Number of verbal commitments: 20
Next year's name to know (2012): Cayleb Jones
Freshman to follow (2013): Dez Wortham
Comment: Texas' Junior Day success was epic, and the Longhorns continue to roll. In addition to locking up the premium talent in the Lone Star State, Mack Brown was able to snag one of the nation's top offensive linemen, Christian Westerman, out of Arizona. Brown is still on the board, and Texas would love to nab him. Jones, a dynamic wide receiver just a stone's throw from Texas' campus, will likely be one of the Longhorns' top recruits in 2012. 
Texas has not had to stray far to bring in the nation's top recruiting class thus far; 19 of 20 verbal commitments are from the Lone Star State.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
2. LSU
Number of verbal commitments: 10
Comment: Two months ago, LSU had the top spot thanks to an outstanding early recruiting effort by Les Miles & Co. The Tigers locked up a boatload of talent across a number of positions, and should have skills players and linemen on both sides of the ball that can step in and make an early impact. Rasco will be a key recruit, because if he leaves the state, he'll likely end up at Texas. Sensational freshman Damian Williams led Archbishop Rummel to the 5A title game and should be one to watch.
3. Oklahoma
Number of verbal commitments: 11
Comment: The Sooners have done a good job securing early commitments from a number of key skill position players like Williams, Trey Metoyer, Kameel Jackson, Chris Barnett and standout quarterback Kendl Thompson. With the offense reloading, the success of this recruiting class come February could rest on how well Bob Stoops closes with top targets on the defensive side of the ball. Turner is a high priority and Anthony Wallace, former teammate of 2010 signee Corey Nelson, would also be a welcomed addition.
4. Alabama
Number of verbal commitments: 11
Comment: Alabama has loaded up on defense already. In addition to Calloway, the Crimson Tide features Shannon Brown, LaMichael Fanning and Jabriel Washington. Offensively, Nick Saban has already received a commitment from Marvin Shinn, who many people compare to A.J. Green in terms of style of play. The class of 2012 will probably be strong for Alabama as well, assuming they can land the likes of Winston and linebacker/tight end Reggie Ragland. 
Many schools are courting DeMatha tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.
Photo by Richard Rector
5. Florida State
Number of verbal commitments: 11
Comment: With nearly a dozen commitments already, Jimbo Fisher is off to a hot start with the class of 2011. An already-talented secondary will be boosted by more playermakers like Williams, Tyler Hunter and Cortez Davis. There are several big fish yet to fry for the Seminoles, but it will likely involve outfoxing Florida and other major players. Still, things are looking up for Florida State.
6. Stanford
Number of verbal commitments: 11
Comment: Perhaps this is a tad too high for the Cardinal, but it's hard not to like Stanford's duo of quarterback Evan Crower and running back Amir Carlisle, who was slowed last year because of injury. Linebacker Anthony Sarao will be one of the top players in New Jersey next season. Garrett Gladd will help anchor the Cardinal offensive line. As always with Stanford, academic hurdles may weed out some of these commitments, so this class may look noticeably different come National Signing Day.
7. Clemson
Number of verbal commitments: 7
Comment: Clemson got off to a hot start very early on in the 2011 recruiting cycle, but the Tigers have hit a bit of a lull. They recently landed former Tennessee commit Eric Maclain, but have otherwise been quiet since National Signing Day. Still, with Marlin Lane, Shaq Anthony and Tony McNeal already on board, Dabo Swinney has the Tigers poised to finish with a top recruiting class. Landing Jay Rome, Stephone Anthony or Brandon Shell would immediately boost this class, as would pulling Mike Bellamy out of Florida, ala C.J. Spiller.
8. Notre Dame
Number of verbal commitments: 9
Freshman to follow: Kyle Bosch
Comment: Brian Kelly has been on a torrid recruiting pace, landing several top commitments in the past two weeks. In addition to Jarrett Grace and Ben Koyack, Kelly also brought in Matt Hegarty, a highly coveted tackle. The Fighting Irish are in the mix for standout running back Savon Huggins, a skill player Notre Dame sorely needs. Kelly is also in the hunt for Bubba Starling, one of the most productive signal-callers in the country.
9. Ohio State
Number of verbal commitments: 10
Comment: Following a mediocre haul in 2009, Jim Tressel should have the Buckeyes back near the top recruiting rankings this season. He's already secured verbal commitments from Steve Miller and Kenny Hayes, who should bookend the Ohio State defensive line for years to come. Most also expect quarterback Braxton Miller to stay local and commit to Ohio State. Assuming Tressel can tap into his Glenville pipeline as well as swoop in and snag another Florida player or two, Ohio State will have a much-improved 2010 class.
10. Florida
Number of verbal commitments: 4
Comment: Though short on numbers, the current Florida Gators 2011 recruiting class is tall on talent. Quarterback Jeff Driskel has seen his stock rise significantly over the past few months, while athlete De'Ante 'Pop' Saunders has been a known commodity for quite some time. Each of their current commits ranks among the best in the nation at his respective position. After Urban Meyer's success closing with a strong 2010 class, there's no reason to believe the Gators won't end up even higher when the dust settles. 
