Urban Meyer arrived at Ohio State last year two months before Signing Day and helped the Buckeyes pull in the nation's No. 3 recruiting class.
What does he do for an encore? Meyer helped lead the Buckeyes to Scout.com's No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for 2013.
With a perfect season under his belt, Meyer and his staff hit the road hard, reeling in many of Ohio's top recruits. That much is usual for the Buckeyes, but Ohio State went national to get signatures from such players as five-star linebacker Mike Mitchell (6-foot-4/225 pounds) of Plano, Texas, five-star safety Vonn Bell (6-0/190) of Ridgeland, Ga., and five-star defensive end Joey Bosa (6-5/270) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The No. 1 class was especially sweet for Ohio State fans as last minute pledges from Bell and former Oregon commitment Dontre Wilson (5-10/180), the nation's No. 10 running back, vaulted the Buckeyes over rival Michigan, which had held the No. 1 spot for much of the last two months.
The core of Ohio State's class is still from Ohio with 10 signees from within the state borders, but there is a definite national feel to the nation's No. 1 class.
[MORE: Check out Ohio State's list of commits/signees]
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| RB Derrick Green was the last big piece of the Michigan recruiting puzzle.
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Michigan drops to No. 2
Michigan entered National Signing Day as the No. 1 class, but the Wolverines were like a golfer sitting in the clubhouse with a two-stroke lead while others were still on the course.
The Wolverine class was finished last week when the nation's No. 1 running back -- Derrick Green (5-11/220) of Richmond, Va. -- put the cherry on top of a terrific haul by head coach Brady Hoke and his staff.
If the 2013 class is to be a harbinger of things to come for the Wolverines, expect a big, powerful running game. In addition to Green, Michigan signed another powerful running back in DeVeon Smith (5-11/210) of Howland, Ohio, as well as six offensive linemen rated four stars or better. That group is headlined by the nation's No. 1 guard prospect -- Patrick Kugler (6-4/285) of Wexford, Pa.
[MORE: Check out Michigan's list of commits/signees]
Alabama strong again at No. 3
Alabama made its usual assault on the top of the rankings with a flurry of defensive announcements on Signing Day, including the aptly named Dee Liner (6-4/294), the nation's No. 8 ranked defensive tackle, and the nation's No. 1 defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (6-4/305) of Fort Worth, Texas.
Robinson was once a Texas Longhorn commitment, but even the Longhorns are having trouble keeping home-state players out of Alabama's powerful recruiting pitch these days.
Alabama is bringing in a stable of running backs including the big Derrick Henry (6-4/230) of Yulee, Fla. Henry became the leading rusher in high school history this year. Henry won't be alone as Altee Tenpenny (6-0/203) of Little Rock, Ark., Alvin Kamara (5-10/190) of Norcross, Ga., and Tyren Jones (5-9/180) of Marietta, Ga., are all backs rated four stars or better in what is an incredibly deep year for running backs.
Tight end O.J. Howard (6-5/225) of Prattville, Ala., and middle linebacker Reuben Foster (6-1/240) of Auburn, Ala., join Robinson as players ranked No. 1 at their respective positions in a talent-laden Crimson Tide class of 2013.
[MORE: Check out Alabama's list of commits/signees]
Notre Dame ends up at No. 4
Notre Dame parlayed a talented roster into a BCS Championship appearance and another top recruiting class, including the nation's No. 1 outside linebacker prospect -- Jaylon Smith (6-3/225) of Fort Wayne, Ind. Smith is the type of hybrid linebacker equally comfortable in coverage as he is rushing the passer.
The running game at Notre Dame should get a boost with the addition of two backs from the Sunshine State. Greg Bryant (5-10/210) of Delray Beach, Fla., is a No. 1 running back in some years that aren't as deep as the 2013 class, and Tarean Folson (5-10/190) of Cocoa Beach, Fla., is a change-of-pace back with good power.
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| Eddie Vanderdoes' Wednesday pledge vaulted Notre Dame to No. 4.
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The big Signing Day score for the Irish was five-star defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes (6-4/290) of Auburn, Calif. The No. 9 overall prospect joined another talented Californian in the nation's No. 5-ranked safety -- Max Redfield (6-2/195) of Mission Viejo, Calif.
[MORE: Check out Notre Dame's list of commits/signees]
UCLA surprises at No. 5
When the sanctions against USC were announced, this was the kind of day UCLA fans dreamed of. The Bruins took full advantage of their rival being hampered by the NCAA to sign the best recruiting class they've had in more than a decade.
UCLA didn't take advantage of a deep year for offensive linemen last year, but there's no doubt the Bruins cleaned up when it came to a deep and talented group of defensive backs in the West in 2013, including five-star cornerback Priest Willis (6-2/190) of Tempe, Ariz. -- whose Letter of Intent has not yet been sent -- and a pair of national top 10 safeties -- Tahaan Goodman (6-2/190) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and Tyler Foreman (6-2/190) of Encino, Calif.
The linebacker corps gets a boost from the nation's No. 3 inside linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea (6-3/230) of Honolulu, Hawaii, and the No. 4 outside linebacker Myles Jack (6-3/230) of Bellevue, Wash. Four-star linebacker Cameron Judge (6-2/215) of Westlake Village, Calif., was another big Signing Day score.
Head coach Jim Mora is doing his best to bring in a class that could quickly dispel the notion that teams out West don't play any defense.
[MORE: Check out UCLA's list of commits/signees]
Ole Miss ends in top 10
Without a doubt the biggest story of the year was Ole Miss and the recruiting effort by head coach Hugh Freeze in his first full season. The Rebels cracked the top 10 for the first time ever on Scout.com/FOX Sports Next.
Ole Miss signed the nation's No. 1 overall recruit in defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche (6-4/260) of Loganville, Ga., the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle in Laremy Tunsil (6-6/295) of Lake City, Fla., as well as five-star receiver Laquon Treadwell (6-3/190) of Crete, Ill., and five-star safety Antonio Conner (6-1/205) from nearby Batesville, Miss.
The Rebel class is much more than those four five-star players though as it features eight four-star players, including the nation's No. 1 junior college transfer in defensive lineman Lavon Hooks (6-4/295) of Northeast Mississippi.
[MORE: Check out Mississippi's list of commits/signees]
Full post-Signing Day top 25