The nation's best college football teams had key needs to address in the 2019 recruiting cycle. No matter the talent level of Clemson, Alabama, Georgia or any of the other programs on the cusp of the College Football Playoff, the need to stock the two-deep with talent remains. With the early enrollee numbers continuing to grow with each passing year, programs are better positioned to develop depth in spring practice. Here is a look at how the Way-Too-Early Top 25 teams fared in replenishing needs in the 2019 recruiting cycle and via the transfer market. 1. Clemson
The Tigers not only lost a number of high draft picks along the defensive front in Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant and Dexter Lawrence but also at linebacker and cornerback with Tre Lamar and Kendall Joseph and Trayvon Mullen off to the NFL. Although the talent already on campus on the defensive line is very good, Under Armour All-America Game DT Tyler Davis should provide help quickly. ESPN 300 Andrew Booth could help early at cornerback, as could inside linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Kane Patterson. Coach Dabo Swinney and staff filled immediate and future needs in the 2019 class very well. 2. Alabama
The Crimson Tide signed the ultimate reloading class, chock-full of elite defensive front seven and offensive line talent. Fifteen members of Bama's 2019 class have already enrolled. Defensive linemen Antonio Alfano and Justin Eboigbe look like possible early contributors, as does massive OG Evan Neal. Alabama suffered losses at running back as well, making Trey Sanders' and Keilan Robinson's early contributions paramount. 3. Oklahoma
New coordinator Alex Grinch is expected to help shore up defensive issues, but talent and depth still need to be improved for the Sooners to fend off an improving Texas team and stay on top of the Big 12. A third straight top-10 class is bringing depth and some key immediate-impact players. Four-star safety and Under Armour All-America Game standout Jamal Morris is already on campus and has range in spades. Junior college DE LaRon Stokes is another already on campus expected to push for time. There is also ESPN JC 50 running back Rhamondre Stevenson. He is expected to be a key addition to help offset the loss of Rodney Anderson. Coach Lincoln Riley and staff did a very good job of addressing needs on the offensive line and at receiver as well in this balanced class. 4. Georgia
The Bulldogs were hit hard on offense by the early departures of tight end Isaac Nauta, receivers Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman and running back Elijah Holyfield to the NFL. Receiver signees Dominick Blaylock and George Pickens, who flipped from Auburn on signing day, will be looked at for help early. Pickens has to clear academic hurdles before he can get to Athens. More immediate help will come from talent already on the roster at tight end and running back, but ESPN 300 RB Kenny McIntosh could bring some downhill pop during the season. Signing two quarterbacks was a must because of Justin Fields' decision to transfer, and coach Kirby Smart did just that. Both Dwan Mathis and Stetson Bennett IV are already on campus for spring practice. 5. Ohio State
Justin Fields' transfer filled Ohio State's biggest need. The former Georgia QB was the No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2018 ESPN 300 and is a talented, athletic player who brings a year of Division I experience to Columbus. The recent news that Fields was granted a waiver to play this season was huge for the Buckeyes and gives them an excellent replacement for the departed Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell. Behind Fields, depth and experience are still concerns. Ohio State failed to sign a prep QB in the 2019 class, though it does have ESPN Junior 300 QB Jack Miller committed for 2020. 6. Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish are in need of some key defensive replacements, and coach Brian Kelly and staff answered the bell with four defensive linemen ranked in the ESPN 300. January enrollee Jacob Lacey could help replace NFL tackle prospect Jerry Tillery. Defensive end/tackle Hunter Spears and DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah are also in for spring ball. A talented group of defensive backs is headed to South Bend to push for two-deep spots. Safety Kyle Hamilton and the hard-hitting Litchfield Ajavon have future playmaking capabilities, as do four-star cornerbacks K.J. Wallace and Isaiah Rutherford. None of the defensive back signees are early enrollees, though. 7. Texas
The Longhorns lost a lot of experience on defense after a 10-win season and resounding Allstate Sugar Bowl win over Georgia. All three defensive line starters are gone, including Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Charles Omenihu, as are speedy linebacker Gary Johnson and starting CBs Davante Davis and Kris Boyd. A second straight top-five recruiting class for coach Tom Herman and staff has the talent piling up in Austin. That group includes a number of early enrollees who will help immediately. Four-star defensive end Jacoby Jones was a key flip from Oklahoma who is on campus and will be a factor next season. Hard-hitting ESPN 300 linebacker De'Gabriel Floyd is already on campus and will be on the two-deep from day one. Long and speedy cornerback Kenyatta Watson will come in on the two-deep expected to compete with Anthony Cook and Jalen Green for time. On offense, the Longhorns offset the loss of Lil'Jordan Humphrey at receiver with an uber-talented group of signees, led by Bru McCoy and the versatile Jordan Whittington, who will also get time at running back.
