Ranking college football's best 2025 recruiting classes: The top 25 schools (2024)

There's still a long road ahead before finalizing the class of 2025, but with nearly one-third of the ESPN 300 committed, recruiting classes are starting to take shape. Ohio State, whose class already includes two five-star corners, leads a pack of familiar names at the top of the rankings out of the gate.

You'll also find some programs that don't normally crack the top 25 recruiting class rankings. Wake Forest, Syracuse under new head coach Fran Brown, and SMU are off to strong starts and sit among the nation's top classes.

Additional commitments, flips and coaching changes will ultimately shake these rankings up before the cycle is complete. However, the baseline for the 2025 cycle is set, and the race for the top classes in the country is in full swing.

coverage:
Recruits to know in 2025 rankings
How top frosh WRs fit at their new schools
10 most interesting QBs in 2024 season

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

ESPN 300 commits: 10
Top offensive prospect: QB Tavien St. Clair
Top defensive prospect: CB Na'eem Offord

The Buckeyes missed the College Football Playoff last season, but they're signaling a return to the national title mix soon. They signed a top-five class and have made headlines with impactful transfer portal additions in 2024. While those efforts are exciting, OSU is also enjoying great success with its 2025 class. Defensively, the Buckeyes have commitments from three of the nation's four best cornerback prospects in Offord, Devin Sanchez and Blake Woodby. Offord is a versatile high school player who projects to defense with outstanding quickness and an aggressive style of play. The 6-foot-2 Sanchez has coveted length. He also has the speed and suddenness to match up with a variety of receivers. Sanchez could be in the mold of current Buckeyes standout corner Denzel Burke. Woodby is a versatile player with excellent speed and exudes the confidence needed to play the position.

Even after bringing in two of the top 2024 quarterbacks in Julian Sayin and Air Noland, Ohio State continues to add more talent to that position room in St. Clair. He's an in-state prospect with physical tools to develop -- his mobility and arm strength. St. Clair has been very productive at Bellefontaine High School, throwing for nearly 6,000 yards the past two seasons while displaying consistency and completing roughly 70% of passes.

2. LSU Tigers

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: QB Bryce Underwood
Top defensive prospect: CB Jaboree Antoine

Few programs protect their home turf like the Tigers, and they're taking advantage of Louisiana's strong talent in 2025. LSU landed commitments from several of the state's top prospects, including the top-rated offensive and defensive players. Antoine, the state's No. 2 player, is one of the top cornerback prospects in the class. He's a fluid defender with nice height at just over 6-foot-1. Running back Harlem Berry, the No. 1 player in Louisiana, has quick feet and home run speed. Berry can be a playmaker with the ball in his hands. The Tigers went out of state to land elite offensive talent as well, securing commitments from two of the top three players in the ESPN 300.

Five-star Underwood is a rangy quarterback with good mobility who possesses natural arm strength and is a poised, decisive passer. He threw for over 3,100 yards with 40 touchdowns to only two interceptions as a junior. LSU also pulled No. 1 wide receiver Dakorien Moore from Texas, another pivotal recruiting area. He's a speedy target who generates big plays. As a junior, he helped lead Duncanville to a state title with over 60 catches and 1,200 yards.

3. Clemson Tigers

ESPN 300 commits: 8
Top offensive prospect: RB Gideon Davidson
Top defensive prospect: DE Ari Watford

Despite ranking just 15th for the 2024 cycle, the Tigers have already checked several boxes in 2025 with big commitments at multiple positions. Davidson and in-state prospect Marquise Henderson are a pair of key running back pledges. Davidson, a top-five running back, runs with a nice blend of size, speed and power. He posted impressive numbers as a junior, rushing for 2,700 yards and 43 touchdowns. Henderson is more slightly built at roughly 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, but has explosive, big-play speed. He rushed for more than 2,300 yards as a junior. Four-star quarterback Blake Hebert missed most of his junior season with an injury, but he has good size, a smooth and compact delivery, and he moves well and extends plays.

