College Football Recruiting 2012: Power Ranking the Top SEC Recruiting Classes

The SEC is hands down the top conference and most competitive league in college football. Easily. But the lifeblood of the conference is bringing in talented players year in and year out via recruiting.

Urban Meyer says he learned very, very quickly that the myths and crazy stories of SEC football recruiting were true. The battles for players among rival schools are intense and uber-competitive, and it happens every year.

Who has the best class right now in the SEC?

Rankings 7-12

12. Ole Miss - Top Commit: Austin Ray, TE

11. Vanderbilt - Top Commit: Brian Kimbrow, RB/ATH

10. Mississippi State - Top Commit: Nick James, DT

9. Kentucky - Top Commit: Patrick Towles, QB

8. Georgia - Top Commit: John Theus, OT

7. Arkansas - Top Commit: Jalen Cobb, WR

6. Tennessee

Now I know I had Tennessee in my "schools that need to pick it up" type of piece, but it's like the Vols heard me and got on a roll.

Derek Dooley has 14 commitments now and the headliner is safety LaDarrell McNeil. McNeil is a 6'2", 190 pound heat seeking missile that lays people out.

Other top level commits include LB Dalton Santos, WR Drae Bowles, WR Corey Smith and DT Damien Jacobs.

5. South Carolina

Steve Spurrier has done a good job of establishing his reach around the Palmetto State. He's gotten the top player in South Carolina the past three consecutive years, with this year being Shaq Roland's year.

A 6'1", 180-pound WR, Roland is a smooth athlete and rated 5-stars per Scout.com. Other top commits include OL Brock Stadnik, WR Kwinton Smith, LB Kaiwan Lewis and OL Joe Harris.

The Gamecocks may be able to land a couple more top flight recruits if they have another great season.

4. LSU

I like LSU's class right now, but not as much as a couple other publications. It's got great depth and holds 18 pledges but there's not too many elite level recruits.

I like WR Avery Johnson, as the 6'2", 185-pound WR is a dynamic deep threat. And OLB/DE Toshiro Davis is a great defensive player. 

Other recruits include LB Ronnie Feist, TE John Thomas, CB Dwayne Thomas and DE Danielle Hunter.

3. Auburn

The Tigers have done well yet again in recruiting. They have 12 commitments and Scout.com rates 11 of them at 4-stars.

QB Zeke Pike is one of the top signal-callers in the country, as the big 6'6", 225-pounder has a cannon for an arm. WR Ricardo Louis is a future big play receiver, as RB T.J. Yeldon and TE Ricky Parks are also dynamic offensive commits.

LB Cassanova McKinzy is a great MIKE LB prospect, CB Josh Holsey will be start one day on the back end and DE Tyler Nero will help the Tigers put pressure on SEC passers on the regular.

2. Alabama

Yes, Alabama has dropped a tad in my rankings, but it's nothing wrong their class. Just a few other teams have jumped up.

But the Tide still have a chance to land the No.1 class in the country, as they boast 17 commitments. Two are outstanding prospects in the likes of safety Eddie Williams and LB Reggie Ragland.

Add in commitments from LB Dillon Lee, RB/LB Tyler Hayes, DT Dakota Ball, WR Chris Black and a freshly committed CB in Geno Smith and you see why the Tide are rolling.

1. Florida

The Gators have edged the Crimson Tide because of their core class. I mean that by out of Florida's 17 commits, they have a core class of OT D.J. Humphries, OT Jessamen Dunker and CB Brian Poole.

Those three players are among the upper echelon level of recruits for the 2012 class. 

TE Colin Thompson, RB Matt Jones, DB Marcus Maye, RB Mike Davis and LB Lorenzo Phillips are just a few other recruits that I dig in UF's class.

Which is tops in the SEC right now.