Ranking the Top 12 Recruiting Classes Right Now

I was once told it's never too late to start ranking recruiting classes. I disagree with that statement, but recruiting rankings seem to always be a hot topic of discussion, so let's take another updated stab at it for the 2014 class.

This recruiting cycle has gotten off to a pretty good start and there are many uncommitted prospects who we're all anxious to see both play their senior year and make their decisions. The schools on this list have jumped out to quick starts for the 2014 cycle and sit high up in the early recruiting rankings.

I must also take this time to warn you that just because a program has a high or low recruiting ranking right now, does not mean they will finish at that slot next February. Ohio State didn't even have a top 25 class when it hired Urban Meyer and in two months the Buckeyes were sitting in the top 10 recruiting rankings in 2012.

So, with that said, here's an updated look at the top recruiting classes right now and we're going to look at the best 12.

12. USC

The Trojans have four commitments right now and it is very obvious what their intentions are for this 2014 cycle. Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron's plan appears to be to go heavy with trench players, as all four current commits are linemen.

The most recent pledge is DT Tashon Smallwood from California. The other three commits are OL prospects, led by Casey Tucker, a 6'6", 270-pounder from Arizona.

Keep an eye on 6'8", 330-pound Jordan Poland. 

11. TCU

Gary Patterson is one of the best coaches in America and I'm sure he is looking to step his recruiting game up in Ft. Worth. 

So far, he's doing just that.

Patterson has collected five commitments for TCU already, with his top pledge being Justin Twine, a 5'10" RB who weighs 190 pounds. Patterson is pounding the Texas trail hard, as all five of his commitments are Texans. 

10. Michigan

Brady Hoke isn't going to change his recruiting approach much this year. Big Blue is going to go after tough football players who Hoke and his staff can coach up to help them get to Rose Bowls.

OG Mason Cole is the top commit of the 4-man class right now. Interestingly enough, Hoke loves recruiting in the Midwest, but Cole is out of Florida.

Then, Bryan Mone is a mammoth 6'4", 338-pound DT from Utah and 6'6" QB Wilton Speight from Virginia will be coming to learn Al Borges' offense. The Wolverines also have a pledge from LB Michael Ferns. 

9. Ohio State

The Buckeyes have four commitments like their rivals and also are looking to keep their recruiting momentum going this year too.

Urban Meyer has two OL commitments already, with Kyle Trout and Marcelys Jones both pledging early to play in Columbus. Both stand 6'5", and both are from Ohio.

Meyer has already gone into enemy territory and taken CB Damon Webb out of Michigan pipeline Cass Technical. WR Parris Campbell will aid the receiving unit. 

8. Tennessee

I fully believe Butch Jones has what it takes to get things turned around in Knoxville, both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Results are already starting to show for 2014 recruiting.

Jones has six commitments, including a pledge from S Todd Kelly Jr. However, the biggest commitment is from 6'3", 225-pound RB Jalen Hurd.

Hurd is the best player in the state of Tennessee and a top 10-20 overall recruit nationally. Landing him is huge, and it's even bigger that Jones got him to commit this early. 

7. Ole Miss

Admit it, you thought they were a one year wonder, didn't you? The Rebels don't appear ready to leave the recruiting spotlight and have used their recruiting momentum from 2013 to jump out fast in 2014 recruiting.

Hugh Freeze has seven commitments already as April is still over a week away and OT Andy Bauer is his biggest commitment. With Laremy Tunsil and Austin Golson arriving in Oxford this year, the OL unit is getting some needed reinforcements.

ATH D.K. Buford could be one of the very fastest and quickest players in the country. 

6. Clemson

Though Clemson has five commitments, and that's less than some other classes on this list, they have two prime-time pledges in QB Deshaun Watson and RB Dalvin Cook.

Both players are among the top-tier at their respective positions and overall in the country. Dabo Swinney and his staff will continue recruiting with a lot of passion, and I expect Clemson to have another great class in 2014. 

5. Florida State

Jimbo Fisher has replaced several members of his staff this offseason, but the new assistants in Tallahassee have hit the ground running.

FSU has seven commitments so far, and the class is shaping up to be another good haul for Jimbo Fisher. All of the commitments are from the Sunshine State, except QB JJ Cosentino.

DL Demarcus Christmas is the top commitment, and FSU will definitely add more talent to this class before next February. 

4. Florida

Recruiting is a big deal in Gainesville, and Will Muschamp has proven he's very good at it. He's signed good classes during his tenure as the big Gator, and this year doesn't seem like anything will change.

QB Will Grier and OLB Christian Miller lead a 7-man class that also includes three OL prospects. You can expect Muschamp to continue filling needs while also gobbling up as much talent as he can. 

3. LSU

There's a lot of talk about LSU recruiting the state of Texas harder this year, and that talk seems to be true. The Tigers have seven commitments, and three of them are from Texas.

DB Edward Paris is a Texan and is also the best player in LSU's class. He's a 6'1", 190-pounder who can play both safety and cornerback. Paris is one of the top recruits in the nation regardless of position. 

Devin Voorhees is a good S/ATH prospect from Louisiana and 6'5" TE Jacory Washington is another commit to watch. 

2. Texas

The Longhorns are veterans at fast recruiting starts, and it's thanks to the way Mack Brown handles his junior days.

This year, Brown has eight commitments, and the class is heavy on offense. Out of Texas' eight commitments, six are on the offensive side of the ball. OG Demtrius Knox and dual-threat QB Jerrod Heard are the headliners of the group.

Like pretty much always, all eight pledges are from Texas. 

1. Texas A&M

Kevin Sumlin has the nation's best recruiting class right now and the Aggies appear to be the next program to step up into the "recruiting juggernaut" tier with Alabama, Florida, Texas and a few others.

Sumlin already has 10 commitments, and it's not just quantity that makes this class tops, but also the quality. OLB Hoza Scott could be the best at his position in the country, DB Nick Harvey is very smart, heady and versatile, and S Dylan Sumner-Gardner has a high ceiling.

Texas A&M has the best 2014 recruiting class right now folks.

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (formerly ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.