FCS fans may think it's too early to talk about recruiting, but with the early signing period that the NCAA instituted (for December), the world of FCS recruiting has accelerated and there are several programs that are already in double digits as far as class size. Today, we rank this year's list of The Top 25 classes so far (with several rankings).
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What do these guys think about being a part of the top classes (so far) in the FCS? We asked some of them below:
No. 1 – HARVARD: 3-star QB Curt Casteel: "I’m really excited about this group of guys. I love how close we have all become throughout the past couple of months and can’t wait to get up to Boston to get to work."
No. 2 – JAMES MADISON: DL Rick D'Abreu: "My mentality about it is that I’m not a bragging guy nor do I like to be in the spotlight especially like this, but it’s nice to be recognized when you're considered one of the top teams. But the reason why we go this route is because FCS schools like JMU make us feel valued and we’re not just another player. I'd take going to JMU and getting a shot over hardly making the team at Clemson."
No. 3 – NDSU: 3-star LB Luke Weerts: "Our recruiting class keeps in regular contact in our group chat and we have gotten to know each other that way. As well as a bunch of us met for the SDSU game and had a chance to spend time face to face. Most of the athletes in our class are on playoff programs and are fighting for state championships with their high school teams, which fits well with NDSU’s winning tradition. Our class has a good mix of size strength and especially speed. Our recruiting class chose to play for NDSU not only because it is a first class program and coaching staff but because of the immense amount of support from the community and fans. We are a bunch of fast and physical athletes who know how to win and I’m excited to get to work with them."
No. 4 – UT MARTIN: 3-star WR Rush Lansdell "I’m very excited about getting to UTM next summer and working with my future teammates. We have a loaded class so far and hopefully more coming to join us. Having guys like Vincent Guy and Jaden and Isaiah Gibbs, every one knows the talent level of these guys and what they can do. I’m super excited to join everyone in this class and start working to win the OVC and get in the FCS playoffs. I knew when I committed that i would be surrounded by great athletes that would make me better and that’s exactly what I was looking for."
No. 5 – YALE: 3-star OL Brandon Babcock: "I wish I could brag about all of my future teammates but I think that would take up a lot of space. It’s a great feeling, I can’t wait to play with my fellow commits. Josh McKenzie is a beast running back. Ben Montgomery is a lockdown DB. Ron Carr is a monster OL. I’m just really excited to get up to Yale and help lead this team to hopefully another Ivy League Championship. I chose the Ivy League route because I know that one day football is going to end for me and having a Yale degree in my back pocket is something that I want to have. I’m going to get a great education as well as great football."[divider]
How do we come to the Top 25 classes below? It's a mixture of a couple of things when evaluating the individual classes/commitments:
- How do the ratings services see them at the time of the commitment? (because many FCS commitments lose their higher ranking status after they commit to this level)
- How many offers does this recruit possess? If a large quantity of college coaches are offering this individual, that holds clout — even over the star rankings.
- Who is offering? If a young man has Power Five Conference offers or multiple FBS offers, that's another key factor in what you see below.
- Also, this doesn't include JUCO transfers. We'll do that at a later date. This is only high school recruits/commitments.
So take a look at the Top 25 FCS Recruiting Classes (as of Oct. 21). This is something we will follow through February 2019.
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THE TOP 25 CLASSES
| RK | FCS TEAM | TOP RECRUIT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard | DL Nate Leskovec |
| 2 | James Madison | LB Julio Ayamel |
| 3 | NDSU | LB Luke Weerts |
| 4 | Tenn-Martin | WR Jaden Gibbs |
| 5 | Yale | RB Josh McKenzie |
| 6 | Holy Cross | OL Patrick McMurtrie |
| 7 | Furman | LB Josh Slay |
| 8 | Princeton | TE Luke Gibson |
| 9 | Richmond | TE Ben Castellano |
| 10 | Howard | DB Elijah Coleman |
| 11 | Cent. Arkansas | OL Drew Vest |
| 12 | Delaware | TE Will Bowen |
| 13 | UC Davis | WR Blake Thorpe |
| 14 | Elon | DB Bo Sanders |
| 15 | Indiana State | DB Ethan Hoover |
| 16 | Wofford | LB Jack Scroggs |
| 17 | Mercer | QB Dylan Fromm |
| 18 | Montana State | WR Jaden Smith |
| 19 | Alabama State | OL Aric Harris |
| 20 | Villanova | OL Billy Hambrook |
| 21 | Albany | WR Jordan Irizarry |
| 22 | Fordham | DB Prince-Elijah Degroat |
| 23 | SDSU | DB Diamond Evans |
| 24 | Montana | LB Alex Hurlburt |
| 25 | Illinois State | DL Dallas Culpepper |
JUST MISSED: Charleston Southern, Chattanooga, Kennesaw State, McNeese, Morgan State, Penn, Southern Illinois.[divider]
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