College Football Recruiting 2012: Preseason Rankings for the Top 40 Prospects

With all the recruiting news going on, there is something missing.

You know, say, the players getting ready to play an actual game?

That's right, a lot of training camps have opened up, and we're only weeks away from the season kicking off (pun intended).

So with all that in order, we're going to give you our preseason rankings for the top 40 prospects in the country for the 2012 recruiting class. This list will likely change a ton week to week as we inch closer to signing day, but here's who we like in the top 40 right now.

40. Zach Banner, OT

Banner is a huge OT who I think will be a RT in college. Once he gets his big paws on a target, the pass-rushing sequence is over.

Tack on a 305-pound frame to a man who stands 6'9", and you basically see he's like having a Sequoia tree at OT. But Banner can move like a receiver and mirrors well, on the right side in my opinion, not the LT spot.

39. Matt Davis, QB

Davis is a super athletic QB prospect at 6'1"and 200 pounds. He's a dual-threat type who can damage a D via air and ground.

He's a Texas A&M pledge who will be a total-yardage type. Davis is so athletic some say he could play WR for the Aggies.

38. Durron Neal, WR

An Oklahoma commit, the 6'0", 185-pound Neal is a dynamic threat on the perimeter. He gets it down with speed and quickness, along with good hands.

Neal reminds many of Ryan Broyles and has a similar skill set. He can cut on a dime, stem up a DB and has great playmaking ability.

37. Chris Casher, DE

Casher's stock is plenty high, as he is a physical specimen at 6'4" and 240 pounds. While he looks the part, Casher also has great field awareness.

He's an instinctive player with a quick first step, strength to walk back blockers and flashes smarts in various game situations. Florida State is where he's headed.

36. Zeke Pike, QB

Pike is a big and tall power thrower at the QB position. He stands 6'6", 225 pounds, and can flip the football with ease to all levels.

I think his best days are ahead of him, and I can't wait to see what Gus Malzahn does with him at Auburn. Pike has solid mobility, and his height lets him dictate his throwing lanes.

35. Jordan Diamond, OT

A great-looking prospect, Diamond—in my opinion—likely could wind up at Michigan, but we'll see. He has a ton of offers.

Diamond is a 6'6", 290-pound OT whom I think can hold the gate down as a LT on the flanks. He moves well, with ease, quickness and great agility. I think he could slide in well in a zone-blocking scheme offense.

http://bleacherreport.com/texas-am-football

34. Jarron Jones, DT

Penn State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Notre Dame all fighting for Jarron Jones' services.

He's a 6'5", 290-pound DT prospect who is a load in the interior. He's long and strong in the middle, but also has good explosiveness.

33. Darius Hamilton

Hamilton is a 6'4", 245-pound DE prospect with great play strength for an edge defender. I think, if he wanted to, Hamilton could tack on the proper weight and girth to grow into a DT.

He shows the strength to one day be able to set the edges with ease, play with good leverage and shed tackles and TEs against the run. Hamilton is also very athletic and can get after the passer in a flash.

32. Brian Poole, CB

Poole is a 5-star recruit, according to Scout.com, and one the premiere headliners of the Florida class. He's a 5'11", 185-pound CB who has a rare combo of being physical and athletic.

Poole can press well at the line, but also comes out of his transition well enough to play off coverage. Then if Poole smells run, he will support hard off the perimeter.

31. Dante Fowler, DE

Fowler is a 6'3", 240-pound DE prospect with a quick first step and a great close to finish. He's a DE's kind of DE, if you will, as his main preference is to get after the passer. 

Fowler comes relentlessly, as chances are he is a better pure athlete than many of the blockers he faces.

30. Kyle Murphy, OT

At 6'7" and 270 pounds, Murphy is a very, very good LT prospect. He slides, mirrors and adjusts well as a pass-protector, and can seal and reach great in the run game.

Murphy is a solid run-blocker as well, and has a chance to add some good strength in college to develop more in this facet of his game. I expect him to become a standout OT in college.

29. Ellis McCarthy, DT

McCarthy may be the best DL and defensive player on the West Coast. He's a 6'4", 311-pound DT with an amazing-looking frame.

McCarthy shows great snap quickness off the ball and awesome play strength. Whenever McCarthy plays with leverage and a low pad level, he's virtually unblockable.

28. Kyle Kalis, OT

Perhaps the biggest de-commitment of the year so far, Kalis will be a valuable get for Michigan, as he can play both RT and LT at 6'5", 305 pounds.

He has good enough athletic ability for LT, and is tough and strong enough at the point of attack for RT. Kalis should be a starter early in his career.

