Which CAA football programs are off to a fast start in the recruiting process for 2012?

According to Rivals.com, Georgia State is the early leader with 12 verbally committed recruits to pace the CAA in the always competitive recruiting battles.

James Madison has five verbal recruits lined up including one of Maryland’s all-time leaders in passing in Brunswick high school quarterback Ian Fisher (6’6” 245 lbs.).

Recruited by schools like Maryland, North Carolina State, Duke, Penn State and Oregon, Fisher committed early to the Dukes for several reasons.

James Madison recruit Ian Fisher received offers from Maryland and NC State, but verbally committed to the Dukes football program as a quarterback for 2012.

“Most schools wanted me as a tight end.  I wanted to play quarterback and James Madison wanted me as a quarterback,” Fisher explained.

With tens-of-thousands of high school football players to search from, major college recruiting is primarily based on size and speed.

Combines are used to measure athletes and test their speed and quickness.  The results put them on the recruiting radar, than their play on the field is monitored going forward.

Coaches believe they can teach a kid to play football, but you can’t teach size and speed.

Fisher was pigeon-holed as a tight end by major college recruiters because of his enormous build.

Coaches in the CAA have taken advantage of the large recruiting pool by wooing athletes to their program by simply allowing them to stay at their ideal positions and an opportunity to play early.

That doesn’t mean they will remain at their ideal position once the coaching staffs have evaluated their talents up close and reviewed depth charts, but the opportunity is there for the taking.

Villanova, soon to exit the CAA, has four recruits who’ve provided verbal commitments.  One of the recruits Includes three star prospect Austin Calitro (6’2” 220 lbs.), a linebacker from Danbury, Connecticut.

Old Dominion has three verbal commitments that include two star offensive linemen Troy Butler (6’2” 280 lbs.) from Chesapeake, Virginia and Andrew Maddox (6’5” 271 lbs.) from Woodbridge, Virginia.

UD recruit, WR Simba Gwashavanhu from Gaithersburg HS in Maryland helped lead his Trojans deep into the playoffs. Next year he will be part of the Hens football program.

Towson and Delaware each have two early verbal commitments, while Richmond has one.

What does it mean for a football program to receive early commitments?  Although nothing is official until the player signs a letter of intent and meets the school’s academic requirements for admission, coaching staffs can focus on recruiting additional talent to enhance their programs.

For the student athlete, the early verbal commitment allows them to focus on their senior season.

They no longer have to visit schools and deal with the pressures surrounding the recruiting process.

CAA football programs are off to a fast start in preparation for the future.  Follow the recruiting progress for each school by visiting rivals.com.