National Signing Day always brings a few surprises, but the programs that finish on top in the recruiting rankings are never a surprise: Once again, the top schools feasted on the best available talent.
Here's a look at this year's top 10 signing classes, according to 247sports.com as of 3:40 p.m. ET.
Note: Rankings could fluctuate over the course of the day as signings are announced.
2017 NFL DRAFT
Signees rated four or five stars: 23
Top recruits: RB Najee Harris of Antioch (Cal.) High; OT Alex Leatherwood Player of Penacola (Fla.) Washington High; LB Dylan Moses of Brandenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Fitting in: With five members of UA's defensive front moving on to the NFL, incoming freshmen will have plenty of opportunities there. An elite Restbet JuCo signee, DL Isaiah Buggs, will be counted on to help fill the void left by top draft prospect Jonathan Allen. If UA moves one of its top returning players, RT Jonah Williams, to the left side to replace Cam Robinson, the right tackle spot will be wide open.
The skinny: It's another prolific haul for the nation's premier recruiting machine. Nick Saban reeled in six of the nation's 32 5-star recruits, more than any other school. It's also not easy to get the nation's No. 1-ranked quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, to come in behind a freshman starter (Jalen Hurts), but Saban managed to pull that off, as well.
Signees rated four or five stars: 19
Top recruits: CB Jeffrey Okudah of Grand Prarie (Texas) South Grand Prarie High; LB Baron Browning of Kennedale (Texas) High; DE Chase Young of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic High
Fitting in: The Buckeyes face turnover at cornerback, as they're losing Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore to the draft. A pair of 5-star corners enter in this class with Okudah and Shaun Wade of Jacksonville, Fla. An OSU passing game that could use a jolt will add three receivers in this class.
The skinny: If there is one coach in the nation who recruits on par with Saban, it's Urban Meyer. He reloads with five 5-star players in this cycle, and all of them are out-of-state finds. In fact, only six signees are from Ohio, an indication of what a national draw OSU has become.
Signees rated four or five stars: 20
Top recruits: OT Isaiah Wilson of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep; S Richard LeCounte of Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County High; WR Jeremiah Holloman of Covington (Ga.) Newton High
Fitting in: Georgia desperately needs playmakers at the wide receiver position if young QB Jacob Eason is to reach his potential. Georgia adds four receivers in this class, three of whom are 4-star recruits (Holloman, Mark Webb of Warminster, Pa., and Trey Blount of Atlanta.)
The skinny: Kirby Smart's first season at Georgia, at 8-5, was less than inspiring. His first recruiting class, however, offers plenty of hope for the future. With a heavy concentration of in-state talent, he served notice that it won't be easy for SEC rivals like Florida and Tennessee to cross his border for recruits.
Signees rated four or five stars: 20
Top recruits: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit Cass Technical; WR Tarik Black of Cheshire (Conn.) Academy; OL Cesar Ruiz of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Fitting in: Who is going to be on the other end of Wilton Speight's passes next season? WRs Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh and TE Jake Butt accounted for the vast majority of Speight's production last year, and all three are draft-bound. Enter Peoples-Jones, who is the Wolverines' lone 5-star signee, and Black, both of whom are enrolled and available for spring practice.
The skinny: Nobody works harder on the recruiting trail than Jim Harbaugh, and that's never more apparent than on National Signing Day. He hasn't yet pulled the Wolverines even with rival Ohio State in terms of overall roster talent, but signing classes like this one will help him close that gap.
Signees rated four or five stars: 16
Top recruits: S JaCoby Stevens of Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Oakland High; DL Tyler Shelvin of Crowley (La.) Notre Dame High; OL Edward Ingram of DeSoto (Texas) High
Fitting in: LSU's program desperately needs a promising young quarterback, and the Tigers have two on the way in this class in Lowell Narcisse of St. James., La., and Myles Brennan of Bay Saint Louis, Miss. Narcisse, in fact, is an early enroller who can begin his push for the job during spring drills. Linebacker and defensive back are two areas where the Tigers could use help, as well.
