It wasn’t an ideal year for Auburn by any stretch of the imagination.

Before the season, many people believed the Tigers were good enough to win the SEC West and even make a run at the College Football Championship.

The bad news is that Auburn fell short from meeting expectations.

The good news is that the Tigers still boast the 10th-ranked recruiting class in the country. They could easily turn it around next year with some of the best prospects for 2016.

The dead period began earlier this week. SEC coaches can no longer have face-to-face contact with potential recruits.

So Gus Malzahn and his staff can sit back and begin to form a rough sketch of how the 2016 roster should look.

The Tigers biggest commit is five-star defensive end Marlon Davidson, who should have an instant impact on a defense that was 13th out of 14 SEC teams in total defense in Will Muschamp’s one season as coordinator.

Let’s take a look at Auburn’s recruiting grades so far:

OFFENSE: B (8 TOTAL COMMITS)

While Auburn’s top recruit is on the defensive side of the ball, it still landed a few promising offensive pieces. The Tigers landed commitments from a pair of four-star receivers, Kyle Davis and Eli Stove. Another notable name on offense is four-star dual threat QB Woody Barrett.

Auburn’s offensive line wasn’t its biggest problem in 2015 but the Tigers also added four-star OT Brodarious Hamm, a 6-foot-5, 320-pounder who should contribute early.

DEFENSE: A (9 commits)

The Tigers finished 91st in the country in total defense, allowing 189 rushing yards and 232 passing yards per game. The addition of Davidson can’t be overstated. He’s the No.2 rated defensive end in the country and had offers from every major program.

While Davidson should contribute right away up front, the Tigers also landed valuable help on the back end.  John Broussard is a four-star CB commitment from Phoenix City, Ala. The Tigers were 85th in the nation against the pass, so he’s a welcome addition.

RECRUITING NEEDS

Auburn’s offensive line was one of its better units this year, but the Tigers could add beef up front. They have only one offensive line commit as of now. The Tigers need help at linebacker. They have defensive ends that will be quick on the edges, but Auburn needs more talent inside. Right now, the Tigers’ only linebacker commit is three-star prospect Tre Threat.