ESPN names 12 best recruiters in the country
One of the biggest components of building a winning college football program is making a name for yourself on the recruiting trail. Recruiting is a year-round job and takes an entire staff working together to convince elite prospects their school is better than all the rest. There are a lot of staffs that do an incredible job carrying out their recruiting strategies, but the 12 recruiters on this list stand out because of their ability to recruit players who fit their systems in and out of their home state.
Deke Adams, North Carolina defensive line coach
The Tar Heels are working toward getting back to prominence in the ACC, and Adams has done his part to retool his defensive line for the future. ESPN 150 defensive tackle Greg Webb (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek) was a big out-of-state get for North Carolina, and four-star Nazair Jones (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids) is a nearby prospect with solid potential. Other defensive linemen Adams helped reel in are Marquis Haynes, Dajuan Drennon and Monte Taylor. He also helped pull three-star athlete Donnie Miles from Georgia, and has them in the mix for offensive lineman Delando Crooks, who recently was in Chapel Hill on an official visit.
--Kipp Adams
David Beaty, Texas A&M wide receivers coach
No college football program has more commits than Texas A&M, and of the team's 34 commits, Beaty has been solid in picking up players from the greater Dallas area. Beaty's latest pickup arguably was his biggest coup, as ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning (Dallas/Kimball) gave his verbal pledge. Beaty has been instrumental in grabbing quarterback Kenny Hill (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) and defensive tackle Kerrick Huggins (Dallas/Skyline). Beaty has been just as effective with 2014 commits as he has with 2013 commits. Cornerback Cedric Collins (Dallas/Skyline) committed to the Aggies in August, and athlete Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster) committed in November.
-- Damon Sayles
James Coley, Florida State offensive coordinator/tight ends coach
Florida State has lost three assistants this offseason already but keeping the Miami-born Coley from joining Mark Stoops and D.J. Eliot at Kentucky will be the key factor in what's expected to be a strong close for the Seminoles. Coley is highly regarded among high school coaches and prospects everywhere he goes but especially in talent-rich south Florida. With the recent departure of running backs coach Eddie Gran, Coley's ability to develop relationships with prospects in Miami-Dade and Broward County is needed more than ever.
-- Corey Long
D.J. Durkin, Florida linebackers coach/special teams coordinator
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Kim Klement/US Presswire D.J. Durkin has been on fire on the recruiting trail the past two years.
Durkin has been on fire over the past two years for the Gators. This season he has had a major hand in securing commitments from ESPN 300 linebacker prospects Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast), Matt Rolin (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) and James Hearns (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln). Last year, Durkin was an ace recruiter for the Gators in North Carolina where he secured two of the state's biggest prospects: offensive lineman D.J. Humphries and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard.
-- Corey Long
Bobby Engram, Pitt wide receivers coach
Pitt fans were not too happy with the recruiting job Paul Chryst was doing at Pitt until just a few weeks ago, and a lot of that has to do with Bobby Engram. The remaining top two targets for the Panthers are Tyler Boyd and Robert Foster, two of the more dynamic receivers in the country, and both are being recruited by Engram. Both have talked at length about their relationships with Engram, and at the moment look to be Pitt leans. If Engram lands both, it might not be long before a big-time program is recruiting him for a job.
-- Jared Shanker
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss head coach
When Ole Miss hired Hugh Freeze, he was expected to be a solid recruiter in Mississippi and in Memphis since he has history in both locales. Freeze hasn't stopped there. The first-year Rebels head coach has reached into the Midwest and has Ole Miss in the lead for receiver Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Monee). He is considered the top receiver in the nation. Freeze is also in great shape for the nation's top overall prospect: defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson). Ole Miss' 2013 class ranks No. 21 in the nation with 21 commitments, including four in the ESPN 300.