Led by Watford, Clemson landed several defensive linemen ranked in the ESPN 300. Watford is a lengthy player with good initial quickness who can develop into a disruptive edge rusher. In the trenches, Clemson landed defensive tackle Amare Adams, the top-ranked player in South Carolina. The Tigers also pulled tackle Isaiah Campbell out of neighboring North Carolina. Campbell has a big frame and good movement skills. One-time Georgia commit Tae Harris is a nice addition to the secondary. He projects to safety, but he's versatile enough to play corner. He posted some of the top numbers on the spring camp circuit, including a blazing 4.38 40-yard dash.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: QB Deuce Knight
Top defensive prospect: CB Ivan Taylor

The Fighting Irish created buzz with their transfer portal pickup of Riley Leonard at quarterback, but they continue to also add young talent to develop at the position.They signed top-five 2024 quarterback C.J. Carr and have Knight, one of the top signal-callers in the 2025 class. He's a lefty who pairs good arm strength and mobility with nice physical tools and upside. Justin Thurman is a running back with a good blend of speed, quickness and explosiveness, which he demonstrated by posting consistently strong testing numbers over the past two camp cycles.

Landing James Flanigan, an ESPN 300 prospect, continues Notre Dame's tradition of identifying and developing tight ends. Ivan Taylor is a key defensive pickup. He also has good genes as his father, Ike, won two Super Bowls. Ivan displays solid technique for this stage and good speed.

5. USC Trojans

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: QB Julian Lewis
Top defensive prospect: DT Justus Terry

Lincoln Riley has developed some of the top QBs in college football in recent years. Lewis could be next. USC will have to work to hold onto the five-star passer, who reclassified from the 2026 class to 2025. He has a smooth, quick release, possesses good fundamentals and has shown the tools to become one of college football's next elite quarterbacks. Lewis' commitment is key, but the Trojans need to strengthen their defense, which ranked No. 116 in 2023, if they want to become a true national title contender. They're taking the steps to do it.

Flipping five-star defensive lineman Terry from Georgia was a big recruiting win. He fills a need and provides USC a tough interior player with nice arm length, strength and mobility. Edge defender Isaiah Gibson is another key defensive commitment out of Georgia. Gibson has tremendous length and can be a disruptive pass-rusher, having notched over 20 sacks in his previous two high school seasons. The Trojans also landed a pair of ESPN 300 safeties, Hylton Stubbs and Matai Tagoa'i, to further bolster their defense.

6. Alabama Crimson Tide

ESPN 300 commits: 7
Top offensive prospect: RB Anthony Rogers
Top defensive prospect: ATH Derick Smith

Alabama raced to a fast start in the 2025 cycle, but many of the initial commitments fled following Nick Saban's retirement. The new staff quickly rebounded and returned the Crimson Tide to near the top of the rankings, even if the class looks quite different. Landing one of the state's top prospects, Smith, was a key win. He's a lengthy, explosive player who could contribute at wide receiver but ultimately projects to defense, where he can be a versatile weapon who makes plays in space. He also showed the ability to get after the quarterback (11 sacks) as a junior.

Darrell Johnson is another versatile player who contributed at multiple positions in high school and is expected to develop on defense. ESPN 300 LB Abduall Sanders Jr. was a nice pickup out of California. He lacks elite height and length but can be active against the run between the tackles with good agility and quickness. Sanders also moves deceptively well and showed he can be productive in coverage and be a three-down defender. Alabama also flipped Antonio Coleman back from rival Auburn. He's an explosive and powerful interior defensive lineman who can be disruptive, having recorded 30 tackles for loss as a junior.

7. Auburn Tigers

ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: OT Tavaris Dice
Top defensive prospect: DT Jourdin Crawford

The Tigers did a nice job addressing their need at receiver in 2024. Now, they're adding to the defensive front in 2025. Auburn has three in-state ESPN 300 defensive linemen on the board: Crawford, Jakaleb Faulk and Malik Autry. Crawford is a stout 300-pounder who stands out because he moves quite well for his size. Faulk is an edge player with length, quickness and the ability to redirect. Autry is another 300-pounder who is a big, aggressive presence in the trenches. The Tigers also added several big men to their offensive line unit, including Dice, a physically impressive tackle with good bend and power, and guard Kalen Edwards, both of whom are in the ESPN 300.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

ESPN 300 commits: 6
Top offensive prospect: QB Kevin Sperry
Top defensive prospect: DE Alexander Shieldnight

The Sooners' first official class as a member of the SEC already has a strong foundation. It's anchored by offensive firepower, including three ESPN 300 wide receivers in Jaden Nickens, Elijah Thomas and Gracen Harris. Harris is quick, can be sudden in his movements and has good hands. Nickens and Thomas are in-state commits. The former is a bigger target with nice length who can adjust to the ball well. The latter is a precise route-runner and offers a wide catch radius. Running back Tory Blaylock can be an electric playmaker with excellent speed who has registered a max north of 21 mph in games.

