College Football Recruiting 2012: Leaders & Wildcards for Every 5-Star Recruit

Just going to focus on the uncommitted five-star recruits and guess a leader and a wildcard team in the race for them.

I also want to caution you that the players on this list are players I think truly are five-star-caliber talents, right now. That could change as we move forward through the recruiting cycle due to various factors.

So let's take a stab at a leader and wildcard for these elite level players.

19. Jordan Jenkins, DE

I think the leader for Jenkins is Florida right now but it changes a lot. A wildcard team would be Georgia and Georgia Tech as they are the two in-state teams.

Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn are also in the mix and a decision could come at anytime. A 6'3", 250 pound freak athlete at DE is a hot find on the trail.

18. Josh Garnett, OL

It seems like right now Garnett has a top 11 of—in any order—Auburn, Stanford, Washington, Michigan, USC, Cal, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oregon and UCLA.

I don't want to guess a leader for him because he's still so wide open. I think Notre Dame is a school to watch out for though, but pretty much everyone is still a wildcard for Garnett right now.

17. Landon Collins, DS/OLB

The two leaders for Collins are LSU and Alabama and he has told several publications he'll probably decide between those two and he's just about already made his choice.

Texas has come on late as opposed to a few other schools, but this is a Tigers vs. Crimson Tide battle for a hard hitting strong safety prospect.

16. Darius Hamilton, DE

Hamilton is down to a final six; Rutgers seems to lead over other schools like Alabama, Florida, Cal, Oregon and Tennessee.

Rutgers is the leader but the rest of the six are also very interesting. Cal seems to have the attention of Hamilton and Eddie Goldman, so I would list them as a wildcard.

15. Kyle Murphy, OT

In the spring, Murphy said he was down to Cal, USC, Oregon and Stanford. But now he looks to be wide open with schools like Notre Dame and maybe Florida getting in to the mix.

I can't name a leader, but a wildcard is USC. The Trojans are a hometown school and are still looking to replenish their OL depth. But you never know.

14. Jarron Jones, DT

After backing off his soft pledge to Penn State, I thought Jones would go to Syracuse, but he's eliminated the Orange and it looks like Penn State is in it still.

Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and North Carolina are also in the race. A Wildcard team is Virginia Tech. 

I think there's actually a good chance Jones sticks it out with PSU in the end.

13. Avery Young, OL

Young has admired Oklahoma from afar, but he is also from Georgia and has a ton of family there. But he's also gotten heavy interest from Miami, Florida, Auburn, Alabama and VaTech.

I thought Oklahoma was a leader but now I'm not so sure. Wildcard teams would be Georgia and Miami.

12. Shaq Thompson, DS

Thompson has a ton of offers and schools like Washington, Notre Dame and UCLA are under consideration.

But Thompson once committed to Cal, but he opened himself up again shortly after. I still think he winds up at Cal because he's known to get homesick.

But watch out for Notre Dame.  

11. Rushel Shell, RB

According to ESPN, Shell is considering Auburn, Penn State, Pitt, Ohio State and Tennessee. But I think there are still more schools he is looking at.

You tell me who's his leader and wildcard team for him.

10. Jameis Winston, QB

I think the leader for Winston is Alabama, but he's also down to LSU and Florida State. He's a lifelong 'Bama fan and is from the state.

He will be making a decision likely this week.

9. Kwon Alexander, OLB

Alexander is the top OLB in the nation and one of the very best defensive players I've watched on tape all year long.

I think a key tip is to watch out for schools like Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, LSU and Florida, among a couple others. 

Speculation is wild on Alexander, and I want to see where he decides to take his five official visits before I really keen in on guessing.

But being from Alabama, look out for the Tide and Tigers.

8. D.J. Humphries, OT

I figure the leader for Humphries is Florida. He has told various reporters that Gainesville has felt like home when he's been there.

He can talk all he wants about other schools like South Carolina, Auburn, Clemson and Tennessee, among others, but it should be Florida for him and he should announce pretty soon.

7. Stefon Diggs, WR

Miami, Florida, Auburn, South Carolina and Virginia Tech are schools to watch out for. Right now, I have heard that Diggs did really much so enjoy his visit to Auburn a few weeks ago.

But I also think a wildcard is Virginia Tech because Diggs is from the mid-Atlantic region and it seems the Hokies land a stud offensive skill player every couple years.

6. Quay Evans, DT

Evans has said MSU was his leader, but that was in the spring. Florida State could also be in the picture too.

Other wildcard schools include Alabama, Ole Miss, USC, Oregon and LSU.

5. Noah Spence, DE

The top pass rusher in the country, Spence is a hot get for many schools. He had great trips to UNC and NC State and is weighing his options.

Spence also has offers from Notre Dame, Penn State and Pitt, among others. I think there is a good chance he ends up at N.C. State.

Wildcard teams could be USC and Pitt.

4. Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman has a top 15 of Alabama, Auburn, Cal, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, N.C. State, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Virginia.

He says he is still very open within his top 15.

A leader? A wildcard? Anyone?

3. Keith Marshall, RB

Marshall still has a long list of schools, really about 14, but does plan to visit ND among others in the fall. Miami and Oregon are the newest additions to make the list a full 14.

I've heard to watch out for Georgia and Notre Dame. Also, I think North Carolina is out of it after Butch Davis' firing.

Alabama, North Carolina, Clemson and Auburn are other schools that are on his trail. 

2. Andrus Peat, OT

Notre Dame, Michigan and Nebraska are three schools I would guess would be leaders right now. He has said that Nebraska will be in the race until the end.

Yet Peat also wants to take a couple more summer visits. This is a wide open race that will be a process.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

DGB has a ton of offers from all over the nation and is the top player in the country. The rumored teams with the inside track include Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama and Arkansas.

It seems he doesn't want to leave far away from the southern portion of the Midwest.

With Gunner Kiel not opting to go to Oklahoma, I would imagine that could hurt the Sooners' chances. But Green-Beckham is still pretty open.