Team recruiting rankings are largely irrelevant in May but a select few programs have gotten a head start on the process. While classes are far from complete, the foundations already in place have given us a glimpse of who is likely to be battling it out for the top classes in February.

Dante Fowler is part of a loaded group of DL already committed to FSU.

We take a conference by conference look at the top recruiting efforts heading into the summer.

NOTE: Rankings are not official.

ACC

1. Florida State

Commits: 9

Five-stars: 1

Four-stars: 7

Nationally there are a couple of programs that are recruiting on the same level as Florida State but there is no school that can realistically claim that it is recruiting better. Included in Florida State’s first nine commitments are three Top100 defensive ends including five-star Mario Edwards.

2. Miami

Commits: 8

Four-stars: 4

All Golden has brought the energy and excitement that Miami was missing and the Hurricanes are once again placing the necessary emphasis on homegrown talent. Miami’s top four commitments are Palm Beach and Dade Counties.

3. Virginia Tech

Commits: 9

Four-stars: 1

As is often the case with Virginia Tech, the star power may not blow you away but the quality is certainly there. J.C. Coleman is the lone four-star commitment but players like Donaldven Manning, Der’Woun Greene and Donavan Riley could all blossom into tremendous college talents under Frank Beamer’s watch.

Big 12

1. Texas

Commits: 16

Five-stars: 1

Four-stars: 14

If you thought that a losing record and no bowl appearance would somehow dampen Texas’ recruiting efforts in 2012, you are finding out that the machine rolls on. Mack Brown has altered his approach but not his results. Texas has jumped out to another characteristically fast start led by five-star Jonathan Gray.

Jonathan Gray is helping Texas to another fast start.

2. Texas A&M

Commits: 19

Four-stars: 9

Almost as if buoyed by its late-season surge in 2010, Texas A&M is recruiting with tremendous confidence this spring and it has resulted in a whopping 19 early commitments. Not only are the Aggies battling Texas head-to-head for elite in-state prospects but it is also finding some early success to the south in Louisiana.

3. Oklahoma

Commits: 5

Four-stars: 3

Bob Stoops’ 2012 recruiting effort to date is low on numbers but high on quality. Alex Ross could be the best running back in the nation that no one is talking about and he is joined by four-stars Sterling Shepard and Daniel Brooks forming a strong early recruiting foundation.

Big East

1. Cincinnati

Commits: 7

Cincinnati’s early success in the 2012 class has come in large part thanks to some early success inside the doors of Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central High School. The Bearcats have landed three three-star prospects already from the talent factory.

Big Ten

1. Penn State

Commits: 6

Five-stars: 1

Four-stars: 3

Penn State football is the definition of blue-collar under Joe Paterno. With the early additions to the 2012 class, that mentality doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. Along with five-star DL Jarron Jones, the Nittany Lions have added five other “in the box” prospects with size and strength.

2. Ohio State

Commits: 6

Four-stars: 5

The current turmoil surrounding Jim Tressel and Ohio State may be a red mark when it comes to national perception but within the state the Buckeyes are still the Buckeyes. All six of Ohio State’s commitments are in-state kids and five of them, led by Top100 tackle Kyle Kalis are four-star prospects.

3. Michigan

Commits: 8

Four-stars: 4

Brady Hoke is not wasting any time and has come out swinging at the bell. Already Hoke has secured three of the top prospects in Michigan including two of the top linebackers in the nation. With commitments from linebackers James Ross and Royce Jenkins-Stone out of Michigan and Kaleb Ringer out of Ohio, Michigan’s defense looks poised to toughen up in a hurry under Hoke.

Arik Armstead leads USC's class as the No. 1 prospect in the country.

Pac-12

1. USC

Commits: 6

Five-stars: 1

Four-stars: 4

There have been a lot of changes in the Pac-10, including the addition of two more programs to the conference. One thing that hasn’t changed is USC’s strong recruiting. That has been a standard for the better part of a decade. The nation’s top prospect in Arik Armstead leads this year’s class to date.

2. Arizona State

Commits: 6

Four-stars: 1

The Sun Devils have had a strong start to the 2012 cycle led primarily behind a four-prospect haul out of the immensely talented Long Beach (Calif.) Poly program. Headlining that group is four-star linebacker Salamo Fiso. Fiso is joined by teammates Richard Smith Josiah Blandin and Randall Goforth, all wide receivers.

