College Football Recruiting 2012: 10 Recruits Who Can Lead Championship Runs

Championships. That is what ultimately every athlete competes for, and college football recruits are no different. 

With this piece, I'm going to give you 10 players in the 2012 recruiting class whom I feel have the skill set, mentality, production and sheer will to potentially put a team on their back and lead their future college team to either a conference or national title.

Most of the players will be offensive recruits, since it is harder for a defensive player to completely dominate a game, let alone lead a whole team to victory as opposed to an offensive player.

Here are 10 recruits who can lead championship runs.

10. 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.

9. 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.

8. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

I have Green-Beckham as the top player in the country on my board, as do many other talent evaluators, but I have him at No. 8 on this specific list due to him playing WR and I don't really project him to be a return man in college at this point.

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. He reminds me a lot of Calvin Johnson. 

7. 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.

He's one of the top home run threats in the country, and his speed, quickness, nimble and run instincts easily make him a player capable of being on this list.

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

6. Barry Sanders Jr., 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.

5. 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.

That's why I have him higher on this particular list than Dorial Green-Beckham.

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.

4. 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.

He easily will will be an every down, starting running back in college due to his size, play speed and skill set. Shell is an extremely talented runner that combines a big back frame with little back quickness. He can pick and slide to holes and jump linebackers in alleys and has solid elusiveness.

3. Jameis Winston, QB

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

He's the top dual-threat QB prospect in the country. He shows solid mechanics in the pocket, quick feet in his climbs, solid set up quickness and has the height to see over the rush and the arm to deliver strikes to all areas of the field.

If Winston runs into traffic in the pocket, he has prime athletic ability to escape and make plays either throwing on the run or the speed to gain yards with his legs.

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's as close to a complete running back prospect that I've seen since the likes of Justin Fargas all the way to Malcolm Brown and Isaiah Crowell.

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's solid to Texas.

1. 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 good arm, mobility, accuracy and solid vision. Kiel shows an incredible amount of command and understanding of his offense, sees the whole field well and makes quick and correct decisions.

He's QB that I fully expect can put a team on his back and lead a title run.