College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Classes of the Major Conferences

I decided to re-visit the series of examining the top class in each major NCS/AQ conference and rank them. The big six is changing everyday, and I'm sure I'm not the only one slowly getting confused by the constant conference realignment.

Every program knows that you have to win your division and conference to get into any national convos.

So here are the top classes in each major conference.

Big East: West Virginia

Dana Holgorsen has gotten himself a fine 21 commitments, and four of his pledges are 4-star recruits. The player that gets me the most fired up is OG Tyler Orlovsky, a hard working, lunch-pail type of OL that has great play strength.

Also look out for LB Sam Lebbie, a great second-level defender that works every snap. Albert Reid has great speed to add to the RB corps and 6'1", 210-pound WR Deaontay McManus surely will catch a ton of balls in Morgantown.

Pac 12: USC

Scout.com lists Oregon as the tops in the Pac-12. I like Stanford's class, too.

However, pound for pound, value-wise, USC has the top class. The Trojans are fighting serious scholarship sanctions and limits, so they won't be able to sign a big class.

Right now, out of their 10 commitments, six are 4-star recruits and two of their 3-star recruits, WR Jaydon Mickens and RB Jahleel Pinner, I feel, are 4-star quality players. Sure, they got bad news from Arik Armstead, but OL Jordan Simmons, OL Max Tuerk, LB Scott Starr, TE Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick and WR Darreus Rogers are great players and LB Jabari Ruffin is one the top recruits in the nation.

That's great value for what USC is up against.

Big Ten: Michigan

Michigan is tops in the Big Ten right now.

Brady Hoke has done great on the trail, landing players like OT Kyle Kalis, CB Terry Richardson, TE Devin Funchess, DT Ondre Pipkins, DE Chris Wormley, DE Tom Strobel, DB Jarrod Wilson and OT Erik Magnuson.

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

SEC: 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.

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

ACC: Florida State

The 'Noles have 15 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. Although they will now have to fend off LSU and Oklahoma for Mario Edwards, the DE is listed as ESPNU's top prospect.

Tag along with talent like DB P.J. Williams, DT  Dalvon Stuckey, DT Justin Shanks, DE Chris Casher, DE Dante Fowler, RB Mario Pender and WR Marvin Bracy, and you see why this class is highly-touted.

Big 12: Texas

Yeah, as usual in this point of the cycle, Texas has the No.1 class. But it always seems like they finish too early, and come signing day, get passed by other programs. But, this is for right now, so I continue to list the Longhorns No. 1.

Nearly half of the Longhorns' commitments are in the ESPNU 150. Again, that's great value.

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.