We’ve hit the pause button on the football recruiting scene until the middle of January.  With the early signing period ending last Friday, the dead period gives coaches and unsigned recruits a bit of a breather before things go live again January 17^th.  There can be phone, text and social media contact, but no person to person meetings. 

It also gives coaches a chance to take stock of where they are in building their 2020 class.

For Clemson, that means owning the #1 ranked recruiting class.  The Tigers, for the first time, have achieved that high status from the recruiting websites. They did so by signing six 5-star rated recruits and 11-four stars out of their 24 signees according to the 247Sports team ranking composite.

The Tigers signed 4 players ranked among the top 16 prospects in the country, including the top ranked player in DT Bryan Bresee.  

And the Tigers aren’t done with this class.  They are hopeful of adding WR Xzavier Henderson of Miami.  He took an official weekend before last and plans an announcement January 4^th at the All-American game.  He also has LSU, Georgia and Alabama on his short list.  

The Tigers no doubt would take Hammond DE Jordan Burch if he were to decide to flip from his commitment to USC.  That is not expected to happen as it’s believed the sole reason Burch did not sign early with the Gamecocks was so he could wait until the February signing day and participate in a signing event with his teammates.  However, Burch still has two official visits he can take, and he has not used one on Clemson or USC.

Burch gave USC its only 5-star recruit in the class.  According to the 247 composite, the Gamecocks signed seven 4-star level players.  The Gamecocks are 16^th by the 247 composite and if that holds or improves, this will be the highest rated class brought to USC by Will Muschamp.

The Gamecocks signed 17 players Wednesday, and with two of their transfers counting in the class. They have room to sign six more in February.  Burch and DL teammate Alex Huntley would account for two of those spots.  Four other commitments did not sign last week….WR Da’Quon Stewart,  RB Za’Quandre White, P Kai Kroger and PK Mitch Jeter. Potentially the two kickers could wait on August enrollment and count towards the 2021 class. 

The Gamecocks also have WR Ger-Cari Caldwell of Northwestern still up on their board.  The Shrine Bowler plans to take an official visit to USC January 17^th.  He has taken official visits to Wake Forest and Baylor. 

USC may also continue to work DE Reggie Grimes of Brentwood, TN. He’s an Oklahoma commitment who did not sign last week, but he did tweet that he’s solid with his commitment and shutting down his recruiting.  

As for the rest of the top ten classes behind Clemson in the 247 composite, they are Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Texas and Oklahoma. 

If recruiting rankings foretell the future, Clemson’s ACC dominance should continue for years to come.  The highest rated class in the ACC after Clemson’s is Miami at #16.  And in Clemson’s Atlantic Division, it would be Florida State at #21.

As for the Gamecocks and their efforts to make up ground on the rest of the SEC, seven SEC teams are ranked ahead of them in the 247 composite, and three of them are in the SEC East.