College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 10 Wide Receivers

The 2012 receiver crop has some big shoes to fill in comparison to the 2011 class. Can they live up to the billing? The class features receiver types of all kinds, big chain movers, slot guys, RAC types and flat out freaks.

Receiver is always a developmental position and it takes time to learn the nuances of the position as a receiver goes from system to system, but sometimes you get a special one who makes an instant impact. There are a few guys in the 2012 class to do just that.

Here are the top 10 receivers in 2012 so far.

10. Latroy Pittman

6'1", 190 pounds, Pittman is not the most sudden or explosive guy off the line, but he builds up nicely and simply produces on the field. He's the type of athlete that may not wow you athletically when compared to other receivers, but you look up and realize at the end of the game that he beat you.

Pittman has already committed to Florida, and he looks a lot like Carl Moore. He plays faster than many think and is very QB friendly. He gets solid separation due to his strength on the perimeter.

9. Dwayne Stanford

Standing a tall and long 6'5", Stanford has a great frame with potential to easily add weight once he hits a college strength program. He uses his long arms very well to increase his strike zone and flashes grand pluck-ability.

He can avoid on the move underneath in his route running, presents his big frame and target well to QBs, and attacks balls at their highest point. Stanford also does a good job of catching in crowds.

Florida State, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame have offered.

8. Jalen Cobb

Cobb is here because he understands something that many high school receivers do not: how to properly catch the football. He does a solid job of getting the proper hand placement to secure each throw and only body catches when traffic is heavy.

6'1", 190 pounds, he also has good speed to get vertical and threaten a secondary deep. He can be used to attack all three defensive levels and avoids well on the move.

Cobb is headed to Arkansas.

7. Dvario Montgomery

Montgomery is a prime candidate to be moved up on this list come the camps and combines circuit, along with the spring evaluation period.

He's a 6'2", 205 pound receiver with a good size-strength-speed tri-fecta. He doesn't need time to build up off the line and he reaches full tilt quickly, and has the strength to out-muscle anyone for a ball. He has played some linebacker in his career and clearly brings a defensive mindset to an offensive skills position.

Georgia, South Carolina and LSU have offered so far.

6. Jaevon Richardson

Richardson is a 6'1", 170 pounder who is headed to Texas A&M to play the slot receiver position. His skill set translates well as he has 4.5 speed with good quickness and quick cut ability.

Base defenses and big nickel packages with match ups on linebackers and safeties won't work with Richardson in the slot. A nickel corner will be needed to match his athleticism, suddenness and play making ability.

I expect Richardson to make a living underneath, while getting behind secondaries for deep scores.

5. Jordan Payton

Payton seems to just produce and produce. And he is not putting up productive stats against inferior competition as he plays in a very competitive league in Southern California.

He's scored 33 touchdowns in the last two seasons alone and will head into his senior campaign with some records set to be broken. Payton stands a solid 6'2", 200 pounds, has good speed, a solid catch radius and is strong enough to hold his own as a blocker.

USC already has him committed.

4. Stef Diggs

Diggs is the type of player that will test out well with impressive times, then take that displayed athleticism and translate it to the field of play. He can play receiver, running back, slot, return man, corner and safety.

6'1", 190 pounds, many feel his position of destiny is receiver. He's extremely sudden, elusive, quick and athletic with the ball. Diggs may be the best RAC receiver in the country. He turns into a running back in the open field, and has a great speed and instincts to get to pay dirt.

Miami, Michigan, Florida and Georgia are a few names who have tossed him offers already.

3. Avery Johnson

Johnson will have to fight the constant knock on his concentration and effort through the recruiting rankings process, but there is no question he is talented. When he's on, the 6'2", 185 pounder uses his dynamic speed to get deep and make big plays.

He has great athletic ability to adjust to any ball, can catch and leap in crowds and explodes out of his release.

Johnson is headed to LSU.

2. Caleb Jones

Jones opens the year as the best prospect in Texas and is the cousin of Emory Blake, the receiver at Auburn who's father is former Bengals QB Jeff Blake.

Jones is 6'3", 198 pounds and a great athlete. He's smooth as silk and catches all that comes his way with good hands and long arms. He has over 20 scores in the past two years in a solid league in the Lone Star State. He has good speed and is very aware of coverage adjustments.

Texas, Florida, Notre Dame, Miami, Auburn and Oklahoma have extended offers.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham

Green Beckham is a freak. 6'6", 220 pounds, he is as good as Kyle Prater was in the 2010 recruiting class. He's been the top player in the midwest for two years running and is one of the best players in the country, flat out.

He has the size, speed (4.43 recorded 40 time), hands, quickness and leaping ability o make play after play. He comes out of his breaks well and is a terror in the redzone on fade routes.

Just about every has offered including Michigan, Oklahoma, USC, Miami, Florida, Ohio State and Alabama.