Looking back at the top college football recruiting classes every year since 2005

In the past two decades of college football recruiting, only seven programs have signed a class that ranked No. 1 according to the Rivals Industry Team Rankings.

Others have gotten plenty close on a number of occasions, but Texas, Georgia, Alabama, USC, Florida, Florida State and Texas A&M stand alone since 2005. How those classes have ultimately panned out at the college level varies widely, with the Crimson Tide’s 2017 crop seen as the gold standard in terms of on-field production and matriculation to the NFL Draft.

As we look back on the modern recruiting era and ahead to who will take home the 2026 crown, Rivals is looking back at each of the top-ranked classes between 2005 and 2025.

2025 — Texas

Notable Signees: SAF Jonah Williams, DL Justus Terry, EDGE Lance Jackson, WR Kaliq Lockett, CB Kade Phillips

The Longhorns’ first No. 1 recruiting class of the modern era was a dandy, with 5 five-stars, 13 four-stars and 7 3-stars. The group was headlined by Williams, a Five-Star Plus+ safety, but Terry — a Signing Day addition — might’ve been the most impressive win of the bunch.

2024 — Georgia

Notable Signees: CB Ellis Robinson IV, LB Justin Williams, SAF KJ Bolden, DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, LB Chris Cole

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.

2023 — Alabama

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.

2022 — Texas A&M

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. 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.

2021 — Alabama

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 17 of the top 100 — unheard of numbers now. Latham, Turner and Terrion Arnold NFL Draft picks, but the class also featured some significant misses as well.

2020 — Georgia

Notable Signees: CB Kelee Ringo, OT Broderick Jones, DL Jalen Carter, TE Darnell Washington, LB MJ Sherman, OT Tate Ratledge

Georgia’s 2018 class was the one that established the ‘Dawgs as a national recruiting power under Kirby Smart, but the production of the 2019 and 2020 classes took things to another level. Jones, Ringo, Carter and Washington were all major pieces on their back-to-back national title teams, with two of the four later becoming first-round picks. One of the gems of the classes was a little-known three-star wide receiver named Ladd McConkey.

2019 — Alabama

Notable Signees: OT Evan Neal, RB Trey Sanders, OT Pierce Quick, LB Christian Harris, WR John Metchie

While this crop didn’t have as many headliners as some of Saban’s other groups, it still produced Neal (a top-10 overall pick), Metchie (a second-rounder), Harris (a third-round selection), Jordan Battle (3rd round), and Justin Eboigbe (4th round).

2018 — Georgia

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).

2017 — Alabama

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, 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 players from that group were drafted into the league and eight in the first round alone.

2016 — Florida State

Notable Signees: CB Levonta Taylor, IOL Landon Dickerson, EDGE Brian Burns, QB Malik Henry

FSU’s 2016 class was as highly touted as any in recent history for the ‘Noles, but it was a group that largely fell flat on its face at the college level. Taylor, the crown jewel of the group, had a great start to his college career but ultimately went undrafted in 2020. Dickerson transferred to Alabama and was an All-American in his final year in Tuscaloosa. Burns was the lone first-rounder of the group, while the ballyhooed Henry flamed out after transferring to the junior college level and ultimately the University of Nevada.

2015 — Alabama

Notable Signees: WR Calvin Ridley, RB Damien Harris, SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick, DL Daron Payne, SAF Deionte Thompson, SAF Ronnie Harrison, EDGE Anfernee Jennings

Three eventual first-rounders came out of this group with Ridley, Payne and Fitzpatrick all developing into top-20 selections in the NFL Draft. But it also included highly productive college players like Harris, Thompson, Harrison and Jennings, all of whom were later taken in the draft as well.

2014 — Alabama

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.

2013 — Alabama

Notable Signees: LB Reuben Foster, DL Jonathan Allen, RB Derrick Henry, TE O.J. Howard, WR Robert Foster, RB Alvin Kamara, DL A’Shawn Robinson, LB Tim Williams, CB Anthony Averett, SAF Eddie Jackson

In the midst of one of the greatest four-year recruiting runs ever, the Tide reloaded again in the 2013 cycle. Seven of the prospects in this class ranked as top-50 national recruits, headlined by Foster, Allen and Henry in the top-15. Foster’s recruitment was the stuff of legend, as he was once committed to Auburn and got a Tigers tattoo to commemorate it. He later flipped his commitment to the Tide but kept the ink and eventually became a first-round pick. As did Allen and Howard, but each of the rest on the aforementioned list was also drafted. Henry has become of the NFL’s all-time great running backs, while Kamara transferred to the junior college level and then Tennessee before a long NFL career.

