(Below is Cal’s release on a recruiting class that took a significant hit prior to and during the course of signing day.)

BERKELEY – California has signed 17 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the Golden Bears football program, head coach Jeff Tedford announced Wednesday. The signing class includes nine players on at least one list of the nation’s top players provided by five major recruiting services in ESPN, MaxPreps, Scout, Rivals and 247Sports.

“I’m really excited about the kids in this class not only as football players but as people,” head coach Jeff Tedford said. “I’m excited about the future that they’re going to bring to this program.”

Cal is attempting to put together a Top 25 signing class for the third straight year after its 2011 group ranked as high as No. 13 in the nation by Scout and its 2010 class was No. 11 according to Rivals. Cal’s 2012 class is currently ranked in the Top 25 according to MaxPreps (No. 15), ESPN (No. 22), Rivals (No. 25), 247Sports (No. 25) and Scout (No. 42). Rankings are fluid and subject to change.

If Cal is able to finish with a Top 25 class, it will mark the third straight year the Bears will have accomplished the feat. Cal’s 2011 group ranked as high as No. 13 by Scout, while its 2010 class was No. 11 according to Rivals.

Cal highest Rivals’ position ranking is its No. 4 wide receivers group, while the Bears check in No. 5 at quarterback, while its wide receivers group is ninth and No. 15 on the offensive line.

SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah football staff finished its recruiting for 2012 with 28 signed commitments. The list includes two mid-year junior college players who signed National Letters of Intent in December.

The biggest beneficiaries were the offensive and defensive lines, which claimed 16 of the 28 scholarships and landed three four-star recruits: freshman Hiva Lutui (Euless, Texas/Trinity HS), freshman Jeremiah Poutasi (Las Vegas, Nev./Desert Pines HS) and junior Junior Salt(Glendale, Utah/Mt. San Antonio College).

While the Utes continued their tradition under coach Kyle Whittingham of recruiting primarily freshmen—adding 21 underclassmen—their seven junior college transfers included six linemen.

“Football starts at the line of scrimmage. If you’re strong up front, the other positions will usually thrive,” said Whittingham. “We needed immediate help up front after losing three all-conference linemen to graduation (offensive linemen Tony Bergstrom and John Cullen and defensive lineman Derrick Shelby) and because of the physicality of Pac-12 football. We believe the junior college linemen we signed will provide immediate help.”

Another priority position was quarterback, where the Utes looked to the future by signing two highly-rated freshmen: Parade All-AmericanChase Hansen from Utah’s Lone Peak High School and California prep star Travis Wilson (San Clemente HS).

“The Pac-12 conference is loaded at the quarterback position and the two we signed are very talented and should fit right in that mold,” said Whittingham.

In addition to the 15 linemen and two quarterbacks, the Utes added three defensive backs—including four-star freshman Justin Thomas (Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark HS) —two linebackers and two receivers.

The coaching staff mined seven states for the 2012 class, signing 11 players from Utah, nine from California, three from Texas, two from Louisiana and one each from Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.

Arizona State University has signed 23 student-athletes to national letters of intent Wednesday to study and participate in football, head coach Todd Graham announced.

Coach Graham’s first signing class at ASU provides the Sun Devils with excellent talent on offense, defense and special teams and includes players from multiple states across the country as well as outside the United States’ borders.

The class consists of 14 freshmen, eight juniors and one sophomore. Three of the juniors are midyear transfers already on campus that will participate in spring practice.

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Head football coach Bill Snyder released Kansas State’s 2012 recruiting class Wednesday with the announcement of 26 student-athletes who plan on joining or already are a part the Wildcat program.

Kansas State’s class of 2012 includes 20 players from the high school ranks and six community college players. Of the group, nine are currently enrolled at K-State and will participate in spring practice.

“As we’ve always maintained, it takes several years to accurately assess the quality of a recruiting class and the young men who represent it,” said Snyder. “Hopefully we have assessed the skills, capabilities and intrinsic values of these young people accurately. As always, time will tell. Part of the value of this class lies in the fact that 11 of these student-athletes either have been or will be in classes and participate in our out-of-season program and spring practice. As it has in past years, hopefully this will greatly enhance the level of Division I experience at a young age as last year’s class produced seven 2011 starters. We have been impressed by the desire of each of these young men to become the best person, best student and best athlete possible as they seem committed to work hard. This class represents 12 states with six community college transfers and 20 high school graduates. Those presently in the program have been well received by their teammates and the Kansas State football family and seem to fit in extremely well.

