College Football Recruiting 2012: Recruiting Stock Report for Every BCS Team

Entering July, the recruiting side of college football has a lot going on right now. Some big names seem poised to make commitments, others are taking visits and we even have several recruits either de-committing or looking around.

For this read, I'm going to focus on the BCS teams to give you a very quick "state of the union" address and give you a sense of what direction their recruiting effort is going right now.

Up, down or neutral, come see where your favorite school's recruiting stock is going...

Boston College

The Eagles have a five-commit class with four-star OG Frank Taylor as the current headliner. Boston College is not a prime stop for recruits, but the Eagles get solid players to come to Beantown.

They're a bit behind right now and don't seem to be major players for many of the elite recruits. Yet, come signing day, they will have put together a solid class yet again.

Stock: Neutral

Clemson

Clemson is slowly starting to join the elite recruiting schools, as Dabo Swinney is gobbling up top-tier talent left and right.

After a stellar 2011 class, the Tigers have come back strong again.

They have seven four-star recruits out of their 12-man class; I really love 6'1", 195-pound DB Travis Blanks. Martin Aiken, a 6'3", 250-pound DE, is a solid player as well.

Stock: Up

Florida State

The 'Noles are dominating in recruiting yet again. This class is chock-full of future starters, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

Five-star DE Mario Edwards is considered the best player in the country by some, and four-star DEs Chris Casher and Dante Fowler are not far behind. FSU must fend off Florida to keep recruits Tallahassee-bound, but four-star DS P.J. Williams, RB Mario Pender and DT Dalvon Stuckey are studs.

Stock: Up

Maryland

Randy Edsall is living his ultimate dream as head man for Maryland and has nine commitments thus far for 2012.

His top incoming recruit is 6'6", 270-pound OL Mike Madaras, rated four-stars by most. I think if the Terps can gobble up a couple more four-star players, they can bring in a solid first-year class for Edsall.

Stock: Neutral

North Carolina State

N.C. State currently has five commitments slated for 2012, but they need to pick it up. They have no four-star recruits, and I'm not sure if I see any impact players so far.

The Wolfpack have always been a sleeping giant in my eyes, and I think they can win at N.C. State. I'm still not sure as to why they're off to a slow start on the trail though.

Stock: Down

Wake Forest

Wake Forest is almost in the same boat as N.C. State, as they only have three commitments right now.

That's just not going to cut it, and I would like Jim Grobe's staff to be a little more aggressive in recruiting to aim for the top-tier prospects and work his way down instead of aiming for second-level players.

Stock: Down

Duke

Duke has nine pledges, but none are at least four-star recruits. We all know the Dukies do things a little differently due to their academic standards, along with their chronic struggles on the gridiron, but a recruiting breakthrough is needed.

I don't see that breakthrough coming this year though.

Stock: Neutral

Georgia Tech

No four-star recruits for Paul Johnson, but this is a rare occurrence that is fine by me. I really respect Johnson and his staff's recruiting approach because they really evaluate scheme specifics well.

6'4", 275-pound DT Pat Gamble is Johnson's best commit, but OLB Junior Gnukonde and DS Michael Summers have a chance.

Stock: Neutral

Miami (Fla.)

Al Golden vowed to be aggressive on the trail and has executed his plan to the fullest of extent, as evidenced by his 16 commitments.

He has six four-star recruits led by speedy RB Duke Johnson and the top DE prospect in Florida Jelani Hamilton. The Canes are in the thick for a few other big name recruits and don't seem to be done yet.

Stock: Up

North Carolina

Ten players are committed to North Carolina right now, and the Tar Heels are hot after several top-tier recruits. I think this class has a chance to shoot up the class rankings before next February comes.

The top players are both TE prospects in Justin Meredith and Terrance Knox. UNC also has a QB in the fold in Patton Robinette.

Stock: Neutral

Virginia

Virginia sits in a solid hotbed state that produces a lot more talent and quality of players than many people think.

