Top Committed 2014 College Football Recruit at Each Position
By Edwin Weathersby ,
Top committed recruits don't have much to worry about these days. Aside from a few schools still trying to convince them to change their pledge, recruiting is just about over for many of them.
However, things are only beginning. The top committed recruits now have to work harder than they ever have. College football is a major jump from high school, so they must get ready.
But before they transition from being an elite recruit to a young freshman in college, they deserve a little more time in the spotlight.
Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals and 247Sports.
Committed to: Ohio State
If your favorite school is looking for an elite cornerback, it is not going to land 4-star prospect Damon Webb. Webb is a fantastic athlete who is a firm commitment to Ohio State.
At 5'11" and 180 pounds, the Michigan native has great intelligence and speed. He plays with excellent instincts, plus he has the short-area quickness to close quickly on balls. Webb's speed allows him to recover with ease, plus he attacks off the perimeter versus running plays.
Committed to: Virginia
Quin Blanding is a 5-star safety who will arrive ready to play at Virginia. The 6'2", 200-pound defensive back is one of the best prospects at his position over the past five years.
Blanding has excellent range and awareness from the seams. He launches out of transition to jump passing lanes with speed, plus he has above-average hands. Blanding, who has the potential to be a team captain one day, squeezes the line of scrimmage well to help against the run.
Committed to: Ohio State
Ohio State is jumping for joy over the news that 5-star linebacker Raekwon McMillan will play in Columbus. McMillan is now the headliner of an impressive class for the Buckeyes.
At 6'2" and 242 pounds, the Georgia native excels at stopping the run. He's explosive, tough and physical in the box, especially at the point of attack. McMillan, who is a solid athlete for his size, has good range to sift through traffic to track running backs to the edges.
He needs to improve his coverage technique, but McMillan could help the Buckeyes as a true freshman.
Committed to: Virginia
The second of two 5-star recruits in Virginia's class, Andrew Brown is a beastly defensive tackle in the trenches. He's 6'4" and 282 pounds, plus he has outstanding strength and quickness.
Brown displays a good first step at the snap to jump on top of guards. He has the ability to anchor versus the run to make a mess, as well as the quickness to split double-teams. Brown is a solid pass-rusher who possesses a solid surge to finish on the ball.
He'll be dominant in Charlottesville.
Committed to: Alabama
A 5-star defensive end, Da'Shawn Hand is a talented and versatile prospect from Virginia. Hand, who is 6'4" and 254 pounds, has great strength and impressive athleticism for a defensive lineman.
He possesses above-average quickness at the snap before using his quick hands to fight blockers. Hand can set the edge with ease versus running plays, plus he has the speed and range to make plays across the box.
Look for him to become a star in Tuscaloosa.
Committed to: Ole Miss
Roderick Taylor is a 4-star guard who has the size and strength to become a dominant player in the SEC. The Mississippi native will be beloved by the running backs and linebackers at Ole Miss.
Taylor, who is 6'3.5" and 305 pounds, has good quickness out of his stance. He rarely lets defensive linemen jump on top of him, plus he flashes the athleticism to perform well as a pass-protector. However, Taylor excels in the running game.
He has fantastic power at the point of attack to maul defenders, as well as the ability to reach linebackers on the second level.
Committed to: Alabama
Alabama has a class for the ages, with 5-star left tackle Cameron Robinson leading the way. The Louisiana native is a big 6'5", 330-pound offensive lineman with exceptional talent.
Robinson rolls out of stance quickly to engage his targets. He can play big at the point of attack due to his solid strength, but also has the quickness and athleticism to pull and trap.
Robinson also shows quick feet and good balance as a pass-blocker on the edges.
Committed to: Notre Dame
The top committed tight end in the country is 4-star recruit Tyler Luatua. The California native will leave the Golden State next year to play at Notre Dame.
The Irish are getting a 6'4", 230-pound athlete who has the potential to be equally effective in the running and passing game. Luatua has solid athleticism and quickness as a route-runner, plus he displays great concentration and soft hands.
His strength and toughness at the point of attack help him as an in-line blocker.
Committed to: Florida
At 6'3" and 193 pounds, Ermon Lane has good size and quickness at the receiver position. The 5-star prospect is an in-state commitment for Florida.
Lane gets off the line quickly to attack secondaries on the perimeter. He has the ability to sharply cut to separate from defenders at junctions, plus he has great hands.
There are other receivers who are faster than Lane, but he has enough speed to make a couple of big plays.
Committed to: Georgia
Sony Michel is close to being a complete running back, as the 5-star recruit can do an array of things on the field.
He has great speed and quickness to make dazzling plays in space, but Michel also has the strength and toughness to run hard between the tackles. The 5'11", 205-pounder possesses excellent vision and instincts, plus he has great hands.
Carries may be tough to come by for him in 2014 at Georgia, but the Florida native will be a star in Athens one day.
Committed to: Stanford
Keller Chryst is a 5-star quarterback from California who is perfect for Stanford's offense. At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Chryst has good mechanics and poise in the pocket.
He makes good pre-snap reads, while also having the ability to make adjustments after the snap. Chryst does a good job of scanning the field and going through his progressions before making a good decision with the ball.
He possesses a strong arm to attack all levels of the field with accuracy. Finally, Chryst has just enough mobility to buy time with his legs.
The 2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map features many of the nation's top committed recruits!