James Wilder can play linebacker or running back at the next level.
Photo by Gary Quetti
11. Washington
Number of verbal commitments: 9
Comment: The Pac 10 is taking note of Steve Sarkisian's early victories with the class of 2011. Brandon Bigelow is a great pull for the Huskies, as is offensive lineman Maatua Brown. With Garnett, Zach Banner and others, the class of 2012 has a number of prime targets up front. It may be hard to keep superstar tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins within state borders, but Sarkisian has a good shot with Williams, who has ties to the program.
12. Nebraska
Number of verbal commitments: 6
Comment: This year's recruiting class for the Cornhuskers already features marquee names, making waves in the recruiting world for a program that has thrived on developing less heralded recruits. Fellow lineman Ryne Reeves may be the top in-state recruit, and Ryan Plachko should see his stock continue to rise even higher. Jamal Turner is on board, and Nebraska is in good standing with fellow Texan Aaron Green. That duo would likely represent two of the more exciting recruits in the conference.
13. Missouri
Number of verbal commitments: 7
Next year's name to know: Dorial Green
Comment: With over 4,000 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns already in his high school career (despite missing time due to injury as a junior), Anthony Pierson has had a stellar career at running back, but is looking forward to playing cornerback for the Tigers. Gary Pinkel has done a nice job surrounding quarterback of the future Corbin Berkstresser with some nice weapons at wide receiver, but Missouri fans already have their eyes set on 2012 phenom Dorial Green.
14. Georgia
Number of verbal commitments: 7
Next year's name to know: Deion Bonner
Freshman to follow: Johnny O'Neal
Comment: In the midst of a tumultuous offseason, capturing a commitment from Christian Lemay is a major boost to program morale that should have positive implications on and off the field. At 6-foot-3, Chris Conley should provide him with a more than adequate target. With many key, highly coveted targets still hanging in the balance, Georgia could soar up the rankings or get passed up by other SEC teams that finish strong.
15. Auburn
Number of verbal commitments: 4
Key recruit: Spencer Region
Comment: Auburn closed with a bang in 2010, and is off to a promising start in 2011. The Tigers only have four commitments thus far, but three are top-tier offensive linemen. Gene Chizik is quickly developing a reputation for landing key players at that position. The Tiger Prowl has raised Auburn's profile on a national level, so Chizik may continue to find success recruiting players outside the state.
16. Louisville
Number of verbal commitments: 11
Freshman to follow: Jason Hatcher
Comment: Charlie Strong continues his hot recruiting. With 11 commitments, Louisville is well on its way to a deep class with some impressive talent. An injury ended Smith's junior campaign prematurely, but his sophomore season, in which he tossed for more than 3,200 yards, was remarkable. Ballard's DeVante Parker should see the field sooner rather than later for the Cardinals. Strong will need to continue to lock up the top players in the city while also expanding his reach into other states like Florida, where he is well-established. 
Johnathan Gray, reigning MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year,
will be one to watch in the 2012 recruiting cycle.
Photo by Kyle Dantzler
17. Texas Tech
Number of verbal commitments: 10
Key recruit: Kenny Williams
Comment: Tommy Tubberville has succeeded in changing the image of the program to be more running back-friendly. This is critical in Texas' Year of the Running Back, as the Red Raiders have already landed a commitment from Hendrickson standout Kenny Williams. However, Tubberville has not strayed too far from the pass-friendly perception of Texas Tech; he landed Lake Travis quarterback Michael Brewer and held on to Lakeland speedstar Javares McRoy.
18. USC
Number of verbal commitments: 3
Comment: Sure, the Trojans only have three players verbally committed thus far, but for Lane Kiffin in 2011, it's quality over quantity. Max Wittek has emerged as a top signal-caller, and Antwaun Woods has long been touted as one of the top defensive tackles in this class. With Kiffin's penchant for speeding up the recruiting process for young players, it wouldn't be surprising to see Williams or Notre Dame quarterback Kelly Helinski seriously consider USC before long.
19. Maryland
Number of verbal commitments: 11
Freshman to follow: E.J. Levenberry
Comment: It's difficult to ignore the early success of Maryland and head coach Ralph Friedgen. The Terrapins sit comfortably with 11 verbal commitments. While Maryland fans are excited about Nigel King, a wide receiver from North Carolina, success with the rest of this recruiting class will be defined by how well the Terps can keep a fence around the state, with Jennings and Cyrus Kouandjio still on the board.
20. Oklahoma State
Number of verbal commitments: 7
Still on the board: Daniel Lasco
Comment: The biggest commitment on the board for the Cowboys so far will be a trendy preseason pick for National Player of the Year honors. Herschel Sims was outstanding last season for Abilene, rushing for 2,346 yards and 35 TDs to lead the Eagles to a state title. There's good depth at that position in upcoming recruiting classes, including outstanding sophomore Barry Sanders. Like Sims, quarterback J.W. Walsh was amazingly productive; the pair will make a high-octane duo for Mike Gundy.