NATIONAL SIGNING DAY 2011: THE TOP 10 CLASSES

What a day for the nation's elite high school football prospects. There were twists and turns as usual, and here is a quick recap of today's signees and projected finishing classes.

After careful review, I'm reshuffling the order a bit. I think without a doubt that Alabama has the #1 class. Reeling in Jeoffrey Pagan (great Defensive End from NC) away from Georgia was a big get. And they flipped Cyrus Kouandjio from rival Auburn. Plus Florida State lost a big one in Tony Steward to Clemson. Dabo cranked it up this year, and in a big way as he pulled in the #6 Class in the country. It's hard to keep FSU in the #1 spot after loosing such a talented back to Clemson, but they still had a phenomenal recruiting class led by Jimbo Fisher.

1. Alabama - Hasean Clinton-Dix (DB/S), Demetrius Hart (RB), Trey DePriest (RB), Quinton Dial (DE), Jeoffrey Pagan (DE), Cyrus Kouandjio (OL)
2. FSU -  - James Wilder Jr (RB), Karlos Williams (DB), Kelvin Bejamin (WR), and Nick O'Leary (TE)
3. Texas - Malcolm Brown (RB), Steve Edmond (LB), Josh Cochran (OL), Quande Diggs (DB)
4. USC - George Farmer (WR), De'Anthony Thomas, Greg Townsend Jr (DE)
5. Georgia - Isaiah Crowell (RB), Ray Drew (DE), Sterling Bailey (DE), Amarlo Herrera (LB), Christian LeMay (QB), Jay Rome (TE), Malcolm Mitchell, Jonathan Jenkins (Nose Tackle)
6. Clemson - Mike Bellamy (RB), Stephone Anthony (LB), Tony Steward (LB), Sammy Watkins (WR), Martavis Bryant (WR)
7. LSU - La'El Collins (OL), Anthony Johnson (DT), Jarvis Landry (WR), Jalen Collins (DB), Kenny Hilliard (RB)
8. Auburn - Kris Frost (LB), Christian Westerman (OL), Quay Bray (RB), Kiehl Frazier (QB
9. Ohio State - Braxton Miller (QB), Curtis Grant (LB), Doran Grant (CB), Michael Bennett (DE), Brian Bobek (OL)
10. Notre Dame - Aaron Lynch (DE), Stephon Tuitt (DE), Ishaq Williams (DE), Ben Koyack (TE), Matthew Hegarty (OL), Davaris Daniels (WR)

One interesting thing to note is Cyrus Kouandjio. He committed to Auburn today, then quickly showed second thoughts. He has yet to turn in his paperwork to Auburn making it official. (His brother is at BAMA, and that could turn his decision around). Jury is still out, and we should know more tomorrow. Expect him to flip come tomorrow.

We should have more once Jadeveon Clowney signs. Everything seems to point to South Carolina and the announcement coming on his birthday 2/14. He is far and away the best of this year's bunch.

And finally Georgia is pulling hard and in desperate need of Defensive Nose Tackle. The man in question is a JUCO, Johnathan Jenkins. 6'4" 340 pounder from Gulf Coast Community College.

UPDATE: Georgia pulled in Jonathan Jenkins. This moves Georgia's "Dream Team" as Mark Richt puts it into a Top 5 finish on the year. Nothing like a 340 lb "cherry on top" to finish out the competitive recruiting season. This an enormous get for Georgia who essentially played all of last year in the new 3-4 scheme without a true nose tackle. Expect a much improved point of attack from the Bulldogs this coming fall.

UPDATE #2: As expected Cyrus Kouandjio has flipped over to Alabama. This solidifies BAMA's pack leading recruiting efforts this year. This is a big time pick up at the last minute for Saban and company.

UPDATE #3: Jadeveon Clowney signs with the Gamecocks. Big time pickup for Spurrier and company. Maybe one of the best defensive picks up all time. We'll just have to see how he lives up to all this amazing hype. That makes it 3 Mr. South Carolina Football pickups in a row for the Old Ball Coach.

Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cfdaily

HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS: Part II

Alright this is another great day of games. The New Year's Eve slate of college football games is on point. We have 4 really good looking match ups on the board. Now mind you, these are not all traditional match ups, but pretty good looking match ups none the less.

Friday December 31st:

#1 South Florida vs Clemson in the Car Care Bowl
(12/31) Noon ESPN
Clemson has had a tough year. Seems like ever since Kyle Parker took a shot in the back against Auburn earlier in the year, that something has not been right. Clemson is sitting on 6-6 and Dabo does not want to finish with a loosing record. Both teams roll into Charlotte having lost their last game. South Florida had a big time win over Miami in the Overtime thriller back on Thanksgiving weekend. Look for some turnovers and some otherwise sloppy play, but a thrilling game as there on athletes for both teams on both sides of the ball. Look for Clemson's Defensive front to be the difference.


#2 Notre Dame vs Miami in the Sun Bowl
(12/31) 2:00 PM CBS
Catholics vs Convicts renewed. The 2010 edition of this rivalry will propel Notre Dame into the national spotlight and keep them there for the next decade. Look for Brian Kelly to seize this golden opportunity. With Miami burning in the background the Golden Domers will step back up on stage. Since she took office, I've been very critical of the University President, Donna Shalala, and exactly who was behind the "Let's resign, then fire Coach Randy Shannon" decision is beyond me. Talk about a costly decision. But from the looks of the U from the outside, things to do not look they are being handled properly. Harris throws too many picks. Irish win.


#3 Georgia vs Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl
(12/31) 3:30 PM ESPN
What a difference selling a bowl jersey makes. Georgia really has to look in the mirror after this year and dig deep. The recruiting needs to step up. The defense needs to step up. The offense needs to learn to not fumble in the red zone. And the toughness (strength and conditioning) needs to return and reach new heights. Just a few things and this team is playing their bowl game on New Year's Day again. Mark Richt has "The Year" coming up next year with a kick off classic looming against Boise State, and Florida game with a new coach. Yeah Coach Richt is going to really want to go into the off season on a high note. A resounding win over Central Florida accomplishes that. There are still some really good recruits out there for the Dawgs to land, and this game is a big component of decisions to come. Plain and simple this is a trap game. Georgia has a ton to loose, and very little on the National Stage to gain outside of rebuilding respect. But Richt will have things in order. Look for Liberty Bowl records to be broken by Murray and Green. Dawgs win this one. Because Lord knows if they lose it, The Guns of Navarone will be pointing towards Athens.


#4 South Carolina vs Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Bowl
(12/31) 7:30 PM ESPN
This is the main event of the day. What a great match up. Which Garcia will show up? Will Spurrier find ways to get the ball to Lattimore throughout the game? Remember last year's bowl game where UCONN blew the doors of USC? Ouch! Yeah I love this match up. Jimbo Fisher has some really good mojo going on in Tallahassee, and Spurrier has the Gamecocks believing. Hope is something that has not been in Columbia's football discussion for an entire football season in some time. But its back now and the the SEC Championship game aside, these Gamecocks are really good. I know they wish they could have that 2nd Quarter back in Atlanta. They finally got Auburn to punt, and they did nothing with it. They finally got Cam to fumble and did nothing with it. If they convert those in 14, then maybe that game rolled out differently. Nah probably not, but it needs to be said. Look for the Gamecocks in this win. Spurrier loves beating the Seminoles and this year's no different.

Come back tomorrow, where we will have Part III in HERE COME THE GOOD BOWLS.

Please be safe out there and Happy New Years!!!!!

Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cfdaily

SO CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE IT - PART IV

Let's jump right into breakdown of the 3:30 - 6:30 games for the first Saturday of College Football (9/4/2010).