Mike London is going hard in recruiting, and he could strike gold this year if he can close the deal with four-star DE/OLB Eli Harold, considered the best player in Virginia.

The Cavs have 10 pledges right now, led by four-star DE Michael Moore and OLB Mark Hall.

Stock: Up

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech usually goes after tough, smart and versatile recruits to play the solid brand of football VA Tech plays year in and year out.

The Hokies have 11 commitments right now, but none are four-star recruits. However, Donaldven Manning is a solid CB who should start one day. Not known as a sexy school in recruiting, the Hokies still should end up with a good class that fits their mold.

Stock: Neutral

Iowa State

Paul Rhoads seems to be on his way to getting Iowa State back to being a competitive team within the confines of the Big 12, but he's going to have to rev it up in 2012 recruiting.

The Cyclones class has just four commitments right now, and three of those are just two-star recruits. I'm not huge on the star system per se, but when you first assess a recruiting class on paper, it's what you look at.

Stock: Down

Kansas

If you saw my article yesterday on the 10 worst classes in the country right now, then you saw that I had KU on the list. Turner Gill has made little to no impact on the trail, results-wise.

This class right now has just three commitments, and I highly doubt the Jayhawks really sign any immediate impact players this cycle.

Stock: Down

Kansas State

Kansas State basically has the same merit from me as Kansas does: I don't like how things are going right now on the recruiting trail.

K-state rarely gets any big name high school recruits and goes the JUCO route a lot, but they only have three pledges, and none are JUCO recruits.

Stock: Down

Missouri

Mizzou is on a bit of a roll right now. They just got No. 1 center prospect Evan Boehm committed to them, and four other four-star recruits already pledged.

But let's not kid ourselves, the elephant in the room is, can the Tigers get Dorial Green-Beckham?

6'6", 220 pounds with sub-4.4 speed, DGB is the top player in the nation, a Mizzou native and has the Tigers among the top.

Stock: Up

Baylor

Baylor has 12 players already slated for them in 2012, led by four-star DS Kiante Griffin. At 6'1" and 205 pounds, Griffin has a chance to be a star for the Bears on the back end. 

Don't sleep on three-star QB Jared Johnson either.

Stock: Up

Oklahoma

What else can be said about the Sooners? They are building an amazing class and are in the hunt for more elite recruits.

RB Alex Ross, WR/DB Sterling Shepard, WR Durron Neal, and OLs John McGee and Ty Darlington are among the best at their positions.

The Sooners are also big game hunting for Gunner Kiel and Dorial Green-Beckham, the top QB and WR prospects respectively and sit pretty for both.

Stock: Up

Oklahoma State

The Pokes lost two crucial commitments in LB/DE Dalton Santos and WR/ATH Bralon Addison over the past few weeks, but their class is solid.

Kendall Sanders is a four-star recruit who can play DB, RB and WR, and Jeremiah Tshimanga is a four-star OLB who can ball out.

Stock: Neutral

Texas

Texas could stop recruiting right now and still finish in the top-five rankings. They have the best class, hands down, with nearly 20 commits and only three players not rated four-stars or higher.

I encourage you to look up Texas' class for yourself and see the top-notch quality of players they have committed. It's ridiculous.

Stock: Up

Texas A&M

Even though their class is a bit more of a quantity over quality type of class, the Aggies are still cleaning up well on the trail.

They have nine players at the four-star or higher clip, including two five-star recruits in QB Matt Davis and RB Trey Williams. Davis is an elite athlete who could play WR, while Williams is a shifty jitterbug and darter type.

Stock: Up

Texas Tech

Tommy Tuberville is starting to see results pay off in Lubbock, as far as recruiting goes. He's got more than 20 commitments already and even has a five-star commit in super-talented WR Dominique Wheeler.

You toss in athletic DL/OL Mike Starts, WR Reggie Davis, and OTs Halapoultivaati Vaitai and Christian Okafor, and you have a foundation for one of the best potential classes in Red Raider history.

Stock: Up

Cincinnati

The Bearcats have 13 commitments, which is good, but seven of their pledges are just two-star recruits.