27. Adolphus Washington, DE

Washington stands 6'5" and weighs in at the 250-pound range. He can put his hand down in a 40 front as a DE or play OLD in a 3-4 scheme.

Washington is athletic enough to the point where I think he can easily be used as a short-area zone defender on some pressure packages. He could also play college basketball.

26. Cayleb Jones, WR

Jones is a 6'2", 195-pound WR with excellent athletic ability and a trait to make spectacular grabs. He has solid play speed, release quickness and an excellent catch radius.

I think Jones will be a No.1 WR at Texas. The long frame, the hands, the athleticism, the above-average speed and more all project me to be right on.

25. Avery Young, OT

Young is a 6'6", 275-pound OT prospect who could play the LT position in college. He's very athletic, long and flashes some strength.

Young can fit in any blocking scheme due to his athleticism and toughness. That's why schools like Georgia, Oklahoma and Alabama (among many others) are after him.

24. Josh Garnett, OL

I have Garnett listed as an OL prospect because he is being recruited by some schools as an OG, but many others think he'll be an OT.

He's 6'5" and 275 pounds, and I think his best spot is actually LG. He's a good pass protector, but he may not be suited for the prime time in space. Yet Garnett has schools like Notre Dame, Oregon, Washington and USC all hot after him.

23. Shaq Roland, WR

At 6'1" and 180 pounds, Roalnd is one of the best WRs in the nation and the top prospect in the Palmetto State this year. South Carolina has locked him up, and he should work wonders in Columbia.

Roland is silky smooth athletically, but has excellent deep speed and quickness in and out of his cuts. He needs some refinement on some finer points of the WR spot, but has a super high ceiling.

22. Jessamen Dunker, OT

Dunker is a former hoops player, but realized at 6'6" and more than 300 pounds that his future was in football.

Yet, you easily see the basketball athleticism and huge potential Dunker has. With some seasoning, he could be a first-round pick at LT.

Once Dunker gets coached up on his technique in Gainesville, he should be solid.

21. Ronald Darby, CB

Darby is a 5'11", 175-pound ATH who can play RB, WR or CB. Some list him in the ATH category, while others have him down as a CB, as do I.

"Nitro," as he's know to most, is a quick-twitch athlete with excellent burst, transition quickness, speed and quick cut ability. He has the canvas to become a great corner at Notre Dame.

20. Rushel Shell, RB

At 5'11" and 215 pounds, Shell's a productive back with every-down ability. He has solid explosion, toughness to bang inside and can also scoot to the edges to head up the perimeter.

You can see the run strength on tape, but Shell is not just a power back, as you can also see the burst to and through holes, as well as some breakaway speed.

19. Shaq Thompson, DS

At 6'2" and 200 pounds, Thompson is a great DS prospect with a great canvas of versatility. He projects best as a free safety, but he can play the run like a SS.

Toss in some sneaky cover skills, and you start to think maybe he can play some boundary zone corner. Thompson has offers from Cal, USC, Notre Dame, UCLA and Washington, among many more.

18. Gunner Kiel, QB

At 6'4" and 200 pounds, Kiel is an excellent QB prospect with a well-rounded skill set. He plays in the shotgun almost exclusively, but sees the field very well and makes fantastic decisions.

Kiel has a good arm, excellent accuracy and pocket presence. He also flashes good athletic ability as well. Kiel's bound for Indiana.

17. Quay Evans, DT

Evans is an elephant at DT in the middle for a defense.

Explosive and strong at 6'2" and 320 pounds, Evans can stop, stack, drop, sit and anchor in the middle to make a mess with the best of them. Pushing the pocket from the middle versus the pass is also one of his specialties.

Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU, USC, Oregon and Ole Miss are all in the hunt.

16. Reggie Ragland, LB

Ragland is a huge 6'4", 245-pound LB who has also played WR for his high prep squad. He's a future ILB at Alabama and fits right into their scheme.

Ragland is very instinctive, physical at the point of attack, sheds well and plugs the run, while also showing solid blitz ability.

15. Landon Collins, DS

At 6'0" and 210 pounds, Collins is an excellent box safety who can double down as a ROVER/OLB. He plays the run well, but he's also a great athlete with some range to cover.

Whether he grows into an OLB or stays at SS remains to be seen, but Collins is easily one of the best defensive players in the country. It's likely going to be either Alabama or LSU.

14. Eddie Williams, DS

Williams, a 6'4", 200-pound future safety at Alabama, can also play WR and OLB, but his coverage instincts, range and route recognition project him best to free safety.

