Grading the Top 25 recruiting classes after 2021 Early Signing Day

Jan 2, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher celebrates after winning the Orange Bowl against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher celebrates after winning the Orange Bowl against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser
Syndication: The Montgomery Advertiser /

No. 22 Mississippi State — Grade: A

Mike Leach put together a winning season in Starkville for the first time since 2018 and the Bulldogs turned that into a positive result on the recruiting trail with a top-25 class and their best recruiting class in the past four years.

Mississippi State landed highly-touted wideout Marquez Dortch who was an in-state recruit and an important get. Plus Leach landed a top-400 QB out of Texas in Braedyn Locke who threw for over 11,000 yards and 129 touchdown passes in his last three seasons of high school football.

Sounds like a perfect fit for Leach and the Bulldogs who are likely hoping to see Locke and Dortch connecting on plenty of touchdowns down the road.

No. 21 Michigan State — Grade: A- 

The Spartans put together a really solid class under Mel Tucker and improved 25 spots from last season after ranking 46th in the 2021 recruiting class.

2021 Early Signing Day was a little disappointing since there was hope the Spartans could get  highly-touted offensive lineman Kiyaunta Goodwin, who chose Kentucky.

But Katin Houser, a four-star quarterback, as well as in-state four-star recruits Alex VanSumeren (DT) and Dillon Tatum (DB), the Spartans signed a solid group. Plus, six of the 22 were from the state of Michigan, which is close to one-third of the entire class.

But, the Spartans finished behind Indiana, so we’ll stick them with an A-minus.