College Football Recruiting 2012: 20 Players Likely to Start Their Entire Career

Starting an entire career is not an easy thing to do, and I'm willing to go so far to say that many players on my list probably won't accomplish a feat. Besides, it's hard enough to start as a true freshman alone, or any other year.

But I'm going to give you 20 players that I believe have the best chance to start an entire career. So check it out. 

20. Jordan Jenkins, DE

Jenkins is on this list because I think he can come in early on and be a team's DPR while he learns the defense. So he can start as a DPR in year one and become a fulltime DE/OLB going forward.

I highly doubt he will redshirt where he lands because his play speed, 6'3", 250 pound frame and sheer freakish athleticism will allow him at the least to impact on special teams.

Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee are the top six. 

19. Brian Poole, CB

Poole is a physical 5'11", 185 pound CB that also has great athleticism and transition quickness. He can play the boundary early in his career, then move to the field side as he gains experience and gets older.

He also can get some time as a nickel and dime back because he will play the run, and his play speed can be exploited as a blitzer.

He's committed to Florida.

18. Channing Ward, DE

Ward is a big DE prospect at 6'4", 255 pounds and has great athleticism for a big edge defender but also has solid play strength.

He could see a similar career as I project for Jenkins, by being a young DPR early on, then becoming a full time DE. Ward also could see early time, as his size and athleticism could make him a great sub package LB that can blitz and play some short area zone.

He seems to like Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn and Alabama, among others.

17. Reggie Ragland, LB

Now, Ragland won't start his entire career at Alabama, because of the depth chart and the fact it takes time to learn the nuances of Nick Saban's scheme. but he's talented enough to be on this list.

6'4", 245 pounds, Ragland should develop into an All-American at Alabama in a few years. He's big, strong, attacks downhill and plays with great instincts.

16. Jordan Simmons, OL

Simmons is a big man at 6'5" and around 330 pounds. But he's also very athletic for his size and for an OL prospect. He can play perhaps all five OL spots in a pinch and reminds me of a sooped up swing lineman.

I can see him starting either as a tackle or great guard because he's athletic enough to play on the edges, but bulky and strong enough to play in the interior.

USC, UCLA and Notre Dame are on him hard, but he's open.

15. Brionte Dunn, RB

Dunn is a 6'1", 225 pound RB that can grind it out as a rock toter. He's a big, physical back that attacks downhill and is dangerous in a straightline.

Dunn has just enough wiggle and is a quicker than fast athlete. He's a big time, bell cow back that could make an early and lasting impact.

Ohio State is the pledge for now, but look out for Michigan, Miami and Penn State.

14. Ellis McCarthy, DT

McCarthy is a 6'5", 305 pound DT with an excellent and incredible frame. He has little body fat and is very, very strong at the point of attack.

It's tough for DT to start early and long, but McCarthy is one of the exceptions. He has good quickness, and when he chooses to play with leverage, he's almost unblockable.

Florida, USC, Washington, Oregon and Cal are schools to watch.

13. Zach Banner, OT

Banner is a 6'8"-6'9", 305 pound tackle. He looks like an Oak Tree with a helmet on. Seriously.

But then you watch him move, mirror, slide and adjust, and you start to think that with some hard college coaching and that athleticism, on that frame, you may just be watching the next Jonathan Ogden.

He's got a top 10 list of schools, with the likes of Florida State, USC, Notre Dame and Washington on it, among others.

12. Darius Hamilton, DE

Hamilton is a 6'4", 245 pound DE that is extremely strong at the point of attack. He can stack, anchor and shed on the edge and play the run very well.

Hamilton also is a great and quick athlete that can explode upfield and pressure the passer consistently. He has the skill set and talent to be on this list.

Rutgers is the favorite for now.

11. Quay Evans, DT

Evans reminds me a lot of Hollis Thomas, as he's very explosive in the middle and extremely strong. 6'2", 320 pounds, he gets after it every snap and can make a mess out of things.

