Crafty veteran Bobby Bowden played the waiting game with several key recruits and, on signing day, was rewarded with the signatures of three elite players who entered the day undeclared. It has become Bowden's norm … a strong 11th-hour on the recruiting trail.

Wednesday, the Seminoles landed:

• Travis Johnson from Sherman Oaks, Calif., rated the nation's top defensive lineman by PrepStar.
• Bryant McFadden from Hollywood, Fla., the nation's No. 1 defensive back.
• Eric Moore from Pahokee, Fla., the second-best linebacker in the country.

As a result, the Seminoles elbowed their way up through the pack, coming from behind to edge Texas and win at least a share of the mythical recruiting national championship. The Seminoles are No. 1 in SportsLine's ratings, anyway.

Some recruiting services might like Florida a little better … or Tennessee … or Penn State … or Texas, which has eight of SportsLine's Top 100 players and entered signing day as SportsLine's choice as the No. 1 team.

There's not much lacking in any of those classes, but the Seminoles simply climbed over all of the other teams Wednesday, just as they climbed all over them for college football's 1999 national title -- with speed, size and a terrific finish. And these youngest 'Noles will be led into the 2000 season by a 28-year-old quarterback in their search for another perfect season.

Wednesday's elite recruiting classes left PrepStar managing editor Rick Kimbrel saying, "All the way through Ohio State (at No. 8), the teams are almost interchangable."

The Gators closed hard in the past few days, too, getting the signature of Top 100 player Kelvin Kight on Wednesday. SEC foe Tennessee matched that signing with defensive back Shyrone Carey … and Alabama kept in step by wrapping up defensive tackle Albert Means, the top player in the Southeast.

The Tide signed the nation's best defensive line class (grabbing four of the nation's top 16, although grades might be an issue here). Texas has the best collection of receivers, and Tennessee the best quarterbacks.

But with a deep class throughout, led by six Top 100 players, Florida State has the best class.

For now.

Bryant McFadden signs in front of his parents Wednesday, giving Florida State late momentum.(AP)

We've reshuffled our Top 25 team rankings from Tuesday night, but even as signing day turned into signing night, there was still high drama … and Miami was right in the middle of it.

The Hurricanes are involved in the recruitment of the nation's top player -- linebacker D.J. Williams from Concord, Calif. -- as well as teammates from San Diego's Mira Mesa High -- linebacker Amon Gordon and quarterback/defensive end Teyo Johnson.

Williams has Miami, Florida State and Cal as his final three colleges, but has said he will not declare his intentions until next week.

Gordon's final trio is Stanford, USC and Miami. Johnson is considering those three schools … and don't rule out Houston. Houston? Johnson is a basketball prospect of note, and Cougars' basketball coach Clyde Drexler has been putting on the full-court press to get Johnson.

One way or the other, Miami will be a major player in late-breaking recruiting news.

On the bubble: Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Washington, Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas, Purdue, Mississippi State, TCU.