--Dave Hooker
John Lilly, Georgia tight ends coach
A former recruiting coordinator at Florida State, Lilly has been an instrumental part of the Bulldogs' recruiting success since his arrival almost five years ago. His ability to connect to prospects and their families has helped the Bulldogs continue to reel in top talent. While Georgia typically uses multiple coaches with every prospect, Lilly has made been the recruiter of record for several commitments during the 2013 recruiting cycle, including tight end Jordan Davis (Thomson, Ga./Thomson), ESPN 150 prospects Tramel Terry (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) and Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga./Newnan), ESPN 300 prospects Reggie Wilkerson (Citra, Fla./North Marion) and Reggie Davis (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln). He also is the key recruiter for two remaining elite targets in five-star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) and linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Alabama).
--Kipp Adams
Tosh Lupoi, Washington defensive line coach
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Jesse Beals/Icon SMI Recruits have said Tosh Lupoi's ability to relate to them personally is a big reason they are drawn to him.
Lupoi has earned every bit of his reputation as perhaps the Pac-12's best recruiter. With him, Cal became a realistic destination for the West's top players, and defensive linemen in particular. Recruits constantly cite Lupoi's ability to relate to them on all levels, both on and away from the field, which makes him such a dynamic recruiter. All the evidence needed to prove Lupoi's prowess on the recruiting trail came last year, when he left Cal for Washington and the Golden Bears went from prohibitive favorites to land Shaq Thompson, Arik Armstead, Ellis McCarthy and Jordan Payton to signing none of the four.
-- Erik McKinney
Clarence McKinney, Texas A&M running backs coach/recruiting coordinator
What Beaty has done with recruiting in the greater Dallas area, McKinney has done in the Houston area. Most recently, McKinney watched the nation's top-ranked athlete, Ricky Seals-Jones (Sealy, Texas/Sealy) give his verbal commitment on Monday. McKinney also had a role in recruiting players like the Manvel, Texas, combination of wide receiver Kyrion Parker and Tavares Garner. The McKinney train has spilled over into the 2014 recruiting class, as running back Shaun Nixon (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis) committed to the Aggies earlier this month.
-- Damon Sayles
Bill O'Brien, Penn State head coach
The Nittany Lions' 2013 recruiting class -- and maybe even the entire program -- might have been in complete disarray if not for the job O'Brien has done. He was putting together a top-15 class before the sanctions, and despite losing some major commitments in July and August, O'Brien was able to hold on to Adam Breneman and Christian Hackenberg, who are both No. 1 at their respective positions nationally. Four-stars Brendan Mahon, Andrew Nelson and Garrett Sickels also stayed, and O'Brien recently added four-star DaeSean Hamilton.
-- Jared Shanker
Ed Orgeron, USC defensive and recruiting coordinator
A living legend in the recruiting game, Orgeron continues to help the USC Trojans stockpile talent. The Trojans needed an influx of talent along the defensive line, and Orgeron spearheaded an attack that landed five ESPN 300 linemen, including the Nos. 2 and 4 defensive tackles in the country. One of those recruits, four-star Eddie Vanderdoes, said he would likely look into his other options if Orgeron were to take another job. It's not the first time a recruit shared those sentiments, which is a testament to the bond Orgeron is able to create and the belief he instills in many players that he will be able to bring the best out of them during their college careers.
-- Erik McKinney
Lance Thompson, Alabama linebackers coach
Thompson showed his versatility when he left Tennessee to return to Alabama in January. Thompson has long been associated with recruiting in the Southeast. He has now expanded his territory into the East region where he has been effective in the areas surrounding Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., and Virginia while keeping his southern roots. Thompson has helped secure commitments from three four-star prospects: defensive end Jonathan Allen (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge), offensive tackle Grant Hill (Huntsville, Ala./Huntsville) and athlete Ardarius Stewart (Fultondale, Ala./Fultondale).
