Predicting how early top 10 football recruiting classes will finish

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SB Nation’s Richard Johnson and Bud Elliott fired up another episode of the College Football Recruiting Podcast.

It’s March. College football recruit rankings are not very good at this point, so Elliott and Johnson discuss exactly why that is.

Then they break down the top 10 teams in the recruiting rankings, setting over/unders for where each class will finish.

1. (Minute 8) Miami has the top class with 13 commitments, including running back Lorenzo Lingard, receiver Brian Hightower, and defensive back Josh Jobe. Over the last two years, the Hurricanes have averaged a 17th-place finish. Does Johnson think Miami will finish better than eighth this year?
2. (14) Penn State is No. 2 with 11 commitments, including defensive end Micah Parsons and QB Justin Fields. Penn State’s two-year average is 15th. Will the Nittany Lions finish higher than 12th? Elliott breaks it down.
3. (17) Notre Dame also has 11 commitments, including QB Phil Jurkovec and DB Derrik Allen. After a 4-8 2016 season, can the Irish finish better than 15th?
4. (22) LSU again is loading up on elite defensive backs. Can the Tigers finish higher than sixth?
5. (26) FSU has elite talents already in running back James Cook and defensive tackle Robert Cooper. Will the Noles again be better than fourth nationally?
6. (29) USC seemingly has right of first refusal on all the elite kids West of the Rockies. With the nation’s best early LB class, and a top QB, the Trojans are again rolling. Can they finish better than fourth?
7. (31) Clemson, coming off a national title, has the No. 1 player in the country in Trevor Lawrence. Does Richard think the Tigers can finish better than fifth? Over the last two seasons, Clemson has averaged 12th.
8. (33) Despite the uncertainty in College Station, can Texas A&M stick around in the top 10? Elliott thinks they’ll be close, but has them slightly outside.
9. (36) Ohio State sits at ninth as of time or recording, but it has been the second-best recruiter under Urban Meyer (second only to Nick Saban’s Alabama). The over/under Elliott throws out to Johnson is three.
10. (39) Kansas. Yes, Kansas. Over the last two years, the Jayhawks have averaged 68th. Johnson asks Elliott if Kansas finish with a 30th-or-better class.

Around the 44-minute mark, a quick discussion of Alabama, Michigan, Auburn, Georgia, and Texas ensues.

The podcast finishes with a look at two unrated prospects in defensive back Jarvis Ware, of Wekiva (Fla.), and receiver Russell Brown of Lehigh (Fla.).

Ware is 5’11.5, 175 pounds, and was one of the best defensive backs at the Orlando Nike Opening Regional camp in February. His only offer is Southern Miss.

I see an aggressive, instinctual player who could end up as a four-star type at either corner or safety.

Brown is a verified 6’2, 189, and posted the No. 5 SPARQ score among receivers at the Orlando Opening Regional camp. Brown claims offers from South Carolina and Oregon, among others, but still is without a star rating. His highlight shows him winning with his size.