College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 15 Classes

I've given you a couple top 25's and also a top-10 list, and now I'm going to give you a top-15 recruiting class list. My rankings have changed since the last time I ranked classes.

There are some very special classes being built by some of the normal juggernauts, while some surprise programs have begun to make their marks on the trail. We've seen more top prospects make their selections, and classes are in full-forming mode.

Here are the top 15 classes.

15. Georgia

Whether you believe he's on the hot seat or not, Mark Richt is recruiting hard for UGA.

The Dawgs are fresh off to a great recruiting class last year and are on a solid pace again in 2012 recruiting. They have 15 commits, and there are two specific players I really like.

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.

14. LSU

LSU may be a class with a bit more quantity than quality, but not by a wide margin. That's not a knock on their class, but they have 20 commits, and the bulk of them are 3-star players.

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.

13. Texas Tech

Tommy Tuberville recruited well at Auburn, so you had to figure at some point he'd get Texas Tech going well in recruiting.

Tech has 18 pledges, including two from OL Michael Starts and WR Dominique Wheeler. I think Wheeler is talented enough to come to Lubbock and catch some balls as a true freshman, while Starts could be a great one as a DL or OL.

12. South Carolina

The Gamecocks hold 21 pledges right now and have a chance to stick around in the top 15, as they are in contention for some other top prospects.

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

11. Notre Dame

Sixteen commitments. Six inside the ESPNU 150. Two of the top DB prospects in the country. Notre Dame is coming back with a vengeance on the trail.

The Irish even locked up two stud DTs in Sheldon Day and DT/OT Jarron Jones, plus RB William Mahone.

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

10. Oklahoma

Oklahoma has 14 commitments in their 2012 class, and 10 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.

9. Miami

This is a remarkable job and perhaps one of the best recruiting efforts in recent memory, as even with their current situation looming over them, Al Golden has gobbled up 24 commitments for the 'Canes, though Trent Taylor has flown the coop.

From Keith Brown to Angelo Louis-Jean to Duke Johnson to Jelani Hmailton, Golden has proven that the combo of his selling skills of his vision, along with his selling of returning Miami back to where it belongs, has gotten recruits' attention.

8. Texas A&M

Mike Sherman and his staff have really done a great job this cycle.

The Aggies have 23 committed players, and they have specifically recruited the type of talent that will allow them to compete in the SEC moving forward.

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

7. Auburn

The Tigers have 15 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.

6. Clemson

Clemson is back again after having an awesome 2011 recruiting class and are off to a great start this season.

Dabo Swinney has gotten another 18 players lined up, and eight of them are 4-star recruits.

The biggest find is DB Travis Blanks, a 6'1", 195-pounder that can play CB or DS. DE Martin Aiken is another player to watch out for.

5. Michigan

Scout.com has Michigan at No.1, but I have them here at No.5. The Wolverines have a stellar class any way you slice it.

Brady Hoke has almost immediately shown he and his staff can recruit with the best of 'em. Hoke has 23 commitments, with three in the ESPNU top 150, and his LB class alone is great.

Look for Michigan to have a great class and finish in the top five this year.

4. Florida

Will Muschamp has clearly shown he has the capability to recruit with anybody in the SEC.

Aside from having a great class already, Florida is in on top talents like Keith Marshall, Tracy Howard, Jordan Jenkins and Nelson Agholor among others.

With commits like D.J. Humphries, Brian Poole and Jessamen Dunker already, this class is lining up to be special for the lead Gator.

3. Alabama

The Tide are at it yet again, with this 2012 class being another great Nick Saban compilation. Saban has 19 pledges, and eight—count 'em, eight—are inside the ESPNU 150.

The two headliners are LB Reggie Ragland and DS Eddie Williams. I expect both of these defensive players to be All-SEC defenders one day and contend for All-American honors.

2. Florida State

Seriously, one of these days I'm going to have FSU at No.1, I know I say that every week, but I mean it...watch...soon...they have 16 commitments, and according to ESPNU, 10 of them are among the best 150 overall players in the country. Yikes.

QB Jameis Winston is the No. 1 signal-caller in country and could also be a first-round pick in the MLB draft next spring.

DE Mario Edwards is an elite overall player whom ESPNU ranks the No.1 prospect in the nation, along with talent like PJ Williams, Dalvon Stuckey, Justin Shanks, Chris Casher, Dante Fowler, Mario Pender and Marvin Bracy.

1. Texas

Who else would be here at this point? The Longhorns, that is. 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.