The skinny: Ed Orgeron's prowess as a recruiter is one reason he got the head-coaching job at LSU, and he'll be expected to do it as effectively as Les Miles did before him. The 2018 LSU recruiting class -- his first at LSU that will truly be his own -- will be a better indicator of Orgeron's ability to do so. Still, Orgeron did impressive work finishing this class, for which Miles laid the foundation.
Signees rated four or five stars: 11
Top recruits: OT Austin Jackson of Phoenix (Ari.) North Canyon High; S Bubba Bolden of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman High; QB Jack Sears of San Clemente (Cal.) High
Fitting in: USC appears to have its quarterback of the future in Sam Darnold, but who is going to protect him? The Trojans lose both starting offensive tackles, Chad Wheeler and Zach Banner, and guard Damien Mama as well. USC is looking thin on the defensive line as well, so this class could provide some quick help on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
The skinny: The on-field momentum that carried the Trojans out of a rough September carried over to a top-10 signing class. Six in this class are ranked among the top 10 players in the nation at their respective positions. Let there be no doubt: coach Clay Helton's first full recruiting class indicates he'll be very competitive in the living room.
Signees rated four or five stars: 11
Top recruits: RB Cam Akers of Clinton (Miss.) High; DE Joshua Kaindoh of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy; RB Khalan Laborn of Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan Catholic High
Fitting in: Dalvin Cook's early departure for the draft signals an open competition at the running back position, and you can bet early-enroller Cam Akers will be in the thick of it this spring. FSU's pass protection struggled last year, and the Seminoles lose LT Roderick Johnson. Offensive line is one of the toughest areas for incoming signees to make an impact, but help is certainly needed.
The skinny: Jimbo Fisher continues to be the coach to beat for the top talent in the Sunshine State. Surprisingly, however, FSU didn't do much to bolster the offensive line in this class (one signee). With the majority of its signees from either Florida, Georgia or Mississippi, the Seminoles gathered a top-rated class without having to venture too far out of state.
Signees rated four or five stars: 18
Top recruits: CB Justin Broiles of Oklahoma City High; S Robert Barnes of Southlake (Texas) Carroll High; WR CeeDee Lamb of Richmond (Texas) Foster High
Fitting in: What better time for a running back to come to OU than right now? The Sooners say goodbye to both Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, leaving a wide-open competition at a high-profile position. The Sooners will bring in a pair of 4-star rushers in this class: Kennedy Brooks of Mansfield, Texas, and Trey Sermon of Marietta, Ga.
The skinny: The state of Oklahoma doesn't generate enough talent by itself to push OU's signing classes into the elite range, so the Sooners always look to recruit Texas effectively, as well. Bob Stoops has done just that with six 4-star signees from the Lone Star state.
Signees rated four or five stars: 11
Top recruits: QB Jarrett Stidham of Waco (Texas) McClennan C.C.; OT Calvin Ashley of Washington D.C. St. Johns College High; LB Tadarian Moultry of Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin High
Fitting in: Auburn could primarily use reinforcements at quarterback, in the secondary, and on the line of scrimmage. In Stidham, a transfer from Baylor, the Tigers added a presumptive starter for 2017 who has FBS experience. Expectations will be high for Ashley, the only 5-star recruit in the class, who will step into a position of need.
The skinny: Auburn fans will be looking for major improvement in 2017, so Gus Malzahn needs at least a few key members of this class to deliver immediately. Seven early enrollees who are eligible for spring practice will help that cause.
Signees rated four or five stars: 10
Top recruits: TE Brock Wright of Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair High; OT Joshua Lugg of Waxford (Pa.) North Allegheny High; DT Darnell Ewell of Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor High
Fitting in: Who will play quarterback for the Fighting Irish next year? Between DeShone Kizer's decision to enter the draft and Malik Zaire's decision to transfer, Brian Kelly lost a lot of game experience. Dual-threat QB Avery Davis of Cedar Hill, Texas, will join the competition for the job.
The skinny:
Notre Dame brought in five early enrollers, all 247sports 4-star players, in a class of 21. The top-rated among them is Brock Wright. Two more to watch for: OG Robert Hainsley of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and TE Cole Kmet of Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator. If you've ever questioned Notre Dame's national appeal, take note: the Fighting Irish signed players from 11 different states, if you count Washington, D.C. (Texas, Florida, Louisiana, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Hawaii, and D.C.)
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.
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