College Football Recruiting 2012: Power Ranking the Top 100 Recruits

OK, so here we go. We have our first, full hot-100 board rankings for the top overall players in the 2012 recruiting class. I like this class, as it has several 5-star QBs, compared to last year's one or two elite signal-caller prospects. It is also very, very strong in the trenches.

If this is a cycle in which your favorite program needs help on both fronts, odds are they will sign several talented prospects.

As we move forward, we will tweak our board all summer and fall leading up to NSD 2012. But this first edition is solid, and evaluations have been examined and made. 

Come see who the top players in the country are.

100. Dan Voltz, OG

I told you that this class is solid on the fronts, and the offensive in particular. Voltz is a 6'4", 290-pound guard prospect who shows grit, toughness and strength.

He works every snap, he can maul in the run game and he'll hold his own against power on the inside. Voltz has the versatility to play all five spots, but I like him as a guard. 

He's headed to Wisconsin.

99. Erik Magnuson, OT

At 6'6", 275 pounds, Manguson is among the top tackles on the West Coast. He displays great balance, agility and foot quickness as a pass protector.

Magnuson flashes brute strength to potentially become a great drive blocker in college. I like his snap quickness and he plays to his size at the point of attack.

He's looking at UCLA, Notre Dame, Oregon, Arizona, Cincinnati and Michigan among many others.

98. Vince Valentine, DT

Valentine is big. Real big. He stands 6'4", 315 pounds and just is a load in the defensive trenches. He's a naturally girthed space eater and makes a mess.

But Valentine also has great strength and athleticism and could play in any defense. He's strong enough to play in a 30 front and athletic enough to play in a 40 as well.

Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Illinois, Tennessee and Notre Dame are just a few schools to mention.

97. Colin Thompson, TE

Thompson is a 6'5", 255-pound tight end prospect from Pennsylvania. Tough, stout and just a gamer, Thompson has the potential to factor in both the run and pass.

He shows great willingness to throw his body around as a blocker and seal ends and linebackers. In the pass, Thompson shows an understanding of knowing he has length, plucking balls from all around his frame.

Florida, Wisconsin and Boston College all will receive visits soon.

96. Justin Shanks, DT

Shanks is a defensive tackle who I like a lot. At 6'4", 295 pounds, he has the potential to play end in a 3-4, but he could also stick as a 4-3 tackle. Shanks is also athletic enough to trim down a bit and play strong-side end in a 40 front.

He shows good snap quickness, strength at the point of attack, anchor ability and quickness to slip blocks. Shanks is a solid DL prospect who has a high ceiling. 

Alabama, Auburn, Florida, South Alabama, Southern Miss and USC are in the race right now.

95. Evan Boehm

Are you looking for a versatile prospect who can play center and guard equally and effectively? Boehm is your guy.

At 6'3", 290 pounds, he shows the ability to jump on top at the pivot, work up on the second level and anchor versus a man on head. Boehm is tough and heady, two traits you want in a center.

Arkansas, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Wisconsin have offered. 

94. Peter Jinkens, LB

At 6'1", 210 pounds, Jinkens has the ability to chase all over the field or take a run on head on. He's pretty instinctive and has the athletic ability to move inside in sub packages and play the nickel linebacker role.

He shows good speed and range both ways. He needs to work on his coverage skills, but proper coaching and technique work should see him improve in this facet.

He's headed to Texas.

93. Brian Kimbrow, RB

Kimbrow is a bit undersized for a rock toter at 5'9", 165 pounds, yet he makes up for it in other ways. The Memphis native claims he has been clocked at 4.25 in the 40.

Quick, slippery, elusive and explosive, Kimbrow is a jack-of-all-trades type of offensive weapon. He can factor extremely heavily on the edges and flanks of the field.

He has offers from almost the entire SEC, Miami and USC among others. 

92. Taylor Decker, OT

At 6'8", 290 pounds, Decker has heard a few whispers of being compared to former Irish offensive lineman Sam Young coming out of high school. He does a great job of sliding and mirroring his target as a pass protector.

He flashes patience, set quickness and recover ability. Decker is not the strongest and can get walked back by power.

He's a Notre Dame pledge.

91. Elijah Shumate, DS

Shumate is a player that I liken to former Arizona State star Adam Archuleta. At 6'1", 200 pounds, he has great instincts versus the run and fills alleys quickly.

He can play outside 'backer and strong safety and he is nasty in the box. He can stand to improve his coverage ability, but he's too good in the box to be asked to play in space often.

Michigan, Wisconsin and East Carolina will all see him this spring. 

90. Marvin Bracy, WR

Bracy may actually be the fastest player in the country. At 5'9", 165 pounds, he has been clocked at nearly 10 flat in the 100.

His biggest strength is obviously his speed and explosiveness, as he is extremely quick and sudden. Yet Bracy is a player that just needs the ball, whether it be on returns, quick screens or reverses and sparks will fly.

He has over 30 offers, but count Notre Dame out, as the Irish have been eliminated.

89. Alex Ross, RB

Ross is a physical runner who never backs down from defenders. At 6'1", 205 pounds, he loves to mix it up in between the tackles and dares tacklers to challenge him in alleys.

Ross gets to and through holes with solid explosion and decisiveness. He wastes no time and knows what he wants to get out of each carry.

