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’ industry composite rankings

LSU Tigers

Les Miles and recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson have done some fine work together in their time at LSU. Since 2006, LSU has had six recruiting classes ranked in the top 10 nationally, as well as one No. 1 class.

In that time, they’ve won a national title and made it to the BCS title game. The best class of the last decade at LSU coincided with the latter of those two teams.

The 2011 class came to LSU right before their run to the BCS title game, where the Tigers fell to divisional rival Alabama. LSU lost many of the most prolific members of the class to the draft, and the talent development stands as one of the best accomplishments of Miles’ career.

2011 recruiting class

Record: 41-12
SEC championships: Won in 2011
National championships: Lost BCS title game in 2011
Class ranking: No. 8 overall, No. 2 SEC

Cream of the crop: There are almost too many to name. Left tackle La’el Collins, a five-star recruit, stayed all four years, blossoming into one of the best offensive linemen in the country in his senior season while winning LSU’s team MVP award. Running backs Kenny Hilliard and Terrence were contributors as seniors, as were defensive end Jermauria Rasco and safety Ronald Martin.

Cornerback Jalen Collins, who redshirted 2011 after playing just two games, is a strong NFL draft prospect after 2014, with size and speed that make him ideal for the NFL’s new breed of cornerbacks. He’s been one of LSU’s most consistent defenders, squaring off with the SEC’s best receivers on a weekly basis.

More stunning is the talent that left after 2013 for the NFL draft. The two five-star recruits outside of Collins, DT Anthony Johnson and WR Jarvis Landry, were both in the NFL this year; Johnson went undrafted after leaving school early, but Landry was a second round pick and lit it up as a rookie after a productive three-year career with the Tigers.

Zach Mettenberger was the best LSU quarterback of Miles’ tenure, putting up two consecutive 2,500-yard seasons before tearing his ACL in his final college game, leaving for the draft after last year. He had Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. to throw to. Beckham was part of a nasty receiving duo at LSU, as both he and Landry went over 1,000 yards in 2013. Beckham, as you know, has taken the NFL by storm this year.

Also leaving early for the draft was Trai Turner, an offensive guard drafted in the third round after starting 20 games in two years.

Busts of the class: Jerrard Randall (four stars) and Stephen Rivers (three stars). Both quarterbacks ended up transferring out of LSU, helping to explain the quarterback struggles the team had in 2014. Randall never played beyond spring games for the Tigers and sat out this season at Arizona. Rivers, after earning his degree, transferred to Vanderbilt this year. He played poorly when given the opportunity for a bad Commodores team in 2014.

Surprise of the class: Terrence Magee. A three-star athlete, Magee played quarterback in high school. At just 5-foot-9, that wasn’t going to continue in college, but he carved out a niche as a lightning-quick running back that became a crucial part of LSU’s success. He was huge as a junior, rushing for more than 600 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. While he didn’t break out in 2014, he was the Tigers’ best pass catcher out of the backfield and had several big moments as a senior while wearing No. 18.