8 Freak of Nature Athletes in 2016 College Football Recruiting Class

It's incredibly challenging to stand out among a group of high school football stars, but that's what it takes to become an elite college recruit and, ultimately, an impact player at the next level.

A summer filled with competitive, talent-laden showcases has seeped into a fresh season, shining the spotlight on seniors who make up the 2016 class. We witnessed some incredible efforts from several of these prospects in past months, validating hype created by impressive junior campaigns.

The athleticism in some instances can appropriately be termed "freakish," resulting in highlights that turn heads across the field. Here's a peek at eight top performers who make the difficult plays look easy and wow onlookers with sheer athletic prowess.

4-Star CB Nigel Knott

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Germantown (Madison, Mississippi)

Size: 5'11", 175 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 5 cornerback; No. 44 overall

When he's not doing back-flip football catches off of building walls, you can find Nigel Knott shutting down his size of the field with incredible range. His ability to dominate in multiple phases of the defense was on full display in 2014, when he tallied 112 tackles and 16 pass breakups.

Knott led all competitors with a 40-yard dash time of 4.30 seconds this summer at The Opening, showing off the quickness that enabled him to average 27 yards per return on four interceptions last season. He is set to announce his college intentions Sept. 23, with Oregon, Ole Miss, LSU and Alabama among programs under consideration.

4-Star RB Devin White

Credit: 247Sports

High School: North Webster (Springhill, Louisiana)

Size: 6'0 ½", 258 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 6 athlete; No. 88 overall

Devin White may have described his game best during a recent conversation with Bleacher Report recruiting analyst Damon Sayles.

"Effectively, I can play linebacker, wide receiver, running back, anything on special teams, wherever," he said.

White garnered expensive early interest at multiple positions from college coaching staffs. Some view him as a linebacker after 192 tackles the past two seasons, while others point to his 3,381 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns as proof he belongs at running back.

White told Bleacher Report this summer he is exclusively considering programs that envision him on offense, which is a scary though for defenses considering his massive physical frame and sub-4.5 speed. LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas are just a few of the contenders in this recruitment.

5-Star DL Ed Oliver

High School: Westfield (Houston, Texas)

Size: 6'2", 277 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 5 defensive tackle; No. 13 overall

No defensive lineman jumps off of the screen during game film study more than Lone Star State standout Ed Oliver. His explosiveness off the snap allows him to thrust offensive linemen back on their heels, setting the stage for 24 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last season. 

Oliver, who chases down ball-carriers with the speed and pursuit of a linebacker, was clocked at 4.86 seconds in the 40-yard dash this summer at The Opening. He stunned some analysts by pledging to hometown Houston over Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss, TCU and Texas.

5-Star CB Levonta Taylor

High School: Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, Virginia)

Size: 5'11", 182 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 cornerback; No. 6 overall

Levonta Taylor is Mr. Lightning on the football field, striking for scintillating plays on a routine basis. He is the most dynamic defensive back in this class and also poses a tremendous threat on special teams.

His junior season featured five total return touchdowns off of interceptions and kicks, showcasing sub 4.4 speed and tremendously fluid hips that enable Taylor to wiggle through lanes en route to the end zone. He committed to Florida State in April, spurning scholarship offers from Ohio State, USC, Notre Dame and Michigan.

The Seminoles plan to capitalize on Taylor's athletic versatility. 

“They like the speed I bring to the table as well as my tackling ability. They also said I can play some on offense and return kicks and punts," he told B/R recruiting analyst Sanjay Kirpalani.

5-Star LB Mique Juarez

Credit: 247Sports

High School: North (Torrance, California)

Size: 6'2", 222 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 3 outside linebacker; No. 18 overall

This Los Angeles County playmaker may be the most physically impressive West Coast prospect in this cycle. Mique Juarez is a true every-down linebacker capable of covering pass lanes or lining up in the box with authority.

This balance shined at The Opening, where he picked off several passes from some of America's most coveted quarterback recruits. Juarez enjoyed an exemplary junior campaign on both sides of the ball, collecting 107 tackles, 8.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and three interceptions, per Dave Thorpe of the Daily Breeze.

He took snaps in various offensive roles, accounting for more than 2,200 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. Juarez pledged to USC last winter, selecting the Trojans from an offer list that features UCLA, Oregon, Nebraska and Notre Dame.

4-Star QB Tristen Wallace

Credit: 247Sports

High School: DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas)

Size: 6'3", 228 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 3 dual-threat quarterback; No. 124 overall

Tristen Wallace missed the majority of his junior season due to an injury, but he looked absolutely sensational while leading one of Texas' top high school squads. In limited action, Wallace completed 67 percent of pass attempts for 603 yards, gained another 535 yards on the ground and totaled 13 touchdowns. 

He enters this fall with immense expectations in place, and if he stays healthy, 4,000 offensive yards could be a realistic possibility. Wallace is dangerously speedy as a rusher and can carve up opponents by whipping the ball downfield with excellent velocity.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are loaded at quarterback, but a crowded depth chart didn't prevent him from pledging to the defending national champions earlier this year.

"Ohio State is no doubt the hardest-working university in the country right now. There's no doubt about that," Wallace told Ari Wasserman of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "That's what I want. I want a challenge. I don't want the easy route."

5-Star DL Rashan Gary

High School: Paramus Catholic (Paramus, New Jersey)

Size: 6'4", 311 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 defensive tackle; No. 1 overall

Rashan Gary has been a relative man-child since the start of his high school career, receiving his first FBS offer in eighth grade. While his physique progressively expands, the dominant defender has managed to maintain first-step quickness that makes him this class' premier player in the trenches.

He is talented enough to step into a starting role at defensive end or tackle as a true freshman on multiple title contenders and works with a relentlessness that will serve him well in the hunt for immediate playing time. Gary, who racked up 55 tackles and 14 sacks last season, consistently decimates offensive backfields with his blend of lateral agility and downfield burst.

He was the slam-dunk choice for defensive line MVP honors at The Opening in July.

"Lose or win out here, I’m learning every rep. Those are the things that make you a better player moving forward," Gary said during the event.

4-Star WR Tyrie Cleveland

Credit: 247Sports

High School: Westfield (Houston, Texas)

Size: 6'2 ½", 189 lbs.

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 6 wide receiver; No. 64 overall

Tyrie Cleveland glides downfield with a long frame and elite speed, emerging as a contender for the top overall spot in wide receiver rankings this cycle. He put on a show at The Opening, consistently pulling in physically demanding highlight receptions en route to a seven-on-seven tournament title.

He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds, racing past opponents who already struggle to deal with his expansive catch radius. Cleveland is a long-distance touchdown waiting to happen, evidenced by a 21-yards-per-catch average last fall.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter @TDsTake.