Oklahoma has him locked up. 

88. Ricky Parks, TE

Parks reminds me of a poor man's Jay Rome. He's 6'4", 230 pounds with 4.6 speed and can get up the hashes. Safeties will be annoyed by him in college.

He's a natural receiving tight end who can be flexed out on the flanks. He needs to get stronger and work on his blocking technique.

Alabama, Auburn and Georgia are at the top.

87. Thomas Johnson, WR

Johnson is a play maker in every sense of the word. He may not be the biggest receiver, but he has great speed and a knack for finding the end zone.

At 6'0", 175 pounds, he is dangerous after the catch. RAC is his middle name and getting to pay-dirt is his game.

He is slated for Texas.

86. Javonte Magee, DT

Magee is another player who reminds me of a player form 2011: Delvin Simmons. At 6'5", 265 pounds, Magee has the quickness to cause problems in the middle.

Offensive lines have trouble with him because he just keeps coming and never stays blocked. He can slip gaps and penetrate holes very well.

Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech all have been mentioned.

85. Aaron Burbridge, WR

At 6'1", 180 pounds, Burbridge shows the potential to develop into a complete receiver. He has the athleticism and speed to eat cushion, instincts to set up defenders in route running and hands to haul in throws.

I also see flashes of separation quickness and RAC ability down field. Burbridge may be underrated.

Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State have all offered.

84. Se'Von Pittman, DE

Pittman is a 6'4", 225-pound defensive end who does what an end is supposed to do: rush the passer. He flies off the ball and just crashes down hard off the edges all night.

Athletic and agile, Pittman does a solid job staying clean and has a burst to close and finish. He can be a bit of a one-trick pony at times, as he lacks strength, but a college strength program will improve that.

Ohio State is the assumed favorite, with Michigan and Alabama also in the race.

83. Sterling Shepard, WR

At 5'11", 170 pounds, Shepard has the size, suddenness and quickness to easily fit in the slot like a dollar in a poor man's pocket. He releases off the line in a hurry and is dangerous underneath.

He will help an offense by asking for double coverage. When he is in the slot, he will force a safety to stay on him, which opens up the deep part of the field for his teammates.

He will do all of this for Oklahoma.

82. William Mahone, RB

Mahone is like Savon Huggins, a 6'0", 195-pound back with solid pop and quickness. He's a quicker-than-fast athlete who also has good run strength.

Mahone doesn't shy away from tugging it up the middle and will bang with the big boys. He plays faster than many think.

Penn State, Pitt and Iowa all have seen Mahone recently.

81. Eugene Lewis, WR

Lewis is a 6'2", 180 pounder who will see his mark mostly made in the intermediate passing game. He has the tools develop into a very good No.2 receiver.

He works his routes well, sets up defenders and can break out quickly from cuts at the junction point. He won't wow you deep, but he can get by if he has to.

He seems pretty interested in Penn State among a couple others right now.

80. Vadal Alexander, OL

Alexander is a  6'6", 310-pound offensive line prospect who can play tackle and guard. He can use his size to maul in the interior, but he is also athletic enough to mirror on the edge.

He likely will start out as a right tackle, as he can anchor a team's running game by jumping targets on the line at the snap and by tossing them around with ease.

Alabama, Auburn and LSU are the top three.

79. Bryce Treggs, WR

Treggs had a solid junior season, but the wow factor for him is his potential. St. John Bosco is a powerhouse program out of the Bellflower area in Southern California and saw Treggs notch 33 receptions for 534 yards and three touchdowns last year.

At 5'11" 175 pounds, he really comes out of his breaks and cuts easily and is dangerous in RAC situations. Treggs looks like a running back at times with the ball downfield.

He has offers from most of the Pac-12, along with Boise State, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.

78. Byron Marshall, RB

At 5'10", 195 pounds, Marshall makes most of his money on the edges. He's quick to escape to turn the corner, and if he gets his shoulders square upfield, he's gone.

He easily will be able to be used on sweeps, pitches and screens in college. Marshall is dangerous in space and can split the safeties deep.

Cal, Oregon, Stanford, Florida and Ole Miss have all been mentioned.

77. Kent Taylor, TE

Taylor could easily be listed as a big receiver instead of at tight end. At 6'5", 215 pounds he can be used in a variety of ways for an offense.

A tight end, H-Back, fullback or receiver, Taylor is an offensive weapon. He can snatch balls around his frame, catch in crowds and also factor as blocker.

He's an admitted Penn State fan.

76. James Ross, LB

At 6'1", 215 pounds, what's so impressive about Ross is this will be only his third year of playing football. He's already shown natural instincts and his potential is off the charts.

He's a natural MIKE 'backer who plugs the run, jumps backs in alleys and uses his athleticism to play with range. Once he gets seasoned in college, he could be a prime-time steal.

Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and USC have offered, among others.

75. Avery Johnson, WR

Johnson is the younger brother of LSU cornerback and likely top 10 NFL pick Patrick Peterson. At 6'2", 185 pounds, Johnson is not just riding his brother's coattails.

He's a super deep threat with a big frame who can do it all. Johnson is a great athlete with natural ball skills and he can develop into an all-conference player.

He will head to LSU just like his big brother did. 

74. Camrhon Hughes, OT

At 6'7", 290 pounds, Hughes has the frame you want in a tackle. I think he's long and athletic enough to play left tackle in college.

