Fansided

National Signing Day 2017 conference power rankings

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban on the field prior to the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban on the field prior to the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has a word with an official to dispute a call during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Florida State won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher has a word with an official to dispute a call during the fourth quarter of a game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Florida State won 45-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

4. ACC

While quite a few ACC teams pulled in middling classes to bring down the conference’s overall ranking, a few top programs enjoyed success on signing day.

Florida State had one of the biggest jumps of any team in the nation with a few major commitments on National Signing Day, as Jimbo Fisher brought in the nation’s No. 6 class. The Seminoles beat out the likes of Ohio State for five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson on Wednesday evening to complete a class that includes top running back Cam Akers and third-ranked defensive end Joshua Kaindoh.

Clemson is slightly down overall with the nation’s No. 16 class, but Dabo Swinney’s offense is set up nicely for the long-term with five-star quarterback Hunter Johnson and wide receiver Tee Higgins coming in. As expected, Mark Richt is already doing work in Miami, as the Hurricanes gained the commitment of three more four-star prospects on Wednesday to complete the No. 13 recruiting class in the nation, the second-best mark in the conference.

Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Louisville and Pittsburgh finish with solid if unspectacular groups ranked between 25th and 33rd. The bottom tier of the conference struggled in recruiting, as Wake Forest and Boston College are both ranked in the low 60s.

While Clemson loses a lot of talent, the Tigers figure to be in the mix again, particularly if their two blue-chip talents live up to hype right away. Florida State has a replacement for Dalvin Cook and will enter the season as a threat to reach the playoff, although it faces a season-opening matchup against mighty Alabama.

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