College Football Recruiting 2012: Texas vs Oklahoma, Whose Class Is Better?

Ah yes, the Red River Rivalry. We were close to seeing an end to this game, but it's beginning to look like the Big 12 is going to survive. Good, because Texas versus Oklahoma is an annual game that is a tradition, not only in the conference but in the country.

One key aspect of what makes the game so important is the talent level that each program possesses. They do it by recruiting. Simple and plain. The Sooners and Longhorns get out and recruit well year in and year out.

For 2012, whose current class is better?

2012 Oklahoma Recruiting Capsule

Oklahoma has 13 commitments in their 2012 class, and eight are 4-star prospects. The Sooners have recruited well over the years and continue to do so in 2012 recruiting.

I love RB Alex Ross and WR Durron Neal, as these two will be in line to be the next great Sooner offensive players. 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.

2012 Texas Recruiting Capsule

Half of Texas' class of 18 pledges is in the ESPNU 150. Half.

RB Johnathan Gray is the headliner, then you get QB Conor Brewer, WR Cayleb Jones, OLs Kennedy Estelle, Curtis Riser and Camhron Hughes, DL Malcom Brown, CB Bryson Echols, LBs Tim Cole and Peter Jinkens, and WR Thomas Johnson.

This class could rival or surpass the famed 2002 Longhorn class.

Texas Headliner: Johnathan Gray, RB

Johnathan Gray. There's no other player in this class who I expect more out of than Gray. He has over 6,000 yards and over 109 TDs...in the last two years.

At 5'11", 195-pounds, Gray shut critics up at The Opening by proving he has the hands to catch the football on a consistent basis.

Combine that with great speed, run strength, foot quickness, agility, balance, vision and run instincts, and you see why I think Gray and Malcolm Brown should make a fantastic tandem in Austin.

Oklahoma Headliner: Durron Neal, WR

I could have went with Ty Darlington, John McGee, Alex Ross among others but I'm sticking with Neal. Sooner fans, you may be—just may be—getting Ryan Broyles 2.0.

Neal is a 6'0", 185-pounder, with great quickness, play speed and playmaking ability. He plays WR but even rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior.

He shows good hands, a solid catch radius, athleticism to adjust and quickness out of his breaks. Huge get for OU. 

Other Notable Longhorn Commitments

Really, this class is shaping up to be an all time great. OT Kennedy Estelle, DT Malcom Brown and WR Cayleb Jones are 5-star recruits in their own right.

CB Bryson Echols should become a solid Big 12 back end defender, LB Peter Jinkens is one of the best in the nation at his spot, WR Thomas Johnson is a speedster who should be a dangerous space player for Bryan Harsin and QB Connor Brewer is said to have the "it" factor.

Toss in other players like OL Camrhon Hughes, LB Timothy Cole, OL Curtis Riser, DE Hasaan Ridgeway, CB Orlando Thomas and DT Paul Boyette, and this class looks even more daunting. 

Other Notable Sooner Commitments

OLs Ty Darlington and John McGee give the future of the Sooners' interior line a great outlook. Both players have good snap quickness and could play either OC or OG.

RB Alex Ross is a 6'1", 205-pound physical runner who should give the OU offense a closer in the fourth quarter. WR Sterlign Shepard is a super quickster that could be excellent slot type.

CB De'Vante Harris, DE Polo Manakainiu and DE Charles Tapper are 4-star players, and QB Trevor Knight is a signal-caller with quick release that OU convinced to switch from Texas A&M.

Whose Class Is Better?

Texas' class is, and it's not really that close.

Sorry, Sooner fans, but the Longhorns are assembling one of the better classes in recent memory this cycle.

Mack Brown has used a new-found energy to get to 4-0 so far this year, while also hauling in some top flight recruits. OU's class is not chop suey by any stretch, but this choice is Texas by a good margin.