College Football Recruiting 2012: The 7 Most Surprising Recruiting Classes

There have been a lot of surprises this year in recruiting, especially with regard to recruiting classes. Is that a surprise? No, and it's not surprising that it isn't a surprise. Wait, I'm confused now.

Anyway, for this read, I'm going to give you the seven most surprising recruiting classes in college football this 2012 cycle. Whether the class is a pleasant surprise or a bad shock, they're on this list.

Michigan

It was just a short time ago that Michigan lost Dee Hart to Alabama and fired Rich Rodriguez. Recruiting was looking slim again.

Brady Hoke has changed that. Real quick.

The Wolverines have a top-five class for 2012 and already have 24 commitments.

Auburn

This is a shock to me, and egg all over my face because I predicted Auburn would have a down year in recruiting due to hauling in two elite, fantastic classes the year before.

I was wrong. I apologize, Gene Chizik and Auburn fans. 

War Eagle has a top 15 class right now with 16 commitments, including several outstanding recruits such as a QB Zeke Pike, WR Ricardo Louis, TE Ricky Parks and LB Cassanova McKinzy.

Nebraska

Now we get to Big Red, as they are on the opposite side of the spectrum from Big Blue.

Nebraska has just 11 commitments, and they are not on a good track right now.

It's shocking because, with the move to the Big Ten, the energy surrounding the Cornhusker program and Nebraska having a solid class last year, you'd imagine they'd be in store for a better output then they've shown right now.

Miami

I'm just surprised at the fact the Canes have 31 commitments. Wow, that's a lot. Yet, they only have a couple top-100 type of players in Duke Johnson, Jelani Hamailton and Deon Bush among others.

It doesn't seem like Miami has really gone after too many big names that hard. They're Miami, a juggernaut. Get your hand in every 5-star's pot at the very least.

A bit surprising to me.

Cal

Cal's class was ho-hum for most of the cycle. There was a time when they didn't even have double-digit commitments for a while.

Now, they could finish with a top-10 class. The Bears got pledges from Shaq Thompson, Jordan Payton and Ellis McCarthy last week, and they also have commitments from Zach Kline and Bryce Treggs.

Could Arik Armstead be next?

Texas A&M

The Aggies are the most surprising to me, because they aren't a recruiting juggernaut on a consistent basis.

It's been a roller coaster cycle for the folks in College Station, as first Mike Sherman started hot on the trail, then he got fired. Sherman had commitments from QB Matt Davis, RB Trey Williams, LB Corey Thompson, DB Kenny Marshall and LB Jordan Richmond. 

Now, Kevin Sumlin has to find a way to hold onto Williams, Thompson and WR Bralon Addison. It's a surprise here.

Ohio State

Wasn't it like six weeks ago we had kind of washed this year out for Ohio State recruiting? Meaning, this class was not going to be on par with other Buckeyea classes, and we all accepted that.

Now, the Buckeyes are in the top 10 class rankings thanks to pledges from 5-star DEs Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington, DT Tommy Schutt and DE Se'Von Pittman.

Plus, Urban Meyer solidified the commitment of wavering 4-star RB Brionte Dunn. What a difference one coach and a few weeks make, eh?