National Signing Day Live Recap: Commitments, Surprises And Rankings

Jameis Winston, the top dual-threat quarterback recruit in the country, has signed with Florida State, according to a report by Tomahawk Nation. Winston had been committed to Florida State since early August, but did not sign on National Signing Day because of his participation in an all-star game held in Texas. Winston wanted to sign with his friends and family present, and elected to wait until he returned to his home state of Alabama to do so. Winston plays for Hueytown (Al.) High School.

In addition to his offer from Florida State, the 6'4", 190 pound Winston held offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Stanford. He gave consideration to Alabama and Stanford, but reaffirmed his decision to sign with Florida State Wednesday during an interview on ESPNU. After being committed for six months and reiterating his intention on national television, Winston signed with the 'Noles Friday.

Winston is a consensus five-star recruit. With a live arm and excellent athleticism, he is rated as the top dual-threat quarterback in the country. Winston is also an excellent baseball prospect as a pitcher and outfielder. Florida State will need to fight off the Major League Baseball draft this summer to get Winston to Tallahassee.

For more on Florida State football recruiting, visit Tomahawk Nation.

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Stefon Diggs, perhaps the most electric receiver recruit in the country, chose not to sign on National Signing Day. Diggs felt that he had started the process late, and rather than rushing a decision, he wants to look around a little more. Diggs is expected to sign on February 10.

One place Stefon Diggs be visiting is Maryland, this Saturday, according to a report by Ben Broman of Testudo Times. What's more, as Broman confirms, Diggs' recruiting host will be Maryland quarterback Danny O'Brien.

O'Brien, who will be a junior this fall, certainly has a lot of incentive to recruit Diggs. Let's face it, after the loss of Torrey Smith to the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, Maryland lacked the same dynamic receiving threat on the edge in 2011. Diggs is a rated a five-star player by most of the major services.

While Diggs is thought to be considering Florida, Auburn and Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes, Maryland cannot be counted out here. As Broman points out, geography is a huge factor in recruiting. And since Diggs started the process late, he'll be one of the only visitors this weekend. Maryland can give him a lot of one-on-one attention. Still, Maryland lost 10 games last year and should be considered an extreme long-shot to sign Diggs. He very well could just want to get a chance to see Carolina hoops.

For more on Diggs' upcoming visit and Maryland recruiting, check out Testudo Times.

National Signing Day 2012 is drawing to a close, and all of the signings, decommitments and flips caused some major shakeups in the recruiting rankings. But after all was said and done, the top of the recruiting rankings are populated by the usual suspects.

The following chart shows all four rankings services (247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout), and a composite of the four. Fans of teams that didn't finish well will claim that recruiting rankings don't matter. History could not disagree more, however, as the rankings are incredibly predictive of success on the whole. Still, there are always exceptions, and one poor recruiting year does not doom a team to years of future failure.

It's also important to note that thanks to improvements in technology (better cameras, the advent of youtube and digital film), better quality film is being prouced, and more people are able to view it each year. That leads to better rankings, as does the increase in investment in the industry. There are now four major recruiting services, and countless minor players. The chance a talented player goes unseen in 2012 is exponentially less than it was just a few years ago. More, more, more: It all adds up to less. As in, less sleeper recruits, less chances for teams to score big with unknown players, and less of a chance for the little guy.

And for the third time in four years, the national champion of recruiting is Alabama, narrowly edging out the Texas Longhorns. Both have large classes full of blue-chip recruits, and both met their needs, but Alabama was just a bit better at the top, according to the four major services.

Florida fans should quickly stop worrying about UF's failure to close on National Signing Day when they realize that their Gators finished third overall. UF lost out on linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, offensive tackle Avery Young, defensive end Leonard Williams and receiver Nelson Agholor. Players who commit on signing day aren't better than those who commit on any other day, but signing day is a way to build momentum and excitement for a program. The Gators did not do that today. Still, UF grabbed the top offensive tackle in the country in D.J. Humphries, of North Carolina, running back Matt Jones, of Tampa, and cornerback Brian Poole, from Bradenton (Fla.).

Urban Meyer and his new coaching staff had a great day in Columbus, as the Ohio State Buckeyes landed a top-five recruiting class. Meyer assembled a dominant class.