“As always, we greatly appreciate the coaches, faculty members and administrators throughout the state of Kansas and the United States who have received our coaches and our program so very graciously, and I am especially proud of the Kansas State faculty for their assistance in conveying the great support services and equally great education provided by this University.”

Overall on the defensive side of the ball, the 2012 class includes six total defensive linemen, two linebackers and three defensive backs. K-State’s offensive recruiting haul also includes one quarterback, three running back/fullbacks, five wide receivers, one tight end and three offensive linemen.

Also included are two players listed as “athletes” who could play on either side of the ball.

Kansas State’s class of 2012 also continues to show how broad and thorough Snyder and his staff were on the recruiting trail as all 26 players hail from 12 different states, including nine from the state of Texas, five from the state of Kansas, two from Oklahoma, two from the state of Louisiana and one each from the states of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Nebraska.

In addition, two scholarships for the 2012 class were awarded to players who were with the program this past fall – defensive lineman John Sua and starting left guard Nick Puetz.

AMES, Iowa – Smooth sailing. That’s what National Signing Day was for Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads. There were no surprises or last-second issues. All 21 members of the Cyclones’ 2012 recruiting class had their National Letters of Intent faxed, signed and delivered by 9:30 a.m. CST Wednesday.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had things go so well so fast on signing day,” Rhoads said. “I have always said that we wanted individuals who are the best fit for our program. I think our fans saw early results of that last season.”

The Class of 2012 includes five Iowans. 10 of Iowa State’s committed student-athletes are from either Florida or Texas.

“We have ample time to evaluate players from Texas, Florida and California in addition to potential players from the Midwest,” Rhoads said. “This day is the culmination of up to three years of evaluating and building relationships with these young men and their families. I think they will tell you that they have a real comfort zone about the future of Iowa State football.”

The new class is big on men in the trenches. Five defensive linemen and three offensive linemen are among the new signees. The field includes three linebackers, a trio of wide receivers and three defensive backs. Two high school quarterbacks with great credentials come to Iowa State recruited for their athleticism and could play a number of positions because of their versatility. One quarterback, and a placekicker round out the unit.

Three of these Cyclones are already enrolled at Iowa State and working out with the team. Defensive back T.J. Mutcherson, a 5-8, 185-pound freshman from Tampa, Fla., who sat out previous 18 months after high school graduation to attend community college, is in Ames. Cory Morrissey, at 6-4, 240, a sophomore Ames native who played defensive end at Iowa Western Community College last season and Cliff Stokes, a 6-0, 180 junior defensive back and Tallahassee, Fla. native from Trinity Valley Community College, round out the threesome.

“We addressed needs where we thought we had them,” Rhoads said. “It is quite a day for these young men and their families. They are making a commitment to us and we are committed to them.

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Football has announced the signing of 17 student-athletes, today, that will bring the 2012 overall signing class to 26 after the early signing period produced nine players that have already enrolled for the spring semester.

The following is a breakdown of Texas Tech’s 2012 signing class:

(Iowa’s press on its 2012 recruiting class.)

2012 Iowa Football Recruits by Position
Defensive Back (5)
Kevin Buford
Sean Draper
Maurice Fleming
Anthony Gair
Ruben Lile

Defensive Line (4)
Faith Ekakitie
Jaleel Johnson
Drew Ott
Daumantas Venckus-Cucchiara

