USA Today All-USA high school football team 2012 team First Team Defense

| Player | Position_ | School | Hometown | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Su`a Cravens | Defensive back | Vista Murrieta High School | Murrieta, California | Southern California |
| Jabrill Peppers ‡ | Defensive back | Paramus Catholic High School | Paramus, New Jersey | Michigan |
| Marlon Humphrey ‡ | Defensive back | Hoover High School | Hoover, Alabama | Undecided |
| Vernon Hargreaves III | Defensive back | Wharton High School | Tampa, Florida | Florida |
| Reuben Foster | Linebacker | Auburn High School | Auburn, Alabama | Alabama |
| Peter Kalambayi | Linebacker | Butler High School | Matthews, North Carolina | Stanford |
| Jaylon Smith | Linebacker | Bishop Luers High School | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Notre Dame |
| Andrew Brown ‡ | Defensive line | Oscar Smith High School | Chesapeake, Virginia | Virginia |