Florida State probably has the most impressive class on a per-recruit basis, as the 'Noles signed the No. 5 class despite inking only 19 players. FSU came away with the top defensive end in the country in Mario Edwards Jr., the top defensive tackle in Eddie Goldman, the two fastest recruits in Marvin Bracy and Ronald Darby, and the top dual-threat quarterback in Jameis Winston. Jimbo Fisher is probably wishing he had more scholarships right about now.

Despite a very quiet signing day, Brady Hoke and Michigan finished sixth overall thanks to the work done in the previous months. The Wolverines addressed needs along the offensive and defensive lines in a major way.

Stanford comes in seventh and boasts three amazing offensive line recruits in Joshua Garnett, Kyle Murphy and Andrus Peat. That is perhaps the best trio of offensive line recruits assembled by any one team in a century or more. The Cardinal appear here to stay, despite the departure of Andrew Luck.

Al Golden did a fantastic job keeping some top local prospects home, like Tracy Howard. And the Hurricanes' head man also stocked the program with an astounding 33 new recruits, which should help Miami weather the coming NCAA storm without having to play walk-ons or two-way players.

USC once again took home an extremely talented class despite limited scholarships, including two top Florida prospects in Nelson Agholor and Leonard Williams.

As for disappointments? There were a few. Despite playing for the BCS National Title, LSU finished outside the top-10. And Notre Dame closed with no momentum, as the final months were not kind to the once red-hot Irish, who finished 19th.

And then there is Cal, which takes disappointment to a whole new level. The Golden Bears were once dark-horse candidates to finish with the top overall class. Now they find themselves outside the top 25, and behind four other Pac-12 teams.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting. Also, check out more local coverage at our many fine college football blogs.

Raymond Ford, a top cornerback recruit, committed to the Cal Bears. Ford stars for for Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California and chose the Golden Bears over Nebraska and Colorado, the two remaining finalists of the three he declared last week.

Ford had been committed to UCLA throughout last season, but the firing of head coach Rick Neuheisel caused the defensive back to reopen his recruitment. According to ESPN, Ford eliminated the Bruins from contention this week, along with SMU, Washington State and Utah.

Ford, listed a 5-foot-10, 180 lb. cornerback, is the nation's 35tth ranked cornerback, and the 46th ranked overall prospect from the state of California. Ford was injured during his senior season at Junipero, but played on both offense and defense.

For more on Raymond Ford and Cal football recruiting, visit California Golden Blogs and SB Nation Bay Area. Click the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.

Darreus Rogers, a top receiver recruit from Carson (Calif) Senior High School has committed to the USC Trojans over the Arizona St. Sun Devils, continuing a solid Signing Day for Lane Kiffin that also included Nelson Agholor. Rogers had been committed to USC for more than a year. He also held offers from Miami, Oregon, Southern Methodist, and UCLA. The national recruiting services rate Rogers as a four-star recruit, and one of the top 30 receivers in the country.

Rogers stands 6'2" and weighs a solid 200 pounds. That's definitely good size for a receiver prospect. Rogers is athletic, can go up to get the football, and also has decent speed. He's not a track star, but is able to create separation nonetheless.

Rogers' commitment was a highly desired one for Arizona State, as Nikil Selvam explained, but that won't be happening now.

His signing becomes even more critical now that wide receiver T.J. Simpson, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, was ruled ineligible for another season at ASU on Monday. ASU needs to make up for the loss of several wide receivers from last season, including Gerell Robinson, Aaron Pflugrad and Mike Willie, and the No. 10 receiver of the 2012 class (according to Scout.com) isn't a bad place to start.

For more on the parties involved, visit USC blog Conquest Chronicles and Arizona State blog House Of Sparky.

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Kyle Murphy, a top offensive tackle recruit, has committed to Stanford over USC, announcing the news on television on National Signing Day 2012. Murphy, who played for San Clemente (Calif.) High School, chose Stanford over USC, the other main finalist other finalists for his services.

Murphy is a 6'6", 280 pound offensive tackle with excellent feet. He is rated five stars by most recruiting services, and is a fantastic prospect.

Murphy had made multiple trips to Stanford during the recruiting season, but some believed Murphy would choose the Trojans because San Clemente High has significant ties to USC. The decision was a struggle for Murphy.

