It's that time of year again — signing day.

This Wednesday, Nov. 8, marks the first day of the early signing period for prospective student-athletes to sign their National Letters of Intent (NLI) to the schools of their choice.

Signing day is significant not only for the high schoolers scribbling their John Hancock on a few sheets of paper but also for everyone who has made an impact on their journey — parents, coaches, and teammates, among many others.

Thus, the FloSwimming crew decided to whip up a top 10 recruiting rankings list for the class of 2022.

Note: There were several factors that went into deciding this list. First and foremost, we valued depth above all else — the number of top recruits a school has committed. In NCAA swimming, depth kills. Secondly, we valued the swimmer's best times. Numbers don't lie — plain and simple. Lastly, we valued where and how they would plug holes for a team's loss in graduating seniors.

1.) Texas

Key 2018 Losses: Brett Ringgold; Jonathan Roberts; Joseph Schooling

Rationale

The Texas Longhorns will lose a trio of prominent NCAA scorers in 2018 but immediately gain a quartet ready to step in and make an impact right away. One thing head coach Eddie Reese looks for in recruits is range — especially in freestylers. Swimmers who specialize in the 200 can drop a 4:15 in the 500 and then turn around to go 19 in a 50. Luckily for him, Reese has four guys capable of such a feat. Drew Kibler, Matt Willenbring, Alex Zettle, and Daniel Krueger will be teaming up with American record holder Townley Haas and Jeff Newkirk to hold down the Texas freestyle group.

However, those four guys won't be the only newcomers in Austin next fall. Reese also picked up a breaststroker in Charlie Scheinfeld, backstroker in Jason Park, and a pair of butterfliers in Andrew Koustik and Alex Margherio. Koustik is coming off a huge summer, dropping a 1:58.1 in the 200m fly while representing Team USA at the World Junior Championships.

2.) Florida

Key 2018 Losses: Caeleb Dressel; Ben Lawless; Blake Manganiello; Enzo Martinez-Scarpe, Jan Switkowski; Mark Szaranek

Rationale

It's a stretch to say head coach Gregg Troy will look to replace Caeleb Dressel — because such a talent isn't interchangeable. However, the Gators will need to fill a huge void in 2018 once the fastest man in history has exhausted his eligibility in Gainesville. Beyond Dressel, Florida will also have to replace distance duo Ben Lawless and Blake Manganiello along with the mid-D fly/IM combo of Jan Switkowski and Mark Szaranek.

So, who are the Gators getting? Most notably, freestyle extraordinaire Trey Freeman. Not many guys have the range to go 19 in the 50 and sub-15 in the mile — Freeman does and can be plugged in anywhere he is needed. On top of that, UF snags Robert Finke, whose best of 14:37 in the 1650 (as a junior in high school) would have placed top 10 at NCAAs in 2017. Throw in versatile mid-D stud Kieran Smith and Polish star Kacper Stokowski and Florida is ready to play.

3.) Arizona State

Key 2018 Losses: Christian Lorenz; Patrick Park, Andrew Porter

Rationale

Arizona State? A top three recruiting class? No, this is not a typo — the Sun Devils are legit. Bob Bowman's transformation of this program is nothing short of spectacular. Like Reese, Bowman likes to recruit and train swimmers with range. Which is why he was able to pull in 1:34 200 freestyler Cody Bybee to join 1:34 freshman Grant House and 1:31 sophomore Cameron Craig. On top of that, Bybee is a 43 100 freestyler and 46 100 flyer.

Bybee might be the gem of the class in Tempe, AZ, but he certainly isn't the exception. ASU also pulled in 47.1/1:44 backstroker Noah Henry, 47 100 flyer Khalil Fonder, 54 100 breaststroker Elijah Warren, and 1:37/4:23 freestyler Liam Bresette. With the right environment and development, this class is going to be the real deal.

4.) USC

Key 2018 Losses: Dylan Carter; Santo Condorelli; Ralf Tribuntsov

Rationale

The Trojans might be losing three of their best swimmers and highest point scorers in 2018, but they are picking up another three that are capable of big things. Like many others in this class, Alexei Sancov can throw down some deep range with a 43.4 100 and 4:19 500 on the bookends of a 1:33 200. That is something Dave Salo will need desperately once Dylan Carter and Santo Condorelli are gone.

