An Up-and-down Day

HIGHS

URBAN MEYER

Ohio State's class was out of the top 15 until the two-time title-winning coach was hired on Nov. 28. Meyer (above) flipped eight blue-chippers who were committed to other schools and landed five-star DE Noah Spence. Meyer's methods ruffled Big Ten feathers: Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema accused him of "illegal" recruiting tactics, which Meyer denied.

THE L.A. SCHOOLS

Despite signing just 12 prospects because of NCAA sanctions, USC landed impact players, led by 6'9", 335-pound offensive tackle Zach Banner. In his first stab at recruiting, new UCLA coach Jim Mora reeled in a class ranked 13th by Rivals.com. Among his gems were five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy (above) and two highly ranked QBs, including Devin Fuller of New Jersey.

STANFORD

The Cardinal, whose class ranked fifth, hauled in a group of O-linemen considered the nation's best. It's led by five-star tackles Kyle Murphy (above) of California and Andrus Peat of Arizona, who didn't announce their decisions until the final day. Both spurned, among others, USC coach Lane Kiffin, who said, "I certainly didn't think two of them would go to the same school."

FLORIDA STATE

What Stanford achieved on the offensive line, the Seminoles matched on the defensive front, bringing in Mario Edwards (above) of Texas, the nation's No. 1 end and Eddie Goldman of Washington, the No. 2 tackle. "That's what separates Southern football from everywhere else in the country—defensive linemen," said coach Jimbo Fisher.

LOWS