California | CollegeLevelAthletes.com | High School Student-Athlete Videos, College Sports News. #D1Bound Nation

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)

Danny "DSPN" Dabiri (Editor)

Football

CA California

The USC Trojans are looking to capitalize on a fresh start coming into the 2012 NCAA college football season. Southern Cal returns two potential Heisman Trophy candidates as they enter into the first year of the post-sanction era. Led by Head Coach Lane Kiffin, USC is looking to shake off the rust of not being able to compete in BCS post-season play for the past two consecutive seasons. The Trojans have a lot to be thankful for in 2012.

Aaron Plunkett (Publisher)

Football

CA California FL Florida

Hometown:

Bellflower, CA

Speedy St. John Bosco wide receiver Bryce Treggs will play his college ball at California. The shifty Treggs will bring explosiveness and big play ability to Jeff Tedford’s offense. The addition of Treggs provides returning quarterback Zach Maynard another weapon at his disposal.

At 6’0 175, Treggs will most likely play the slot but has the versatility to play on the outside for the Bears. Expect Treggs to contribute from day one.

Hometown:

Sacramento, CA

A hard hitting safety with unlimited upside, Shaq Thompson is taking his talents to Washington. After making commitments to Cal and Oregon, the 6’2 210 Grant High standout felt most comfortable with the Huskies and will join former high school teammate James Sample in the Washington secondary.

Widely considered one of the top defensive backs in the nation, Thompson should make his presence known right away. With the influx of offensive coaches like Mike Leach and Rich Rodriguez in the Pac 12, the Huskies are counting on Thompson to quarterback their defense for years to come.

Hometown:

Monrovia, CA

Ellis McCarthy demonstrates the ability of a former NFL coach like Jim Mora Jr. to attract five-star recruits. After verbally committing to Cal, McCarthy decided to stay close to home and anchor the Bruins defense.

The nation‘s top defensive tackle prospect, McCarthy was a flat out beast at Monrovia High School and is expected to be a disruptive force along the defensive line. At 6’4 311, McCarthy possesses the brute strength, athleticism and versatility that will make him a nightmare for opposing offenses to contain from day one.

Cyrus Hobbi (OL/2011) bench presses 405 pounds and is considered a man amongst boys in the Arizona prep football ranks. "They love how physical and nasty I am, which I take a lot of pride in," says the Saguaro High School senior-to-be offensive lineman. Hobbi is regarded as one of the top offensive lineman recruits in the class of 2011. The 6'4" 285 pound Hobbi has dominated the opposition over the last two seasons as a varsity player for the Sabercats, while his team has amassed an astonishing 7,368 yards rushing and 93 touchdowns on the ground.

Aaron M. Plunkett (Publisher)

Football

Arizona California

Cyrus Hobbi. #1 OL Recruit. USC Trojans Commit 2011. Saguaro High School, AZ.

Last season was truly a breakout year for junior quarterback Brett Hundley (Chandler High School, AZ) who passed for 1517 yards and 16 touchdowns with only two interceptions, and ran for another 1208 yards and 12 scores. A proven pocket passer and runner, Hundley (6'4" 210) was chosen as the Gatorade Arizona football player of the year last season and has received offers from many top programs nationwide. Hundley's offers include UCLA, Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Colorado, Washington and several others.

Aaron M. Plunkett (Publisher)

Football

AR Arizona CA California

Brett Hundley Jr. First UCLA quarterback recruit ever to earn five-star ranking.

Las Vegas, Nevada is more than just casinos and conventions. Just ask Bishop Gorman High School senior tight end Xavier Grimble (TE, USC) and the rest of his squad. Sin city produced some of the top prep football talent in the class of 2010, and is still looking to unleash a handful of student-athletes onto the scene in 2011. If Las Vegas is going to become known for it's prep football prowess, this is the program to make it happen.

Aaron M. Plunkett (Publisher)

Football

California Nevada

A dual-sport athlete, Grimble's tenacious style of play on the gridiron.

Hometown:

Los Angeles, CA

De'anthony Thomas, or the "Black Mamba" as people refer to him, was a standout player at Crenshaw High School (Los Angeles, CA). Thomas was one of the top overall recruits in the nation going into his senior year. Projected by many to play multiple positions at the NCAA level, Thomas has developed into arguably the best athlete in all of college football going into the 2012 college football season. At 5'9", 170 pounds, what Thomas does not possess in terms of size, he makes up for with dedication, speed and pure ability.

The college football recruiting classes of 2010 and 2011 from Gardena Serra High School (Gardena, CA) should be able to collect residuals from the reenergized Trojans and newly formed Pac-12 Conference. At the most critical time in the history of Southern Cal football, amidst an NCAA recruiting scandal that could have permanently tarnished the image of the Trojans and the entire conference, Robert "Superman" Woods put on the cape he sported at Gardena Serra High School and changed the game.