National Signing Day 2012: The Top 25 Things We Learned

NSD has come and gone and another cycle has passed. That sounded like a start to a song, didn't it? Anyways, the 2012 recruiting cycle is over and more so, signing day is over.

For this read, I'm going to give you 25 things that we learned from NSD 2012. Some are serious and most are lighthearted. But remember, recruiting is educational!

Let's start this up.

25. 2013 Recruiting Has Already Started

If you think your program is resting on its laurels today, then think again. Recruiting doesn't stop and 2013 recruiting has already started.

Teams are assembling their preliminary boards, making calls and gathering information. This train doesn't stop, folks.

24. Every Coach Loves Their Class

Like I always say, on NSD, every coach feels they signed a strong class. They have to say it. No coach is going to say, "Well, we signed a poor class this year. Just being honest."

It's an NSD staple. However, ask many of these coaches again in three or four years, and you'll get a different answer from a lot of them. 

23. Sometimes De-Committing Isn't the End of the World

Well, sometimes it is. But in two instances this year, it wasn't. Really three if you count Shaq Thompson actually did re-commit to Cal, before signing with Washington.

Aziz Shittu stayed with Stanford in the end.

Then, Ricardo Louis came back to Auburn in the end. 

22. I Batted .500 on My Don Bosco Prep 4 to Rutgers Prediction

Earlier this cycle, I predicted, boldy mind you, that Rutgers would land all four studs from Don Bosco Prep (NJ). The nation's No.1 high school team was home to Darius Hamilton, Elijah Shumate, Leonte Carroo and Yuri Wright.

I batted .500 baby! Hamilton and Carroo are headed for Piscataway!

21. Fowler to Florida All Year Was Correct

I frequently mentioned throughout the year how Fowler wasn't far off from committing to Florida. I was right, as he finally did on NSD. 

20. Agholor Could Play WR in Los Angeles

I've said that I thought FS was the best spot for talented ATH Nelson Agholor. However, based on what he's saying, it looks like WR may indeed be the spot he plays at USC. 

19. Twitter Strikes Again

When will athletes learn that Twitter will keep biting them on the backside? Matt Davis, the stud QB headed for Texas A&M, learned the hard way yesterday.

Davis ripped Texas and Blake Gideon on Twitter. He's since apologized for it. 

18. Reece Davis Is a Funny Dude

Davis was the lead host for the coverage on ESPNU all day yesterday, and he was quite alright to me. In fact, Davis' sense of humor did a solid job of helping keep the day moving along.

17. So Is Steve Spurrier

The banter between The Ole Ball Coach and Davis was pretty funny and showed that Spurrier has a great sense of humor. Especially during a rigid day that is signing day. 

16. Keith Marshall Is Bigger Than You Think

I've been scouting and evaluating players for six years now professionally. I started as a kid, and I think I get some of it from my father as he's excellent at identifying athletes.

Anyways, that trait fell into place yesterday. Keith Marshall's shoulders and torso scream to me that he's going to be at around 215-ish, maybe bigger, before he leaves Athens. 

15. Jordan Payton Changed His Mind Alot

Initially he was committed to USC.

Then he committed to Cal.

Then to Washington.

And finished with UCLA. 

Jordan Payton's recruitment in a nutshell, folks. 

14. Luginbill Hates Predicting Future Heismans

If you watched the ESPNU coverage, at the end of the day, Tom Luginbill's body language clearly depicted the "predictions" segment was not his favorite.

13. It Ain't over 'til That LOI Is Faxed in

Josh Harvey-Clemons committed to Georgia, then moments later, his LOI had yet to come in. However, it has, and JHC is bound for Athens.

It just goes to show you that a verbal commitment is really nothing—until that LOI is signed and faxed in.

12. Kelly Doesn't Miss Greenberry

Deontay Greenberry chose to sign with Houston over Notre Dame. Doesn't seem he was too missed by Brian Kelly, as the coach took a couple jabs at the young WR.

11. UCLA Could Be a Challenger to USC Under Mora

Jim Mora did a great job assembling his staff, as he brought in some assistants with a great knack for recruiting. It paid off yesterday, and now with a full year to work, it'll be interesting to see what the staff does.

USC is top dog around Los Angeles, but Mora and company showed yesterday that they are not going to be backing down from the Trojans on the trail. 

10. Randy Shannon Misses It

Randy Shannon was apart of the NSD coverage yesterday on ESPN, and I thought he was solid.

I also found Shannon to be a bit more outgoing and passionate when discussing various topics through the day. We all know Shannon has a reserved and somewhat stoic personality, but yesterday, you could tell he misses coaching and recruiting. 

9. Darby Never Told Fisher

When Ronald Darby committed to Florida State, Jimbo Fisher was ecstatic. I would be too if I got a premiere CB prospect with top end sped.

But, as it turns out, Darby never told Fisher before that he was committing to FSU nor gave that many hints. So it made for an even bigger surprise to the lead 'Nole. 

8. Texas Loves Toshiro Davis

The thing about Texas is it rarely goes out of state for a player. Only time they do is when they feel he's just a can't-miss, future NFL prospect-type.

Of course they felt that way with Dorial Green-Beckham, but it also shows the Longhorns really dig Toshiro Davis. Davis bolted from his state of Louisiana and his LSU pledge to head to Texas. 

7. Herbstreit Still Hates the Signing Day Pageantry

I told you in my various NSD predictions pieces throughout the year that we'd hear about the hats, and ties and all the other quirky ways of announcements from recruits and how they're bad from Kirk Herbstreit.

I told you. 

6. Stanford Is Becoming the New Notre Dame

In years past, the best avenue for a recruit to take for the desire of playing big time football while still getting a higher quality degree was Notre Dame.

Not anymore. It's Stanford.

The Cardinal program looks like the hot place for smarty pants football players.

5. Sanctions Won't Stop USC

Even when USC can only sign 15 players due to scholarship limits, the Trojans still found a way to sign a very quality class. Most of the time, when you only sign 15 players, you're out of the top-25 class rankings. 

Not USC.

4. Florida State in Back on the Trail

The Seminoles have firmly entrenched themselves back as major players on the recruiting trail. During the last few years of Bobby Bowden's tenure, the pull wasn't as strong as it was in the '90s and early 2000s.

Now it's back. It's definitely back.

3. Alabama Is King

The Crimson Tide are the clear-cut rulers of the college football kingdom. Period.

They are the BCS national champions and also have the No.1 recruiting class in the country. You can't have the game on more lock than that right now.

2. The Rich Get Richer

Speaking of 'Bama, they're the best team in the country and also have the best group prospects coming into their program.

It just goes to show you that the old saying about NFL coaching as opposed to college coaching is right: Why go to a league where you only can one first-round pick a year, when you can get dozens of them in college?

Strong programs like FSU, Florida, USC and more all got even richer yesterday by signing a slew of elite players. 

1. NSD Gets Bigger and Bigger Every Year

With so much coverage, via television, Internet, Twitter, Facebook, local news, press conferences and more, NSD is growing exponentially every year.

Another thing I'll add is that there is a new talent pool to be dipped in: overseas recruiting.