Murphy was the third highest offensive in the consensus rankings, trailing D.J. Humphries and Andrus Peat. He joins a Stanford squad with several other blue-chip offensive linemen.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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For more on [PLAYER NAME] and [SCHOOL NAME] Football recruiting, visit [TEAM BLOG] and (if applicable) REGIONAL NAME. Click the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.

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Cyler Miles, a top quarterback recruit, is staying committed to the Washington Huskies. Miles had originally committed to Washington in early June. Starring for Denver (Co.) Mullen High School, Miles garnered more than 15 top scholarship offers, including Washington, USC Arizona, Arkansas and Arizona State. He is rated a four-star quarterback prospect by most recruiting services, and is one of the top five dual-threat quarterback recruits in the country.

Earlier Wednesday, Miles was wavering in his commitment to Washington. He skipped the National Signing Day ceremony at his school, and texted that he would pick between USC and Washington later in the day. Ultimately, he elected to stick with his commitment to Steve Sarkisian and the Washington Huskies.

Miles was very impressive during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, throwing accurately and showing off his athleticism. At 6'4" and 215 pounds, he has great size for the position, as well.

For more on USC recruiting, visit SB Nation Los Angeles. For more on Washington recruiting, visitSB Nation Seattle.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

National Signing Day 2012 is in full swing, and several top college football recruiting juggernauts dominating. All of the signings, decommitments and flips have caused some major shakeups to the college football recruiting rankings. Here's an update as National Signing Day rolls on.

This is a composite of three of the four major scouting services (Scout, Rivals and 247Sports). ESPN has not updated recently and will be included in the next update.

The battle for the top spot continues between Alabama and Texas. Both have large classes full of blue-chip recruits, and both met their needs.

Ohio State seems destined to remain in the top five spots as well, thanks to a great effort by Urban Meyer and his staff.

Florida State and USC battle for the top class of fewer than 20 recruits. The 'Noles and Trojans have made major moves up the rankings in the last few hours. Stanford has also climbed the rankings with the unexpected commitment of offensive tackle Andrus Peat.

LSU has been a bit of a disappointment, as the Tigers have are 10th on the list, despite coming off an appearance in the BCS National Championship game, and taking 22 players. The loss of defensive end Torshiro Davis to Texas was particularly painful.

Florida's class is excellent overall, but the Gators failed to close strong, as UF lost out on linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons, offensive tackle Avery Young, defensive end Leonard Williams and receiver Nelson Agholor. Players who commit on signing day aren't better than those who commit on any other day, but signing day is a way to build momentum and excitement for a program. The Gators did not do that today.

Auburn started quite slow and were on the verge of having a disappointing day, but picked up the pace, signing receiver Ricardo Louis and offensive tackle Avery Young.

The winner of the "team that made the top ten because it took a ridiculous amount of players" award is Miami, with an amazing 33 commitments. Still, Al Golden brought in several quality players and has a plan for The U.

There is some serious disagreement in some of the rankings, as Scout, the clear oddball, chooses to focus more on quantity than quality. This is nothing new, however.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting. Also, check out more local coverage at our many fine college football blogs.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets co-offensive line coach Todd Spencer resigned Wednesday amidst National Signing Day as the school has launched an investigation into text messages he sent recruits in violation of NCAA rules.

Spencer had been suspended and placed on administrative leave by Georgia Tech Athletic Director Dan Radakovich while the investigation was ongoing. According to a release by the school, head coach Paul Johnson recommended to Radakovich that Spencer's contract be terminated, leading to today's announcement.

NCAA rules limit electronic communication between coaches and prospects or their parents to e-mail and faxes. Text messaging is not allowed. Monitoring software caught the violation on Jan. 12 and Spencer was placed on leave the following day.

Georgia Tech was already placed on probation after findings of failure to cooperate and failure to meet the conditions and obligations of NCAA membership over previous violations.

The effects of the situation have already been felt by the Jackets. Three-star offensive lineman recruit Will Adams visited and committed to the Auburn Tigers largely due to uncertainty about Spencer's future with the team.

For more on Georgia Tech, visit From The Rumble Seat.

Ronald Darby, one of the top cornerback recruits in the country, has committed to the Florida State Seminoles over the Auburn Tigers and the Clemson Tigers. Darby stars for Potomac (Oxon Hill, Md.) and is one of the top players in the state. He is rated four-stars by most major recruiting services. After decommitting from the Irish, the 5'11, 174-pound Darby proceeded to take visits to Florida State and Clemson. Darby has previously visited Notre Dame, Auburn and Maryland. Those four schools, minus Maryland, comprised his final four.

