Ranking college football's top 10 2025 recruiting classes (2024)

The 2024 cycle is now in the rearview as the 2025 class takes center stage in the recruiting world. While we are a long way from the finish line, activity among the 2025 prospects is already heating up, and several programs are off to strong starts. Here are 10 leading the way.

These are our updated top classes (Updated: Feb. 8):

1. LSU Tigers

Previous rank: 1

Top offensive prospect: QB Bryce Underwood (No. 2)

Top defensive prospect: CB Jaboree Antoine (No. 47)

After the Tigers landed on the cusp of the top 10 for the 2024 cycle, they are adding impact commitments and contending for the top class for 2025. They have been active in Louisiana with several commitments from within their borders, including running back Harlem Berry, the No. 1-ranked player in Louisiana. A runner with quick feet and home run speed, Berry can be a playmaker with the ball in his hands.

LSU went outside the state to add more offensive firepower with the nation's No. 2-ranked QB and the top receiver in the class. Underwood, a five-star player, 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 TDs and only 2 interceptions as a junior. Receiver Dakorien Moore is a speedy five-star target who can generate big plays. As a junior, he had over 60 catches and 1,200 yards while helping lead Duncanville to a state title. Although offense defines this class, Antoine is the No. 2-rated player in Louisiana and gives the Tigers one of the top CB prospects in the nation. Linebacker Keylan Moses is a local prospect with good size (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) and quickness. He can be active against the run and generate pressure as a pass-rusher.

2. Clemson Tigers

Previous rank: 3

Top offensive prospect: RB Gideon Davidson (No. 49)

Top defensive prospect: Ari Watford (No. 32)

The Tigers have checked several boxes with commitments at different positions. They already have a pair of running backs in this class in Davidson and in-state prospect Marquise Henderson. Davidson has a nice blend of size, speed and power that he used to rush for 2,700 yards with 43 touchdowns this season. Henderson, at 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, is more slightly built but is explosive with big-play speed and was very productive as a junior, rushing for over 2,300 yards.

Quarterback Blake Hebert missed most of his junior season with an injury, but he has good size and a smooth, compact delivery. He moves well and can extend plays. On defense, Clemson has already landed several ranked defensive linemen led by Watford, who gives the Tigers a lengthy player with good initial quickness who can develop into a disruptive edge rusher. In the trenches, defensive tackle Amare Adams is the top-ranked player in the state.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes

Previous rank: 5

Top offensive prospect: WR Jayvan Boggs (No. 170)

Top defensive prospect: CB Na'eem Offord (No. 6)

The Buckeyes signed a top-five 2024 class and have made headlines with impactful transfer portal additions. The 2025 class gives reasons to expect sustained success in Columbus. On defense, OSU is locking down some of the nation's best DB prospects in Offord, Devin Sanchez and Blake Woodby. Offord, a five-star prospect, is a versatile prep player who projects to defense with outstanding quickness and an aggressive style of play. Possessing coveted length and the speed and suddenness to match up with a variety of receivers, Sanchez can be a player in the mold of current Buckeyes standout CB Denzel Burke. Woodby is versatile player with excellent speed who exudes confidence.

After bringing in two of the top QBs in the 2024 class in Julian Sayin and Air Noland, Ohio State is adding more talent to that position room with Tavien St. Clair. An in-state prospect with good mobility and arm strength, he has been very productive in high school, throwing for nearly 6,000 yards the past two seasons while completing around 70% of his passes.

4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Previous rank: 2

Top offensive prospect: QB Deuce Knight (No. 123)

Top defensive prospect: CB Ivan Taylor (No. 30)

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 just signed top-five QB C.J. Carr in 2024 and have already added one of the top QBs for 2025 in Knight. He is a lefty with good arm strength as well as mobility and brings nice physical tools and upside. With a good tradition of identifying and developing tight ends, Notre Dame has James Flanigan, No. 215 in the rankings, in the class. He comes from a football family, with his father and grandfather having played in the NFL. Running back Justin Thurman has a good blend of speed, quickness and explosiveness, which he demonstrated with some of the top testing numbers from this past camp season. A key pickup on defense is Ivan Taylor, another commit with NFL family history who displays good technique for this stage and good speed.

5. Georgia Bulldogs

Previous rank: 4

Top offensive prospect: TE Elyiss Williams (No. 19)

Top defensive prospect: DT Justus Terry (No. 7)

The Bulldogs signed the top class for the 2024 cycle and are near the top of the pack in the early going for 2025. During their recent title runs, tight ends played a key role. Now they are reloading at the position. They have a pair of ranked, in-state tight ends committed in Ethan Barbour, who moves well and has good hands, and Williams, who possesses a big frame at 6-foot-7 and can develop into a player in the mold of former Bulldogs tight end Darnell Washington. Bo Walker, a versatile weapon with good vision, can give them another talented running back.

