The depth of talent of the gymnasts that signed their NLI’s last month is simply unreal. Our list barely skims the surface of capability that the entire NCAA has to offer.  Prepare to be in absolute awe of the "cream of the crop" in Part 2 and the finale of our 2014 NCAA Signing Class Rankings. 

#3. Eye of the Tiger (not to mention, the heart and talent too)
Louisiana State University 

Signees: Julianna Cannamela, McKenna Kelley, Lexie Priessman, Kaitlyn Szafranski, Sarah Finnegan

Losses: Rheagan Courville (AA), Lloimincia Hall (AA), Jessie Jordan (AA), Britney Ranzy (AA), Scarlet Williams (V|BB)

After a spectacular season that fell just six-tenths short of the 2014 NCAA title, the LSU Tigers have an abundance of things to look forward to in the very near future. Not only will the 2015-16 season bring a brand new, state-of-the art training facility, but the Tigers have managed to sign an astonishingly remarkable class that will definitely put the Tigers at the forefront as national contenders. Coming in at Number 3 is Louisiana State University.

Despite an unfortunate string of injuries since 2012, four-time U.S. National Team Member, Lexie Priessman is a dynamic athlete that will boost the Tiger roster on all four events. Coming out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Priessman claimed the 2012 Visa (now P&G) Championships junior all-around title in addition to being a member of gold medal winning U.S. Team at the 2012 Pacific Rim Championships. A “total package” when she’s healthy, Priessman will be a force to be reckoned with for any competitor facing the Tigers. 

Video by USAG

Juliana Cannamela is a four-time J.O. National qualifier out of Weddington, N.C. A balanced all-arounder, Cannamela most recently won the 2014 regional bar title and the bronze medal in the all-around. She has the potential to contribute solid counting scores in all four lineups. 

Hailing from Orefield, Pa., Kaitlyn Szafranski is a former elite gymnast who moved back to level 10 to prepare for her collegiate career. She claimed the bars and floor titles at the 2014 Region 7 Championships. Szafranski swings a mean set of bars and will be heavily relied out of the gate, but she definitely has the ability to also break into the vault and floor lineups. 

Houston, Texas native and rising elite, McKenna Kelley, may have followed her mother, Mary Lou Retton, into the sport of gymnastics, but her recent string of success has made it clear that she’s on the way to making a name of her own. Kelley has garnered a number of titles this year including Junior Olympic National Floor Champion, as well as the all-around titles for the Texas Prime meet, Pikes Peak Cup, California Classic. Most notably, however, is Kelley’s co-champion title from the prestigious 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup. With power and precision, McKenna Kelley will surely be a heavy hitter for the Tigers.

Coming off the injured reserved list, St. Louis, Mo. native, Sarah Finnegan, brings the talent and experience you would expect from the alternate for the 2012 Olympic team. Contributing to Team USA golds at both the 2010 Pan American Championships and 2012 City of Jesolo Trophy, where she also claimed the bronze on beam and in the all-around, respectively. Known for her elegant and graceful gymnastics, Finnegan will be a fantastic competitor in the all-around for the Tigers.

Video by USAG

VERDICT: The price of a Tiger victory is not so nice. LSU will suffer an excruciating blow with the loss of an entire class of VIP’s - Rheagan Courville, Lloimincia Hall, Jessie Jordan, Britney Ranzy, and Scarlet Williams. On the bright side, however, the recent signing class has the capacity to make a commanding national championship campaign. Rising up to the challenge of their rivals, LSU’s got the heart. And they’ve got the talent. But, most importantly, they’ve got the eye of the Tiger.

 

#2. Death Roll Defenders 
University of Florida

Signees: Alicia Boren, Lacy Dagen, Peyton Ernst

Losses: Kytra Hunter (AA), Jamie Shisler (V|FX), Rachel Spicer (V|BB|FX)

Going for the three-peat this year, the back-to-back and reigning 2014 NCAA Co-Champions fittingly signed a trio of distinguished gymnastics nobility, as expected. At the Number 2 spot is the University of Florida.

Hailing from Pleasanton, Calif., Lacy Dagen is the reigning 2014 J.O. National beam champion. She also holds titles from the Region 1 Championship in the all-around, vault, beam and floor. With precision and compelling style, Lacy Dagen will be solid contributor on at least three events. 

