College Football Recruiting 2012: Power Ranking the Top 50 Commitments

I thought we'd re-visit this list and update it now that we're in August, thanks to the fine higher ups of B/R. With the eighth month of the year here, we have seen some more huge names come off the board by making their pledges.

The kicker here is that even though we're releasing an updated list of the top 50 commitments today, we expect to see some more huge commitments made perhaps this week and all through the month.

But as of right now, here are the top 50 commitments. 

 6'8", 290 pounds, Decker has heard a few whispers of being compared to former Irish offensive lineman Sam Young coming out of high school. He does a great job of sliding and mirroring his target as a pass protector.

Decker flashes patience, set quickness and recover ability. However, Decker is not the strongest and can get walked back by power.

He's all Irish.

The more and more I watch Kline, the more and more I like him. He's 6'2", 205 pounds and has a shotgun for an arm.

Kline really prepares well, shows some solid athleticism and mobility in the pocket and loves thread the needle in tight windows. 

Look for him to start early at Cal.

I have some concerns about his play strength and if that will affect his production and aspiration to be a every down DE in college, but Pittman is a raw yet talented pass rusher.

He's 6'4", 225-pound defensive end who does what an end is supposed to do: rush the passer. He flies off the ball and crashes down hard off the edges all night.

Michigan State won his sweepstakes.

Johnson stands 6'2", 185 pounds and has great athletic ability, length, quickness and a high ceiling.

He's a super deep threat with a big frame who can do it all. He shows great athleticism with natural ball skills, and he can develop into an all-conference player.

LSU has him in line, but will he stay there?.

Sanders is a 6'0", 175-pounder that can play CB, RB and WR. He is an extremely versatile player with great athleticism, speed, quickness and light feet.

Sanders' length and athleticism project him as a solid CB, but don't be shocked to see Sanders line up on offense in college.

He's an Oklahoma State commit.

6'4", 290-pounds, Voltz is a  guard prospect who shows grit, toughness and strength.

Voltz, who is a match made in heaven for Wisconsin due to their OL prowess, works every snap, can maul in the run game and he'll hold his own against power on the inside. Voltz has the versatility to play all five spots, but I like him as a guard. 

Voltz is bound to be a Wisconsin Badger.

Jenkins-Stone can bring the wood at the point of attack, thump well as a tackler and even be an efficient blitzer. Wherever Jenkins-Stone plays, look for some big things to happen.

He stands 6'2", 215 pounds and has the ability to play all three spots in 4-3 look. He's instinctive enough to play MIKE, stout enough to play SAM and fast enough to man the WILL spot.

He's a Michigan Man.

Hughes stands 6'7", 290 pounds and has the frame you want in an offensive tackle. I think he's long and athletic enough to play left tackle in college, but he flashes versatility to match up at a couple other spots on the OL front.

Hughes flashes good knee bend, set quickness and mirror ability in pass protection. He has the ceiling to gain strength to move targets around in the run game as well.

He's another player headed to Texas. 

I think I would take a 6'5", 255-pound tight end prospect from Pennsylvania. Tough, stout and just a gamer, Thompson has the potential to factor in both the run and pass.

Thompson shows great willingness to throw his body around as a blocker and seal ends and linebackers. In the pass, Thompson understands his own length and can pluck balls from all around his frame.

Thompson is committed to Florida.

Starts shows easy movement in his pulls and traps and is dynamic on the second level. He can hit moving targets and is productive in space.

At 6'5", 275 pounds, he reminds me a bit of former USC tackle Tyron Smith coming out of high school. He's extremely athletic and can play both guard and tackle.

But Starts may end up at DL at Texas Tech.

Yeldon is the top RB prospect in Alabama this year. He has excellent size at 6'1", 200 pounds, but has home run potential since he shows a good burst and long speed on tape.

Some teams like him on defense, but Yeldon feels RB is his top spot. He will be an every-down runner in college because he's bound to bulk up some while keeping his speed and quickness.

Yeldon will attend Auburn.

Boehm is a 6'3", 290 pound OL that projects best as a center. He shows the snap quickness, nimble feet, solid strength and intelligence to play the pivot and is viewed as the premier player at the position in the nation.

