College Football Recruiting 2012: 5 Recruiting Classes That'll Surprise Us

For one reason or the other, we see a ton of surprises in every recruiting cycle year after year. Whether it be a player committing to a school we felt had the least best chance, or a program making a banner run with recruits, surprises happen every year.

For this read, I'm going to give you five programs that will have a surprising good year in recruiting and allude to why 2012 could be a good year on the trail for each team.

Surprisingly, read on.

5. Texas A&M

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Mike Sherman of the Texas A&M Aggies enters the field for the second half as he leads his team against the Colorado Buffaloes during NCAA college football action at Folsom Field on November 7, 2009 in Boulder, Colora

Not known as a sexy school in the recruiting world, the Aggies have been in some prime hunts for big name Texas recruits since Mike Sherman took over, notably falling just short for top 2012 RB Johnathan Gray.

However, this year, even though Gray chose Texas, the Aggies already have 20 commits in their 2012 recruiting class. Six of the 20 are rated 4-stars or higher with RB Trey Williams being considered a 5-star recruit.

The Aggies have a chance to finish with a top-15 class as they still have some top targets remaining on the board.

4. Auburn

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Eltoro Freeman #21, Chad Slade #62 and Travante Stallworth #85 of the Auburn Tigers take the field against the Oregon Ducks during the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011

OK, so I admit; I thought Auburn would suffer a drop off this year in recruiting after landing back-to-back top-five classes in Gene Chizik's first two years as head coach. I was wrong, OK?

Because Auburn has gotten commitments from some of the nation's best players, including 5-star QB Zeke Pike, WR Ricardo Louis, CB Josh Holsey, LB Cassanova McKinzy and TEs Ricky Parks and Darrion Hutcherson.

I take my hat off to Chizik and Co. as even with an eight man class that has seven 4-star or higher prospects so far, Auburn is in the thick hunt for several other 5-star caliber players and a plethora of 4-star talents.

Somehow the Tigers are convincing recruits to join the program even though the current depth chart is stocked with young talent.

3. Texas Tech

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LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Head coach Tommy Tuberville of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts on the sidelines during play against the Texas Longhorns at Jones AT&T Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Tommy Tuberville has a season under his belt as he does a  full recruiting cycle. Things are in place now, as his staff has their complete recruiting board up and running and having a year of experience recruiting in Lubbock is paying dividends.

After landing Jace Amaro, Tony Morales and ultimately Delvin Simmons in 2011, The Red Raiders have 11 commits already for 2012.  Four players are 4-star prospects including DL Michael Starts, WR Reggie Davis, and OTs Christian Okafor and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.

The Legends of Lubbock are off to a great start and will surely go on to have a surprising 2012 recruiting class.

2. Ohio State

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COLUMBUS, OH - MARCH 30: Assistant Head Coach Luke Fickell speaks to the media during a press conference before the start of Spring practices at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center at The Ohio State University on March 30, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. Fickell wil

Yes, this does have to with Jim Tressel.

Tressel will go down as arguably a greater coach than Woody Hayes in Buckeye history, but for some reason, I don't think he was bigger than the program...yet.

That's why aside from RB Brionte Dunn, I don't expect Ohio State's recruiting to take that big of blow and lose anybody. Sure some of the elite out of state prospects may look elsewhere, but for those Midwestern kids that grew up dreaming of being a Buckeye, Ohio State will land it's fair share of them.

Which will be surprising to us.

1. Florida

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GAINESVILLE, FL - APRIL 9: Coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators congratulates cornerback Moses Jenkins #36 during the Orange and Blue spring football game April 9, 2011 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt

Will Muschamp knows how to recruit and has the keen and imperative experience of recruiting in the South within the SEC ranks. 

We all saw how well Charlie Weis could recruit while at Notre Dame, albeit more on the offensive side of the ball. Toss in the fact that Florida is, well, Florida and sits in perhaps the most talent rich state (Florida has 28 players in the ESPNU 150, tops this year for state rankings) in the country and you can see the Gators should and will have a great class in Muschamp's first full recruiting cycle.

Already with 10 commits so far in 2012, with five players at the 4-star clip or higher, Florida leads for 5-star OT D.J. Humphries and is being seriously considered many other elite prospects.