He flashes good knee bend, set quickness and mirror ability in pass protection. He has the ceiling to gain strength to move targets around in the run game as well.

Texas will be in charge of getting him to develop properly. 

73. Troy Hinds, DE

Hinds has been such a problem on the Utah high school football scene that many teams just shy away from him. At 6'5" 225 pounds, he is an excellent pass rusher.

He has a great burst off the edge, can close to finish and he has great pursuit ability. He can play the run with strength, but also has the range to chase.

Notre Dame, Stanford, Utah, BYU, Washington, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Michigan and UCLA are the final nine for Hinds.

72. Ronnie Stanley, OT

Stanley plays for Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, which is one of the elite and premier programs, not just in Sin City or Nevada, but on the West Coast. 

At 6'6", 285 pounds, Stanley has the ability to play left and right tackle. He's light on his feet, quick and agile. Yet Stanley has solid strength and he can maul in the run game.

Nebraska, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Auburn, Alabama, UCLA and Oregon are all schools he's looking at.

71. Jonathan Taylor, DT

At 6'4", 307 pounds, Taylor is prime load of annoyance in the middle for offensive linemen. He can jump snaps, wreak havoc and he has great strength to push the pocket up the middle.

He also has some athletic ability to chase in short areas versus the run. He should be a solid defensive tackle in college.

I think Georgia is the favorite right now. 

70. Tracy Howard, CB

At 6'0", 175 pounds, Howard has the length that many teams are looking for in corners these days. Receivers are getting bigger, so corners need to be as well.

Yet Howard also has solid coverage skills and can come out of his backpedal easily and fluidly. He can carry receivers deep and will sniff around in the run game as well.

Florida is the favorite, with FSU, LSU, Miami and Alabama in the race.

69. Chris Black, WR

At 5'11", 175 pounds, Black is among the top receivers in Florida. He is a speedster who combines athletic ability with quickness.

His best skill is his RAC ability. Black can turn a quick slant into a 6-yard scamper and can be used on smokes, bubbles and reverses.

Alabama and Florida State are the main two.

68. Mike Starts, OL

At 6'5", 275 pounds, Starts reminds me a bit of USC tackle Tyron Smith coming out of high school. He's super athletic and can play guard and tackle.

Starts shows easy movement in his pulls and traps and is dynamic on the second level. He can hit moving targets and is productive in space.

Auburn, Baylor, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech are all in the race.

67. Mario Pender, RB

Pender averaged almost 14 yards a carry last season. Do me a favor; go back and read that one more time. Because that's amazing.

At 6'0 and over 200 pounds, he has fantastic speed to hit creases and skate through. He does a solid job of banging inside and can break a few tackles as well. Pender runs tough and is very durable as well.

He's bound for Florida State. 

66. Jelani Hamilton, DE

Hamilton first caught my eye by having a solid Under Armour combine showing in January. From a solid St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) program, he is a solid defensive end prospect.

He shows the ability to become a good end, as he can play the pass and run. He has adequate snap quickness, solid use of hands, strength and a burst. He also flashes good range to chase ball carriers around in stopping the run.

Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Miami, Florida State and Florida are just a few offers to mention. 

65. Durron Neal, WR

The thing about Neal is he plays the same position and is in the same state as Dorial Green-Beckham. Yet Neal is no slouch himself.

At 6'0" 185 pounds, he has good speed, quickness and runs solid routes. He shows an ability to attack the football at its highest point and seems to always find a way to get more yards out of a catch than he should.

Alabama, Michigan, Auburn, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana and Arkansas are just a few schools he's interested in. 

64. Sheldon Day, DT

Day has the size and skill set of a prototypical 4-3 under tackle. At 6'2", 280 pounds, he does it with quickness at the snap and sheer will.

He flies off the ball and even is athletic enough to play a little defensive end, too. He shows a quick read/react ability to the run and can anchor well in the middle.

Tennessee, Notre Dame, Michigan, TCU, Stanford, Florida, Wisconsin and Penn State all have offered.

63. Jordan Payton, WR

Payton is one of the best players in the country, but his recruitment is also one of the most interesting sagas as well. At 6'2", 190 pounds, Payton is perhaps the best receiver in Southern California.

He is committed to USC, but he has taken an array of visits, including to SMU, Cal and plans to see Michigan and Notre Dame too.

Will he end up at USC or elsewhere? Stay tuned.

62. Greg Garmon, RB

Big backs with vision are among my favorite types and Garmon is exactly that. At 6'2", 200 pounds, you can almost see his eyes processing information quickly on tape and he sees blocks very well.

Once he makes his selection of where to attack, he sticks his foot in the ground and charges upfield, showing excellent speed. He should be an exciting player in college.

Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina and Penn State are just a few to toss out there. 

61. Brock Stadnik, OT

Stadnik lines up each snap with one thing in mind: to finish his target off. He looks to pancake everyone in his way and does so most of the time.

At 6'5", 290 pounds, he has very good technique and can drive block very, very well. I think he can play right tackle and guard in college with ease.

North Carolina State, South Carolina and Virginia Tech seem to be in the thick of the race.

60. Ifeadi Odenigbo, OLB

At 6'4", 220 pounds, Odenigbo is as a raw a prospect as there may be in the country. He's only played football for just a few years, but watch his tape and you see a ceiling that is as high as Mount Everest.

