Looking back at the 10 highest-rated recruiting classes in the past two decades

The modern era of college football recruiting dates back more than two decades, and during that time we have seen an unbelievable run of dominance from the SEC. Dating back to 2006, only two schools outside of the league have signed a No. 1 overall recruiting class: Florida State (2016) and USC (2005, 2006).

A large part of that is the insane recruiting run that Nick Saban and Alabama went on between 2008 and 2017, signing eight top-ranked classes in that decade. But since Kirby Smart’s hiring at Georgia, Ryan Day’s at Ohio State, and the advent of the name, image and likeness era, the talent has spread out some to other programs in the past few years.

Earlier this week, Rivals looked at the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for every year of the past two decades. Today, we’re examining the highest-rated classes in the modern recruiting era — based on the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Ranking — and how they’ve panned out on the field. (Note: This is not a retrospective re-ranking of the classes, but instead a list based on the highest team scores when they were finalized).

The 10 highest-ranked are below:

Texas A&M (2022)

Team Score: 96.793 (9 five-stars, 19 four-stars)
Notable Signees: DL Walter Nolen, EDGE Shemar Stewart, WR Evan Stewart, DL LT Overton, DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, CB Denver Harris, QB Conner Weigman, SAF Jacoby Mathews

Few classes in the modern recruiting era have drawn more scrutiny than this one. In the first year of the NIL era, Texas A&M took full advantage of its recruiting war chest and signed 28 blue-chippers and an eye-popping 17 top-100 prospects. The Aggies’ 2022 class still ranks as the highest-rated class ever in the Rivals Industry Rankings, but it wasn’t enough to keep Jimbo Fisher and his staff in College Station. Of A&M’s eight five-star signees that cycle, only one (Stewart) is set to finish their career in Aggieland.

Alabama (2021)

Team Score: 96.450 (5 five-stars, 20 four-stars)
Notable Signees: OT JC Latham, OT Tommy Brockermeyer, EDGE Dallas Turner, CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, QB Jalen Milroe

Before Texas A&M took the throne of the top recruiting class ever, Alabama’s 2021 group held it. In total, the Tide signed 12 of the top 50 players that cycle and 16 of the top 100 — unheard of numbers now. Latham, Turner and Terrion Arnold developed into first-round NFL Draft picks, but the class also featured some significant misses as well. Many of those ultimately transferred to other programs, and none have been taken in the NFL Draft either of the past two years.

Alabama (2023)

Team Score: 95.998 (7 five-stars, 19 four-stars)
Notable Signees: EDGE Keon Keeley, SAF Caleb Downs, OT Kadyn Proctor, CB Dezz Ricks, DL James Smith, EDGE Yhonzae Pierre, LB Qua Russaw

The last full class of the Nick Saban era was an absolute dandy coming off a year in which the Tide got beat out for the top overall class in 2022. The on-field results have been mixed so far, with Downs and Ricks both transferring out. But the Tide are looking for breakout seasons this year from the likes of Smith and Russaw — a pair of projected starters along with Proctor, one of the nation’s top offensive tackles.

Alabama (2022)

Team Score: 95.966 (4 five-stars, 19 four-stars)
Notable Signees: EDGE Jeremiah Alexander, EDGE Jihaad Campbell, QB Ty Simpson, OT Tyler Booker, OT Elijah Pritchett, RB Jam Miller

Alabama’s group would have taken the No. 1 overall spot if not for Texas A&M’s record-setting class, with the Tide signing four five-stars and a whopping 17 top-100 prospects. Unfortunately, the on-field results have been a major mixed bag under Nick Saban and now Kalen DeBoer. Alexander, the top-ranked signee, transferred to Clemson this offseason after three underwhelming years in Tuscaloosa while Pritchett is hoping to rejuvenate his career at Nebraska. Both Campbell and Booker were hits though, as each went in the first round of this year’s draft. Simpson, meanwhile, is set to get his chance to lead the Tide’s offense this fall after waiting behind Jalen Milroe.

