2011 College Football Recruiting Class: How Did The Top 10 Do?

Just how much do top recruiting classes matter? As the 2011 recruiting season showed, getting the top talent mattered a lot if you wanted to play in a national title game over the last three years.

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Recruiting might be a fat load of hooey when it comes to all the time and attention paid to it – to a point. You take the team full of try-hard three-star prospects, and when push comes to shove at the highest level, that team will get knocked out by the one with more talent.

Not all of the top ten recruiting classes ended up doing what they were supposed to – seven of the programs have different coaching staffs going into the 2016 season – but all six teams in the last three national championship games were ranked among the top nine of 2011 classes.

So, if each recruiting class is supposed to be a five-year cycle, how did the elite hauls from five years ago work out?

10. Tennessee

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. WR DeAnthony Arnett

2. OT Cameron Clear

3. LB A.J. Johnson
4. OT Antonio Richardson
5. LB Curt Maggitt
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: S Brian Randolph

Basically, this class should’ve worked, and didn’t. There were a few excellent finds among the four-star types in Johnson, Maggitt, and Richardson, but Arnett didn’t pan out for the Vols and there were way too many key misfires. It was a huge class that got next to nothing out the three-star recruits.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “Derek Dooley did a tremendous job with a class that might bring Tennessee back to the level that everyone has been waiting for. JUCO transfer safety Byron Moore will be used right away, JUCO transfer defensive tackle Maurice Couch will step inside instantly, and linebacker A.J. Johnson is a stud, but the key to the class is the bulking up on the offensive line with two Signing Day pickups in Cameron Clear and Antonio Richardson. Clear needs a while to bulk up, but the athleticism is there to be special. 6-5, 290-pound Kyler Kerbyson is ready soon, and guards Marcus Jackson and Alan Posey are promising.”

9. Clemson

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. LB Stephone Anthony

2. WR Sammy Watkins

3. LB Tony Steward
4. RB Mike Bellamy
5. WR Charone Peake
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: DE Kevin Dodd

It’s not quite right to call this the class that led the way to the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship game, but it sure did help with two-star LB B.J. Goodson leading the team in tackles and Kevin Dodd turning into a factor at one end. There were some huge misses among the key prospects, but Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant went on to become top NFL receiver prospects, and Anthony led the team in tackles in 2014. DT Grady Jarrett turned into a terrific get as an unsung three-star prospect.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “After a few years of focusing mostly on the defense, the Tigers came up with something for the offense that struggled last season with three new quarterback prospects and several dangerous receivers. Sammy Watkins is a five-star talent with next-level upside, and Charone Peake and Martavis Bryant are two big, strong receivers who could be involved immediately. Eric MacLain is one of the nation’s top tight ends. Defensively, Corey Crawford isn’t Da’Quan Bowers, but he’s a pass rusher who might make some noise this year.”

8. Georgia

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. RB Isaiah Crowell

2. DE Ray Drew

3. S Corey Moore
4. CB Malcolm Mitchell
5. QB Christian LeMay
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: C David Andrews

This turned into a phenomenal class, but not necessarily because of the key five-star pickups in Crowell and Drew. Amerlo Herrera was a four-star linebacker prospect, Ramik Wilson went from three-stars to all-star, and Damian Swann was a good recruit for one corner, but it was JUCO transfer John Jenkins who was the real instant impact performer as an anchor for the great D line. CB Malcolm Mitchell turned into the team’s leading receiver. One big-time recruit at corner was Nick Marshall – who went on to almost win the national title at quarterback for Auburn.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “The dream class should change around Georgia football over the next several years with superstar prospects like QB Christian LeMay, RB Isaiah Crowell, and DE Ray Drew all with the potential to be major national figures. But for all the flash for the offense, and for all the good things done in the secondary, the key should be on the offensive front with rock-solid prospects for the interior in David Andrews and Chris Mayes, and top tackles in Watts Dantzler, Zach DeBell, and Xzavier Ward to bank on by 2014 to provide next-level talent on the outside.”

