College Football Recruiting 2013: 5 Programs Poised for a Big Recruiting Year

With the 2013 recruiting cycle just now starting to roll on out, we're still very early in the process. I want to take a look at things not from the prospect's perspective, but from a college football program's perspective.

For this read, I'm going to give you the top-five programs that I feel are poised to have a banner recruiting year. Some programs on this list may be of no surprise, while others may shock you just a bit.

Here are five programs that should fare extremely well on the recruiting trail.

5. Texas

The Longhorns already hold 11 commitments for 2013 and are off to their usual fast start. What Texas does is really go hard during the spring and lock up their class before the end of the summer.

Then, they just supplement the bulk of their class as the fall comes, and make it official in February.

With commitments from five-star QB Tyrone Swoopes, WR Ricky Seals-Jones and OLs Kent Perkins and Jake Raulerson, this looks like another potentially elite year for Texas. 

4. Florida State

FSU has eight pledges already and has drawn the interest of several five-star prospects in the 2013 class. Jimbo Fisher has done very well on the trail since taking over for Bobby Bowden, and this year looks like it'll be no different.

The Seminoles have extended offers to many of the nation's best and are recruiting them hard. Look for FSU to finish somewhere inside the Top 5 or 10 classes...again.

3. Florida

Of course, the other Florida school would make it on this list. The Gators had a Top 5 class last cycle, and I think they're in store for more success this year.

However, my only concern is how they will fare on the trail without the help of Charlie Weis. Will Muschamp gets after it as a recruiter, and he has a great staff behind him.

This is another talented crop of Sunshine State prospects, so look for the Gators have to have a big year, evidenced by recent commitments from RB Kelvin Taylor, DB Nick Washington and LB Daniel McMillan.

2. Alabama

Alabama is a juggernaut of a program, and this year will be no different on the trail. The Crimson Tide are dominant in recruiting and are off to a great start this 2013 cycle.

They hold nine commitments already, with the headliners being LB Reuben Foster, RB Altee Tenpenny and TE O.J. Howard.

If 'Bama is going to continue at this pace, with this type of quality, then this will be another great year for them once again. 

1. Ohio State

Ohio State saw the effect Urban Meyer can have on a program via recruiting almost immediately. The Buckeyes were straggling behind, and then Meyer came in and surged them to a Top 10 class.

Well, with the momentum of the late 2012 surge and Meyer having a full cycle to really entrench himself in Columbus, I think the Buckeyes are poised to have a banner year gobbling up prospects.

What Meyer will also do is help stretch OSU nationally. Sure, he'll clean up around the Midwest, but look for him to tap into his old Florida roots and lure some prospects from the Sunshine State to Ohio State.