National Signing Day 2012: Can Florida Pass Alabama for Best SEC Class?

It was just a little over two years ago that Florida and Alabama were battling it out in the SEC championship game for the right to go to the BCS Championship Game. But since then, their fortunes have been vastly different, as Alabama has remained a powerhouse, while Florida has definitely dropped down a few notches from the heyday of the Urban Meyer-Tim Tebow era.

The gap between the two programs was fully on display in 2011. Alabama rolled to a BCS title, while Florida trudged its way to a 7-6 season.

The Gators may have been a disappointment this past season, but they definitely made up some ground on the recruiting trail this year, as they're expected to finish with a top-10 class for 2012.

The question is, will Florida be able to catch Alabama, who currently has the consensus top-rated recruiting class in the country?

With some key recruits still considering the Gators on the eve of national signing day, it may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.

Alabama's Current Class

Right now, most recruiting services have Alabama’s recruiting class ranked as the best in the country, and, barring any unforeseen surprises, the Tide will likely stay there after national signing day.

With all the defensive talent Nick Saban's brought to Tuscaloosa the past few years, it certainly wasn’t necessary for Alabama to sign a ton of elite defensive recruits this year. But the rich ended up getting richer, as Saban reeled in some of the top defensive prospects in the nation.

LBs Reggie Ragland and Ryan Anderson, S Landon Collins and Eddie Williams and CBs Geno Smith and Travell Dixon all look they could be future stars for Alabama's defense.

And on the offensive side of the ball, the Tide picked up some tremendous talent at the skill positions with WR's Cyrus Jones, Chris Black and Amari Cooper and RB T.J. Yeldon.

With so many highly-rated prospects committed, if everything holds the way it is now, it's going to be hard for any team to catch the Tide.

Florida's Current Class

Will Muschamp dipped into the state of North Carolina to pick up two of the top-rated recruits in the country: OT D.J. Humphries and DE Jonathan Bullard, who are both rated as 5-star prospects.

Humphries and Bullard are the two big names of Florida's 2012 class, but with 19 other current commits, this is a deep and talented group. OG Jessamen Dunker, TE Colin Thompson, CB Brian Poole, S Marcus Maye and WR Latroy Pittman are all 4-star prospects who have the chance to contribute early on in their careers in Gainesville..

Florida is adding valuable depth to almost every key position with this year's class, especially along the offensive line and in the secondary.

Florida’s Current Targets

Florida is still in the running for some of the top uncommitted recruits in the country, such as WR Stefon Diggs, LB Josh Harvey-Clemons,  CB Tracy Howard, WR Nelson Agholor, OT Avery Young and DT Leonard Williams.

All are considered blue-chip prospects, especially Diggs, Howard and Agholor, who would all terrific fits at a school like Florida.

If the Gators can land two or three of their top remaining targets, they would go shooting up the class rankings.

Can the Gators Overtake the Tide?

With the job Nick Saban has done on the recruiting trail this year, reeling in a ton of highly-rated prospects, it's hard to see any team in America overtaking the Tide. But if there's anyone that can make a big run at them, it's Florida.

With 5-star recruits like CB Tracy Howard, WR Nelson Agholor and WR Stefon Diggs still considering Florida, the Gators still have the chance to add some big-time star power to their class.

Right now, most recruiting services have Alabama ranked as the No. 1 2012 recruiting class in the country, with Florida on the fringe of the top 5. But if the Gators can find a way to add a few more big names, they could definitely climb up into contention,

Florida could end up being one of the biggest stories and one of the biggest climbers of national signing day.

Depending on how everything shakes out, Florida fans will probably either have a lot to celebrate tomorrow or they'll be left wondering just how good this class could have been.