Charlie Strong, Louisville Leading the Big East Recruiting Race

In the final push toward National Signing Day 2011 on Feb. 2, FanHouse will examine the recruiting efforts of a major conference in twice-weekly notebooks. As always, recruiting is an ever-changing landscape -- and there are several high-profile players who remain uncommitted. Here is FanHouse's review of the Big East.

The Best

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 23

Five- and four-star commitments: 5

The 411: Coach Charlie Strong is putting an immediate imprint on Big East recruiting, as all but one of his four-star recruits are from South Florida. Strong raided two Miami schools -- pulling QB Teddy Bridgewater (6-3, 185, Miami, Fla., Northwestern) as an early signee, Bridgewater's teammate WR Eli Rogers (5-10, 180, Miami, Fla., Northwestern), and DB teammates Andrew Johnson (5-10, 170, Miami, Fla., Southridge) and Gerod Holiman (6-0, 180, Miami, Fla., Southridge). Strong also has a commitment from QB DaMarcus Smith (6-1, 180, Louisville, Ky., Seneca).

Grade: A-

The Contenders

RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 21
Five- and four-star commitments: 2

The 411: Greg Schiano and his staff are attempting to keep up with Louisville on the recruiting trail, and may still fill a need or two to up the Scarlet Knights' grade. The best commitments so far are DE Djwany Mera (6-4, 225, Chatham, Va., Hargrave Military Academy) and WR Miles Shuler (5-11, 173, Long Branch, N.J., HS).

Grade: B+

CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 25

Five- and four-star commitments: 1

The 411: Coach Butch Jones appears to have completed his first full season on the recruiting trail after replacing Brian Kelly, and has done well in the process. RB Jameel Poteat (5-11, 195, Harrisburg, Pa., Bishop McDevitt HS) is the lone four-star commitment, though DB Malcolm Murray (6-2, 205, Walnut, Calif., San Antonio C.C.) is already on campus and will fill an immediate defensive need.

Grade: B

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 22

Five- and four-star commitments: 1

The 411: The Mountaineers might still have another commitment or two land before National Signing Day. The best future West Virginia players are twin brothers -- four-star DB Vance Roberts (5-10, 166, Washington, D.C., Dunbar HS) and RB Vernard Roberts (5-11, 174, Washington, D.C., Dunbar HS).

Grade: B

Rest of the Pack

SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 20

Five- and four-star commitments: 0

The 411: South Florida is in the deep end of the Sunshine State recruiting pool, and still has a few more slots to fill before the 2010-11 class is complete. Watch out for OLs Max Lang (6-4, 276, Orlando, Fla., Boone HS) and Thor Jozwiak (6-4, 270, Eagle Lake, Fla., Lake Region HS).

Grade: B-

SYRACUSE ORANGE

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 25

Five- and four-star commitments: 0

The 411: Coach Doug Marone has apparently filled his 2011 class, doing so with average talent across the board. Watch out for high school teammates WR Dyshawn Davis (6-1, 200, New Berlin, N.Y., Milford Academy) and LB Myles Davis (6-0, 212, New Berlin, N.Y., Milford Academy).

Grade: C

CONNECTICUT HUSKIES

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 13

Five- and four-star commitments: 0

The 411: New coach Paul Pasqualoni has a long way to go in filling UConn's many needs after a Big East championship largely won by departed seniors. DE Kenton Adeyemi (Fork Union, Va., Fork Union Military Academy) and QB Michael Nebrich (6-1, 190, Burke, Va., Lake Braddock HS) could see early playing time.

Grade: D+

PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

Total commitments (as of Jan. 20): 8

Five- and four-star commitments: 1

The 411: Going on a third football coach in less than three months is a disaster for recruiting, and the Panthers' 2011 class is certainly suffering. The lone bright spot? Four-star DR Khaynin Mosley-Smith (6-1, 275, New Berlin, N.Y., Milford Academy) hasn't wavered so far on his commitment.

Grade: D-

Jadeveon Clowney Watch

The whirlwind recruitment of consensus nationwide No. 1 prospect DE Jadeveon Clowney (6-6, 247, Rock Hill, S.C., South Pointe HS) has been at a fevered pitch for over a year now -- and does not appear to be headed for a conclusion when 99 percent of the country's high school seniors put pen to paper Feb. 2 for National Signing Day.

Instead, it could be Feb. 14 -- Valentine's Day for one lucky school and coaching staff and the talented player's birthday -- when the world learns of Clowney's destination.

Clowney has narrowed his list to six schools. He has already taken an official visit to South Carolina and Alabama, and will take his official visit to Florida State this weekend. He will visit Clemson the weekend of Jan. 28 and then either North Carolina or LSU will see his final official visit on the weekend of Feb. 4 or Feb. 11.

Recruits are allowed five official visits -- a 48-hour, on-campus visit paid by the university --- during the recruiting process. Clowney will take full advantage of this before making his choice. The final signing date is April 1.

Clowney's play, both for South Pointe and during the all-star season, has justified the hype. As a junior, the rush end had 144 tackles and 23 sacks. He followed that with 162 tackles and 29.5 sacks during his senior campaign.

Clowney backed up those gaudy numbers in two recent all-star appearances. Despite missing the week of practice at the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, an all-star game pitting the best players from North Carolina and South Carolina, he dominated the game with five tackles, including three sacks, while drawing five holding penalties to earn MVP honors.

Clowney then issued another dominating performance in the Under Armour All-American Game, making seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and forcing a fumble.

Commitment Ticker

As National Signing Day approaches, more and more athletes are making their commitments. Since Monday, one five-star player and seven four-star athletes are among the 28 public pledges -- which are non-binding and are always subject to change before Feb. 2 -- since Monday's notebook.

Five-star DR Stephon Tuitt (6-5, 252, Monroe, Ga., HS) re-committed to Notre Dame after withdrawing said commitment last month. Tuitt had offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), South Carolina, Southern Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Four-star WR Brandon Carter (5-11, 165, Euless, Texas, Trinity HS) committed to TCU. Four-star S Marcus Robertson (6-0, 180, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS) pledged to Texas Tech. Four-star LB Kris Frost (6-3, 210, Matthews, N.C., David W. Butler HS) chose Auburn. Four-star LB Anthony Sarao (6-1, 220, Absecon, N.J., Holy Spirit HS) committed to Southern Cal. Four-star WR Bill Belton (Atco, N.J., Winslow Township HS) pledged to Penn State. Four-star LB Ejuan Price (6-0, 235, Pittsburgh, Pa., Woodland Hills SHS) chose Ohio State. Four-star CB Kevin Grooms (5-10, 170, Hollywood, Fla., South Broward HS) will go to Miami (Fla.).

CB Tamani Carter (5-11, 175, Pickerington, Ohio, Pickerington HS Central) committed to Michigan, DE Deion Barnes (6-5, 225, Philadelphia, Pa., Northeast HS) pledged to Penn State, DT Matt Ramondo (6-4, 285, Las Cruces, N.M., Mayfield HS) chose Michigan State, WR Devante Davis (6-3, 195, Galena Park, Texas, North Shore Senior HS) committed to UNLV, and RB Brandon Wright (5-11, 195, Las Vegas, Nev., Palo Verde HS) is headed to San Diego State.

RB Anthony Pierson (5-11, 170, East Saint Louis, Ill., East St. Louis Senior HS) committed to Kansas, CB Chris Dukes (5-9, 160, Cincinnati, Ohio, Colerain HS) pledged to Toledo, LB Marcquis Roberts (6-0, 206, Powder Springs, Ga., McEachern HS) and TE Rory Anderson (6-5, 205, Powder Springs, Ga., McEachern HS) each committed to South Carolina and OG Dustin Pringle (6-5, 260, Beaver Falls, Pa., Blackhawk HS) committed to Western Michigan.

OT Carter Wall (6-5, 265, Sugar Land, Texas, William B. Travis HS) committed TCU, DT Isiah Norton (6-5, 290, Dallas, Texas, Justin F. Kimball HS) pledged to Colorado State, TE Jake Reed (6-3, 221, Columbus, Ind., Columbus North HS) chose Indiana, CB Dallas Crawford (5-9, 180, Fort Myers, Fla., South Fort Myers HS) decided on Miami (Fla.) and CB Steve Montgomery (5-11, 187, Miramar, Fla., HS) is headed to Minnesota.

RB Remi Watson (5-11, 190, Lakeland, Fla., Lake Gibson Senior HS) chose Marshall, LB Antonio Kinard (6-3, 205, Chatham, Va., Hargrave Military Academy) committed to Miami (Fla.), CB Izauea Lanier (6-1, 190, Scooba, Miss., East Mississippi CC) decided on Tennessee, DE Chase Hounshell (6-5, 250, Mentor, Ohio, Lake Catholic HS) committed to Notre Dame, and LB Woodson Greer (6-2, 215, Gardena, Calif., Junipero Serra HS) is headed to Colorado.