He's super athletic, quick and explodes off the ball. He plays very, very fast and has amazing range. If he can find a program that has a great pass-rushing coach and get stronger, he may have a long playing future ahead of him.

Northwestern, Stanford, Ohio State and Notre Dame are his top four schools. 

59. Duke Johnson, RB

Johnson shows athleticism that speaks to me as being quicker than fast. 5'9", 180 pounds. He's an elusive ball carrier who can shake and bake with the best of them.

Dangerous in the open field, he always looks for the even the smallest crease to skate through and can hide well behind his blockers to pick and slide to holes.

He's headed to Miami.

58. Nick James, DT

James is a wide load at defensive tackle, standing 6'5", 335 pounds. He is very strong on his feet and also flashes good athleticism for a man his size. What's also impressive about James is that he sells out each snap.

He has the makings of a defensive tackle who prides himself as a run stuffer. James can also push the pocket up the middle and will chase the ball carrier around to make a play if he has to.

James likes Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Miami, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

57. Geno Smith, CB

Smith is a tall and long corner at 6'0", 165 pounds. He really excels in off-man and zone coverage. This is where he flashes his smooth backpedal, loose hips and transition quickness.

He lacks strength to jam effectively at the line, but he is so good in coverage that he can still be thrown on an island and forgotten about. He also shows good hands to make picks on balls outside his frame.

Alabama is his leader.

56. Barry Sanders, RB

At 5'9", 190 pounds, Sanders actually does remind you a bit of his dad when you watch him on tape. He has excellent elusiveness and quickness in the open field and just enough long speed to get to the house.

He displays great balance to take hits and shoves in the box and he can still stay on his feet and get up field. He won't wow you with his stature, but he will with the ball in his hands.

Oklahoma State, Alabama, Florida State and UCLA are his main four.

55. Tommy Schutt, DT

Schutt on tape reminds me of Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo. At 6'3", 290 pounds, he plays with great explosiveness at the snap. Combine that with a great motor and very good strength, and you see a great player in action.

He shows the potential to develop into either a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 two-gapping end. He also flashes very good ability to use his hands to shed and escape blocks.

Ohio State, Florida, USC, Northwestern,  Oregon, Michigan and Penn State are just a few schools to mention, but he's wide open at the moment. 

54. Ronny Darby, CB

Darby is a 5'11", 175-pound corner prospect who could find himself playing running back in college. He's a special athlete who can wow you on tape. He has very good foot quickness, which is why he projects well to corner.

He shows solid instincts in coverage, comes out of his backpedal well and can close in a hurry. Darby also can return punts and kicks very, very well, too.

Darby just recently pledged to Notre Dame.

53. Dominique Wheeler, WR

Perhaps a bit underrated on the recruiting scene, Wheeler is fantastic receiver prospect. At 6'1", 180 pounds, he shows a great skill set on the offensive flanks.

He has solid release quickness, eats cushion well, he can stem a defender, he can break in his routes and he has solid hands. Wheeler also displays solid speed to get vertical and behind a secondary.

Oklahoma, SMU, TCU, Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas are the suitors.

52. Warren Ball, RB

Ball is a 6'2", 200-pound running back who is equally good as a receiver out of the backfield. We use the term "every down" back a lot when evaluating running backs, but Ball is the epitome of the term.

He will be able to tote the rock on the first two initial downs, but he will also be able to be used as a featured pass catcher in the air assault portion of his team's offense. He shows natural receiving skills and a great burst.

He's headed to Ohio State.

51. Tee Shepard, CB

As you can tell by now, we are now starting to see the value of where the talented corners are on the board this year. Shepard is another cover corner who is among the top in the nation.

At 6'0" and over 170 pounds, he can play free safety and corner. He shows coverage skills of a corner, which is where I think he projects best. Shepard is a great athlete with quick feet and transition ability on the perimeter.

He's headed for Notre Dame. 

50. Aziz Shittu, DT

Shittu burst on the scene a few weeks ago, as he was basically unblockable at the Nike Camp in Los Angeles. He dominated one on ones and made evaluators go back and watch more tape of his junior season.

At 6'3", and 275 pounds, Shittu had 6.5 sacks and over 75 stops from his defensive tackle spots as a junior. He does it with a combination of snap quickness, strength and athleticism...on every snap.

Stanford looks like the team to beat right now. 

49. Matt Jones, RB

Jones is a big back prospect who stands a large 6'3", 210 pounds. Most big backs are stiff, straight-line bruising types, but Jones is the contrary.

He has very good athleticism and has good wiggle for a big back. He is decisive with his reads, hits holes hard and can also be used as a receiver.

Jones is committed to Florida.

48. LaDarrell McNeil, DS

McNeil is a safety prospect who can play both the free and strong spots in the back end. At 6'2", 190 pounds, he shows a very good knack to read and react versus the run and he is dynamic in the box. Yet he also has good enough athletic ability to roam around.

If I had to choose what specific spot I like him at, it would be strong safety. I like him more there just because he's a bit better playing the run than he is playing the pass.

Oklahoma, Tennessee, TCU, Baylor, Texas A&M and Arizona have offered.