Linebacker (1)
Laron Taylor

Offensive Line (4)
Mitch Keppy
Reid Sealby
Eric Simmons
Ryan Ward

Quarterback (2)
C.J. Beathard
Cody Sokol

Running Back (2)
Greg Garmon
Barkley Hill

Athlete (2)
George Krieger-Kittle
Nate Meier

Wide Receiver (3)
Greg Mabin
Tevaun Smith
Cameron Wilson

Kicker (1)
Connor Kornbrath

2012 Iowa Football Recruits by State
Arizona (1)
Cody Sokol

Florida (2)
Greg Mabin
Daumantas Venckus-Cucchiara

Illinois (5)
Maurice Fleming
Jaleel Johnson
Mitch Keppy
Read Sealby
Ryan Ward

Iowa (3)
Barkley Hill
Nate Meier
Eric Simmons

Michigan (3)
Kevin Buford
Ruben Lile
Laron Taylor

Nebraska (1)
Drew Ott

Ohio (2)
Sean Draper
Cameron Wilson

Oklahoma (1)
George Krieger-Kittle

Pennsylvania (1)
Greg Garmon

Tennessee (1)
C.J. Beathard

Texas (1)
Anthony Gair

West Virginia (1)
Connor Kornbrath

Ontario, Canada (2)
Faith Ekakitie
Tevaun Smith

(Below is Wake Forest’s press release on the players added via its 2012 recruiting class.)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest head football coach Jim Grobe today announced the signing of 19 prospective student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend Wake Forest.

The signing class consists of players from nine states including eight from Florida, three from North Carolina, and two from Georgia as well as players from Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The class includes 10 offensive players and nine on defense.  On offense, Wake Forest is bringing in two wide receivers, two tight ends, three offensive linemen, a quarterback, a running back and one player designated as an athlete.  Defensively, the Demon Deacons are adding four defensive backs including two cornerbacks and a pair of safeties, three defensive linemen, a linebacker and an athlete.

Wake Forest is losing a total of 12 starters off last year’s Music City Bowl team.  The Deacons must replace eight offensive starters and four on defense.

The Deacons are losing four starters on the offensive line and will add three freshmen in the fall of 2012.  The group includes Joel Suggs (6-6, 285) of Randleman, NC, Tyler Hayworth (6-4, 306) from Dobyns-Bennett in Kingsport, Tenn., and Will Smith (6-5, 285) from Charlotte, NC who has played at Christchurch School in Saluda, Va.

Wake Forest lost a pair of key wide receivers in Danny Dembry and Chris Givens.  A pair of freshmen will look to help replenish the receiving corps.  The Deacons signed a pair of big receivers in 6-3, 190-pound Jared Crump of St. Johns, Fla (Bartram Trail) and 6-4, 170-pound Jonathan Williams of Atlanta (Mays).

With lefthander Tanner Price returning at quarterback, the Deacons added another southpaw in 6-3, 210-pound Tyler Cameron of Jupiter, Fla. (Jupiter).  Cameron is the lone member of the recruiting class to have enrolled early.  He started classes at Wake Forest on Jan. 18.

Wake Forest lost its top two tight ends to graduation following the 2011 season in Andrew Parker and Cameron Ford.  The Deacons signed a pair of tight ends in 6-5, 235-pound Zach Gordon of Carrollton, Ga. and 6-4, 235-pound Anthony Rook of Greenville, NC (Rose).

Running back Joshua Wilhite (5-10, 187)  of Fresno, Texas (Fort Bend Hightower) will join the Deacons after rushing for over 2,000 yards as a senior and helping Hightower to the Texas 5A State Championship game.

Steve Donatell (6-5, 195) from Lone Tree, Colo. (Highland Ranch) will enroll at Wake Forest without a specified position.  A versatile athlete who plays four sports in high school, Donatell excelled as a lefthanded quarterback and first team all-state punter.  As a basketball player, Donatell is an outstanding scorer and rebounder who has his high school ranked No. 1 in Colorado with a 17-0 record.

On defense, the Deacons lose just four starters but two of those are in the secondary and include starting safeties Cyhl Quarles and Josh Bush.  Wake Forest is bringing in a pair of safety candidates in 5-10, 195-pound Dominique Gibson from Belle Glade, Fla. and 5-11, 180-pound Ryan Janvion from Pembroke Pines, Fla. (Dade Christian).  Janvion hails from the same high school as current Deacon safety Daniel Mack.

At corner, the Deacons will welcome a pair of freshmen in 5-10, 170-pound James Ward from DeLand, Fla. and 5-11, 180-pound LaRonji Vason of Prattville, Ala.  Vason helped his team to the 6A state championship in 2011.

Wake Forest landed three players that the coaches expect to compete on the defensive line.  The trio includes 6-2, 240-pound nose guard Shelldon Lewinson from 6A state champion Seffner, Fla. (Armwood) and a pair of defensive ends in 6-4, 245-pound Tylor Harris of Baton Rouge, La. (Episcopal) and 6-4, 250-pound Josh Banks of Apex, NC (Middle Creek).

