College Football Recruiting 2012: The Top 10 Early Impact Recruits

Every recruit wants to come in and play right away. That's a fact.

Yet, it is a rare feat to make an impact as a true freshman, as many recruits lack the size, frame, speed, instincts and truly college-ready skills. Development and coaching is imperative, but there are still a select few each Fall who make an early impact.

Here are 10 recruits from the 2012 class that I think have a chance to instantly impact in this coming 2012 season.

10. Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE/OLB

Commit: Northwestern

At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Odenigbo is a super athletic defender that can rush the passer and has the traits to develop into a solid cover guy versus RBs and TEs. I think he can come in and make an impact at Northwestern this year as DPR/third down sub-rusher.

9. Gunner Kiel, QB

Commit: Notre Dame

Even if Kiel doesn't win the starting job, I think his presence will still make an impact. The other QBs on the Irish roster know they have to step up their game now that the hot-shot QB prospect is in South Bend.

AT 6'4" and over 200 pounds, Kiel has all the tools to become the man for Brian Kelly short-term and long-term.

8. Ellis McCarthy, DT

Commit: UCLA

UCLA is the midst of a coaching change and its roster is not full of high profile recruits, so McCarthy should have an easy road to playing time as a true freshman. 

Oh, almost forgot, it also doesn't hurt that he's a 6'5", 310-pound DT with great play strength, snap quickness, athleticism and Brian Price ability.

7. Duke Johnson, RB

Commit: Miami

With Lamar Miller gone, the lead dog role as head rock toter in Coral Gables is up for grabs. Johnson has the speed and quickness to get more than his fair share of carrries immediately.

At 5'9", 190 pounds, Duke Johnson could be the next Chris Johnson. He's got great burst, vision, foot quickness and elusiveness. Look for him to impact at Miami from the jump.

6. Landon Collins, DB

Commit: Alabama

Now, defensively, it's always tough to predict the playing time of a recruit going to Alabama. The system takes awhile to learn.

But the 6'0", 210-pound Collins has the football IQ to get the gist of it down to get on the field as a freshman. His speed, quickness, hitting ability, athleticism and instincts will keep him on the field and likely lead him to an all-SEC selection one day.

5. Rushel Shell, RB

Commit: Pitt

Shell is a 5-star RB headed to Pitt to play for Paul Chryst. Chryst loves stuffing the ball down opponents' throats via the run game, and with a two-back tandem like the shifty Ray Graham and the bullying Shell, that could work.

Shell is a 5'11", 215-pound RB with every down back tools and the run strength to get carries as a true freshman.

4. Stefon Diggs, WR

Commit: Maryland

Diggs chose to stay home earlier this month, and it will pay off immediately. The 6'0", 190-pounder will see the field from Day 1, I think.

He's just too talented, and Randy Edsall and Mike Locksley need playmakers. I think Diggs can have a Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins type of impact for the Terps at WR.

3. Mario Edwards, DE

Commit: Florida State

Edwards is a 6'4" DE that weighs nearly 300 pounds but moves like a shooting guard. He's a super talent and red-shirting him may just be downright selfish if you're Jimbo Fisher.

FSU has a wealth of talented defenders and pass-rushers, but Edwards has the tools to force his way onto the field as a true freshman.

2. Noah Spence, DE

Commit: Ohio State

Spence likely will move to a rush end spot in Columbus, but he'll still do what he does best: rush the passer. He's 6'4", 240 pounds and has elite first step quickness, length to stay clean, athleticism to bend and a burst to finish on the passer.

He easily can come in and be a DPR as a true freshman while learning the other parts of the defense week by week.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

Commit: Missouri

Mizzou runs a version of the spread, has James Franklin tossing the rock and runs four and WR sets like it's nothing. DGB is good enough to earn a spot in those multiple WR sets at the very least.

He's 6'6", 220 pounds, has 4.4 speed and a catch radius the size of the state of Missouri. He should catch more than a few balls this fall.