Welcome to The Crootletter (sign up to get this in your inbox every morning!). I'm Bud Elliott, SB Nation's National Recruiting Analyst, and in this space I'll be sharing news, rumors and musings on the world of college football recruiting.
Let's recap national signing day, in order of the finish in the 247Sports Composite ratings. I use these ratings because they are a combination of 247, ESPN, Rivals and Scout.
1. Alabamasigned the No. 1 class thanks to an insane close. The level of defenders the Tide signed, like linebackers Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson, is awesome.
2. Florida State closed like a house on fire, narrowly missing having the top class because it signed just one five-star player, but this is probably Jimbo Fisher's deepest class ever.
3. LSU didn't have the best close, but the overall talent level is great, as the Tigers signed nine of the top 10 players in Louisiana.
4. Ohio State's class was pretty much done before National Signing Day, but Urban Meyer again stocked the second-most talented roster in college football.
5. Michigan signed a top-five class, which is exactly what it needed to do in Jim Harbaugh's first full year in Ann Arbor. I love the signing of Rashan Gary, a player deserving of his No. 1 overall rating.
6. Ole Miss missed on some elite defensive recruits, but it's hard to complain about the Rebels' signing class. I love the receiver group of DeKaylin Metcalf, A.J. Brown and Tre Nixon.
7. I was disappointed in Georgia's close, as it lost some key big men from the state, but Kirby Smart still landed 13 blue chippers, which is a good haul. I expect UGA to do even more damage in 2017.
8. USC closed, bringing in multiple elite players to the class on National Signing Day, even though the Trojans aren't dominating the recruiting trail like under Pete Carroll.
9. Auburn closed, landing Derrick Brown, Nate Craig-Myers and Jayvaughn Myers. My favorite player in this class is Nick Coe, one of the best defensive ends in the country and someone I feel is underrated.
10. I love the top of Clemson's recruiting class. I'd put the Tigers' 10 best signees up against anyone's. Clemson signed a lot of impact defenders whom I think are locks for the NFL if they stay healthy.
11. Texas closed as well as anyone, adding seven new pledges on National Signing Day. The Longhorns' defensive talent is unparalleled now in the Big 12.
12. UCLA closed, adding impact defenders Mique Juarez and Boss Tagaloa. The Bruins are legitimate competition for USC on the recruiting trail.
13. Florida did not close, but still signed a good class with a lot of impact early enrollees and good junior college players.
14. Tennessee closed, picking up elite defenders Nigel Warrior and Jonathan Kongbo.
15. Notre Dame did not close, failing to lure any big names on Signing Day, but it had plenty of talent already committed entering the week.