Stock Watch for Top 10 Undecided 2016 5-Star Recruits
The 2015 football season is underway across America as high school programs aim for early success. Top prospects are paramount in those efforts while working to validate widespread recruiting attention.
This senior class of standouts is suddenly just five months away from signing national letters of intent, and several players will arrive at college campuses in January as early enrollees. We focus our attention on 10 uncommitted athletes who sit atop 247Sports composite rankings, gauging their development based on summer-camp assessment and initial senior-season progress.
Here's a look at this collection of elite recruits, including many who continue to provide glimpses at eventual collegiate stardom.
Prospects listed in order of composite rankings.
10. DB Brandon Jones
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Texas A&M (96 percent)
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Brandon Jones performs like a top-five defensive back in the 2016 class and makes a strong case for consideration as the No. 1 overall safety. His range recently shined during a high-profile camp circuit.
Top-tier receivers struggle to gain separation from the Nacogdoches High School (Texas) star, who displays a balanced skill set that also includes tenacious run-stuffing tendencies. Most importantly, he looks comfortable from a health standpoint after missing a substantial portion of his junior season because of injury.
"Jones possesses excellent speed, good hands and an ability to make plays in zone coverage and one-on-one passing situations. He has great instincts and closing speed," wrote Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles. "Jones is the quintessential hybrid defensive back."
He announced his top-six list in August, identifying Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Oregon, Texas and Texas A&M as favorites.
9. LB Ben Davis
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader Alabama (100 percent)
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Ben Davis, the son of all-time Crimson Tide tackles leader Wayne Davis, is more physically evolved than many of his contemporaries at linebacker. At 6'3", 240 pounds, the playmaker actually blended in with defensive ends at The Opening, an annual summer prospect showcase held in Oregon.
Pass rushing is an element of his game that stands to improve most, and you can expect Davis to surpass his junior season sack total (four) this fall. More effectiveness in that department would make him a candidate to wreak havoc off the edge as a true freshman next year.
His senior season started with a well-rounded effort. Davis tallied eight tackles in a win for Gordo High School (Alabama), adding a touchdown reception in the process. Alabama is viewed as a heavy favorite to land the legacy target, but Auburn, LSU and Florida State are among other teams in the mix.
8. LB Caleb Kelly
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Oklahoma (95 percent)
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California linebacker Caleb Kelly is a smooth defender who wows scouts with his elite athleticism. The 6'3", 215-pound prospect is strong enough to push blockers aside in his pursuit of the football and also flashes outstanding instincts in intermediate pass coverage.
He stands out on both sides of the ball at Clovis West High School, also lining up at tight end. Per the Fresno Bee, Kelly caught a touchdown pass in his season opener and looks like a true threat to gain serious yardage after interceptions.
His versatility is precisely what collegiate coaching staffs search for while targeting linebackers with every-down potential. Kelly locked in official visits to Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas.
7. TE Isaac Nauta
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Georgia (76 percent)
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Isaac Nauta has been a mainstay in the national spotlight since the end of his junior season. His December commitment to Florida State, eventual decommitment, transfer to Florida powerhouse IMG Academy and dominant performance at The Opening ensured people would pay attention.
The 6'4", 237-pound tight end is worth the hype, as he grades out as the country's top-rated pass target in composite rankings. He was practically uncoverable at The Opening, earning a "matchup nightmare" label.
Nauta's expansive wingspan, precise route running and reliable hands set the stage for him to make an immediate impact in college. His potential landing spots include Alabama, Georgia, TCU, Michigan and USC.
6. LB Lyndell Wilson
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Alabama (92 percent)
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The young man they call "Mack" continues to make improvements. Now in his third year at linebacker, the 6'2", 220-pound athlete looks confident from sideline to sideline, developing plenty of good defensive habits.
Lyndell Wilson's role as a leader for Carver High School (Alabama) augments an impressive skill set that allows him to stifle offensive strategies on the ground and through the air. He has the physical and mental makeup to evolve into an eventual captain for his college squad, though that ultimate destination may not be determined until national signing day.
"Schools saw I had the ability, and I improved my game. I put it in my head that I was going to try to have every offer in the United States. And now here I am with a lot of decisions," he told Ethan Bernal of the Montgomery Advertiser.