7. Oregon

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. CB De’Anthony Thomas

2. LB Colt Lyerla

3. LB Anthony Wallace
4. OT Andre Yruretogoyena
5. CB Ifo Ekpre-Olamu
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: QB Marcus Mariota

Thomas turned out to be the star of recruiting stars as gamebreaking running back, but overall this was the class that ended up leading the way to the doorstep of a national title. There were some epic misfires, but the Ducks were helped by Jake Fisher at offensive tackle, Ekpre-Olamu at corner – until he got hurt – and a three-star, okay quarterback prospect out of Honolulu who ended up winning the Heisman trophy on the way to becoming the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “There’s lots and lots of talent. Oregon hasn’t exactly struggled in the recruiting world over the last few years, but it hasn’t made a national splash like this with big-time prospects all across the board. The receiving corps got a mega-boost with JUCO transfer Rahsaan Vaughn ready to be a No. 1 guy right now, while the offensive line got some special talents in Tyler Johnstone, Jake Fisher, and Andre Yruretagoyena. The mega-coup, though, was ripping the heart out of USC by taking away the nation’s No. 1 corner, DeAnthony Thomas, at the last second.”

6. USC

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. WR George Farmer

2. S Marquise Lee

3. OG Cyrus Hobbi
4. LB Anthony Sarao
5. LB Lamar Dawson
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: RB Javorius Allen

Remember, USC was knee-deep in Reggie Bush issues at the time. George Farmer just never turned into the five-star receiver talent he was supposed to, but safety prospect Marquise Lee helped make up for that. Cody Kessler turned into the big winner among the quarterback lot, while Buck Allen went from also-ran three-star recruit to the key to the ground game.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “Considering the limitations the Trojan coaching staff has to deal with, this was a phenomenal class with a little something for every spot. While it would’ve been a jaw-dropping haul had top corner DeAnthony Thomas not done an about face and picked Oregon at the last second, it’s still impressive thanks mostly to the defensive front. End Greg Townsend leads a fast, aggressive group of ends, while tackle Christian Heyward was a strong get out of San Diego. Offensively, the spotlight will be on the battle for the future starting quarterback spot between Max Wittek and Cody Kessler, while Amir Carlisle has all the makings of the next great Trojan running back.”

5. Alabama

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. OT Cyrus Kouandjio

2. S HaHa Clinton-Dix

3. LB Trey DePriest
4. C Ryan Kelly
5. LB Brent Calloway
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: CB Christion Jones

You want some key pieces in a dynasty? Start with offensive linemen like Kouandjio and Kelly, and defensive linemen like Jesse Williams, Jeoffrey Pagan, Quinton Dial and Xzavier Dickson. Throw in Trey DePriest living up to the five-star hype, and the recruiting class had enough to make up for some mega four-star misses. Interestingly enough, there weren’t any big-time running backs – Dee Hart didn’t work out thanks to knee injuries, but he was strong for Colorado State – and the top-shelf receivers all whiffed.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “With yet another phenomenal class, the rich get richer … while also sticking it to Auburn with OT Cyrus Kouandijo verbaling to the Tigers and signing with the Tide. The receiving corps is awesome with 6-4 Marvin Shinn and 6-2 Danny Woodson bringing the size, and Bradley Sylve providing the speed. Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix might be the nation’s best safety prospect, and Trey DePriest is Scout.com’s No. 1 ranked middle linebacker, but the key to the class could be up front on defense with JUCO transfers Quinton Dial, a 6-5, 310-pound future NFL draft pick, and 6-4, 340-pound Jesse Williams, ready to clog the inside. Xzavier Dickson fits the Bama scheme perfectly at one end, and Jeoffrey Pagan should be a strong pass rusher with a little bit of time.”

4. Auburn

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. OG Christian Westerman

2. QB Kiehl Frazier

3. S Erique Florence
4. C Reese Dismukes
5. OG Greg Robinson
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: WR Sammie Coates

The key to the 2011 Auburn recruiting class turned out to be Georgia CB prospect Nick Marshall. Frazier never came close to his four-star billing, but the offensive linemen turned out to be solid. Robinson wasn’t the prospect Westerman was, but he turned out to be the best of a good lot. TE C.J. Uzomah and LB Kris Frost were key contributors, but it was Tre Mason – Scout.com’s 29th-ranked running back, and unsung WR Sammie Coates who turned into the superstars for the high-octane offense – once Gene Chizik and the coaching staff that brought in this class were gone.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “Even without Cyrus Kouandijo – who signed with Alabama – all the attention will be paid to an offensive line that features the nation’s best guard prospect, Christian Westerman and top center, Reese Dismukes. Getting defensive tackle Gabe Wright was a nice pickup on Signing Day, but the real teeth in this class is in the defensive back seven. Justin Garrett is a safety-sized linebacker who should be a disruptive force, and Kris Frost has big-time upside. Safety Erique Florence can play anywhere in the secondary, and corners Jonathan Rose, Jermaine Whitehead, and Rubensen Therezie are big, strong talents on the outside. QB Kiehl Frazier and running backs Quan Bray and Tre Mason will stock up the backfield in a few years.”

