Per Barton Simmons 247 (please forgive if posted already; feel free to strike):
The dust has settled on the 2016 version of National Signing Day, but the 2016 recruiting cycle is much more than one day. With the signing classes in the books, it's time to dole out some superlatives.
Best quarterback class – Ole Miss
Very few schools took more than one quarterback in this cycle so without much quality depth on any one commit list, the nod here goes to Ole Miss and Shea Patterson who clawed his way to the top of the quarterback rankings with strong performances in every possible setting.
Honorable mention: Georgia, Virginia Tech, Florida
Best running back class – Ohio State
In a very shallow, limited running back class nationally, the Buckeyes were able to land two of the best. Demario McCall is one of the best space players in the country and Antonio Williams is one of the nation's most productive backs.
Honorable mention: Alabama, Arkansas
Best wide receiver class – USC
Tee Martin and the Trojans capitalized on an incredibly deep year at wide receiver in Southern California. Michael Pittman, Tyler Vaughns and Josh Imatorbhebhe highlight a deep and versatile group.
Honorable Mention: Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Michigan State, UCLA
Best tight end class – Ohio State
The Buckeyes landed a tight end that can block and catch in the Big Ten right now in Jake Hausmann. They landed a flex tight end that can be a dynamic option in that offense with Kierre Hawkins. Then there's Luke Farrell who has maybe the highest ceiling of any tight end in this 2016 class.
Honorable Mention: Michigan, Ole Miss
Best offensive line class – Alabama
The best junior college offensive tackle in the country (Charles Baldwin), the second best high school offensive tackle in the country (Jonah Williams) and three other four-star road-graders (Deonte Brown, Chris Owens, Scott Lashley) make this another typical big, bullying offensive line group for the Tide.
Honorable Mention: Notre Dame, Florida State
Best defensive line class – Auburn
A close race for this award turned into a clear choice when Derrick Brown committed to Auburn on Wednesday. There's both elite talent and crazy depth on the Auburn commit list. Nick Coe is the forgotten man here. He may just end up being the best of the bunch.
Honorable Mention: LSU, Texas, Mississippi State, Ohio State
Best linebacker class – Alabama
In Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson, Alabama landed two of the top three linebackers in the country. If you add Terrell Hall, who is projected to be an outside linebacker for Nick Saban, that's three five-star linebackers heading to Tuscaloosa.
Honorable mention: UCLA, Clemson, Texas,
Best defensive back class – LSU
LSU gets my vote for DBU and this class is further supporting evidence of that. There are five defensive backs committed in this group. Three are in the top five at their position and the other two are four-stars Andraez Williams and Cameron Lewis who would be headliners for any other class in the country.
Honorable mention: Florida State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Baylor, USC
Best class at addressing needs: Michigan State
The Spartans return one receiver that had more than two catches last season. They lose three receivers that combined for 1800 yards receiving and 131 receptions. They needed to find depth and instant contributors at that spot and they went out and got four four-star receivers led by Donnie Corley.
Best close: Texas
Charlie Strong waited until the absolute last minute before unleashing nine commitments in the final 48 hours of the 2016 cycle. The close took Texas from No. 33 in the national rankings all the way up to No. 11.
Most surprising finish: USC
We knew USC would close strong but stealing a four-star running back commit from Oregon (Vavae Malepeai), flipping a four-star athlete from Florida State (Jamel Cook), swiping a skill player out of Hurricane country (Keyshawn Young) and beating Georgia on a four-star offensive tackle from its own state (E.J. Price) topped most people's best case scenarios.
Most important class: Ole Miss
How do you replace the best recruiting class in school history after it transforms the program and collectively departs for NFL millions? Recruit an even better one. In terms of class ranking, this 2016 Ole Miss class finished higher than the Robert Nkemdiche, Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell class of 2013.
Best pound for pound class: Clemson
This was a statement class by Dabo Swinney. Class size limited Clemson in what it could do down the stretch but this class has more difference makers in the top half of the group than anyone in the country. The Tigers are not leaving the national stage any time soon.
Best new coach: Will Muschamp
Muschamp was dealt a losing hand when he took over the job at South Carolina. The class was in shambles, the numbers were low, the playmakers were nowhere to be found. He quickly put together one of the nation's top recruiting staffs and went to work, nearly sneaking into the Top 25 by signing day.
Sleeper classes: Wisconsin and Pittsburgh
Wisconsin has future pros that you've never heard of in this class. Allow me to introduce them to you: OT Patrick Kasl, WR Quintez Cephus, TE Jake Hescock, Jumbo athlete Isaiahh Loudermilk. Write them down.
While you're at it, write down these names that are going to help Pitt start rising towards the top of the ACC: QB Thomas MacVIttie, LB Chase Pine, RB George Hill, CB Damar Hamlin.
Where the best names of 2016 ended up:
The noble Sir Patrick Scott signed with Marshall.
His highness King James Taylor signed with Hawaii.
Tough-guy offensive lineman Gentle Williams signed with Cal.
The tall Lil'Jordan Humphrey signed with Texas
