College Football Recruiting 2012: Will These in-State Stars Stay or Go?

There are a couple (well, more than a couple) big-name prospects who are the subject of fierce recruiting battles between their in-state schools and other national powers.

Do they stay close to home and stick with the in-state school, or do they go out of state to another national powerhouse? For this read, I'm going to take several big names who will have tough choices to make.

Will they stay home or leave?

8. Josh Garnett and Zach Banner, OL

Garnett and Banner are both from Washington, and yes, the Huskies are recruiting both big OL's extremely hard. Scout.com considers both players five-star recruits.

While U-Dub is on both Banner and Garnett's minds, so are other schools like Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida State, among a slew of others.

It'll come down to staying home or venturing off to play college football for both.

7. Jordan Jenkins, DE

Jenkins hales from the Peach State, and Georgia and Georgia Tech are among the top schools he's looking at. I think he has a huge amount of upside, as he's a crazy good athlete and has a wealth of potential for a DE.

Other schools like Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Auburn are in the mix thick as well. Does Jenkins stay in the state of Georgia or leave for another neighboring state/school?

6. Darius Hamilton, DE

Hamilton is looking heavily at Rutgers, as he is from New Jersey. Rutgers seems to land a top-notch in-state prospect every few years, with last year that being Savon Huggins.

But the Scarlet Knights have some competition as Florida, Cal, Oregon, Alabama and Tennessee are in the mix for Hamilton.

He has stated Rutgers is his leader right now though.

5. Noah Spence, DE

Spence is the top pure pass-rusher in the country and is coveted by just about everyone. He preps in Pennsylvania, which has both Penn State and Pitt hot after him.

Yet Spence is from Raleigh, N.C., and his father played at N.C. State. He recently took trips to both N.C. State and North Carolina, and loved both visits.

Other schools like Rutgers, Michigan, Notre Dame and USC have offered.

4. Quay Evans, DT

Evans stated earlier this spring that in-state Mississippi State was his leader, but Alabama, LSU, USC and Oregon are also being considered.

Toss in the notion that he also likes Ole Miss, and you see that chances are he may stay in Mississippi. Yet, he does like Alabama, respects LSU, is intrigued by L.A. and likes Oregon's uniforms.

Decisions, decisions for the 6'2", 320-pound DT.

3. Kwon Alexander, OLB

Alexander is the best defensive player in the country according to some observers, and has both in-state powers Alabama and Auburn recruiting him hard.

But Miami, USC, FSU, LSU, Florida and Oklahoma are under serious consideration, among a couple other schools, by Alexander.

He could opt to stay in-state with one of the Iron Bowl schools or head out somewhere else.

2. Jameis Winston, QB

Winston is another star recruit from Alabama who has the Crimson Tide hot after his services. He is down to a final three of the Tide, LSU and Florida State.

He has said he knows where he is going already or, at the very least, is 90 percent sure. He can stay home and toss the rock in front of his family, or head over to Baton Rouge or Tallahassee.

His decision is coming soon.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

Green-Beckham is the top recruit in the nation according to most and has an offer from just about everybody you can name.

However, he doesn't want to leave too far from his hometown of Springfield, Mo. So, of course, Missouri is on his trail big time, but so are Oklahoma, Alabama and Arkansas, among basically the entire country.

He won't make a choice until after the season.