Dorial Green-Beckham and Other Players Set to Make an Instant Impact

Not all true freshmen have to sit a year or play limited minutes; there are some elite players that will play from day one.

One of the biggest factors in determining a potential instant-impact player is his body. The player has to have the size and strength to not be mangled in his first year of college football.

Secondly, he has to have the grades. If he's struggling in the classroom, there is a great possibility he'll have to shore that up before he can compete.

Lastly, the team has to have a spot for him. This can be simply because the program is short at his position or because the freshman is so good, his talents get him on the field from the jump.

Here are three players set to hit the ground rolling on their first day on campus.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR—Missouri

What a way for the Tigers to announce their arrival in the SEC. The Tigers claimed one of the top recruits in the nation in this hometown kid, heading into their first campaign in the SEC.

DGB is a man physically and a solid student. He had a 3.1 GPA, per Rivals.

He was simply a "man versus boys" in high school, as one anonymous BCS coach put it.

At 6'6" and 225 pounds, he still figures to be able to use his size to contribute early. Some have compared him to Mike Williams, but DGB has something Williams never did, and that is breakaway speed.

Rivals has him clocked at 4.4 in the 40 with NBA All-Star hops. With those gifts, he will still be physically elite, even in the SEC.

He has demonstrated great hands, shields defenders well and has great run-after-the-catch skills.

The only chink in his armor at this point is underdeveloped route-running skills, but what high school receiver comes to college running routes like Jerry Rice?

None.

This can be coached, but those physical gifts cannot. The Tigers have a very good QB in James Franklin, and DGB's playmaking skills will get him on the field immediately.

The two should combine for some big-time connections in 2012, and defenses will have to account for him at all times.

DGB will be the toast of his hometown in his freshman year and for at least three seasons overall.

Johnathan Gray, RB—Texas

Speed kills—you've heard it before—and Gray is deadly. He may be the fastest player in the class of 2012. He hits holes like a flash, and his acceleration is Devin Hester-like. At 5'11" and 200 pounds, he already has the size to carry the ball 20 times in college.

Don't take the speed (a 4.4-second 40) to mean that he doesn't run with power. Gray is built low to the ground, muscular, and it's believed he can still add more muscle.

He was a TD factory in high school. He scored 65 times as a senior and 189 times throughout his time at Aledo in Texas. Those are EA Sports Road to Glory numbers.

The Longhorns grabbed this local product, and though Malcolm Brown—last year's top RB in the Texas class—is still there, Gray has a great shot at playing early.

That's all this kid will need. He has the ability to take it the distance every time he touches it, and that explosiveness will be hard to keep off the field.

Gray is so good, I would not be surprised to see him receiving the majority of the touches out of the backfield by midseason.

Mario Edwards, DE—Florida State

At 6'4" and 297 pounds, Edwards is already bigger than Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Osi Umenyiora. His size is comparable to Shaun Ellis. It is no coincidence I referenced these elite pass-rushers, because that's exactly what Edwards is set up to be.

The Noles plucked a winner when they inked this Denton, TX product. Edwards has the athleticism to rush the passer effectively and the bulk to move inside to defensive tackle. That versatility will be invaluable on the collegiate level.

Florida State is coming on strong, and Edwards is going to be a part of it in 2012. ESPNU calls Edwards the nation's top prospect, and it's easy to see why. His 4.8-second 40 time is elite for a defensive lineman, and his lifting numbers are nearly as impressive (340-pound bench press and 500-pound squat).

The Noles are building a dominant defense, with Brandon Jenkins already on the other side of the line. He himself was a 2011 preseason All-American and an elite pass-rusher; Edwards can only benefit from playing alongside him.

Edwards will likely start from day one with him and Jenkins combining to create the most explosive pass-rushing combo in the nation.