College Football Recruiting 2012: The 8 Most Surprising Commitments

Every year, we see a ton happening that leaves us shaking our heads or saying, "Hmm." From players making commitments, to players de-committing, to new leaders emerging or players backing out of a visit, a ton of surprising things happen in recruiting year in and year out.

So far in the 2012 class, there have been a couple surprises to the cycle thus far. In this piece, we're just going name a few that have had us a bit perplexed.

Here are eight commitments and other developments so far in 2012 recruiting that are surprising.

Gunner Kiel to Indiana

Yes, I know Gunner Kiel is not committed to Indiana anymore, but this still was one of the most surprising commitments of the past few years.

Kiel is viewed by many as the top quarterback prospect in the country and had offers from the likes of Alabama, USC, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU and Oklahoma.

But he chose to commit to Indiana. Yet since then, Kiel has backed off and...

Gunner Kiel Commits to LSU

Kiel is now committed to LSU. It's a surprise because no one really had LSU on his radar, as Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan and Vanderbilt were thought to be the main schools.

Now Kiel is bound for Baton Rouge where he is viewed as the biggest QB commitment to the Tigers maybe ever, or at least since Ryan Perrilloux.

Kyle Kalis Switching to Michigan from Ohio State

This was a shocker because it just happened so fast. Kyle Kalis felt he shouldn't be punished (incoming sanctions for Ohio State for the Terrelle Pryor scandal) for something with which he had no involvement. 

Kalis is a 6'5", 305-pound lineman's type of lineman. He's a lunch-pail type that works on the fronts each snap, whether at right or left tackle. He's best in the run game, showing an ability to play with good leverage at the point of attack, displaying solid finishing ability.

Dante Fowler Still Being Committed to Florida State

Yes, you have to be surprised that Dante Fowler is still committed to Florida State. Why? Because he's always talking about Florida and even wears Gator clothes.

Fowler is a tweener prospect that can be listed as a defensive end or an outside linebacker. Wherever he's listed, know he's a dynamic defender and pass-rusher.

At 6'3", 240 pounds, he can play the run well and chase ball-carriers all over the field. On third downs, Fowler revs up his motor and gets after the passer with speed, quickness and explosiveness.

Zeke Pike to Auburn

Zeke Pike had his pick of just about any program in America. You felt that he wanted to play early in his career and would take a team's depth chart into serious consideration.

Wrong. Pike chose to head to Auburn, where the Tigers already have three quarterbacks on the roster, including up-and-coming freshman Kiehl Frazier.

At 6'6", 225 pounds, Pike possesses a cannon of an arm to go along with elite size and very good athletic ability. He can attack all levels of a defense, outside the numbers and up the seams. Pike has some gunslinger in him and will try to rifle balls in tight windows.

Noah Spence and Tommy Schutt to Ohio State

Ohio State was never on Spence's radar, but now he's a Buckeye. I had figured Penn State, or Florida, or Notre Dame, etc. for Spence, but Urban Meyer swooped in and got his pledge in a flash.

I had predicted Tommy Schutt would look around some and veer away from his Penn State pledge, but I didn't think it would be so fast. Schutt has switched from Penn State to Ohio State.

At 6'3", 290 pounds, Schutt plays with great explosiveness at the snap. Combine that with a great motor and very good strength, and you see a great player in action.

Jordan Jenkins to Georgia

For months, Jordan Jenkins had been down to Alabama and Florida as his main two schools. He and his family had done all their research and he was zeroing in on making a well-informed decision.

You figured Georgia, Auburn and Tennessee were out of it. Yet UGA never stopped coming after Jenkins; they really wanted to keep him home.

Well, nobody believed they'd succeed, until now. Jenkins has spurned the Crimson Tide and Gators for the Bulldogs and is committed to playing in Athens.