College Football Recruiting 2012: 50 Burning Summer Recruiting Questions

Questions. There's a lot of them about life, the world and of course, college football recruiting. There's so much we all want to know right now in the summer, and they just burn in our minds.

For this read, I'm going to ask 50 burning questions within the confines of college football recruiting. Some may be major, some may be odd and some may be minor. But they're all burning questions recruiting fans are asking.

It's no question as to whether or not you should read this.

50. What's the Latest with Rushel Shell?

Shell is one of the top RBs and overall players in the country, yet he hasn't done much press this spring and summer.

He was thought to be liking Ohio State, Pitt and Florida, but that was way back in February. Not much has been heard from Shell since.

49. Will Jordan Payton End Up at USC After All?

Payton de-committed from USC recently after months of speculation that he would indeed do so. Yet he has been pretty adamant that USC is still in the race.

I doubt he goes to USC and think he ends up somewhere else.

48. Who's the Favorite for Keith Marshall?

Marshall is a five-star RB who has a grand list of a top 14 schools. Alabama, USC, Georgia and North Carolina are just several schools on the list.

Georgia was thought to be the early favorite, then North Carolina was a strong alleged lean. Marshall hasn't really named a team that truly stands out yet.

47. Will Arik Armstead Be a LT?

Armstead is a 6'8", 280-pound monster who plays DE for his high school team and will be a strong-side DE at USC.

But many think his best position is LT because of his length and athleticism for such a large player. He wants to be a DE and tells anyone who listens he's a DE, but you can't help but wonder.

46. Who Leads for Andrus Peat?

I have Peat as the top OT prospect on my board, and he has an offer basically from every school you can fathom. He seems to have a solid 13 he likes and is taking visits this summer.

Yet I think Michigan impressed Peat the most so far, with other schools like Florida State, USC and Notre Dame also in the mix.

45. Is There Anyone Else for Aaron Burbridge?

Burbridge seems to be down to Michigan and Michigan State—for the most part. I'm just not sure if anyone else can crack the affection he has for both schools.

This looks like a Wolverine-Spartan recruiting battle for the speedy WR.

44. Will Avery Johnson Stick with LSU?

Johnson, the younger brother of Patrick Peterson, is a LSU pledge, but is reportedly looking around across the SEC. Rumors of a de-commitment are running wild for the four-star WR.

Will he bolt from the bayou?

43. Where Is Chris Black Headed?

Black seems to be mulling between Alabama and Florida State. He is a lifelong Florida fan, and the Gators are in it, but they are a distant third.

He's taken several visits to Tuscaloosa and Tallahassee, and says a decision is coming soon enough.

Decisions, decisions.

42. Any Chance Starts Plays OL for Texas Tech?

Many list Michael Starts as a four-star OL, but when he pledged to Texas Tech, it was announced he'd be a DL in Lubbock.

While Starts is a great DL, he is also an excellent OL, so wouldn't you think there is a solid chance he actually ends up on the OL for the Red Raiders?

41. Will Cal Start to Get More Commitments?

Cal only has three commits for their 2012 class, with the third one coming just recently from WR Bryce Treggs. QB Zach Kline and LB Michael Barton are the other commits in the class.

Will Treggs' pledge be the one who opens the floodgates to Berkley?

40. Is Josh Harvey-Clemons a WR or OLB?

At 6'4" and 210 pounds, Harvey-Clemons is a great athlete. He can play both WR and OLB, and I can see him at both spots in college.

But it really depends on what the coaching staff at the school of Harvey-Clemons' choice thinks is best for his development and the team.

39. Did Johnathan Gray Prove He's the Best RB at the Opening?

Based on various reports, Johnathan Gray caught the football very well all last week at The Opening by NIKE in Oregon last week. I have Gray as the top RB on my board, and he came into the week with some questions about his hands. 

Yeah, he shut up everyone whispering about that aspect of his game last week.

38. Will Baseball Take Jameis Winston?

Winston is the top QB prospect in the country according to some and a marvelous dual-threat player. He's a five-star recruit with offers from Alabama, LSU, Stanford and Florida State, among others.

