Dorial Green-Beckham to Missouri: 5 Predictions for His Freshman Season

After months and months of remaining quiet about his recruitment, Dorial Green-Beckham, the consensus No. 1 receiver prospect of the 2012 recruiting class, made his college decision known to the world live on ESPNU just a little over an hour ago.

To the delight of everyone in his home state of Missouri, Green-Beckham donned a Missouri Tigers hat, choosing his home-state school over Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Green-Beckham is the most decorated and highly touted recruit to ever sign with the program, and getting him to choose the Tigers was a huge statement by head coach Gary Pinkel and the rest of his staff, as they prepare to guide the team into the treacherous waters of the SEC next season.

Green-Beckham is one of the true stars of the 2012 class, and he'll be an instant celebrity when he arrives on campus.

So just how big of an impact can D.G.B. make in 2012?

Here's a look at five predictions for the blue-chip receiver recruit's freshman season.

He Will Catch over 50 Passes

Last year, only four freshman receivers—Clemson's Sammy Watkins, Boise State's Matt Miller, East Carolina's Justin Hardy and USC's Marqise Lee—caught more than 50 passes, but even though it's tough for a freshman player to top that total, that shouldn't stop Dorial Green-Beckham from racking up some big numbers in his first season at Missouri.

Returning leading pass-catcher T.J. Moe may still remain the top receiving threat on the team, but Green-Beckham is definitely going to get a lot of passes thrown his way in 2012, and he's going to have plenty of opportunities to show off his playmaking ability. 

He Will Become a Valuable Red Zone Target

At 6'6'', 220 pounds, Dorial Green-Beckham has the type of size and leaping ability to develop into a deadly red zone weapon, and he's the type of receiver that can be utilized a lot on fade routes in the end zone.

Missouri will likely target D.G.B. and make use of his size on plenty of occasions when the Tigers make it inside the 20-yard line, and he's going to be a nightmare matchup for smaller cornerbacks to try to contain.

You're Going to Hear Him Being Compared to Calvin Johnson All Season Long

Get ready to hear plenty of announcers and analysts break out the name Calvin Johnson a whole lot when they talk about Dorial Green-Beckham.

Although I personally think he's more of an Andre Johnson-Marques Colston hybrid, it's easy to see why people would bring up a name like Calvin Johnson when trying to compare Green-Beckham to a notable receiver, given his rare combination of size, speed and overall skills.

Like Johnson, Green-Beckham is a true physical specimen, and the 18-year-old high school senior already looks like the type of big, beastly receiver that can strike fear in the heart of any cornerback that lines up against him.

He Will Earn Freshman All-American Honors

It's too early to start predicting who will make next year's freshman All-American team, but there are a few recruits who look destined to earn the prestigious honor, and Dorial Green-Beckham is definitely one of them.

Everyone's going to be expecting big things out of D.G.B. from the second he walks out on the field, and while the hype and expectations are going to be a lot to live up to, if there's any recruit who's capable of living up to the pressure, it's him.

Missouri Will Prove to Be the Perfect Fit for Him

Some have questioned why Dorial Green-Beckham would choose Missouri over schools like Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, but I think the naysayers are selling the Tigers a little too short.

This is a team that before last season had won 40 games in four years, which is a pretty admirable feat.

Gary Pinkel has been sending players to the NFL on a regular basis, and now that Missouri is making the move to the SEC, the Tigers are really going to have a chance to prove their worth against the best of the best.

Green-Beckham should be a terrific fit in Missouri's offense, and with QB James Franklin tossing him the ball for the next few years, he should be able to flourish in Columbia.