College Football Recruiting 2012: Who's Winning the Yearly Recruiting Wars?

Winning recruiting battles vs. other programs is pretty much the name of the game. If you want to get talent to your campus, then you need to outwork, out-hustle and out-recruit your rivals.

For this read, I'm just going to give you a couple programs that I notice are really winning some recruiting battles this 2012 cycle. The programs have beaten out some top-notch rivals and powers for some serious talent.

Let's get to it.

7. Miami

Miami makes this list purely by getting Jelani Hamilton. It beat out both of its main rivals in Florida State and Florida for the best DE prospect in the state.

This is a huge coup as this shows coach Al Golden, his staff, Miami brass and the rest of state of Florida that Golden can win a recruiting battle for an elite prospect.

Golden has done so well on the trail so far in convincing players The U is coming back that many of the Miami commits are also recruiting other prospects to join them.

6. Michigan

Urban Meyer called it when it happened. When we learned Greg Mattison was joining Brady Hoke's staff in Ann Arbor, Meyer said not only would the Wolverine defense improve, but Mattison would also dramatically enhance their recruiting efforts.

And he has, along with the rest of the Michigan staff.

The Wolverines have the best incoming LB class in the country with Joe Bolden, James Ross, Royce Jenkins-Stone and Kaleb Ringer.

Then to solidify its placement on this list, Michigan just beat out Ohio State for 5-star OT Kyle Kalis.

5. Auburn

Gene Chizik has proven himself to be one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country for about three recruiting classes now. He has two top-10 classes under his belt, including a No. 1 class by some.

This year is no different as Auburn beat out basically everyone for 5-star QB Zeke Pike. The Tigers beat out Alabama for T.J. Yeldon and pretty much their whole recruiting class of 10 players is a 4-star or higher prospect.

So Chizik is beating rival powers out for both quantity and quality.

4. Florida

Will Muschamp has experience going hard on the trail in the SEC and it has served him well in his first full year recruiting as Chief Gator. 

Everyone wanted 5-star OT Jessamen Dunker and 5-star CB Brian Poole—I mean, everyone. But Muschamp snagged them up and won the recruiting battles for them, along with other hot prospects like RB Matt Jones and TE Colin Thompson.

The scary thing is Florida sits pretty for a slew of other elite players and will surely win a lot more of these head-to-head recruiting showdowns.

3. Florida State

Florida State's DL class alone puts it on this list, but the Seminoles have a great all around class so far. Obviously, beating out Texas for a Lone State player is huge.

But when that player is Mario Edwards, a 6'4", 265-pound 5-star DE, then that feat is colossal. Toss in Chris Casher, a win over Alabama, Auburn and the rest of the country; Mario Pender and PJ Williams, and you see Jimbo Fisher and Co. are a force on the trail.

But FSU will see its prowess challenged, as it is now in a heated battle for Dante Fowler, who's committed to FSU but in talks with Florida.

2. Alabama

You have to be impressed with Alabama's class, and they are still going head-to-head with anybody in the country for more elite talent.

The Crimson Tide are in the thick of the Jameis Winston race, going head-to-head with LSU and Florida State. They have a grand reach on the recruiting trail and even have beaten a bevy powers for most of their commits.

They currently have two 5-star commits in Reggie Ragland and Eddie WiIliams, but surely they won't be only 5-star players for the Tide come next February.

1. Texas

Just look at Texas' class and tell me it hasn't been winning recruiting battles. Wow, they have extremely impressive.

Mack Brown and his staff are known as staunch recruiters but this year has been ridiculous. Around 90 percent of the Longhorn class right now is a 4-star or higher rated player.

They beat out A&M and TCU for Johnathan Gray, Notre Dame and Oklahoma for Cayleb Jones and Auburn for Kennedy Estelle, among others.

Now the Longhorns have just entered the top five for stud safety Landon Collins and will duel with Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Florida for him.