Ranking the top 2012 recruiting classes by offensive position

By Adam Gorney, Rivals.com, Special to SI.com

Now that the dust has settled from Signing Day, the winners of the 2012 recruiting cycle have emerged. And the top classes are deeper than just the big names. Here's a look at which teams fared best, on a position-by-position basis, on offense.

Perroni: Defensive Position Rankings

Quarterback

1. Florida State

Key recruits: Jameis Winston, Sean Maguire

Any concerns about Jameis Winston flipping to Stanford have become moot following his signing with the Seminoles on Friday. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound signal-caller is both an outstanding pocket passer and an exceptional runner, and, if he doesn't bolt for the MLB, should become the centerpiece of Jimbo Fisher's budding offense. Maguire, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound West Orange, N.J., native, is a nice addition who could be one of the sleepers in the 2012 class.

2. Washington

Key recruits: Jeff Linquist, Cyler Miles

After Miles opted to stick with Washington instead of flipping to USC, Washington secured arguably the top quarterback haul in the nation. Miles earned co-MVP honors at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl -- going 7-of-8 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown -- and Linquist was similarly impressive at the Semper Fidelis Bowl. Both are terrific passers who can also run when forced out of the pocket.

3. Notre Dame

Key recruit: Gunner Kiel

Kiel, a five-star prospect, is the top-rated pro-style quarterback in the class of 2012. Previously committed to Indiana and then LSU, he comes as a huge pickup for the Irish, and has all the tools to be a special quarterback. He passed for 7,175 yards during his high school career at Columbus East (Ind.).

4. Purdue

Key recruits: Austin Appleby, Aloyis Gray, Bilal Marshall

The Boilermakers signed three quarterbacks, and the newcomers not only add depth, but healthy competition for the starting spot as well. All three are three-star prospects, but Marshall, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound dual-threat quarterback, could provide the biggest spark.

5. Oregon

Key recruits: Jake Rodrigues, Jeff Lockie

Rodrigues had a fantastic senior season, throwing for more than 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. However, he has since broke his leg and will rehab during the offseason. Despite the setback, he seems a perfect fit for Chip Kelly's breakneck scheme and could prove to be a hidden gem in this year's class.

Running Back

1. Georgia

Key recruits: Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, Quayvon Hicks

The Bulldogs loaded up in the backfield, nabbing Gurley and Marshall -- two Rivals' Top 50 recruits -- and Hicks, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound fullback. With Isaiah Crowell already on the roster, Georgia could have the makings of one of the nation's most potent ground games.

2. Alabama

Key recruits:T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake

Yeldon, a five-star former Auburn commit, is the crown jewel of 'Bama's haul -- he has the potential to break it big every time he touches the ball. But don't overlook Drake. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Powder Springs, Ga., native has surprising speed and can be a game-breaker as well.

3. Virginia Tech

Key recruits: J.C. Coleman, Drew Harris, Chris Mangus

At 5-foot-7 and 169 pounds, Coleman is a little pint of dynamite out of the backfield. His stats abet that, as he collected 4,326 rushing yards, 1,300 receiving yards and 66 total touchdowns (while compiling a 3.77 GPA) at Oscar Smith (Va.). Harris is bigger and stronger (6-foot-1, 210), giving the Hokies a different look, while Mangus, a three-star talent, has the potential to surprise.

4. Miami

Key recruits: Randy "Duke" Johnson, Danny Dillard

Johnson is a bona fide superstar, possessing the ability to make people miss arguably better than anyone else in this year's class. He can do special things with the ball in his hands, and rushed for 2,087 yards and 29 touchdowns in leading Miami Norland to a Florida state championship. Dillard is a big back (6-foot-2, 205) who's difficult to bring down.

5. Michigan

Key recruits: Dennis Norfleet, Sione Houma, Drake Johnson

Houma has the strength and blocking of a prototypical fullback, and Johnson is a bruising short-yardage back that's seemingly requisite in the Big Ten. But Norfleet could have the biggest upside. A Cincinnati commit until Signing Day, the four-star 5-foot-7, 170-pounder is very difficult to bring down and could add an extra dimension to Brady Hoke's arsenal.

Wide Receiver

1. Oklahoma

Key recruits: Trey Metoyer, Durron Neal, Sterling Shepard, Derrick Woods, Courtney Gardner

The Sooners are stacked with budding pass-catchers, boasting one five-star (Metoyer) and four four-star prospects. Neal was impressive at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and Shepard, the teammate of Barry Sanders Jr. out of Heritage Hall (Okla.), is the top-ranked player in the state. Landry Jones will have an abundance of young targets.

2. Tennessee

Key recruits: Drae Bowles, Alton Howard, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jason Croom

The Volunteers kept Bowles and Croom in their recruiting class since the summer (they committed in July and August, respectively) and landed Patterson on National Signing Day. The latter could make an instant impact. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound JUCO transfer should see plenty of action from day one.

