NSD 2020: UConn finishes with 28th best class
Stop me if you've heard this one before. Another year, another solid showing on the recruiting trail from Bob Diaco and the UConn Huskies.
Yet, it is true. UConn finished the 2020 recruiting cycle with the 28th best class in the nation, according to recruiting source SPARQ. This finish is a slight drop-off from last year's sensational 10th ranked class, but there are still plenty of potential stars ready to set foot in East Hartford this year.
Start at the very top with athlete
Aaron Brook and
Tory Greening. While Brook is listed as an athlete, he is expected to land at strong safety to challenge for a starting role with Victor Castalanetta and Tony Rush this fall. His size reminds the coaching staff of current free safety Ross Sinclair. Greening, meanwhile, is a prospect the coaching staff is very high on. From Albion, Michigan, the 6'2 four-star prospect has lots of speed and great coverage skills already. He will likely be redshirted in 2020 simply because of strong depth at the corner position, but will be a star very soon for the defensive-minded Diaco.
On down the line, with Gene Jackson graduated and Sam Rourke a senior this fall, Diaco went out and shored up the defensive line a bit by signing
Brennick Samples and
Kiel Hughes. Both have fantastic size (Samples at 6'5 and Hughes at 6'7) and project to be solid, agile pass rushers, which Diaco loves to see in his linemen. With Rourke graduating, expect both to be in the mix for a starting job by 2021. Throw in four-star linebacker Jevon Sapp, and UConn looks to be set for years to come in the front seven.
On the other end of the ball, Diaco exerted a lot of energy in bringing in new offensive linemen and quarterbacks, likely the weakest spots on the team. At quarterback, Diaco brought in three-star athlete
Alex Paige and three-star Texan
T.J. Appleby to compete with TDL and Isaac Jackson for the starting role. While neither are likely to win the job, both will be developmental prospects and will have chances to contribute in years to come.
On the O-Line, Diaco brought in two centers, two guards and two tackles, led by versatile center
Joe Sykes Jr. Sykes was in position to compete for the starting center job until the arrival of Ole Miss grad transfer Ryan Smelley. Nevertheless, Sykes will be a top backup on the line immediately and is likely to win a job somewhere in 2021. Diaco is also excited about New Jersey native
Michael Clark, and is hoping that the six new linemen will help provide depth for the immediate future.
Finally, Diaco is intrigued by four star athlete and soon to be wide receiver
Collin Miranda. A largely unknown commodity nationally from Shiprock, New Mexico, Miranda is quick and has a skill set capable of a #2 or slot receiver.
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Around the Nation
Auburn had the best recruiting haul this year, landing four blue chip prospects and ten four-star kids. Their highest ranked player was WR Randy Rodgers, #16 in the SPARQ 100.
The nation's top prospect this year was tailback Kentrice Caron from Montgomery, Ohio. While receiving an offer from Ohio State (just an hour and a half down the road), Caron decided to take his talents to Michigan State and join a loaded backfield with Notre Dame grad transfer Marvin Newell and former top 20 recruit Kylan Rosmore.
Caron is just one of many good running back prospects this year. In the top 20 alone, Ashe Mallard (Minnesota), Ka'Lonta Gasser (Purdue) and Baron Baggarly (USC) all have the potential to contribute right away and be stars very soon.
For my droves of Michigan fans, your best haul was the 24th ranked prospect, cornerback Wall Wagonner.
Coach Quinn Shea, fresh off a second consecutive CFP appearance, had the highest ranked CAC class at #25.
| Top Recruiting Classes - 2020 |
| RK | TEAM | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | TOTAL |
| 1 | Auburn | 4 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 2 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| 3 | Florida State | 0 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 0 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| 5 | Georgia | 2 | 6 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 24 |
| 6 | Penn State | 1 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 7 | Oregon | 1 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Notre Dame | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 9 | Texas | 1 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 22 |
| 10 | Cal | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 19 |
| 11 | Mississippi State | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 21 |
| 12 | Florida | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| 13 | Michigan | 2 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | 0 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 1 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 21 |
| 17 | Georgia Tech | 0 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| 18 | Alabama | 3 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| 19 | Clemson | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 24 |
| 20 | Iowa | 0 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 21 |
| 21 | TCU | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| 22 | Arizona State | 1 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 23 | Missouri | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| 24 | SMU | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 21 |
| 25 | USC | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| Top CAC Recruiting Classes - 2020 |
| RK | TEAM | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | TOTAL |
| 25 | USC (Coach Shea) | 1 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 29 | Purdue (DC Smith) | 1 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 20 |
| 33 | Rutgers (OC Coley) | 0 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| 36 | UCF (OC Turley) | 0 | 3 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 22 |
| 40 | Maryland (OC James) | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 52 | Bowling Green (OC Malloy) | 0 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 19 |
| 55 | Texas State (OC Brooks) | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 19 |
| 58 | Hawai'i (Coach Trebell) | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 24 |
| 60 | Louisville (OC Woodard) | 0 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| 62 | Syracuse (OC Gilbert) | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 20 |
| 73 | South Alabama (OC Favre) | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 21 |
| 83 | Memphis (OC King) | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 17 |
| 85 | Middle Tennessee State (OC St. Brown Sr.) | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 19 |
| 86 | Cincinnati (OC Nama) | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| 95 | Southern Miss (OC Davis) | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| 105 | Eastern Michigan (OC Henderson) | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 18 |
| 106 | Washington State (Coach Willingham) | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
| 112 | UAB (OC Westside) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 22 |
| 114 | Central Michigan (OC Crenshaw) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| 115 | Ball State (OC Baumann) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 19 |
| 118 | UTEP (OC Mac) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 17 |
| 123 | Louisiana (Coach Miller) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 18 |
| 124 | UNLV (Coach Freday) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 19 |
| 125 | New Mexico State (OC Grant) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 16 |