Tee Shepard is one of the top defensive back recruits in the country. Shepard enrolled early at Notre Dame and was expected to make an immediate impact in the Irish secondary next season. That all changed last week when Shepard left the program and returned home to Fresno.

It is unclear what actually led to Shepard’s departure at this time, although health concerns appear to be the primary factor. Shepard’s departure leaves the Irish secondary pretty thin.

The talent pool of student-athletes spread throughout California’s high schools is no mystery. However, West Coast preps seem to lack the national exposure granted to other sports recruits in U.S. States throughout the South and Midwest, such as Texas, Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida.

Now that signing day has passed, the majority of recruits have made their decisions. As always, the state of California produced a horde of talent for the big schools to court. The 2012 class of California recruits will surely make a lasting impact on the universities they attend. There are a number of future stars to look out for.

Here are the Top 25 California Recruits in 2012.

1. Ellis McCarthy (DT, Monrovia, UCLA)