Darby is perhaps the second fastest recruit in this recruiting cycle. The fastest, of course, is Florida State's Marvin Bracy; an Olympic hopeful. Bracy heavily recrutied Darby during the Under Armour All-America Game, and persuaded him to visit Florida State. Florida State's track program is a major attraction to Darby. None of his other three finalists have an elite track program.

Darby discussed FSU's history of success with two-sport athletes:

Darby is raw as a corner, but has a lot of ability. He'll be expected to contribute immediately in the return game, as well. Darby's commitment, along with Marvin Bracy, gives Florida State the two fastest recruits in the country.

For more on the parties involved, visit Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation, Clemson blog Shakin' the Southland, Notre Dame blog One Foot Down and Auburn blog Track 'em Tigers.

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Avery Young, one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country, has committed to the Auburn Tigers Over The Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators. Though he's a developmental prospect, the 6'6", 280 pound offensive lineman from Palm Beach (Fla.) Gardens holds offers from much of the SEC. And he's narrowed his list to Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Miami. He received plenty of in-home visits, and never did publicly narrow down his list to less than five schools. The major services rate Young as a four-star prospect.

What makes Young so attractive? It could be his NFL bloodlines, as both his father and brother played in the NFL. Or it could be his excellent athleticism. Young does have a big of a narrow frame, but is likely still growing. He should be an excellent pass protector, and if he adds the necessary bulk, could be a very solid run blocker as well for the Tigers.

Young had a message for other Auburn recruits:

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Ricardo Louis, a talented recruit out of Miami (Fla.) Beach High School, has committed to the Auburn Tigers, again. Louis had committed to Auburn, then decommitted and committed to the Florida State Seminoles. The commitment to Florida State lasted only a few days before Louis decommitted, again. Now he is back as an Auburn Tiger.

He is 6'2", 205 pounds. The four major recruiting services rate him four-stars and most have him as one of the top 200 players in the country. Louis holds offers from 15 BCS teams.

Louis is an explosive athlete with an impressive vertical leap. He lacks track speed, but has excellent body control. He is very quick and hits his top speed immediately. Louis is a very aggressive player and a special athlete. He's raw as a receiver, but has all the physical tools. Louis is also capable of playing defensive back.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Andrus Peat, one of the top offensive tackles in the country, has committed to the Stanford Cardinal over the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the USC Trojans. Peat stars for Tempe (Az.) Corona Del Sol High School. He holds more than 30 college offers, and has narrowed his list to Nebraska, USC, Stanford and Florida State. Peat visited the former three, but did not make his official visit to Florida State. Peat mentioned on ESPNU that he liked how Stanford will help him academically and athletically. This pick was a shock to most recruiting experts.

Peat also has excellent bloodlines, as his brother plays line for Nebraska.

What are the Cardinal getting in Peat? A 6'7" 290 pound superior athlete with an excellent frame. Peat is already a strong player, but has a lot of room to get even stronger. He's light on his feet and shows good bend for such a big man. Peat can definitely improve his technique, but if he adds bulk between now and August, he could be an immediate starter.

For more on Stanford recruiting, check out SB Nation Bay Area.

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Cyler Miles, a top quarterback recruit committed to the Washington Huskies, is reportedly considering backing out of his commitment and committing to the USC Trojans. The signs began to show up this morning when Miles did not attend the National Signing Day ceremony at his school, according to the Denver Post:

"Mullen High quarterback Cyler Miles did not attend the school's signing day ceremony this morning and is still deciding between Washington and Southern California."

Miles had maintained that he was a firm Washington commitment as late as Tuesday, but that seems to have changed. His ceremony is now scheduled for later this afternoon, and he will have letters of intent from both Washington and USC:

For more on USC recruiting, visit SB Nation Los Angeles. For more on Washington recruiting, visit SB Nation Seattle.

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National Signing Day 2012 is in full swing, and several top college football recruiting juggernauts dominating. All of the signings, decommitments and flips have caused some major shakeups to the college football recruiting rankings. Here's an update as National Signing Day rolls on.

This is a composite of three of the four major scouting services (Scout, Rivals and 247Sports). ESPN has not updated recently and will be included in the next update.

