Here are five schools in spots to finish big for one reason (coaching changes) or another (finalist for elite prospects).
Keep an eye on Florida and Michigan. Both made huge head coach hires and changes with key assistant positions. Both have fewer than 10 commitments and aren’t ranked in the national Top 50 (Florida is 81st, Michigan 90th). Two years ago, both were in the top five.
Team rankings according to 247Sports.com
1. USC
Commitments: 21
Ranking: No. 5 in the nation
Potential pickups: DB Iman Marshall (No. 4 player in the nation according to 247Sports composite), DT Rasheem Green (No. 15), LB John Houston (No. 36), LB Osa Masina (No. 40), LB Porter Gustin (No. 58).
The skinny: The Trojans will make a lot of noise in the next few weeks and it’ll be interesting to see how much farther they shoot up the rankings — as it is, they’re No. 5. Could they push Alabama for No. 1 and break the Tide’s streak? Maybe — especially if the Trojans run the table with the recruits listed above.
2. Florida
Commitments: 8
Ranking: 81
Potential pickups: OL Martez Ivey (No. 1), DE Byron Cowart (No. 3), DE CeCe Jefferson (No. 5), RB Dexter Williams (No. 84), No. 89 Jeff Holland (No. 89).
The skinny: There’s really nowhere to go but up at this point. With only eight commitments, there’s a lot of work to do before National Signing Day. But not many programs have a decent shot at landing three of the top five prospects in the country. If Florida somehow closes with all three of them (Ivey, Cowart, Jefferson), it’ll make headlines.
3. UCLA
Commitments: 17
Ranking: 15
Potential pickups: RB Soso Jamabo (No. 28), LB Osa Masina (No. 40), DB DeChaun Holiday (No. 71), OL Josh Wariboko (No. 117), DE Joseph Wicker (No. 142), WR Carlos Strickland (No. 145).
The skinny: The Bruins won’t make the same splash that USC will make down the stretch. But UCLA has serious potential and the Bruins are among the finalists for several other top prospects. Expect the UCLA staff to be smiling by early February.
4. Michigan
Commitments: 6
Ranking: 90
Potential pickups: TE Chris Clark (No. 79), TE Tyrone Wheatley (No. 235).
The skinny: Like Florida, Michigan’s class fell apart after the coaching change. Then again, the Wolverines hired Jim Harbaugh and you know that will turn heads with recruits. Michigan isn’t going to have a single-digit signing class, so there will be a lot of activity in the coming weeks. Expect Harbaugh and his staff to pull off some surprises.
5. Auburn
Commitments: 20
Ranking: 11
Potential pickups: OL Martez Ivey (No. 1); DE No. 3 Byron Cowart, LB Jeff Holland (No. 89); DE Arden Key (No. 104); WR John Burt (No. 132).
The skinny: Auburn’s sort of a darkhorse here. There’s a chance the Tigers land one or two of the above mentioned prospects, but there’s at least a chance they land all of them and more. The Will Muschamp factor is huge here. As is the addition of two of the nation’s elite recruiters in Travaris Robinson (from Florida) and Lance Thompson (from Alabama).
Keep an eye on: Arizona State, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M
Brian McLaughlin is a Sporting News contributor. Follow him on Twitter: @BrianMacWriter
