College Football Recruiting 2012: Top 10 Early Commitments

There's still plenty of time for college football recruits to sign with a school, but that hasn't stopped some of the best in the nation from already making a verbal commitment to certain programs. 

Of course, these high school stars can always change their minds, but the majority of them will stick to their word.

There is a growing trend of last-minute changes, so no fan should ever truly feel safe until that player has officially signed his letter of intent to a school. 

With that said, here are the 10 best recruits who have already made a commitment. 

10. Travis Blanks, S

School: Clemson Tigers 

Travis Blanks is one of the top safeties in the class of 2012, and his skills will greatly please Dabo Swinney and the rest of the Tigers' coaching staff. 

With the potential to play a number of positions, Blanks makes the list because of his dangerous return abilities. His quickness and acceleration will make him an impact player for the Tigers.

Listed at 6'1" 195 pounds, he'll need to bulk up to play the safety position, but that's not a huge worry for this hard-hitting defensive back.  

9. Malcom Brown, DT

School: Texas Longhorns 

A year ago, Mack Brown landed a Malcolm Brown to play running back, and now he has a Malcom Brown to play on defense.

It's a good thing both are very talented, because two kids with the same name on one team will be a hassle.

Listed at 6'2" 285 pounds, Brown is a force up front that the Longhorns will love. He has room to get bigger, and he certainly will once he hits the gym. 

He also played some tight end in high school, so he has more speed than one would think for a defensive tackle. 

8. John Theus, OT

School: Georgia Bulldogs 

John Theus is one top offensive lineman in the class of 2012, and he could easily see action in his freshman year at Georgia. 

At 6'6" 295 pounds, Theus is only going to get bigger and stronger. He'll continue to develop his game once he gets to the college level, and that only spells bad news for other SEC teams, especially since the Bulldogs have someone else on this list. 

Photo courtesy of Media.247Sports.com 

7. Chris Casher, DE

School: Florida State Seminoles 

Chris Casher played multiple positions in high school, but he projects best for a defensive end at the college level.

He played wide receiver also, but if he were to play offense for Florida State, he'd more than likely be a tight end. 

At 6'5", 236 pounds, Casher gets of the ball quickly and has a fantastic motor. This skilled athlete also plays basketball, meaning the Seminoles are getting a versatile player who will fit in well wherever Jimbo Fisher wants him. 

6. Eddie Williams, ATH

School: Alabama Crimson Tide 

An elite athlete, Eddie Williams has the potential to see playing time in his freshman season. Nick Saban landed a talented star who has the ability to play defensive back, linebacker or wide receiver. 

At 6'3", 205 pounds, Williams will need to add weight to play outside linebacker, but wherever the coaching staff wants him, he'll step in and perform well.

Williams projects best to a defensive back, as he is a hard-hitting defender with great instincts for the ball. 

5. Jameis Winston, QB

School: Florida State Seminoles 

Jimbo Fisher strikes gold again, this time landing the best quarterback in the class of 2012. 

Jameis Winston is a dual-threat quarterback, but with some development can become a much better pocket passer, which would make him extremely dangerous. 

At 6'4", 195 pounds, Winston will need to bulk up some to withstand the big hits he'll get when on the run.

He'll have time to grow though, considering the Seminoles are good at QB right now, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. 

Winston is definitely a player who will re-surface in a couple of years to help keep the Seminoles atop the ACC. 

4. D.J. Humphries, OT

School: Florida Gators 

Will Muschamp's top recruit, D.J. Humphries, ranks as the best offensive lineman in the class of 2012, and it's easy to see why. 

At 6'6" 275 pounds, Humphries will keep growing while at Florida. His mobility as a lineman is what separates him from the rest, because he can get out front for a run play. 

But at the same time, Humphries' skills as a pass blocker are very good as well. Once he bulks up, this guy will be tough to get around. 

3. Johnathan Gray, RB

School: Texas Longhorns 

Mack Brown picked up great running backs a year ago, and while Malcolm Brown started this season and did a solid job while healthy, the addition of Johnathan Gray will heat up the competition. 

Listed at 5'10", 195 pounds, Gray will need to add some strength, but when he first works with the team, he will rely on his speed to impress the coaching staff. 

Once he turns the corner, Gray is very difficult to catch. The Longhorns will be young at the running back position, but Gray gives them plenty of options.

2. Keith Marshall, RB

School: Georgia Bulldogs 

The running back position has been a major struggle for Georgia recently, but having Keith Marshall for 2012 and beyond gives the Bulldogs a great boost to their depth chart. 

This is the second year in a row that Mark Richt has landed the top overall running back recruit, and together Marshall and Isaiah Crowell will be an insane one-two punch. That is, if Crowell sticks around. 

Listed at 5'11", 190 pounds, Marshall will need to get bigger, but his speed is what excites the Bulldog nation the most. His quickness on the edge and vision when running through the hole is superb, and he'll make an impact for Georgia immediately. 

1. Mario Edwards, DE

School: Florida State Seminoles 

The Seminoles are putting together another great recruiting class, and it's Mario Edwards who makes it so great. 

As the top defensive end recruit in the country, Edwards will have a lot of pressure to step in and be a force. It'll be easier for him to get playing time if Brandon Jenkins decides to go pro. 

Edwards is the son of former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Mario Edwards, who also went to Florida State, so don't expect the defensive end to be lured away by any other school. 

Listed at 6'4", 270 pounds, Edwards has the tenacity to get after opposing quarterbacks, and he possesses a great motor. This is a great pickup for Jimbo Fisher and the Seminoles.