Long viewed as the front-runner for his signature, Alabama must contend with Auburn, Louisville, LSU and others.
5. DL Derrick Brown
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Georgia (100 percent)
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Derrick Brown faces heightened expectations following a 2014 campaign that featured 101 tackles and 17.5 sacks. He's off to a strong start as a senior, per MaxPreps, picking up 13 tackles—eight for loss—and a pair of sacks through two games.
The 6'4", 322-pound prospect spearheads defensive efforts at Lanier High School in Georgia. Brown bullied coveted offensive line recruits at times this summer at camps and moves well for an athlete of his stature.
It's important to see high school linemen develop nuanced moves in the trenches even if they can beat opponents with sheer strength, and that's exactly what Brown has accomplished so far this fall. In-state Georgia is considered his likely landing spot, but Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee won't halt pursuits until he signs elsewhere.
4. DL Shavar Manuel
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Florida State (76 percent)
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Shavar Manuel is arguably the most well-known recruit on an IMG Academy (Florida) defense loaded with future college players. The 6'4", 290-pound defensive end recorded eight tackles and a sack during his first two contests with the team, per MaxPreps, leaving a lot to be accomplished if he hopes to match a 20-sack junior season.
Though Manuel didn't attend The Opening, he will spend much of this fall working against the talented offensive fronts that await on IMG's challenging national schedule. Expect him to grow more comfortable in new surroundings as the season progresses.
"I want to play assignment football," he told B/R's Damon Sayles. "I want to run to the ball and be physical every play."
Few universities seemed capable of challenging Florida State for his commitment earlier in the cycle, but this recruitment is wide open right now. The Seminoles seem to have lost steam in this race, while others are gaining ground.
Manuel revealed his top-five list during a recent discussion with Sayles, focusing on Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and LSU.
3. DL Dexter Lawrence
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Florida (57 percent)
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The North Carolina lineman has tallied 14 tackles—six for loss—and three sacks through three games this season, per MaxPreps. That's pretty much on par with previous production for Dexter Lawrence, who collected 44 tackles for loss and 15 sacks during the past two campaigns.
Lawrence, a 6'5", 310-pound tackle at Wake Forest High School, is among the most disruptive defenders you'll find in the Southeast this cycle. He exhibits rare speed and agility inside, offering immense promise in a 3-technique role or perhaps even along the perimeter.
Nearby opportunities at UNC and North Carolina State are tempting, though Clemson, Florida, Alabama and Georgia should factor into the equation. Lawrence is a player who clearly puts in the work to develop his craft, which is apparent in film study.
2. OL Greg Little
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Alabama (56 percent)
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Greg Little is the catalyst up front for three-time defending Texas state champion Allen High School following the departure of fellow tackle Bobby Evans, a 2015 Oklahoma signee. He's played tackle at both bookend positions, progressing from a raw, converted tight end to a shutdown blocker.
His ability to maneuver downhill and laterally with burst makes the 6'5 ½", 305-pound prospect one of the premier recruits we've scouted at the position this decade. He was the only offensive lineman who consistently challenged top-rated defensive tackle Rashan Gary at The Opening and presents plug-and-play potential at the next level.
Little, who decommitted from Texas A&M this summer, is still likely to land in the SEC. LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Ole Miss made the cut for his newly released top-five list.
"I like all of the programs. All five are contenders every year," he told B/R's Damon Sayles.
1. DL Rashan Gary
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247Sports Crystal Ball Leader: Michigan (46 percent)
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Rashan Gary, who landed his first offer in eighth grade and now holds more than 60 scholarships, never fails to rise up when the spotlight shines brightest. He earned defensive line MVP honors in July at The Opening and was probably the star-studded event's most impressive prospect, regardless of position.
The 6'4", 311-pound prospect collected 55 tackles and 14 sacks last season for New Jersey powerhouse Paramus Catholic. He blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown during a live Bleacher Report game assessment, sacking Tennessee quarterback commit Jarrett Guarantano six times in that contest despite blocking schemes specifically geared toward stopping him.
Gary originally planned to announce his top five favorites before the season but pushed things back. Georgia, Michigan, Auburn, LSU, USC, Ohio State and Notre Dame are among teams that are still battling for official visits.
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