Top 10 Recruiting Classes That Have Been Busts In the Rivals Era

Sep 28, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin reacts after losing to the Arizona State Sun Devils 62-41 at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

2. 2010 USC Trojans Recruiting Class

Rivals Class Rank: No. 1

Lane Kiffin successfully managed to completely screw up the Tennessee Volunteers football program with a bust of a Top 10 class the year before, but it was sweet karma for Vols fans as his first class at USC was far worse. Kiffin’s class was ranked No. 1 in the country as he was entering his first year as head coach.

Of the four 5-stars Kiffin brought in, only Robert Woods ever did anything useful with the program, and he was also the only one to stay within the program. Kyle Prater, Markeith Ambles, and Dillon Baxter were caught this past year desperately trying to salvage their failed college football careers at other schools after falling apart at USC, which obviously was a huge role in Kiffin’s firing.

At least a few 4-star guys like Giovanni Di Poalo, D.J. Morgan, and Xavier Grimble were all able to contribute something. But when 75 percent of your 5-star recruits are complete and utter failures, and you have the No. 1 class in the country that simply falls apart, you get to be in the Top 5 for one of the biggest failures among recruiting classes ever.

Of course, Kiffin, who does not evaluate any risks when taking these guys, as if he is Bill Belichick, brought this failed recruiting class on himself. What do you expected when you bolt for another job and simply pour hot sauce on the school to close with a strong class?

That’s all he did with this one, and it bit him.

Next: No. 1 Ranked Recruiting Class Bust