But he's also a great baseball prospect and could be a pretty high pick in next year's baseball draft.

37. Is Georgia the Favorite for John Theus?

Theus is one of the very best overall players in the country, and at 6'6" and 295 pounds is a fantastic OT prospect. He has whittled his list down to Florida, Georgia and Texas.

The Bulldogs are home to his brother who is a long snapper on the roster, and thought to be the favorite, but it's anyone's guess.

36. Does North Carolina State Have a Chance for Noah Spence?

Spence has a family connection to Raleigh; he was even born there, and his father played LB for N.C. State. He took a visit to Raleigh and Chapel Hill recently, and had an excellent time.

With Spence being from the area, his father playing for the Wolfpack and having more family members who are alums of N.C. State, look for the Wolfpack to be in the thick of the race.

35. Is Shaq Thompson a Cal Lock?

Thompson once committed to Cal in the early spring, but de-committed shortly after. However, his brother is an alum, he goes to a pipeline high school and has even stated he gets homesick easily.

Thompson has offers from USC, Notre Dame and Tennessee, among others, but look for him to commit to Cal at one of the postseason all-star games.

34. Is Avery Johnson an Oklahoma Lock?

Johnson has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Miami and Florida, among others, but he has been an admirer of the Sooners' offensive line play over the years. He likes Oklahoma and has intentions of visiting them in the fall.

I think the five-star OT ends up in Norman come next February.

33. Why Isn't Notre Dame a Favorite for Gunner Kiel?

Early on in the recruiting process, the more I read about Gunner Kiel, the more and more he seemed to be a Notre Dame kind of guy. He's from Indiana, plays QB and his uncle was an Irish QB in the 1980's.

Yet, Notre Dame has only very slim chances of getting Kiel as it looks like Oklahoma, Alabama and Michigan are the front-runners.

32. Is Kyle Kalis Right About the Michigan-Ohio Border Being Open?

First of all, I watched "First and 10" this morning and saw Jay Crawford, an avid Ohio State fan, saying how wrong Kalis was in his thinking of 8-9 more Ohio State commits would bolt for Michigan.

Sorry Jay, you misread Kalis' thinking.

Kalis meant 8-9 players from the state of Ohio could bolt for Ann Arbor, not Ohio State commits; just players from Ohio.

And yes, Kalis is on to something in his thinking. Why should players head to Ohio State and be punished for something they had no dealings with?

31. Will Brionte Dunn Follow Kalis?

Dunn was the first Ohio State commit of 2012 to really seriously flirt with Michigan. The five-star RB got Buckeye Nation riled up, but has remained pledged to head to Columbus.

But Dunn told ESPN that Michigan, Miami and Penn State are the main schools trying to get him to switch.

Stay tuned.

30. Are Washington and Notre Dame the Top Schools for Banner and Garnett?

Washington has two five-star OL prospects this year in Zach Banner and Josh Garnett. Both players are elite recruits and have offers from the entire country.

Notre Dame seems to be mentioned a lot by both of them, but each still have lists that consist of around nine other possible schools.

Yet with each being from Washington, the Dawgs are in the hunt as well.

29. When Will D.J. Humphries Commit to Florida?

Florida leads for Humphries over offers from a bevy others including Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Georgia. He's a 6'6", 270-pound pure LT prospect.

It's only a matter of time before the Gators land him, so my question is, when? Likely sometime in the fall after his official visit to Gainesville.

28. What Are the Chances Rutgers Lands the Don Bosco Core Four?

Don Bosco Prep, a high school in Ramsey,N.J. has four of the top 100 players in the country: DE Darius Hamilton, DS Elijah Shumate, CB Yuri Wright and WR Leonte Carroo.

The Scarlet Knights lead for Hamilton, and are on the other three hard. Can they land all four in a hallmark coup for Rutgers football?

27. Is Ellis McCarthy a USC Lean?

McCarthy has offers from USC, Florida, Washington, Oregon and Cal, among others, but some say he is a Trojan lean. At 6'4", 311 pounds and very, very strong at the point of attack, Ellis could develop into the next Sedrick Ellis.

Will he end up at Heritage Hall?

