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Craig Haubert
The coaching carousel in college football spun at an exceptional pace during the 2025 season. Inheriting a recruiting class can prove to be a formidable challenge for a new coaching staff with minimal or no time to prepare before the early signing period.
Many programs turn to the transfer portal to fill significant gaps, yet the integral basis of constructing a program continues to rely on high school talent, which is crucial for maintaining success and preventing another coaching overhaul in the near future.
Here are 10 Power 4 institutions that experienced a coaching shakeup and excelled in successfully managing a difficult transition period while attracting young, prep talent to foster future achievement as they embark on new beginnings.
Current class rank: 23
At the expense of his previous employer, Penn State, Franklin is getting payback on the recruiting front. Franklin assumed control of Virginia Tech in November and turned an unranked recruiting class into one of the nation’s top 25 groups as the early signing period concluded.
A significant portion of that success stemmed from pilfering from Penn State’s class, which had been in the top 10 before Franklin’s termination. Franklin has secured at least 10 commitments from former Nittany Lions, including five of their six ESPN SC Next 300 signings.
Franklin’s triumphs extend beyond merely flipping Penn State commits. He also clinched essential in-state victories, such as reinstating SC Next 300 offensive tackle Thomas Wilder. Wilder is a top-10 prospect from Virginia who had decommitted from the Hokies earlier in the fall. Franklin additionally maintained high three-star defensive tackle T-Ron Richardson at home after Richardson had been pledged to Oklahoma for several months.
Dequane Prevo was retained, but Silverfield swiftly acquired the state’s top player, defensive tackle Danny Beale, within hours of his appointment as head coach. Beale is a robust 300-pounder with impressive power and agility.
Silverfield further strengthened the defensive line by bringing back tackle Anthony Kennedy, a former Miami commitment, and securing the state’s highest-rated running back, Terry Hodges, from SEC foe Missouri. Although this class still lags behind many SEC programs, Silverfield followed a clever strategy in a limited timeframe to propel the Razorbacks back into a competitive national positioning, revealing promising potential for what lies ahead.
Current class rank: No. 14
Kiffin’s appointment reignited significant interest in the Tigers’ high school recruiting class when several prospects, including the top-rated player, Lamar Brown, hesitated to sign early.
However, LSU’s class quickly stabilized, with Kiffin successfully maintaining the Tigers’ high school group without drama.
While inheriting a talented cadre anchored by Louisiana athletes may not seem remarkable, ample evidence exists throughout the sport demonstrating how a coaching change can disrupt a recruiting class. Preserving a top-15 class constitutes a triumph. Kiffin also infused several quality additions, such as SC Next 300 tight end J.C. Anderson, a successful recruitment from Ole Miss, filling a gap left by Bauer Sharp’s departure, Donovan Green’s transfer, and Trey’Dez Green advancing to his junior year.
Current class rank: No. 15
Sumrall and his team’s recruiting endeavors successfully preserved a group that consistently ranked among the nation’s top 10 to 15 classes under Billy Napier, despite various on-field challenges.
In comparison to institutions like Penn State, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State — all of which saw their recruiting classes collapse — Florida exhibited remarkable stability. The Gators lost only one significant commitment, running back Carsyn Baker to Texas A&M, and ended the early signing period with a class showcasing 12 ranked prospects, led by five-star defensive end JaReylan McCoy.
While it may not constitute the flashiest rebuild thus far, Sumrall’s steady transition and robust talent foundation is notable.
Current class rank: No. 26
Ole Miss acted promptly to appoint Golding as Kiffin’s successor, and their quick decision yielded positive results. Golding guided the Rebels to the brink of a national title appearance while preserving a solid recruiting class.
Indeed, they lost several commitments, including three to LSU, resulting in a minor dip in the rankings, but the majority of the class remained intact.
The Rebels signed six of their top seven SC Next 300 recruits who had committed prior to the coaching transition, including the state’s leading running back Damarius Yates. With primary rusher Kewan Lacy returning but two redshirt senior backups leaving, adding Yates was essential. Golding also flipped four-star receiver Jase Mathews from Auburn to mitigate the loss of four-star wide receiver Corey Barber, who transferred to LSU.
Current class rank: No. 29
After three coaching changes in four years, a resurgence may be on the horizon for Stanford as the Cardinal quietly assembled a top-30 class.
Pritchard retained several quality recruits, including SC Next 300 safety Lasiah Jackson, while preserving foundational pieces along the offensive line such as four-star Jalayne Miller and top-25 guard Blaise Thomassie.
A former quarterback, Pritchard collaborated with program legend and general manager Andrew Luck to solidify the position, swiftly landing in-state quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr. An undersized but fluid passer, Mitchell was a two-time UA Next camp MVP in his last two high school years. Stanford also secured perimeter talent during the early signing period in the form of big, agile wide receiver Zion Robinson and Dre Pollard, who adds speed and versatility as a wide receiver or corner.
Current class rank: No. 34
With five SEC programs within the top 10 recruiting classes, will Auburn’s incoming class manage to rapidly improve the situation? Likely not. Nevertheless, the Tigers haven’t achieved more than six wins since 2019 and had dropped outside the top 50 in ESPN’s recruiting rankings before the early signing period. Considered in that light, Golesh’s initial developments signify a promising start.
The Tigers retained three ranked linebackers: Jaquez Wilkes, Shadarius Toodle, and Adam Balogoun-Ali. They also added two defensive tackles who had been heading elsewhere, Tavian Branch (Penn State) and Corey Wells (Texas). However, Auburn’s real strides materialized after the early signing period concluded. The Tigers capitalized on unforeseen instability at Michigan to flip offensive lineman Bear McWhorter and wide receiver Brady Marchese following Sherrone Moore’s firing. Golesh could quickly utilize Marchese as a dynamic, big-play option who has been clocked at over 22 mph during games.
Current class rank: No. 51
Stein ushers in a new chapter at Kentucky following Mark Stoops’ 13-year tenure. The Wildcats’ recruiting class ranked near the bottom of the SEC after the early signing period, but the new coaching staff discovered ways to uplift the group. Retaining quarterback Matt Ponatoski proved to be a significant win. A mobile, astute passer, Ponatoski was Ohio’s 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year in both football and baseball.
While Kentucky lost wide receiver Dallas Dickerson to Georgia, Stein managed to keep long-time commit Denairius Gray, a seasoned receiver from South Florida powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna. The Wildcats also added former LSU commit Kenny Darby, who recorded over 80 receptions for 1,000 yards as a senior. Securing SC Next 300 corner Andre Clarke, who had been pledged to Michigan prior to its coaching shift, constituted another excellent achievement.
Current class rank: NR
There’s no doubt: Morris faces a significant challenge ahead, and Oklahoma State’s class ranks far below the premier groups in the Big 12. However, Morris entered perhaps the most challenging recruiting climate for any new coach this cycle, taking command of a class with fewer than 10 recruits after the Cowboys lost numerous commitments following Mike Gundy’s release and a winless stretch post-August.
Morris has since altered the narrative. Successfully flipping former Oklahoma State commit Kaydin Jones back from Kansas was a crucial early maneuver. Jones is a productive running back with keen vision from Jenks High School, regarded as one of Oklahoma’s top programs. Morris also added immediate defensive reinforcement in linebacker Taurean Davis, a top-10 junior college prospect.
Known for identifying and nurturing overlooked talent during his tenure at North Texas, Morris brought several of those players along, including promising three-star recruits like offensive lineman Ryan Mosley and quarterback Broderick Vehrs.
Taimane Purcell out of Hawaii, a new era is underway in Berkeley.