The Sooners stayed in-state to land Sperry at QB. He has a quick release and good accuracy and threw for over 2,500 yards and completed 68% of his passes as a junior. Defensive end Shieldnight has first-step quickness and active hands and tallied 11 sacks as a junior.

9. Penn State Nittany Lions

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: TE Brady O'Hara
Top defensive prospect: LB D.J. McClary

In-state offensive talent is en route for the Nittany Lions. Tight end O'Hara has excellent size at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds. He uses it to block effectively, but also runs well for his size. He can contribute as a big target in the passing game. RB Tiqwai Hayes is a slashing runner who has already tallied more than 5,000 career rushing yards entering his senior year.

Defensively, Alex Tatsch is a quality in-state addition who has good length, range and body control. He can be a well-rounded defender equally comfortable getting upfield to apply pressure or dropping and playing in space. Penn State pulled linebacker McClary from neighboring New Jersey. A very productive high school player with over 300 career tackles, McClary has solid quickness, ability and range.

10. Tennessee Volunteers

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB George MacIntyre
Top defensive prospect: DT Ethan Utley

The Volunteers won a key recruiting battle to keep MacIntyre, the highest-ranked player in Tennessee and one of the nation's top quarterbacks, at home. He's a tall, rangy quarterback who also excels at basketball. He combines athleticism and pedigree with a smooth stroke and good arm strength as a passer. Three-star running back Justin Baker is a decisive runner who also can be productive without the ball and does well in pass protection.

Keeping tackle Utley home was a big win for Tennessee's defensive line. He has a nice frame to develop along with good reach and first-step quickness.

11. Baylor Bears

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: QB Adam Schobel
Top defensive prospect: ATH Demetrius Brisbon

The Bears will build their 2025 class around Schobel, one of the top quarterbacks in Texas. Schobel is Baylor's longest-tenured commit in the class and has a tall, lean frame to develop. He displays good touch as a passer and showed during in-person evaluations that he takes to coaching well. He has a high ceiling for development. The Bears further strengthened their backfield by landing three-star running back Caden Knighten. He's a rugged runner with a nice blend of speed and suddenness.

At receiver, 6-foot-3 Ashton Jones is a rangy target with a 79-inch wingspan and good speed. Brison was a nice flip from SMU. He's a versatile and fluid athlete who played quarterback in high school but projects to the secondary in college.

12. Texas Tech Red Raiders

ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: WR Tristian Gentry
Top defensive prospect: LB Brock Golwas

Joey McGuire elevated the Red Raiders' recruiting upon his arrival in Lubbock. He's looking to build on the momentum of a top-25 class in 2024 that featured five-star receiver Micah Hudson. Texas Tech landed another talented in-state receiver in Gentry. He has excellent burst, good quickness and makes plays after the catch. Preztynn Harrison is listed at tight end but the multisport athlete is a hybrid-type target with outstanding length and good ball skills.

Texas Tech has done a good job with early evaluations and might have landed a defensive steal in linebacker Golwas. He's a thickly built player with versatility, having played multiple positions in high school including wildcat quarterback. He has good body control and excellent range and has been recorded running over 21 mph in game play.

13. Syracuse Orange

ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: WR Darien Williams
Top defensive prospect: DE Sharlandiin Strange

Former Georgia assistant Fran Brown hit the recruiting trail running. He quickly boosted Syracuse's 2024 class to a strong finish. Now, with a full year to work, he's working to build on that momentum in the 2025 cycle. Maintaining a strong presence in the tri-state area -- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- is key for the Orange. They have landed multiple good commitments from that footprint, including wide receiver Williams and corner Javon Lawrence. A hometown prospect, Williams is a polished route-runner for a player at this stage and has good body control to adjust to the ball. Lawrence possesses a solid frame with length and brings upside.