A quality and trait that I like about Boehm is he shows quick hands to beat defenders to the point and punch. Boehm gets good hand placement inside the body and can walk defenders back.

He's committed to in-state Missouri.

Treggs may not be big, strong or physical, but he's fast, quick and agile. 5'11" and about 170 pounds really, Treggs reminds me a lot of former Cal and Eagles' WR DeSean Jackson.

He shows the potential to be a sharp router runner, be used as a deep threat while also factoring heavy in RAC situations. Treggs can also return punts and kicks.

He's headed up to Cal.

At 6'0" and over 200 pounds, Pender has fantastic speed to hit creases and skate through. He does a solid job of banging inside and can break a few tackles as well. Pender runs tough and is very durable.

He averaged almost an astonishing 14 yards a carry last season. So pretty much every time Pender touched the football, his team got a first down. Yikes.

Pender is committed to Florida State.

6'0", 180 pounds, Williams will attack the line of scrimmage to stop the run, but can also be used as a either a zone or man defender. He comes out of transition easily and closes well.

Williams is versatile prospect, as he can play safety or boundary corner. He has 4.5 speed and the athleticism to factor all around the back end.

Williams is headed to Florida State.

No disrespect to either player, but Parks reminds me of a poor man's Jay Rome. He's 6'4", 230 pounds with 4.6 speed and can get up the hashes. Parks can and will annoy safeties in college because he's big, mobile and agile as a receiver.

Parks is a natural receiving tight end who can be flexed out on the flanks. He needs to get stronger and work on his blocking technique.

Auburn has him locked in firm.

Johnson gets lost in the shadow of Cayleb Jones when you talk Texas' WR pledges. But this kid is a future star in his own right.

He may not be the biggest receiver, but he has great speed and a knack for finding the end zone.

6'0", 175 pounds, he is dangerous after the catch. RAC is his middle name and getting to paydirt is his game.

I really, really dig Alex Ross.

He's a physical runner who never backs down from defenders and stands 6'1", 205 pounds. He loves to mix it up in between the tackles and dares tacklers to challenge him in alleys.

Ross gets to and through holes with solid explosion and decisiveness, wastes no time and knows what he wants to get out of each carry.

He'll tote the rock for Oklahoma. 

One word: potential.

6'4", 307 pounds, Taylor has the size, quickness and skill set to develop into a force in the middle. He can jump snaps, wreak havoc and he has great strength to push the pocket up the middle.

Taylor also has some athletic ability to chase in short areas versus the run. 

Taylor is a commit for Georgia.

At 6'5", 290 pounds, Stadnik has very good technique and can drive block very, very well. I think he can play right tackle and guard in college with ease and just be nasty each snap.

Stadnik lines up each snap with one thing in mind: to finish his target off. He looks to pancake everyone in his way and does so most of the time.

South Carolina has a pledge from him and his twin brother.

Johnson, known as "Duke", shows athleticism that speaks to me as being quicker than fast. 5'9", 180 pounds. Johnson is an elusive ball carrier who can shake and bake with the best of them.

Dangerous in the open field, he always looks for the even the smallest crease to skate through and can hide well behind his blockers to pick and slide to holes.

Johnson is pledged to Miami.

One of the top QB prospects in the country, the thing I love most about Brewer is he is a winner and gamer. Brewer is not a dual-threat QB, but he does demand teams account for him as a running threat.

Brewer has two state championships under his belt in Arizona and runs a similar offense to what Texas is installing currently. He can do it all from the pocket and can escape to the edges and make plays on the run.

Brewer is committed to Texas.

At 6'0" and over 170 pounds, Shepard can play free safety and corner. He shows the coverage skills of a corner, which is where I think he projects best.

Shepard is a great athlete with quick feet and transition ability on the perimeter.

Notre Dame is where he will play.

People have compared Neal to Jeremy Maclin and Ryan Broyles, among other great WRs.

At 6'0", 185 pounds, he has good speed, quickness and runs solid routes. He shows an ability to attack the football at its highest point and seems to always find a way to get more yards out of a catch than he should.

Neal is headed to Oklahoma.

