College Football Recruiting 2012: Top Schools for 28 Uncommited 5-Star Recruits

(NOTE: This will be for every uncommitted 5-star recruit)

We're going to take a look at every 5-star recruit left on the board, and try to guess the top three schools for them. We have some very talented players in this year's class, but these 5-star recruits are the best of the best.

Let's speculate, predict and just downright guess the top three schools for the uncommitted 5-star players in the class of 2012.

Jordan Diamond, OT

Diamond's skill set upon watching him on film projects well to a zone-blocking scheme offense. He shows a great ability to get up on linebackers on the second level and he can hit moving targets efficiently.

At 6'6", 290 pounds, he has solid athletic ability and knee bend, which helps him in pass protection. He does a good job of sliding when engaged and recovers well.

Notre Dame, Michigan State, Illinois and Wisconsin are schools to watch but Michigan is the leader by a good margin.

Zach Banner, OT

Banner is the longest offensive tackle in the country, and I mean that about his overall reach and wingspan. He stands 6'9"—yes 6'9"—and weighs 300 pounds. 

Banner is not just a stick figure, as he shows great athleticism on the edges to set up quickly, bend his knees, slide, mirror and anchor versus all rushers. He can use his long arms to wash, but also can get up in targets' chests as drive blocker.

He has a top 10, but to guess his top three I would go Washington, Florida State and Michigan.

Jordan Jenkins, DE

At 6'3", 245 pounds, Jinkens may be able to come in as a true freshman and make an impact as a sub rusher from day one; he's that athletically gifted. You watch him on tape and you see a burst and ability to beat blockers at the snap.

He can bend well off the edge and close on the QB in a flash. He plays the run well and just needs to get seasoned. Keep an eye on him.

Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Auburn are his top six, but Georgia, Florida and Tennessee would be my top three guess.

Channing Ward, DE

Ward is a 6'4", 240-pound pass-rush specialist who could play OLB in a 3-4 scheme. He has good athleticism, shows a pass-rushing plan and plays well with his hands.

He shows a burst at the snap and bend ability. Yet what really makes Ward special is knowing that his hands can be a weapon. Most rushers just try to outrun blockers and get stuck when engaged. Ward can get free.

LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State seem to be the major players.

Jordan Simmons, OL

Simmons has the talent and ability to play tackle and guard, but I like him as a guard more. At 6'5", 335 pounds, he shows very, very good athletic ability, strength and balance as a blocker.

He can even play some center in a pinch, too. He does have some baby fat around his body, but a college strength program will shed that, and he is one of the very elite line prospects in the country.

USC, UCLA and Notre Dame would be my guess at the moment, but his list looms large.

Kyle Murphy, OT

Another player, another offensive lineman. It's an outstanding year for offensive linemen and corners. Murphy is another great one and stands 6'7", 270 pounds and he has solid athleticism for an offensive trench man.

He excels in pass protection and gets by through being simply more athletic than his opponents. Once he gets coached up in college, look out, because he will combine athleticism with technique, and that could equal no sacks for opposing rushers.

His core four consists of Stanford, Cal, Notre Dame and USC.

Ellis McCarthy, DT

McCarthy is a defensive tackle who I think will see himself rise up the board higher before the final board comes out around NSD 2012. He's a dynamic force in the middle at 6'5" and nearly 310 pounds, but he has very, very little body fat.

That speaks to his frame, as he has college size and strength right now. He can overpower blockers and walk them back at the snap, or he can use his quickness and athletic ability to blow by them. McCarthy is quick to read and react versus the run, but he also can rush the passer from the interior like an end.

Florida, Oklahoma and USC are schools to watch out for.

Kyle Kalis, OT

Kalis is a 6'5", 305-pound lineman's type of lineman. He's a lunch-pail type that works on the fronts each snap, whether at right or left tackle. He's best in the run game, showing an ability to play with good leverage at the point of attack and finish ability.

He can pull and trap well, due to his easy movement. As a pass protector, Kalis displays solid foot quickness to slide and mirror well. I like him most at right tackle.

Ohio State and Michigan would be the known two with the third being any major power you can think of.

Landon Collins, DS/OLB

Collins is a 5-star recruit and one of the top players in the country, as he can play safety and outside linebacker. At 6'0", 210 pounds, Collins shows to be uber-instinctive in the box, physical versus the run and rangy to chase and pursue.

