College Football Recruiting 2012: 9 Schools Every Recruit Is Eyeing

As a fan of a certain program, you want every top prospect to come play for your favorite school. That's a little far-fetched, but that's the passion that makes college football and recruiting so special.

Yet, there are always certain prospects who don't consider your school for whatever reason. Then there are the other schools that seem to be in on every major prospect in the country. They're dominant in recruiting and seem to be the sexy programs that attract the big-time recruits.

Here are nine schools that pretty much every recruit has some interest in.

9. Oregon

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Chip Kelly of the Oregon Ducks looks looks on as his team warms up before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 52-31. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Ge

Oregon has a lot to offer a recruit; from a college town-type location to a great looking campus, passionate fans, elite facilities and even a mascot riding a motorcycle.

Oh, then there are a million uniforms.

The Ducks have caught the eye of many top prospects in 2012 recruiting and not just on the West Coast. Five-star LB Kwon Alexander has mentioned the Ducks, and even Quay Evans, a 5-star DT, has his eye from afar.

Many other recruits have taken notice as well.

8. LSU

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach Les Miles center, celebrates with members of the Louisiana State University Tigers after defeating the University of Louisiana-Lafatette Ragin' Cajuns at Tiger Stadium 31-3 on September 19, 2009 in Baton Rouge,

The Tigers provide an annoying experience for opposing teams that dare come to play them at Death Valley. They also have a real live tiger on the sidelines. Wow.

LSU is a prime program in college football and is always a must-trip among many of the nation's top recruits. 

The Tigers are on the shortlist for many recruits, including more than a dozen five-star prospects who will more than likely take official visits to Baton Rouge this fall. Look for Les Miles and co. to haul in another elite recruiting class for 2012.

7. Oklahoma

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Bob Stoops of the Oklahoma Sooners looks up to the scoreboard with less than a minute to go in the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Land Shark Stadium on October 3, 2009 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami defe

The Sooners are one of the flagship schools not just in the just Big 12, but in all of college football.

Bob Stoops does an amazing job of having OU in the top tier of the rankings year in and year out, and 2011 should bring them a preseason No.1 ranking.

In recruiting, the Sooners are a school that when a recruit receives an offer, he takes notice. Aside from being one of the leaders for No. 1 QB Gunner Kiel, the Sooners have the attention of a slew of four and five-star recruits.

6. USC

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LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the USC Trojans watches warmups for the game with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Imag

You have Los Angeles—great weather, Hollywood, beaches, no NFL team, tradition and winning.

All factors recruits love and like.

That's why USC is one of the prime schools many recruits have an eye on. From five-star RB Keith Marshall out of North Carolina to local five-star DT Ellis McCarthy, USC is a school that is a sexy pick in recruiting.

This will have to be a creative class by the Men of Troy, as quality over quantity will be stressed due to scholarship limitations. 

5. Florida

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GAINESVILLE, FL - APRIL 9: Coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators directs play during the Orange and Blue spring football game April 9, 2011 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

I don't know what Will Muschamp is doing, but whatever it is, it's working. The new guy in Gainesville has Gator Nation buzzing with excitement for the 2011 season.

He also has his magic working on the recruiting trail as well.

Already armed with several talented commitments, the Gators are on the radar for some prime talent all across the country. From five-star OT John Theus to uber-athletic ATH Nelson Agholor, the Gators are hunting big prospects in 2012 recruiting.

4. Auburn

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 06: Coach Gene Chizik of the Auburn Tigers watches warmups before play against the Chattanooga Mocs November 6, 2010 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Gene Chizik is another coach that is doin' it big on the recruiting trail. He has many recruits thinking about how they would look playing on The Plains, and the Tigers have scored some serious pledges already, but many more are coming.

Brian Kimbrow, a four-star RB, is high on Auburn, as well as freakishly-athletic DE Jordan Jenkins.

Look for Auburn to haul in another top-five-type of recruiting class in 2012.

3. Florida State

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after their 26-17 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C

People keep asking the question, "Is FLorida State back?"

While this season will answer that question for the 'Noles on the field, I think it's safe to say, yes they are if you're talking about recruiting.

Jimbo Fisher and his staff have thrown their weight around on the trail and scored top cimmitments from prospects in his three full years running recruiting (two as head coach).

FSU is on many shortlists from five-star OT Andrus Peat, to five-star QB Jameis Winston and many more.

2. Alabama

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide leads his team onto the field to face the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 27, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Since 2007, Alabama has pretty much become a recruiting juggernaut.

How? Easy answer: Nick Saban.

Saban has a disciplined, thorough, monotonous approach to recruiting that gets results and attracts prospects.

Alabama is being considered by just about everybody, from elite five-star prospects, four-star recruits and some under-the-radar three-star players.

Tuscaloosa is one of the prime places high school football players want to go play at. 

1. Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns looks on during the game against the Missouri Tigers on October 18, 2008 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. Texas won 56-31. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Image

I'm not sure what it is, but it seems everyone and their mother is going to Texas this year. Seriously.

The Longhorns already have 17 pledges, 15 recruits being four-stars or higher. Wow.

And they're still not done.

Texas has a slew of targets remaining on board and is on shortlists for several other five-star recruits and many more players. This could be one of those recruiting classes that we look back on as an all-time-great-caliber class.