College Football Recruiting 2012: Who Are the Top Defensive Players Considering?

With the 2012 recruiting cycle now hitting the Ides of March, I've decided to take a look at some elite defensive recruits that are uncommitted right now. These players are sure-fire 5-star caliber defenders and have the board buzzing right now due to their skill set and potential.

Sure, there other elite overall defensive players, but the guys on my list are who I like right now. I still have a ton of tape I need to watch on some other players across the country and more will emerge as the cycle wears on.

The following players are considered elite-caliber players, and let's a look at who they are considering right now.

Here we go.

6. Landon Collins, DB

Watching Collins on tape, he reminds me a bit of Oklahoma safety/linebacker Tony Jefferson. A 6'0", 200-pound safety prospect, it seems to me that Collins' best position is the strong safety spot.

Collins has extraordinary instincts and a knack for getting to the football. He's quick to read and react to the run and plays like a fourth linebacker—but don't just think Collins is a box defender that can't cover.

He has excellent hips and transition quickness, and his ball skills are top-notch. He's one of the best overall recruits in the country.

Right now, it looks like he will probably come down to Alabama or LSU.

5. Darius Hmailton, DE

Fresh off a 14-sack junior season, Hamilton finds himself as one of the best defensive ends since the 2012 recruiting class. 6'4", 245 pounds, he has a great skill set that projects him to be an All-Conference type of defensive end in college in the coming years.

Strong enough to play the strong side, Hamilton is also capable of bulking up and becoming a 4-3 defensive tackle if he chooses. He's very quick off the ball and really plays with solid pa level, a rare feat for prep players.

Hamilton plays with great technique and flashes strength to shed at the point. He bends well and has excellent range to chase down ball carriers vs. the run.

Right now, there are no favorites for Hamilton, as he has over 25 offers on the table. He grew up a Virginia Tech fan, so look for the Hokies to stay in the thick of the race, but also look for Rutgers to have a great chance as well.

4. Travis Blanks, DB

I really like Blanks' defensive versatility, which will serve him well in college. He's a thicker version of Marcus Roberson, the Florida signee in 2011. Blanks is physical at the line in press-man and can factor in off-man as well.

6'1", 195 pounds, he had over 100 stops last year and can also play both safety spots for a secondary. He's an excellent athlete with great coverage awareness and has the speed to carry receivers deep. As a corner, Blanks comes out of his backpedal smoothly and closes quickly. At safety, he shows great range and route recognition.

He has a slew of offers and will not likely stay in Florida for college. Some schools mentioned with him are Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Ohio State, USC and Clemson.

3. Noah Spence, DE

Spence has the early title of "best pure pass rusher" in the class right now, but Hamilton is nipping at his heels. Right now, Mario Edwards is the "most complete" end, but Spence plays the run well, too. 6'4", 245 pounds, Spence will battle Rushel Shell for the honors of top player in Pennsylvania this year.

He's a dynamic athlete that can do it all on the edge. He has a tremendous first step and jumps blockers easily. He is extremely quick and bursts off the ball. Spence can convert speed to power well and has solid strength to shed. He'll chase you down from all over the field and could even play stand-up outside 'backer in a 3-4 scheme.

He has nearly 30 offers right now, but as it sits today, I think he may follow his father's footsteps and play at NC State. But the standard "who's who" of college programs have offered, and you can never count any of them out.

2. Kwon Alexander, OLB

Alexander is a 6'2", 210-pound outside linebacker prospect that I think has the most range of any linebacker in the country. We use the term "sideline-to-sideline" defender, but if the game was turned and played goal line to goal line, Alexander would still be able to make plays.

He has great play speed and is an annoying target on the second level for linemen to hit. He can slip blocks with quickness if he ever gets caught in traffic and jumps running backs to fill alleys. I also think, by what Alexander shows on tape, he can develop into a solid coverage linebacker too.

Both in-state Alabama and Auburn are among the schools mentioned most by Alexander, along with Oregon, USC, Florida, Oklahoma and Florida State. But it's still early.

1. Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is a special player and a hassle for offensive lines. He's a beast in the middle and stands in the 6'4", 305-pound range. He's excellent off the ball at the snap, but has the strength to toss and throw blockers around. He can get a bit careless with his pad level, but when he's at full tilt, he's nearly unblockable.

He can anchor and make a mess in the middle and walk your interior line back into the passer as a rusher. If you need him to penetrate gaps, Goldman can get skinny and slip creases as well. He's a special talent and one of the very best overall players in the class.

He has a plethora of schools after him and will make some trips next month to Clemson, Auburn, LSU, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, NC State and Florida State.