They may not be the best classes in the country, but every year, a few teams grab the spotlight by unexpectedly grabbing a great class. Here's this year's surprise teams.
Virginia
All first-year coach Al Groh has done is land the best class ever in Virginia history. He landed two of the best linebackers -- and two of the Top 15 players -- in the country in Ahmad Brooks and Kai Parham. He also landed top running back Michael Johnson. He kept the Virginia kids at home and landed a few studs from New York and New Jersey as well.
Boston College
Tom O'Brien snagged the two best kids from New England -- DL Jim Unis and DB William Blackmon -- and also raided New York and New Jersey for top talent, including OL Shadu Moore.
BYU
Is getting the best offensive player any good? Gary Crowton lured No. 1 recruit QB Ben Olson to run the high-flying Cougar attack. Suffered a huge blow with the loss of Ngata -- the nation's premier defensive lineman -- but still a very good class.
Rutgers
A solid effort from first-year coach Greg Schiano. He landed New Jersey's top talent in LB Berkeley Hutchinson and Schiano used his South Florida roots to score LB William Beckford from Florida powerhouse Belle Glade HS.
Iowa State
In addition to bringing in a great class of JUCO studs, McCarney landed his share of Iowa stars and even landed a few talented kids from Texas to give the Cyclones their best class in 20 years.
Stanford
Stanford had only two commitments when Buddy Teevens became the head coach at Stanford, but he put together a very competitive class in just three weeks, highlighted with All-American DL Julian Jenkins.
Tom Lemming is editor of Prep Football Report. For information on how to subscribe to Prep Football Report's three yearly magazines and five newsletters ($60 for the magazines and $90 for both magazines and newsletters), fax your name, address and fax number to 847-842-1313 or write to P.O. Box 59113, Schaumburg, Ill. 60159. For year-round recruiting updates, call Tom Lemming's Prep Football Hotline at 900-860-9888. Calls are $1.79 per minute, and callers must be 18 years old or have parents' permission.
