As we head into the final hectic weekend before national signing day, all of the nation's top programs are competing for the chance to sign one of the best classes of the entire 2016 cycle. Fans will be focused on their schools getting into the recruiting rankings' coveted top spots[1], where consensus blue-chip prospects make up a bulk of the signing day hauls. But highly rated classes don't always turn out to be highly successful ones on the field. So now with four seasons of action under their belts and the vast majority of the players either now at the next level or on their way to the draft, let's take a look back at the 2012 recruiting cycle[2] and re-rank the Top 10 classes. These re-rankings are based on the on-field success of a class—overall win-loss record in four seasons, conference championships, national title contention, individual awards and accomplishments and impact on the NFL draft. It's a similar system to the one Bleacher Report colleague Ben Kercheval[3] used in his Top 10 classes of the past decade from earlier this week. In hindsight, who do you think had the best 2012 class? Let us know in the comments below. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 9 Key Players Accomplishments NCAA sanctions forced USC to sign a small class in the 2012 cycle, but the Trojans loaded it with some high-quality recruits. Two of them, Leonard Williams (sixth overall) and Nelson Agholor (20th overall), were first-round picks in the 2015 NFL draft. At USC, the bulk of this class went through the ups and downs of both the Lane Kiffin[4], Ed Orgeron and Steve Sarkisian eras before returning to the Pac-12 Championship Game in 2015. Max Tuerk, Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler were multiyear starters along the offensive line, and Kevon Seymour was a consistent fixture in the secondary. While they weren't able to win a conference title or make it to a big-time bowl game during their four years at USC, the class of 2012 helped the Trojans stay above water during some trying times for the program. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 8 Key Players *Transferred to Louisville Accomplishments Like USC, this talented Georgia class didn't win a conference championship. However, these Bulldogs combined for 40 wins in four seasons and have some strong pro potential. The top college star from this signing day haul, Todd Gurley, wasn't even the top running back recruit for Georgia in 2012. Gurley had two strong seasons for the Bulldogs before a suspension and an injury cost him a good chunk of his final year in Athens. He was the No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft and was an All-Pro selection this season for the Rams. Georgia also signed two excellent pass-rushers in Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd during this 2012 class and picked up a pair of strong offensive linemen in John Theus and Greg Pyke. While several of Georgia's 2012 blue chips didn't exactly pan out, this was still a highly talented and moderately successful class. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 18 Key Players Accomplishments Notre Dame uncovered some under-the-radar gems in this 2012 recruiting class, one that was put all the way down at No. 18 by 247Sports' Composite Rankings. Some were thrown into the fire early, such as running-back-turned-starting-cornerback KeiVarae Russell, as the Irish went to the national title game in their first year on campus. 4-stars Sheldon Day and Ronnie Stanley became highly regarded names in the trenches for the Fighting Irish. Bleacher Report NFL draft lead writer Matt Miller[5] has Stanley marked as one of the first prospects taken in the upcoming draft, and Day is projected to be a second-round selection. C.J. Prosise became a do-it-all weapon on offense, and Chris Brown was Notre Dame's No. 2 receiver in back-to-back seasons. This class returned to national title contention for a few weeks in the 2015 season and earned a trip to a New Year's Six bowl game, wrapping up solid careers in South Bend. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 12 Key Players *transferred to Texas A&M Accomplishments This Oklahoma class suffered a downturn in the 2014 season, but it was also the bulk of the 2013 team that beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and the 2015 team that made it to the College Football Playoff as a Big 12 champion. Sterling Shepard was an instant-impact player for the offense and became one of the Big 12's best receivers during his last two seasons with the Sooners. Ty Darlington was a two-year starter at center, and Durron Neal was Shepard's right-hand man at receiver in 2014 and 2015. Trevor Knight even had his high points. The most impressive group from this class was the trio of 3-star defensive recruits who became the stars of a championship-caliber defense in 2015—Charles Tapper, Eric Striker and Zack Sanchez. Tapper and Striker were No. 1 and No. 2 on the team in tackles for loss for three straight seasons, and Sanchez had 13 picks in the last two seasons combined. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 26 Key Players Accomplishments *The Big 12 named Baylor and TCU co-champions, although Baylor won the head-to-head matchup Baylor's 2012 class helped usher in a new, championship-contending era of football in Waco and won back-to-back Big 12 championships. (Don't get me started about the co-title nonsense from the Big 12 in the 2014 season.) Not all of Baylor's recruits in this cycle turned out to be stars, but 4-star athlete Corey Coleman definitely did. He had the look of a Heisman contender for most of the 2015 season and still took home unanimous All-American honors as the nation's best wide receiver. As Max Olson[6] of ESPN.com pointed out this week, most of Baylor's 2012 signees became consistent players, including those on the defensive side of the ball. Best of all for the Bears, Seth Russell, Shock Linwood and Kyle Fuller will return in 2016 to lead Art Briles' all-world offense into what could be another huge season. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 13 Key Players Accomplishments The 2015 season was largely disappointing for Oregon, but that's only because of what its 2012 class had done in the three previous seasons. This group of players, especially those in the trenches, played key roles in getting the Ducks back to the national championship in 2014. Arik Armstead lived up to his 5-star hype with Oregon, later becoming a first-round pick for the 49ers. In a similar fashion, DeForest Buckner was the Pac-12 defensive player of the year despite the fact he played for the league's worst defense[7]. Bralon Addison, Byron Marshall, Dwayne Stanford and Evan Baylis were key figures in Oregon's wide-open offenses during their time in Eugene. Although they only took home one Pac-12 championship during their four years, those who stayed on with Oregon from the 2012 class won an average of a little more than 11 games per season with the Ducks. That's an excellent mark for any class. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 7 Key Players Accomplishments Stanford's 2012 class had one down year—2014—but the other three were beyond excellent. In four seasons, they took home three Pac-12 championships and went 2-1 in the historic Rose Bowl. The bulk of this class, which was the highest-ranked in program history, came along the offensive line. Andrus Peat was an eventual first-round pick at offensive tackle, and Joshua Garnett won the Outland Trophy this past season for his excellent work on the interior. Throw in former 5-star Kyle Murphy, and you can figure out why the Cardinal have been so dominant in the trenches under David Shaw. Barry J. Sanders didn't pan out at running back, but Stanford uncovered some true gems in Aziz Shittu and Blake Martinez on the defensive side of the ball. Like Baylor, Stanford signaled the start of a new era of championship contention with the class it landed on signing day 2012, and it more than lived up to its expectations. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 5 Key Players Accomplishments While Ohio State's 2011 and 2013 classes will be viewed more highly down the road, the 2012 class had several important players in the Buckeyes' national championship run in 2014. Taylor Decker and Adolphus Washington became stars in the trenches, with Decker taking home All-American honors in 2015. Joshua Perry and Tyvis Powell were big-time playmakers on defense, and Pat Elflein and Michael Thomas became top starters in Columbus. Then, of course, there's former 3-star prep school pickup Cardale Jones and his three legendary performances off the bench in the 2014 postseason. This class wasn't able to go back-to-back as champions, but its players racked up plenty of hardware and victories in their four seasons at Ohio State. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 1 Key Players Accomplishments As I'll mention shortly, this Alabama class might be better described as a 1B on a countdown of the best from 2012. Another one of Nick Saban[8]'s No. 1 hauls, this class took home the national title in its first season—and several stayed around for another championship in 2015. 5-stars Landon Collins—who had a memorable signing day moment[9]—and T.J. Yeldon contributed right away for Alabama on its 2012 national championship team. Amari Cooper excelled in his freshman campaign and later became a Heisman finalist as the nation's most dominant wide receiver in 2014. While that trio went on to the draft in 2015, a number of 2012 signees were key starters in Alabama's most recent national championship team, including SEC defensive player of the year Reggie Ragland. This class might not have as much all-around star power as the No. 1 team on this list, but it was extremely successful. 247Sports Composite Ranking: 3 Key Players Accomplishments Kercheval[10] went with Florida State as the No. 1 recruiting class of the last decade, and I tend to agree with him. While Alabama's 2012 class won one more national title, the top stars from Florida State's class were gone before the Seminoles took a small step backward in 2015. Jameis Winston wasn't the highest-rated 5-star of this group, but he left as the best with a Heisman Trophy, a national championship, two ACC titles, one career loss as a starter and the No. 1 overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft. Fellow blue-chippers Mario Edwards, Eddie Goldman, Ronald Darby and Menelik Watson were picked in the second round of the draft, helping FSU set an all-time record[11]. Those drafted players won 39 games in just three seasons and were members of three straight ACC championship teams. The Seminoles get the slight edge over the Crimson Tide in this re-ranking of what was a loaded 2012 class of recruits. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports[12]. Justin Ferguson is a college football writer at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR[13].
Ohio State QB Cardale Jones and OL Taylor Decker
Former USC DL Leonard Williams
Former Georgia RB Todd Gurley
Notre Dame DL Sheldon Day
Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard
Baylor WR Corey Coleman
Former Oregon DL Arik Armstead
Stanford OG Joshua Garnett (right)
Ohio State DB Tyvis Powell and QB Cardale Jones
Alabama LB Reggie Ragland
Former Florida State QB Jameis Winston
References
- ^ coveted top spots (247sports.com)
- ^ 2012 recruiting cycle (247sports.com)
- ^ Ben Kercheval (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Lane Kiffin (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Matt Miller (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ Max Olson (espn.go.com)
- ^ worst defense (www.cfbstats.com)
- ^ Nick Saban (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ signing day moment (espn.go.com)
- ^ Kercheval (bleacherreport.com)
- ^ all-time record (www.tallahassee.com)
- ^ 247Sports (247sports.com)
- ^ @JFergusonBR (twitter.com)