Defensive end Strange was the first player to come aboard for 2025 and was a tone-setter for the class. He possesses good size and strength and can become a productive presence in the trenches with more technical development.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: OT Will Saba
Top defensive prospect: DT Nicco Maggio

Dave Clawson is building upon the theory that games are won and lost up front. Maggio is a defensive tackle who also plays baseball. He's a physical presence who uses his hands well and could contribute quickly once he arrives. On the edge, Cole Funderburk demonstrated the ability to pressure the quarterback, racking up 16 sacks as a junior. Adding to Wake's defensive line haul, Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala is a big body who can play with leverage and be a stout interior defender. The Deacons have also added strong talent to their offensive line with Saba, who blends lower-body flexibility and agility with a tenacious play style.

15. Georgia Bulldogs

ESPN 300 commits: 5
Top offensive prospect: TE Elyiss Williams
Top defensive prospect: LB Jadon Perlotte

The Bulldogs signed the No. 1 class for the 2024 cycle and are working to line up a ninth straight top-three class. Tight ends played a key role in their recent title runs and they're reloading at the position in 2025. Georgia holds commitments from the top two tight ends in the class. Ethan Barbour moves well with good hands. Williams has a 6-foot-7 frame and could develop into a player in the mold of former Georgia tight end Darnell Washington.

Bo Walker can give UGA another talented running back. He is a versatile weapon who possesses good vision as a runner but also has solid hand-eye coordination and can be a receiving target as well. On defense, the Dawgs landed outside linebacker Perlotte, a rangy edge defender who can rush the passer and make plays in space.

16.

ESPN 300 commits: 4
Top offensive prospect: RB Deondrae Riden
Top defensive prospect: CB Deyjhon Pettaway

Mike Elko now has a full year to work on the recruiting trail as he looks to build the Aggies into a consistent SEC contender. Landon Rink is a very good in-state addition to their defensive line. A competitive prospect who has shown consistent improvement throughout his high school career, Rink blends agility, technique and effort. He could be a quick contributor to the defensive line unit once he arrives. One of the top inside linebackers in the class, Kelvion Riggins, can be a physical and active presence.

Pettaway needs to continue to fill out but is a corner with nice length and good movement skills. Despite not being a big body, he has shown physicality in his play. Riden is a back with a blend of size and speed and has rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons.

17. SMU Mustangs

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB Keelon Russell
Top defensive prospect: DT Kamron Cullins

The Mustangs must feel good rolling into the ACC. They notched an American Athletic Conference title and are doing well on the recruiting trail, including landing Russell, one of the top quarterbacks in the class. He's a dual threat who makes plays with his legs but can also be an accurate passer with a short, compact release. He threw for 3,000 yards and a 75% completion rate as a junior.

Daylon Singleton, a diminutive but fast wide receiver, can be a productive target -- he caught 17 touchdowns this past season. While it focused on in-state talent, SMU scored some victories out of state as well, including defensive tackle Cullins out of Georgia. He needs to add more mass but moves well with active hands and displays power.

18. UCF Knights

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Taevion Swint
Top defensive prospect: S Kendarius Reddick

The Knights have recruited well with their transition to the Big 12 under Gus Malzahn and are in the mix for one of the top classes in the conference. They're leaning on a deep pool of surrounding talent in the Southeast. In-state running back Swint has a compact, sturdy build with good lateral quickness and vision. He has rushed for over 2,000 yards over the past two seasons.

WR Santonyo Isaac is another in-state offensive weapon. Though he has a slight build, he has some wiggle in his movements and tracks the ball well. On defense, UCF flipped Reddick, an ESPN 300 top-10 safety. Out of south Georgia, he is fluid in his movements and an active defender who hauled in four interceptions and forced two fumbles as a junior.

19. Florida Gators

ESPN 300 commits: 3
Top offensive prospect: OG Peyton Joseph
Top defensive prospect: DE Jalen Wiggins

The Gators navigated a turbulent 2024 recruiting cycle to still finish with a top-10 class. Looking to return the program to the national title hunt, Billy Napier still needs to add more impact talent to the roster. Pulling Jalen Wiggins out of rival Florida State's backyard was a key in-state win. He is an aggressive defensive lineman with excellent length and good initial quickness and range. He has shown he can be tough to handle, recording 16 sacks and over 30 tackles for loss as a junior.

On offense, running back Waltez Clark is a smooth runner with the speed to generate explosive plays when he gets in the open field. Offensive tackle Enoch Wangoy is very raw and still learning the game, but he has a big frame with good length and is a multi-sport athlete. He is not a quick fix, but he has the physical tools to develop.