Florida finished with a top-10 class because of the need-filling defensive talent it landed. The Gators signed seven ESPN 300 defensive players overall and really boosted that group following the early signing period. In the secondary, they added No. 11 CB Chris Steele in early January, and on national signing day they landed in-state top-five athlete Kaiir Elam, a lengthy, rangy athlete who could be a quick contributor in the secondary. They also were able to keep former Alabama verbal Khris Bogle closer to home by flipping him on signing day. He's an edge rusher with upside to develop at the Buck position (DE/OLB hybrid), where Florida lost Jachai Polite and Cece Jefferson. 9. Michigan
The Wolverines must replace as much on defense as any team, including Rashan Gary, Devin Bush, Chase Winovich and a number of key defensive tackles and defensive backs. There is ample talent already on campus at key positions, but there will be some help from the 2019 class. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith is the lone early enrollee who could help right away up front. Fellow tackle Christopher Hinton will head to Ann Arbor this summer with a college-ready body. Five-star safety Daxton Hill will be looked upon to provide snaps from jump street. ESPN 300 cornerback Jalen Perry is on campus already and is positioned to provide help immediately. On offense, having ESPN 300 running back Zach Charbonnet on campus for spring practice is huge, as there is a need for his skill set right now. 10. Oregon
The Ducks return talented quarterback Justin Herbert but are in need of help around him from a top-10 2019 class. The immediate help could come in the form of ESPN 300 receiver Joshua Delgado and junior college offensive tackle Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, both of whom are on campus. It's difficult to say that any other offensive players in the class will be impact players, but running back Sean Dollars and receiver Mycah Pittman will report this summer with playmaking ability and strong body types. 11. Texas A&M
The Aggies are on the right track under Jimbo Fisher but have a lot of front seven talent and experience to replace in 2019. The good news in College Station is that versatile defensive linemen DeMarvin Leal and Derick Hunter are on campus and should be in a position to help immediately. Linebacker depth is a concern, but early enrollee Andre White Jr. should help alleviate concerns on the inside. Junior college cornerback Elijah Blades will be needed to be an impact player. The Aggies hit home runs at tight end with Baylor Cupp and Jalen Wydermyer to make up for the loss of Jace Sternberger. 12. LSU
The Tigers suffered through injuries on the offensive line throughout the 2018 season, and while coach Ed Orgeron and staff inked a handful of OLs, it's guard Kardell Thomas who could push early -- assuming his weight is under control. The signing of No. 1-ranked running back John Emery, who should be the next star to tote the rock in Baton Rouge, should also help alleviate pressure on the O-line. Defensively, cornerback was a need, and No. 1-ranked cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is already on campus and should be prepared early next season when LSU travels to Austin to face Texas. 13. Washington State
Sure, replicating Gardner Minshew's production will not be easy, but coach Mike Leach usually finds a way, and while he may not be the immediate answer, Washington State did sign a talented young QB to mold in this class. High three-star Gunner Cruz might not be a highly touted name, but he can be a nice fit for the Cougars. He possesses very good size, a strong arm and good athleticism for his size. 14. UCF
The Knights signed the top Group of 5 class, led by three four-star defensive linemen. That position group took a big hit at the end of the season, and coach Josh Heupel and his staff did a good job addressing it. Among those additions up front, Under Armour All-American Tre'Mon Morris-Brash possesses a good first step and motor. A key local signee was DL Raymond Cutts, who flashes some explosiveness and good raw ability. They also have some juco help coming on the defensive line. 15. Syracuse
The future at quarterback for Syracuse looks as if it belongs to former ESPN 300 prospect and Under Armour All-American Tommy DeVito, but the future is unpredictable and options are always welcome. The Orange did sign QB David Summers, a top-25 pocket passer, to join 2018 dual-threat QB Chance Amie on the depth chart. 16. Penn State
Losing Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders in back-to-back years can be tough to overcome, but the future at running back still looks very bright for the Nittany Lions. They do return Ricky Slade, and they also signed a pair of top-10 RBs in their 2019 class. Devyn Ford is a sudden and quick runner, and Noah Cain is a well-rounded back in the mold of Alabama's Damien Harris. To help address departures on the offensive line, they also signed No. 1-ranked juco OT Anthony Whigan, who could be a plug-and-play guy this season. 17. Washington
