While college football recruiting has grabbed the attention of die-hard fans over the past decade, it seems that it has become a sport in and of itself.

More sports fans in this state can tell you who the Tide and Tigers have signed before they could tell you the names of any members of their baseball team, the record of their softball team, or even the name of the university president.

And although there is much more hate than love in these opposing relationships, last week, in a match that was almost as close as last year’s Iron Bowl, everyone seemed to be happy, with both teams raking in some big time prospects, giving each school a top five finish in the recruiting race.

One would assume, however, that as the National Champions and in the drivers seat in the SEC, Alabama would have easily out recruited the Tigers, or any other SEC school for that matter. The past two years, they have pulled in the top recruiting classes. This was not the case this year.

According to the nations three main recruiting services, both Alabama and Auburn had stellar performances.

ESPN.com ranked Bama’s class third best, followed closely by Auburn at No. 4. Both Scout.com and Rivals.com had Alabama and Auburn finishing fourth and fifth respectively, but disagreed on which team ranked higher.

Florida, even with their on-again, off again head coach, was ranked No. 1 by all three services.

Auburn coaches knew where their needs were, and for the most part, they filled those needs, More importantly, the Tigers were able to sign three five-star recruits in Cameron Newton, a 6-6, 247-pound QB from College Park, GA, Michael Dyer, a 5-8, 201-pound running back from Little Rock, AR, and Olive Branch, Mississippi’s Shon Coleman, a 6-7, 285-pound offensive lineman. Only two other schools, USC and Florida, signed more five-star players.

The Tigers had hoped to sign running back Marcus Lattimore, but at the last minute, Lattimore decided on the Gamecocks of South Carolina.

Still, the Tigers did well, picking up seven offensive linemen, six defensive linemen and some good linebackers.

While Alabama did pick up some top players in areas where they had needs, many were expecting some last minute fireworks from the Tide, but it never happened.  The loss of the nation’s No. 5 prospect, Keenan Allen, who changed his mind at the last minute and signed with California, didn’t help.

Saban, however, was able to pick up five-star defensive back DeMarcus Milliner from Stanhope Elmore.

There were several other big time recruits that many of the experts expected to sign with Alabama, but only Arie Kouandjio from Maryland chose the Tide.

Four-star lineman James Stone from Nashville had narrowed his choices down to the Volunteers and the Tide. Stone signed with Tennessee.

This was also a year that required some special teams attention, with the Tide having to sign a punter and a kicker.

Still, the entire class, while short on five-star athletes, is impressive and should help maintain the strength of the program.

I am most surprised by the success of the Florida Gator’s class. One day after Christmas, Coach Urban Meyer resigned as head football coach, due to some unexplained health issues. Less than 24 hours later, Meyer decided that instead, he would take a leave of absence, and planned to be back on the sidelines in the fall.  Now it looks as if Meyer won’t even miss spring practice.  Nothing like five five-star signees to make a coach feel better. Still, you have to wonder what the selling points were to get those players to Gainesville.

Even Tennessee, with the sudden flight of their head coach, finished with a Top 15 recruiting class.

So the recruiting title for 2010 goes to the Gators, but with impressive classes from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia, who can wait until the fall?

Are you ready for some football?

-Hit ‘em straight

Dale Jones is a staff writer for The Islander. Reach him at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com.