College Football Recruiting 2013: The Top Programs Already Gobbling Up Recruits

Some programs choose to focus on recruiting year by year, putting everything they have into the current cycle and waiting to begin the next cycle after the current class is signed.

Truthfully, in today's recruiting world, that may be suicide. Many of the elite programs get a jump on things by looking a year ahead, and some even test the waters two years in advance.

It's no shock that many programs that subscribe to the latter theory elite level programs. For 2013, here are already several top programs gobbling up recruits.

Ohio State

You figured Urban Meyer and that star-studded staff he's assembled would get off to a great start on the trail. Meyer came in last year towards the end of the cycle, but with a full year to establish himself at OSU, he should be dominant.

The Buckeyes already have four commitments that are already rated by Scout.com. The early headliner is RB/ATH Jalin Marshall. 

LSU

The Tigers had a rough ending to the 2012 cycle, so Les Miles and company will be looking hard for future Tigers until next February.

Right now the Bayou Boys already hold five commitments and it's no shock that all five recruits are from Louisiana. Look out for speedy CB Jeryl Brazil. 

Georgia

Mark Richt has come back strong the past two years on the trail—first with the Dream Team in 2011 and then the Ring Team in 2012.

What will it be this year? It may not even matter because UGA already has four big-time pledges. QB Brice Ramsey could be the next Matthew Stafford in Athens and RB Derrick Henry is a 6'3", 235-pound man child.

Toss in DB Tray Matthews and CB Shaq Wiggins and you see why this could be another great year for the Bulldogs. 

Florida State

The Seminoles have returned to supremacy under Jimbo Fisher and this year will likely be no different. What's becoming more prudent is the fact that FSU has pull in the talent-rich state of Alabama.

Aside from signing players out of Alabama last year like Jameis Winston, Chris Casher and Justin Shanks, this year FSU already has a pledge from 6'6", 290-pound OT Austin Golson.

Their other four commitments are from the Sunshine State. 

Alabama

The Tide had the No. 1 class in the nation last year and I seriously doubt that they will slow down in 2013. Alabama already holds seven commitments for 2013 and three of them really get me fired up. 

LB Reuben Foster could be the top linebacker in America—now and when the cycle is finished.

O.J. Howard will give Tuscaloosa's tight end position an athlete they haven't had in years and RB Altee Tenpenny is already drawing comparisons to Trent Richardson. 

Texas

Texas will probably be first on this list in a few weeks. They host multiple junior days in February, where prospects will be offered in person.

These events will help the Longhorns score a ton of early commitments. Right now, Mack Brown has five commitments and that number is trending upwards.

QB Tyrone Swoopes is the headliner, as he is going to remind Austin of Vince Young in a few years. OT Jake Raulerson, WR Jake Oliver and DT A'Shawn Robinson are all top-tier prospects as well. 

Florida

The Gators are off to a pretty fast start to 2013, with 10 commitments already, including RB Kelvin Taylor and DB Nick Washington.

RB Adam Lane and DT Caleb Brantley are also top talents in this early Gator class, which looks prime to grow into an elite class yet again.  

Michigan

Brady Hoke knows that in order to bring Big Blue back all the way, he needs talent and he needs to make sure he battles hard with Ohio State for every top prospect possible. 

He did that last year and he's already started this year. Hoke has 11 pledges already and, of course, the headliner is 5-star QB Shane Morris, who could be the top signal-caller for 2013.

DB Dymonte Thomas, DE Wyatt Shallman and OL Christopher Fox are all recruits with plenty of potential. 

Texas A&M

It appears Kevin Sumlin is going to be fine at this Aggie recruiting thing, as A&M already has 13 commitments for 2013.

The headliner is a 6'6", 215-pound WR Derrick Griffin, who's an oak tree with greyhound speed on the field. DT Isaiah Golden and WR Jamar Gibson are other commitments to watch out for.