College Football Recruiting 2012: Top Target & Commitment of the Top 25 Teams
So we're in May now, and the recruiting cycle is moving along in full swing. Spring evaluations are being made, camps and combines are alive and well and programs have their recruiting boards sequenced. Now is the time you see teams really rev up their efforts on prime recruits that they are targeting.
Many teams have started to pick up a commitments, or if you're Mack Brown and Texas you have almost 20. Yet, with this piece, we thought we'd just quickly and briefly run down the the top target and commitment for each of the top 25 teams on the recruiting trail. For the elite prospects, you'll see that they may be the top target for several different teams.
We're off and running.
25. Georgia
1 of 25
Top Target: John Theus, OT
Theus is the top offensive tackle prospect in the South and top 15 overall recruit nationally.
Top Commitment: Leonard Floyd, DE
Floyd is a 6'5", 215-pound defensive end that has a body type and athletic ability to present a high ceiling.
24. Mississippi State
2 of 25
Top Target: Quay Evans, DT
Evans is among the very elite DT prospects in the nation and stands 6'2", 320 pounds.
Top Commitment: Deonte Evans, RB
Evans is a 6'0", 190 pound runner that should be a solid fit in Dan Mullen's offensive system.
23. Florida
3 of 25
Top Target: DJ Humphries, OT
Humphries easily is the most athletic offensive lineman in the nation and is 6'6", 270 pounds.
Top Commitment: Jessamen Dunker, OT
Dunker is a raw, yet super athletic tackle prospect that could develop into a franchise left tackle.
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22. Arizona State
4 of 25
Top Target: Andrus Peat, OT
Peat is the most complete offensive tackle in the country and is a top-five player nationally.
Top Commitment: Randall Goforth, WR/CB/ATH
I think Goforth ends up as a slot receiver in college, as the 6'0", 175 pounder has sub 4.5 speed and good quickness.
21. Texas
5 of 25
Top Target: Mike Starts, OL
Starts plays tackle for his prep squad, but will move inside to guard where his supreme athleticism could make him an All-American.
Top Commitment: John Gray, RB
Gray is one of the most dominant high school football players in prep ball history, in any state. He's the top running back in the country.
20. Virginia Tech
6 of 25
Top Target: Stefron Diggs, WR/DB
Some say Diggs could play safety in college, but I think he's way too dynamic as a RAC player not be a receiver.
Top Commitment: Donaldven Manning, DB
Manning is a 5'11", 170 lb. athletic cover corner from Florida.
19. Nebraska
7 of 25
Top Target: Andrus Peat, OT
Peat's brother, Todd, signed with Big Red last year.
Top Commitment: Micheal Rose, LB
6'0", 230 pounds, Rose likely will start off as a MIKE 'backer on the Blackshirt defense.
18. TCU
8 of 25
Top Target: John McGee, OC
McGee plays tackle right now, but he's looked at as a pivot prospect due to his snap quickness and smarts.
Top Commitment: Devonte Fields, DE
6'4", 225 pounds, Fields is one of the top defensive end prospects in Texas.
17. Auburn
9 of 25
Top Target: Kwon Alexander, OLB
Alexander likely is the No.1 LB in the country and has tremendous range and play speed.
Top Commitment: Zeke Pike, QB
Pike shocked many by pledging to Auburn, but the 6'6", 225 pounder is a sheer 5-star QB prospect.
16. Missouri
10 of 25
Top Target: Dorial green-Beckham, WR
DGB is the No.1 player in the country on my board and the 6'6", 220 pound receiver has 4.43 speed.
Top Commitment: Jonathan Williams, RB
Williams is a 4-star RB from Texas that stands 5'11", 205 pounds.
15. Notre Dame
11 of 25
Top Target: Gunner Kiel, QB
Kiel is a 6'4", 220 pound QB that is the top pure passer in the country.
Top Commitment: Ronny Darby, CB
5'11" and 175 pounds, Darby is considered by many to be the best cornerback in the country.
14. Texas A&M
12 of 25
Top Target: LaDarrell McNeil, DS
6'2", 190 pounds, McNeil is one of the top back end defenders in the country and can play both safety spots.
Top Commitment: Trey Williams, RB
Williams may be small at 5'8", 175 pounds, but he is more powerful that you think and will be great for the Aggies.
