The 2012 recruiting cycle is still in the opening stages, but there have already been some commitments made. Some recruits do not like to drag out their recruitment and choose to end it early. Other recruits grow up rooting for a school and when that school offers, they pounce on it.
Whatever the reason, early commitments are starting to become more and more en vogue, with some players even committing in their junior seasons in high school.
While there are a host of top-notch players that have made verbal pledges known, we chose to whittle this list down to the very top 10 of the early committed 2012 recruits. There are a couple big, bruising running backs, instinctive linebackers, deep threat receivers, a huge defensive end and even a quarterback.
Here's the list!
Ball is a 6'2", 200-pound running back headed to Columbus to tote the rock in 2012. He rose to fame by showing out well at Ohio State's summer camp, where he was offered a scholarship.
He's a big back that will likely top out in the 220- to 230-pound range before he leaves college, but still has some wiggle for a big man in the open field. Tackling Ball hurts, and he knows it. He's a physical runner that can get yards after contact, yet has nimble feet and lateral quickness in his athletic skill set.
Ball has solid speed to take runs to the house when he gets his motor going. Look for him to become one of the better big backs in Buckeye history.
At 6'6", 270 pounds, you really have to admire Phillips' size and length. He clearly knows how to keep blockers off his body at the point and uses his length to stay clean to shed. Phillips has the length to tip down balls and clog up throwing lanes in the event that he stalls out in his pass rush.
Headed to Florida, he's likely the reason why Will Muschamp and Bryant Young are starting to get over losing out on Tim Jernigan. Phillips has the size and strength to become a defensive tackle in college, but also has just enough athleticism to become an end on the strong side as well.
I'm really interested to see how he does in the one-on-one portions in the camps and combine circuit this spring evaluation period.
When you're the first QB that Texas offers, that's a big deal.
When they offer you before the ink on their current recruiting class is barely dry, then that's a mega-deal.
Brewer received an offer from Mack Brown and Bryan Harsin on Super Bowl Sunday and committed on the morning of the next day.
Standing 6'3", 190 pounds, Brewer hails from Arizona, where his high school runs a similar offense to what Harsin will get Texas to run this 2011 season. He has a solid arm, good accuracy and has great mobility.
Brewer knows how to win football games, delivers the football with arm strength and touch, and seems to have great pocket awareness to escape the rush. Texas got a good one here.
Jones is a big back in the 6'2"-6'3", 200-210-pound range. He has the size and length to always fall forward and strength for extra yards, but runs physically enough to break tackles in run alleys and muscle his way to the second and third levels.
Charlie Weis will be in charge of getting Jones the ball at Florida, and Jones can torture a defense in multiple ways.
I've seen tape of Jones lining up in the slot, running a receiver-like route and catching the football in traffic over the middle like a natural pass catcher. Then on the next, he lined up deep in the back field, came downhill and bullied linebackers to paydirt.
He's a cross between Eric Dickerson, Eddie George and Steven Jackson.
Williams has the tools to become a top-flight free safety one day. But he also has the tools to become a top-flight receiver in college. The 6'4", 200-pounder is just a natural and instinctive player with silky smooth athleticism.
He has great play speed to close in a hurry but can also beat a defender deep—and his hands and ball skills are excellent.
Sometimes when you see Williams on tape, it looks like he's not going hard or trying—he's just that smooth and natural in his movements. I believe he will become a safety in college, but it wouldn't shock me if he becomes a linebacker or receiver.
He's headed to Alabama to be a natural in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama scores again, as Ragland is another early verbal for the Tide.
Ragland plays receiver right now for his high school squad because they ask him to do everything for them except sell popcorn at halftime. But the 6'4", 240-pounder will likely focus on becoming the best linebacker he can at Alabama.
Even at receiver, Ragland flashes great play speed and quickness. He has solid hands and lets his instincts direct him all over the field. As a defender he flashes explosion at the point, athletic ability to avoid traffic and speed to pursue and chase down anyone.
He could see time inside in Alabama's 3-4 as a run stuffer, or move to the outside as a JACK/rush end type to get after the passer.
Johnson is a 6'2", 185-pound deep threat on the perimeter that corners have to give a cushion to have a chance. He fires out of his stance off the line and blows by people with ease. Johnson is also strong at the stem of his routes to get off of press-man at the line.
The younger brother of Patrick Peterson, Johnson committed to LSU as a junior and has routinely shown why Les Miles is loving the thought of him following his brother to Baton Rouge. Johnson has a large catch radius and can leap and catch in crowds with the best in the country.
He possesses great ball skills and athleticism to adjust to poorly thrown balls on the move. Once he learns to compete hard for a consistent stretch, he will be dangerous in college on the Bayou.
Pender dominated competition as a junior, rushing for over 3,000 yards and over 30 touchdowns. Standing 6'0", 185 pounds, he's a slashing speedster that can do just about everything well.
Lateral quickness, vision, speed, elusiveness and drive are what sets Pender apart from many runners. He sees things before they develop, knows how to read front-seven alignments, scoots through run alleys, eludes defenders and bursts to the end zone.
He's headed to Florida State and should develop into a prime-time change-of-pace back next to James Wilder in the future. Pender has a chance to remind 'Nole fans of Warrick Dunn and Travis Minor.
I expect him to become a rock star in Tallahassee.
Jones pledged to Texas over the weekend over offers from just about everyone. There are some early talks that he is the top prospect in Texas this year and one of the elite receiver prospects in the country.
I fully expect Jones to be labeled a 5-star recruit by the end of the spring evaluation period. Measuring 6'3", 200 pounds, Jones avoids defenders on the move underneath, has long arms to pluck balls outside his frame and has solid RAC ability to gain a few yards after the catch.
He finds ways to attack defensive backs, cushions, shaded techniques and inside leverage on the perimeter. Jones is also fast enough to get deep and make plays down the field. He will compare to Roy Williams and Limas Snead in Austin due to his size and speed ratio.
Right now, Armstead is a 6'8", 280-pound defensive end that may grow into a monster defensive tackle—or even an elite left tackle. His frame and athleticism may make left tackle his best potential position down the road.
But Armstead has a great burst at the snap and strength to walk blockers back on bull rushes. He can convert speed to power off the edge, finish in the pocket and chase down ball carriers after he flushes them out. Armstead has solid strength to shed blocks and explodes at the point.
He's a great player wherever you see him lineup and also has offers to play college basketball. He will play both sports at USC, which he pledged to as a junior.
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