-- Dave Hooker
One of the biggest components of building a winning college football program is making a name for yourself on the recruiting trail. Recruiting is a year-round job and takes an entire staff working together to convince elite prospects their school is better than all the rest. There are a lot of staffs that do an incredible job carrying out their recruiting strategies, but the 12 recruiters on this list stand out because of their ability to recruit players who fit their systems in and out of their home state.
Deke Adams, North Carolina defensive line coach
The Tar Heels are working toward getting back to prominence in the ACC, and Adams has done his part to retool his defensive line for the future. ESPN 150 defensive tackle Greg Webb (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek) was a big out-of-state get for North Carolina, and four-star Nazair Jones (Roanoke Rapids, N.C./Roanoke Rapids) is a nearby prospect with solid potential. Other defensive linemen Adams helped reel in are Marquis Haynes, Dajuan Drennon and Monte Taylor. He also helped pull three-star athlete Donnie Miles from Georgia, and has them in the mix for offensive lineman Delando Crooks, who recently was in Chapel Hill on an official visit.
--Kipp Adams
David Beaty, Texas A&M wide receivers coach
No college football program has more commits than Texas A&M, and of the team's 34 commits, Beaty has been solid in picking up players from the greater Dallas area. Beaty's latest pickup arguably was his biggest coup, as ESPN 150 defensive tackle Justin Manning (Dallas/Kimball) gave his verbal pledge. Beaty has been instrumental in grabbing quarterback Kenny Hill (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) and defensive tackle Kerrick Huggins (Dallas/Skyline). Beaty has been just as effective with 2014 commits as he has with 2013 commits. Cornerback Cedric Collins (Dallas/Skyline) committed to the Aggies in August, and athlete Nick Harvey (Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster) committed in November.
-- Damon Sayles
James Coley, Florida State offensive coordinator/tight ends coach
Florida State has lost three assistants this offseason already but keeping the Miami-born Coley from joining Mark Stoops and D.J. Eliot at Kentucky will be the key factor in what's expected to be a strong close for the Seminoles. Coley is highly regarded among high school coaches and prospects everywhere he goes but especially in talent-rich south Florida. With the recent departure of running backs coach Eddie Gran, Coley's ability to develop relationships with prospects in Miami-Dade and Broward County is needed more than ever.
-- Corey Long
D.J. Durkin, Florida linebackers coach/special teams coordinator
[+] Enlarge
Kim Klement/US Presswire D.J. Durkin has been on fire on the recruiting trail the past two years.Durkin has been on fire over the past two years for the Gators. This season he has had a major hand in securing commitments from ESPN 300 linebacker prospects Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast), Matt Rolin (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods) and James Hearns (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln). Last year, Durkin was an ace recruiter for the Gators in North Carolina where he secured two of the state's biggest prospects: offensive lineman D.J. Humphries and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard.
-- Corey Long
Bobby Engram, Pitt wide receivers coach
Pitt fans were not too happy with the recruiting job Paul Chryst was doing at Pitt until just a few weeks ago, and a lot of that has to do with Bobby Engram. The remaining top two targets for the Panthers are Tyler Boyd and Robert Foster, two of the more dynamic receivers in the country, and both are being recruited by Engram. Both have talked at length about their relationships with Engram, and at the moment look to be Pitt leans. If Engram lands both, it might not be long before a big-time program is recruiting him for a job.
-- Jared Shanker
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss head coach
When Ole Miss hired Hugh Freeze, he was expected to be a solid recruiter in Mississippi and in Memphis since he has history in both locales. Freeze hasn't stopped there. The first-year Rebels head coach has reached into the Midwest and has Ole Miss in the lead for receiver Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Monee). He is considered the top receiver in the nation. Freeze is also in great shape for the nation's top overall prospect: defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson). Ole Miss' 2013 class ranks No. 21 in the nation with 21 commitments, including four in the ESPN 300.
