Jadeveon Clowney and 9 College Football Sophomores Ready to Explode

It’s ironic how quickly a given year’s top recruits disappear from the headlines once they’ve signed on the dotted line, but that doesn’t mean they won’t reappear on the front page again in short order.

Yes, the freshman class of a previous season often holds the jewels of the next, and they’ve only temporarily been hiding behind upperclassmen while ramping up play to the collegiate level.

The following slideshow highlights 2011’s top super recruit, Jadeveon Clowney, and nine other incoming sophomores ready to explode in 2012.

Though this list is limited and could certainly include others, these are the guys who are positioned to begin earning a lion’s share of notice and, perhaps, glory in the next three years.

As a note the recruiting rankings provided in this presentation come via Rivals.com rankings.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

The No. 1 rated recruit from the class of 2011, Clowney registered 36 tackles (17 solo), 12 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and broke up one pass during his freshman campaign.

Clowney finished the 2011 season tied for No. 33 nationally in sacks and was a factor in the Gamecocks earning a No. 10 ranking nationally in scoring defense.

 

Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas

As a freshman, Malcolm Brown (the No. 10 rated recruit from 2011) led the Longhorns in rushing with 742 yards and five TDs on 172 carries, which is even more impressive when you consider the fact that Texas ranked No. 21 in the nation in rushing yards last season.

Brown finished the year ranked No. 64 nationally in terms of yards per game and is due to be a huge factor in the Longhorn’s 2012 campaign as a sophomore, especially if the passing game doesn’t improve from its dismal No. 86 rank.

 

Cody Fajardo, QB, Nevada

WAC Freshman of the Year Cody Fajardo finished the 2011 season ranked No. 44 nationally in passer rating completing 68.8 percent of his throws.

This is even more impressive when you consider the fact that Nevada was No. 32 nationally in passing yards and is compelling when keeping in mind that the Wolf Pack are moving to the MWC in 2012.

The athletic Fajardo also tacked on an additional 694 yards and 11 TDs on the ground, making him the No. 13 QB in the nation in rushing yards.

Fajardo should be one of the more explosive sophomore QBs in the nation next season.

 

 

Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson

The fact that Sammy Watkins exploded as a freshman makes the potential bang associated with his sophomore season look pretty tasty.

Watkins racked up 1,225 yards as a receiver, 231 on the ground and then added on 826 yards as a kick returner to take home the No. 3 spot nationally in all-purpose yards.

If Watkins, who was the No. 15 overall rated recruit from 2011, keeps up his blistering pace, look for his name to be on the short list for the Heisman coming into 2013 and 2014.

 

Josh Shirley, DL, Washington

Josh Shirley’s three sacks in the Huskies wild loss to Baylor in the 2011 Alamo Bowl earned him the No. 23 ranking nationally in sacks last season with 8.5, as a freshman.

Shirley was a 4-star recruit and was ranked No. 137 overall in the Rivals.com 250 from 2010.

Washington fans can hope that the early play of Shirley points to bigger and better things for not only the kid from Fontana, Calif., but for a Huskies defense that ranked No. 108 last season in scoring.

De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon

Thomas was the No. 5 rated overall recruit from the class of 2011, and as a freshman at Oregon, he managed to rack up 2,235 all-purpose yards to finish the season ranked No. 11 nationally.

Thomas ran for 595 yards, gained 605 yards as a receiver, picked up 52 yards returning punts and then blazed the field for 983 additional yards as a kickoff specialist.

With LaMichael James and Darron Thomas both gone, Thomas will be looked upon to propel the Ducks to the top of the charts.

The good news is that Oregon is a run-centric team to the tune of finishing 2011 ranked No. 5 nationally in rushing yards and only No. 68 in passing yards.

Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State

A bright spot among the Beavers dismal 3-9 showing in 2011 was DE Scott Crichton, who Oregon State picked up in 2010 as a 3-star recruit from Tacoma, Wash.

Crichton racked up 74 tackles (48 solo), 14.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks as a freshman.

If that wasn’t enough he also broke up three passes, forced six fumbles and blocked a kick.

Crichton finished 2011 ranked No. 72 nationally in sacks, No. 41 in tackles for a loss and No. 4 in forced fumbles.

 

Isaiah Crowell, RB, Georgia

As a freshman, Isaiah Crowell led the Bulldogs in rushing with 850 yards and five TDs on 185 carries.

Crowell, the No. 23-ranked recruit from the class of 2011, finished last season ranked No. 71 nationally in rushing yards per game and No. 78 in total yards.

If Georgia makes a run in 2012, look for Crowell’s name to be a prominent part of the success story and perhaps a surprise element in the race to the Heisman.

 

Marqise Lee, WR, USC

Marqise Lee was the No. 36 overall ranked recruit of class of 2011, and he literally exploded as a freshman at USC.

Lee finished last season ranked No. 15 nationally in receiving yards per game and No. 29 in total receiving yards with a blistering 1,143 yards on 73 grabs.

Lee is another name that, if the Trojans can fight on to glory, could be among Heisman finalists and BCS heroes of 2012.

 

Quandre Diggs, DB, Texas

The No. 49 overall rated recruit from the 2011, Quandre Diggs hails from Angleton, Texes and became a key contributor to the Longhorn’s No. 33-ranked scoring defense last season.

As a defender, Diggs registered 49 tackles (32 solo), four INTs, three tackles for a loss and broke up 15 passes and forced two fumbles.

The four picks earned him a tie for the No. 22 slot nationally in 2011, and the 15 broken passes garnered him a tie for lofty No. 3 honors in that category.

Additionally, Diggs racked up 181 yards as a punt returner and 371 as a kickoff man adding a total of 552 yards to the Texas bottom line.

Diggs suffered a wrist injury this spring, but after surgery and rehab, he is expected to be ready to go for the Horns 2012 campaign.