CFB Recruiting 200: Top 11 Athletes
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report recruiting analysts Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and provided in-depth analysis. As national signing day draws near, Bleacher Report provides a position-by-position breakdown of the best college football recruits. Today, we present the Top Athletes.
Other Positions
Oftentimes, the nation’s top prep players arrive in college as raw talents who have relied solely on their athleticism to emerge as top prospects.
Others have excelled while playing multiple positions—which led to certain prospects being labeled as athletes entering college.
A number of standouts in the 2015 class have the ability to play at least two positions in college.
For example, 4-star athlete and current Ohio State commitment Torrance Gibson has the frame to be an elite receiver or defensive back, yet he committed to Urban Meyer’s club for the chance to operate as a dual-threat quarterback.
The latest batch of Bleacher Report’s CFB 200 series will focus on athletes and projecting them at the position we believe they will play on the college level and scoring them on their ability to develop when they focus on one spot full time.
How does the 2015 group of athletes measure up, and where will these standouts line up at the college level?
All analysis provided by B/R National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani.
11. Jaason Lewis, Running Back
1 of 11Height/Weight: 6’2”, 247 lbs
High School: Ocean Lakes High, Virginia Beach, Virginia
247Sports Ranking: No. 11 ATH /No. 189 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Arizona State on Sept. 25, 2014
Jaason Lewis is another prospect who's had an interesting recruitment. He earned offers from powers such as Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee and UCLA last fall.
Following an unofficial visit to UCLA in February, he committed to the Bruins. However, he decommitted three months later and pledged to fellow Pac-12 member Arizona State in September.
His recruiting process may not be over, as he scheduled an official visit to Florida on Jan. 16.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Lewis is a unique player in that his size would indicate that he would be a power back. However, he seems to operate best outside the tackles and in open space. Still, his athleticism at nearly 250 pounds is impressive. He’s agile as a receiver and shows a tendency to get yards after contact.
10. Shawn Burgess-Becker, Safety
2 of 11Height/Weight: 6’1”, 185 lbs
High School: Monarch High, Pompano Beach, Florida
247Sports Ranking: No. 10 ATH /No. 165 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Alabama on April 19, 2014
Shawn Burgess-Becker was one of four prospects who sparked a commitment frenzy for Alabama after the Tide’s spring game.
Teammate and 5-star receiver Calvin Ridley was also among that group.
However, Burgess-Becker took an unofficial visit to Miami in November, and he hasn’t completely shut the door on overtures from the Hurricanes.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Burgess-Becker is a rangy type of safety who can cover a lot of ground in short order. His background as a receiver is evident in the way he goes after balls when he’s in coverage. He has the size to be a physical defender in run support, which is something that will be a necessity in Nick Saban’s defense.
9. Stanley Norman, Wide Receiver
3 of 11Height/Weight: 6’0”, 180 lbs
High School: Serra High, Gardena, California
247Sports Ranking: No. 9 ATH /No. 154 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Committed to Arizona State on Jan. 3, 2015
Serra High School has been a pipeline to USC in recent years, and the Trojans are heavily involved with 5-star defensive tackle Rasheem Green and 4-star linebacker John Houston.
However, Stanley Norman chose to go a different route when he committed to Arizona State over UCLA, USC and others during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Norman could play either corner or receiver in college.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Norman does a good job of getting off the line of scrimmage quickly. He also has great agility getting in and out of cuts—which makes him tough to deal with in space. Fine-tuning his route running and working on catching the ball more with his hands are areas where he can improve at the next level.
8. Marcus Lewis, Corner
4 of 11Height/Weight: 6’1”, 187 lbs
High School: Gonzaga High, Washington, D.C.
247Sports Ranking: No. 8 ATH /No. 140 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Uncommitted: Considering Michigan, Miami, Kentucky, Washington State
Marcus Lewis is hoping the third time is the charm with respect to making his college commitment.
He first pledged to Virginia Tech in November of 2013 before reopening his process a few weeks later. In April, he committed to Florida before decommitting three months later.
Miami, Kentucky and Washington State are among his current favorites, but he’s also open to overtures from Michigan since the hiring of Jim Harbaugh.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Lewis is an athletic corner who has the size and athletic ability to be a lockdown corner. He’s great at high-pointing the ball and attacking the ball when matched up in one-on-one situations. Given his size, I’d like to see him be more physical in run support. Overall, he has the tools to be a standout corner at the collegiate level.
7. Ray-Ray McCloud III, Wide Receiver
5 of 11Height/Weight: 5’9”, 175 lbs
High School: Sickles High, Tampa, Florida
247Sports Ranking: No. 7 ATH /No. 81 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to Clemson on July 28, 2014
Ray-Ray McCloud had a horde of offers from powers around the country, but he elected to join good friend and fellow receiver Deon Cain in committing to Clemson.
McCloud chose the Tigers over Florida and UCLA among others. However, he’s scrapped plans to enroll early at Clemson and will now take visits to his other two previous finalists and another potential visit to Alabama in January, according to GatorBait's Luke Stampini (subscription required).
Bleacher Report Analysis
I’ve spoken with a number of sources familiar with McCloud’s recruitment who feel he could be an elite corner at the college level if he chose to play there full time. As a slot receiver, McCloud could create mismatches in space. He’s a good fit for Clemson’s offense, assuming he sticks with his original commitment—although it’s tough to discount Florida until he signs on the dotted line.