Two-time U.S. National Team Member and current senior international elite, Peyton Ernst, brings her dynamic performance and vast international experience to the Gator roster. At the 2014 City of Jesolo Trophy, Ernst aided Team USA to a gold medal and finished second in the all-around. As one of the top gymnasts in the world, Peyton Ernst will undoubtedly have an incredible impact on the Florida Gator legacy.

The amount of power three-time J.O. National all-around champion, Alicia Boren, competes with is stupefying. The Franklin Lakes, N.J. native has claimed seven J.O. event titles since 2012 and was basically born to be a Gator: both of her parents are UF graduates. At the end of an already impressive floor routine, Boren finishes with an insane full-in. We expect Alicia Boren to make an immediate impact upon arrival in the Swamp.

Video by USAG

VERDICT: While fans are itching to see the dazzling 2014 signing class perform the “Gator Chomp,” they should also prepare the Kleenex as the Gators will lose a phenomenal trio of seniors: Kytra Hunter, Jamie Shisler, and Rachel Spicer. Dry those crocodile, I mean gator, tears! Just like the living version of their mascot, the new additions to the roster will step up, and “death roll” to defend the Gator’s territory — it may be the Swamp, but at least it's at the top. 

 

#1. Move over Smokey, these bears are on fire!
University of California, Los Angeles

Signees: Simone Biles*, Madison Kocian*, Macy Toronjo

Losses: Ellete Craddock, Samantha Peszek

Surprise! Coming in above all the rest, University of California, Los Angeles has managed to sign the crème de la crème in 2014. 

Coming off an impressive senior elite debut this year, Macy Toronjo placed eighth in the all-around and sixth on floor at the P & G National Championships. The Huntsville, Texas native also placed first in the all-around, bars and beam at the American Classic.  A tenacious competitor, Toronjo will be a dependable competitor for the 2015-16 season.

Dallas, Texas native and member of the U.S. National Team since 2009, Madison Kocian, helped Team USA win with 2014 World Championship title. A beautiful bar worker, Kocian won silver medals on bars at the 2014 Pan American Championships, City of Jesolo Trophy, P&G Championships and U.S. Classics. Poised and polished, Kocian will be at the core of several lineups for the Bruins.

At only 17-years-old, Simone Biles is already one of the most decorated gymnasts in U.S. history. Hailing from Spring, Texas, the two-time reigning World Champ has won nine World medals in two years and is currently tied for second-most all-time in the U.S. One of the greatest, if not the greatest recruitable talent in NCAA history, Simone Biles will unqestionably continue her sovereign reign over the world of gymnastics as a Bruin, with the chance of multiple national titles easily within the realm of possibility. 

Video by YouTube User NastiaFan101take12

VERDICT: Seniors Ellette Craddock and Sam Peszek will surely be missed upon their matriculation. Nevertheless, the Bruins have hit the jackpot by recruiting deep in the heart of Texas, (each of the Bruin’s 2014 signees are natives of The Lone Star State). In addition to a roster of full of tremendous talent, you can adequately explain why the UCLA Bruins will be national championship contenders in just two words: Simone Biles. 
**Biles and Kocian plan to defer enrollment until after the 2016 Olympics**

Move over Smokey, the Bruins are on fire!

CONCLUSION

If you're not as excited as we are to watch these incredibly talented athletes dominate the collegiate competition floor, you probably aren't a real human being. But, to make things clear, this list ranks the 2014 signing class, i.e. the gymnasts who signed their National Letter of Intent on November 12, 2014. However, if we were to rank these schools based on the potential impact of the freshman class on the 2015-16 season, the results come out slightly different.  

Here are the rankings for both the 2014 signing class and the 2015-16 freshman class:

 

2014 NCAA Signing Class Ranking

1. Move over, Smokey. These bears are on fire! - UCLA Bruins
2. Death Roll Defenders - Florida Gators
3. Eye of the Tiger (not to mention the heart and talent too) - LSU Tigers
4. Silent but Deadly - Alabama Crimson Tide
5. Big Snow Shoes to Fill - Utah Utes
6. Gone Too Sooners - Oklahoma Sooners

 

So Fresh and So Clean 2015-16 Freshman Class Ranking

1. University of Florida
2. Louisiana State University
3. University of Alabama
4. University of Utah
5. University of Oklahoma
6. University of Californa, Los Angeles

 

Related:

Written In Ink: Ranking the 2014 NCAA Signing Class - Part 1