College Football Rankings 2011: The Top Recruiting Target of All AP Top 25 Teams

Here's another piece in relation to the AP Top 25 being officially released over this past weekend: the top recruiting target for every team within the poll.

Some teams in the poll have already nabbed their top target so in that case, we'll go with top remaining target for those programs. Who's your favorite program's top allure on the recruiting trail? What position does he play and project to?

Let's find out!

25. USC

USC is recruiting several big name 5-star recruits, yet were just eliminated out by Kwon Alexander. I think their top targets are Kyle Murphy, Ellis McCarthy and Nelson Agholor.

Murphy is a 6'7", 270-pound OT, McCarthy is mammoth 6'5", 300-pound DT and Agholor may be the most athletically gifted player in America, to which the 6'1", 175-pounder can play WR or DB.

Top Target: Nelson Agholor, ATH

24. West Virginia

The Mountaineers are not known as much of a juggernaut in the recruiting scene, although they do get some solid talent each year.

I don't think RB Rushel Shell will end up in Morgantown. The same goes for a few other big name prospects WVU is on. I think their top target is WR Cory Jones.

Top Target: Cory Jones, WR

23. Auburn

The Tigers are going hard after several elite prospects, but I think their top target is OLB Kwon Alexander, the No.1 LB in the nation.

6'2", 210-pounds, Alexander has great range. But there is competition for him from Alabama, LSU, Oregon, Florida State and Miami.

Top Target: Kwon Alexander, OLB

22. Florida

The Gators are enjoying another great recruiting year on the trail, and have already snagged two 5-star recruits. Nelson Agholor, Andrus Peat, Keith Marshall and Darius Hamilton are all looking hard at UF.

But for this list, I'm going with DE Noah Spence. Spence is a 6'4", 240-pound terror off the edge.

Top Target: Noah Spence, DE

21. Missouri

Dorial Green-Beckham. Period. DGB is Mizzou's top recruiting target as he has been the allure of the Tigers' for two years already.

6'6", 220-pounds and 4.3 speed, DGB is the No.1 player in the entire country for 2012. He's also looking at schools like Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas and many more.

Top Target:  Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

20. Mississippi State

Even though the Bulldogs have gotten Nick James to commit, I still believe they are on Quay Evans pretty hard. Even Evans stated earlier this spring that MSU was in the lead.

Yet Alabama, rival Ole Miss, USC, LSU and Oregon are in the mix for the 6'2", 320-pound DT.

Top Target: Quay Evans, DT

19. Georgia

Georgia has already gotten their biggest target in OT John Theus, a 6'6", 295-pounder that could start as a freshman. So the next big get out there should be RB Keith Marshall.

I expect Marshall to visit Athens in the fall, and some have even said that UGA may be a semi-favorite for the 5'11", 185-pound RB.

Top Target: Keith Marshall, RB

18. Ohio State

The Buckeyes are working the trail as if their sanctions won't be too bad, and that's the correct way to go about it. They'll have to work to keep RB Brionte Dunn too.

Yet their top target is 6'5", 255 pound DE, Adolphus Washington. Washington told Scout.com that he speaks to Ohio State on the norm and "still likes them a lot".

Top Target: Adolphus Washington, DE

17. Michigan State

This is Washington again here, as Michigan State is on him hard too. He's close to a couple Spartan coaches and is also good friends with current MSU commit Se'Von Pittman.

Top Target: Adolphus Washington, DE

16. Notre Dame

The Irish have several big name targets moving forward in 2012 recruiting. Names like Andrus Peat, Zach Banner, Josh Garnet, Noah Spence and Keith Marshall are huge potential gets.

But with RB maybe being a "need" position and the speed that Marshall would give the Irish offense, I have to go with him here.

Top Target:  Keith Marshall, RB

15. Arkansas

The Hogs are among the rumored teams in the serious hunt for Dorial Green-Beckham, again, it's just speculation. With DGB likely not wanting to leave far from home, Arkansas does make some sense.

The big and fast WR fits in the Razorback offense well, as Bobby Petrino is a great play caller and will use him all over the field.

Top Target: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

14. TCU

TCU lost out on LaDarrell McNeil, but I think Devin Fuller would be a nice pick up. He's one of the best players in New Jersey and one of the most athletic players in the country. 

Fuller is listed as a QB, but could play WR or DB, as the 6'0", 185-pounder has great speed and quickness.

