College Football Recruiting 2012: Schools Recruiting Better Than They Should Be

Sometimes, schools which aren't powerhouses have to face to the facts: you're not going to be a perennial top-10 recruiting juggernaut. Other times, circumstances affect your recruiting class in a current year, and the cycle is not a kind one to you.

But then there are times that a surprise happens. Whether it's circumstances or just a good year for you recruiting-wise, you recruit better than you should.

Here are some schools that fit one of the molds.

SMU

June Jones has the Mustangs going on the trail. I mean, when's the last time you heard anything from SMU recruiting-wise? 

Exactly: in the '80s.

This year, SMU has a chance to haul in a top-40 class, as they have 20 commitments and even a pledge from a 4-star recruit in CB Gabriel Marks. 

Vanderbilt

Yes, Vandy is 5-5 this year. Crazy, right? I had doubts if they'd even win a game this year. What's even more insane is the Commodores' recruiting class. 

Vanderbilt is annually among the worst recruiting schools in the SEC and the country. Even Jay Cutler was an unknown in high school.

But this year, Vanderbilt has 20 commitments and two are even 4-star recruits. RB Brian Kimbrow is among the top 100 or so players in the country and DE Josh Dawson is a big-timer as well.

Kentucky

Some people have been calling for Joker Phillips' head. Well, I advise you to really dig deep and check out the ins and outs of his program. Phillips and his staff are persistent and thorough recruiters.

Scout.com has them just outside their top-25 class rankings, and the Wildcats have 22 pledges. QB Patrick Towles is the headliner.

Auburn

Staying in the SEC yet again, Auburn makes this list, but on different circumstances. Again, I know I predicted this to be a down year for the Tigers on the trail. That was because their roster is stocked with young talent.

But Gene Chizik will likely again land another top-10 class, as he has sold 14 players on coming to Auburn. The circumstances of young talent and depth-chart schisms, I thought, would turn recruits off.

But players like QB Zeke Pike, RB T.J. Yeldon, TE Ricky Parks, WR Ricardo Louis and LB Cassanova McKinzy weren't.

Miami

Al Golden has class as well as a fantastic recruiting class. But having the class he has with the looming heavy-handed sanctions coming down in the future deserves a big applause.

It wasn't fair to Golden that he wasn't really told about the growing scandal at Miami, and he was blindsided about the news. But Golden and his staff have attacked the trail like mad men.

Miami has a top-10 class right now, with 26 commitments and five players rated 4-stars or higher. Wowzers, after the circumstances in Coral Gables.