College Football Recruiting: Projecting Top Players for Next Year's Class

With the power and glory of signing day fresh in our heads, let's take a look at the players that will be front and center in the recruiting battle for the next year. 

Just like any year, there is plenty of great talent available. Here is a spotlight on three of the most promising talents in this class. 

LB Reuben Foster

Location: Georgia 

Measurables: 6'1", 230 pounds

This fright inducing linebacker has the size. In fact, if he keeps bulking and maybe grows an inch or two, he might evolve into a defensive end. He has already committed to Alabama, but there is no doubt that other schools will be trying to pry him from their grip. 

Here is a quick analysis by Barton Simmons of 247sports.com via Sports Illustrated

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Dating back to his freshman season, Foster has gained a reputation as one of the top linebackers in the state. He's one of the hardest hitting players in the country, blessed with an amazing nose for the football and terrific acceleration through contact. Foster also possesses some of the best linebacking instincts we've seen in several years.

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And here is Chad Simmons' take on Scout.com

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There are not many weaknesses in Foster's game. He is an elite linebacker that attacks the football and he plays with speed from sideline to sideline. He is an instinctive linebacker that can move side to side with great quickness. He doesn't have a lot of experience in pass coverage, so he'll have to improve in that area, but overall, there are not many better. He made an early impact in high school and I expect the same in college.

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This is an exciting prospect, and the day he goes to college can't come soon enough for Georgia area high schoolers. 

DE Robert Nkemdiche

Location: Georgia 

Measurables: 6'4", 265 pounds

This is an absolutely elite prospect, that already has plenty of people drooling over his potential at the next level. 

Check out Simmons' take on Nkemdiche: 

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Some analysts believe that Robert Nkemdiche is the best prospect in the country regardless of class. They're not necessarily wrong. Nkemdiche is a beast of a player, a 265-pound specimen with hardly an ounce of fat. He's also versatile. He has lined up to play off the edge, toward the inside, at defensive tackle and even at tailback in Grayson's run-heavy offensive scheme.

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Rivals.com agrees with this lofty praise. 

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How good is Robert Nkemdiche? Some are calling him the best prospect out of Georgia since Herschel Walker. So it's no surprise he is the Rivals.com Junior of the Year.

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The recruiting war for this stud is already waging. He is going to have his pick of colleges. Simmons says that Alabama is the early favorite. 

RB Derrick Henry

Location: Florida

Measurables: 6'3", 232 pounds

Henry has already committed to Georgia. This won't stop other coaches from pursuing this stud RB and trying to convince him to change his mind. 

Here is Simmons take:

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Derrick Henry, simply put, is one of the best athletes in the nation. He was laser-timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40, recorded a 38-inch vertical leap and ran a 4.27 shuttle time at Nike's The Opening training program. He's also a statistical monster: He rushed for more than 5,000 yards during his first two varsity seasons. Henry has the skills to contribute at running back, tight end, defensive end or linebacker at the next level.

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This big and physical back already has the size to compete on the college. As long as he stays healthy, he should be able to step right in and make a difference at the college level.