How 7 new college football coaches fared with their first full recruiting classes

When a college football coach is hired, he has a few weeks to hold on to the commitments the previous coach left him and try to secure a few more before his first National Signing Day.

But that effort is too small of a sample set from which to accurately judge a coach’s ability. A much better measure is his second class, which is his first true class. That first full class often plays a major role in a coach’s success, or lack thereof, as those freshmen will become key players throughout the coach’s first contract.

Here are the seven power-conference schools that fit this description in 2015.

Previous four-year 247Sports Composite average: No. 8.75

2015 Composite ranking: No. 2

The Trojans charged back toward the top of the recruiting rankings in Steve Sarkisian’s first year in charge. They had six early enrollees, including five-star guard Chuma Edoga and four-star quarterback Ricky Town.

USC really flexed its muscles on Signing Day, though. The Trojans signed a pair of five-stars in cornerback Iman Marshall and defensive tackle Rasheem Green, as well as four-star linebacker John Houston. Marshall is considered by many to be the best cornerback recruit in the country. The Trojans dominated within California, signing 12 in-state four- and five-stars.

Previous four-year Composite average: No. 40.75

2015 Composite ranking: No. 32

The Cardinals’ recruiting efforts stayed steady in Bobby Petrino’s first full year. They proved 2014’s No. 45 recruiting finish was more of a fluke than a drop in talent.

Among Louisville’s most important recruits are four-star outside linebacker Darius Smith and dual threat quarterback Lamar Jackson. However, without question the biggest addition for the Cardinals is defensive end Devonte Fields, the former TCU star that won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a true freshman in 2012. He does come with baggage, but he should be a good player for Louisville.

Louisville is not yet at the level of Clemson and Florida State, but it’s starting to separate itself from the other teams in the Atlantic Division.

Previous four-year Composite average: No. 27

2015 Composite ranking: No. 26

Chris Petersen’s debut season was an up-and-down proposition, but the Huskies pulled in a respectable class in his first full year. Their ranking was a marked upgrade over their 37th place finish in 2014. Petersen and the new staff didn’t light the world on fire, but they put in a respectable effort.

Consensus four-star pro-style quarterback Jake Browning is already enrolled. The Huskies were able to secure the commitment of local four-star defensive end Benning Potoae, joining fellow four-star Washington prospects in cornerback Austin Joyner and offensive tackle Henry Roberts in Seattle.

Petersen is a proven winner, and the gap between the Huskies’ class and those of division rivals Oregon and Stanford is not that big.

Previous four-year Composite average: No. 33.25

2015 Composite ranking: No. 14

Head coach James Franklin has made it a major point that the Nittany Lions will be major in recruiting Pennsylvania and neighboring states, particularly New Jersey and Maryland. He’s backed up his talk. More than anything, Franklin and his staff’s endless energy toward recruiting have taken a program out of the doldrums and into the 21st century.

The class is flush with four-star talents from the Mid-Atlantic, including six of the top seven recruits from Pennsylvania and five of the top nine from New Jersey. At 25 signees, it’ll help bring Penn State back toward having a full allotment of 85 scholarships after the NCAA reduced the Nittany Lions’ sanctions.

In particular, consensus four-star running back Saquon Barkley could have a chance to contribute right away, considering the anemic state of the Nittany Lions’ running game. They also got some badly needed help on the offensive line with the trio of Sterling Jenkins, Paris Palmer, and Ryan Bates, all four-star recruits.

Previous four-year Composite average: No. 42.25

2015 Composite ranking: No. 46

The Commodores had a difficult season in Derek Mason’s first year. It was going to be difficult to keep up the momentum that Franklin established, but Vanderbilt does have some intriguing recruits coming in. Unfortunately for them, their No. 46 class is last in the SEC.

They’ve secured the commitments from a pair of in-state four-star recruits in inside linebacker Josh Smith and cornerback Donovan Sheffield. They also have a four-star quarterback from Pennsylvania in Kyle Shurmur, who was rated as one of the top 10 players in that state. ‘Dores fans think Smith and Shurmur in particular could have an impact right away.

Ultimately, with the improvements made by Mark Stoops at Kentucky, Butch Jones at Tennessee, the head coaching change made by Florida and the continued excellence by Missouri, it is looking more and more like Franklin got out of Nashville at exactly the right time.

Previous four-year Composite average: No. 66.5

2015 Composite ranking: No. 53

After winning the ACC in 2006, Wake Forest has been on a steady decline. Now expectations have been reset in Winston-Salem. Coach Dave Clawson has stated previously that this is a major, multi-year rebuilding project.

And in his first full season, Clawson managed to land a class that might be the best-rated in program history. Tight end Bowman Archibald is a nice player with upside as a blocker and pass catcher, and linebacker Justin Strnad has some growth potential.

Wake Forest is pushing its prestige, pursuing recruits who put a high value on academics. So far, it’s working, but it’s yet to be seen what the ceiling is.

Previous four-year Composite average: No. 10

2015 Composite ranking: No. 11

Charlie Strong’s first full class was an upgrade over the final years of Mack Brown’s tenure. The Horns, typically elite recruiters, bounced back after back-to-back finishes at 17th.

There was no shortage of drama leading up to Signing Day, as they battled with Texas A&M for the signatures of quarterback Kyler Murray and defensive tackle Daylon Mack. Both ended up signing with the Aggies, but Texas was able to flip four-star quarterback Kai Locksley from Florida State. Strong’s relentless recruiting helped land a bumper crop of flips and commits on Signing Day, a major change from the Brown era.

Outside of the drama, perhaps the best player in the class, Malik Jefferson, is already enrolled. The consensus five-star outside linebacker from Mesquite (Texas) Poteet High School was rated as the top player in the state of Texas, as well as the top outside linebacker prospect in the country.