College Football Recruiting 2012: Top 3 Destinations for Every 5-Star Recruit

This year, it seems like the number of players considered to be elite 5-star caliber recruits tops out at 35. The 5-star status is a controversial and debatable component to the world of college football recruiting, as some of these players live up to the hype while others flame out.

But we can only go off the tape these players have thus far in high school and combine that with their size, speed, skill set and other factors to determine and project their potential. 

With that said, each 5-star recruit is highly sought-after, so I figured I'd run down each of their top three potential destinations.

Here we go.

Ronald 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 is solid to Notre Dame, but Rutgers, North Carolina and Virginia were considered.

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. Florida, Auburn and Georgia were among his finalists.

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.

Alabama has his pledge, as Auburn and Kentucky were in the mix among others.

Trey Williams, RB

Williams is not very big, but he's very fast, slippery, 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 scored his commitment, as the Aggies, Auburn and Texas Tech were his leaders.

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 is wide open with offers from just about everyone, but I think UCLA, USC and Notre Dame could be the top three at the moment.

Landon Collins, S/OLB

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.

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, he's a chugger who relishes contact.

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

Dunn is committed to Ohio State, but Michigan, Notre Dame and Alabama are still in the hunt.

Kyle Kalis, OT

Kalis is a 6'5", 305-pound lineman's type of lineman. He's a lunch-pail type who 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. Wisconsin and Pittsburgh were also among his first BCS offers.

Josh Garnett, OL

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, but Washington, USC and UCLA are thick in the mix.

Malcolm Brown, DT

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.

Oklahoma, USC, LSU and Texas A&M were also mentioned with Brown.

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.

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, but Alabama, Florida and Georgia are in it too.

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.

Jarron Jones, DT

At 6'5", 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.

Stefon Diggs, WR

Diggs is a player who can factor as a receiver or safety. I could move him onto the ATH board or S 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.

Taking a stab in the dark because he's so wide open, Florida State, Florida, Michigan, Virginia Tech, Miami and South Carolina seem to be standing out.

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.

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.

Hamilton really seems to be down to a final six, and not three.

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

Jameis Winston, QB

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.

Cayleb Jones, WR

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, though Auburn, Florida State, Oklahoma and Miami were in the race among others.

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 (which is the clear leader), South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn. 

Shaquille 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.

Thompson likely will end up at Cal, but USC, UCLA and Oregon are on him hard.

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. He can push the ball to attack all levels of the defense, get out on the edges to make throws on the run and will buy time with his legs.

Pike has an extremely high ceiling. He's solid to Auburn, as Michigan, Alabama and Florida were high on the list.

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.

Mississippi State is at the top, with Alabama and LSU rounding out his top three. Ole Miss is fourth right now.

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, Penn State Ohio State and Florida.

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.

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. Florida and USC are other possibilities.

Kwon Alexander, OLB

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. Oregon and USC are in the race as well.

Keith Marshall, RB

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

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.

Georgia is the rumored favorite.

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.

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, Illinois and a host of other schools.

Mario Edwrds, 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, Oklahoma, USC and Alabama.

Arik Armstead, DE/OT

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. But Florida, Miami, Auburn and Notre Dame are still recruiting Armstead very hard.

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 I think his top three could be Florida State, USC and Nebraska.

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.

He committed to Texas over TCU and Texas A&M.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

At 6'6", 220 pounds, the only knock I have on Green-Beckham 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. Guessing his top three is pretty tough right now, but I think Florida, Ohio State and Oklahoma could be the fits.