The 5 Most Damaging Decommitments from 2012 College Football Recruiting Class

While we're in the thick of the college football recruiting process, there are going to be several teams that suffer a damaging blow. Mainly because these prospects can only select one school when it's all said and done, but they end up receiving tons of offers from top schools. 

Although there is nothing worse than a player giving his commitment to a school and then later down the line decommiting. Everybody is all excited that the program landed a top player and filled a need on their football team and then it happens. It's even worse when that player leaves your school for a rival. But who ever said recruiting was a fair game?

Here are the top five decommitments so far this season.

T.j. Yeldon from Auburn

T.J. Yeldon is one of the top running backs in this years class. He has speed that very few can match on the football field, great field vision and is a solid receiver coming out the backfield. He's great in the open field and there's a great chance he's taking it the distance every time he touches the football.

Yeldon originally committed to the Auburn Tigers before switching to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

This hurts the Tigers because the top running back decided to keep his commitment in the SEC. Which of course means that Auburn will have to play against a player that they originally had on their team. It also doesn't help that there is a hole at the running back position since the Tigers recently let 1,000 yard rusher Michael Dyer go to Arkansas State.

Gunner Kiel from Indiana

The quarterback position is probably the most important in the entire sport. You could have a below-average team talent wise, but compete in your conference with a top quarterback leading the way.

Indiana went 1-11 last season, but everybody seemed to forget when 5-star quarterback Gunner Kiel announced he was going to play for the Hoosiers. That quickly changed when he decommited and announced he was going to play his football for the LSU Tigers. Of course he ended up switching again and the pick of the week seems to be Notre Dame.

The blow is a lot worse for Indiana, considering LSU has a much more talented team and has been winning without top quarterbacks anyway. Looks like the Hoosiers are in for another long season.

Tommy Schutt from Penn State

It didn't help Penn State's recruiting when the university was hit with a sex scandal. It made matters even worse when Urban Meyer became the head coach of Ohio State. He was able to snag one of the top defensive tackles in this years class in Tommy Schutt.

Penn State still has a solid recruiting class right now, but they have to be wondering what this class would look like if they weren't under these circumstances and Joe Paterno was still the head coach of the program.

Hiva Lutui from UCLA

This is the most recent decommitment and it comes from one of the top centers in this year's class in Hiva Lutui. He is a versatile player who can also play the guard position as well. He originally committed to UCLA but has now backed out and the Bruins are no longer an option to him.  

Schools like Utah and BYU have his interest and he plans on visiting with the USC Trojans this weekend.

UCLA still has a great recruiting class, but this is a big blow as quality offensive lineman are hard to find.

Ronald Darby from Notre Dame

With all of the decommitments that have taken place this season, Ronald Darby backing out on Notre Dame has to be the worse. Darby is considered by many to be the top cornerback in this years class and would have made a huge impact on this Irish team. He has great speed, is very versatile and has fantastic ball skills. He's a play-maker. 

The Irish still have a top cornerback in Tee Shepard, but this is a crushing blow considering they're losing their entire secondary from a season ago.

Darby is still looking at Notre Dame, but has added schools like Clemson, Florida State, LSU and Auburn to his list.

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