2012 College Football Recruiting: Four Super Sleeper Recruits

Many people in recruiting largely pay attention to the top players, such as the 5-star recruits and the high profile 4-star players within the top 100 or so. 

With this piece, we're going to take a look at some "sleeper," or underrated, players and tell you the very best that have the most potential to become stars in college.

Don't forget, some of the best players we have seen in college football were not 5-star or mega-hyped recruits.

4. Malik Gilmore, WR

Committed to Oregon State and standing in around 6-foot-4 and weighing around 200 pounds, Gilmore won't wow you with tremendous bursts of speed.

However, he has a long stride to eat up cushions quickly, above average speed and tremendous length. In fact, it's his length that gives him such a high ceiling.

Gilmore has solid hands and a huge strike zone, allowing him to pluck and snatch everything out of the air; and he high-points everything in traffic. I imagine him being a solid No. 2 type of receiver in college, working the intermediate passing game and being an end zone terror on fade routes.

3. Mike Davis, RB

Davis is a 5-foot-10, 195-pound slickster and quickster of an RB. He's dangerous in the open field and for some reason, isn't high on many lists.

He's even commented a few times to different outlets about his apparent lack of respect from recruiting services. Well Mike, you've got a fan here in me.

I think Davis will also do damage in the passing game, as he is poison to LBs at the junction point out of the backfield. He also has good speed and run instincts to make plays with the ball.

Nice get for Florida.

2. Ty Darlington, OL

At 6-foot-3, 275 pounds, Darlington knows that he is not the biggest lineman in the world, so he gets it done via agility, toughness and technique. Scout.com has him ranked near No. 200 out of their top 300.

He's a sleeper who I think can play guard but will likely develop into a solid center. He shows the athleticism, toughness and smarts to play the pivot, and his film shows a trench man with great foot quickness.

Darlington shows easy movement and can be used on pulls and traps from the center position. He's underrated in my opinion, but Oklahoma is giddy to have him committed. 

1. Ishmael Adams, CB

Adams plays a bit of running back for his high school team, but many project him to become a college corner.

A hair under 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Adams is a very good athlete with a skill set I love for a cornerback; and he won DB MVP at the LA NIKE Camp this spring.

He's ranked as the 11th best CB and is in the top 250 for Scout.com, but watching him on tape shows a future starter at corner. He has very quick feet, loose hips, transition quickness out of his backpedal and solid coverage instincts. All of these equal the traits of a very, very good corner.

Cal leads, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona State and Colorado.