College Football Recruiting 2012: Power Ranking the Top 10 Recruiting Classes

Just wanted to take another look at the top 10 elite recruiting classes. Best of the best. Top tier. Great. Fantastic. However you want to name it.

I do predict that a few of these teams will fall out of the top 10 come signing day, as there are some programs right on their heels.

But for now, here are the top 10 classes for 2012.

10. Oklahoma

Oklahoma has 14 commitments in their 2012 class, and eight are 4-star prospects. The Sooners have recruited well over the years and will continue to do so in 2012.

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. Even with their current situation looming over them, Al Golden has gobbled up 27 commitments for the 'Canes.

From Angelo Jean-Louis to Duke Johnson to Jelani Hamilton, Golden has proven that the combo of selling his vision along with selling a promise to return Miami 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 24 committed players, and they have specifically recruited the type of talent that will allow them to compete in the SEC moving forward. Four recruits are inside the ESPNU Top 150.

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

7. Clemson

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

Dabo Swinney has gotten another 20 players lined up, and six of them are ESPNU 150 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.

6. Auburn

The Tigers have 14 commitments, with a slew of them being four-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

5. Michigan

Scout.com even lists Big Blue as the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 2012. I have them here at No. 5, but this class is outstanding.

Hoke has almost immediately shown he and his staff can recruit with the best of 'em. Hoke has 24 commitments, three in the ESPNU Top 150. His LB class alone is great and is tops at the positional group thus far.

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

4. Florida

With 17 commitments, Florida still is not done gobbling up elite, high-profile recruits.

Will Muschamp is in on top talents like Keith Marshall, Tracy Howard, Jordan Jenkins and Nelson Agholor among others.

Commits include D.J. Humphries, Brian Poole and Jessamen Dunker. Already, this class is lining up to be special for the lead Gator, as seven of his 17 pledges so far are listed inside the ESPNU 150.

3. Alabama

The Tide are at it yet again, with this 2012 class being another great Nick Saban compilation. Saban has 20 pledges, and eight—count 'em, eight—are inside the ESPNU 150.

That's great quality.

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

Here's another excellent example of quality: Florida State has 15 commitments, and 10 of them are among the best 150 players in the country. Wowsers.

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

Mario Edwards is an elite overall player, but he is looking around at LSU, Texas and Oklahoma, among others. But there's also talent like PJ Williams, Dalvon Stuckey, Justin Shanks, Chris Casher, Dante Fowler, Mario Pender and Marvin Bracy.

1. Texas

The Longhorns have 19 commitments, and nine of them are in the ESPNU 150.

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.