12 Decisions That Will Shape the 2014 Recruiting Year

Many decisions still loom and their impact will be felt by everyone involved in college football recruiting. When this cycle is over, these 12 decisions will be among the lasting impressions and memories taken.

The top player in the country still has yet to make his decision and when he does, many will be affected. A Pac-12 program awaits two decisions from the best players in its backyard to see if their recruiting dominance still remains locally. A B1G program is awaiting a decision from a linebacker, and should it land him then the programs in the SEC will officially have a new foe.

As always in recruiting, where the nation's best quarterback goes will be a decision that starts a chain reaction.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports & ESPNU.
 

Andrew Brown, DT

Brown is a big 6'4", 295-pound defensive tackle who is from Virginia. He has an offer from every juggernaut in the country, but could choose to stay in his homestate. 

Brown has Mike London pitching upstart Virginia to him in one ear and Frank Beamer asking him to come restore Virginia Tech in the other. Brown also happens to be the best defensive tackle in the country, so his coming decision has much anticipation surrounding it.

When looking back on this 2014 class, where Brown goes will be one of the first thoughts that enters everyone's minds. 

Quin Blanding, S

Blanding is an elite 6'2'', 200-pound safety from Virginia. He made a stand up decision to commit to Virginia early in the process.

Mike London has worked hard in Charlottesville and landing Blanding will be a moment he looks back on as one of his crowning achievements.

Blanding's commitment is still one of the biggest story lines in the country and has affected the thought process several highly touted recruits such as defensive tackle Andrew Brown and receiver Jamil Kamara.

Speedy Noil, WR

Noil is a 5'11", 176-pound speedster from New Orleans and many players from there sign with LSU. However, WeAreSC.com reported in May that Noil doesn't have LSU in his top-three schools.

USC is among Noil's favorites, and his recruitment could be on track to resemble former Trojan running back Joe McKnight's story. McKnight was a highly-touted player in 2007 from Louisiana who spurned LSU on National Signing Day for Troy.

Noil's potential decision to not sign with LSU will be national news. 

Jalen Hurd, RB

Should Tennessee stay on its current pace and finish with a top-10 recruiting class next February, it will be thanks in-part to Hurd.

A top-tier running back prospect who is from inside the state, Hurd committed early to the Vols and opened up the flood gate. His decision has been followed by 10 other commitments to Butch Jones.

Tennessee is recruiting like a program that wants to re-establish itself as a major power. Hurd's decision has helped immensely and the Vols are one of the key story lines to track. 

Raekwon McMillan, LB

At 6'2", 249 pounds, McMillan is a linebacker whose instincts and athleticism make him an ideal fit in many various schemes. He totaled more than 150 tackles as a junior for Liberty County High School in Georgia.

McMillan is welcome on any SEC campus, but he is expected to sign with Ohio State. Should the Buckeyes seal the deal, then their execution of landing an elite prospect from SEC country over the conference's mighty programs is alarming.

McMillan's signing with Ohio State would signal that going forward, the SEC frequently not only has to deal with each other, USC, Clemson and Florida State for recruits, but also Ohio State.

Jabrill Peppers, ATH

Peppers is committed to Michigan and he is such a great player that his decision will still be news until he suits up in Ann Arbor.

The 6'1", 205-pounder will get a chance to play cornerback first, which is why he will draw constant comparisons to former Wolverine great Charles Woodson.

Michigan struck gold when it landed Peppers and the best player Brady Hoke ever has in maize and blue could be the 2014 recruit. 

Cameron Robinson, OT

The nation's best left tackle prospect, Robinson is a 6'6", 335-pound blocker from Louisiana. He has natural knee bend, great agility and can be a bull as a run-blocker.

His recruitment took shape early in the process, as Alabama and LSU sprinted out in front of other suitors. The two SEC powers are locked in for a long battle over the big left tackle and he will not decide until close to National Signing Day. 

Adoree' Jackson, CB and JuJu Smith, WR/S

Jackson and Smith are two of the best players in Southern California. Each player is coveted by USC, but also UCLA and many other big programs.

Jackson plays at Serra High School while Smith is from Long Beach Poly. Both programs frequently send its great prospects to USC, but the Trojans have chinks in their recruiting armor.

Jackson's and Smith's decisions could potentially be telling signs for USC. Landing the pair would show the rest of the country that the Trojans are still the Trojans.

Losing the pair would reveal that USC's recruiting clutch is more vulnerable than ever before. 

David Cornwell, QB

Cornwell is seen by some as the best quarterback prospect in the country. With Deshaun Watson being committed to Clemson, Cornwell's decision is now the biggest quarterback domino waiting to fall for coaches and analysts.

Alabama is the expected school he commits to and his decision could come as early as this month. Once Cornwell makes his decision, expect to see a run of quarterback commitments in the summer. 

Da'Shawn Hand, DE

According to some, Hand is the No. 1 recruit in the country. The 6'5", 247-pound defensive end is one of the "Mt. Rushmore" players of this class, so his decision will have much coverage, hype and anticipation around it.

It is a Michigan vs. Virginia Tech race for the Old Dominion native. Hand could choose to be the most hyped recruit to head to Blacksburg since Kevin Jones or go join a talented young team in Ann Arbor.

His recruitment will be fascinating to cover and scrutinized by many people across the country. 

Leonard Fournette, RB

Fournette is the top player on the board and the 6'1", 232-pound rock-toter is a phenomenal talent. He could be the best running back prospect since 2012 NFL MVP and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

Alabama and LSU have the inside track for the Louisiana native, but do not count out dark horse Texas. The Longhorns have commitments from two of Fournette's St. Augustine High School teammates in defensive tackle Courtney Garnett and defensive back Jermaine Roberts.

Fournette and Roberts are close friends, and Mack Brown's staff will try to get Fournette to officially visit Austin. With him being such a hyped prospect, Fournnette's final decision will play a large role in shaping the recruiting year.

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 and Cleveland Browns.