College Football Rankings 2011: 2012 Recruiting Grades for the AP Top 25

With the AP Top 25 being released this weekend, much of coverage has shifted toward that, as to break it down and see how it affects all levels of the college football landscape. So, today we're going to continue on with that.

This time, we're going to give you the recruiting grades for each team in the AP Top 25. Some teams are doing well, while others are off to slow starts.

How's your favorite program in the AP Top 25 doing?

25. USC

The Trojans have just nine commitments due to their sanctions, but there is quality in this class.

Four commits are inside the ESPNU 150. The leader is DE/OT Arik Armstead, a 6'8", 280-pounder. Jabari Ruffin, Max Tuerk and Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick are other notables.

Grade: B+

24. West Virginia

Dana Holgorsen has 17 commitments right now, and two are 4-star prospects according to Scout.com in OG Tyler Orlosky and WR Deontay McManus.

Orlosky has a chance to be a special player in Morgantown, as he is a 6'4", 290-pound OL prospect with great strength. He plays with great hustle and has a great work ethic.

Grade: B-

23. Auburn

The Tigers have 13 commits, with a slew of them being 4-star or higher prospects. They have two consecutive top-10 classes and likely will settle into the same tier this year.

QB Zeke Pike is the star of the class, but not by much because WR/ATH Ricardo Louis is a future star. So is TE Ricky Parks, RB TJ Yeldon and LB Cassonava McKinzy.

Grade: A

22. Florida

Florida has 17 future Gators already lined up. With commits like Brian Poole and Jessamen Dunker already, this class is lining up to be special for Will Muschamp.

Another normal recruiting year in Gainesville, as the Gators have gobbled up some amazing talent. But the thing is, I don't think they're done.

Grade: A

21. Missouri

I have to admit, I'm pretty geeked about Missouri's class right now.

Out of their 15 commits, the top player is obviously OL Evan Boehm.

Whether you see him as a future OG or OC, Boehm will be a multi-year starter for Gary Pinkel's front. He'll be snapping to QB Maty Mauk and opening up holes for RB Jonathan Williams.

Grade: B

20. Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have 16 commitments in the fold and are doing a solid job numbers-wise. They may need to add a couple bigger name recruits to make a move up the overall class rankings.

Yet the best player in the class is DT Nick James, a 6'5", 335-pound whale in the middle. James is a natural space eater and has great point of attack strength to fight through blocks.

Grade: C

19. Georgia

The Bulldogs have 10 commits, and there's two specific players I really like as Georgia is fresh off a great recruiting class last year and are on a solid pace again in 2012 recruiting.

OT John Theus is a 5-star player via Scout and Rivals and one of the top overall recruits in the country. DT Jonathan Taylor could develop into an All-SEC player under Todd Grantham in Athens.

Grade: B

18. Ohio State

Ohio State holds 12 commitments right now for their 2012 recruiting class. The Buckeyes already lost 5-star OT Kyle Kalis to Michigan, yet are working to add to their class.

RB Brionte Dunn is the headliner thus far, along with RB Warren Ball and LB Josh Perry. Dunn has said he is talking with other schools but remains pledged for now. Stay tuned.

Grade: C+

17. Michigan State

The Spartans have 14 solid players committed to head to Sparta, and the class is led by two standouts.

WR Aaron Burbridge will be one of the fastest players on the team the very minute the 6'1", 180-pounder sets foot on campus. DE Se'Von Pittman gives MSU the potential dynamic pass rusher they've lacked over the years.

Grade: B

16. Notre Dame

13 commitments. Five inside the ESPNU 150. Two of the top DB prospects in the country. What else do you want, Irish fans? 

Notre Dame is coming back with a vengeance on the trail. Their most recent commit is DT Sheldon Day, rated 5-stars per Scout.com.

You have love the look of a tandem of Tee Shepard and Ronald Darby in South Bend in the backend for the Irish. Nick Barratti could get a look at QB, and Deontay Greenberry is a heck of talent at WR. 

Grade: B+

15. Arkansas

Bobby Petrino has gotten 16 players committed before the season starts. This could be a special season for the Hogs, and this recruiting class could see a big jump up.

The headliner is WR Jalen Cobb, who figures to be the next great WR for Arkansas. 6'1", 185-pounds, Cobb is very, very quick and will be a dynamic WR in the Joe Adams, Jairus Wright and Greg Childs mold.

Grade: C

14. TCU

By the time their 2012 recruits develop, this class could be the foundation of a Big East title team.