The Huskies signed the No. 2 class in the Pac-12, and this group is anchored by needed defensive talent, as that unit suffered multiple departures. A pair of ESPN 300 defensive tackles lead this class. Jacob Bandes is a quick, high-motor player with active hands who could promptly work his way into the D-line rotation. Josh Calvert, who doubled as a linebacker and QB while at Oaks Christian in California, possesses a nice blend of athleticism and football smarts, and could be Washington's next tackling machine with Ben Burr-Kirven moving on. 18. Utah
Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will have some new pieces to work with, as five of the Utes' top six signees project to that side of the ball. They signed No. 2 ESPN JC 50 OT Bamidele Olaseni. In addition to the big OT pickup, they also signed a pair of top-25 offensive guards. On signing day, they added four-star RB and former USC commit Jordan Wilmore, a compact and powerful back. 19. Northwestern
It's not surprising that coach Pat Fitzgerald signed some promising defensive talent in this class, though a more immediate replacement for the loss of Jordan Thompson will need to come from the current roster. In-state LB signee Michael Jansey, who had an impressive pick-six in the Under Armour All-America Game, and four-star CB Roderick Heard have both enrolled early and can be candidates to help replace some of the production lost without Nate Hall and Montre Hartage. 20. Stanford
The Cardinal must replace star running back Bryce Love and key backup Cameron Scarlett in 2019, and David Shaw and staff addressed the pressing need on the trail. The No. 21-ranked recruiting class includes ESPN 300 Austin Jones out of Bishop O'Down High in Oakland, California, who will play a key role early on and has similar playmaking ability to Love. A second running back in the class is Nathaniel Peat out of Missouri. The Cardinal also need to replace 1,000-yard receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, fellow senior receiver Trenton Irwin and NFL early departure TE Kaden Smith. ESPN 300 wide receivers Elijah Higgins, who heads to Palo Alto with a college-ready body, and Colby Bowman will be tasked with easing the loss early on. One more receiver in the class would have been ideal, though. 21. Wisconsin
The Badgers will look to a top-30 recruiting class to help replace the loss of several talented seniors and quality depth on defense. The staff addressed a need at linebacker very well with the additions of four-star ILB Maema Njongmeta, California three-star OLB Spencer Lytle, in-state three-star ILB Leo Chenal and three-star OLB Skyler Meyers out of Missouri. Although one more safety in the class would have been ideal, Sunshine State cornerbacks Semar Melvin and James Williams have some versatility potential. 22. Iowa
The Hawkeyes' top-40 recruiting class was heavy on filling needs on the defensive side of the ball. Adding talent and depth in the secondary was a must in the 2019 cycle, and the staff delivered with four secondary signees, led by safeties Dane Belton and Sebastian Castro. Both have the ability to push for time early despite not being early enrollees. The defensive end position also needs an influx of talent, and three-stars Jalen Huntand Jake Karchinski head to Iowa with good weight and the ability to push for time. Tight end was a need on offense, and Iowa again evaluated well at the position, with Logan Lee a good bet to be in the mix early. 23. Auburn
The Tigers must replace starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham, and the good news for Auburn fans is that the likely starter next season is ESPN 300 and Under Armour All-America Game standout Bo Nix. Nix is already on campus, and it won't be a surprise if he takes the job by the beginning of the season with advanced passing ability and sneaky, undervalued athleticism. Future protection for Nix will come from two talented four-star OGs, Keiondre Jones and Kamaar Bell, but offensive tackle remains a need. ESPN 300 RBs D.J. Williams and Mark-Antony Richards will add speed and toughness to the backfield to help take pressure off a young quarterback. 24. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers signed a very talented crop of offensive players in the 2019 class, but it's on the defensive side of the ball where coach Scott Frost must make the most gains to put the Nebraska program in position to ascend. The No. 18-ranked class features a pair of DEs in Ty Robinson and Jamin Graham who could provide help next season. ESPN 300 safety Noa Pola-Gates and cornerbacks Quinton Newsome and Javin Wrightwill need to play their way into the two-deep early on to provide a boost in size and talent. Continuing to upgrade depth at linebacker remains a need. 25. Army
Not only did Army lose its defensive coordinator, some key defensive players, including linebacker James Nachtigal, are gone. The Black Knights headed to Texas, as usual, to bring in talented defensive tackle Gerald Irons III and linebackers Spencer Jones and Jonzell Prudhomme, who have the physical development to step in right away. Cornerbacks Jabari Moore and Joshua Doyle could also push for two-deep spots quickly.
