College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top 20 Committed Recruits

Even though we are still gathering information on prospects from all over the country in the 2012 recruiting class, there have already been some commitments made. Although we are still waiting for the spring evaluation period, plus the summer camps and combines circuit, there are some players who are surefire stars and already have pulled the trigger.

Surely there have been plenty more than just 20 recruits, and as we see more film on players, our rankings will change and fluctuate. Yet, we have ranked the top 20 recruits who are already committed in the 2012 class.

Here we go.

20. Dillon Gordon, TE

Commit: LSU

Gordon is a 6'5", 245 pound tight end who could also see time at defensive end. He's headed for LSU and has solid speed for his size. He flashes good hands and knows how to use his size and bulk to his advantage in all areas.

He's also a baseball and basketball player and may want to get some looks in those sports as well. LSU will try to make sure he sticks to the gridiron.

19. Trey Granier, LB

Commit: LSU

Granier is another early pledge who will head over to Baton Rouge. He's a 6'1", 225 pound linebacker who is one the very most productive players in this class. Granier is tackling machine, posting over 100 stops in each season since his sophomore campaign.

He will look to make it three years in a row of 100 tackles this fall, but will do so with a clear mind as his recruitment is already over.

18. Zach Kline, QB

Commit: California

Following the classic Jeff Tedford mantra in recruiting signal-callers, California will sign another quarterback in this year's class. That QB will be Zach Kline, a 6'2", 200 pounder with a solid arm, vision and accuracy from within the pocket.

Kline has always wanted to play in Berkley and when Cal offered he committed almost immediately.

17. Alex Ross, ATH

Commit: Oklahoma

Ross is listed as an ATH and he could wind up at running back, receiver, safety and outside linebacker. He stands at 6'1" and 205 pounds and is extremely versatile. He averaged over 13 years a rush as a junior and posted up video game-like numbers wherever he lined up.

He hails from a powerhouse high school program in Jenks (OK) High School, which is a pipeline to Norman.

16. Mario Pender, RB

Commit: Florida State

Pender tore up the state of Florida as a junior by rushing for nearly 2,300 yards and 32 scores. That's enough production for two seasons. He's a 6'0", 190 pound running back with great speed, quickness, agility and vision to see holes come open in run alleys.

He's already headed to Florida State and will look to duplicate his junior year production this fall.

15. Warren Ball, RB

Commit: Ohio State

Ball rose to fame by having a great showing at a camp Ohio State put on last summer, which prompted an offer to the 6'2", 200 pound running back. He has equal strength, quickness and speed. He's a tall back, but does a solid job of lowering his pad level through creases and runs with a good lean.

He's an early candidate for Mr. Football in Ohio this year.

14. Dareus Rogers, WR

Commit: USC

Rogers is an early USC pledge from Carson (CA) High School in the Los Angeles area. The 6'2", 200 pound receiver posted 45 grabs for over 1,000 yards as a junior. He's a great deep threat, but also has the strength and desire work over the middle.

He's listed as an ATH, but could stick to receiver or move to defensive back down the road.

13. Dakota Ball, DT

Commit: Alabama

Ball is scheduled to play in Tuscaloosa but not until the fall of 2012. A 6'2", 285 pound defensive tackle, Ball has solid quickness at the snap and can shoot gaps effectively. He can play end in a pinch but does have the strength to collapse the pocket from the interior.

He'll need to continue to add strength and bulk to two-gap in college, but he should develop into a great defensive lineman at Alabama.

12. Latroy Pittman, WR

Commit: Florida

Will Muschamp has started the 2012 Gator recruiting class very strongly by having Pittman as one his opening pledges. The 6'1", 190 pound Pittman is not a blazer, but is one of the receivers who can really move the chains. He goes over the middle, works intermediate routes and is quarterback friendly.

He won't beat you deep, but the future Gator plays faster than his timed speed indicates.

11. Reggie Ragland, LB

Commit: Alabama

Looking for the next Rolando McClain? Or perhaps Dont'a Hightower? Here he is. Ragland fits the big linebacker mold that Alabama loves and has the size and strength to play inside but can also get after the passer as a rusher on the perimeter. At 6'4", 245 pounds, he plays with solid instincts and range for a big linebacker of his size.

He pledged to the Crimson Tide in December.