3. Miami

Key recruits: Malcolm Lewis, Jontavious Carter, D'Mauri Jones, Robert Lockhart, Herb Waters

Only two of Miami's prospects are four-star talents, but the Hurricanes landed a solid haul that's brimming with potential. Lewis is small () and shifty, while Lockhart is tall () and lean. Both could end up being special players in the not so distant future.

4. Cal

Key recruits: Kenny Lawler, Darius Powe, Bryce Treggs, Chris Harper

For all the talk of Cal's recruiting class collapse, the Golden Bears still managed to sign a trio of four-star wideouts. Treggs is the star of the group -- he catches everything in sight -- but Harper looks like a legitimate sleeper. The three-star receiver simply dominated at Crespi (Calif.) this season.

5. USC

Key recruits: Nelson Agholor, Darreus Rogers

Agholor, Rivals' No. 18 recruit, should bolster an already outstanding receiving corps. Even with Robert Woods and Marqise Lee in the mix, expect the Tampa product to garner his share of looks. And though Rogers is a longer-term project, he boasts an extremely high ceiling. The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder has showed flashes of brilliance.

Tight End

1. Florida

Key recruits: Kent Taylor, Colin Thompson

The Gators landed two studs and tight end and should seemingly be set for years to come. Taylor is a big target who shined at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, while Thompson is 35 pounds heavier (6-foot-5, 255) and is an ideal blocker and pass-catcher. Look for Will Muschamp to study lots of Patriots' game film in the offseason.

2. Oregon

Key recruits: Evan Baylis, Pharaoh Brown

Chip Kelly raved about Baylis and Brown, noting that they were Ducks top two targets at the position. Look for both to see early playing time. Baylis is big (6-foot-5, 225) and runs well, and Brown dazzled at the Offense-Defense Bowl.

3. Auburn

Key recruits: Ricky Parks, Darrion Hutcherson

The second ranked tight end in the class of 2012, Parks should be counted on very early at Auburn. And Hutcherson? Well, there's his size. The 6-foot-7, 247-pound Dadeville, Ala., product is certainly imposing coming off the line.

4. Oklahoma

Key recruits: Taylor McNamara, Sam Grant, Brandon Green, Laith Harlow

After signing four tight ends in this year's class, the Sooners should be set for the foreseeable future. McNamara is the crown jewel. A former Arizona commit, he can split out and use his frame (6-foot-5, 235) to pose mismatches with linebackers.

5. Oregon State

Key recruits: Caleb Smith, Dustin Stanton

A 6-foot-7, 240-pound prospect, Smith stuck with the Beavers despite late charges from Arkansas and UCLA in recent weeks. Both he and Stanton (6-foot-6, 210) have the bodies to become weapons in the passing game.

Offensive Line

1. Stanford

Key recruits: Kyle Murphy, Andrus Peat, Joshua Garnett, Graham Shuler, Brandon Fanaika, Nick Davidson, Johnny Caspers

The Cardinal had an amazing haul along the offensive line, headlined by five-star tackles Murphy and Peat, both of whom considered rival USC. Garnett and Shuler are two of the best of the four-star crop, and Fanaika, a 6-foot-3, 293-pound guard, shouldn't be overlooked. The latter heavily considered flipping to Utah before staying with Stanford.

2. USC

Key recruits: Zach Banner, Max Tuerk, Jordan Simmons

Like the rest of its class, USC emphasized quality over quantity in its offensive line haul. Banner, a tackle and Simmons, a guard, are both five-star talents. Tuerk isn't so bad, either. The 6-foot-6, 294-pound stalwart is Rivals' No. 46 prospect in the nation.

3. Michigan

Key recruits: Kyle Kalis, Erik Magnuson, Ben Braden, Blake Bars

Kalis, a former Ohio State pledge, is the star of this class, especially given his stellar performance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. But Magnuson and Bars should be key cogs of the future. Both four-star recruits, they could anchor the Wolverines' attack by 2013 or 2014.

4. Texas

Key recruits: Kennedy Estelle, Curtis Riser, Camrhon Hughes, Donald Hawkins

The Longhorns inked four four-star offensive line prospects, and all of them look like they could be something special. Riser is a tough kid who thrives on competition, while Estelle is a top 10 offensive tackle with major upside. And keep in mind: They'll be opening holes for the five-star running back tandem of Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray.

5. Oregon State

Key recruits: Isaac Seumalo, Gavin Andrews, Grant Bays, Chase Eldredge, Stanley Hasiak, Josh Mitchell, Garrett Weinreich

Seumalo has All-Pac-12 caliber talent, serving as Rivals' No. 52 prospect in the class of 2012. And the rest of the Beavers' offensive line crop? It's talented and tough, full of blue-collar prospects who should fit perfectly into Mike Riley's no-nonsense attack.

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