When evaluating recruiting classes, it’s impossible to assess a proper evaluation until after the class has completed its collegiate career. Not only are the top classes determined by what they looked like on paper, but on-field contributions also play a big part.

SDS takes a look at the each SEC team’s best recruiting class of the last decade based off of the recruiting rankings as well as how effective the class was on the field.

NOTE: Recruiting rankings taken from 247sports

South Carolina Gamecocks

The Gamecocks were not exactly among the top programs in the SEC when it came to recruiting before Steve Spurrier arrived.

When he arrived in 2005, South Carolina had been to just two bowl games in the past 10 years. The HBC certainly had a lot of work to do not only in building the South Carolina program on the field, but also developing a reputation along the recruiting trail.

It’s a bit of a different story down in Columbia now. Despite a struggling 2014 season, the Gamecocks had captured their first SEC East division title in 2010 and had three-consecutive 11-win seasons.

A big reason for that success was because of the Gamecocks’ 2011 recruiting class, one that will always be remembered as one of the best in program history.

2011 recruiting class

Record: 40-8 (4 years)

SEC Championships: Appeared in 2010

Class ranking: 17th overall; 7th in SEC

Cream of the crop: The obvious crown jewel of this class was five-star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound standout garnered numerous awards while at South Carolina. He eventually set the school record with 13.0 sacks as a sophomore and earned unanimous All-American honors as well as being the recipient of the Ted Hendricks Award, which goes to the nation’s top defensive end.

In the end, Clowney was SEC Freshman of the Year, a two-time All-SEC first teamer and one of the most ferocious defensive linemen in the last decade in the SEC. He, along with fellow 2011 class member Kelcy Quarles, helped form a disruptive defensive line from 2011-13. He eventually was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 2014 after leaving school after three years.

Bust of the class: Four-star safety Sheldon Royster was the fifth-highest recruit in the entire 2011 class for South Carolina. He was expected to add to a very talented secondary, but he never played a down for the Gamecocks. After his freshman season, Royster transferred out of the program and went to Rutgers to be closer to home.

Biggest surprise: Brison Williams has been a welcomed surprise for the Gamecocks. He recently just finished up his career at South Carolina, but not after being a three-year starter in the secondary. Williams was just a three-star cornerback recruit when he arrived on campus, but he’ll leave as a SEC-caliber safety. While Williams wasn’t a world-beater by any means as a safety, he was reliable and a leader for the Gamecocks in the defensive backfield.