Bryan Fischer

Posted by Bryan Fischer

We're a week away - if you can believe it - from the class of 2012 finally putting pen to paper and ending all of the drama surrounding their recruitment. There's still plenty of uncommitted players out there and lots of teams looking to move up in the class rankings. At the moment, it looks like Alabama has a stranglehold on the top spot but there's a small chance that another team could knock them out if a surprise or two ends up committing.

Below is an overview of the current Maxpreps top 25 class rankings,  from the Crimson Tide to the Cardinal, and a few notes on each.

MaxPreps Top 25 recruiting classes for 2012
School		Commits	Top Players	Notes
	- Team page - Commitment list	27	DB Landon Collins DB Geno Smith ATH Eddie Williams RB T.J. Yeldon	The Crimson Tide have already won a title in January and it's possible they'll get another come February 1st. This group has so many playmakers on both sides of the ball that several in this group will have to redshirt. Alabama is also in the running for several top commits so the rich might get even richer.
	- Team page - Commitment list	24	DT Malcom Brown RB Johnathan Gray WR Cayleb Jones OL Curtis Riser	Just another ho-hum group of stars for the Longhorns. The class is highlighted by Gray, who set just about every record imaginable in high school and should be a factor early on in running the ball.
	- Team page - Commitment list	23	LB Royce Jenkins-Stone OL Kyle Kalis OL Erik Magnuson DB Terry Richardson	The Wolverines held the top spot in the class rankings for most of the year and still have a chance to finish there on Signing Day. This is a great group, especially on the o-line, that fills most of the team's depth needs and should make defensive coordinator Greg Mattison very happy.
	- Team page - Commitment list	20	DE Jonathan Bullard OL Jessamen Dunker OL D.J. Humphries TE Kent Taylor	Will Muschamp has a chance to reload quickly with the current group of commits. He's got good depth coming in along both lines and is in the running for several elite players like Stefon Diggs, Nelson Agholor and Tracy Howard.
	- Team page - Commitment list	23	RB Bri'onte Dunn DT Tommy Shutt DE Noah Spence DE Adolphus Washington	This class was dead in the water for most of the year but has quickly gone from so-so to top five nationally thanks to Urban Meyer. There's a few offensive contributors but the real star power in this group is along the front seven.
	- Team page - Commitment list	31	DB Deon Bush DE Jelani Hamilton RB Randy Johnson DE Tyriq McCord	There's a ton of explosiveness in this class but there's also a few questionable players in this group in terms of talent level. After "Duke" Johnson's senior year, it looks like the Hurricanes are getting the two best players in the state in him and Hamilton.
	- Team page - Commitment list	18	OL John Michael McGee TE Taylor McNamara WR Durron Neal WR Derrick Woods	The offense reloads at receiver quite well and Neal has a chance to be a special playmaker with his talent. The offensive line also gets a nice boost with McGee and Ty Darlington in the interior.
	- Team page - Commitment list	21	OL Vadal Alexander DE Torshiro Davis LB Trey Granier WR Avery Johnson	The Tigers are still in the running for some elite players when Signing Day rolls around but Les Miles has to be happy with the speed and athleticism the current class has. Johnson, if he sticks, could fill in quickly for the departed Rueben Randle.
	- Team page - Commitment list	16	DE Chris Casher DE Mario Edwards Jr. DE Dante Fowler Jr. QB Jameis Winston	This might be the best collection of D-linemen in the country. Edwards is likely to end up in Tallahassee and it's almost unfair to pair him with guys like Casher and Fowler off the edge. If Winston arrives on campus, then this group has great potential down the road.
	- Team page - Commitment list	18	QB Zach Kline OL Freddie Tagaloa DB Shaq Thompson WR Bryce Treggs	This is a top 10 class for now. The emphasis is added because the departure of Tosh Lupoi to Washington has really thrown this group for a loop and caused several, such as Thompson, to look around before signing.
	- Team page - Commitment list	20	QB Matt Davis DB DeVante Harris LB Jordan Richmond RB Trey Williams	This was a top 10 class before Mike Sherman was fired and it looks like Kevin Sumlin will be able to keep the Aggies right around there. Davis and Williams are two dynamic players on offense and it's possible they'll be joined by former Texas commit, wide receiver Thomas Johnson too.
