Alabama, Notre Dame and Miami had a combined record of 15-22 this past season.

But they have proven unsuccessful teams can have very successful recruiting classes.

Just about every scouting service that ranks recruiting classes placed Alabama's class No. 1 this season. A number of the services had Notre Dame No. 2 and Miami in the top five.

"I think Notre Dame is one of the few schools that could have a bad year and yet do so well in recruiting," said Allen Wallace, publisher of Super Prep magazine and national recruiting analyst for scout.com.

Notre Dame was 3-9, Alabama 7-6 and Miami 5-7.

"I think it shows the power of Notre Dame's name," Wallace said. "Charlie Weis and his staff deserve a lot of credit for reeling in this group. Alabama is in a very similar situation."

Rivals.com, scout.com and Super Prep all ranked Alabama's class No. 1, and Notre Dame No. 2. Rivals put Miami fourth, while scout and Super Prep had Miami third.

Alabama finished strong yesterday, the first day high school players could sign a letter of intent with a college. Julio Jones, the No. 1 receiver in the country, and linebacker Jerrell Harris both signed with Alabama. Both are ranked in the top 25 in the country by Super Prep.

"This was an extremely strong year in Alabama, and they dominated that state, which isn't all that unusual," said Bobby Burton of rivals.com. "There were four or five guys in the Mobile, Ala., area who are as good as anyone in the country.

"But Nick Saban has recruited well everywhere he's been, so this is no surprise."

Notre Dame got five of Super Prep's top 50 players. The highest-rated one is receiver Michael Floyd of Cretin-Derham (Minn.). Notre Dame signed star quarterback Jimmy Clausen last year, but signed another talented one this year in Dayne Crist of Notre Dame, Calif.

"I think Charlie Weis came with the best intentions of doing well in recruiting, but they really did not get the guys on defense the past two classes that they needed," Burton said. "They got some defensive players this time."

Miami was able to land some standout players in its back yard but also got a star linebacker from Wichita, Kan., in Arthur Brown, ranked the No. 10 player in the country by Super Prep.

One person could change the recruiting rankings some -- Terrelle Pryor. Jeannette's star quarterback did not sign yesterday.

"Michigan desperately needs him," Wallace said. "I don't know who they'll turn to for that spread offense if they don't get him."