College Football Recruiting 2012: The 10 Biggest Rising Stars

(Please note that it's tough for OLs to become "stars" per se, due to the nature of their position, so I have omitted OL prospects from this piece)

The stars of tomorrow are in recruiting. That's a fact. Fans are always looking for the next big thing at their programs and who's the next star.

Well, for this read I'm going to give you 10 rising stars that will be big men on campus in the coming years. 

10. Gunner Kiel, QB

At 6'4" and over 200 pounds, Kiel is a big bodied QB with a complete skill set. He plays in a spread offense, and via film study, it's clearly evident Kiel has total command of his offense.

He has a great arm, mobility, accuracy and solid vision. Kiel also flashes some athletic ability inside the pocket and is probably the best decision-maker in the country at the QB position.

Kiel is headed to LSU.

9. Jameis Winston, QB

Winston is a 6'4", 190-pound dual-threat type with an elite skill set.

But don't let the dual-threat label walk you into the thought that Winston is a running QB. It just means he can take off if he doesn't feel like picking you apart from the pocket.

Winston has good arm strength, solid accuracy, scans the field well and plays with good pocket presence. He's instinctive with the football, creative and makes plays. He can also get up field, shake and bake, and make dazzling runs with his legs. 

He's committed to Florida State, but watch out for Alabama.

8. Kwon Alexander, LB

At 6'2", 212 pounds, Alexander is a fantastic outside linebacker now and will be even better in college. The first thing I notice when watching film on him is his play speed. Alexander has a burst to finish tackles, exploding off the ball as a blitzer.

I advise you to watch film on him and see Alexander hawking down ball carriers from across the field versus the run. He can go sideline to sideline with ease and has the most range of any defender in the country. Period. He's athletic enough to cover backs and tight ends in the passing game and has elite instincts.

Auburn, Alabama, LSU and Florida State are the top four.

7. 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 weakside 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.

Florida State, Alabama, Miami, Auburn, Maryland, Clemson and Cal are in the mix.

6. 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 committed to Georgia.

5. Stefon Diggs, WR

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.

Auburn, Virginia Tech, Florida, Maryland, Oklahoma and USC are just a few schools that have been mentioned.

4. 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. 

Spence is headed Ohio State.

3. 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, where he is the current Longhorn 2012 recruiting class headliner.

2. Mario Edwards, DE

I thought about seriously making Edwards No.1, I really did. I watched some of the UA Game practices yesterday and learned Edwards checked in at 297 pounds. Wowsers.

You're not supposed to be 6'4", almost 300-pounds 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.

Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma and Texas are in the mix.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

Green-Beckham is 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.

Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama are in the race.