	- Team page - Commitment list	24	RB Mike Davis DB Jordan Diggs DB Chaz Elder WR Shaq Roland	There's not the buzz with this group like there was last year grabbing #1 overall recruit Jadeveon Clowney. Still, they have two great pick ups in Davis and Roland on offense and several other pieces that should make this a top 8-12 class come February 2nd.
	- Team page - Commitment list	20	DB Travis Blanks ATH Germone Hopper QB Chad Kelly DT Carlos Watkins	Another very good class for the Tigers, Blanks is versatile and might be the best cover guy in 2012. Kelly has a strong arm and should take over for Tajh Boyd when the time comes.
	- Team page - Commitment list	17	QB Gunner Kiel WR Deontay Greenberry DB Tee Shepard DB Elijah Shumate	Landing Kiel is a signature moment for Brian Kelly and gives the Irish their quarterback of the future. The Cali Kids, Greenberry and Shepard, will play right away.
	- Team page - Commitment list	26	RB J.C. Coleman RB Drew Harris DE Jarontay Jones DB Donaldven Manning	Jones is a big time DE but the there's plenty of players who will re-stock the wide receiver and defensive back positions. Coleman and Harris are going to be a very good 1-2 punch in the back field very soon.
	- Team page - Commitment list	15	DB T.J. Davis TE Darrion Hutcherson RB Jovon Robinson WR JaQuay Williams	Coordinator changes hurt this group, especially in terms of depth, but there are quality ball players from top to bottom. It wouldn't be surprising if Hutcherson and Williams leave a mark as freshmen.
	- Team page - Commitment list	12	WR Darreus Rogers LB Jabari Ruffin OL Jordan Simmons OL Max Tuerk	This is the first class truly limited by NCAA sanctions but that doesn't mean Lane Kiffin hasn't been able to pull in some great players. The Trojans are also in the running for elite, top 20 players on Signing Day too.
	- Team page - Commitment list	16	RB Todd Gurley DL Jordan Jenkins RB Keith Marshall OL John Theus	It's not a 'Dream Team' like last year but there's several players like Gurley and/or Marshall who will play early on. They have to land their remaining targets, such as lineman Avery Young, to go from solid to a great class.
	- Team page - Commitment list	21	DB Devante Bourque WR Jason Croom DB LaDarrell McNeil TE Justin Meredith	With mass staff changes and a down year, the Vols haven't gotten the elite player or two that everybody is used to seeing. Croom and Meredith are excellent weapons on offense though but there's a chance they could lose one of their top defenders on Signing Day too.
	- Team page - Commitment list	25	DE Eli Harold LB Kwontie Moore DE Michael Moore DE Courtnye Wynn	Kwontie Moore is an impressive linebacker who can hit like Ray Lewis and run like a safety. The defensive linemen in this class should have plenty guys who see early playing time.
	- Team page - Commitment list	18	DE DeForest Buckner RB Byron Marshall QB Jake Rodrigues WR Dwayne Stanford	Chip Kelly's flirtation with the NFL has thrown some for a loop but it looks like the Pac-12 champs will only add to a very good 2012 class. Marshall and Rodrigues are perfect fits on offense
	- Team page - Commitment list	21	OL Cordale Boyd OL Jeremy Ward RB Jonathan Williams	This isn't a great recruiting class for the Hogs but it could be if Dorial Green-Beckham signs, as many expect. Williams has injury concerns but might be the sleeper running back in the class of 2012.
	- Team page - Commitment list	21	DB Brandon Banks RB Brian Kimbrow QB Patton Robinette	Kimbrow and Robinette appear to be the future of the Commodores offense and that's a great start for a group that might end up as good or better as their counterparts in the state.
	- Team page - Commitment list	20	DE Devonte Fields ATH Daje Johnson QB Tyler Matthews	Very few teams in the country are bringing in as fast, collectively, a group as the Horned Frogs are. Johnson is a special talent and Matthews can take his time to develop into a nice signal-caller.
	- Team page - Commitment list	17	OL Nick Davidson LB Noor Davis RB Barry Sanders DT Jordan Watkins	It's not often you find the Cardinal in the top 25 in recruiting but things are rolling on the Farm. This is linemen heavy and has several recruits who should see early playing time. Stanford is also in the mix for elite offensive linemen Josh Garnett and Andrus Peat.
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