5 College Football Recruiting Classes That Could Start a Championship Run

With recruiting being the foundation of every college football team, each player on the field is the result of countless hours of relentless recruiting. From evaluating a prospect, offering him, recruiting him and signing him, recruiting takes work.

When you look at your favorite program's roster and see the starters and key reserves, you can see what class they were signed in. You also always notice a couple players from each class that went on to become key players for the team's current success.

The 2012 recruiting crop is no different, as classes are being assembled that show the makings of foundations of future championship contending teams.

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)

Will Muschamp is off to an outstanding start to his first full year recruiting for Florida. Seven out of his 12 commitments so far for 2012 are rated 4-stars or higher with 5-star OT Jessamen Dunker and 5-star CB Brian Poole leading the way.

At 6'6", 315 pounds, Dunker is a future LT that combines size, balance, excellent feet, knee bend and incredible athleticism. He's still a bit raw, but college coaching should help him reach his amazing potential. Poole is a 5'11", 185-pound physical CB with elite athleticism and quickness.

While he is still rated 4-stars, don't sleep on 6'3", 210-pound RB Matt Jones. Jones reminds me a bit of Eddie George on tape, and could even play LB.

4. Michigan

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ANN ARBOR, MI - APRIL 16: Head football coach Brady Hoke talks with his team during the annual Spring Game at Michigan Stadium on April 16, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Michigan has a 17-commit recruiting class for 2012. While the Wolverines have no 5-star pledges, they do have nine 4-star commits including two fantastic LB prospects.

Royce Jenkins-Stone and James Ross are two of the top 10 LB prospects in the country and will be All-Big Ten caliber defenders in Ann Arbor.

Kaleb Ringer is not far behind them, and Terry Richardson is a very good CB. Big Blue's latest commit is 4-star OT Erik Magnuson, a 6'6", 275-pound big ugly from California that will anchor the line in a few years.

3. Florida State

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach JimboFisher of the Florida State Seminoles is doused with water in the final seconds of their 26-17 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlan

Jimbo Fisher has hauled in consecutive top-10 classes for FSU in his two years leading the charge in recruiting, last season being his first as head coach.

Fisher's biggest commitment is clearly 5-star DE Mario Edwards. At 6'4", 270 pounds, Edwards is as big as a DT and as athletic as a LB. He's a complete prep player and should become an All-ACC selection in Tallahassee.

Edwards, Chris Casher and Donte Fowler are sure-fire starters of the future on defense. If Fisher can land Jameis Winston, he may be on his was to a future elite, championship-level team in a few years. 

Florida State also has a bit of a sleeper in 4-star OT Alphonse Taylor, a 6'6", 340-pounder who can play both OT and OG.

2. Alabama

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban stands on the sideline during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty I

In my super-early recruiting class rankings weeks ago, I had 'Bama on top, but now I have another on top. Yet still, the Crimson Tide are enjoying another great run in recruiting.

They have two 5-star commitments, followed by another five 4-star rated players to make up an 14- commit recruiting class so far in June.

The headliner is 5-star LB Reggie Ragland. A huge, 6'4", 245-pounder that blows ball carriers up at the point of attack, Ragland is an above-average athlete, strong and instinctive. He will be the next great ILB in Tuscaloosa.

There are a ton of future starters already aligned in this class that will be keys to Alabama teams in the coming seasons.

1. Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Mack Brown of the Texas Longhorns during a game against the UCLA Bruins at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Out of their 17 players committed, Texas has a shocking 14 of them rated at 4-stars, with three of those 14 being 5-star players. Safe to say that so far, the recruiting trail in college football is Longhorn territory.

The top player is 5-star RB Johnathan Gray; this could mark the second year in a row that Texas signs the top RB prospect in the country, as they signed Malcolm Brown in 2011. Gray is a 5'11", 195-pound rock-toter who has a near-complete skill set.

Connor Brewer doesn't get all the pub that Gunner Kiel, Zeke Pike and Jameis Winston get, but the 4-star QB is a sheer winner, has solid accuracy and toughness, and commands his offense very, very well.

In a few years, when Texas is a highly ranked team and a favorite to win the the Big 12, point back to their 2012 recruiting class as to why, because I'm willing to bet many of the starters on those future teams will be from this recruiting class.