SEC

1. Florida

Commits: 10

Four-stars: 9

Will Muschamp’s first full recruiting cycle is off to a blazing start behind three four-stars out of his native state of Georgia and one of the best offensive linemen in America in Boynton Beach, Fla. tackle Jessamen Dunker.

2. Alabama

Commits: 11

Five-stars: 1

Four-stars: 6

Alabama is setting the bar in the SEC once again with prospects like five-star Eddie Williams out of Panama City, Fla., physical linebacker presence Reggie Ragland out of Madison (Ala.) Bob Jones and an explosive versatile Justin Thomas out of Prattville (Ala.) High School.

3. LSU

Commits: 9

Four-stars: 5

LSU is used to dominating its home state and with eight of its nine early commitments coming from friendly territory, it looks poised to mine Louisiana for top talent once again. John Thomas could be the budding superstar of the group as a 6-5, 250-pound tight end.

Commit tracker

Brock Stadnik is one of the top OTs in the country.

- On Thursday, South Carolina got commitments from brothers Clayton Stadnik and Brock Stadnik out of Greensboro (N.C.) Western Guilford. Brock Stadnik is rated as a four-star prospct in the Top100 and the No. 12 offensive tackle in the country. National analyst JC Shurburtt had this to say about the pair.

"South Carolina is in the process of re-building its offensive line, which has been a weak spot for the majority of the era of current head coach Steve Spurrier. Landing four-star offensive tackle Brock Stadnik helps in that regard. The state of North Carolina also is an important battleground state for the Gamecocks so anytime they can land one of the top players from that state, it's huge. Clayton Stadnik isn't just a throw-in. He's undersized and is a different prospect that his brother, but South Carolina's coaches love his toughness and fire and think he can contribute in time."

- With Wednesday’s news that Devante Bourque had committed to Texas A&M, the Aggies made a very powerful statement in their recruiting efforts. Bourque is likely a four-star prospect when the rankings are expanded and he held an LSU offer. With this commitment, Texas A&M continues to show that it is one of the real upstarts on the national scene for 2012.

Texas quick hitters

- The recruitment of outside linebacker/defensive end Bryce Cottrell (Plano, Tx./West) continues to pick up steam at a quick rate. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has added verbal offers in recent days from Texas Tech, Arizona and San Jose State to go along with Baylor, Syracuse and Mississippi State. TCU, Arizona, Northwestern and SMU were all on hand at Plano West practice to check out the fast rising defender. LSU was at the school early in the week and are taking a long look at Cottrell as a weak side defensive end.

- Cornerback Justin Thomas (Orange, Tx./West Orange-Stark) has picked up verbal offers from Iowa State, Baylor and Missouri in recent days to go along with previous offers from Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Houston and Utah. Texas continues to be the favorite of the cousin of former Texas All-American safety Earl Thomas with Oklahoma running second. Both programs are showing interest.

- Receiver Gerald Thomas (The Colony, Tx.) picked up a verbal offer from Minnesota on Thursday. Minnesota joins Boise State, Kansas, Arizona State and New Mexico State in offering. The Gophers, Boise State and New Mexico State were by the school yesterday. TCU, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas Tech are also showing interest and have been by The Colony this month.

- Cornerback Will Hines (Waco, Tx./Waco High) has added a verbal offer from Arkansas. The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder had previous offers from Notre Dame, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Tulsa and North Texas. Texas Tech and others are showing interest. Texas and Arkansas are among the many colleges to stop by Waco High this week.

- Defensive end Taiwan Johnson (Manvel, Tx.) reports that Miami (Fl.), Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas, Boise State and Texas-San Antonio are among the colleges that have stopped by Manvel High this week. The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder has verbal offers from Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas State, Boise State, Wake Forest, Washington State, Rice, Louisville, Arizona State, Missouri, Purdue and Texas-San Antonio.

From the midwest

Crete (Ill.) Monee cornerback Anthony Standifer confirmed with 247Sports that Michigan offered him a scholarship on Thursday after assistant coach Jeff Hecklinski watched him workout at the school. The Wolverines join Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, and Western Michigan in offering the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Standifer. Several other BCS programs are beginning to show strong interest including Cincinnati, Indiana and Michigan State. As a junior, Standifer had 44 tackles, nine interceptions and one forced fumble.

National recruiting analysts Gerry Hamilton, Steve Wiltfong and JC Shurburtt contributed to this report.