So I initially question the quality of players the Bearcats have committed right now.

They have no four-star recruits, and UC likely won't get any five-star players. Yet, they will find a way to upgrade their talent.

Stock: Neutral

UConn

Not really feeling the UConn recruiting class right now, as they have just seven commits with only one player even rated three-stars in DT Mikal Meyers.

There's a new regime in Connecticut, and Paul Pasqualonni does have a solid recruiting plan in place going forward. But the plan is not getting good quality right now.

Stock: Down

Louisville

Louisville has eight commits, and four of them are three-star players. None are rated higher than three-stars, but I think as we move forward, Louisville will land a couple four-star recruits.

They have a reach in Florida from Charlie Strong's Gator days, and I think they will dip into the Sunshine State again for more speed and athleticism.

Stock: Neutral

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh isn't doing too well on the recruiting trail either, as they have just six pledges, and four of them are just two-star players. 

Todd Graham may be taking this year to feel out the scene for the Panthers and establish better relationships with Western Pennsylvania high schools. We'll see.

Stock: Down

Rutgers

Rutgers has six commitments, all three-star recruits.

But I think the Scarlet Knights could make a push if they land a couple of the elite players such as Darius Hamilton, Elijah Shumate, Leonte Carroo and Yuri Wright from Don Bosco Prep in Jersey.

Hamilton says Rutgers is actually his leader, so the tilt could be shifting in Rutger's favor.

Stock: Neutral

South Florida

USF is doing about as well as many of the other Big East schools. They have six commitments from mostly two and three-star players, and likely won't get anyone in the top 25.

I wonder if they can get QB Tyler Cameron and WR D'Vario Montgomery; those two recruits would be huge coups for Skip Holtz.

Stock: Down

Syracuse

Five of the eight commits for the Orange are from New York, so Doug Marrone is doing a solid job of getting recruits from within his borders. They also have recruits from Georgia and Florida as well.

But I think all hands are on deck right now to land five-star DT Jarron Jones. Jones is from New York, but is a soft verbal to Penn State. He has gone on record to state he feels more comfortable with the Orange coaches and has the best relationship with them.

Stock: Up

West Virginia

Things at WVU were not as hunky-dorey as they were made to seem now that Bill Stewart is out and Dana Holgorsen is in as head coach of the Mountaineers. 

There are 10 recruits committed, two being four-star players and seven being three-stars. I think Holgorsen can land a couple more four-star recruits before next February.

Stock: Neutral

Illinois

Ron Zook has just four commitments, and they are all three-star prospects. Illinois was thought to be building a recruiting powerhouse in a few years with Arrellious Benn, Martez Wilson and Juice Williams choosing the Illini over other top programs.

Things haven't gone as well as planned, but Zook is one of the hardest-working recruiting head coaches in the game. Things just don't look too sparkly on the trail right now.

Stock: Neutral

Indiana

For Indiana's standards, I think they are doing pretty well this year; with 10 commits, seven are three-star players, and they could sneak a couple four-star recruits too.

Kevin Wilson has a ton of work to do, from installing his new offense to changing defensive schemes. Getting players who buy into what he's doing is crucial, and he's doing that.

Stock: Up

Ohio State

Ohio State has nine commitments right now, four players being four-stars or higher, and five-star RB Brionte Dunn being one of them.

However, I'm not sure Dunn sticks with his Columbus pledge, as five-star OT Kyle Kalis already has de-committed from Ohio State. I think the Buckeyes end up with a top-25 class, but not as high as other years.

Stock: Neutral

Penn State

Three out of 10 commits for the Nittany Lions are four-star prospects, including five-star DT Jarron Jones. Yet, Jones is a soft verbal, and it seems he may switch to Syracuse in due time.

Penn State is in the sights for four-star WR Eugene Lewis and four-star TE Kent Taylor, who is an admitted Penn State fan.

Stock: Up

Purdue

Right now I think Purdue is on the wrong path on the recruiting trail. They have three commitments and none are four-star recruits.

