College Football Recruiting 2013: Burning Questions About the Top 15 Recruits

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Recruiting is a non-stop grind that is always chalk full of questions, rumors, speculation, tips and news. We all love college football, and recruiting is the foundation that gives us the star players and great teams we love to watch.

With all recruits, questions always are surrounding them about anything and everything. Whether it be about their commitment, future playing time or anything in between, questions are always there.

This piece will put the focus on the top burning question currently surrounding the nation's top 15 recruits in this 2013 recruiting cycle. Let's ask away and see what we yearn to be answered in regards to the top 15 prospects in the country this year. 

15. Matthew Thomas, OLB

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Burning Question: Will local and family pressure get him to go to Miami?

Thomas is the top outside linebacker prospect in the country who stands 6'3" and 210 pounds. He's from Miami, but right now I think Florida State and Alabama lead the Hurricanes.

I tend to get the feeling that Thomas' family may want him to stay home in the 305, but he may be thinking otherwise.

14. Ty Isaac, RB

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Burning Question: How will he be used at USC?

From Illinois, Isaac is a 6'3", 220-pound running back who has tremendous receiving ability. You can take Isaac and line him up like a receiver, and he can impact the game in that fashion.

Lane Kiffin is an offensive-minded head coach, and I'm very anxious to see how Kiffin uses Isaac in the Trojan offense in the coming seasons.

13. Robert Foster, WR

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Burning Question: Is he a lock to sign with Pitt?

Most people are predicting that the Panthers are the team for Foster. However, I think schools such as Alabama and Ohio State could really be true threats to Paul Chryst's chances.

In the end, the fact that Foster can stay close to home and get early playing time likely will win out, and Pitt is where he will play.

12. Montravius Adams, DT

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Burning Question: Can anyone pass Auburn and Clemson?

Adams is from Georgia, and if you read between the lines, then you could get the sense that maybe Auburn is the favorite here. However, Clemson also has been mentioned several times, so it could be a Tigers vs. Tigers battle.

Is there any school that can establish itself higher than Auburn and Clemson in Adams' pecking order?

11. Su'a Cravens, S

Scout.com

Burning Question: Will he remain at safety?

Cravens is a great athlete who is set up to play safety at USC, yet I also can see him fitting in as an OLB in Monte Kiffin's scheme. At 6'1" and 205 pounds, Cravens could be best-suited to play the Sam linebacker role that Dion Bailey currently plays, or he could remain a strong safety.

10. Eli Woodard, CB

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Burning Question: How quickly can he learn the Buckeyes defense?

Woodard is a very smart player, and the Ohio State secondary isn't too young, so he could see early playing time.

How quickly he learns the scheme and coverages will determine that, but I expect the 6'0", 185-pound cover corner to develop into a Big Ten standout in Columbus.

9. Max Browne, QB

Scout.com

Burning Question: Can he start as a true freshman at USC?

Browne is on track to graduate early and be at spring practices for the Trojans in a few months. Matt Barkley did the same thing as a high school senior, and we all see how that worked for him.

At 6'5" and 215 pounds, Browne has exceptional mental capabilities at the QB position. If he proves to be a quick learner of Lane Kiffin's offense, don't be surprised to see him contend for the job to replace Barkley.

8. Antonio Conner, S

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Burning Question: Why hasn't he committed to Ole Miss yet?

I have been predicting Conner to commit to Ole Miss for quite some time now. The 6'1", 200-pound safety is one of the best in the country and goes to a school that is almost a pipeline to Oxford.

For some reason Conner hasn't pledged to Ole Miss just yet, and I think Alabama, Mississippi State and LSU are in his ear a bit. Stay tuned for this one. 

7. Kenny Bigelow, DT

Rivals.com

Burning Question: How much upside does he have?

Bigelow is a 6'3", 297-pound beastly DT who is committed to USC. He can do so many things, but outside from using his hands better, there could be limited upside here.

Not to say there's anything wrong with that, because Bigelow is a big-time talent. But what you see could be mostly what you're getting.

6. Carl Lawson, DE

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Burning Question: How good can he be at Auburn?

Lawson is said to be just scratching the surface in how talented he can become. He's 6'2", 255 pounds and is committed to Auburn.

The Plains will love this guy because he could be the next Corey Lemonier (or better) for the Tigers.

5. Laremy Tunsil, OT

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Burning Question: Has Florida State passed Florida?

Last week, Chad Simmons of Scout.com reported that Tunsil had told him Florida State was at the same spot Georgia and Alabama were as his leaders.

At one point FSU was thought to be out of the mix, while Florida was a co-leader. Times have changed now, haven't they?

4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB

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Burning Question: How soon will we see him on the field at Florida?

Hargreaves is the top CB prospect in the country and is committed to Florida. The only knock is that Florida is going to return almost everyone on the 2-deep secondary roster.

How soon will we see the top cornerback in the country play in Gainesville? Is it possible that he could be redshirted to preserve a year of eligibility?

3. Ricky Seals-Jones, WR/TE

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Burning Question: Will he come back at full strength this year?

Seals-Jones dislocated his kneecap last month and should be be back in time for the playoffs for Sealy.

Will he be at full strength by then? He is crucial to Sealy's success because Seals-Jones actually plays QB for the team and is unquestionably its best player. 

Get well soon, RS-J.

2. Reuben Foster, LB

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Burning Question: Will he be able to start as a true freshman?

Foster is ready to play at Auburn right now. His body and frame are like a college senior's, and he has the tools to start as a true freshman.

I'm anxious to see how quickly or slowly Gene Chizik and Brian VanGorder bring him along. Foster has the makings of a superstar. 

1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE

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Burning Question: Where is he really going?

Nkemdiche is committed to Clemson, but the consensus is that he isn't done with recruiting. His brother Denzel plays for Ole Miss, so you can expect the Rebels to keep pushing until signing day. I would add Alabama and Florida to that list, along with LSU.

Clemson has reason to be nervous until they get Nkemdiche's LOI signed, sealed and delivered. 

 

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS).

A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a college football and NFL draft magazine.