Teddy Matthews is a 6-3, 225-pound linebacker from West Palm Beach, Fla. (Royal Palm Beach), the same high school that produced former Deacon running back Brandon Pendergrass.  Kevis Jones, a 6-2, 220-pound athlete from Oakland Park, Fla. (Northeast) is a high school linebacker who could play a variety of positions for the Deacons.

Notes:

Wake Forest did well in recruiting Palm Beach County in South Florida in 2011.  QB Tyler Cameron (Jupiter), LB Teddy Matthews (West Palm Beach) and S Dominique Gibson (Belle Glade) are all from Palm Beach County.

Two future Deacons played against each other the Florida 6A state semifinals.  Shelldon Lewinson’s Seffner (Armwood) squad topped Jared Crump’s Bartram Trail club 46-38 to advance to the state championship game.

Three future Deacons played on state championship squads in 2011.  Shelldon Lewinson’s Seffner/Armwood team won the Florida 6A title while Will Smith’s Christchurch team won the Virginia Independent Division II title.  LaRonji Vason’s Prattville club won the Alabame 6A championship.  Joshua Wilhite’s Fort Bend Hightower club reached the Texas 5A state championship game.

Jared Crump and Steve Donatell were leaders of teams that reached state semifinals in 2011.  Zach Gordon of Carrollton, Ga. and Dominique Gibson of Belle Glade, Fla. played on squads that reached the state title game in 2010.

Tyler Hayworth, Shelldon Lewinson and Will Smith helped their teams to undefeated regular season records in 2011.  Lewinson’s Seffner (Armwood) team and Smith’s Christchurch club were the only squads among this year’s signees that went undefeated throughout the season.

Wake Forest’s 19 signees helped their respective teams to a combined record of 184-49 in 2011.

Jared Crump hails from Bartram Trail High in the Jacksonville area, the same high school that send OG Jeff Griffin (2006-09) and TE Andrew Parker (2008-11) to Wake Forest.

Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett signee Tyler Hayworth comes from the same high school that sent QB Wally Bridwell (1961-62), RB Mike Kelly (1963-65), and S Patrick Ghee (2003-06) to Wake Forest

LB Teddy Matthews will graduate from Royal Palm Beach High in Florida, the same school that produced Wake Forest RB Brandon Pendergrass (2008-11).

With the addition of S Ryan Janvion, Wake Forest will have a pair of Miami Dade Christian graduates including current safety Daniel Mack.

TE Anthony Rook is the second Greenville, NC Rose graduate to play football for the Demon Deacons.  DB Donald Johnson (1981-84) was a three-year letterman for the Deacons.

Columbia, Mo. – Nineteen standout student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to attend the University of Missouri and play football for Head Coach Gary Pinkel, as announced today.

As of early afternoon, the class of newest Tigers has been rated as the 20th-best in the country, according to ESPN, and as the nation’s No. 32 class by Rivals.

The consistent success of the Tiger program under Head Coach Gary Pinkel undoubtedly helped attract such a talented group of student-athletes. Mizzou is one of only six schools in the nation among BCS automatic-qualifying conferences to post a minimum of eight wins in each of the last six seasons (LSU, Oklahoma, USC, Virginia Tech and West Virginia are the others). Mizzou’s 48 wins over the past five seasons (2007-11) also ranks 9th-best in the nation among BCS-AQ schools. In addition, Mizzou continues to excel in the classroom, as it has graduated 96 percent of its seniors since 2007.

Mizzou’s coaching staff was successful in attracting not only some of the top in-state talent, but some of the top players in the nation, headlined by wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, who Rivals rates as the No. 1-ranked player in the entire country. He was joined by fellow in-state standout OL Evan Boehm, who is the No. 2-rated guard in the country according to Rivals.
Included with this recruiting class is junior WR Darius White, who transferred to Mizzou in January from the University of Texas, where he played for the previous two seasons. White will redshirt in 2012 due to NCAA transfer rules, and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2013.

In all, six of the state of Missouri’s top football talents signed to play for their home state school. At the same time, the coaching staff also continued its outstanding work mining the pipelines of Texas, as seven Lone Star State standouts became Tigers today.