He's productive in space in coverage, showing an ability to factor in the zone due to his awareness. He always finds a way to the ball and hates getting caught in traffic. Look for him to be one of the best strong safeties to come out of this class.

Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami (Fl) and Tennessee are his final five, with LSU and Alabama the favorites.

Adolphus Washington, DE

Washington is another pass-rusher and among the elite in the country this year. At 6'5", 250 pounds, Washington has the size to play the strong side in college, but also the athleticism, play speed and quickness to man the weak side as well.

He has a long frame to stay clean, can convert speed into power quickly and forcefully, and he bends solidly. Washington is also a noted hoops prospect, which is why you hear the Julius Peppers comparisons.

Ohio State, Michigan, Kentucky, Miami and Alabama are his top five, with Ohio State, Michigan and Alabama being his top three I believe.

Josh Garnett, OL

Garnett may be the best offensive guard prospect from the Washington area since Steve Schilling. At 6'5", 275 pounds, he has a high ceiling and plays with great athletic ability, knee bend and strength. He also may be able to kick out to tackle in college.

Garnett has good snap quickness, gets into his opponent's chest, walks them back and he can finish. He holds his own in pass protection, as he can work well in the short area confines at guard.

Right now, Oregon, Notre Dame and Washington are schools to watch out for.

Avery Young, OT

When you watch Young move around on tape, you wonder if he could even play tight end, as he is that athletic. He has not even scratched the surface as to how good he can be, as the 6'5", 275-pounder looks like a potential left tackle.

He can set up quickly, slide, mirror, bend, recover and anchor versus rushers down after down. Once he learns good hand placement and how to mix up his sets, he could develop into an All-American left tackle. He has the ability in the run game to say hello to linebackers, reach out on sweeps and pitches and pull and trap well.

Oklahoma, Florida and Georgia would be my guess on a top three for Young, with OU being the favorite.

Shaq Roland, WR

Roland is a receiver that is here because his ceiling is so high. At 6'1", 180 pounds, he has played multiple spots, but receiver is his definite future home position in college. He just needs to spend more time there and get coached up.

Dynamic with the ball in his hands, Roland shows very good play speed and explosiveness. He isn't very strong, but can beat press with change of direction and quickness in his release. He flashes great separation quickness and solid hands.

Look for him to end up at South Carolina, with Georgia, Alabama and Florida in the race.

D.J. Humphries, OT

The natural comparison for Humphries' game seems to be Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and rightfully so. Humphries has great knee bend, set quickness, agility, mirror ability and all around pass protection skills.

At 6'6", 270 pounds, Humphries is a left tackle through and through and is likely the best athlete in the trenches in the country.

He has a top list that consists of Florida (the huge favorite), South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn.

Darius Hamilton, DE

Hamilton is a 6'4", 245-pound defensive prospect that can do it all.

Most ends at the high school level only focus on their pass-rushing prowess, yet Hamilton shows the strength to anchor and shed against the end.

Toss that in with his elite pass-rushing ability, and you see a 5-star prospect on the defensive edge.

Rutgers is the leader, with Florida, Cal and Oregon being in the race.

Quay Evans, DT

At 6'2", 320 pounds, Evans is an immovable object in the trenches. He has great strength and I like him as a 1-technique or a nose tackle. Once Evans gets his hands on a blocker and inside the body, it's over, as he can use brute and sheer strength to toss them around or power over them to get into the backfield.

He has the girth to be a space-eater, but also the athleticism to make plays along the line.

Mississippi State, Alabama and LSU are his major suitors.

Rushel Shell, RB

At 5'11", 215 pounds, Shell is among the best running backs in the country. He has elite vision, awareness and run instincts to go along with great speed and run strength.

Shell will be an every-down rock-toter as a collegiate player, as he shows the toughness, size and run strength to bounce it between tackles, while also solid hands and speed as a receiver out of the backfield.

He has 30 offers and my wild guess of his top three would be Pitt, Florida and Ohio State.

Shaq Thompson, DS

Thompson is a 6'1", 195-pound safety prospect who can also play running back and a little bit of cornerback as well.

His brother Syd plays for the Denver Broncos, and Shaq was the top player for NorCal powerhouse Grant HS (Calif.) as a junior.

He can play FS, SS and even some boundary cornerback for the back end. He hits like a truck and can cover well in zone.