Georgia has also secured a big commitment on the defensive line in Terry, a five-star defensive lineman. He is a tough interior player with nice arm length, strength and lateral mobility. Linebacker Jadon Perlotte is a rangy edge defender who can rush the passer as well as make plays in space.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions

Previous rank: 8

Top offensive prospect: TE Brady O'Hara (No. 208)

Top defensive prospect: LB D.J. McClary (No. 133)

The Nittany Lions have already secured some in-state talent on offense in O'Hara and running back Tiqwai Hayes. A tight end with excellent size at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, O'Hara can use it to be an effective blocker and can contribute as a big target in the passing game. Hayes is a slashing runner who has been very productive, having already rushed for over 5,000 yards in his career. Three-star linebacker Alex Tatsch was a nice in-state win on defense and is a player to watch as a riser in the rankings. He possesses nice length and shows good range and body control and can be a well-rounded defender who can rush the passer or drop back in coverage. McClary has good quickness, agility and range and has over 300 tackles in his career.

7. Auburn Tigers

Previous rank: 6

Top offensive prospect: OG Kalen Edwards (No. 277)

Top defensive prospect: DT Jourdin Crawford (No. 85)

The Tigers did a nice job of addressing need at WR with their 2024 class, and for 2025 they are adding talent to their defensive front. The Tigers have three in-state ESPN Junior 300 defensive linemen on board in Jourdin Crawford, Antonio Coleman and Jakaleb Faulk. Crawford is a 300-pounder who moves well and can be a factor along the line of scrimmage. Faulk is an edge player who possesses nice length with good quickness and ability to redirect. Coleman is an explosive and powerful interior DL who can be disruptive and recorded 30 tackles for loss as a junior.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

Previous rank: 7

Top offensive prospect: QB Kevin Sperry (No. 130)

Top defensive prospect: DE Alexander Shieldnight (three stars)

The Sooners' first official class as a member of the SEC has a strong foundation anchored by three ESPN Junior 300 receivers in Jaden Nickens (No. 141), Elijah Thomas (No. 166) and Gracen Harris (No. 187). Harris is more quick than fast but can be sudden in his movements and has good hands. Nickens is a bigger target with nice length who can adjust to the ball well.

Athlete Trynae Washington, a new addition to the rankings, is versatile and could play on either side of the ball. At this stage, he looks better suited to contribute on offense and be another potential weapon in their passing attack. The Sooners stayed in-state for Sperry, a passer with a quick release and good accuracy. Sperry threw for over 2,500 yards while completing 68% of his passes this season. On defense, Shieldnight is a defensive end with good first-step quickness and active hands who tallied 11 sacks as a junior.

9. Texas Longhorns

Previous rank: Unranked

Top offensive prospect: QB K.J. Lacey (No. 52)

Top defensive prospect: DE Lance Jackson (No. 132)

The Longhorns did not sign an ESPN 300 QB in their 2024 class, but early on they have one of the more promising signal-callers in the 2025 class. Lacey lacks ideal size (5-foot-11/170) but throws the deep ball well. As a junior he threw for over 3,000 yards with 42 TDs. Emaree Winston lacks ideal height for the tight end position but is a physical presence who possesses good hands and body control. He can help move the chains as a receiver and also develop into a productive blocker. Jackson, a four-star DE, does have coveted size and frame (6-5/270) and can be a disruptive player in the trenches with good initial quickness and agility.

10. Oregon Ducks

Previous rank: 10

Top offensive prospect: WR Dallas Wilson (No. 31)

The Ducks are bringing in a top-five class for 2024 and are off to a good start for 2025 as well. They are bringing in a familiar name in the son of former Oregon QB Akili Smith. Akili Smith Jr. is a tall (6-foot-5), lean prospect with good physical upside. While he needs to continue to fill out, he already displays good arm strength, which should only improve. He can do a good job of adjusting and changing arm angles. He led his high school team to an 11-1 record this season while throwing for over 2,400 yards with 25 scores.

Oregon just signed several ESPN 300 receivers but is looking to add more big-play options. Oregon has a pair of early commitments in ESPN Junior 300 prospects Dallas Wilson and Adrian Wilson. Dallas Wilson, out of Florida, is a tall, rangy target (6-foot-3) with good hands and a feel for getting open. Adrian Wilson, out of Texas, is a receiver with good agility who can generate yards after the catch.