26. Is Jordan Simmons Overrated?

Based on accounts from trusted observers and notes from Scout.com and ESPN, Simmons had a so-so showing at The Opening last week. He was beaten several times in the one-on-one portion of the event.

Simmons is a 6'5", 335-pound OL who I feel needs to lose a lot of baby fat from his frame, but I think his best position is guard.

25. Is Jordan Diamond a Michigan Lean?

Diamond has a teammate headed for Ann Arbor and admittedly gets his ear talked off about Michigan all the time. He's a 6'6", 290-pound OT with offers from all over the country.

Yet, it seems like he does like Michigan a whole lot.

24. Can Florida Steal Away Dante Fowler from Florida State?

Fowler is committed to Florida State and seems to be solid, but Florida is on his case hard. He's a 6'3", 240-pound DE who could even double as an OLB in college.

Florida State will have to work a bit to keep him in the fold; Will Muschamp and Dan Quinn want Fowler really badly.

23. Is Nelson Agholor the Most Athletic Player in the Country?

Agholor is renowned for his athletic ability because it's freakish. Really freakish. He's a 6'1", 180-pounder who moves around freely, easily and quickly.

There may not be a better pure athlete in the country. 

22. Can Oklahoma State Snag Barry Sanders...again?

The Cowboys have revved up their recruiting efforts for Barry Sanders Jr. according to, well, Sanders Jr.

With Alabama, Florida State, UCLA and Auburn in the mix, among others, the Pokes need to stand out.

They're going hard to keep it all in the family.

21. Are Florida and Tennessee the Teams to Beat for Jordan Jenkins?

Jenkins has a top six of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. But Scout.com say the teams to watch out for are the Gators and Vols.

A decision is coming fairly soon, as Jenkins and his family have completed their thorough research on each school.

20. Will Penn State Land Eugene Lewis and Kent Taylor?

Lewis and Taylor have gone on record stating they are Penn State fans and the Nittany Lions are fans of both of their's as well.

While PSU has some competition, there is a good chance they could indeed land both the four-star WR and four-star TE.

19. When Will We Get a Gunner Kiel Commitment?

Kiel is one of the top QBs, if not the top QB, in the country. At 6'4" and 200 pounds, he makes sound decisions with the football, has a solid arm and is very accurate.

He seems down to Oklahoma, Alabama and Michigan. Indiana could be a dark-horse to watch.

18. Could Stefon Diggs Be the Most Versatile Offensive Player in the Country?

Diggs is a 6'0", 190-pounder who can factor as a WR and RB on offense. On defense he can dabble between CB and DS, and is also one of the best return men in the nation.

Diggs is extremely dangerous with the football, very quick, instinctive and just a downright naturally-gifted playmaker.

17. What Does Jarron Jones' De-Commitment from Penn State Mean for Syracuse?

I called Jones' de-commitment from Penn State weeks ago when he told Scout.com he was most comfortable with the Syracuse coaches. A five-star, 6'5", 290-pound DT, Jones is an elite-level player.

He is back on the market from his soft-verbal to Penn State, and Syracuse looks to be the favorite.

16. Can Cal Land Eddie Goldman?

Goldman is another five-star DT at 6'4" and 305 pounds. He recently took a trip to Berkley and loved it there. 

Haling all the way from D.C., can the Bears beat out schools like Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Florida State for Goldman?

15. Will Adolphus Washington Play Basketball in College Too?

At 6'5" and 250 pounds, Washington is a five-star DE prospect who is also a terrific hoops player. He has offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Miami and Kentucky, among others.

He could elect to double between playing DE and forward in college in both sports.

14. Who Has Jameis Winston 90 Percent Made Up His Mind On?

The finalists for Winston are LSU, Florida State and Alabama. Winston has said he is 90 percent sure of where he is going, but has not set an announcement date yet.

Speculation is wild about whether the Tigers, Seminoles or Crimson Tide will win out for the five-star QB.

13. Is It an Alabama/Auburn Battle for Kwon Alexander?

Alexander may be the best all-around defensive player in the country. He's a 6'2", 210-pound OLB with tremendous play speed and range to make stops all over the field.