The battle for the top spot continues between Alabama and Texas. Ohio State seems destined to remain in the top five spots, and Florida State and USC battle for the top class of fewer than 20 recruits.

LSU and Auburn continue to have disappoint Signing Day experiences, as defensive end Torshiro Davis opted for Texas and defensive end Leonard Williams chose USC.

There is some serious disagreement in some of the rankings, as Scout, the clear oddball, chooses to focus more on quantity than quality. This is nothing new, however.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting. Also, check out more local coverage at our many fine college football blogs.

Follow @SBNRecruiting on Twitter.

Nelson Agholor, one of the top athletes in the country, has committed to the USC Trojans. Agholor stars for Berkley Prep, a tiny school in Tampa. It's unusual to see a prospect this talented stay in the lower classifications of high school football, as most elect to transfer to a higher level of competition. But Agholor liked Berkley prep, received a great education and became a star anyway. He's a true student athlete, and Lane Kiffin is very fortunate to land him.

Agholor claimed offers from over 40 schools, and there is no reason to doubt him.

Here he is on ESPNU, becoming the latest to eschew props other than a Trojans hat:

Agholor is a solid 6'1" and 185 pounds. His 4.4 40-yard time should not be doubted. The services (247, Rivals, Scout and ESPN) are universal in their praise, awarding Agholor a rating of five or very close to five stars.

USC is getting a special playmaker. Some see Agholor on defense, but any team using Agholor in a way that denies him the ball in his hands is foolish. Agholor is both fast and quick. He's explosive and easily beats the poor competition he plays in high school. And of course, he can make people miss. That trait should make him a top return man as well.

Agholor will need to adjust to a higher level of competition and add some weight to his frame.

For more on the parties involved, visit Florida blog Alligator Army, Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation, USC blog Conquest Chronicles, Notre Dame blog One Foot Down and Oklahoma blog Crimson and Cream Machine.

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Quinshad Davis, a top receiver recruit, has committed to the North Carolina Tar Heels over Tennessee and Wake Forest. Davis stars for Gaffney (S.C.) High School. He holds more than 10 BCS college offers, including Clemson, Illinois, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wake Forest. Davis is rated a four-star prospect by most services, and is generally regarded as one of the top 30 receivers in the country. Davis narrowed his schools to Tennessee, North Carolina and Wake.

Davis is 6'3" and weighs 190 pounds. He has solid speed and does a great job going after the football. He will need to learn to use his length to get off the press, and must improve as a route runner. Davis also put a strong focus on academics.

Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Leonard Williams, one of the top defensive end recruits in the country, has committed to the USC Trojans. Williams plays for Daytona (Fla.) Mainland High School. He holds more than 20 scholarship offers, including Florida, Florida State, Auburn, USC, Miami, Tennessee, Cal and others. Williams is rated a four-star recruit by most services, and is widely regarded as one of the top 10 defensive ends in the country. He is originally from California.

Williams took official visits to Florida, Florida Sate, USC, Auburn and Miami. He wants to play in a 4-3 defensive scheme, and insists that he is not going to be a defensive tackle. The 6'5", 255 pound Williams is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. He has the ability to be a shutdown defender against the run, while also rushing and pushing the pocket on passing downs. Williams' frame is incredible for a defensive end.

For more on Florida recruiting, visit Alligator Army. For more on Florida State recruiting, visit Tomahawk Nation. For more on USC recruiting, visit Conquest Chronicles. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Top JUCO wide receiver Courtney Gardner, who's been committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks for about two months, instead signed with the Oklahoma Sooners on National Signing Day. If there's one thing OU needed more of, it's wide receivers, since they only had four rated four stars or better in this class.

More: Let's listen in on a recruitment falling apart, shall we?

This stings doubly for Arkansas, which also missed out on the nation's No. 1 recruit, receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. He took his final visit to Oklahoma over the weekend, casting doubt in the minds of many on his status, and, yep, here we are.

Hailing from Roseville, CA, Gardner is rated a four star by recruiting services. He stands six-foot-three and weighs 215 pounds, but has good speed for a receiver of his size. He would've been yet another fine piece for Arkansas' deep receiving corps, but now he'll contribute to an even deeper one in Norman.

For more on the parties involved, visit Oklahoma blog Crimson and Cream Machine and Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats.

