williams, OT Francis Mauigoa, OT Samson Okunlola, EDGE Marquise Lightfoot, DL Armondo Blount
The ‘Canes have had major success recruiting high-level prospects in the trenches since Mario Cristobal took over, signing two five-star offensive linemen in the 2023 class and two more five-star defenders in 2024.
Oklahoma – 6
Notable 5-star signees: DL David Stone, QB Jackson Arnold, EDGE P.J. Adebawore, SAF Peyton Bowen, Caleb Williams, EDGE Clayton Smith
While Oklahoma’s elite talent mostly came on the offensive side of the ball under Lincoln Riley (including the aforementioned Williams), Brent Venables and his staff have made a concerted effort to upgrade defensively. That includes at least one five-star in each of the past two classes.
USC, LSU – 5
Notable USC 5-star signees: EDGE Korey Foreman, CB Domani Jackson, WR Zachariah Branch, QB Malachi Nelson, WR Duce Robinson
Since coming to the West Coast, Riley has had no trouble recruiting on the offensive side of the ball, including three five-stars in the 2023 class. Defense has been a different story, though, as the Trojans have gone heavily into the portal. If five-star commitment Justus Terry ultimately signs with USC in December, he’ll become their first top-32 signee on defense since 2021.
Notable LSU 5-star signees: DL Dominick McKinley, TE Trey’Dez Green, OT Zalance Heard, LB Harold Perkins, DL Maason Smith
Brian Kelly and his staff have been recruiting at an exceptionally high level since taking over in 2021, landing two classes than ranked in the top-7 nationally the past two years. And their momentum is only just beginning with three five-stars already committed in the 2025 cycle.