20. Wisconsin Badgers

ESPN 300 commits: 0
Top offensive prospect: OT Michael Roeske
Top defensive prospect: CB Jai'mier Scott

The Badgers keep some of the state's top linemen at home in offensive tackle Michael Roeske and defensive lineman Torin Pettaway. Roeske can move well with good strength and balance and has a big frame to develop into one of the Badgers' next massive offensive linemen. Pettaway, who also plays basketball, brings physical upside as well. He can be a stout defender as he uses his hands well and has good power.

Luke Fickell returned to the city of Cincinnati, where he was coached, to land a talented three-star corner in Jai'mier Scott. He has good overall height and length with speed and ability to close. The Badgers pulled quarterback Landyn Locke out of Texas. He has a good frame, arm strength and throws an accurate deep ball, plus he has tools to develop.

21. Florida State Seminoles

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: OT Solomon Thomas
Top defensive prospect: DE Javion Hilson

Mike Norvell and staff are building the foundation of their 2025 class around in-state talent. Landing five-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas was a big early win on the recruiting trail. He is a 300-pounder who carries his weight well and has excellent mobility and body control for his size. He blends that with an aggressive style of play. Defensive end Javion Hilson can be a disruptive defender. He possesses nice length, a good get-off and can be a factor in pursuit as he runs well for his size. As a junior, Hilson tallied nearly 100 tackles with double-digit sacks.

Much like departed quarterback Jordan Travis, Tramell Jones Jr. doesn't have ideal size at 6-feet, 195 pounds, but he does have a compact, quick release, and this offseason, he won QB MVP honors at a talented Orlando UA Next camp.

22. Texas Longhorns

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: QB K.J. Lacey
Top defensive prospect: DE Lance Jackson

The Longhorns didn't sign an ESPN 300 quarterback in 2024, but K.J. Lacey is one of the more promising signal callers in the 2025 class. He lacks ideal size at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but he throws a good deep ball, can create and also change arm angles. He threw for over 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns as a junior. Tight end Emaree Winston lacks ideal height at the position, but he's a physical presence with good hands and body control. He can move the chains as a receiver and develop into a productive blocker.

Defensive lineman Lance Jackson has coveted size and frame for the position. He could be a disruptive player in the trenches with good initial quickness and agility.

23. Miami Hurricanes

ESPN 300 commits: 2
Top offensive prospect: RB Girard Pringle Jr.
Top defensive prospect: LB Elijah Melendez

After signing a top-10 class in 2024, which included some key in-state wins, Miami is looking to build upon its success in 2025. Linebacker Elijah Melendez saw his junior season cut short by injury, but he has a nice blend of speed, explosiveness, and instincts when healthy. Running back Girard Pringle Jr. shows good power to break tackles and quick lateral movement to elude defenders. He ran for over 1,600 yards as a junior. At 6-foot-6 with a wingspan over 80 inches, offensive lineman Lamar Williams is a big body to develop at tackle.

24. TCU Horned Frogs

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: QB Ty Hawkins
Top defensive prospect: DT Floyd Guidry

The Horned Frogs made a run to the national title in 2022. But now, coming off a five-win season, they're looking to infuse more talent and spark another ascension. They landed in-state ESPN 300 quarterback Ty Hawkins, a passer with a strong arm and smooth release. He's thrown for over 2,000 yards each of his last two high school seasons, and as a junior, he completed nearly 70% of his passes.

TCU added some potential future receiving targets in Ed Small, who displays strong ball skills, and Chance Ables, who has good length and body control to adjust. On defense, defensive tackle Floyd Guidry uses good initial quickness and leverage to be disruptive.

25. Purdue Boilermakers

ESPN 300 commits: 1
Top offensive prospect: RB Ziaire Stevens
Top defensive prospect: CB Tarrion Grant

The Boilermakers scored a big win early on the recruiting trail with the commitment of ESPN 300 corner Tarrion Grant. He's a tall, lengthy defender who brings desired measurables. On offense, running back Ziaire Stevens generates power running behind and is agile and quick enough to make defenders miss and separate. Three-star quarterback Sawyer Anderson lacks ideal size at roughly 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, but is a passer with good touch and accuracy.