by Bryan KellyDie-hard football recruiting followers like myself are always looking for ways to rerank the top classes, changing the order of the teams according to different variables.
For instance, does USC's relatively low number of signees (20) make it a weaker class than Auburn's, which signed 32? (Yes, given the bust rate of your average recruit.)
With that in mind, I'd like to rerank 2010's top recruiting classes based only on the defensive signees.
After disregarding all those glitzy offensive playmakers, what teams suffer? Who enters into the top 15 conversation? Who, if anyone, falls out entirely?
Take a look.
No. 15: USCUSC's class was truly top of the line, but most of the fireworks were on offense.
Still, the Trojans landed Scout's No. 3 defensive tackle, George Uko; the sixth-best middle linebacker,
Hayes Pullard; and a pair of talented cornerbacks in
Nickell Robey (a former Georgia commit who flipped on Signing Day) and
Demetrius Wright.
Safety Dion Bailey was Rival's seventh-best, and a top target for UCLA and Notre Dame up until signing day, too.
A pair of JUCO four-stars, OLB Glen Stanley and DE Marquis Jackson, could contribute immediately for a Trojans defense that took its share of lumps last year.
What this defensive class lacks—somewhat seriously—in depth, it makes up for in precision. There's not a bad get in the bunch.
The rest of the Top Recruiting Classes.
