Top Takeaways from 247Sports' Final Recruiting Rankings for Class of 2016

Credit: 247Sports
Penn State commit Miles Sanders is the only composite 5-star RB in 2016.

Recruit rankings won't help players when they walk into their first collegiate practice session, but these ratings captivate fans and prospects on an annual basis. Many major media outlets start assigning stars to teenage athletes as underclassmen, creating an even larger spotlight for high school standouts.

Though elite ratings don't ensure success in the years to come, this process gives college football followers an understanding of which recruits will arrive on campus with immediate expectations. Deep into the final stretch of an exciting 2016 recruiting cycle, we now have a strong understanding of who those prospects are this year.

The latest and final installment of 247Sports' rankings, released Wednesday, caps off overall composite rankings for this class. This list is described by the site as "a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings and ratings listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services, creating the industry's most comprehensive and unbiased prospect and team rankings."^[1]

Essentially, composite rankings identify the rankings of America's most notable recruiting industry analysts from various multimedia platforms and form an ordered list based on average prospect assessment.

Now that we've had an opportunity to dig deeper into final 2016 composite rankings, here's a look at late risers, trends and notable developments found in this expansive collection of future college competitors.

Shea Patterson ^[2] and Jacob Eason ^[3] are way ahead of the pack at QB.

These prized passers were viewed as the nation's top two prospects at the position entering their senior seasons. Neither disappointed in 2015, leading their respective high school squads to a combined 21-1 record.

Eason, an early enrollee for the Georgia Bulldogs, earned national honors as Gatorade Player of the Year and U.S. Army Player of the Year. Patterson, who arrives to the Ole Miss Rebels this month, picked up an MVP award at both the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Elite 11 finals.

While there was never a question these two would sit atop 2016 quarterback rankings, we did wonder who would finish No. 1 and how far the fall would be to No. 3. Patterson ultimately leads the position, rated No. 4 among all recruits regardless of position, while Eason is directly behind at No. 5 overall.

You won't find another passer on the list until No. 46, where Stanford Cardinal commit KJ Costello ^[6] sits. Only three other quarterbacks cracked the top 75 overall, while Patterson and Eason are considered the only 5-star talents in this group.

Eason threw for 9,183 yards, 102 touchdowns and 18 interceptions at Lake Stevens High School in Lake Stevens, Washington. Patterson collected 8,479 passing yards, 140 total touchdowns and 14 interceptions during his high school career, winning two state championships at Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana, before spending his senior campaign at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

When Ole Miss hosts Georgia in September, expect Eason to hold better odds of starting based on team depth charts at quarterback. The Bulldogs struggled to establish consistency in the passing game last year, while the Rebels return Chad Kelly after a 41-touchdown campaign.

Top 10 QBs in 2016 Class
QB Ranking	Name	High School	College	Overall Ranking
1	Shea Patterson	IMG Academy (FL)	Ole Miss	4
2	Jacob Eason	Lake Stevens (WA)	Georgia	5
3	KJ Costello	Santa Margarita Catholic (CA)	Stanford	46
4	Malik Henry	Long Beach Poly (CA)	Florida State	48
5	Feleipe Franks	Wakulla (FL)	Florida	54
6	Brandon Peters	Avon (IN)	Michigan	61
7	Jarrett Guarantano	Bergen Catholic (NJ)	Tennessee	77
8	Dwayne Haskins	The Bullis School (MD)	Ohio State	87
9	Shane Buechele	Lamar (TX)	Texas	172
10	Brandon McIlwain	Council Rock North (PA)	South Carolina	174

247Sports composite rankings

Penn State commit Miles Sanders ^[7] emerges as lone 5-star running back.

The Pittsburgh area playmaker surged in rankings down the stretch and topped a talent-laden list of rushers when the dust settled. Sanders, a 5'11", 199-pound Woodland Hills High School product, was also the position's only composite 5-star prospect.

Considered the premier recruit in Pennsylvania, he lived up to the hype again last fall. Sanders shredded defenses en route to a third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaign, according to Brad Everett of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.^[8]

He gained 1,523 yards on the ground as a senior, averaging 11.2 yards per carry, and tallied 16 touchdowns. Sanders accounted for 4,573 career rushing yards and 59 scores.

The Penn State Nittany Lions picked up an early pledge from the in-state star, securing Sanders' commitment months before his junior season. He's maintained that verbal pact despite interest from several alternative universities, including the Pittsburgh Panthers, Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan State Spartans.

Clemson Tigers commit Tavien Feaster ^[11] and Alabama pledge B.J. Emmons ^[12] finished No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in composite running back rankings. Demario McCall ^[13] (Ohio State Buckeyes), Devwah Whaley ^[14] (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Kareem Walker ^[15] (Michigan Wolverines) also cracked the top 100 overall.

