2009 National Signing Day

Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. It is great for any program to have a top 20 signing day class, but much like the NFL draft you will have plenty of bust. In fact, I feel that they're are more "bust" in college than the pros.

The leap from high school to college is tough, because you may have a kid who was given the world in high school, allowed to skip class, break rules, etc. as long as he performed. Which is the harder leap? High school to college football or college football to the NFL? The leap to college involves tougher academics, boosters, agents, balancing being away from home, new coaches, a rigorous weightlifting schedule, study hall when you are beat up and tired after practice, and girls. Yes, girls, most of fthe time they're more women on campus than they are men, so yes, its a distraction.

The leap from college to pro is tough because you've got money, hype/expectations, family, tickets, life, sponsors, growing up, adjusting to a new city all over again, and even more girls.

To be honest, I think the leap from high school football to college football is much more difficult than college ball to pro ball. There are more distractions, you have to stay eligible, you make one mistake you may get kicked off the team, not to mention the politics that are at every level of football.

Well, with all that said, the hard part is not getting at top ballyhooed recruiting class, its getting them to live up to that ballyhooed hype.

ESPN Rise 2009 Football Signing Class

1. LSU Tigers

The Tigers nabbed 25 recruits and 10 in the ESPN 150. The big name of this class was H-town QB Russell Sheppard who was the #1 athlete in the country. Look for the Tigers rebuilding process to speed up rather quickly.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Tide signed 29 players, 9 of whom were in the ESPN 150. The star of this class is Trent Richardson, #1 RB in the land out of Escambia HS in Pensacola, FL. Look for the loss of Glen Coffee to not sting so hard with this fella coming to town.

3. Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns reloaded well signing 20 recruits, 9 of which are ranked in the ESPN 150. The star of this class is local Lake Travis star QB, Garrett Gilbert, who will wait in the wings while Colt McCoy ends a fabulous career next year and then Gilbert hopes to contend for a starting role.

4. USC Trojans

The Men of Troy only nabbed 17 recruits, but 9 of them are ranked in the ESPN 150. That's a great ratio and part of the reason why they contend for a national title every year. Pure quality. Every Trojan is good and depth is never a problem for them. Sometimes when a lame football game comes on, I'd rather watch the USC spring game, because its loaded with more action and better football. The cream of this class' crop is Cali QB Matt Barkley out of Mater Dei High school, who just happened to be ESPN's #1 overall player.

5. Florida Gators

The defending national champions signed 18 recruits and 9 of them are ranked in the ESPN 150. Andre Debose out of Seminole HS in Samford, FL is the star of this class at WR. He has great timing too, as Percy Harvin departs to the NFL.

That is this year's top 5 class. The real ranking comes in 4 years when you find out what these fellas did to help their programs and how many of them went to the league.


Check out Scout.com's Director, Scott Kennedy, as he breaks down the top 5 signing classes.





Peace,


Ricky Writer