College Football Recruiting 2012: Grading the Classes of the Final BCS Top 25

The final BCS Standings were released yesterday and Bleacher Report hit you hard with extensive coverage of everything in regards to bowl games, controversial finishes and more. I'm going to give you a recruiting spin on it.

For the final BCS Standings, I'm going to give you a grade for each Top 25 team's recruiting class. You may be a bit shocked at some grades, and remember, just because a team is high in the standings doesn't mean its doing great on the trail and vice versa.

Here we go.

25. Auburn

The defending champs weren't last year's team, but the young bunch played hard. Next year, Auburn could contend.

On the recruiting front, it's been the same ol' recruiting juggernaut at Auburn. The Tigers have 15 commitments right now, led by QB Zeke Pike and WR Ricardo Louis and TE Ricky Parks. This class likely will be in the top 10.

Grade: B+

24. Texas

Wow, what can you say about Texas' recruiting class? It's tops in the country right now, as the 21 commitments are stellar. Mack Brown's top prospect is RB Johnathan Gray, along with DT Malcolm Brown, QB Connor Brewer and WR Cayleb Jones among others.

Grade: A

23. West Virginia

Dana Holgorsen has gotten himself a fine 21 commitments. The player that gets me the most fired up is OG Tyler Orlovsky. 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.

Grade: B

22. Penn State

Penn State is looking good on the trail this year with 15 commitments. The Nittany Lions went through a ton this year but fought hard. The Nittany Lions have pledges from WR Eugene Lewis, DT Tommy Schutt, OLB Camren Williams and DB Armani Reeves.

Grade: B

21. Southern Miss

The Golden Eagles check in at No. 21 in the final BCS standings this week. Larry Fedora feels his team should be in the BCS. Southern Miss has 16 commitments, led by 6'5", 295-pound OL Caleb Peterson. 

Grade: C

20. Nebraska

Nebraska is not doing so hot right now on the trail. Bo Pelini has gotten just eight pledges, and the top prospects are OT Paul Thurston, WR Jordan Westerkamp, QB Tommy Armstrong and DE Greg McMullen.

Grade: D

19. Houston

The Cougars were planning on crashing the BCS party and getting to a huge bowl game, but Southern Miss found a way to slow down Case Keenum for the upset. On the trail, they have 18 commitments, and their top-ranked player is RB Terrance Taylor.

Grade: C

18. TCU

The Horned Frogs will make the jump to the Big 12 next year and are coming into the conference with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. TCU has 13 commitments, led by DE Devonte Fields and TE Griffin Gilbert.

Grade: C

17. Michigan State

The Spartans have a 15-commitment class headed to East Lansing next year. The top two players are speedy WR Aaron Burbridge and DE Se'Von Pittman. I expect a few more top-tier players from the Midwest to declare for the Spartans over time.

Grade: B

16. Georgia

Mark Richt has rebounded well after a pretty rocky start this season. Recruiting-wise, the Athens crew has 13 pledges. Their top prospect is 5-star OT John Theus, who is one of the best 15 players overall in the country.

Grade: B-

15. Clemson

Clemson got its revenge on Virginia Tech by beating them in the ACC title game over the weekend. On the recruiting trail, they have 20 commitments, led by DL Carlos Watkins and DB Travis Blanks.

Grade: B+

14. Oklahoma

Oklahoma looked uninspired, tired, disinterested and down in Bedlam on Saturday. The Sooners have 14 commitments right now. You have to like a class full of players like John McGee, Durron Neal, Ty Darlington, Alex Ross, Sterling Shepard, Trevor Knight and Charles Tapper.

Grade: B

13. Michigan

Michigan has 24 commitments and a pledge from 5-star OT Kyle Kalis. Toss in TE Devin Funchess, CB Terry Richardson, DT Ondre Pipkins, a stable of pass rushers and four great linebacker prospects, and you see why Michigan could have a Top 10 class.

Grade: A

12. Baylor

The Bears may be a bit miffed at not going to a BCS bowl, and RG3 says he deserves the Heisman. Baylor has 18 commitments led by DB Kiante Griffin, WR Corey Coleman and DB Aiavion Edwards.

Grade: B-

11. Virginia Tech

Same ol' Hokies and Frank Beamer. Virginia Tech has 26 commits right now, and they're almost done filling up their class. I love CB Donaldven Manning, who has great short-area quickness and closing speed, as well as RB Drew Harris.

Grade: B

10. Wisconsin

The Badgers have 11 commitments, and the player I like the most is OG Dan Voltz. QB Bart Houston will be a starter at Camp Randall, and I also dig RB Vonte Jackson, OL Kyle Dodson and DB D.J. Singleton.

Grade: B

9. South Carolina

South Carolina has done a great job of getting by week to week. The coaches don't ask Connor Shaw to do too much, and SC just wins games.

The Gamecocks have 20 commitments, led by WR Shaq Roland and OT Brock Stadnik.

Grade: B+

8. Kansas State

For Bill Snyder and the Wildcats to be doing so well on the field, it's tough to understand why they pretty much have the worst class in the Big 12. K-State has 10 commitments, but its top-rated player is 3-star LB Will Davis.

Grade: D

7. Boise State

The Broncos don't get the top-tier talent. Yet BSU recruits players who want to be there and are smart, instinctive and passionate. The Broncos have secured 14 commitments, led by LB Ben Weaver.

Grade: C

6. Arkansas

Twenty players have told Bobby Petrino they're all Hog, and Arkansas has been pretty good this year. The main player to get excited about is WR Jalen Cobb, who has good speed and quickness.

Grade: B-

5. Oregon

Oregon has a roller coaster year, losing to LSU then reeling off win after win, only to see USC clip them in Eugene. However, back to the Rose Bowl again for Chip Kelly. The Ducks hold 15 pledges, with QB Jake Rodrigues being their top prospect.

Grade: C+

4. Stanford

Stanford took a loss to Oregon this weekend but has a 14-commitment class. The Cardinal have a commitment from 6'4", 225-pound LB Noor Davis, who I feel will be a complete three-down defender on the Farm. DB Alex Carter is another player that I like.

Grade: B-

3. Oklahoma State

The Pokes have a 12-commitment class right now, but they have been the victims of several devastating de-commitments. They do have WR/DB Kendall Sanders in the fold, along with QB Wes Lunt and TE Dominic Ramacher.

Grade: C-

2. Alabama

The Tide is doing what the Tide does on the field and on the recruiting front: dominating. Twenty pledges make up the class, with two headliners in LB Reggie Ragland and DS/ATH Eddie Williams. Alabama is on its way to another Top 5 class.

Grade: A

1. LSU

Yep, we have officially an All-SEC national title game. The Tigers have 20 commitments, they're coming off a great 2011 class, and this class is pretty nice, too. The top players are WR Avery Johnson (Patrick Peterson's brother) and LB/DE Toshiro Davis.

Grade: B