Mizzou’s previous eight classes rated, according to Rivals: 29th in 2002, 28th in 2003, 29th in 2004, 39th in 2005, 47th in 2006, 33rd in 2007, 24th in 2008, 35th in 2009, 21st in 2010 and 48th in 2011.

“I’d like to congratulate all of these outstanding young men and to thank them and their families for putting their trust and belief in our program, and the University of Missouri,” said Head Coach Gary Pinkel. “We do have a lot to offer here, and the first thing is that they will get their degree. Our success on the field also speaks for itself, and is always an important selling point. We feel like this is a really well-rounded class that meets our needs everywhere, and they’re also a bunch of high-character guys who will represent Mizzou the right way,” he said.

BREAKDOWN BY STATE
Texas (7) – Boozer (Everman), Cuffee (Cleburne), Gibson (Missouri City), Hansbrough (Arlington), Hatley (Atlanta), White (Fort Worth), Williams (Denton)
Missouri (6) – Boehm (Lee’s Summit), Golden (St. Louis), Green-Beckham (Springfield), Newsom (St. Louis), Scherer (St. Louis), Steward (Kansas City)
Florida (1) – Culkin (Indian Rocks Beach)
Illinois (1) – Stewart (O’Fallon)
Michigan (1) – Winston (Muskegon Heights)
Ohio (1) – Mauk (Kenton)
Oklahoma (1) – Copelin (Broken Arrow)
Pennsylvania (1) – Brantley (Hershey)

CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati head football coach Butch Jones announced 30 members of the 2011 recruiting class on Wednesday, Feb. 1, the beginning of the NCAA initial signing period for football.

In addition to the 28 signees, UC announced the addition of two preferred walk-ons.

“Today is a very exciting day in our football family as we officially welcome 30 individuals to UC,” Jones said. “There’s a lot that goes into a recruiting class and a lot of people here at the University of Cincinnati have done a great job in helping us attract what we feel is a class that fits the standards and expectations associated with the program.”

The signing class features 16 defensive players set to join UC. Defensive back (8), and linebacker (5) lead the way along with three defensive linemen. Of the 14 offensive players, four are running backs, four offensive linemen, three wide receivers, a pair of quarterbacks and a tight end.

“The class lends itself to filling many needs within our program,” Jones said. “We wanted to put an emphasis on team speed in general while addressing needs at defensive back and linebacker. We feel like we attracted a very high caliber of student-athlete in this class, which will continue to allow us to build a championship culture both on the field and in the classroom.”

UC added recruits from nine different states, including 11 student-athletes from the State of Ohio, 10 from within the Tri-State area and five products of Indianapolis. The Bearcats added commitments from California (1), Florida (6), Illinois (1), Michigan (1), Pennsylvania (1) and Tennessee (2).

“We are always going to take care of our home base here in Cincinnati and northern Kentucky,” Jones said. “From there we branched out into a 115-mile radius from our campus, to Indianapolis, through the state of Ohio and then we moved into other areas of the country, Cleveland, Detroit, Florida and Memphis.”

The recruiting pundits rank this UC class as the best ever. Scout.com slots the Bearcats at No. 29 and second the BIG EAST Conference rankings. This marks the first team UC has entered Scout’s Top-30 its best ever league ranking. Rivals.com ranks the UC class as No. 44 overall out of 120 FBS schools.

Nine student-athletes, Kevin Brown (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence Central), Deionte Buckley (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), Jonathan Burt (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), Errol Clarke (Miami, Fla,/Central), Bennie Coney (Plant City, Fla./Plant City), DeShawn Dowdy (Akron, Ohio/North), Marcus Foster (Troy, Ohio/Troy), Trenton Norvell (Daytona Beach, Fla./Seabreeze) and Josh Posley (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), enrolled at UC in January and are participating in the Bearcats’ off-season workout program in preparation for spring football.

The Bearcats, 2011 BIG EAST and AutoZone Liberty Bowl Champions, begin spring football on March 1.

(Illinois’ press release on the Illini’s 2012 recruiting class.)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois head coach Tim Beckman announced his first Fighting Illini recruiting class on Wednesday. In all, 19 student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play football for the Fighting Illini in 2012.

