2012 National Signing Day: Gunner Kiel and Players Who'll Star in Home State

Blue-chip high school athletes often choose to take their talents to states other than the ones they've gone to high school in. The 2012 class is no different. If Dorial Green-Beckham chooses to go to his hometown Missouri Tigers, that will equal just two of the top five players listed on ESPNU's Top 150 that stayed home to play their college ball.

Of the players that have committed, these three are set to make their states proud, for at least three more years.

Gunner Kiel, Notre Dame (Indiana)

Kiel's route to South Bend was anything but a straight shot, but he has the goods to be one of the best QBs in recent memory for the Irish. He has a very good arm, underrated athleticism, and he is touted as one of the top pro-style QBs in the nation. ESPNU has him rated 52nd in the nation overall.

He is noted for his above-average ability to read defenses and his accuracy. Because of the unsettled nature of the Irish's quarterback situation, Kiel has a decent shot at playing in his first year. Tommy Rees struggled last year as the starter, and no other returning QB will have an insurmountable edge over Kiel coming in.

For a high school QB prospect to have already garnered comparisons to Peyton Manning is quite impressive. Looking at him in videos, as well as in the Army All-American game, the nice mechanics were apparent. 

Whether it's in 2012 or 2013 that Kiel makes his debut is still uncertain, but when he does take the controls as the Irish QB, Kiel will show the nation what all the fuss was about.

Johnathan Gray, Texas (Obviously Texas)

Gray hails from Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, and he is a Longhorn. Gray has the physical stature I believe is ideal for the position. Many teams have begun to favor backs that are 6'2", but backs between 5'9" and 5'11" are small enough to diminish the target for potential tacklers. Gray is 5'10" and he has break-away 4.4 speed.

Gray has been compared to LeSean McCoy because of his versatility and quickness. ESPNU has him rated as the second best player in the nation, and one look at his highlight reel will tell you why. Gray will have Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron ahead of him on the depth chart, but it will be difficult to keep Gray off the field.

He will be a threat to score every time he touches the ball, and he just may be the man to bring the Heisman back to the Longhorns.

Malcom Brown, Texas (Again, Texas)

The great football state of Texas kept much of their talent not only in the state, but as Longhorns. Defensive Tackle prospect Malcom Brown has a very workman like approach to the game; but he has shown the ability to snuff the run and great strength. Rivals.com has him listed as bench-pressing 310 pounds and squatting 500. 

He is already 6'2", 294 pounds, so it is certainly conceivable that he will add as much as 20 pounds of muscle to his frame. His height isn't ideal for an interior lineman, but Brown simply makes plays.

In stature and in motor, he is similar to Warren Sapp. Sapp have a near Hall of Fame level career because of his ability to rush the passer. Brown does not appear to be as dominant in that area, but he is well balanced. Without a ton of depth on the Longhorns' interior defensive line, Brown has a chance to see some action behind Calvin Howell.

Brown is just another piece of a Longhorns recruiting class that Rivals.com ranks second in the nation, and much of it is homegrown.