Maybe things are bound to pick up mightily for the Boilermakers, maybe not. We'll see.

Stock: Down

Wisconsin

The Badgers are doing pretty well in recruiting this year, as their class is shaping up pretty nicely. They have eight pledges, and a heaping five of them are four-star prospects.

OG Dan Voltz is one the top 100 overall players in the country, and QB Bart Houston comes from a winning program, has a quick release and solid poise.

Look for this class to be a good one for Bret Bielema.

Stock: Up

Iowa

Iowa is not setting the world on fire right now recruiting-wise.

The Hawkeyes have five commitments, and their most interesting recruit is a kicker.

Connor Kornbath is a 6'7", 210-pound kicker with 51-yard FG range. He'll be a weapon for Iowa, but the Hawkeyes need better quality position players.

Stock: Down

Michigan

Michigan definitely is doing well on the recruiting trail. Brady Hoke has 17 commitments with 10 being four-star prospects. 

There is a slew of future starters in this class from LBs Kaleb Ringer, James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone, to TE Devin Funchess, OT Erik Magnuson and CB Terry Richardson, among others.

Stock: Up

Michigan State

Nine out of the 10 commitments for Michigan State are three-star recruits, as the class is led by four-star DE Se'Von Pittman.

More talent could be on the way, as the Spartans have a chance to land four-star WR Aaron Burbridge and are also in the hunt for a couple other good players.

MSU could be poised to make some noise in recruiting.

Stock: Neutral

Minnesota

Jerry Kill has 10 commitments, but none are high-level players who figure to make immediate and early impacts for the Golden Gophers.

They have a soft verbal from three-star WR Andre McDonald, and the headliner of the class is three-star QB Philip Nelson. 

Stock: Down

Nebraska

As I predicted, Nebraska has picked up steam as we moved into the summer. They've gotten three commitments this month to make five total, and four of them are four-star players.

The Cornhuskers have a chance to land Andrus Peat, a five-star OT and brother of Todd Peat, a Big Red signee of last year.

I think Big Red is on the rise.

Stock: Up

Northwestern

No four-star prospects for Pat Fitzgerald, but he does have a solid 12 commitments. Northwestern is not a high-level recruiting juggernaut, but they have pulled in some solid prospects over the years.

While I don't think Tommy Schutt is a slam dunk, he seems to be the biggest name NU has a shot at right now. Yet, this could be a solid class by NU standards.

Stock: Neutral

California

Not sure what to make of Cal's recruiting efforts.

They have two commitments, albeit from four-star prospects in QB Zach Kline and OLB Michael Barton.

Yet, the big fish in the Bears' pond is five-star safety Shaq Thompson. He's a must-get from a talent perspective, but he also goes to a pipeline/pro-Cal school in Northern California.

Last but not least, five-star DT Eddie Goldman has Cal high on his list, to much surprise. Cal showed Goldman the ropes in Berkley recently, and he really loved his visit with the staff.

Stock: Up

Oregon

Oregon is another school I expect to pick up steam as we move forward.

They have seven pledges right now, but they also have caught the eye of a couple five-star recruits such as Kwon Alexander and Josh Garnett, among others.

I really like he QB commit they have in Jake Rodrigues, an athletic 6'3', 215-pounder who should fit the Ducks' offense perfectly. TE Evan Bayliss should also start in Eugene at some point.

Stock: Up

Oregon State

Two of the six commits for Oregon State are four-star recruits, and the player I really like is four-star WR Malik Gilmore. Gilmore is a 6'4", 200-pounder who had offers from Michigan and Notre Dame.

Ike Seumalo, a four-star OG who stands 6'3" and 275 pounds, has a chance to develop into an All-Pac-12 OL in Corvallis. Look for OSU to scoop up a few other four-star players.

Stock: Neutral

Stanford

The Cardinal have nine commitments for 2012, and two are four-star recruits. The top player is LB Noor Davis, a 6'4", 225-pounder from Florida. Davis is a solid athlete who can cover and also rush the passer a bit.