10. Dalvon Stuckey, DT

Commit: Florida State

Stuckey is a big load in the middle and stands 6'3" and about 300 pounds. He's a defensive tackle who can fly off at the snap, explode into a blocker, shed and burst to finish in a short area. Stuckey plugs the run very well and has the strength to be responsible for two gaps in a defense.

He verballed to Florida State at the beginning of his junior season and along with 2011 recruit Tim Jernigan, gives the Seminoles two impact tackles for the future.

9. Jordan Payton, WR

Commit: USC

Payton is USC's second early receiver pledge and hails from a powerhouse program in Oaks Christian (CA), which plays against top notch competition. It consistently produces prospect after prospect and Jordan Payton is next in line.

A 6'2", 200 pound receiver, Payton is a touchdown machine. He's physical in his release vs. press coverage, has solid separation quickness in his breaks and good speed to get vertical and deep. He pledged to USC almost a year before his junior season.

8. Brionte Dunn, RB

Commit: Ohio State

Dunn is a big back at 6'2", 215 pounds. He really knows how to use his run strength and leg drive to gain yards. Dun does a solid job of being physical with the ball and his the frame and strength to gain yards after contact. He has some wiggle for a big guy, and good vision.

He's not going run by anyone for big gains, but if you're looking for a big physical running back to be a bell cow type, Dunn is your man.

7. Derek David, LB

Commit: Texas Tech

Tommy Tuberville has a defense stalwart for his 2012 recruiting class. David will give the Red Raiders a big second level defender who can make plays. He's 6'3", 225 pounds and has the range and speed to chase, strength to take on runs head on and athleticism to factor in coverage.

David pledged to play in Lubbock last June and likely will start out as a SAM linebacker for Texas Tech next year.

6. Kyle Kalis, OT

Commit: Ohio State

Kalis has the ability to play both tackle and guard, as the 6'5", 300 pounder can hold his own all along the offensive front. He's a sound technician with solid hand placement, knee bend and adjust ability in pass protection. In the run game, he knows how to explode at the snap, snap his hips and drive his feet when engaged in a defender.

He's committed to Ohio State, very solidly as playing for the Scarlet and Grey has been a lifelong dream for the talented offensive lineman.

5. Dante Phillips, DT

Commit: Florida

Phillips is a big 6'6", 270 pound defensive tackle with some serious length. His height allows him to take away throwing lanes from a quarterback in the pocket and even if he stalls in his rush, he can bat down balls. Yet he fires out of his stance, uses his length to stay clean and has some speed to chase down ball carriers laterally against the run.

He must continue to add bulk and strength, but committed to Florida early to end things over offers from some other big time programs.

4. Eddie Williams, ATH

Commit: Alabama

Williams is a football player. Period. He can play offense, defense, wherever. He factored last season as receiver, linebacker and safety. He stands 6'4" and 200 pounds and uses his athletic ability to move around the field. Many project him to be a free safety college as he could play there to accent his speed, range and ball skills.

He's a Sunshine State citizen but will leave and play for Alabama in the collegiate ranks.

3. Arik Armstead, OT/DT

Commit: USC

Armstead is the younger brother of current USC defensive lineman Armond Armstead. Arik is a 6'8", 280 pound jumbo player with solid athletic ability to play offensive tackle and strength to play defensive tackle. He moves well for his size and could top out at 310 pounds in college. He has good feet, quickness for a big man and strength to play offense or defense.

USC offered early and Armstead jumped on it immediately.

2. Avery Johnson, WR

Commit: LSU

Johnson is the brother of LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, who is expected to be a high first round pick this spring. Johnson didn't get offers off his brother's name though, as he is a 6'2", 185 pound electric receiver. I compare him to Oklahoma recruit Trey Metoyer. He has good deep speed, solid hands, leaping ability and separation quickness.

He decided to play no games and commit to LSU at the start of his junior campaign.

1. Conor Brewer, QB

Commit: Texas

Brewer received a Texas offer on Super Bowl Sunday and committed to Mack Brown on Monday morning. He's a 6'2", 190 pound QB who's a pocket passer but also a very strong running threat. He's mobile, has good field vision and a strong arm. He's a winner who has a good command of his huddle and runs a similar offense in high school as what Bryan Harsin will do in Austin this year.

The Arizona native is the top prospect in the state at the moment and has stated he not looking at any other schools.