Dallas, Texas wide receiver Thomas Johnson, one of the top pass-catchers in the country, has committed to the Texas A&M Aggies. Since decommitting from the Texas Longhorns, he'd also taken visits to the TCU Horned Frogs and Oregon Ducks over the past three weeks, reaching TCU last. He'd been committed to Texas for nearly an entire year -- he first verbal'd with the Horns in February of last year.

He's rated a four-star by most recruiting services, with Rivals ranking him the No. 4 receiver prospect in the nation and the No. 5 player in the state of Texas. At six feet and 180 pounds, he's a speed guy, which should make him an interesting piece for Kevin Sumlin's offense.

He put on quite a show during his announcement, at one point asking ESPNU's hosts for their opinion on his destination.

For more on the parties involved, visit Oregon blog Addicted to Quack and Texas A&M blog I Am the 12th Man. For more, stay tuned to SB Nation's college football recruiting hub and our many fine college football blogs.

Kwon Alexander, a top linebacker recruit, has committed to the LSU Tigers. Alexander plays for Oxford (Al.) High School. He holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and UCLA, but narrowed his list to Alabama, Auburn and LSU. Alabama was thought not to have room for Alexander in this class, as scholarship numbers were tight.

Additionally, Alexander seemed better suited to play in LSU or Auburn's defensive schemes, as they rely on speed, as opposed to the Crimson Tide, which is more of a power and size-based defense. Alexander is 6'2" and 210 pounds. He tore his ACL during the 2011 season and missed out on participating in the Under Armour All-America Game. Alexander shows excellent athleticism and should be a candidate to play early and often on special teams, assuming he comes back healthy.

For more on the parties involved, visit Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll, LSU blog And the Valley Shook and Auburn blog Track 'em Tigers.

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Jamal Marcus, a top linebacker recruit, has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes. Marcus stars for Durham (N.C.) Hillside High school. He is rated a four-star prospect, and holds over 20 scholarship offers, including Auburn, Clemson, Florida, North Carolina, Notre Dame, South Carolina and USC. Marcus narrowed his choice down to two Ohio State and East Carolina before choosing the Buckeyes.

Marcus is a very athletic prospect. Standing 6'2" and weighing 230 pounds, he already possesses the size needed to play in college. Marcus likes to hit, and doesn't shy away from taking on blockers. Whether he plays immediately, or stars out on special teams, that physicality will be critical at the next level. Marcus needs to learn the intricacies of the linebacker position and gain a better feel for the game, overall, but he is a fine prospect.

For more on Ohio State recruiting, visit Along The Olentangy.

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Dante Fowler, one of the top defensive ends in the country, has committed to the Florida Gators. Fowler, who stars for St. Petersburg (Fla). Lakewood High School, had been committed to the Florida State Seminoles for more than a year. Fowler holds more than 30 scholarship offers, and is rated a five-star recruit by most services. But the 6'3", 245 pound defensive end had openly flirted with Florida for about the same length of time, taking multiple visits to Gainesville.

Fowler's drama-filled recruitment included much worrying over the playing time, and perhaps some disagreements with his parents over where he should go, as well. Fowler has undeniable talent. He is explosive off the edge and has the ability to improve his game against the run, as well. But he also comes with some baggage, as he was suspended for much of his high school season after some disagreements with his coach. Like many high-profile recruits, Fowler is immature and will need to be de-recruited once he enters college. He is a high risk-high reward prospect with excellent upside.

For more on Florida recruiting, visit Alligator Army. For more on Florida State recruiting, visit Tomahawk Nation. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Dorial Green-Beckham, the nation's top receiver, has committed to the Missouri Tigers. Green-Beckham, who stars for Hilcrest High School in Springfield, Mo. is an enormous get for Gary Pinkel. Not since Julio Jones and A.J. Green has a prep receiver been so highly acclaimed. Green-Beckham is rated a five-star recruit by every major recruiting service in the country.

Video via ESPNU, where we can see Green-Beckham going prop-free for the announcement, as expected. He's maintained a low-key persona during his recruitment, and this moment was no exception:

Fun fact: Green-Beckham was offered by every team to win a national title in the last quarter century.

He doesn't have the agility and flexibility of a 5'10" slot guy, but for his size (6'6" 220), it is quite special. Green-Beckham catches the ball very well and has excellent speed. Equally impressive is his consistent physicality. Green-Beckham doesn't allow the poor competition (and this is some poor high school football) to drag down his game. And those around him say he is a good kid -- quite the opposite of the stereotype that is the prima donna receiver. He is an immediate contributor in the SEC.