USC also snagged another big recruit in Swedish star Victor Johansson. Johansson, who competed at this summer's FINA World Championships, has converted times of 1:34/4:15/14:43. It might take him a bit to find his groove in the short course yards pool, but the talent is there. Not to be forgotten is Ariel Spektor — a 47 low flier and 1:46 200 IMer. 

5.) Stanford

Key 2018 Losses: Patrick Conaton; Liam Egan; Andrew Liang; Curtis Ogren; Sam Perry

Rationale

The Cardinal are losing five NCAA scorers, but they are picking up the centerpiece for the next four years in Jack LeVant. This guy can literally swim anything at an elite level. The problem, if you can even call it that, for head coach Skip Kenney is where to plug LeVant in a championship format — given he can only compete in three individual events (in addition to four relays).

Along with LeVant, Stanford picks up 19/43 freestyler Mason Gonzalez, who will do his best to make up for the hole left by Sam Perry. 

6.) Notre Dame

Key 2018 Losses: Justin Plaschka; Rob Whitacre

Rationale

Notre Dame has been on fire this fall, and that streak continues with Mike Litzinger's latest recruiting class. The cornerstone is Hungarian Marci Barta — who has been training with Chris Davis at Swim Atlanta since January 2016 as part of a foreign exchange program. Barta took off this summer at the FINA World Junior Championships — dropping 2:00/4:15 IMs, which convert to 1:44 and 3:41, respectively.

Joining Barta will be proficient breaststroker/IMers Andrew Winton and Josh Bottelberghe and butterflier Zach Smith. If the quick progression of freshman Zach Yeadon is any indication, this class has some serious potential.

7.) Michigan

Key 2018 Losses: James Peek, Paul Powers; PJ Ransford; Tristan Sanders; Evan White

Rationale

Michigan's recruiting class might be small, but it is mighty. The big piece of the puzzle for head coach Mike Bottom is Patrick Callan, a 1:34.0/4:14 freestyler who can come in and push Austrian star Felix Auböck.

Joining Callan will be Will Chan — a swimmer with a unique skill set. Not only has Chan been 53/1:58 in the breaststrokes, but he has also threatened the 20-second barrier in the 50 freestyle — making him a threat on the Wolverines' freestyle and medley relays. Michigan might be losing a lot, but it is gaining high-quality swimmers.

8.) Texas A&M

Key 2018 Losses: Brock Bonetti; Mauro Castillo; Jonathan Tybur

Rationale

Texas A&M is preparing to lose three of its best swimmers in 2018 — backstroker Brock Bonetti and breaststroke duo Mauro Castillo and Jonathan Tybur — but the Aggies pick up a pair of recruits in Shaine Casas and Clayton Bobo who will be huge additions to TAMU's relays. Bobo is a 19/43 freestyler — as a junior in high school, no less — and Casas is just as capable in the sprints but can also throw down a 1:47 200 IM and 47 100 fly. Not too shabby, not too shabby at all.

9.) Georgia

Key 2018 Losses: Gunnar Bentz; Jay/Kevin/Mick Litherland

Rationale

Following the loss of Chase Kalisz in 2017, the Georgia Bulldogs are preparing to lose their other two Olympians, Jay Litherland and Gunnar Bentz, in 2018.

The biggest snag in this class for UGA coach Jack Bauerle is Andrew Abruzzo — an elite distance swimmer who took off this summer at the FINA World Junior Championships. Abruzzo's long course times of 3:49 in the 400 and 15:06 in the 1500 convert to 4:15 and 14:43, respectively — proving he is poised for a breakout senior season in the short course pool. He is also capable of swimming just about any 200 of stroke and 400 IM as well, a nice utility tool for the Dawgs.

10.) Virginia

Key 2018 Losses: Luke Georgiadis

Rationale

The good news for first-year head coach Todd DeSorbo is that he will not lose much in 2018 other than NCAA qualifier Luke Georgiadis. 

Even better news? Virginia picked up a trio of swimmers who are ready to make an impact on day one. Lewis Burras is a British swimmer with converted times of 19.7/43.5 in the 50 and 100 freestyle, respectively. He will likely immediately be on all of the Cavaliers relays. Joining Burras will be in-state talent Casey Storch — a legit breaststroke/IM specialist —and Justin Grender, a freestyler with range who can also throw down in the 100 and 200 back as well.