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The rich get richer: Urban Meyer and the Gators hauled in the nation's top recruiting class a month after winning the national title.

7. BUTCH’S BREAKTHROUGH: Illinois has earned plenty of attention for landing one of the Big Ten’s top recruiting classes after a 2-10 season, but another downtrodden program had a more successful day.

North Carolina coach Butch Davis landed the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top class and capped a huge recruiting season with a few big victories Wednesday.

The Tar Heels beat out Florida State for Marvin Austin – the nation’s top defensive tackle – and outdueled Tennessee for five-star receiver Dwight Jones. Greg Little gave North Carolina even more good news when the four-star receiver backed out of a commitment to Notre Dame.

Jones, Little and four-star wideout Rashad Mason will be catching passes from Mike Paulus, the nation’s No. 4 pro-style quarterback. Paulus committed to North Carolina last spring and stuck by the Tar Heels after former coach John Bunting was fired.

“He coached in the NFL,’’ Jones told CarolinaBlue.com. “He’s coached Santana Moss and Andre Johnson (at Miami), so he knows how to put players in the league.’’

8. NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN: When Big Ten fans weren’t marveling at Illinois’ recruiting class, they often were wondering why the top recruits in Michigan didn’t want to play for the Wolverines.

As it turned out, Michigan fans really had no reason to worry about their recruiting class.

Michigan still landed the Big Ten’s top recruiting class by going out of state to sign five-star quarterback Ryan Mallett of Texarkana, Texas, and five-star defensive back Donovan Warren of Long Beach, Calif.

So it hardly mattered that the top prospects in Michigan all signed with other schools. At least the Wolverines won’t have to worry about playing against most of those guys.

The top five recruits in the state of Michigan all chose to play for schools outside the Big Ten. Michigan men leaving the Midwest included Southern California wide receiver Ronald Johnson, Florida State defensive back Dionte Allen, Louisiana State defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, Oklahoma quarterback Keith Nichol and Tennessee offensive lineman Darris Sawtelle.

9. SEMINOLE SLUMP: Florida State paid the price for having its worst season since Bobby Bowden’s first year on the job.

The Seminoles needed one of Bowden’s trademark National Signing Day rushes to squeak into the Top 20 in the final team recruiting standings, though the Seminoles’ class still ranked second among ACC schools.

Offensive linemen Antwane Greenlee and Jatavious Jackson, linebacker Maurice Harris, wide receiver Markish Jones and athlete Brandon Paul all waited until Wednesday before finally choosing Florida State.

Florida State’s class didn’t feature a single five-star recruit and was headed by Allen, the Michigan-based defensive back rated as the nation’s No. 40 overall prospect. By contrast, Florida signed three of the nation’s top dozen recruits and five of the top 37.

At least one five-star prospect gave Seminole fans reason for hope, even if he didn’t actually sign with Florida State.

One day after committing to West Virginia, Noel Devine decided not to sign anywhere Wednesday after talking to former Seminole star Deion Sanders, who has served as a role model of sorts for the Fort Myers speedster.

Devine’s change of heart revived the possibility that he eventually might follow his mentor to Florida State.

10. FINDING VOLUNTEERS: Tennessee may represent the perfect example of how the results in football season can carry over to recruiting season.

The Volunteers went 5-6 in 2005 and paid for it a few months later with a subpar recruiting class. Tennessee finished 23rd in the 2005 team recruiting standings while signing just one five-star prospect and four four-star players.

Tennessee turned things around last fall by going 9-4 and reaching the Outback Bowl. The nation’s top high school seniors apparently noticed the Vols’ resurgence.

The Vols finished third in the team recruiting standings – behind only Florida and Southern California – after signing five five-star recruits and 11 four-star prospects.

Tennessee’s rebound should appease any Florida State fans disgruntled with the Seminoles’ performance this week. If the Seminoles bounce back on the field next fall, they also should return to their customary place near the top of the recruiting standings.

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