47. Dante Fowler, DE

Fowler is a tweener prospect that can be listed as a defensive end or an outside linebacker. Wherever he's listed at, just know he is a dynamic defender and pass rusher.

At 6'3", 240 pounds, he can play the run well and chase ball carriers all over the field. On third downs, Fowler revs up his motor and gets after the passer with speed, quickness and explosion.

He's sold to Florida State.

46. Kennedy Estelle, OT

At 6'7", 305 pounds, Estelle looks like a college tackle right now. He has excellent length throughout his frame and, most importantly, his arms. He can keep the rush out of his body and watch them pass the QB down after down.

Yet he really excels in the run game, showing mauler ability, and he finishes well. He can be used on an array of blocks and can play left tackle in college.

LSU, Texas A&M, Texas and Auburn have been mentioned most by him. 

45. Brian Poole, CB

When looking at a corner, I always really look to see if he is sticky coming out of transition and his breaks. This is one of the most important traits for a cover corner, and Poole has it big time.

At 5'11", 180 pounds, he is a sticky cover man who can carry receivers all around the field. He has great jamming ability when pressing and doesn't back down from anyone.

Florida, FSU, Miami, Georgia, Auburn, Clemson and Alabama are the gist of his list.

44. Wes Brown, RB

Brown is a very solid running back prospect from the Mid-Atlantic region and has the tools be a complete runner on the collegiate level. He's solid in all areas of his game and stands 6'0" and 190 pounds.

He shows good patience and understanding when to attack downhill out of his stance, and when to let things develop. He can pick and slide to holes and he has the juice to skate through. Look for Brown to develop into a very solid back down the line.

Penn State, Virginia Tech, Tennessee and Maryland are just a few schools on his radar.

43. Jordan Diamond, OT

Diamond's skill set upon watching him on film projects well to a zone-blocking scheme offense. He shows a great ability to get up on linebackers on the second level and he can hit moving targets efficiently.

At 6'6", 290 pounds, he has solid athletic ability and knee bend, which helps him in pass protection. He does a good job of sliding when engaged and recovers well.

Notre Dame, Michigan State, Illinois and Wisconsin are schools to watch.

42. Jordan Jinkens, DE

At 6'3", 245 pounds, Jinkens may be able to come in as a true freshman and make an impact as a sub rusher from Day 1; he's that athletically gifted. You watch him on tape and you see a burst and ability to beat blockers at the snap.

He can bend well off the edge and close on the QB in a flash. He plays the run well and just needs to get seasoned. Keep an eye on him.

He has just been offered recently by Florida State, Miami and Florida. Look for those three, along with Georgia, to be the major players in the race for him.

41. Zach Banner, OT

Banner is the longest offensive tackle in the country, and I mean that about his overall reach and wingspan. He stands 6'9", yes 6'9", and weighs 300 pounds. 

Banner is not just a stick figure, as he shows great athleticism on the edges to set up quickly, bend his knees, slide, mirror and anchor versus all rushers. He can use his long arms to wash, but also can get up in targets's chests as drive blocker.

He has been offered by just about everyone, sans Ohio State, Texas and Florida, which have told him they will join the club very, very soon.

40. Matt Davis, QB

Davis missed most of his junior season with a torn ACL, but the Houston-area prep football scene knows about him, and so do evaluators and college coaches. At 6'1", 200 pounds, he's a play-making QB who can beat you two-fold.

Davis has a solid arm that can attack levels of the defense all over the field. He's accurate in and out of the pocket and can make plays as a runner with his legs.

Davis is a Texas A&M commit. 

39. Eddie Williams, DS

Williams is an elite free safety prospect that is 6'4", 205 pounds, Some list him as an ATH because he is that versatile, showing an ability to factor at a plethora of positions.

DS, WR and OLB are all spots that you could see Williams play in college, but free safety is his best spot. He's instinctive in coverage, quick to recognize routes and he can pluck interceptions out of the air with ease.

He's been pledged to Alabama for almost a year.

38. Nelson Agholor, ATH

There is talk that Agholor may be the most athletic player in Florida this year, and his tape does nothing to dispel that notion. At 6'2", 180 pounds, he makes play after play all night long.

He can factor as a safety, receiver, running back or corner. Talk is his best spot may be safety, but you can't count him out as a receiver. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands, but then again, he could be an All-American safety. Decisions, decisions.

Schools of note include: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, South Florida, Tennessee, USC and Vanderbilt. 

37. Kyle Murphy, OT

Another player, another offensive lineman. I mentioned at the jump, it's an outstanding year for offensive linemen and corners. Murphy is another great one and stands 6'7", 270 pounds and he has solid athleticism for an offensive trench man.

He excels in pass protection and gets by through being simply more athletic than his opponents. Once he gets coached up in college, look out, because he will combine athleticism with technique, and that could equal no sacks for opposing rushers.

The entire Pac-12 and Florida have offered Murphy.

36. Channing Ward, DE

Ward is a 6'4", 240-pound pass-rush specialist who could play OLB in a 3-4 scheme. He has good athleticism, shows a pass-rushing plan and plays well with his hands.

He shows a burst at the snap and bend ability. Yet what really makes Ward special is knowing that his hands can be a weapon. Most rushers just try to out-run blockers and get stuck when engaged. Ward can get free.

LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State seem to be the major players.