With 12 commits lined up, TCU has two prospects ranked inside the ESPNU 150. Their top prospect is DE Davonte Fields, and I think TCU could actually move up in the rankings, as they are on some other good prospects.

Grade: B-

13. Virginia Tech

VaTech is having one their best recruiting years in recent memory. They're not a sexy name on the trail normally, but Beamer and Co. do a good job of evaluating players that fit the program's mold.

This year they have 23 committed players, and we're just seeing August roll around. I really like CB Donaldven Manning out of Florida; he's a quick athlete with great short-area quickness and closing speed.

Grade: B

12. South Carolina

The Ol' Ball Coach has scored 18 commitments so far, and this marks year No.3 in that he has landed the top player in South Carolina.

First it was Marcus Lattimore, then Jadeveon Clowney and now Shaq Roland. You can also toss Alshon Jeffrey on that list as well.

Roland is one of the best WR prospects in the nation and could be the next big WR in Columbia when Jeffrey leaves. OL Brock Stadnik is another player that should be a great one for the Gamecocks. 

Grade: B+

11. Wisconsin

The Badgers have just 10 commitments for their 2012 recruiting class. Yet there are two players I'm pretty high on in OL Dan Voltz and QB Bart Houston.

Voltz is a 6'4", 290-pounder that likely will play OG, and Houston has a chance to win the starting job in Camp Randall early in his career.

Grade: C+

10. Nebraska

Big Red is pretty behind the pack, as Nebraska has just six commitments. WR Jordan Westerkamp and OT Paul Thurston headline the class.

Grade: D

9. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys are a program that has been hit hard with misses. They lost Dalton Santos and Bralon Addison, and also missed out on LaDarrell McNeil.

The headliner is CB/ATH Kendal Sanders, a 6'0", 175-pounder that can play CB, RB, DS or WR.

Grade: C-

8. Texas A&M

The Aggies have 20 committed players and have done very, very well for themselves this recruiting cycle.

They have pledges from QB Matt Davis, RB Trey Williams, OLB Jordan Richmond, ATH Bralon Addison and WR Corey Thompson.

Grade: A-

7. Stanford

The Cardinal have 11 commits right now, and, according to ESPNU, two of those are inside their top 150. Alex Carter is a talented safety, but the jewel is OLB/DE Noor Davis.

Davis is a 6'4", 225-pound defender with great athletic ability and will be a three-down defender on The Farm.

Grade: C

6. Florida State

The 'Noles are cleaning up this year...again. They have 16 commitments, and, according to ESPNU, nine of them are among the best 150 overall players in the country. Yikes.

Mario Edwards is an elite overall player, along with talent like PJ Williams, Dalvon Stuckey, Chris Casher, Dante Fowler, Mario Pender and Marvin Bracy.

They just landed Justin Shanks too. Wowsers.

Grade: A

5. Boise State

The Broncos have 13 commitments, and we all know that no 5-star prospect will likely go to BSU this year. But that's OK, because Chris Petersen and his staff make their living off of evaluating right and going after smart, underrated players.

The headliner is 6'0", 170-pound CB prospect Marcus Rios.

Grade: C

4. LSU

The Tigers have 18 commits, which is a good number at this point right now, but the bulk of them are 3-star players according to Scout.com.

I love WR Avery Johnson and DE Toshiro Davis. Also, watch out for LB Trey Granier; he's a productive MIKE LB prospect that makes stop after stop.

Grade:  B+

3. Oregon

Oregon has just eight pledges, and recruits seem to be questioning the program's future due to the looming investigation around the program.

However, I fully expect things to pick up at some point in this recruiting cycle. But for now, the Ducks' top recruit is QB Jake Rodrigues, a 6'3", 215-pound dual-threat with a high ceiling.

Grade: C-

2. Alabama

Nick Saban has 17 pledges, and five are inside the ESPNU 150.

The two headliners are LB Reggie Ragland and DS Eddie Williams. But the depth in this class is great, with other commits like CB Geno Smith, LB Dillon Lee and RB/LB Tyler Hayes.

Alabama is on pace to contend for the No.1 overall class, again.

Grade: A

1. Oklahoma

Oklahoma has 12 commitments in their 2012 class, and eight are 4-star prospects.

I love RB Alex Ross and WR Durron Neal, as these two will be in line to be the next great Sooner offensive players. I also love QB Trevor Knight's quick release.

But for me, the highlight of this class is the pledges from John McGee and Ty Darlington, two of the top OL prospects in the country.

Grade: B