3 under-the-radar classes from National Signing Day
Texas’ late surge, Michigan’s star-studded party, and LSU’s historic class stole all the headlines on National Signing Day. However, three other programs quietly put together classes that could prove to be very significant in the years to come. The personnel they acquired was meaningful, and the momentum their classes generated could end up being invaluable.
Houston
The Cougars are buzzing with enthusiasm following one of the greatest recruiting hauls ever from a Group of Five program. In the last two years, the program has opened a brand new on-campus stadium, hired one of the sport’s greatest young minds, and won a major bowl game. That set the stage for Wednesday, and the eventual signing of the top Group of Five class (ESPN No. 30, Rivals No. 44, 247 Sports No. 40). For some perspective, the best Group of Five class last season, according to ESPN, was UCF at 49th overall.
The gem of Tom Herman’s class is defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The five-star recruit will have an opportunity to start for a Cougars defense with six returning starters from last season's Peach Bowl-winning unit. While Oliver headlines the class, a handful of other signees also have a chance to contribute right away. Na’Ty Rodgers, a four-star offensive tackle, was one of the nation’s most sought-after JUCOs. Houston is replacing both tackle positions, opening the door for Rodgers to start from Day 1.
Demarcus Ayers, Houston’s leading receiver last season, declared for the NFL draft, leaving a major production void in the offense. If Courtney Lark’s academic house is in order, he could have a major impact within Herman’s offense next fall. Unfortunately for Herman and quarterback Greg Ward Jr., the #HTownTakeover wasn’t a complete success on signing day. Wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland signed with Florida, despite an early verbal indicated he would being staying in Houston. Despite the loss of Cleveland, this class has the potential to keep the momentum going for a program that has its sights set on more major bowl games, and a potential invitation to join the Big 12.
South Carolina
Will Muschamp said it best when asked how important signing Brandon McIlwain was to the Gamecocks. “That was huge for us. We needed to sign a QB in this class." Muschamp had offered McIlwain a scholarship while at Florida, and the Pennsylvania native stuck with South Carolina’s new head coach. The signing of McIlwain, an explosive dual threat, indicates that Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper may be leaning toward a spread offense - with an emphasis on QB designed runs. In Roper’s final season as offensive coordinator at Duke, the Blue Devils’ quarterbacks ran for 19 touchdowns. Another small victory for the Gamecocks is that Muschamp confirmed football will come first for McIlwain, and that he’ll only be contributing on the diamond in his free time.
In addition to landing one of the most highly touted quarterbacks, South Carolina added three defensive stars who could all play as early as this fall. JaMarcus King, the top-rated JUCO corner, has great size at 6-foot-2, and could compete for the cornerback position across from fifth-year senior Rico McWilliams.
Muschamp, known as an elite defensive coach, went out of state for two four-star defensive linemen. Miami’s Keir Thomas and New Orleans’ Stephon Taylor should be able to crack a Gamecocks D-line rotation that allowed 217 rushing yards per game in 2015. Taylor was particularly familiar with Muschamp by the end of the process, considering he recruited him for three seasons - at three different schools. South Carolina's class cracked the top 30 of every major recruiting service, and stopped the bleeding following the program’s dreadful 3-9 season.
Miami (FL)
At his introductory press conference in December, Mark Richt noted he wouldn’t be making any promises, and that he and his staff would simply be going to work. The work, it seems, paid off in the form of a top 20 class. The top of the class has the promise to make the Canes’ offense explosive. Jack Allison, a four-star pocket passer, is joined by two dynamic playmakers in receivers Sam Bruce and Dionte Mullins. Bruce, the nephew of former Rams great Isaac Bruce, is a pint-sized jitterbug who will likely thrive in the slot for Miami. Mullins has a better chance of developing into a No. 1 receiver under the tutelage of wide receiver coach Ron Dugans.
Shaquille Quarterman is reminiscent of the type of front-seven players who made Richt’s defenses so good at Georgia. The four-star linebacker had offers from Alabama, Clemson, LSU, and Florida - just to name a few.
While not the highest-rated recruit in this class, Travis Homer could have the biggest impact. A four-star running back out of West Palm Beach, Homer committed early to the Hurricanes, and when Richt sat down to evaluate Homer’s film, his response was simple.
"I had a big grin when I watched the tape," Richt said
Keeping the premier southern programs away from players in South Florida is a renewed point of emphasis for Richt and his staff. The so-called “State of Miami” slices the state in half - from Dayton Beach to Tampa - with every prospect residing south of that line finding themselves in the Hurricanes’ crosshairs. Eight of The U’s top 10 recruits played their high school football within this geographic footprint.