Signing Day for the 2015 recruiting cycle has come and gone, but it's never too early to start looking at 2016. Your favorite team already is. Here are the consensus top 10 players in the class so far, as collected by the 247Sports Composite.
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Keep in mind that while early recruiting team rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, individual player rankings typically don't change drastically.
1. Gregory Little, OT, Allen (Texas), Texas A&M commit
The 6’5, 282-pound offensive tackle committed to Texas A&M in June and has made no visits since (although he picked up an offer from Alabama recently). Little also claims offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas and USC. It’s a good bet other schools won’t stop recruiting him.
2. Rashan Gary, DT, Paramus Catholic (N.J.)
Listed at 6’4 and 285 pounds, Gary holds offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame and USC. His most recent visits were to Penn State, Maryland and Rutgers. Gary showed great quickness last year and was invited to Nike’s The Opening, a premier camp at which he more than held his own against seniors.
3. Shavar Manuel, DE, IMG Academy (Fla.)
Manuel has transferred to IMG from Blake High School. Listed at 6’5 and 262 pounds, Manuel claims offers from Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Florida and Ohio State. He visited the Hurricanes and the Seminoles during the 2014 season. His eventual position, be it end or tackle, will be of interest.
4. Jacob Eason, QB, Lake Stevens Sr. (Wash.), Georgia commit
Eason is very nearly the consensus top pro-style quarterback in the country, earning the honor from every service except Scout (which ranks him No. 5). The 6’5, 205-pounder committed to Georgia in July and has not visited another school since. He also claims offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan and Notre Dame, many of which he visited last summer during a camp tour.
5. Keion Joyner, OLB, Havelock (N.C.)
The first player on the list who isn’t a lineman or a QB, Joyner is an athletic prospect from North Carolina. The 6’3, 210-pound Joyner has taken visits to East Carolina, Florida, Clemson, Auburn, LSU and South Carolina. He holds offers from Auburn, Florida, LSU, Ohio State and Florida State.
6. Saivion Smith, CB, IMG Academy (Fla.)
The nation’s top defensive back, Smith will be teaming up with Manuel this year on one of the nation’s toughest high school defenses. Smith is listed at 6’1 and 175 pounds and visited Miami, UCF and Florida State (twice) this season. He also holds offers from LSU, Florida, Clemson and Ohio State.
7. Lyndell Wilson, OLB, Carver (Ala.)
The top player in Alabama, Wilson appears to be a major battle for the two big programs in the state. Listed at 6’2 and 220 pounds, Wilson visited both Alabama and Auburn this season, with three visits to the Tide against one for the Tigers. He claims offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and USC.
8. Kareem Walker, RB, De Paul Catholic (N.J.), Ohio State commit
The nation’s top running back, Walker committed to Ohio State shortly after their national championship win. The 6’1, 210-pound prospect has not taken any other visits since his commitment, and also claims offers from Alabama, Florida State, Michigan and Notre Dame.
9. Malik Henry, QB, IMG Academy (Fla.), Florida State commit
Florida State’s quarterback situation may be a question mark after the departure of Jameis Winston, but the Seminoles are hoping Henry will be able to secure the job soon. He’ll join Smith and Manuel at loaded IMG after spending his first three years of high school in California. Listed at 6’3 and 180 pounds, he committed to the Seminoles in November and has not taken a visit since. Henry also claims offers from Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and USC.
10. Nick Bosa, DL, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.)
Bosa, the little brother of Ohio State star Joey Bosa, isn’t so little at 6’3 and 250 pounds. He holds offers from all the major schools in the country, including Alabama, FSU and, yes, Ohio State.
Photos by Student Sports and Bud Elliott.
