College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top 14 Recruiting Classes in July

Ranking recruiting classes is always a tough thing to do in this early middle stage of recruiting. Many players are usually still left on the board, so there always are a ton of commitments still left to be made that impact and shape the rankings landscape.

However, it's still fun to try to do it and it also gives us a chance to see who's off to a good start. So for this piece, we're going to rank the top 14 recruiting classes at this point in June.

The raging uproar and debate shall begin.

14. Texas Tech

Texas Tech has 16 commitments, with five players being rated 4-stars or higher. Tommy Tuberville is on a great pace to bring a talented class to Lubbock.

The class is headlined by 5-star WR Dominique Wheeler, a 6'1", 180-pound speedster that just makes plays all over the field. Four-star OL/DL Michael Starts is also a top 100 player on my board and will be a multi year starter on either side of the ball.

Other 4-star players in class include WR Reginald Davis and OLs Christian Okafor and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.

13. Clemson

Dabo Swinney has 12 commitments and a great value of seven are 4-stars or higher. I think the top prospect in the class is 4-star DB Travis Blanks.

At 6'1", 195 pounds, Blanks can play CB or safety but is convinced his spot is at CB. He's long and strong to press at the line, athletic and quick out if his backpedal and is more than willing to come up and support the run.

Four-star DE Martin Aiken, OG Patrick Destefano and DB Ronald Geohagan are also a few players to watch.

12. LSU

LSU quietly has put together a stellar, 15-man recruiting so far as we sit in June, with three recruits being rated at 4-stars. 

But the Tigers will need to work to keep 4-star WR Avery Johnson, the younger brother of Patrick Peterson. Johnson is a 6'2", 185-pounder with great deep speed, a long frame and excellent all around athleticism. With a bit more coaching and instilled focus, Johnson should be an All-SEC caliber WR.

The sleeper is MLB Trey Granier. At 6'1", 225 pounds, Granier is a productive, instinctive and physical LB that should fit well as a MIKE LB.

11. Notre Dame

Six out of the 11 commits from Notre Dame are rated 4-stars or higher, and there are two 5-star players in the class in the likes of DBs Ronald Darby and Tee Shepard.

Darby is more of a CB type while Shepard can play safety and corner. Keep an eye out for Nick Baratti, a super athletic and speedy player. Baratti has been told he could play QB for the Irish as he does for his high school team, but he can also play safety.

The Irish don't seem overly interested in going hard after a QB this year.

10. Oklahoma

The Sooners have a solid class in the fold already with 10 commitments slated to sign with OU next February. They have five 4-star prospects out of the eight, and the top player in the class so far is 4-star WR Durron Neal.

Neal, who pledged to OU only within the past day or so, is joined by fellow 4-star recruits RB Alex Ross and WR Sterling Shepard. 

Six players are on the offensive side of the ball, including the top three of the class overall, and the two defensive players are 5'11" CB De'Vante Harris and 6'1", 190-pound OLB Eric Striker.

9. Miami

Al Golden has been very, very aggressive in his recruiting approach since he arrived in Coral Gables. Golden has attacked the trail with passion and enthusiasm, earning him 19 commitments already with six players being 4-stars.

The headliners are RB Duke Johnson, a 5'9", 180-pound speedster out of the backfield with solid vision, nimble feet and a great burst to and through holes, a DE Jelani Hamilton, a reckless edge defender.

Also watch out for Angelo Louis-Jean, an athletic WR/CB that stands 6'0", 185 pounds. The Miami staff will be fighting among themselves for Louis-Jean as he can play both DB and WR equally and effectively.

8. USC

USC is not going to sign a really big class this year and not likely for the next for years. I think this will be an interesting study, as this is going to really challenge the evaluation skills of Lane Kiffin and his staff.

Should they miss on a player, it will force substantial consequences on the roster. However, it seems the Trojans get that and are going after quality evidenced by six of their 10 commitments being 4-stars or higher.

The headliner is Arik Armstead, whom Scout.com lists as the No.1 overall prospect in the country. At 6'8", 275 pounds, Armstead is a mammoth DE that also could develop into an elite LT.