35. Leonte Carroo, WR

Carroo is one of the best players, not only in New Jersey, but on the East Coast. A 6'2", 200-pound receiver, he has very good strength to release off the line to fight press coverage, and he can break free and scoot upfield with speed.

Once he breaks out of his cuts with suddenness and sharpness to gain separation, he becomes QB friendly, as Carroo catches almost everything in sight. He's also a deep threat with solid RAC ability as well.

He has offers from almost everyone in the ACC and Big East, along with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Miami and Oregon.

34. Jessamen Dunker, OT

Dunker may possess the highest ceiling of any offensive line prospect in the nation for 2012. At 6'6", 310 pounds, he is a former hoops player who has only played football for a limited amount of time.

His film shows a super-athletic future left tackle who can mirror quick rushers and match power in the run game. With coaching, Dunker could become an All-American player and perhaps a high-round draft pick.

Florida will be charged with bringing him along.

33. Reggie Ragland, LB

Watching and evaluating Ragland on tape was fun and a treat to do, as seeing a big player move around so fast was a sight to see. At 6'4", 245 pounds, he actually plays receiver for his high school team. Yes, receiver.

But many project Ragland to linebacker in college, as he shows tremendous instincts, run-plug ability and plays to his size at the point of attack. But he also has the speed and range to make tackles outside the box and work in coverage as well.

He's pledged to Alabama.

32. Trey Williams, RB

Williams is not very big, but he's very fast, slippery and explosive, quick and elusive. At 5'8", 175 pounds, Williams is a stick of dynamite in the backfield and can score anytime he touches the rock.

He uses his lack of height to his advantage, sliding and hiding behind his line, then darting when he sees a crease. He may not be an every-down back in college, but I still expect him to be very productive.

Texas A&M, Auburn and Texas Tech are his leaders.

31. Jordan Simmons, OL

Simmons has the talent and ability to play tackle and guard , but I like him as a guard more. At 6'5", 335 pounds, he shows very, very good athletic ability, strength and balance as a blocker.

He can even play some center in a pinch, too. He does have some baby fat around his body, but a college strength program will shed that, and he is one of the very elite line prospects in the country.

He seems to be wide open right now.

30. Landon Collins, DS

Collins is a 5-star recruit and one of the top players in the country, as he can play safety and outside linebacker. At 6'0", 205 pounds, Collins shows to be uber-instinctive in the box, physical versus the run and rangy to chase and pursue.

He's productive in space in coverage, showing an ability to factor in the zone due to his awareness. He always finds a way to the ball and hates getting caught in traffic. Look for him to be one of the best strong safeties to come out of this class.

Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami (Fl) and Tennessee are his final five.

29. Brionte Dunn, RB

Dunn is your classic big-back prospect. He's a bruiser who does the dirty work in between the tackles and loves to mix it up in run alleys. At 6'1", 215 pounds, and he's a chugger that relishes contact.

I like the way Dunn finishes runs and plays to his size upon contact. He's physical and has excellent run instincts.

He's a wiggle runner and won't run away from too many, but Dunn is fast enough and will be a good back in college, which will be Ohio State.

28. Ellis McCarthy, DT

McCarthy is a defensive tackle who I think will see himself rise up the board higher before the final board comes out around NSD 2012. He's a dynamic force in the middle at 6'5" and nearly 310 pounds, but he has very, very little body fat.

That speaks to his frame, as he has college size and strength right now. He can overpower blockers and walk them back at the snap, or he can use his quickness and athletic ability to blow by them. McCarthy is quick to read and react versus the run, but he also can rush the passer from the interior like an end.

Arizona,  California, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, UCLA, USC and Washington are schools to watch out for.

27. Kyle Kalis, OT

Kalis is a 6'5", 305-pound lineman's type of lineman. He's a lunch-pail type that works on the fronts each snap, whether at right or left tackle. He's best in the run game, showing an ability to play with good leverage at the point of attack and finish ability.

He can pull and trap well, due to his easy movement. As a pass protector, Kalis displays solid foot quickness to slide and mirror well. I like him most at right tackle.

He's committed to Ohio State.

26. Josh Garnett, OG

Garnett may be the best offensive guard prospect from the Washington area since Steve Schilling. At 6'5", 275 pounds, he has a high ceiling and plays with great athletic ability, knee bend and strength. He also may be able to kick out to tackle in a pinch in college.

Garnett has good snap quickness, gets into his opponent's chest, walks them back and he can finish. He holds his own in pass protection, as he can work well in the short area confines at guard.

Right now, Oregon may be the team to beat.

25. Malcolm Brown, DT

I really liked Desmond Jackson last year, a defensive tackle Texas signed in 2011, and I also really like Brown for their 2012 defensive line class. At 6'2", 280 pounds, Brown looks like a great future 3-technique, as his quickness at the snap is formidable.

He flies off he ball, blows by guards, disrupts offensive fronts and plays in the backfield. He's the type of player that should be among the career leaders in the TFL department after he leaves Texas.

24. Adolphus Washington, DE

Washington is another pass rusher and among the elite in the country this year. At 6'6", 240 pounds, Washington has the size to play the strong side in college, but also the athleticism, play speed and quickness to man the weak side as well.

He has a long frame to stay clean, he can convert speed into power quickly and forcefully, and he bends solidly. Washington is also a noted hoops prospect, which is why you hear the Julius Peppers comparisons.

Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State are some of the main schools who are on him the hardest.

23. Shaq Roland, WR

Roland is a receiver that is here because his ceiling is so high. At 6'1", 180 pounds, he has played multiple spots, but receiver is his definite future home position in college. He just needs to spend more time there and get coached up.

Dynamic with the ball in his hands, Roland shows very good play seed and explosiveness. He isn't very strong, but can beat press with change of direction and quickness in his release. He flashes great separation quickness and solid hands.

Look for him to end up at South Carolina.

22. Avery Young, OT

When you watch Young move around on tape, you wonder if he could even play tight end, as he is that athletic. He has not even scratched the surface as to how good he can be, as the 6'5", 275 pounder looks like a potential left tackle.

He can set up quickly, slide, mirror, bend, recover and anchor versus rushers down after down. Once he learns good hand placement and how to mix up his sets, he could develop into an All-American left tackle. He has the ability in the run game to say hello to linebackers, reach out on sweeps and pitches and pull and trap well.

Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina State, Georgia, Miami and Alabama are a few schools in the mix.

21. Jarron Jones, DT

At 6'7", 290 pounds, Jones finished his junior year with 68 stops and 10 sacks. He can be a dynamic force in the middle due to his size and overwhelming length. I also think he can play end in a 30-front scheme as well.

Jones does a solid job of bursting at the snap, using his size to lean on blockers, wearing them down and shedding to make a stop. He understands when he needs to summon his quickness, which is usually on third downs, to rush the passer.

He's a soft verbal to Penn State, but will still trip to Syracuse, Pitt, Rutgers and North Carolina.

20. Stefon Diggs, WR

Diggs is a player that can factor as a receiver or safety. I could move him onto the ATH board or DS board, but in the end, he is simply too good with the ball in his hands not to play on offense in my opinion.

At 6'1", 190 pounds, he is a quicker than fast athlete, but he does have tremendous speed. His RAC ability is amazing, and he is likely tops in this category in the country for 2012. Diggs can shake, bake and clean the dishes routinely.

He has a slew of offers from top FBS schools and is in the process of narrowing things down.

19. Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is a 6'5", 305-plus pound defensive tackle that has "special" written all over him. He has the quickness to jump blockers at the snap, strength to toss and shed, and anchor ability to stop double teams in their tracks and make a mess in the middle.

He wants to play 4-3 tackle, but some teams like him at 3-4 nose. He can play both well in my opinion, and could even play 3-4 end. He isn't a wow-you type of athlete that will chase in pursuit, but Goldman does have a bit of range.

He's recently visited Clemson, Alabama, Auburn and Maryland with many, many more in the race.

18. Darius Hamilton, DE

Hamilton is a 6'4", 245-pound defensive prospect that can do it all.

Most ends at the high school level only focus on their pass-rushing prowess, yet Hamilton shows the strength to anchor and shed against the end.

Toss that in with his elite pass-rushing ability, and you see a 5-star prospect on the defensive edge.

The latest with Hamilton is that he is lining up visits for the spring. He has no leader at the moment and is really looking at who is after him the hardest.

That seems to be, according to Hamilton, Florida, Tennessee, Rutgers, Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

17. Jameis Winston, QB

Perhaps the top dual-threat QB in the country for this year, Jameis Winston is also one the very elite prospects out of Alabama.

At 6'4", 200 pounds, Winston combines a rifle for an arm along with great play speed and running ability.

The most recent tip on Winston is that he wants to make an early decision. He is narrowing in on a decision, and this summer we will know where the signal-caller is headed.

Look for Alabama, Auburn and Florida State to be among the top of his list.

16. Cayleb Jones, WR

I called it. I called it when I watched him on tape and kept calling it as I gathered more information on him.

Cayleb Jones is a 5-star prospect at receiver, like I said he would be. At 6'3", 190 pounds, Jones is among the top receivers in Texas, and the country.

There really isn't much going on him, as he gave Texas and Mack Brown a pledge in late February and seems solid to honor that commitment

15. DJ Humphries, OT

The natural comparison for Humphries' game seems to be Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and rightfully so.

At 6'6", 270 pounds, Humphries is a left tackle through and through and is likely the best athlete in the trenches in the country.

He has a top list that consists of Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn. A decision could come at anytime.

14. Shaq Thompson, DS

Thompson is a 6'1", 185-pound safety prospect who can also play running back and a little bit of cornerback as well.

His brother Syd plays for the Denver Broncos, and Shaq was the top player for NorCal powerhouse Grant HS (Calif.) as a junior.

Recently Thompson pledged to California, but a few days later, here-opened his recruitment. I still think he ends up at Cal in the end.

He is rumored to be waiting until the postseason all-star games next January to announce.

13. Zeke Pike, QB

There is talk that Pike may be the top QB in the country, and you can easily make a compelling argument for that to be true.

At 6'6", 225 pounds, Pike possesses a cannon for an arm to go along with elite size and very good athletic ability.

Pike has drawn some whispers about his attitude, and getting ejected from a recent seven-on-seven game will not help his case to defend against character concerns.

Pike threw a ball at an official after receiving a delay-of-game penalty and promptly was thrown out.

On the recruiting front, he is in the process of taking unofficial visits this spring and is looking to whittle his list down to eight schools.