6. Torrance Gibson, Dual-Threat Quarterback
6 of 11Height/Weight: 6’4”, 204 lbs
High School: American Heritage High, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
247Sports Ranking: No. 6 ATH /No. 76 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Ohio State on Nov. 3, 2014
Torrance Gibson’s recruitment took many twists and turns before he announced his commitment to Ohio State in November.
His insistence on playing quarterback—something the Buckeyes were comfortable with—pushed some teams away.
He chose the Buckeyes over Auburn, Central Florida and Tennessee among others.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Gibson is clearly a special athlete with the ball in his hands. As a quarterback, he can be a special talent with a little grooming in the right system. He’s adept at extending plays and creating big gains with his legs. As a passer, he’s clearly not ready to beat teams from the pocket. He needs work on his accuracy. However, he’s also been a consistent winner at the prep level, which speaks to his leadership qualities. Overall, with a little seasoning, he could be a good fit for Ohio State’s offense.
5. Brian Cole, Safety
7 of 11Height/Weight: 6’2”, 190 lbs
High School: Heritage High, Saginaw, Michigan
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 ATH /No. 73 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Michigan on July 26, 2014
Brian Cole collected a ton of offers before his junior season began. He also took a number of unofficial visits before committing to Michigan over Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee and Wisconsin among others.
In the wake of the saga surrounding Brady Hoke, Cole took visits to Wisconsin, Purdue and Nebraska.
However, the hiring of Jim Harbaugh firmed up his pledge, and he will enroll in Ann Arbor in January, per Clint Brewster of Wolverine247.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Cole is a physical defender in the secondary, especially when he’s coming up and getting involved with run support. In pass coverage, he displays good range and speed in getting from the hash to the sideline. He’s athletic enough to play corner, but his size and physicality are a great fit at safety.
4. Jerome Baker, Outside Linebacker
8 of 11Height/Weight: 6’2”, 210 lbs
High School: Benedictine High, Cleveland
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 ATH /No. 61 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Ohio State on Oct. 21, 2014
Jerome Baker surprised many in recruiting circles when he committed to Florida in July over home-state power Ohio State.
However, in the wake of Will Muschamp’s demise with the Gators, Baker flipped his pledge to the Buckeyes in October.
He’s been solid in his commitment since that point.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Baker has the athleticism to play running back in college, but his ceiling is higher as an outside linebacker. He displays a tenacity in being physical at the point of attack. He also has the speed and agility to make plays as a pass-rusher and in coverage. He will need to bulk up, but he has the tools to wreak havoc as a weak-side linebacker in college.
3. Donte Jackson, Corner
9 of 11Height/Weight: 5’11”, 175 lbs
High School: Riverdale High, New Orleans
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 ATH /No. 56 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Uncommitted: Considering LSU, Georgia, USC
One of the prospects who made a statement during the postseason All-American game circuit was Donte Jackson, as noted by Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
Jackson solidified his standing as a corner and showed why schools such as LSU, Georgia and USC are battling it out for his commitment.
While the Trojans got an official visit, all signs point to this being a showdown between the homestanding Tigers and the Bulldogs that will go down to the wire.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Regardless of where he lines up at, Jackson is simply a blur on film due to his speed and agility. As a corner, he’s naturally loose with his hips, and he has the closing speed to cover for most of his mistakes. He’s a missile in pursuit, and he plays bigger than his size. He’s separated himself as one of most talented prospects in the 2015 class regardless of position.
2. Kerryon Johnson, Running Back
10 of 11Height/Weight: 6’0”, 200 lbs
High School: Madison Academy, Madison, Alabama
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 ATH /No. 43 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Committed to Auburn on April 15, 2014
Kerryon Johnson narrowed his focus to Alabama, Auburn and Florida State before selecting the Tigers in April.
He’s been a solid pledge. However, as noted by Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover (subscription required), Johnson will take a visit to Alabama in January.
Despite that visit, all signs still point to him landing on the Plains next fall.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Johnson can play safety or receiver at the collegiate level. But it’s running back where he can be an elite talent. He’s an aggressive runner who has great vision and breakaway speed. He’s also an established threat as a receiver. With his versatile skill set, he’s a weapon that Gus Malzahn can use to gain favorable matchups against defenses.
1. Terry Godwin, Wide Receiver
11 of 11Height/Weight: 6’0”, 168 lbs
High School: Callaway High, Hogansville, Georgia
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 ATH /No. 28 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Committed to Georgia on Jan. 18, 2014
Terry Godwin had a number of offers entering 2014 before he committed to Mark Richt and the Georgia Bulldogs.
However, Godwin has taken numerous visits since then to places such as Alabama and Auburn. He will still use all of his officials—with visits to the Tide, Tigers and Texas A&M coming in January.
Given that he’s still giving other schools a chance, Godwin’s recruitment will be worth monitoring until signing day.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Godwin is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands. As a receiver, he has the rare ability to explode in and out of his cuts, and he has the type of top-end speed that can take the top off of a defense. He will need to work on his route running and technique when he gets to college. With his elusiveness in space and toughness in tight areas, Godwin is a shifty playmaker who is a threat to take it the distance every time he touches the ball.
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