The class is made up of 14 skill players, four linemen and a kicker that have played in over 160 playoff games and seven state championship games, won four state titles and one national championship, and one even won a state title in track. Twelve players have over a 3.0 grade point average in high school and one is in position to be valedictorian of his class.

The group features six players from Ohio, five from Illinois, five from Florida, and one each from Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

(USF’s press release on the additions the Bulls made via its 2012 recruiting class.)

The University of South Florida is entering the third year of the Skip Holtz era, and will do so with a group of newcomers that cover virtually every position on the field. The Bulls finished off their 2012 recruiting class with 11 signees  on Wednesday to go along with five junior college transfers, three early enrollees and one greyshirt, who have been on campus since the start of the spring semester in January.

Of the 20 newest members of the South Florida family, nine reside on the offensive side of the ball, while 11 are projected to play defense.

“We did an awful lot to answer the needs that we had,” said head coach Skip Holtz. “We came in talking about needing some upperclassman help at a few positions – defensive backs, offensive line and defensive end – and I feel like we answered that.”

USF utilized the state’s deep talent pool again with 15 of the 20 signees hailing from Florida. The Bulls also received signatures from two Texas players and one each from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

“I think it is probably the most talented freshman class we’ve signed since I’ve been here,” Holtz added. “Every one of the guys we’ve signed I feel really good about.”

The Bulls class includes five players apiece along the defensive line and in the secondary. The defensive line should get help right away from junior college transfer Tevin Mims, who played a year at Texas before spending last season at Navarro Junior College. He’ll be joined by an athletic group in Guito Ervilus of Orlando Oak Ridge, James Hamilton of Orlando Olympia, Eric Lee of Daphne (Ala.) Daphne and Daniel Perry of Fort Lauderdale University School.

The defensive backs are a mix of newcomer and veteran as two junior college transfers will look to have an immediate impact. Joshua Brown (Lancaster, Texas/Arizona Western C.C.) and Fidel Montgomery (Marianna, Fla./SW Miss. C.C.) are an athletic duo that will be complimented by a the versatile trio of Chris Bivins Jr. of Gainesville H.S., Jarvis McCall of Seffner Armwood and Jalen Spencer of Pensacola H.S.

The offensive line will add four members with Lawrence Martin of Daytona Beach, Fla. (Merced College) and Chandlor Mathews of Bay St. Louis, Miss. (Pearl River C.C.) coming from the JUCO ranks, and Kofi Amichia (Powder Springs Ga./McEachern) and Kameron Davis (Lauderhill, Fla./Northeast) from the prep ranks.

The receiving corps will welcome three highly-touted prospects in Alex Mut, who originally signed in 2011 but greyshirted in the fall to rehab an injury, D’vario Montgomery (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park) and LaMarlin Wiggins (Plant City, Fla./Plant City).

The Bulls received a huge commitment from tight end Sean Price, an Under Armour All-American. The lone running back added to the fold is junior college transfer Michael Pierre from Golden West College. He will join the Bulls for the summer semesters. LB Tashon Whitehurst from Gainesville H.S. joins prep teammate Chris Bivins on the Bulls roster after singing his letter.

Nine of the signees (Bivins, Brown, Hamilton, Lee, Martin, Mathews, Mims, F. Montgomery and Mut) are already enrolled in school and will participate in spring drills.

PULLMAN, Wash. - Washington State University Head Coach Mike Leach announced Wednesday that 28 student-athletes have each signed a National Letter of Intent or Financial Aid Agreement to play football for the Cougars.

The class includes 11 offensive/defensive linemen, five linebackers, five wide receivers, three safeties, two running backs, one quarterback and a kicker.

“Our staff did a tremendous job of putting together this class,” said Leach. “We looked for three things in particular:  we needed offensive linemen, we needed defensive linemen and we looked for guys that were good football players.”

Leach added, “It was the same as when I selected our staff. If you look at our staff every one of them on some level is in the habit of winning. With regard to these football players we tried to select guys that were the same. Not how big is he? How fast is he? How strong is he? Can he play football is the first question we asked.”