For more on DGB, visit Missouri blog Rock M Nation.

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Eddie Goldman, the top defensive tackle recruit in the country, has committed to the Florida State Seminoles over the Auburn Tigers. Goldman is truly a dominant player for Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, D.C.). He has over 30 scholarship offers including Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, USC, Miami, Tennessee and USC.

Goldman is a solid 6'4" and 310 pounds. It's rare to see a freshman that size without sloppy body composition, but he certainly has it. Goldman plays with quickness and excellent power. He seems to have an understanding of the position and clearly works on his game outside of practice.

Much like LSU's Anthony Johnson and FSU's Timmy Jernigan of the 2011 class, Goldman should be an instant contributor from the moment he steps on the field. It's tough to start as a freshman defensive tackle, but Goldman should be in line to see significant snaps. He does need to work on playing with a consistent level of effort.

Via ESPNU, video of big and dapper Goldman beaming after the announcement. This moment was followed by footage of FSU's coaches high-fiving haphazardly in their war room:

For more on Florida State recruiting, visit Tomahawk Nation. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Josh Harvey-Clemons, a top linebacker recruit, has committed to Georgia. Harvey-Clemons plays for Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes High School, and holds offers from more than 30 schools, including Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee and USC. Clemons is rated four or five-stars by the major recruiting services.

Harvey-Clemons stands 6'5" and weighs about 200 pounds. He's not likely an instant-impact player on defense, due to his lack of bulk. That he received such a high rating as a developmental prospect, however, certainly says something about his athleticism and potential.

Via ESPNU, you can see Harvey-Clemons surrounded by family members representing various local fan bases. He was clearly excited about getting to use props in his announcement, but probably should have prepared his setup better. Important stuff.

Harvey-Clemons played all over the field for Lowndes High, including receiver, quarterback, safety, linebacker and defensive end. Once he settles in as an outside linebacker and gets into a college strength program, he should develop quickly. Until then, Harvey-Clemons could be a standout on special teams, receive some snaps on passing downs, or perhaps even redshirt.

For more on Georgia recruiting, visit Dawg Sports. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Ken Ekanem, the No. 209 rated recruit according to Rivals, has committed to the Virginia Tech Hokies over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, announcing the news on television on National Signing Day 2012. Ekanem, who played for Clifton (Va.) Centreville High School, chose Virginia Tech over Notre Dame, Boston College, and others.

The 6'3", 226 pound Ekanem is a four-star player on most major services.

Ekanem had zeroed in on Virginia Tech on National Signing Day. The Hokies frequently use undersized, quick defenders, and Ekanem has a chance to play some defensive end as well. Virginia Tech will no doubt use him to get after the passer.

Ekanem was the 15th-highest outside linebacker in the Rivals rankings, trailing Deon Clarke and James Ross. He joins a veteran Virginia Tech defense that returns 9 of 11 starters.

For more on Virginia Tech recruiting, head to Gobbler Country. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Wayne Morgan, a top defensive back, has committed to Syracuse according to SB Nation New York during Wednesday's National Signing Day 2012. Morgan, a four-star defensive back played at Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn, NY, chose Syracuse over UConn and Penn State.

"I've been talking to the coaches for about two and a half, three years, so I was already comfortable with the coaches," Morgan told MSG Varsity in an exclusive interview Tuesday morning. "I knew most of the players already. I liked the campus, everything about it."

Morgan (5-foor-11, 188-pounds) admitted that Penn State was "too late" in the recruiting process and chose Syracuse because he just felt more comfortable there than at UConn. Morgan also said he chose to be an Orange because of head coach Doug Marrone, a Bronx native, and the good time he had during his official visit in December.

For more updates on Wayne Morgan, check back to this StoryStream. Meanwhile, SB Nation's blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician will be discussing the 2012 recruiting class of Syracuse for the next few days. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Reggie Northrup, one of the top linebacker recruits in Florida, has dropped the Miami Hurricanes and committed to the Florida State Seminoles. Northrup stars for Jacksonville First Coast High School. Northrup is a four-star recruit by 247 Sports, Rivals and ESPN. He had committed to the Hurricanes on the 28th of June. The decommitment came about 200 days later. Despite Miami's efforts to keep him from taking an official visit to Tallahassee, Northrup went anyway. The visit sealed the deal.