Ohio State (2021)

Team Score: 95.959 (7 five-stars, 13 four-stars)
Notable Signees: QB Quinn Ewers, EDGE Jack Sawyer, DL J.T. Tuimoloau, IOL Donovan Jackson, WR Emeka Egbuka, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR Marvin Harrison Jr., QB Kyle McCord, DL Tyleik Williams

This class’s fingerprints are all over the Buckeyes’ national championship season in 2024-25, with Sawyer, Tuimoloau, Jackson, Egbuka, Henderson and Williams all playing massive roles on that squad. Neither Ewers nor McCord finished their careers in Columbus, but instead it was Kansas State transfer Will Howard who led the Buckeyes to their first title since 2014. Four from this class ultimately ended up as first-round picks, while eight more ended up being taken in the later rounds (including those that transferred).

Georgia (2022)

Team Score: 95.414 (4 five-stars, 17 four-stars)
Notable Signees: DL Mykel Williams, SAF Malaki Starks, EDGE Marvin Jones Jr., CB Jaheim Singletary, CB Daylen Everette, IOL Earnest Greene, LB Jalon Walker, QB Gunner Stockton

Smack dab in between its first and second consecutive national titles, Georgia’s 2022 class ranks sixth all-time but third that year behind Alabama and Texas A&M. That year, the three SEC programs combined to sign 17 of the 32 five-stars in the cycle. Like many classes in the post-transfer portal era, this one has plenty of highs and lows. Starks, Williams and Walker all developed into Day 1 picks, while Jones and Singletary have moved on to other programs. As for Stockton, Greene and Everette, they’re being counted on this fall as the Bulldogs look to win the SEC and chase another national title in January.

Alabama (2014)

Team Score: 95.358 (7 five-stars, 15 four-stars)
Notable Signees: DL Da’Shawn Hand, OT Cam Robinson, CB Marlon Humphrey, CB Tony Brown, Bo Scarbrough, LB Rashaan Evans, EDGE Christian Miller, IOL Ross Pierschbacher, DL Jarran Reed

Saban and Co. signed six of the nation’s top 20 recruits in the 2014 class, headlined by Hand, Robinson, Humphrey and Brown — all of whom were consensus five-stars by all three major recruiting services at the time. Humphrey was the lone first-rounder in that group, but three of the four were drafted and Brown has enjoyed a seven-year career in the league. The class as a whole finished 53-5, won three SEC titles, had four College Football Playoff appearances and won two national titles. Not bad at all.

Alabama (2017)

Team Score: 95.333 (7 five-stars, 17 four-stars)
Notable Signees: RB Najee Harris, OT Alex Leatherwood, LB Dylan Moses, WR Jerry Jeudy, EDGE LaBryan Ray, DL Isaiah Buggs, OT Jedrick Wills, QB Tua Tagovailoa, SAF Xavier McKinney, WR DeVonta Smith, WR Henry Ruggs III, RB Brian Robinson, QB Mac Jones

At least in the past few decades, there’s no argument as to what the most impressive recruiting haul turned out to be. This group featured two first-round quarterbacks in Jones and Tagovailoa, three first-round wide receivers, two first-round tackles, two running backs taken in the first three rounds, two defensive linemen selected in the top two rounds, and a safety taken in the second. That kind of hit rate is simply unheard of.

In total, 17 of the 28 players from that signing class were drafted into the league and eight in the first round alone.

Georgia (2018)

Team Score: 95.235 (8 five-stars, 13 four-stars)
Notable Signees: QB Justin Fields, CB Tyson Campbell, RB Zamir White, IOL Jamaree Salyer, EDGE Brenton Cox, LB Adam Anderson, OT Cade Mays, LB Quay Walker

The top prospect in this group, Fields, ultimately transferred to Ohio State. But much of the rest of the class played integral roles in the ‘Dawgs first national title under Smart in 2021. Among those drafted from the roster were White (4th round), Salyer (6th round), Walker (1st round), RB James Cook (2nd round), LB Channing Tindall (3rd round), Azeez Ojulari (2nd round), Devonte Wyatt (1st round), and Jordan Davis (1st round).

Georgia (2024)

Team Score: 95.078 (5 five-stars, 18 four-stars)
Notable Signees: CB Ellis Robinson IV, LB Justin Williams, SAF KJ Bolden, DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, LB Chris Cole, RB Nate Frazier

Led by a quintet of five-stars (all on defense), the Bulldogs sewed up Kirby Smart’s third No. 1 class in Athens. The group featured nine top-100 signees in total and 23 blue-chippers. The early returns have been strong, but this season is the one where we’ll get to see if some of the talent starts panning out on the field.

Frazier, linebackers Kris Jones and Chris Cole, Robinson and Bolden are all projected starters heading into the season opener.