College Football Recruiting 2012: Who Are Favorites for Kwon Alexander?

Kwon Alexander is the top ranked LB prospect in the country and one of the elite defensive players in the 2012 class. He has offers from basically every major college football program in the game.

Now comes word from Alexander himself that he has trimmed his list down to six schools. He heads into his senior season not only with high hopes on the field, but the looming questions surrounding his recruitment.

What schools are in contention for the nation's best LB prospect?

Who Is Kwon Alexander?

Alexander is 6'2", 210-pound LB from Alabama that has the most range of any defensive player in the nation. He's a speedy, agile, explosive and instinctive OLB with great play making ability for a linebacker.

Alexander has elite athleticism, which leads me to believe he will easily be a three-down player in college. He's more of blitzer than a true pass rusher, but shows a quick get-off at the snap.

Rated 5-stars by many of the big publications, I urge you to watch some clips of Alexander and see for yourself what a special player he is and could be in college.

Key Favorite #1: Alabama

Alexander has take several unofficial trips to Tuscaloosa and the nation's other top LB prospect, Reggie Ragland is a 'Bama commit.

Ragland is also from Alabama and he has gone on record per Scout.com to say that he does speak to Alexander about joining forces with the Crimson Tide.

The only question I have is where Alexander would fit in the Tide's scheme, as Alabama runs more times than not a 3-4 scheme. I don't think Alexander is a fit as an ILB, while he's not the true pass rushing fit for a 3-4 OLB.

But you have to imagine Nick Saban would find a way to exploit Alexander's strengths.

Key Favorite #2: Auburn

Auburn also is in Alexander's home state and has been recruiting him extremely hard. The Tigers have become a juggernaut on the trail under Gene Chizik, and it's not a shock for Alexander to have them in his top six.

The Tigers have had back-to-back outstanding recruiting classes and have hauled some elite talent. Chizik surely wants Alexander on The Plains pretty bad.

Alexander would fit well in Auburn's 4-3 defense, either as a SAM or WIL linebacker. He would give Auburn a rangy second-level defender that also could cover tight ends and running backs.

Key Favorite #3: Florida State

The Seminoles are back to their old ways in recruiting, as in getting a dominant share of the elite prospects.

With Mario Edwards and Jameis Winston committed along with many others, Jimbo Fisher and his staff are on a roll yet again.

An interesting nugget is Winston, as Fisher beat out Alabama for the top rated QB. An Alabama native like Alexander (and FSU commit Chris Casher), could FSU make it a third elite Alabama prospect they take from the Tide?

We'll have to wait and see.

Other Remaining Favorites

LSU is a school to watch out for because the Tigers are, well, LSU. Les Miles and his staff do a great job recruiting, and with their facilities, fan base, surrounding talent and other factors you have to imagine Alexander will give them a long look.

Miami is interesting. I think the Nevin Shapiro scandal may derail them a bit because nowadays, just rumors of sanctions scares recruits away. With the death penalty talk ensuing, will Alexander eliminate them?

Then there's Oregon. Another school with looming sanction talk around them. The Ducks boast great facilities. However, they are a bit far from Alexander's home in Alabama. They'll be an interesting darkhorse.