Signing Class Breakdown

ESPN.com 150 (5)
Kwon Alexander (29), Vadal Alexander (75), Jeremy Liggins (118), Ronnie Feist (125), Lorenzo Phillips (135)

Yahoo/Rivals.com Top 250 (4)
Dwayne Thomas (168), Lamar Louis (231), Vadal Alexander (234), Avery Johnson (247)

Fox Sports/Scout.com Top 300 (10)
Kwon Alexander (82), Danielle Hunter (109), Corey Thompson (168), Derrick Raymond (177), Vadal Alexander (216), Lorenzo Phillips (228), Derek Edinburgh (232), Ronnie Feist (241), Avery Johnson (270), Dwayne Thomas (284)

247Sports.com Top 247 (9)
Jeremy Liggins (93), Kwon Alexander (104), Corey Thompson (137), Jerald Hawkins (158), Lamar Louis (162), Vadal Alexander (165), Deion Jones (226), Lorenzo Phillips (236), Dwayne Thomas (240)

By State:

Louisiana (14)
Texas (3)
Mississippi  (1)
Georgia (2)
Alabama (1)
Florida (1)

By Position:

Linebacker (5)
Defensive Backs (5)
Offensive Line (3)
Wide Receiver (3)
Quarterback (1)
Running Back (1)
Tight End (1)
Defensive Line (1)
Athlete (1)
Long Snapper (1)

(Florida State’s press release with the bios on the Seminoles’ 2012 recruiting class.)

Roberto Aguayo, K, 6-0, 185, Groveland, Fla./South Lake HS
Rated the nation’s No. 3 kicker by Rivals…sixth-best kicking prospect according to ESPN.com…247Sports lists him as the nation’s third-best kicker…three-star prospect according to ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports…ESPN lists him as the 105th-best overall prospect in the state of Florida…listed as the 133rd-best prospect in the state by 247Sports…one of only three kickers to make the ESPNU150 Watch List for 2012…was rated the nation’s number one kicking prospect at the age of 16 by Kohl’s Kicking Camps…Kohl’s said the ball explodes off his foot and that he is ready for Division I football right now…they also pointed out how well he handles pressure and that he is one of the most pure talents they have seen across the country…won the kick-off competition at the ESPN Underclassman Challenge in 2010 with a 74-yard kick that had a 4.04 second hang time…high school coach considers him an offensive weapon and the best high school kicker he’s coached since UF’s Caleb Sturgis…made 7-of-8 field goals as a junior with his long coming from 48 yards…also accounted for 38 touchbacks in 2010…hit two field goals from 51 yards as a sophomore…longest field goal in practice was 63 yards…attended the National Invitational Scholarship Camp…named the Most Outstanding Kicker at the Jimbo Fisher Summer Camp… started his career playing soccer before he moved over to football…also ranked as the 68th-best punter in the nation by Kohl’s…favorite kicker is FSU’s Groza Award winner and current Washington Redskin Graham Gano…chose FSU over interest from Tennessee, UCLA, Arkansas, LSU, Michigan and others.

Colin Blake, DB, 6-3, 185, San Antonio, Texas/Brandeis HS
A four-star prospect according to Rivals who is proven at the 5A level of Texas football…received a threestar rating from ESPN, 247Sports and Scout…Rivals list him as the 13th-best cornerback prospect in the 2012 class while 247Sports lists him as the 26th-best corner, ESPN the 30th-best and Scout has him at No. 33 in hisposition group…among prospects from one of the deepest talent pools in America Texas Rivals lists Blake as the 21st-best player in the state…ranked No. 60 in Texas by 247Sports and No. 90 in the Lone Star state by ESPN…ESPN lists Blake at No. 116 regionally…nationally Rivals lists the San Antonio prospect as the 155th-best in the nation…rated a Top Player by Tom Lemming of Max Preps who believes he could be an All-American at the collegiate level…recorded 68 tackles and one interception as a junior…coveted size for a cornerback and should transition well to the college game at that position according to ESPN…one scouting service felt Blake could develop into a player like NFL All-Pro Nnamdi Asomugha…runs a 4.5 40 with a vertical of 34”…originally from England and has only been playing cornerback since his junior year…joins fellow European Bjoern Werner who came to FSU from Germany…holds more than 15 offers from BCS schools…was committed to Texas A&M before the turnover in the coaching staff…chose FSU over Oklahoma and TCU.

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