At 6'3", 210 pounds, Jones has the make up and size of a "big back." Most big backs are stiff, straight-line bruising types, but Jones is the contrary.

He has very good athleticism and has good wiggle for a big back. He is decisive with his reads, hits holes hard and can also be used as a receiver.

Jones is committed to Florida.

Louis is a 6'2", 200 pound WR that makes big plays with the football. He doubles as a QB for his high school team, but he will play on the flanks as a collegian.

Louis just shows great play speed, quickness and athleticism along with natural ball skills and playmaking instincts. 

Auburn is giddy to have him.

Dunn is another "big-back" prospect. He's a bruiser who does the dirty work in between the tackles and loves to mix it up in run alleys. At 6'1", 215 pounds, he's a chugger who relishes contact and flashes some quickness.

I like the way Dunn finishes runs and plays to his size upon contact. He's physical and has excellent run instincts. He's productive in a straightline

Ohio State has Dunn in the fold, for now...

Blanks is awesome. Seriously. He's a big DB that at 6'1", 195 pounds can play both safety and corner. He has the length, size, speed, quickness and athleticism, along with instincts to be an impact defender.

He wants to be a CB, which is fine because he can use his long arms well to jam and press WRs at the line. He also has the speed to carry around the field, but there are a lot of observers who feel he should be a safety.

Clemson will decide where he fits best.

Wheeler is a fantastic receiver prospect. At 6'1", 180 pounds, he shows a great skill set on the offensive flanks.

He has solid release quickness, eats cushions well, he can stem a defender, he can break in his routes and he has solid hands. Wheeler also displays solid speed to get vertical and behind a secondary.

Wheeler is headed to Texas Tech.

Quick and elusive at 5'8", 175 pounds, Williams is a stick of dynamite in the backfield and can score anytime he touches the rock.

He uses his lack of height to his advantage, sliding and hiding behind his line, then darts out when he sees a crease. He may not be an every-down back in college, but I still expect him to be very productive.

Texas A&M has him committed.

After missing most of his junior year, Davis will come back with a vengeance. At 6'1", 200 pounds, he's a playmaking QB who can beat you on the ground or through the air.

Davis has a solid arm that can attack levels of the defense all over the field. He's accurate in and out of the pocket and can make plays as a runner with his legs.

He's headed for Texas A&M.

Casher is quicker and more athletic than many would expect at 6'4", 230.

He 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 due to his great awareness and instincts.

Florida State is where he's headed.

6'7", 305 pounds, Estelle looks like a college tackle right now.

He has excellent length throughout his frame and, most importantly, his arms. Estelle can keep the rush out of his body and wash them off with ease.

However, Estelle excels in the run game, showing mauler ability, and he finishes well. He can be used on an array of blocks and can play left tackle in college.

Texas, yet again.

Some say Pike reminds them of Ryan Mallet. Some say it's because his size and arm strength. Others say it's because of their similar demeanor. Not sure if that's fair one way or the other.

At 6'6", 225 pounds, Pike possesses a cannon of an arm to go along with elite size and very good athletic ability. He can attack all levels of a defense, outside the numbers and up the seams. Pike has some gunslinger in him and will try to rifle balls in tight windows.

Pike is solid to Auburn.

Kalis pulled the grandest switch-a-roos in leaving Ohio State for Michigan.

6'5", 305 pounds, he's a lunch-pail type that works on the fronts each snap, whether at right or left tackle. He's best in the run game, showing an ability to play with good leverage at the point of attack displaying solid finishing ability.

He can pull and trap well, due to his easy movement. As a pass protector, Kalis displays the solid foot quickness he needs to slide and mirror well. I like him most at right tackle.

At 6'3", 240 pounds, Fowler can play the run well and chase ball carriers all over the field. On third downs, Fowler revs up his motor and gets after the passer with speed, quickness and explosion.

Fowler is a tweener prospect that can be listed as a defensive end or an outside linebacker. Wherever he's listed, know he's a dynamic defender and pass rusher

He's committed to Florida State.

Jones is the WR I mentioned in the Thomas Johnson write up. His film shows a future No. 1 WR in Austin.

