College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top Prospects from the Biggest States

While the hotbed states are debatable, I think I have a solid 16, plus the D.C. area.

We all know that most of the top talent consistently comes from Texas, California and Florida. Then there are other states that also produce most of the main recruiting targets year in and year out.

Here is a rundown of the top recruits in every hotbed state.

Ohio: Adolphus Washington, DE

At 6'5", 250 pounds, Washington has the size to play the strong side in college but also the athleticism, play speed and quickness to man the weak side as well.

He has a long frame to stay clean, can convert speed into power quickly and forcefully and he bends solidly. Washington is also a noted hoops prospect, which is why you hear the Julius Peppers comparisons.

Pennsylvania: Noah Spence, DE

Spence is the top pure pass rusher in the country and easily has the quickest first two steps in America. He flies off the ball and gets after the quarterback with tenacity, passion and sheer speed.

At 6'4", 245 pounds, Spence has elite athleticism, speed and the frame to stay clean from mass and power. Spence has the makings of a superstar.

Washington: Josh Garnett, OL

Garnett may be the best offensive guard prospect from the Washington area since Steve Schilling. At 6'5", 275 pounds, he has a high ceiling and plays with great athletic ability, knee bend and strength. He also may be able to kick out to tackle in college.

Garnett has good snap quickness, gets into his opponent's chest, walks them back and he can finish. He holds his own in pass protection, as he can work well in the short area confines at guard.

Oklahoma: Barry Sanders Jr., RB

At 5'9", 190 pounds, Sanders actually does remind you a bit of his dad when you watch him on tape. He has excellent elusiveness and quickness in the open field and just enough long speed to get to the house.

He displays great balance to take hits and shoves in the box, and he can still stay on his feet and get up field. He won't wow you with his stature, but he will with the ball in his hands.

Louisiana: Landon Collins, DB/LB

Collins is a five-star recruit and one of the top players in the country, as he can play safety and outside linebacker.

At 6'0", 210 pounds, Collins shows to be extremely instinctive in the box, physical versus the run and rangy to chase and pursue.

He's productive in space in coverage, showing an ability to factor in the zone due to his awareness. He always finds a way to the ball and hates getting caught in traffic.

South Carolina: Shaq Roland, WR

At 6'1", 180 pounds, Roland has played multiple spots, but receiver is his definite future home position in college. He just needs to spend more time there and get coached up.

Dynamic with the ball in his hands, Roland shows very good play speed and explosiveness. He isn't very strong, but can beat press with change of direction and quickness in his release. He flashes great separation quickness and solid hands.

North Carolina: D.J. Humphries, OL and Keith Marshall, RB

At 6'6", 270 pounds, Humphries is a left tackle through and through and is likely the best athlete in the trenches in the country. At his size, he shows excellent feet, quickness, balance, knee bend, agility, lateral quickness.

Marshall is a 5'11", 190-pound speedster with 4.3 speed and quickness. He shows a great burst, good vision and can be used on all three-downs. I liken him to LeSean McCoy of the Eagles.

D.C.: Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is a 6'5", 305-pound defensive tackle that has "special" written all over him. He has the quickness to jump blockers at the snap, strength to toss and shed and anchor ability to stop double teams in their tracks and make a mess in the middle.

He wants to play 4-3 tackle, but some teams like him at 3-4 nose. He can play both well in my opinion, and could even play 3-4 end.

Georgia: Jordan Jenkins, DE

At 6'3", 245 pounds, Jenkins may be able to come in as a true freshman and make an impact as a sub rusher from day one; he's that athletically gifted.

You watch him on tape and you see a burst and ability to beat blockers at the snap.He can bend well off the edge and close on the quarterback in a flash. He plays the run well and just needs to get seasoned. 

Virginia: Eli Harold, OLB/DE

Harold is an extremely explosive pass rusher that can play DE or 3-4 OLB. He is a great athlete with good range, play speed in pursuit and can quickly close on ball carriers.

He's a hot name on the trail since many 4-3 programs see him as a two down LB and sub-package/third down DE.

New Jersey: Darius Hamilton, DE

Hamilton is a 6'4", 245-pound defensive prospect that can do it all.

Most ends at the high school level only focus on their pass-rushing prowess, yet Hamilton shows the strength to anchor and shed against the end. Toss that in with his elite pass-rushing ability, and you see a five-star prospect on the defensive edge.

Missouri: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

Green-Beckam is a 6'6," 220-pound receiver out of Missouri. He was the National Junior Player of the Year by Rivals and is talked about as the best high school player in the country. 

He has drawn comparisons from Randy Moss to A.J. Green to Julio Jones, but I liken Green-Beckam to Calvin Johnson and Plaxico Burress.

Mississippi: Quay Evans, DT

At 6'2", 320 pounds, Evans is an immovable object in the trenches. He has great strength and I like him as a 1-technique or a nose tackle.

Once Evans gets his hands on a blocker and inside the body, it's over, as he can use brute and sheer strength to toss them around or power over them to get into the backfield.

He has the girth to be a space eater, but also the athleticism to make plays along the line.

California: Arik Armstead, DE

At 6'8", 280 pounds, Armstead has been talked about as the top prospect in the country. He can play defensive end, defensive tackle and also shows the feet and balance to play left tackle.

The brother of current USC defensive end Armond Armstead, Arik is a mammoth who isn't just a big man; he's an excellent athlete as well.

Alabama: Kwon Alexander, LB

At 6'2", 210 pounds, Alexander is a fantastic linebacker prospect. He has tremendous play speed and range and will be a three-down defender in college.

He projects well at WILL, but I think he can also play SAM in a 4-3 scheme due to his ability to carry tight ends around the field in coverage.

Texas: Johnathan Gray, RB

Gray is the top running back in the country on my board, as the 5'11", 195-pounder's production is that of three backs.

He has over 6,000 yards and 109 touchdowns over the past two seasons alone. Gray has elite vision, feel, instincts, elusiveness, speed and quickness.

Florida: John Theus, OT

At 6'6", 295 pounds, Theus excels at drive blocking and has the ability to finish.

Solid in pass protection, I think Theus' best spot is right tackle. He can play left tackle, for sure, but he plays nasty in the run game, snaps his hips upon contact and seems like a better fit on the right side of the front.

He moves targets off their marks with ease, has quick feet and plays physical at the point of attack.