3. Texas

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. DT Malcolm Brown

2. LB Steve Edmond

3. DT Desmond Jackson
4. WR Jaxon Shipley
5. OG Sedrick Flowers
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: QB David Ash

At least up top, this recruiting class was excellent – and then came the rest of the group. Outside of four-star DE Cedric Reed, and four-star CB Quandre Diggs, Mack Brown’s great-looking haul of Texas talent turned out to be a boatload of average other than the supposed sure-things. David Ash was a three-star recruit who turned out to be solid – “rocked” is the wrong word – before having to retire due to concussion problems, and there weren’t a lot of stars among all the four-stars.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “It’s Texas, so there’s the normal dizzying array of four and five-star talents across the board – the secondary, defensive line, and receiving corps are LOADED with this class – but the two things that truly matter are 1) the offensive line and 2) Malcolm Brown. The running back-by-committee thing hasn’t worked too well since Jamaal Charles left, and the hope is for the 220-pound Brown to be the fast thumper who can take over the ground game. Will the Longhorns finally have the front five to pave the way? Garrett Greanlea and Sedrick Flowers aren’t going to be ready right away, but they’ll need to be anchors as soon as possible. Fun stat: every recruit is from Texas.”

2. Ohio State

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011
1. LB Curtis Grant

2. QB Braxton Miller

3. DE Steve Miller
4. CB Doran Grant
5. C Brian Bobek
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: QB Cardale Jones

Remember, Urban Meyer was an ESPN analysis during this recruiting period. Even so, the OSU staff brought some key parts to an eventual national champion, even if Braxton Miller wasn’t one of those stars. Shazier and Doran Grant were great, and four-star DT Michael Bennett and WR Devin Smith were terrific. Throw in three-star TE Jeff Heuerman, and an unsung three-star QB out of Cleveland in Cardale Jones, and this class ended up winning lots and lots of games.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “All eyes will be on Braxton Miller, who might be the quarterback and the key to the start of the 2011 season, but the Buckeyes will be loaded for years to come thanks to the pickup of several amazing defensive players. The Signing Day coup of Curtis Grant, the nation’s top outside linebacker, was the icing on the cake for a class that came up with NFL talents in Michael Bennett at defensive tackle and Steve Miller on the outside. Ryan Shazier will be a star linebacker on the outside.”

1. Florida State

Top 5 Ranked Recruits of 2011

1. S Karlos Williams (turned into a RB)

2. LB James Wilder (also, turned into a RB)

3. DT Timmy Jernigan
4. OT Bobby Hart
5. DE Cornellius Carradine
Unsung Recruit Who Rocked: Jacob Coker

Why did Florida State win the 2014 national championship? Jameis Winston wasn’t a part of this class, but it was epic in terms of all the superstar talent for both sides of the ball. Forget for a moment that Williams and Wilder were next-level defensive prospects who turned into great running backs, four-star back Devonta Freeman was also in this group. How’s this for a 1-2 wide receiver recruiting punch: Kelvin Benjamin and Rashad Greene. Oh yeah, and TE Nick O’Leary was in this class, too. But what about the O line? Tre Jackson, Bobby Hart and Josue Matias were relative throw-ins. Terrance Smith was a four-star DE recruit, but he went almost unnoticed. FSU also brought in a national championship starting quarterback – Jacob Coker, a three-star pickup who was Scout.com’s 44th-ranked QB.

Analysis on 2011 NSD: “Florida State has done its normally strong job of recruiting over the past several years, but now with the transition of power well in the rearview mirror, the program is rocking on the recruiting trail. Jimbo Fisher did a nice job last year, but that was nothing compared to the haul he brought in this season led by defensive tackle Tim Jernigan, safety Karlos Williams, outside linebacker James Wilder, and offensive tackle Bobby Hart. They’ll be expected to be All-ACC stars in the near future, while JUCO transfer defensive tackle Cornellius Carradine is ready for right now. Position-wise, the defensive line got the most attention with a jaw-dropping group of players who should make the Noles a brick wall for the next four years. There might have been a few stunning losses here and there, including linebacker Stephone Anthony to Clemson, but this the program’s best class in a long, long time.”