Quantity Versus Quality: The Battle for the Country's Top-Ranked Recruiting Class

By Andrew Lind on January 22, 2017 at 8:30 am
Urban Meyer and Nick Saban
Urban Meyer and Nick Saban
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The battle for the top-ranked recruiting class in the country has long been considered a two-horse race between Alabama and Ohio State. But with just over a week left until National Signing Day, it's becoming increasingly clear the Crimson Tide will finish atop the 247Sports Team Rankings for the seventh-consecutive year. 

The programs sit neck-and-neck in the team rankings at the moment, but if things play out as expected, the sheer size of Alabama's haul will keep its streak intact. 

The Crimson Tide currently hold commitments from 24 prospects, including five five-stars and 15 four-stars, and hope to add at least three or four more to the fold on signing day.

ALABAMA'S TOP-RATED COMMITS
PLAYER STARS position RANKING
NAJEE HARRIS ★★★★★ RB OVERALL: 3 POSITION: 2
ALEX LEATHERWOOD ★★★★★ OT OVERALL: 4 POSITION: 1
DYLAN MOSES ★★★★★ OLB OVERALL: 13 POSITION: 2
JERRY JEUDY ★★★★★ WR OVERALL: 21 POSITION: 3
TUA TAGOVAILOA ★★★★★ DUAL OVERALL: 32 POSITION: 1
ALABAMA'S TOP REMAINING TARGETS
PLAYER STARS position RANKING
AUBREY SOLOMON ★★★★★ DT OVERALL: 25 POSITION: 2
LABRYAN RAY ★★★★★ SDE OVERALL: 26 POSITION: 1
DEVONTA SMITH ★★★★ WR OVERALL: 64 POSITION: 9
HENRY RUGGS III ★★★★ WR OVERALL: 77 POSITION: 11
JAREZ PARKS ★★★★ WDE OVERALL: 93 POSITION: 7

Ohio State, meanwhile, is on track to sign its best recruiting class ever, as 18 of its 19 commits are considered four- or five-star prospects. 

The lone three-star? Blake Haubeil, the top-rated placekicker in the country. It's an utterly ridiculous haul, but head coach Urban Meyer isn't done yet. 

OHIO STATE'S TOP-RATED COMMITS
PLAYER STARS position RANKING
JEFFREY OKUDAH ★★★★★ CB OVERALL: 7 POSITION: 1
CHASE YOUNG ★★★★★ DE OVERALL: 8 POSITION: 2
BARON BROWNING ★★★★★ OLB OVERALL: 11 POSITION: 1
SHAUN WADE ★★★★★ CB OVERALL: 17 POSITION: 2
WYATT DAVIS ★★★★★ OG OVERALL: 24 POSITION: 1
OHIO STATE'S TOP REMAINING TARGETS
PLAYER STARS position RANKING
MARVIN WILSON ★★★★★ DT OVERALL: 6 POSITION: 1
JAY TUFELE ★★★★ DT OVERALL: 41 POSITION: 3
JAMES ROBINSON ★★★★ WR OVERALL: 114 POSITION: 14
OLIVER MARTIN ★★★★ WR OVERALL: 169 POSITION: 28
THAYER MUNFORD ★★★★ OT OVERALL: 279 POSITION: 30

The Buckeyes hope to add two or three more prospects to round out the class. But no matter the combination of commits, the program's current scholarship crunch won't allow them to come anywhere close to the Alabama in terms of quantity, which 247Sports unjustly values more than quality.

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