College Football Recruiting 2012: 5-Star Recruits Most Likely to Bust

Saying someone is a "bust" is a tough thing to do for me, as there are so many factors that we don't know about with each recruit that shape their development on and off the field. So, saying someone is a bust is hard.

But for this read, I'm going to keep it strictly on the field based on a player's skill set and projected impact in college.

So, while a top recruit from your favorite team's class or one of your favorite prospects may be on this list, just hear me out.

Zach Banner, OT

Zach Banner is a 6'8", 305 lb. OT that has great play strength. I just think he belongs as either a right tackle or maybe a guard. He's a good athlete, but he has problems versus speed/quickness guys on the edges.

You can't have that in your scouting report if you want to be a LT. Scout.com did report that he struggled at The Opening versus those types of pass-rushers.

If he's to play LT in college, guess what kind of pass-rushers he'll face regularly? 

Then, what if he can't factor as a RT? Could he be too tall to play OG because he would clog the QB's throwing lanes?

Brionte Dunn, RB

Brionte Dunn is at his best only in a straight line and lacks a good amount of wiggle to his running style. I also question his long/breakaway speed.

Sure, he's a big back at 6'1", 220 lbs., but you need to be some sort of a home-run threat to really put pressure on a defense as an RB.

Plus, with the two-back system becoming more and more the norm, a back like Dunn that is a volume-runner could find it hard to make plays with the limited carries that come with sharing the load in a backfield.

Jordan Simmons, OL

Jordan Simmons looks the part of a 6'5", 335 lb. OL, but he has a wealth of baby fat that he needs to shed. I want to see if he can lose some weight and control it, as this could be a nagging problem for Simmons.

Toss in the fact that there have been various reports—from Scout.com and ESPN, among others—of his struggles at The Openining, and I'm led to put him on this list because that is an alarming sign if you ask me.

I think he has a chance to be a solid OG, but I wonder about his conditioning and his frame at this point.

Se'Von Pittman, DE

At 6'4", 225 lbs., Se'Von Pittman is a DE prospect with excellent athleticism, play speed and raw pass-rushing ability.

Per his film, it seems he lacks a great amount of play strength and really struggles to shed blocks. Pittman has problems anchoring versus mass/power, so playing the run isn't his strength.

These questions lead me to believe Pittman could have some issues with being a consistent every-down DE in college.

He may become no more than a sub-package DPR.

Dalton Santos, LB

I worry that Dalton Santos will be nothing more than a two-down LB. He's big and thick at 6'3", 240 lbs., but I question his athleticism, coverage awareness and ability to man up on RBs at the junction point.

He'll have to be hidden some as a short-area zone defender if he's to play on passing situations.

Santos could get exposed when asked to cover future SEC RBs like, say, Keith Marshall, Mike Davis and T.J. Yeldon.