He shows natural coverage instincts, free and easy movement on the back end, roaming range, route recognition and elite ball skills, all which make Williams a natural interceptor type.

13. John Theus, OT

6'6", 295 pounds and a just a flat-out mauler in the run game, Theus will get physical and nasty in the run game with anybody on any field. He does so by just rolling on targets with snap quickness and leg drive.

Theus also shows good movement to seal, pin, reach, trap and pull to get to the second level. He's headed to Georgia.

12. Keith Marshall, RB

Marshall is a speedy and shifty RB prospect with quick feet, good vision and excellent explosiveness. At 5'11" and 185 pounds, he's a huge offensive threat and a touchdown waiting to happen.

Marshall has excellent burst to and through holes, can get to the second level of a defense in minimal steps and can also be used as a receiver out of the backfield. He's in the process of setting up trips.

11. Stefon Diggs, WR

Personally and very seriously, I feel Diggs may be the most versatile and special all-around offensive weapon in the country.

At 6'0" and 190 pounds, he is a quicker than fast athlete who can play WR, RB, DS and CB, while also returning punts and kicks. Diggs has a ton of schools after him and will be a hot name on the trail, but an even hotter player in college.

10. Jameis Winston, QB

Winston is a 6'4", 190-pound QB prospect with dual-threat abilities. He has just about every tool you need to succeed in any situation as a QB: arm strength, accuracy, vision, instincts, quick feet and leadership.

He just chose Florida State over Alabama and LSU.

9. D.J. Humphries, OT

Humphries is a freshly-committed player to Florida, just as yours truly predicted months ago.

6'6", 270 pounds and easily the most naturally-gifted athlete among offensive linemen in the country, Humphries is a future All-American LT. He is a shadow to pass-rushers and gives them fits.

8. Noah Spence, DE

A 6'4", 240-pound speed rusher,—and just a natural at getting after the passer—Spence is viewed as the best pass-rushing DE in America. He has a sharp first step and burst to close on the passer and finish.

That burst I just described is a main trait that separates the good from the great pass-rushers. Spence stays clean, is strong enough to convert speed to power and can do this standing up. 

7. Arik Armstead, DE/OT

Don't tell Armstead about why he should play OT because he feels he's a DE. USC has told him he will likely play the strong-side DE spot in Troy.

Armstead is a huge DE at 6'8" and 280 pounds. He's also a great athlete, strong at the point of attack, has good feet, can close and can set the edge against run.

6. Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is a DT who can pretty much play almost all of the DL positions in football. From 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE, I can put Goldman everywhere except 4-3 weak-side DE.

He stands with a 6'4", 305-pound frame and has play strength, snap quickness and anchor ability to stop the run. Goldman can also push the pocket from the middle and has a fight to pressure as a pass-rusher.

5. Kwon Alexander, OLB

Alexander is the No. 1 OLB in the nation and one the best players overall.

At 6'2" and 210 pounds, he defines the term "sideline to sideline," as he can beat RBs to holes and OLs with angles.

Alexander can also factor as a blitzer, and stay on the field in passing situations with ease due to his easy change of direction to cover RBs and TEs.

4. Mario Edwards, DE

Mario Edwards has a chance to be special. Really special.

You're not supposed to be 6'4", 270 pounds and play DE with athleticism, speed and quickness like a shooting guard.

Edwards can play the run with solid strength and get after the passer; pick which you want him to do, and he'll destroy an offense. He's committed to Florida State.

3. Andrus Peat, OT

Peat is a heady player whom I think will be one of the types of OTs that sets his targets up 2-3 snaps down the line. I am also geeked about him because he came into this offseason at just 280 pounds, but word has it he is up to 300 now on his 6'7" frame.

Wow. Combine added girth with great technique, set quickness, patience, balance, nimble feet, athleticism and mirror ability, and you got something.

2. Johnathan Gray, RB

Gray is a ferocious RB prospect. He's 5'11", 195 pounds and has it all: speed, quickness, power, run strength, vision, quick feet, instincts, explosiveness, quick cut ability, tackle-breaking ability, great hands and more.

This season could be his best yet, and that's saying something, because he has more than 6,000 yards and 100 TDs in the past two years. He's solid for Texas.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

The top player in the country, DGB takes the top notch on this list. He's a 6'6", 220-pound WR who runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash. He's been the best player in the state of Missouri the past two years.

Whatever you want in a WR prospect, Green-Beckham has it and then some. He rarely talks to the media about his recruitment, and with the season getting ready to start, he will be putting that on hold to focus on winning games.