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How Top 25 teams addressed needs on signing day 🏈
The Tigers not only lost a number of high draft picks along the defensive front in Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant and Dexter Lawrence but also at linebacker and cornerback with Tre Lamar and Kendall Joseph and Trayvon Mullen off to the NFL. Although the talent already on campus on the defensive line is very good, Under Armour All-America Game DT Tyler Davis should provide help quickly. ESPN 300 Andrew Booth could help early at cornerback, as could inside linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Kane Patterson. Coach Dabo Swinney and staff filled immediate and future needs in the 2019 class very well.
The Crimson Tide signed the ultimate reloading class, chock-full of elite defensive front seven and offensive line talent. Fifteen members of Bama's 2019 class have already enrolled. Defensive linemen Antonio Alfano and Justin Eboigbe look like possible early contributors, as does massive OG Evan Neal. Alabama suffered losses at running back as well, making Trey Sanders' and Keilan Robinson's early contributions paramount.
New coordinator Alex Grinch is expected to help shore up defensive issues, but talent and depth still need to be improved for the Sooners to fend off an improving Texas team and stay on top of the Big 12. A third straight top-10 class is bringing depth and some key immediate-impact players. Four-star safety and Under Armour All-America Game standout Jamal Morris is already on campus and has range in spades. Junior college DE LaRon Stokes is another already on campus expected to push for time. There is also ESPN JC 50 running back Rhamondre Stevenson. He is expected to be a key addition to help offset the loss of Rodney Anderson. Coach Lincoln Riley and staff did a very good job of addressing needs on the offensive line and at receiver as well in this balanced class.
The Bulldogs were hit hard on offense by the early departures of tight end Isaac Nauta, receivers Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman and running back Elijah Holyfield to the NFL. Receiver signees Dominick Blaylock and George Pickens, who flipped from Auburn on signing day, will be looked at for help early. Pickens has to clear academic hurdles before he can get to Athens. More immediate help will come from talent already on the roster at tight end and running back, but ESPN 300 RB Kenny McIntosh could bring some downhill pop during the season. Signing two quarterbacks was a must because of Justin Fields' decision to transfer, and coach Kirby Smart did just that. Both Dwan Mathis and Stetson Bennett IV are already on campus for spring practice.
Justin Fields' transfer filled Ohio State's biggest need. The former Georgia QB was the No. 1-ranked prospect in the 2018 ESPN 300 and is a talented, athletic player who brings a year of Division I experience to Columbus. The recent news that Fields was granted a waiver to play this season was huge for the Buckeyes and gives them an excellent replacement for the departed Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell. Behind Fields, depth and experience are still concerns. Ohio State failed to sign a prep QB in the 2019 class, though it does have ESPN Junior 300 QB Jack Miller committed for 2020.
The Fighting Irish are in need of some key defensive replacements, and coach Brian Kelly and staff answered the bell with four defensive linemen ranked in the ESPN 300. January enrollee Jacob Lacey could help replace NFL tackle prospect Jerry Tillery. Defensive end/tackle Hunter Spears and DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah are also in for spring ball. A talented group of defensive backs is headed to South Bend to push for two-deep spots. Safety Kyle Hamilton and the hard-hitting Litchfield Ajavon have future playmaking capabilities, as do four-star cornerbacks K.J. Wallace and Isaiah Rutherford. None of the defensive back signees are early enrollees, though.
The Longhorns lost a lot of experience on defense after a 10-win season and resounding Allstate Sugar Bowl win over Georgia. All three defensive line starters are gone, including Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Charles Omenihu, as are speedy linebacker Gary Johnson and starting CBs Davante Davis and Kris Boyd. A second straight top-five recruiting class for coach Tom Herman and staff has the talent piling up in Austin. That group includes a number of early enrollees who will help immediately. Four-star defensive end Jacoby Jones was a key flip from Oklahoma who is on campus and will be a factor next season. Hard-hitting ESPN 300 linebacker De'Gabriel Floyd is already on campus and will be on the two-deep from day one. Long and speedy cornerback Kenyatta Watson will come in on the two-deep expected to compete with Anthony Cook and Jalen Green for time. On offense, the Longhorns offset the loss of Lil'Jordan Humphrey at receiver with an uber-talented group of signees, led by Bru McCoy and the versatile Jordan Whittington, who will also get time at running back.
Not only did Army lose its defensive coordinator, some key defensive players, including linebacker James Nachtigal, are gone. The Black Knights headed to Texas, as usual, to bring in talented defensive tackle Gerald Irons III and linebackers Spencer Jones and Jonzell Prudhomme, who have the physical development to step in right away. Cornerbacks Jabari Moore and Joshua Doyle could also push for two-deep spots quickly.
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