USF's recruiting class ranks lowest in four years

The first USF signing class fully recruited by Skip Holtz fell short of previous rankings.

The 2011 class Holtz signed is ranked sixth by Rivals.com among the eight Big East Conference teams, which is the Bulls lowest rated class since 2007 when it was also sixth.

USF signed only one 4-star Rivals.Com rated player in Miami Booker Washington defensive tackle Elkino Watson (6-2, 275). By comparison, Louisville under seocnd year head coach Charlie Strong and Rutgers signed four 4-star recruits.

It was the first recruiting class that was solely recruited by Holtz, who took over the program last winter from Jim Leavitt. That 2010 class had two 4-star recruits in defensive back/returner Terrence Mitchell and defensive lineman Todd Chandler.

USF's top recruiting class came in 2009 when it was recond second in the Big East Conference and signed Jason Pierre-Paul, Jacquian Williams,Ryne Giddens and Bradley Battles.

In the last six years, USF's recuiting classes have been ranked fifth twice and sixth three times.