After that, a final list of three will be formulated, then a decision will be made

12. Quay Evans, DT

At 6'2", 320 pounds, Evans is an immovable object in the trenches. He has great strength and I like him as a 1-technique or a nose tackle. Once Evans gets his hands on a blocker and inside the body, it's over, as he can use brute and sheer strength to toss them around or power over them to get into the backfield.

He has the girth to be a space eater, but also the athleticism to make plays along the line.

The latest with him is he has a top list of Texas, Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama and LSU.

11. Rushel Shell, RB

At 5'11", 215 pounds, Shell is among the best running backs in the country. He has elite vision, awareness and run instincts to go along with great speed and run strength.

Not much has been let out in regards to Shell, but I do notice that it seems he glows when he speaks about Pitt, Ohio State and Florida.

Yet he has close to 30 offers and is still a bit open

10. John Theus, OT

At 6'6", 295 pounds, Theus excels at drive blocking and has the ability to finish.

Solid in pass protection, I think Theus' best spot is right tackle.

Theus' brother, Nate, is a long snapper at Georgia, and the Bulldogs have been talked about as the early favorite for John.

John and his father took an unofficial visit to Athens to meet with new offensive line coach Will Friend, who replaced Stacy Searles.

The visit went well, and Georgia is still in the race, along with a slew of other schools.

Theus has repeatedly said he will take his time with the process and he is not in a hurry to commit

9. Kwon Alexander, LB

At 6'2", 210 pounds, Alexander is a fantastic linebacker prospect. He has tremendous play speed and range and will be a three-down defender in college.

He projects well at WILL, but I think he can also play SAM in a 4-3 scheme due to his ability to carry tight ends around the field in coverage.

One of the top prospects in Alabama bar none, Alexander claims no favorite at the moment.

Yet, with him being from 'Bama, Auburn and the Tide will be among the top schools after his services.

He took an unofficial visit to Alabama earlier this month.

8. Keith Marshall, RB

Perhaps the fastest running back in the country, Marshall is a touchdown machine.

I liken him to a Marshall Faulk, as he can impact the game as a runner, receiver and even as a returner.

At 5'11", 185 pounds, Marshall has been timed in the 4.3 range in the 40.

With a slew of offers, Marshall has whittled his list down to, in no particular order, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Stanford and USC

7. Noah Spence, DE

Spence is the top pure pass rusher in the country and easily has the quickest first two steps in America. He flies off the ball and gets after the QB with tenacity, passion and sheer speed.

At 6'4", 245 pounds, he has been compared to Dwight Freeney, although he is a bit longer and taller than the 6'1" Freeney.

Spence, at the moment, still seems to be taking the process all in, as he gets a new offer almost every day.

NC State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Maryland and USC are just a few schools to name that are on his trail.

6. Gunner Kiel, QB

At 6'4" and over 200 pounds, Kiel will have to fend off some top gunslingers through the cycle for top QB honors.

Yet he is one of the top prospects at the moment and has a great arm, mobility, accuracy and solid vision. He reminds me a bit of Blaine Gabbert.

Kiel's uncle Blair was a QB at Notre Dame in the 1980s, and the Irish are hot after Gunner, along with Oklahoma and a host of other schools.

He's still a bit open, but is narrowing down his list soon.

5. Mario Edwards, DE

The most complete edge defender in the country, Edwards is a 6'4", 275-pound monster of a defensive end.

He has the strength to play the run, anchor, stop and stack at the point and shed blocks. Then he has the speed to chase and pressure passers all night long.

He is solid to Florida State, which he pledged to over Texas

4. Arik Armstead, DL/OL

At 6'8", 280 pounds, Armstead has been talked as the top prospect in the country. He can play defensive end, defensive tackle and also shows the feet and balance to play left tackle.

The brother of current USC defensive end Armond Armstead, Arik is a mammoth who isn't just a big man; he's an excellent athlete as well.

He is solid to USC, where he will begin as a strong side defensive end.

3. Andrus Peat, OT

At 6'7", 280 pounds, Peat is the top line prospect in the country and will be a franchise left tackle.

He reminds me a lot of USC left tackle Matt Kalil coming out of high school. Sound in his technique, smart, patient and savvy in pass protection, Peat is an elite offensive lineman.

He is still wide open, but he did take a trip to Florida State recently, along with visiting USC as well.

Both trips went well, and Peat is still keeping his options very open

2. Johnathan Gray, RB

Gray is the top running back in the country on my board, as the 5'11", 195-pounder's production is that of three backs.

He has over 6,000 yards and 109 touchdowns over the past two seasons alone. Gray has elite vision, feel, instincts, elusiveness, speed and quickness.

The latest on Gray is that he will not be a participant in any combines in the near future due to a shoulder injury. His top three still is Texas, TCU and Texas A&M

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

I have Green-Beckham as the top player in the country on my board, as do many other talent evaluators.

At 6'6", 220 pounds, the only knock I have on him right now is his release quickness off the line.

Other than that, Green-Beckham has the hands, separation quickness, catch-in-crowd ability and playmaking talent to become a dominant receiver in college. 

The latest on Green-Beckham is he has soured on the recruiting process and is tired of the constant attention.

His high school coach and guardian regularly does the talking for Dorial and says they will both start to visit schools in the summer.

Look for a scaled-down list to be revealed in September.