Top Target: Devin Fuller, QB/ATH

13. Virginia Tech

It's getting on time for the Hokies to nab another great offensive playmaker again, and you know who fits the mold? Mr. Stefon Diggs, the most dynamic all-around offensive player in America.

You want to know what else is cool? Diggs is from Maryland, not too distant from VaTech...hmmm.

Top Target: Stefon Diggs, WR/RB/ATH/RS

12. South Carolina

Shaq Roland already committed so the Gamecocks got their top target. Keith Marshall, Eddie Goldman, Stefon Diggs are all looking at playing in Columbia.

Yet, I'm going with Elijah Shumate as their top target, for now. Shumate has "high interest" in South Carolina right now and his cousin, Sheldon Royster is there.

Top Target: Elijah Shumate, DS/OLB

11. Wisconsin

The Badgers have two standout players in their current recruiting class in QB Bart Houston and OL Dan Voltz. They have drawn some interest from Yuri Wright, Elijah Shumate and Deysean Rippy.

Yet, I'm going with 6'6", 290-pound OT Jordan Diamond. Although I think he ends up at Michigan, Wisconsin may be able to heat things up.

Top Target: Jordan Diamond, OT

10. Nebraska

Nebraska is recruiting several big names, but only have six pledges. This is an easy pick for me, as Andrus Peat has stated to various outlets that he will give his brother's team a long and hard look in the recruitment process.

Top Target:  Andrus Peat, OT

9. Oklahoma State

History may repeat itself again, as Oklahoma State is recruiting Barry Sanders, Jr. The 5'9", 180-pound RB is a bit reminiscent of his father, due his elite quickness, vision, open field creativity, instincts and speed.

Top Target:  Barry Sanders, Jr., RB

8. Texas A&M

The Aggies have gotten almost everyone they have went hard after and they've assembled a great recruiting class. 

In fact, they're almost done with recruiting, so I'm going to go with DE Javonte Magee. Magee is a 6'6", 275-pound DE that would like to stay at end rather than move to DT.

Top Target: Javonte Magee

7. Stanford

The Cardinals have players like Josh Garnett, Keith Marshall, Andrus Peat, Kyle Murphy, Aziz Shittu and others looking at them. But I think their top target is DE/OLB Ifeadi Odenigbo.

Odenigbo is a terror as a pass rusher, and may have as much potential as any player in the country. He's 6'4", 220-pounds and has a quick first step and super athleticism.

Top Target: Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE/OLB

6. Florida State

The Noles are dominating on the recruiting trail and are back to their old ways. They've gotten commits from Mario Edwards and Jameis Winston, the top DE and QB in the country respectively.

I think their top target is Kwon Alexander too.

Top Target: Kwon Alexander, OLB

5. Boise State

I think Reggie Daniels, a 6'2", 185-pound DB from Arizona is BSU's top target. He lit up the Under Armour combine earlier this year and could grow into either a SS or OLB.

Top Target: Reggie Daniels, DB

4. LSU

The Tigers are in the hunt for some big, big game. I mean, huge. Dorial Green-Beckham, Quay Evans, Kwon Alexander, Eddie Goldman and Channing Ward are among the top tier names looking at LSU.

Yet I believe right now they're in a fierce battle with Alabama for DB/OLB Landon Collins, who's likely the best player in Louisiana this year.

Top Target: Landon Collins, DB/OLB

3. Oregon

Not a good year so far for the Ducks. Lose the BCS title game. NCAA investigation. Off the field problems and arrests. Nor is the current recruiting class.

Yet they do have players like Kwon Alexander, Ellis McCarthy and Josh Garnett looking at them.

Top Target: Kwon Alexander, OLB, Ellis McCarthy, DT and Josh Garnett, OL

2. Alabama

The Tide are always in for many of the best recruits in the country. That's evident by Dorial Green-Beckham, Kwon Alexander, Landon Collins, Quay Evans, Eddie Goldman, Avery Young, Rushel Shell and Channing Ward all considering them.

Top Target:  take your pick

1. Oklahoma

OU opens the season as the top team in the land and has a solid class so far. They missed out on Gunner Kiel, but they got Trevor Knight to commit as a QB.

They're among the top teams in the mix for Dorial Green-Beckham, as he and his family took a summer visit to Norman and came away very impressed.

Top Target: Dorial Gren-Beckham, WR