Where Does Dorial Green-Beckham Rank Against the Last 5 No. 1 Prospects?

Based on recruiting rankings from Rivals and Scout, wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham is the best high school player in the country. At 6’6”, 220 pounds, it’s easy to see why he is an elite prospect.

But what sets him apart is his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash that makes him a threat on the deep ball as well a big target in the middle of the field.

So where does he rank with the other top guys from the five past recruiting classes?

Let’s break it down based on their production in high school and in college.

5. Bryce Brown

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Scout’s breakdown of Bryce Brown went as follows: “Bryce Brown is easily one of the top players in the entire country. If you were building a running back from scratch, you would try to model him after Brown. He has the size to be an every-down back and the explosiveness, speed, vision,. and cut-back ability to take it to the house any time he touches the ball.”

At 6’0”, 210 pounds with 4.4 speed, Tennessee fans saw big things ahead for their program. Apparently all of the hype got to his head because Brown ended up transferring to Kansas State, where he only carried the ball three times all season. For whatever reason, he has decided to declare for the NFL Draft and likely won’t get drafted. He’s almost the definition of a bust.

4. Ronald Powell

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Ronald Powell has nearly identical stats to Jadeveon Clowney who will appear later in this slideshow, but he hasn’t been nearly as productive both in college and in high school. He had 61 tackles and 13 sacks in his junior year of high school. Those are great but not elite numbers.

Since Will Muschamp has taken over as head coach at Florida, Powell has moved to the Buck linebacker positions one of the most complex positions on defense. He seems to have picked it up more and more as the season progressed and is poised for a breakout 2012 season.

3. Terrelle Pryor

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Much like Bryce Brown, Terrelle Pryor had every physical tool you could want in a mobile quarterback.

In high school, he amassed an incredible 60 touchdowns with nearly 3,700 total yards which were basically split between rushing and passing.. He also was one of the nation's top basketball recruits.

He started almost from day one at Ohio State.  He had a breakout game in the 2009 Rose Bowl and continued having great games in 2010.

But he was kicked off the team for taking benefits that violated NCAA rules while in Columbus.

It was an unfortunate end for a quarterback who could have done something truly special in 2011.

2. Dorial Green-Beckham

DGB has improved every season in high school, culminating with 2,233 yards and 24 touchdowns in his senior season and more than 6,000 yards in his career.

The next most productive receiver coming out of high school was Julio Jones in 2008, but that 2,000-yard mark is something Jones never even came close to.

Green-Beckham is still considering Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. All  are schools that could use him in a big way. Whoever gets him will have acquired one stellar wide receiver.

1. Jadeveon Clowney

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

A total of 144 tackles, 22 for a loss and 23 sacks. Those were Jadeveon Clowney’s single-season stats as a defensive end.

Mind-boggling doesn’t even do that justice.

Also consider that he came on to a  South Carolina team deep at the position, with likely first-round draft choice Melvin Ingram and Devin Taylor already. But Clowney still managed to finish  second on the team in sacks. In the SEC. As a true freshman.

More than 99.9 percent of players coming out of high school are simply not physically mature enough to play in the NFL, but this guy is one of the few. He will take over as a full-time starter next season and could become the premier pass rusher in the country.