College Football Recruiting 2012: The 5 Most Surprising Recruiting Classes

With the recruiting process currently underway, there are several teams out there that have greatly improved their football team. Some teams that you wouldn't really expect landed some of the most talented players out of this year's class.

We all know the schools that have some of the most talented recruiting classes every year; they are expected to be there every season. But then there are some programs that normally don't have a lot of success and are raking in some of the top prospects.

Here are five schools that have a very surprising class this season. 

Miami Hurricanes

Miami has always been a team that's recruited well, but with the recent scandal hanging over their heads, you would expect the program to take a bit of a hit. That has hardly been the case, as they have a top-10 class this season and appear to have as much depth as they've ever had.

The prized player in this year's class is running back Duke Johnson, who will be a difference maker with Lamar Miller leaving for the NFL. He has great acceleration and is a threat to catch quite a few balls out of the backfield as well.

Miami may not have many top players in this year's class, but they do have 31 commitments so far, which is the most in college football. Scandal or no scandal, the Hurricanes aren't going anywhere.

Baylor Bears

It only took one good season for the Baylor Bears to put their program on the map and leave their mark in the recruiting world. They've landed a top defensive end in Javonte Magee and a solid safety in Aiavion Edwards. Both of those pickups are huge considering the lack of defense this team played last year.

On the offensive side of the ball, they received a commitment from speedster wide receiver Corey Coleman.

Who would have thought that the Baylor Bears football program would be as relevant as they are today?

Robert Griffin is on his way to the NFL, but you can bet his fantastic Heisman season may have changed this program forever.

Virginia Cavaliers

What Mike London is doing in Virginia is remarkable, and he continues to impress with every signing he lands this year. Eli Harold, the top outside linebacker, is a Cavalier, as well as one of the top quarterbacks in Greyson Lambert. Keep in mind both of those players had offers from top SEC and Big Ten schools.

Virginia also landed one of the top middle linebackers in Kwontie Moore.

The ACC has been dominated lately by schools like Virginia Tech, Miami, Georgia Tech and Florida State, but it may be about that time to take the Cavaliers more seriously.

California Golden Bears

Sure, the Golden Bears just lost one of the top defensive tackles in Ellis McCarthy, but they still have one of the most surprising classes of the year. They landed one of the top safeties in Shaq Thompson, one of the top quarterbacks in Zach Kline, two of the top wide receivers in Jordan Payton and Bryce Treggs and a top fullback in Junior Espitia.

Cal could surprise some people in the Pac-12 this season, with this class and the returning players from last season. Hopefully, the recent loss of defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi won't hurt the recruiting that much either, as he was a huge reason for all of this success.

UCLA Bruins

UCLA has really come out of nowhere lately and landed a very impressing class to date so far. Even with the coaching change and bringing in Jim Mora, Jr., a coach with no college experience, the Bruins still have a top-25 class.

The most recent commitment comes from one of the top defensive tackles in Ellis McCarthy, who had originally given his verbal to California.

Other notable names include Hiva Lutui, Psalm Wooching, Ishmael Adams, Christian Powell and Aaron Porter.

It's not too often where UCLA has a better recruiting class than USC, but this season, they have arguably the second best class in the entire Pac-12.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]