National Signing Day 2012: Missouri, Florida State, Miami, Georgia Score Early Coups

National Signing Day 2012 has already seen a handful of major recruits become commits. And, in news that should surprise no one, the South is where the biggest stars seem to want to be. This explains so much about Missouri!

The Tigers got the biggest recruit of the day so far when massive wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham committed to Missouri over Arkansas and Oklahoma. Green-Beckham is the nation’s top wideout, and, at 6’6” and 220 pounds, should be a big-time target for James Franklin as Missouri transitions to SEC play in 2012.

Josh Harvey-Clemons, whose recruitment has been marked by weirdness — Florida’s Will Muschamp went to church with the big-time linebacker/wide receiver, while Georgia coach Mark Richt went to jail with him — made the most obvious choice in the end. Harvey-Clemons signed with Georgia and will be staying in the Peach State. The 6’5” Harvey-Clemons could be a nightmare for SEC offensive tackles for some time to come.

Florida’s National Signing Day woes continued with the next major commitment of the day when the Gators missed on a longtime lean, Tracy Howard. Howard committed to Miami instead of joining Muschamp’s troops in Gainesville, opting for his hometown team and Al Golden’s plan over the Gators.

And Florida State may have secured the literal biggest commitment of the day from Eddie Goldman. The hulking defensive tackle chose FSU over Auburn, and joins a loaded Seminoles recruiting class and an especially imposing set of defensive line commits.

Florida coaches can’t be happy about that one, either, but they may have benefited from FSU’s embarrasment of riches up front: the Gators flipped Dante Fowler from FSU. And all is not lost: Muschamp and company still have chances at Nelson Agholor and Leonard Williams later in the day, though they will be competing with a familiar foe, USC’s Lane Kiffin, for both guys.

For more on Georgia recruiting, visit the Dawg Sports. For more on Miami recruiting, visit the Seventh Floor Blog. For more on Florida State recruiting, visit Tomahawk Nation. For more on Florida recruiting, check out Alligator Army. For more on Missouri recruiting, check out Rock M Nation.