Grading the Top 25 recruiting classes after 2021 Early Signing Day

No. 16 Auburn — Grade: B+

For a program that didn’t have a great year on the field, Auburn put together a solid recruiting class and one that was buoyed by flipping Robert Woodyard the 11th-ranked linebacker in the 2022 class from in-state rival Alabama.

The Tigers also have 18 total commitments and one of their best additions is Holden Geriner a four-star quarterback as well as Austin Ausberry who committed late and is a top-200 kid.

All in all, it was an impressive job, even with some misses at the end such as on Darrius Clemons.

No. 15 Stanford — Grade: A

David Shaw and the Cardinal are another team that drastically improved their recruiting ranking from 2021. Stanford was 43rd a year ago and in the 2022 recruiting class the Cardinal landed seven four-star signees out of 18 total and finished first in the Pac-12, at least after 2021 Early National Signing Day.

It was also a typical Stanford class in that all eight of the top recruits were players at positions that would take part in an inside run drill — meaning either defensive players in the front seven, as well as offensive lineman, running backs, and tight ends.

Yet, that’s what Stanford football is when it is at its best, and in terms of recruiting, it doesn’t get much better than this for the Cardinal.