On tape, I see a player that understands he has a long frame and snatches balls all around him to increase his catching radius.

He also shows solid quickness in and out of breaks, good route-running and the ability to catch in crowds.

Jones is pledged to Texas.

At 6'2", 280 pounds, Brown looks like a great future 3-technique, as his quickness at the snap is formidable. He flies off he ball, blows by guards, disrupts offensive fronts and plays in the backfield.

He's committed to Texas, too. 

I think Poole can play both the field and boundary positions at corner, as he is athletic and quick enough to have the range for the field side, but he also can support the run well as a boundary corner.

At 5'11", 180 pounds, he is a sticky cover man who can carry receivers all around the field. He has great jamming ability when pressing, and doesn't back down from anyone.

Florida landed a great one.

Dunker is a former hoops player who has only played football for a limited amount of time. But the 6'6", 310 pounder has a chance to be a dynamite LT in college and seems to get better and better each outing.

His film shows a super-athletic future left tackle who can mirror quick rushers and match power in the run game. With coaching, Dunker could become an All-American player and perhaps a high-round draft pick.

He's bound for Florida.

A great-looking prospect, Ruffin stands in the 6'3"-6'4", 230 pound range. He's a great athlete on the field. 

He makes plays on offense as TE/WR/RB, but his future lies more than likely on defense as an OLB. I think Ruffin can play the SAM spot at the second level, as he plays stout against the run, but also can cover TEs and RB in coverage.

He's bound for USC.

"Nitro" is a 5'11", 175-pound corner prospect who could find himself playing running back in college, which is why you'll see him in the ATH categories on some lists.

Darby has very good foot quickness, which is why he projects well to corner.

Darby 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.

He's committed to Notre Dame.

Kiel is viewed by many as the top QB prospect in the nation. He's 6'4", 200 pounds and grades out well in most categories. He doesn't have a rocket for an arm, but it's still very strong.

Off of tape, it looks like Kiel's best trait is his decision making. He scans the field well and has great awareness and vision.

Kiel shocked most of us by committing to Indiana.

 6'4", 245 pounds, Ragland is a future standout in college. I expect a wealth of things from him in two to three years.

He shows tremendous instincts, run-plugging ability and plays to his size at the point of attack. He's a huge LB and a prime fit as an ILB for Alabama.

He's next in line of the great Alabama LBs of recent memory.

Roland is a smooth, shifty and very speedy WR that stands 6'1", 180 pounds. He's viewed as the best player in the state of South Carolina this year.

He'll need to get stronger to beat press, but the natural athleticism, body control, smoothness and catch in a crowd ability is phenomenal.

Look for to become South Carolina's top WR when Alshon Jeffrey leaves for the NFL soon.

Williams is an elite free safety prospect that is 6'4", 205 pounds and one of the best overall players in the country.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.

Expect him to become an All-American at Alabama.

Will Armstead play DE or OT in college?

At 6'8", 280 pounds, Armstead has been talked up as the top prospect in the country, per Scout.com. He can play defensive end, defensive tackle and also shows the feet and balance to play left tackle.

The brother of current USC defensive end Armond Armstead, Arik is a mammoth who isn't just a big man; he's an excellent athlete as well.

He's headed to USC.

Theus is a big 6'6", 295 pound offensive tackle. He has a great snap quickness to jump on top of targets in the run game, can maul and finish while also positioning and walling off.

I think Theus will be a better RT than LT, but don't be surprised to see him line up on the left island in college.

Which will be Georgia.

Edwards is a 6'4", 275-pound monster of a defensive end, and in my eyes, the most complete DE prospect in America right now.

He has the strength to play the run, anchor, stop and stack at the point and shed blocks. Then he has the speed to chase and pressure passers all night long. He could grow into a DT as well.

Edwards is committed to Florida State.

Gray has over 6,000 yards and 109 touchdowns over the past two seasons alone.

5'11", 195 pounds, Gray has elite vision, feel, instincts, elusiveness, speed and quickness. His skill set is remarkable and he proved at The Opening that he can catch the football with the best of them. I'm excited and anxious to see how his college career pans out.

Texas is where he will tote the rock.