2011 College Football Recruiting: Top 25 Freshmen All-American Candidates

We may be getting ready for the 2010 college football season, but it's never too early to take a look into the future and make some predictions for 2011. 

Last week we gave you 10 locks for the 2010 Freshmen All-American Team and now it's time to take the same exercise over to 2011. 

Of course you can expect this topic to revisited several times over the next 12 months, but the preliminary judgements are in and while some of these prospects haven't even committed to a school yet, everyone on the list has five-star talent.

These guys are going to be big-time instant impact freshman. There might be one or two busts in the group, but the feeling is there won't be many with this group of talent. 

Here are the top 25 Freshmen All-American Candidates of the 2011 recruiting class.

25. George Farmer, WR

Commitment: USC

He has the speed to get past pretty much anyone and the size to ward off stronger defenders without much effort.

Farmer has an ideal combination of skills and natural ability, but needs to fine tune his game some.

He'll make the spectacular catch, but then drop an easy one. Some scouts question his level of concentration and desire to go all out on every play; that's troubling. If he can improve on his consistency though, Farmer has the goods to be a special talent.

There are five schools still in the running for Farmer, but he's about as close to a lock to commit to USC as it gets. 

Arguably the top receiver in the nation, Farmer finds himself at No. 25 because he might have some trouble getting on the field as a freshman. 

24. Doran Grant, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Grant is the best cornerback prospect in the country, rated No. 1 by Rivals and No. 2 by Scout. Considering his smallish frame, the rankings say a whole lot about the talent this kid brings to the table.

Grant is probably better than advertised and definitely fits the bill at a generous 5'10" and 175 lbs.

He's lighting-fast, tests off the charts athletically, tackles with a lot of power, and has a great nose for the ball.

You can't ask for too much more out of a high school cornerback, and the best part is that Grant hasn't even come to reaching his ceiling yet. 

The Akron, Ohio native recently cut his list of suitors down to 10 possibilities: Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Cincinnati, USC, UCLA, and Penn State. 

Grant needs to bulk up a little before his potential will be fully realized, but he has the talent to get into the mix for playing time with any of these schools as a freshman. 

23. Kenny Hilliard, RB

Commitment: LSU

LSU has collected playmakers for its 2011 class and has a few guys that simply perform on the field. When you see what they're capable of out there, 40-times and bench press totals fly out the window.

He has a great power game and seemingly breaks tackles at will. If you're looking for a North-South runner, he's your guy. Hilliard won't make a lot of fancy moves, but he's a smart player with great instincts who hits his holes hard and fast.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed you like to see from top running back prospects, but he's a decisive runner who gets the most out of each carry.

Tigers' fans will quickly grow to love this player.

With the talent ahead of him on the depth chart Hilliard's best bet of playing time will come as a second-stringer, though it's more likely he gets limited carries or garbage time to start the year. But when he gets on the field he's going to produce in a big way. 

22. Leroy Scott, CB

Commitment: Texas

He's one of those rare players that's looked like a man among boys since he was freshman in high school. At 5'10" and 190 lbs, he's a very physical player who tackles well and is always on the lookout to land a big hit.

His coverage skills are probably the top in the country. He glues himself to his receiver and has great instincts when it comes to jumping in front of his man and making a play for the ball.

His speed also helps him make up for missed gambles, but that doesn't happen often; Scott doesn't make many mistakes.

Scott is just such a big and physical player you know he's at least going to make his mark on special teams and that should make sure he gets on the field early and often. 

If the Longhorns secondary wasn't so stacked he would be a lot higher up this list, but even as is he'll still get the chance to play in nickel and dime packages. 

21. James Wilder, RB

Commitment: FSU

James Wilder has off the charts strength and, pound for pound, is probably the strongest prospect in the country.

He's a two-way player who projects as a running back, linebacker or defensive end.

He's a leader on and off the field and plays hard every down.

Wilder seems best suited to play defense. He's a ball hawk with great instincts, and could do a lot of damage as a pass rushing outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid—but he insists he wants to play running back.

And that's where FSU plans to play him. They don't have too much talent in their backfield and that could make Wilder a prime candidate for huge minutes, but honestly I'm just not sold on the idea of him as a running back quite yet. 

20. Trey Metoyer, WR

Commitment: Oklahoma 

Trey Metoyer is one of the highest-rated receivers of the 2011 class. He's rated top-five at his position by both Scout and Rivals and presents a great combination of size and speed.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed of a George Farmer, but he still runs a 4.5-second 40 and has enough quickness to break loose for a big play if you let him get into space.

At 6'2" and 185 lbs, he needs to put some weight on his frame, but he's already a very strong athlete who uses his strength to avoid getting jammed at the line and to ward off defenders downfield and create separation.

