College Football Recruiting 2013: 10 Players Who Could Rise to No. 1

With most of the top lists and boards officially out for 2013, we can now move forward with the live evaluation period and determine which schools are standing out for each prospect.

However, the competitors in these prospects all want to be No. 1 at their position. That is something I also want to stress: This isn't about becoming No. 1 overall, but No. 1 at each recruit's position.

Robert Nkemdiche and Reuben Foster are the two best players in the country, period. But other positions are certainly debatable for No. 1-prospect honors. 

10. Dontre Wilson, RB

Wilson is a speed demon on a 5'10", 180-pound frame. He plays like a sub-4.4 guy, and I think with a monster season he could rise up the boards.

ESPNU has him at No. 53 overall, while Scout.com has him as the 10th-best runner in the country.

He's a prime candidate to watch and see his ranking move way up. 

9. Derrick Griffin, WR/TE

ESPNU lists Griffin as a TE prospect on their board, and that's where my focus is for him on this list.

He's 6'6" and nearly 220 pounds already. I think his speed is pretty solid for a WR, but he could be an even better pass-catching TE should he embrace the switch at A&M.

If Griffin starts to work as a TE this year in high school and plays well, there's no reason to believe he couldn't surpass Adam Breneman as the top TE prospect for 2013. 

8. Max Redfield, S

Redfield is a 6'2", 195-pound free safety prospect who is a class center-fielder type. He's at his best when allowed to roam, be in space and use his speed, range and ball skills to get pick passes off on the back end.

He's not physical much, but you don't need to be a free safety. I can see a point next winter that we all view Redfield as the No. 1 free safety in the country.

7. Tyrone Crowder, OG

Crowder is a big boy at 6'2" and 325 pounds. It remains to be seen if he's in the same clout as Curtis Riser and Isaac Seumalo, but Crowder is very good.

Right now, I think Patrick Kugler is the top OG in the country. On my board he is, at least. Crowder has the potential to get that No. 1 OG spot before we're done working this class. 

6. Eddie Vandergoes, DL

Vandergoes can play strongside DE for you or kick inside and play DT for you, as he's 6'4", 285 pounds.

He's very, very strong on his feet, uses his hands well and likely has the best shed/escape ability of any DL in he nation at this point. 

I can see a scenario where Vandergoes decides he's a full time DT and ascends to the No. 1 spot at that position. 

5. Cameron Burrows, CB

Burrows is a big CB at 6'2", 200 pounds, but also has great play speed. With Vernon Hargreaves being such a polished player, you have to wonder if his ceiling is lower than the other CBs in this class.

With a lower ceiling, would that affect his "potential" factor and have him downgraded by some? Maybe. Maybe not.

But if the former occurs, then Burrows could see himself finishing at the nation's No. 1 CB for 2013.

4. Kendall Fuller, CB

Fuller probably already has more potential than Hargreaves, but Hargreaves' technique and instincts are better.

Yet the 6'0", 185-pound Fuller is an elite athlete, and his speed, agility, quickness and ceiling could surge him up the boards past Hargreaves—and Burrows too. 

3. Stacy Coley, WR

With Ricky Seals-Jones and Robert Foster both being hailed by various lists and boards as the top WR prospect in the country this year, that means we have no consensus right now.

So anybody could snake the spot with a big camp and combines circuit, live evaluation period and monster senior season. My pick for that is one Stacy Coley.

The 6'1", 175-pounder reminds me a bit of Shaq Roland, as he has great speed, fluid athleticism and the tools be to become a "dude" in college. 

2. Ty Isaac, RB

Isaac is a 6'2", 220-pound rock toter from Illinois. He shows excellent speed, quickness and elusiveness, not just for a big back, but period.

Isaac also has good hands out of the backfield. With all this going for him, I was a little surprised to see him all the way down at No. 68 on the ESPNU 150.

With another 2000-yard season, I think he has a chance to see himself surge up the board.

1. Jake Raulerson

I didn't list a position for Jake Raulerson because I want to explain why you're going to think I'm crazy.

I think Raulerson could be the No. 1 ATH prospect in the country. There—I said it.

He's just so versatile that I can see the 6'5", 250-pounder playing LT, DE, DT, FB, LB, OC, OG or RT. After all, "ATH" stands for "athlete," meaning the player should an especially versatile prospect. It shouldn't just mean a skill position type, as Raulerson fits the full definition of an ATH.