6'1', 185-pound four-star safety Alex Carter is another player who will be a starter from this class. Carter can play both deep middle spots and factor all over the field.

Stock: Neutral

Washington

I like what Washington is doing this year, as they are clearly trying to take advantage of the plus-year of talent in the Northwest. They have commitments from Jeff Lindquist and Cyler Miles at QB, and look to be in the mix for two five-star OLs.

Zach Banner and Josh Garnett are must-gets for the Huskies, as both are five-star caliber players, and both are from Washington. The Huskies will have to fend some national powers for both.

Stock: Up

Washington State

Paul Wulff has five commitments right now, and things are not really sizzling for the Cougars, recruiting-wise.

Washington State takes their time and evaluates players very well. That's why sometimes they're victims of de-commitments, because other schools steal the players the Cougars find.

Hopefully that doesn't happen this year.

Stock: Neutral

Arizona

Mike Stoops has seven commitments, which is fine, but none are four-star prospects, which is not fine.

Arizona is a solid Pac-12 program and should have better overall quality lined up.

The Wildcats are in the loop for some prospects, but they usually have to settle for second-tier players. I think they really need to pick it up on the trail.

Stock: Down

Arizona State

ASU has 12 commitments for 2012 lined up, and they usually get some talented prospects. Whether or not you agree with the reasoning of these prospects opting for Tempe due to less intense academic standards is your choice.

I think the Sun Devils have a chance to get Bryce Treggs, a talented and speedy WR from California. Treggs has a couple other suitors, but ASU is in the mix.

Stock: Neutral

Colorado

Colorado is trying to rebuild the program, and they hired ace recruiter Eric Bienemy to work his magic on the trail. It's been a so-so time, as the Buffs have just five commitments, and none are four-star players.

However, I do like the QB commit Shane Dillon. He's tall and skinny at 6'5" and 185 pounds, with a quick release and good mobility.

Colorado needs to get going.

Stock: Down

UCLA

UCLA has six commitments in the fold, and four of them are three-star prospects. The Bruins have no four or five-star recruits, and things could go either way.

There's a lot of uncertainty in Westwood in part to Rick Neuheisel being on the rumored hot seat. UCLA could be in store for another subpar recruiting class.

Stock: Down

USC

The Trojans have 10 commitments, including a five-star DE in Arik Armstead, who could also play OT. Then there are six commitments who are four-star prospects, but two of them are questionable.

WRs Jordan Payton and Darreus Rogers are looking around, and there is a good chance they opt to go elsewhere. Four-star LB Jabari Ruffin is a player I feel is a bit underrated.

Stock: Neutral

Utah

Nine players are committed to Utah, but the quality—based on the star system—is not overly impressive.

There are no four-star players in the fold, four commits are three-stars and the rest are two-stars or not rated at all.

I think Utah will scoop up a couple instant impact JUCO recruits going forward, which will help things. If not, then this is not the way the Utes want to open up recruiting in the Pac-12.

Stock: Down

Florida

Florida is doing excellent in recruiting and is in the mix for several five-star recruits, including OT D.J. Humphries and WR Shaq Roland. 

Will Muschamp has 13 commits, and two players are five-star recruits, as CB Brian Poole and OT Jessamen Dunker are elite recruits.

This should be a top-five class.

Stock: Up

Georgia

Georgia has 10 pledges for 2012, and two of them are JUCO recruits; the two four-star recruits are very talented players in DE Leonard Taylor and DT Johnathan Taylor.

Taylor is a 6'4", 310-pounder with raw ability, but a super high ceiling. Georgia is not recruiting QB Greyson Lambert any longer, but is in the mix for a slew of elite prospects, including five-star OT John Theus.

Stock: Up

Kentucky

Five of the Wildcats' 10 committed recruits are from Kentucky, and four are from Georgia.

That shows that Joker Phillips has identified his hotbed areas and is hitting them hard for talent.

Five of the 10 commits are just three-star prospects though, and the other five are rated lower than that. I would like to see UK land a couple four-star recruits to round out their 2012 class.