13. Michigan State
13 of 25
Top Target: Adolphus Washington, DE
Washington is also one of the top prep basketball recruits in the country and the 6'6", 240 pounder is a staunch DE on the gridiron.
Top Commitment: Benny McGowan, OG
McGowan is a 6'4", 285 pound interior guard prospect that just gave Sparta his pledge a few days ago.
12. South Carolina
14 of 25
Top Target: Shaq Roland, WR
Roland is a one the very elite receiver sin the country. 6'1", 180 pounds, he shows excellent speed and hands to be a great downfield threat.
Top Commitment:T.J. Holloman, OLB
Holliman is a 6'2", 215 pound versatile second level defender that is athletic enough to cover backs out the backfield but can also rush the passer well.
11. Wisconsin
15 of 25
Top Target: Evan Boehm, OC
Boehm is the top center in the country and can anchor a line for the next four years.
Top Commitment: Dan Voltz, OG
Voltz is one of the top 100 players overall in the country and the 6'4", 290 pounder likely will be an All Big Ten guard.
10. Ohio State
16 of 25
Top Target: Ifeadi Odenigbo, OLB
Odenigbo is a DE/OLB hybrid that reminds me of a high school version of Aldon Smith.
Top Commitment: Brionte Dunn, RB
6'1", 215 pounds, Dunn is a 5-star rock toter and the No.1 "big back" prospect in the country.
9. Stanford
17 of 25
Top Target: Joshua Garnett, OG
6'5", 275 pounds, Garnett is the top guard in the country and has all the tools of an elite OL prospect.
Top Commitment: Aziz Shittu, DT
Shittu was a unblockable at the LA NIKE Camp and is one of the top trench defenders in the country bar none.
8. Arkansas
18 of 25
Top Target: Dorial Green Beckham, WR
The Hogs are still in it for now for DGB.
Top Commitment: Jalen Cobb, WR
Cobb has a very sudden release, good play speed and is one of the best route runners in the receiver class for 2012.
7. Oklahoma State
19 of 25
Top Target: Barry Sanders Jr., RB
Sanders is one of the top running backs in the country and 5'9", 180 pounder has similar running style to his father.
Top Commitment: Dalton Santos, LB
Santos is a 6'2", 230 pound 4-star LB recruit who pledged to play in Stillwater as a junior.
6. Florida State
20 of 25
Top Target: Keith Marshall, RB
5'11", 185 pounds, 4.3 speed and touchdowns. Enough said.
Top Commitment: Mario Edwards, DE
Edwards, 6'4", 275 pounds, is the most complete defensive end in the nation and a top 10 player nationally.
5. Boise State
21 of 25
Top Target: Lacy Westbrook, OG
6'5", 300 pounds Westbrook has a high ceiling and plays with solid balance, quickness and strength.
Top Commitment: Marcus Rios, DB
Rios is a 6'0", 175 pound press corner who plays physical on the defensive flanks and has solid cover skills.
4. LSU
22 of 25
Top Target: Landon Collins, DB/OLB
Collins is a 6'0", 205 pund strong safety type that can factor in the box against the run heaviily and also as a sold zone defender.
Top Commitment: Avery Johnson, WR
Johnson, the younger brother of Patrick Peterson, is a 6'2", 185 pound receiver with great deep speed and solid ball skills.
3. Oregon
23 of 25
Top Target: Joshua Garnett, OG
Landing Garnett would be a double get for Oregon, as they would get an elite player while also taking him from rival Washington.
Top Commitment: Oshay Dunmore, WR
Dunmore plays QB, but the dual threat ATH likely be a WR in Eugene.
2. Alabama
24 of 25
Top Target: Jameis Winston, QB
Winston is a 6'4", 200 pound signal caller who is considered the top dual threat QB in the country.
Top Commitment: Reggie Ragland, MLB
Ragland is a 6'4", 245 pounder that plays receiver right now, but will be an excellent fit in the Tide's 3-4 scheme as an ILB.
1. Oklahoma
25 of 25
Top Target: Gunner Kiel, QB
Kiel is the top QB in the country took a spring visit to Norman a few weeks ago.
Top Commitment: Sterling Shepard, WR
Shepard is a 5'11", 170 pound receiver with great play speed and RAC ability.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