Alabama and Auburn naturally are the hot schools since he's an Alabama alum, but he has offers from USC, Oregon, LSU and Florida among a host of others.

12. Will Stanford Be Able to Regain Aziz Shittu?

Aziz Shittu committed to Stanford in the spring, and that seemed to be it for the 6'3", 275-pounder's recruitment. Yet, he de-committed a few weeks ago and is looking around.

Stanford is still in the race, but will have to work hard to get the four-star DT's commitment—again.

11. Is Notre Dame Not Recruiting QBs Hard Because of Nick Baratti?

Baratti is a 6'2", 190-pounder who is coming to South Bend to play safety, but he plays QB for his prep team. There is growing belief that Notre Dame has told him he could actually play QB for the Irish.

Maybe that's the reason why Notre Dame didn't put the full-court press on too many QBs this cycle.

10. Can Auburn Finish with Another Elite Recruiting Class?

Auburn was said to have the top recruiting class by most publications in 2011, and also had a top-10 class in 2010. That's two excellent classes in two years of Gene Chizik football on The Plains.

Can the Chizik go three-for-three?

9. How Many Recruits Will USC Sign, and Who?

USC has to really hit on each recruit they offer and sign from here on out due to their scholarship sanctions and limitations. This really is a cool study for someone like me, because this is going to show how well can the Trojan coaches evaluate players.

It looks like 15 (give or take) could be the number of recruits USC signs this year, as the class will be very small. Quality must be stressed by the Trojans' recruiting efforts.

8. Can Mississippi State Beat out Alabama for Quay Evans?

Evans is a 6'2", 320-pound DT rated five stars and has a slew of offers from the likes of LSU, USC, Oregon and Ole Miss.

But Mississippi State is his leader, and Alabama is coming after him pretty hard. Can the Bulldogs get a rare recruiting win over Alabama?

7. Are Any of These Recruits Going to Be in a Recruiting Scandal in a Few Years?

It just seems more and more scandals are coming to light, and there are a lot of street agents out there with bad intentions. I just really hope none of these recruits are involved in any negative news and wish them all great, honest careers.

6. Will Michigan Finish with a Better Recruiting Class Than Ohio State?

How quickly the tides can change. Months ago, Ohio State was fresh off a Sugar Bowl win and an expected top-10 2011 team.

Now, they are bracing themselves for NCAA sanctions and punishment, and have seen a five-star recruit defect to Ann Arbor.

Michigan is hot on the trail right now, as I have them in my top-10 2012 recruiting rankings at the moment.

5. Is Texas on Pace for One of the Greatest Recruiting Classes of All Time?

Texas has the No.1 recruiting class right now, and it's not even close. The quality of talent they have committed is downright embarrassing. 

Fourteen of their 18 commits are four-star or higher prospects, and they are still going hard for a couple other elite players, such as John Theus and Landon Collins.

Get ready Longhorns fans, this could be one of the greatest classes in the history of recruiting.

4. Are Players Overlooking Oregon Now?

The alleged Willie Lyles scandal has shed some nasty light on the recruiting efforts and strategy at Oregon. Speculation has it that this could cost Chip Kelly his job.

Does this mean recruits will start to elude Oregon in light of the potential ramifications of the NCAA?

3. Do We Put Too Much Stock in Recruiting?

The star system. Rankings. Ratings. Rumors. Scrutiny. Speculation. Predictions.

All of it is part of the recruiting industry that we have come to know and love.

But time and time again, we see prospects we never even heard of (Justin Blackmon—cough, cough) come into college football and become better players than big-time four-star and five-star recruits.

Do we care too much about recruiting?

2. Where Is Dorial Green-Beckham Going?

Green-Beckham is the No.1 recruit in the country for many publications. With an offer in hand from just about every major power you can name, he is in the process on nailing down a solid list.

It seems Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri are four schools always mentioned around DGB, but he doesn't speak much to the media, so it's all speculation.

1. Who Will Be the Best Player from This Class in Four Years?

With so much talent and more than a few future NFL players from what I have seen on tape, the debate over who will be the best player from this class rages on by many.

Who do you think will be the best player from the 2012 recruiting class when we look back in four years?