Stock: Neutral

South Carolina

The Gamecocks had a top-15 type of class last year in 2011 and want things to continue in 2012. A trend is starting in Columbia, as South Carolina has gotten the top player in the Palmetto State two years in a row with Marcus Lattimore in 2010 and Jadeveon Clowney in 2011.

This year could be the same, as Shaq Roland has the Gamecocks in his final four, and many considered South Carolina the team to beat for him. Four-star OT Brock Stadnik is their highest-rated commit.

Stock: Up

Tennessee

Tennessee doesn't have the advantage of plucking much of their recruiting class from its backyard because the state doesn't produce a wealth of talent.

But that's no excuse to only have three commitments right now for Derek Dooley. I like four-star WR Corey Smith, but let's go Vols. I know you'll pick it up soon.

Stock: Neutral

Vanderbilt

The Commies are trying to change things around, and that goes the same for the recruiting effort.

They have eight commitments in the fold, and even have a four-star player committed in 6'4", 225-pound DE Josh Dawson.

Only one of their commitments is from an offensive position, as this is shaping up to be a defensive recruiting year for the Commodores—things could be changing indeed.

Is there a chance Vanderbilt can get All-World ATH Nelson Agholor?

Stock: Up

Alabama

Alabama's stock is way up for 2012 recruiting right now. I love their class, and this will be a top-five finisher next February. 

Alabama's class is maybe one of just a select few that can even be mentioned in the same breath as Texas' recruiting class. Eddie Williams and Reggie Ragland are five-star recruits, and Kwon Alexander and Jameis Winston are on the radar.

Stock: Up

Arkansas

The Hogs have a seven-man class, but just one player—WR Jalen Cobb—is a four-star recruit. They figure, by default alone, to land more four-star recruits, so I'm not worried.

Arkansas is a solid program that I think has a chance to reap the benefits of good on-field success this fall and rake in a few star recruits. I would like to see how their class looks in the home stretch of recruiting after the season.

Stock: Up

Auburn

Auburn is likely going to finish in the top 10, maybe top five, for the third year in a row in 2012.

They're off to a great start, and the class is led by five-star QB Zeke Pike. Nine of the 10 Tiger pledges are four-star players, so this is clearly shaping up to be a quality class.

Auburn is thick in the mix for several other five-star recruits and more four-star players, so the champs aren't done. I actually predicted things to go the other way for Auburn this cycle.

Stock: Up

LSU

Five of the 15 commitments for Les Miles are four-star recruits, but that likely could be changed, because there is a hot rumor Avery Johnson has de-committed from LSU.

Look out for three-star LB Trey Granier, as he's a productive tackling machine who should play no different in Baton Rouge. Toshiro Davis can play DE and LB, and LSU likely will snatch up a five-star recruit or two before the cycle is complete.

Stock: Up

Mississippi

Ole Miss is in a similar position as Arkansas, as they will land some talented prospects just from being in the South and being a part of the SEC. Mississippi is a state that kicks out talent well, and last year Ole Miss snatched up the top four players in the state.

Right now, they have seven commits, six being three-star players. The quality is surely to increase as we move forward, and Houston Nutt should have another good class in 2012.

Stock: Up

Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have eight players committed, and four of them are three-star prospects. Devon Desper, a 6'5", 295-pound center, is the headliner thus far of the class.

Dan Mullen's team is primed for a solid run in the SEC, which I expect to jolt their pull in recruiting this year. Let's hope that works, and more quality is brought in by MSU.

Stock: Up

Notre Dame

Six out of 11 Notre Dame commits are four-star prospects, and the Irish have two five-star recruits in DBs Ronald Darby and Tee Shepard; Darby is a cornerback, while Shepard can also play safety.

It looks like the Irish will strike out with Gunner Kiel, but I think they can land Maty Mauk as their QB recruit this year. The Irish are also in the hunt for several elite players from all over the country.

There's potential for Notre Dame to make a recruiting run in 2012.

stock: Up