7. Florida

Will Muschamp is off to an outstanding start to his first full year recruiting for Florida. Seven out of his 13commitments so far for 2012 are rated 4-stars or higher with 5-star OT Jessamen Dunker and 5-star CB Brian Poole leading the way.

At 6'6", 315 pounds, Dunker is a future LT that combines size, balance, excellent feet, knee bend and incredible athleticism. He's still a bit raw, but college coaching should help him reach his amazing potential. Poole should be an All-SEC CB, as the 5'11", 185-pounder has all the tools to develop into an elite cornerback.

While he is still rated 4-stars, don't sleep on 6'3", 210-pound RB Matt Jones. Jones reminds me a bit of Eddie George on tape and could even play LB.

6. Texas A&M

Mike Sherman is not playing around on the trail this year. He's making that clear with having 21commitments, and seven of those recruits being 4-star players.

The headliners are 5-star RB Trey Williams, a 5'8" (ish) 180-pound jitterbug that has a quick, darting running style and stands a bit thicker than you think. Look for Williams to excel as a luxury back in College Station. And the 5-star QB/ATH Matt Davis.

The Aggies may have scored two potential starting WRs in this class in 4-star ATH Bralon Addison and 4-star Davis. Addison could also play RB or DB, while Davis is listed as a QB; some speculate he'll be a WR in college.

5. Michigan

Entering the month of June, Michigan has an 18-commit recruiting class for 2012. While the Wolverines have no 5-star pledges, they do have nine 4-star commits including two fantastic LB prospects.

Royce Jenkins-Stone and James Ross are two of the top 10 LB prospects in the country and will be All-Big Ten caliber defenders in Ann Arbor.

Kaleb Ringer is not far behind them, and Terry Richardson is a very good CB. Big Blue's latest commit is 4-star OT Erik Magnuson, a 6'6", 275-pound big ugly from California.

4. Auburn

Talk about quality, Auburn has 10 commitments and nine of them are 4-star prospects. So in essence, 90 percent of the Auburn class are top tier talents.

The class is led by 5-star QB Zeke Pike, a 6'6", 225-pounder with a rifle right arm and solid athleticism. He'll have TEs Ricky Parks and Darrian Hutcherson to throw seam routes to and WRs Ricardo Louis and Jaquay Williams to throw deep to.

TJ Yeldon will join them at RB.

3. Florida State

Jimbo Fisher has hauled in consecutive top 10 classes for FSU in his two years leading the charge in recruiting last season being his first as head coach.

Fisher's biggest commitment is clearly 5-star DE Mario Edwards. At 6'4", 270 pounds, Edwards is as big as a DT and as athletic as a LB. He's a complete prep player and should become an All-ACC selection in Tallahassee.

DE Chris Casher is one of the best athletes in the country, regardless of position, and he's also one of the most aware, heady and instinctive players in the country, regardless of position.

Florida State also has a bit of a sleeper in 4-star OT Alphonse Taylor, a 6'6", 340-pounder that can play both OT and OG.

2. Alabama

In my super-early recruiting class rankings weeks ago, I had 'Bama on top, but now, I have another on top. Yet still, the Crimson Tide are enjoying another great run in recruiting.

They have two 5-star commitments, followed by another five 4-star rated players to make up an 14 commit recruiting class so far in June.

The headliner is 5-star LB Reggie Ragland. A huge, 6'4", 245-pounder that blows ball carriers up at the point of attack, Ragland is an above average athlete, strong and instinctive. He will be the next great ILB in Tuscaloosa.

1. Texas

Out their 18 players committed, Texas has a shocking 14 of them rated at 4-stars, with three of those 14 being 5-star players. Safe to say that so far, the recruiting trail in college football is Longhorn territory.

The top player is 5-star RB Johnathan Gray, as this could mark the second year in a row that Texas signs the top RB prospect in the country, as they signed Malcolm Brown in 2011. Gray is a 5'11", 195-pound rock toter that has a near complete skill set.

Connor Brewer doesn't all the pub that Gunner Kiel, Zeke Pike and Jameis Winston get, but the 4-star QB in a sheer winner, has solid accuracy, toughness and commands his offense very, very well.