College Football Recruiting 2013:The Dark-Horse for the Top Uncommitted Recruits

We always go through the process of following a prospect's recruitment, trying to gain insight into their thinking. We try to see who the top 10 or top five are, then wait to see what the prospect discloses and reassess their thinking.

Whenever their recruitment takes a defining shape and we know which schools really have a legit chance, there's always a school that we think has no chance or doesn't belong in the group for consideration, from a profile standpoint.

They're the dark-horse.

For this read, I'm going to give you the dark-horse school for the top uncommitted prospect at each position. 

CB: Vernon Hargreaves III

At 5'11" and 180 pounds, Hargreaves is an instinctive corner with excellent technique. He knows how to use his smarts, has been seasoned up and has good physical tools to excel.

Florida, USC and Alabama are the top three right now, with Florida State and South Florida (where his father is an assistant coach) also in the mix.

Watch out for USC, as it will be tricky getting him away from Florida and the South. Plus, USF will stay in it until the end. 

LB: Michael Hutchings

Hutchings, at 6'1" and 210 pounds, will either play OLB or SS in college. He's got great range, can cover TEs and RBs on third downs and has solid instincts.

His recruitment fluctuates, but USC, Oregon, Notre Dame and Washington are on him the hardest right now.

It's not a shock to see USC, Notre Dame or even Oregon all in the mix for such a highly touted recruit. However, the Huskies being in the mix have me listing them as his dark-horse school. 

DL: Robert Nkemdiche

The nation's No. 1 overall prospect, Nkemdiche is a 6'5", 270-pound beast. I list him at DL, but he can play DE, DT, OLB, RB and I even think TE if he wanted to.

His recruitment likely will come to an end on May 18, with schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Texas, Oregon, Ole Miss and LSU in the mix.

I think 'Bama is the favorite, but that's just my opinion. All of these schools on his list are heavyweights except for Ole Miss, whom I list as a credible dark-horse because that's where Nkemdiche's brother plays.

OL: Laremy Tunsil

Tunsil is the nation's top OL prospect; he's a 6'6", 280-pounder who has the feet and athleticism to develop into a top-tier tackle.

Tunsil is raw in his technique right now, so he isn't a finished product, but his ceiling is extremely high.

Currently, Florida and Georgia are the two favorites above everyone else. However, I say don't count out Alabama and Florida Sate. 

But the real dark-horse school is Michigan, as Tunsil has some interest in them.

TE: Hunter Henry

Henry is a 6'6", 240-pounder from Arkansas who has great tools. His size is extremely impressive, but I love his large strike zone, catch-in-crowd ability and versatility.

I have serious doubts that he wants to leave the South, but Henry does hold an offer from Notre Dame. 

However, the Irish aren't my dark-horse for Henry—Arkansas State is.

Can Gus Malzahn use some good moxie to land this guy? I mean, if you're Henry, it's appealing to think about heading to Jonesboro, catching a couple hundred career balls in Malzahn's offense and looking good to NFL scouts.

WR: Robert Foster

Foster is a 6'2", 190-pounder who has eye-popping speed, explosiveness and sudden ability. He can explode off the line and get deep in a hurry.

Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Ohio State, Florida, Oregon and Clemson are showing him the most love right now.

And don't count out Penn State; Foster checked out Happy Valley in February.

You take a look at those schools, and you see that most of them are either East Coast programs or in the South (Clemson and Florida) except for Oregon, which is why the Ducks are the dark-horse for Foster.

RB: Ty Isaac

At 6'3" and 220 pounds, Isaac is a big back with little back speed and elusiveness. He's got good wiggle and can catch the football well. Isaac is like a bigger version of Warren Ball, who signed with Ohio State last year.

It seems like Michigan and USC are top two favorites at the moment. Both Schools have seen Isaac up close and personal, and I think Michigan is the slight favorite.

But never count out the Trojans' national reach.  

QB: Max Browne

Browne is the top QB prospect in the country, as the 6'5" Washington native can get it done from the pocket. He's got great mechanics, a quick release and makes good decisions.

Alabama, USC, Oklahoma and Washington seem like the prime four, but no one has been eliminated right now.

I don't think Browne goes to Washington because Keith Price, Cyler Miles and Jeff Lindquist will still be on the roster. My dark-horse is Alabama. Many top QB prospects don't look hard at the Tide because of their offense, but Browne likes Doug Nussmeier.