College Football Recruiting 2012: The 10 Best Defensive Playmakers (w/ Video)

Defensive playmakers are hard to come by, as you need to be able to do an array of different things to be considered one. From having fantastic instincts, speed and range to ball location skills to pursuit ability to just an un-coachable knack for the ball, making a defensive play can be huge.

There are some pure, flat-out playmakers that already have schools hot on their trail. While more than 10 exist in this class, we took on the challenge of whittling the list down to the top 10.

Let's make a stop, tackle this read and get on to the next play!

10. Jabari Ruffin, LB

A college coach who recruits in the west says LaMar Dawson is good, but USC should have saved No. 55 for Jabari Ruffin.That's a big-time statement, but Ruffin is a big-time player.

He's a 6'4", 230-pounder with excellent instincts, athleticism, play speed, tenacity and quickness.

Ruffin easily has three-down ability and can cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield. He'll attack the run up front, has range and speed on the flanks and his experience as a TE/RB catching passes makes him a candidate for picks.

9. Ronald Darby, CB

Darby is a 5'11", 175-pound corner prospect who could find himself playing running back in college. He's a special athlete who can wow you on tape. He has very good foot quickness, which is why he projects well to corner.

He shows solid instincts in coverage, comes out of his backpedal well and can close in a hurry. Darby also can return punts and kicks very, very well, too.

Darby, whose alias is "Nitro," is headed to play for Notre Dame.

8. Chris Casher, DE

Casher is a prospect that early on was seen as a potential receiver, but has lit it up the past few seasons as a defensive end. Now, he's mainly projected at end, and he's quicker and more athletic than many would expect at 6'4", 230.

Casher shows a great burst at the snap and can run around blockers all contest long. He's long to stay clean and can convert speed to power. I also think Casher could play linebacker in college.

Florida State is where he's headed.

7. Reggie Ragland, DT

Raland is a fantastic prospect in my eyes, as the only knock I question with him is his COD. Other than that, he's a heat-seeking missile.

Many project Ragland as a linebacker in college, as he shows tremendous instincts, run-plugging ability and plays to his size at the point of attack. Ragland also has the speed and range to make tackles outside the box and work in coverage as well.

He's pledged to Alabama.

6. Eddie Williams, DS

Williams is an elite free safety prospect that is 6'4", 205 pounds, Some list him as an ATH because he is that versatile, showing an ability to factor at a plethora of positions.

DS, WR and OLB are all spots that you could see Williams play in college, but free safety is his best spot. He's instinctive in coverage, quick to recognize routes and he can pluck interceptions out of the air with ease.

Alabama has him locked up.

5. Shaq Thompson, DS

Thompson is a 6'2", 210-pounder that will line up at safety for the Bears, although he could get a look as a running back. 

He has a solid, quick back pedal and is quick read and react vs. the run. He flashes a willingness to plug holes vs. ball carriers and can be very effective in the box as an extra defender. Thompson has very good range and is not looked off easily. He's quick to decipher route combos and has leaping ability and ball skills to high point interceptions.

Thompson is also known as a big, bone crushing hitter.

Thompson can play corner in a pinch but is better at playing off-man than he is at press-man. He just lacks the upper body strength and quick strike ability to re-route receivers effectively in his jam. This is likely the only glaring flaw in his game at the moment.

4. Landon Collins, DS

Landon Collins is a 5-star recruit and one of the top players in the country, as he can play both safety and outside linebacker.

At 6'0", 210 pounds, Collins shows to be uber-instinctive in the box, physical against the run and have great range.

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

Alabama, LSU and Texas appear to be the main three for him

3. Noah Spence, DE

Spence is a 6'4", 240 pound DE prospect and one of the 10 best overall players in the country. His father played at NC State, so he has a good pedigree.

He's a super-athletic edge defender that can also stand up. Spence uses a quick first step to jump on top of blockers, play speed and a burst to close on the passer.

While he possess good length in his arms to keep clean during the rush, Spence also has the range and pursuit-speed to catch any runner from the backside

2. Mario Edwards, DE

At 6'4", Edwards has the frame to be 285 by the time he leaves college. His size and frame are why I believe he will be able to play the strong side defensive end spot for FSU.

Edwards is a great athlete for such big end, as he has a very good burst at the snap, long arms to stay clean from blockers, ability to bend, strength to convert speed to power and closing ability on the QB. But as good as Edwards is as a rusher, he's even better as a run defender. He flashes the potential strength to anchor against tight ends, stop/stack at the point, shed and make a tackle while also possessing the speed and range to chase across and around the field.

1. Kown Alexander, OLB

Alexander is an outside linebacker prospect from Oxford, Alabama and one of the best players for 2012. He's already been selected to play in the 2012 Under Armour All-American game and is considered the top outside linebacker in the country this year.

He's had 100 tackle seasons each of the past two seasons and approached the 150 mark as sophomore. Alabama commit Reggie Ragland, a great player in his own right, has already began trying to sale the Crimson Tide to Alexander, and is on him hard to also head to Tuscaloosa.

Every major program has extended an offer to Alexander minus Texas.