--Dave Hooker
John Lilly, Georgia tight ends coach
A former recruiting coordinator at Florida State, Lilly has been an instrumental part of the Bulldogs' recruiting success since his arrival almost five years ago. His ability to connect to prospects and their families has helped the Bulldogs continue to reel in top talent. While Georgia typically uses multiple coaches with every prospect, Lilly has made been the recruiter of record for several commitments during the 2013 recruiting cycle, including tight end Jordan Davis (Thomson, Ga./Thomson), ESPN 150 prospects Tramel Terry (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) and Tray Matthews (Newnan, Ga./Newnan), ESPN 300 prospects Reggie Wilkerson (Citra, Fla./North Marion) and Reggie Davis (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln). He also is the key recruiter for two remaining elite targets in five-star offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) and linebacker Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Alabama).
--Kipp Adams
Tosh Lupoi, Washington defensive line coach
[+] Enlarge
Jesse Beals/Icon SMI Recruits have said Tosh Lupoi's ability to relate to them personally is a big reason they are drawn to him.Lupoi has earned every bit of his reputation as perhaps the Pac-12's best recruiter. With him, Cal became a realistic destination for the West's top players, and defensive linemen in particular. Recruits constantly cite Lupoi's ability to relate to them on all levels, both on and away from the field, which makes him such a dynamic recruiter. All the evidence needed to prove Lupoi's prowess on the recruiting trail came last year, when he left Cal for Washington and the Golden Bears went from prohibitive favorites to land Shaq Thompson, Arik Armstead, Ellis McCarthy and Jordan Payton to signing none of the four.
-- Erik McKinney
Clarence McKinney, Texas A&M running backs coach/recruiting coordinator
What Beaty has done with recruiting in the greater Dallas area, McKinney has done in the Houston area. Most recently, McKinney watched the nation's top-ranked athlete, Ricky Seals-Jones (Sealy, Texas/Sealy) give his verbal commitment on Monday. McKinney also had a role in recruiting players like the Manvel, Texas, combination of wide receiver Kyrion Parker and Tavares Garner. The McKinney train has spilled over into the 2014 recruiting class, as running back Shaun Nixon (Austin, Texas/Lake Travis) committed to the Aggies earlier this month.
-- Damon Sayles
Bill O'Brien, Penn State head coach
The Nittany Lions' 2013 recruiting class -- and maybe even the entire program -- might have been in complete disarray if not for the job O'Brien has done. He was putting together a top-15 class before the sanctions, and despite losing some major commitments in July and August, O'Brien was able to hold on to Adam Breneman and Christian Hackenberg, who are both No. 1 at their respective positions nationally. Four-stars Brendan Mahon, Andrew Nelson and Garrett Sickels also stayed, and O'Brien recently added four-star DaeSean Hamilton.
-- Jared Shanker
Ed Orgeron, USC defensive and recruiting coordinator
A living legend in the recruiting game, Orgeron continues to help the USC Trojans stockpile talent. The Trojans needed an influx of talent along the defensive line, and Orgeron spearheaded an attack that landed five ESPN 300 linemen, including the Nos. 2 and 4 defensive tackles in the country. One of those recruits, four-star Eddie Vanderdoes, said he would likely look into his other options if Orgeron were to take another job. It's not the first time a recruit shared those sentiments, which is a testament to the bond Orgeron is able to create and the belief he instills in many players that he will be able to bring the best out of them during their college careers.
-- Erik McKinney
Lance Thompson, Alabama linebackers coach
Thompson showed his versatility when he left Tennessee to return to Alabama in January. Thompson has long been associated with recruiting in the Southeast. He has now expanded his territory into the East region where he has been effective in the areas surrounding Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., and Virginia while keeping his southern roots. Thompson has helped secure commitments from three four-star prospects: defensive end Jonathan Allen (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge), offensive tackle Grant Hill (Huntsville, Ala./Huntsville) and athlete Ardarius Stewart (Fultondale, Ala./Fultondale).
-- Dave Hooker