He's a solid route-runner and a reliable receiver with a great set of hands.

There are only a couple of receivers who appear more ready for the college game. Metoyer enters a great situation at Oklahoma where Landry Jones should be rolling on all cylinders and plenty of space will be open for a new receiver to step in. 

19. Stephone Anthony, OLB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Stephone Anthony is a natural pass-rusher with a knack for causing turnovers.

There aren't many players who can make the ball come loose more often than this kid.

When he gets his hands on someone, there's a chance he'll make something happen any given play.

He plays with great instincts and is very athletic, attacking the ball with purpose and precision, and shedding blockers with impressive strength.

Anthony has the smarts and the skill to get on the field right away and will likely do that wherever he ends up.

If he isn't starting as a freshman, expect him to be a special teams demon. He's a big-time player that's going to make his mark and turn a lot of heads very quickly in 2011. 

18. Anthony Johnson, DT

Commitment: LSU

Johnson is a big, physical, bull-rushing defensive tackle that prefers to plow straight through his opponent rather than try to get around them.

He's definitely on the raw side and doesn't have a wide array of moves; which is why he relies so much on his strength. The tools are there for a devastating anchor for LSU's line in a couple years, but he needs to polish off his skills first.

Johnson is very quick off the ball and has a tremendous motor that never seems to quit on him.

He may be raw, but he's ready to play and will get in the middle and cause havoc right from the get-go. LSU rotates their defensive linemen a lot and Johnson will be part of the mix as a freshman. 

He has the chance to make as quick of an impact as any defensive tackle in the country. 

17. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE

Commitment: Washington

Seferian-Jenkins presents a near-ideal target to throw to at 6'7" and 245 lbs. Because of his size, strength, and athleticism, he is almost always open and rarely has to beat out his defender for the ball.

His route-running is polished and he does a great job of getting off the line of scrimmage fast, generally embarrassing anyone who tries to jam him.

When he's extending his arms and using his hands to catch the ball at it's highest point, there's no way to stop him from making a play.

Seferian-Jenkins isn't perfect though; he struggles as a blocker and needs to improve a lot in this category or he'll be a liability on running-downs.

Washington is an up-and-coming program that loves to air it out and Seferian-Jenkins has a good shot to start as a freshman as long as he can keep his weight down. 

16. Mike Bellamy, RB

Commitment: Clemson

Bellamy is one of the fastest prospects in the state of Florida, clocking in at 4.3 seconds on his 40-time.

He rushed for over 2,000 yards his junior year and just under 2,000 his sophomore year.

Bellamy is a five-star recruit considered by all experts to be one of the top prospects of the 2011 class. He's a top-five running back on pretty much every list that matters.

He's a playmaker who will light up scoreboards and burn defenders regularly. He's one of the fastest running backs in the nation. Bellamy is incredibly elusive and has tremendous balance and body control.

It's tough to see how the rotation at running back is going to play out at Clemson, but you know Bellamy will be part of it from day one.

He needs to bulk up, so don't expect him to start as a freshman, but the big-play ability will get him noticed very, very quickly. 

15. Curtis Grant, LB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Grant plays like a professional, which is very impressive for someone his age.

He can play both inside and outside, reads plays and reacts very fast, and can cover a whole bunch of ground as quickly as any linebacker prospect out there.

There are very few players who can defend the field from sideline to sideline as well as Grant can.

At 6'2", 234 lbs, he has the size to play a number of positions. But because of his ability to get in the backfield, as well as cover, he's best suited to be an outside linebacker.

Grant has nearly 30 offers on the table, most notably from Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, and West Virginia. He appears to be favoring the Hurricanes at the moment and that might be the prime spot to shine.

Miami has had quite a few freshman linebackers blow up the college scene and Grant has the makings of one of them. 

14. Aaron Green, RB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Aaron Green is the complete package when it comes to running backs. He runs with purpose, can make the first man miss, gets downfield in a hurry, and breaks tackles with surprising speed.

He's undersized at 5'11", 185 lbs, so he needs to bulk up or he just won't stay in one piece at the next level, but that's about all there is not to like about this kid.

There might not be anyone in the country who can change direction quite as fast as he can. Defenders are regularly left staring at the dust.

Green's top choices are Nebraska and Cal and he could potentially start at either school. Its tough to judge an uncommitted prospect, but in his case expect huge things wherever he goes. 

He's considered a Nebraska-lean, so we could be looking at one of the next great Cornhusker rushers. 

13. Kasen Williams, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

Kasen Williams is ranked as the top receiver in the nation by Scout. He's a big, strong receiver who runs very good routes and creates great separation down-field by overpowering and out-maneuvering defenders.

He's also so strong at the line of scrimmage that its nearly impossible to jam him; when it's attempted he usually makes the defender pay big-time.

Because of his size and strength he is one of the hardest players to take down and when he gets loose in open space, he's a threat to take it to the house every time.

Add in his pass-catching ability and you're looking at a polished elite prospect.

The top five are Washington, Notre Dame, Florida, LSU, and Cal. The thought here is Williams stays home and becomes a Husky. 

If that's the case, he'll start as a true freshman and emerge as a star about as fast as anyone. 

12. Christian Westerman, OT/OG

Commitment: Texas

At 6'5", 285 lbs, Westerman is projected as either a guard or right tackle at the next level.

He's a very strong blocker and moves his feet well.

But the fact that he never played left tackle in high school probably means it just doesn't suit his skill-set.

He overpowers defenders with quick hits and a very low stance, but the way he's able to move suggest he'd be very successful as a pulling guard.

This guy could open up a highway on counters. 

Texas' offensive line situation is fluid enough that Westerman should be in the mix to start along the interior as a true freshman and might end up being the most productive freshman lineman of the class. 

11. Tim Jernigan, DT

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'2", 275 lbs, Jernigan is an athletic big man who moves extremely well for his size and can get into the backfield in a hurry. He's a disruptive force who recorded 131 tackles, including 27 for a loss as a junior, and commands a constant double-team.

He has all the tools to become an elite college defensive lineman. He's strong, stays low to the ground, drives with his legs, and has a relentless motor. On top of that, he has a solid array of power and finesse moves to shed blocks and penetrate the line of scrimmage.

Jernigan is a monster in pursuit and never gives up on a play, even if it means chasing a ball carrier 20-30 yards downfield.

He lists his top five as Florida, LSU, Alabama, Michigan, and FSU.

Again, sometimes it can be difficult to judge the impact of uncommitted prospects so this one depends on where he goes. At Florida or Alabama the minutes could be rough, but at LSU and FSU they'll be good.

If he heads to Michigan, he's going to start as a freshman. 

10. Jarvis Landry, WR

Commitment: LSU

Landry is one of those prospects that fits into the "needs to bulk up" category more than the "will always be undersized" category. No matter how much weight he's able to put on, he'll always be a sub-six foot receiver though, and scouts tend to undervalue you immediately when you fit into that category.

He makes up for that with solid route-running and great movement in closed spaces, but that doesn't even begin to describe how much of a playmaker he is.

Landry is a sure-handed player that demands the ball on big plays and will quickly develop into a third-down conversion machine.

Give him the ball anywhere on the field and he's a threat to turn it into an instant six-point highlight.

He's a very undervalued prospect that's got a great chance to be the best receiver of the class. At LSU, he could wind up taking duties in the slot as a true freshman; expect him to thrive in that role. 

9. La'El Collins, OT

Commitment: LSU

At 6'5", 285 lbs, Collins is 15-20 pounds away from being an off the charts prospect at left tackle. His strength, athleticism and blocking skill is about as good as anyone's in the class.

From a physical standpoint, he's an imposing specimen who can knock back a defender a full yard with a single push.

Collins excels at both pass-blocking and run support, and does a great job of getting to the second level. He also has that bit of nasty you like to see in offensive linemen; not to mention great character and a motor that runs hard every single play.

If you're looking for a polished lineman that can not only start as a freshman, but get in their and perform at an All-American level, this is your man.

Collins is basically a coach's dream and Les Miles should be thrilled to have him on board. There's only one lineman in the country who should make a quicker impact than Collins; we'll get to that person soon. 

8. Tony Steward, OLB

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'2" and 225 lbs, Steward is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the country.

The kid is built like a body builder, with hardly an ounce of fat. He's incredibly strong and is one of the most athletic prospects in the country at any position, let alone linebacker.

Based on the way he's built, and his natural ability to sniff out the football, Steward is likely to make a big impact as a freshman.

What's most impressive about his game is his ability to get out in open space and cover a ton of ground in pass protection.

He's pretty much down to Clemson and FSU, with the Tigers slightly in the lead. If Steward heads to Clemson he's got a great shot of starting as a freshman, but wouldn't be afforded that same chance at FSU. 

Assuming Clemson becomes home, Steward will be a big-time instant impact player in 2011. 

7. Isaiah Crowell, RB

Commitment: Uncommitted

There's nothing to dislike about Crowell's game.

He has great breakaway speed, is very elusive, has top of the line instincts, makes lightning-fast cuts, doesn't hesitate, and can break tackles with the best of them.

Crowell has played with a talented stable of rushers his entire high school career behind a very good offensive line. He's never carried the load himself and there are serious questions about his ability to ever be able to.

Well now that he's down to Alabama and Georgia, he'll have the chance to continue to play alongside talented rushers on the college level with Trent Richardson at Alabama and Washaun Ealey at Georgia. 

Backing up either back is a great situation for Crowell to shine in a secondary role with little to no pressure on him to be "The Man."

6. Herschel Sims, RB

Commitment: Oklahoma State

Sims is one of the most talented running backs in the country and a five-star prospect that would have done special things no matter where he ended up playing.

He's the definition of a home-run hitter and is one of the most exciting players to watch in the country. It seems like he only plays better the bigger the stage is and gains momentum throughout a game rather than wearing down like some backs.

Sims is on the small side at a generous listing of 5'9" and 190 lbs, but when you're drawing comparisons to LaDainian Tomlinson that isn't something to be too worried about.

He picked the smaller school when others opted for the big-time programs that will keep them on the bench as freshman. 

Sims could wind up starting in 2011 and if things go right he seems primed to explode on the college scene like few players do. 

5. JaDeveon Clowney, DE

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'5", 225 lbs, Clowney is an athletic freak and a playmaker in every sense of the word.

He gets into the backfield in a hurry, has great natural pass-rushing instincts, and can chase down ball-carriers with his tremendous speed.

No matter where the ball goes, or where Clowney lines up, he can make something happen. There's game film of him chasing down wide receivers twenty yards down the field.

He's one of those players that just always ends up in the thick of things, jarring balls loose, knocking quarterbacks on their back, scooping up a fumble, and generally causing about as much trouble as you can ask from a defender.

Clowney's top two choices are Alabama and South Carolina and we think he's going to the Crimson Tide over here. So why is the No. 1 prospect in the country 5th?

Because he'll likely switch over to outside linebacker in the 3-4 and there's going to be some growing pains in the transition from defensive end. 

4. Lawrence Thomas, MLB

Commitment: Michigan State

At 6'3" and 236 lbs, Thomas presents a unique prospect with the size and speed to play a variety of positions. He can play defensive end, linebacker, safety, and even receiver.

He's projected as a defender on the next level mostly because it would be a shame to let his ball hawking and punishing tacking go to waste.

Look for him to find a home as an outside linebacker who can drop into coverage or cause havoc in the backfield depending on the down.

Thomas just might be the best linebacker of the 2011 class and has the chance to be the next Greg Jones for the Spartans.

He went with the smaller school and it's going to pay off big-time for him. At Michigan State, Thomas is going to start as a true freshman and ride that wave all the way to the NFL. 

3. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted

At 6'6", 322 lbs, Kouandjio is one of the most athletic big men in the country.

He has a huge wingspan and at times appears to move as swiftly as someone half his size.

When it comes to natural ability as a blocker, Kouandjio has top-end balance and moves his feet as swiftly as any high school player I've ever seen. He goes a great job staying low to the ground and using his tree trunk-like arms to manhandle defenders.

Kouandijo is polished and as ready to compete at the college level as anyone in the 2011 class.

He's not rushing into his decision to pick a school, but recently dropped his list to 11 schools and the good money is on Alabama right now. 

No matter where he goes, Kouandjio is going to get on the field and produce. He almost looks like a college star heading to the pros more than a high schooler. 

2. De'Anthony Thomas, CB/RB

Commitment: USC

Thomas has the potential to play any number of positions, from running back to cornerback, safety, and even linebacker.

Most experts agree he'd be a five star prospect regardless the tag put on him.

If he wasn't listed at 5'9" and 160 lbs, Thomas would most likely be the top prospect in the country.

Plenty of prospects have overcome their physical limitations though, so that isn't really cause for concern. Growing up in Crenshaw, Thomas has dealt with adversity his whole life.

He can become a dominating rusher and would do just as well on the other side of the ball playing corner.

Thomas isn't going to start as a freshman, but there's a feeling here he plays a lot on both sides of the ball until the coaches figure out where to hone his skills. 

1. Malcolm Brown, RB

Commitment: Texas

As a junior, Brown rushed for over 2,000 yards with 33 touchdowns. He's a powerful rusher that will put his shoulder down and punish defenders, wearing them down as the game goes on.

He won't wow you with his speed, but as a downhill rusher he's about as impressive as they come. Brown explodes into defenders and keeps his legs moving relentlessly, winning battles more times than not.

At 6' and 210 lbs, he's big enough to get on the field and make an impact right from day one and will instantly become the most talented back on the Longhorns roster.

WIth Cot McCoy off to the NFL and Garrett Gilbert still untested, the offense is expected to be geared more toward the running back, with Mack Brown and his staff trying to bring back the power running game to Texas.

Malcolm Brown might be the next Ricky Williams down in Austin.