Ohio State is set to reload on offense.

Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer ^[16] is recognized as one of the most effective closers in college football recruiting and this cycle continues to reaffirm that sentiment. Ohio State sits atop composite class rankings ^[17] less than two weeks shy of national signing day, spurred by three 4-star commitments on Jan. 18.

That stunning haul featured two more elite offensive talents, further enhancing a stockpile of standouts set to arrive in Columbus this year. Former Maryland Terrapins quarterback commit Dwayne Haskins ^[18], an Elite 11 finalist rated No. 7 among pro-style passers, and Florida downfield threat Binjimen Victor ^[19], the country's No. 12 wide receiver, are the latest additions to a promising group.

Credit: 247Sports

QB Dwayne Haskins flipped to Ohio State weeks before signing day.

Austin Mack ^[20], a top-10 receiver from Indiana, enrolled early at Ohio State. The same can be said for fellow 4-star talents Michael Jordan ^[21] (offensive tackle), Tyler Gerald ^[22] (offensive guard) and Antonio Williams ^[23] (running back).

Williams, who previously pledged to the Wisconsin Badgers, rushed for more than 2,100 yards in each of his last three seasons at North Stanly High School in North Carolina, according to MaxPreps ^[24]. He rushed for 68 scores during that stretch and will be joined in the backfield this summer by No. 4 overall running back recruit McCall, a scintillating H-back candidate.

Ohio State will also pair top-10 tight ends Jake Hausmann ^[25] and Luke Farrell ^[26], while 4-star commit Kierre Hawkins ^[27] could make an impact at tight end or wide receiver during his collegiate career.

Though the Buckeyes continue to bid farewell to athletes who helped lead dynamic, title-winning offensive efforts, reinforcements are on the way.

New USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin is stocking up at wide receiver.

The former star Tennessee Volunteers quarterback ascended to offensive coordinator under the direction of head coach Clay Helton. Martin previously served as Trojans wide receivers coach, developing his national reputation as a top-tier instructor and recruit favorite.

Recent USC receivers Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and Nelson Agholor were top-50 NFL draft picks in the past three years. Sophomore JuJu Smith-Schuster seems likely to eventually follow in their footsteps after racking up 15 touchdown catches during his first two collegiate seasons.

The next crop of USC pass-catchers provides plenty of potential in Los Angeles next season and beyond. Martin is expected to pack his depth chart with four of the top 30 wide receivers in composite rankings.

Half of this collection is already under Martin's tutelage, as Michael Pittman ^[30] and Josh Imatorbhebhe ^[31] enrolled early.

Pittman, son of the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back who shares his name, racked up 1,990 receiving yards and 24 touchdown catches as a senior, according to MaxPreps ^[34]. Imatorbhebhe, who chose USC over Georgia, Alabama and Stanford, joins older brother Daniel Imatorbhebhe, a tight end who transferred from Florida last summer.

Tyler Vaughns ^[35] and Trevon Sidney ^[36], teammates at in-state Bishop Amat High School, will enter the equation after late-spring graduation. They combined to catch 115 passes for 1,719 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2015, per MaxPreps ^[37].

Practice will be a competitive environment as these newcomers battle for reps in Martin's aerial attack. This depth should also catch the attention of top quarterbacks in the 2017 and 2018 recruiting cycles.

4-star WRs in USC's 2016 Class
Name	WR Ranking	Overall Ranking
Tyler Vaughns	3	34
Michael Pittman	8	69
Trevon Sidney	26	141
Josh Imatorbhebhe	29	150

247Sports composite rankings

Defensive linemen dominate 5-star territory.

Among America's 25 composite 5-star prospects, 10 are projected to spend their college careers lined up along the defensive front. This collection of linemen easily surpasses the presence of any other positional group in the upper echelon of composite rankings.

Rashan Gary ^[38], a versatile force who could inhabit several roles depending on defensive scheme, leads the way as this class' consensus No. 1 overall recruit. The coveted New Jersey standout is still considering several schools, including Alabama, the Auburn Tigers, Ole Miss, Michigan and USC.

Clemson commit Dexter Lawrence ^[39], Houston Cougars pledge Ed Oliver ^[40] and undecided Georgia gargantuan Derrick Brown ^[41] join Gary as top-10 prospects expected to do damage at defensive tackle. Nick Bosa ^[42], a strong-side defensive end and the No. 8 overall recruit, follows older brother Joey Bosa to Ohio State.

The most compelling member of a loaded defensive line class could also be its most raw talent. Nigeria native Oluwole Betiku ^[45], a USC pledge who moved to America in 2013, totalled 52 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks in just two seasons at traditional Trojans pipeline Junipero Serra High School.

When we look back at this class four or five years down the line, don't be surprised if it's defined by the big men in defensive trenches.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports ^[46]' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake ^[47].