Like I said before, starting early and often as DT is tough, but Evans has the strength, snap quickness, shedding ability and anchor ability to have a chance to do it.

Looks like Mississippi State is the leader over Alabama and others.

10. Rushell Shell, RB

A 5'11", 215 pound RB that can also catch the ball well and make long runs? Yes, he can start early and for his entire career.

Shell is an every down back waiting to happen, and he's a very confident player too. He has all the tools to impact early and is a bell cow back in every sense of the word. I look forward to seeing how he develops.

Not much news has come from him on the recruiting front, as months ago, it seemed like Pitt, Ohio State and Florida were prime players.

9. John Theus, OT

Theus is a great looking prospect that can man and anchor the offensive front well. He's a 6'6", 295 pound tackle that can play LT or RT.

His best skill is his run blocking, as he jumps on top of defenders, can maul, reach, pin, seal, pull, trap and hit moving targets on the second level. 

He has a top six of Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Notre Dame, Alabama and Texas.

8. Stefon Diggs, WR/RB/DB

Diggs is like the high school version of Robert Woods. He's a 6'0", 190 pound WR that also can play RB, DB and returner for you. He likely will be mainly a WR in college, but I expect him to make an all-around impact.

Look for Diggs to be able to return kicks early and play WR, and as he settles in, he will become a multi-purpose offensive weapon. Unless he becomes a great DB.

Diggs is very open still about his recruiting list.

7. Arik Armstead, DE

Armstead will tell anyone who will listen that he is a DE and not an LT. But the 6'8", 280 pounder can play both.

Nonetheless, he will be a strong side DE at USC, as his size, strength and length should get him on the field early and keep him there. He's very quick off the ball, can lean to pressure, has great athletic ability and pursues well.

6. Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is a hot name on the trail, and for good reason. He's a special DT that stands in the 6'4", 305 pound range and has great skills.

I think he can play multiple spots on both a 40 and 30 front and excel. His strength, snap quickness and versatility make him a prime fit on this list.

Everyone from Alabama, Cal to Clemson and in between wants him.

5. Mario Edwards, DE

Edwards is a 6'4", and weighs between 260-270 pounds...and plays DE. He can play the strong side DE role and anchor vs. the run well.

But that doesn't mean Edwards is not athletic, because he may look like a DT, but he can move like a LB. He's explosive, pursues hard and well, fights to pressure, bursts to finish and has some quick twitch in him.

He's headed for Florida State.

4. Noah Spence, DE

Spence is the top pure pass rusher in the country. He's a 6'4", 240 pound edge defender that is super explosive off the ball, has long arms to stay clean in the rush, flashes the ability to convert speed to power and a close to finish.

You have to love Spence, because he's the best at pressuring the passer which is so essential nowadays for a defense's prowess. 

North Carolina State, Notre Dame and USC are just the tip of the iceberg for him.

3. Andrus Peat, OT

Peat is on this list now because he has bulked up to 6'7", 300 pounds. With his new bulk and strength combined with his set quickness, technique, mirror ability and patience, he has the tools to start from day one.

He's a pure LT that reminds me a bit of Jordan Gross among others, and I expect Peat to be an All-American by his junior season.

Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida State, USC and a bevy of others are in the race.

2. Johnathan Gray, RB

5'11", 195 pounds, Gray has an excellent skill set to start early and for an entire career. He's a winner, he's uber-productive, plays with instincts, intelligence and play speed.

He shows great vision, quick feet, explosion, run strength, wiggle, production in space and sheer athletic ability run after run. He should become a superstar early and for his career.

Gray's pledged to Texas.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

There's no way that DGB will redshirt wherever he lands. He's just to be big, too good, too explosive and too much of an impending weapon.

6'6", 220 pounds, he has a chance to be as good as Calvin Johnson is. He has a similar frame, similar type of athletic ability and a similar game. Others toss names like Andre Johnson, A.J. Green and Plaxico Burress in comparison.

Oklahoma, Alabama, Missouri and Arkansas have been mentioned as favorites, but it's anyone's ball game.