2012 — Alabama

Notable Signees: SAF Landon Collins, SAF Eddie Williams, RB T.J. Yeldon, WR Amari Cooper, LB Reggie Ragland, CB Cyrus Jones, RB Kenyan Drake

Collins, Ragland and Jones were part of a handful of truly elite defenses, with each winning a national title during their tenures in Tuscaloosa. All three were eventually taken in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, too. Yeldon rushed for more than 3,000 yards during his three-year career, and Drake — despite limited carries — rushed for over 1,400 yards over four years and was a third-round pick. Cooper, though, was the star pupil of the class. His 2014 season was one of the best ever by a college wide receiver, earning him All-American honors and helping him to finish 3rd in the Heisman voting.

2011 — Alabama

Notable Signees: OT Cyrus Kouandjio, DL Jesse Williams, SAF Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, RB Dee Hart, EDGE Xzavier Dickson

The third of Nick Saban’s No. 1 classes, 2011 only turned out one eventual first-round pick in Dix, but it was a group that was part of back-to-back national titles in 2011 and 2012. Kuandjo was ultimately taken midway through the second round, and Williams — who Saban said had one of the most interesting recruitments he’d been involved with — was taken in the fifth round by the Seattle Seahawks. Hart transferred to Colorado State, where he was an All-Mountain West player before departing to the NFL Draft.

2010 — Florida

Notable Signees: LB Ronald Powell, DL Dominique Easley, DL Sharrif Floyd, SAF Matt Elam, CB Josh Shaw, SAF Jaylen Watkins

The Gators broke what would’ve been a run of eight consecutive No. 1 classes for Saban and his staff. It turned out to be the final class of Urban Meyer’s tenure in Gainesville though, as he eventually announced his retirement in December 2010. However, the class still largely lived up to the hype individually, as Easley, Floyd and Elam all became first-round picks. The on-field results were much more mixed, as new head coach Will Muschamp didn’t even last four full seasons before being ousted.

2009 — Alabama

Notable Signees: RB Trent Richardson, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, OT D.J. Fluker, LB Nico Johnson, QB AJ McCarron, RB Eddie Lacy, WR Kevin Norwood, IOL Chance Warmack

If the 2008 class got the momentum going for Alabama under Saban, it was this one that ultimately took it to another level. Every member of the 2009 class won multiple national championships, and in the case of McCarron, he was on three such teams. Richardson, Kirkpatrick, Fluker and Warmack all went on to be first-round picks, while Lacy finished his career top-5 in SEC history in yards per rushing attempt.

2008 — Alabama

Notable Signees: WR Julio Jones, EDGE Courtney Upshaw, RB Mark Barron, OL Barrett Jones, RB Mark Ingram, LB Dont’a Hightower, DL Marcell Dareus, DL Terrence Cody

The first of Saban’s No. 1 classes in Tuscaloosa, this group signed with the Tide after a 7-6 season in 2007 and really began the roll of elite recruiting and on-field success. Dareus, Julio Jones and Barron all went on to be top-10 picks, while Upshaw, Barrett Jones, Hightower and Cody were all NFL Draft selections as well.

2007 — Florida

Notable Signees: DL Carlos Dunlap, QB Cam Newton, QB John Brantley, TE Aaron Hernandez, SAF Major Wright, RB Chris Rainey, CB Joe Haden, OL Maurkice Pouncey, OL Mike Pouncey

Coming off his first national title after the 2006 season, Urban Meyer inked the country’s No. 1 class that ultimately played a major role in them winning again in 2008. Newton, one of the country’s most highly touted quarterbacks, ultimately was removed from the program, went to junior college and eventually won a national title and Heisman Trophy at Auburn. Of those who stuck around, Haden and both Pouncey brothers were eventual first-round picks while Hernandez went on to be one of the NFL’s premier tight ends before legal issues derailed his career.

2006 — USC

Notable Signees: WR Vidal Hazelton, SAF Taylor Mays, RB Stafon Johnson, RB Allen Bradford, RB C.J. Gable

In a feat that would be unheard of now, the Trojans signed not one, not two, but three five-star running backs in one class in 2006. Pete Carroll and Co. were coming off two seasons where they won a national title and finished runner-up to Texas, and everyone wanted to play in Hollywood. Unfortunately for this group, it struggled to live up its potential as the Trojans won three straight Rose Bowls but never made it back to the national title game. Hazelton ultimately transferred to Cincinnati, while Johnson, Bradford and Gable all struggled to break through in a crowded backfield group. Mays was tabbed a first-team All-American three times from 2007-09 before starting 50 career games in the NFL.

2005 — USC

Notable Signees: WR Patrick Turner, QB Mark Sanchez, OT Thomas Herring, LB Brian Cushing, DL Averell Spicer, LB Rey Maualuga

Immediately after winning their first national title under Pete Carroll, the Trojans landed the nation’s No. 1 class headlined by Turner and Sanchez, a pair of top-10 prospects. Much like the 2006 group, this one had its standouts but also failed to live up to the lofty expectations set by the likes of Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and others before them. Sanchez and Cushing both developed into first-round draft picks. Maulaluga, meanwhile, was named All-Pac-10 three separate times before playing nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins.