It's easy to say head coaches are the reason why a team has a successful recruiting class. Yet any college football connoisseur knows the backbone is the assistant coach who spends countless hours making calls, in-home visits and wooing top recruits.
Rivals.com goes deeper into each conference to name our top 10 recruiters in the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC and Non-Big Six conferences
Jim McElwain, Alabama
Buzz: The Crimson Tide offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach was crucial in Alabama finishing with the top overall class. He went out-of-state to grab several quality prospects, notably a pair of five-star teammates from Orlando, Fla. - No. 1 safety Hasean Clinton-Dix and No. 1 all-purpose running back Demetrius Hart, the latter flipped from a longtime commitment to Michigan. Additionally McElwain signed four-star offensive lineman Aaron Douglas and four-star defensive tackle Jesse Williams, both of whom played for Arizona Western C.C. Alabama's lone quarterback signee, Phillip Ely was another McElwain recruit.
Sal Sunseri, Alabama
Buzz: One of the Tide's best recruiters, Sunseri did his work out-of-state, as usual, signing five-star stud offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio from Maryland in a battle with Auburn. On signing day, he landed four-star Rivals100 defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan from North Carolina, a player some thought might end up at Georgia. He pulled linebacker Trey DePriest from Ohio and assisted on both Xzavier Dickson and LaMichael Fanning. Sunseri is also credited for defensive end Quinton Dial, defensive back Chris Jones and another Ohio native in Ryan Kelly. Kouandjio flipped to Alabama on Saturday after choosing Auburn on national television on Wednesday and Sunseri is still alive for five-star Jadeveon Clowney, the nation's No. 1 prospect.