He is rumored to be waiting until the postseason All-Star games next January to announce. Cal, USC and Notre Dame are prime players.

Gunner Kiel, QB

At 6'4" and over 200 pounds, Kiel will have to fend off some top gunslingers through the cycle for top QB honors.

Yet he is one of the top prospects at the moment and has a great arm, mobility, accuracy and solid vision. He reminds me a bit of Blaine Gabbert.

Kiel's uncle Blair was a QB at Notre Dame in the 1980s, and the Irish are hot after Gunner, but Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama seem to be the favorites.

John Theus, OT

At 6'6", 295 pounds, Theus excels at drive blocking and has the ability to finish.

He moves targets off their marks with ease, has quick feet and plays physical at the point of attack

Solid in pass protection, I think Theus' best spot is right tackle. In no specific order Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Arkansas and Florida are Theus' top six schools.

I think Georgia is the favorite.

Jameis Winston, QB

At 6'4", 200 pounds, Winston combines a rifle for an arm along with great play speed and running ability.

The most recent tip on Winston is that he wants to make an early decision. He is narrowing in on a decision, and this summer we will know where the signal-caller is headed.

Look for Alabama, LSU and Florida State to be among the top of his list with UCLA and Stanford.

Stefon Diggs, WR/DB

Diggs is a player that can factor as a receiver or safety. I could move him onto the ATH board or DS board, but in the end, he is simply too good with the ball in his hands not to play on offense in my opinion.

At 6'1", 190 pounds, he is a quicker-than-fast athlete, but he does have tremendous speed. His RAC ability is amazing, and he is likely tops in this category in the country for 2012. Diggs can shake, bake and clean the dishes routinely.

Miami, Florida, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Michigan and South Carolina are schools that stand out for Diggs.

I would guess Alabama, Florida and Virginia Tech as his top three.

Keith Marshall, RB

Marshall shows a skill set that is based on speed and quickness. He has a good burst to scoot to the second level, can shake and bake in the open field and has solid run instincts. 

He's an elite-caliber recruit.

With a slew of offers, Marshall has whittled his list down to, in no particular order, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Stanford and USC.

Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama would be my top-three guess.

Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is a 6'5", 305-plus pound defensive tackle that has "special" written all over him. He has the quickness to jump blockers at the snap, strength to toss and shed, and anchor ability to stop double-teams in their tracks and make a mess in the middle.

He wants to play 4-3 tackle, but some teams like him at 3-4 nose. He can play both well in my opinion, and could even play 3-4 end. He isn't a wow-you type of athlete that will chase in pursuit, but Goldman does have a bit of range.

Cal, Clemson, Alabama and a few others in any combination could make up his top three.

Kwon Alexander, OLB

At 6'2", 210 pounds, Alexander is a fantastic linebacker prospect. He has tremendous play speed and range and will be a three-down defender in college.

He projects well at WILL, but I think he can also play SAM in a 4-3 scheme due to his ability to carry tight ends around the field in coverage.

One of the top prospects in Alabama bar none, Alexander claims no favorite at the moment. Alabama, Auburn and Oregon are definite trips he'll take.

Noah Spence, DE

Spence is the top pure pass-rusher in the country and easily has the quickest first two steps in America. He flies off the ball and gets after the QB with tenacity, passion and sheer speed.

At 6'4", 245 pounds, he has been compared to Dwight Freeney, although he is a bit longer and taller than the 6'1" Freeney.

North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Penn State would be a top three to watch out for.

Andrus Peat, OT

At 6'7", 280 pounds, Peat is the top line prospect in the country and will be a franchise left tackle. Rumor has it Peat is up to between 290-300 pounds now going into his senior season.

He reminds me a lot of USC left tackle Matt Kalil coming out of high school. Sound in his technique, smart, patient and savvy in pass protection, Peat is an elite offensive lineman.

Florida State, Nebraska, USC, Michigan and a plethora of others are hot for Peat. A top three is too tough to come up with since Peat is still looking around so much, but Michigan and Notre Dame are two to watch out for.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

I have Green-Beckham as the top player in the country on my board, as do many other talent evaluators.

At 6'6", 220 pounds, he has the size and skill set that reminds me of a cross between Calvin Johnson and Plaxico Burress.

Green-Beckham has the hands, separation quickness, catch-in-crowd ability and playmaking talent to become a dominant receiver in college. 

Oklahoma, Alabama and Missouri are the rumored top three.