College Football Recruiting 2012: The Most Underrated Recruits on Scout & Rivals

I watch film and highlights on a ton of prospects constantly, and with my NFL scouting background, I assemble my own rankings and big board. So it does slightly differ from others.

Today, we're flipping the script and going over prospects that I feel are underrated. Whether you agree or disagree, you should find this an interesting read.

Let's get started.

Reggie Ragland, LB

How is Reggie Ragland listed No. 83 on the Rivals board? That's too low for a 6'4", 245-pound LB that oozes 3-4 ILB ability. He's going to be great in Tuscaloosa.

I think Rivals is missing the boat a bit on Ragland. Sure, there were knocks about his ability to play in space, but he shut everyone up at the Under Armour game. 

A few years from now, I think Rivals will have realized that's too low a notch for him.

Channing Ward, DE

Ward checks in all the way down at No. 88 on the Rivals board. Some say that may be about right for him, but I have him a bit higher.

He's a thick bodied, 6'4", 240-pound edge defender that put his hand down or stand up and rush. When he's Ole Miss top defensive player in 2-3 three years, Rivals will be kicking themselves.

Jabari Ruffin, OLB

Scout.com is missing the boat here—there's no way Jabari Ruffin is the 13th best OLB nationally. I have this guy in my overall top 50!

6'3", 230-pounds, Ruffin is very athletic for his size, doesn't back down from OLs and plays with good speed. He looks like a SAM-type to me at USC, and some even say he's good enough to wear No. 55 if LaMarr Dawson didn't have it.

Too low Scout.com!

Kwon Alexander, OLB

Alexander is the top OLB on my board. I know I just stood on the table for Jabari Ruffin, but Alexander is that good. He tore his ACL this past season, so I think that's why Scout.com only has him at No. 52 nationally and at four-stars.

Once the 6'2", 210-pounder gets his strength back in his knee, wherever he ends up will be getting a speedy, athletic and uber-rangy LB prospect that's a playmaker.