Northrup stands 6'2" and weighs 215 pounds. He's an active linebacker with good speed and power for his size. Northrup also held offers from North Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Tennessee. Nothrup will need some coaching and some work in the weight room. He's not an elite prospect, but should still be considered a very good pickup for the Seminoles.

The 2012 cycle was almost bereft of linebacker talent in the state. Northrup would have been able to play right away and possibly start at Miami. That will not be the case at Florida State, and it makes this flip all the more impressive. .

For more on Florida State recruiting, head to Tomahawk Nation. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Dalvin Tomlinson, a top defensive line recruit, has committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Georgia Bulldogs. Out of McDonough (Ga.) Henry County High School, Tomlinson received more than 30 scholarship offers, including Alabama, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Arkansas, Clemson, Harvard, USC, Tennessee, Michigan and Virginia.

Tomlinson is not only one of the top players in Georgia, but one of the top defensive ends in the country. At 6'3" and 270 pounds, he is uniquely suited to play in the 3-4 defense run by his three top suitors -- Georgia Tech, Georgia and Alabama. Tomlinson is rated four stars by most of the major recruiting services.

Tomlinson is a special recruit. He is the rare top defensive line prospect to also be recruited by schools in the Ivy League, holding a 3.9 GPA. He also plays trumpet, the snare drum, and other instruments. Tomlinson is also a two-time defending state champion wrestler, and his great balance is on display in his football film for Henry County High School.

For more on the parties involved, visit Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll and Georgia Tech blog From the Rumble Seat. For more, stay tuned to SB Nation's college football recruiting hub and our many fine college football blogs.

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Joel Caleb, one of the top athlete recruits in the country, has committed to the Virginia Tech Hokies. He stars for Midlothian (Va.) Clover Hill High school. Caleb holds offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, North Carolina Florida State and Clemson, along with 20 other BCS offers, but narrowed his list to Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Ohio State before deciding on the Hokies.

At 6'2" and 210 pounds, Caleb is a special player. He plays quarterback and defensive back for Midlothian, but will likely play with the ball in his hands at the college level.

And for good reason. Caleb has excellent strength for his size. He possesses excellent short-area quickness and while he is not a speed merchant, he does reach top gear relatively quickly. Caleb has a good feel for the game, and his combination of fluidity and toughness makes him fun to watch. The Hokies will definitely try to get the ball in Caleb's hands as much as possible, though he could also star at defensive back.

For more on Virginia Tech recruiting, head to Gobbler Country. Looking for National Signing Day coverage of other teams or recruits? Head to SB Nation College Football Recruiting.

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Korren Kirven, the No. 206 rated recruit according to Rivals, has committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide, announcing the news on television on National Signing Day 2012. Kirven, who played for Brookville High School, chose the Tide over Virginia Tech, and Virginia.

Kirven had zeroed in on Alabama on National Signing Day after also considering Virginia Tech, Maryland, or Tennessee. It was unsure whether Alabama would have room to take Kirven.

The 6'4", 275-pound Kirven is the 16th-highest defensive tackle in the Rivals rankings, trailing Jarron Jones and Quay Evans. He joins an Alabama squad that is loaded along the defensive line, having come off back-to-back-to-back elite recruiting classes. Kirven plays with a good blend of power and speed, and has room to add good weight as well.

For more on Kirven and Alabama Football recruiting, visit Roll Bama Roll. Click the link for more on National Signing Day 2012.

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Cordarrelle Patterson, one of the top junior college receiver commitments in the country, has committed to the Tennessee Volunteers, announcing the news early on Wednesday for National Signing Day 2012. Patterson, who played for Hutchinson Community College (Ks.), chose Tennessee over Auburn, LSU, Georgia and both Mississippi SEC schools, as well s many other finalists.

Patterson had zeroed in on a final five schools on National Signing Day after also considering Georgia and LSU, as well. Patterson is an explosive player with good size, at an impressive 6'3" and 205 pounds.

Patterson's commitment is a needed shot in the arm for the Volunteers, who had received a substantial amount of bad recruiting news of late, including an astounding six decommitments from quality players.

For more on Patterson and Tennessee Football recruiting, visit Rocky Top Talk.

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