15 Recruits Who Could Change Positions but Stay on the Same Side of the Ball

Being versatile is a great asset in football, as it allows teams to do an array of things with just one player. It also displays a player's versatility and natural football playing talent.

For this read, I'm going to give you 15 recruits who can play another position on the same side of the ball they're getting recruited at. So a LB that can move down to DE, a RB that can move to WR, a S that can play CB or LB and so forth will make up this list.

Let's get started.

15. Dontre Wilson, Offense

Wilson is a 5'10", 180-pounder from Texas who is being looked at as a RB/ATH. The latter stems from his ability to be a factor with the ball in his hands in space, which works well as a slot WR.

Do not be surprised to see Wilson develop into an Az Hakim type of slot WR in college and not an all-purpose RB.

I have a hunch about Oregon and Texas in this race.

14. Carl Lawson, Defense

At 6'3", 240 pounds, Lawson is a defender who is at his best on the edges. He has the skill set to play DE, 3-4 OLB or even OLB in certain 4-3 schemes.

With Auburn being depleted at the LB position and making second-level defenders a priority this cycle, I won't be shocked if Lawson is counted as a LB in their class. 

13. Cameron Burrows, Defense

Burrows is a big back-end defender with safety size and cornerback skills. He's committed to Ohio State and could play all over the back end for Urban  Meyer.

Whether the 6'2", 200-pounder becomes a ball-hawking free safety or sticks as a big corner, Burrows should become a stalwart player in Columbus. I can even see where he could play some big nickel LB, too.

12. Derrick Griffin, Offense

Griffin is a pass-catcher. The only thing is, where will he play in college? He's already 6'6" and close to 220 pounds.

He's a WR right now, but a move to TE may be best for his future. Griffin's on a pace where he's going to be in the 240 range in a year or two, and it may slow him down on the perimeter.

Why not move to TE, work on safeties and catch a ton of passes against linebackers for Texas A&M?

11. Kendall Beckwith, ATH

This guy can play on either side of the ball, and a program will be able to do an array of things with him.

Beckwith is a blank canvas of 6'3", 225 pounds, and he's dripping with athleticism. He plays some QB for his Louisiana high school team right now, but don't sleep on him becoming a WR, TE, DE or OLB in college. 

LSU and Alabama are his leaders. 

10. Jalin Marshall, Offense

Marshall is a dynamic offensive player who can play QB, RB or WR. He's committed to Ohio State and fits in well in the Buckeyes' new spread option scheme on offense.

At 6'1", 190 pounds, Marshall has good instincts, is a great RAC player and has natural elusiveness in the open field. He also flashes a good arm as a QB, to which you could see him stay there in Columbus. 

9. Eddie Vanderdoes, Defense

Vanderdoes' biggest asset on he field is his size and strength. He's a 6'4" guy who weighs in the 290 range and has excellent play strength.

However, Vanderdoes does flash some quickness and ability to play DE. He reminds a bit of Armond Armstead in that he can play DT and DE for a college front.

Right now, watch out for Cal and Oregon. 

8. Jake Raulerson, ATH

Earlier this spring, I did a piece on the most versatile recruits. Jake Raulerson topped the list and here is what I had to say:

"

Raulerson is a 6'5", 250-pounder from Texas that can play an array of spots for you in the fronts. He can play OT for you on the offensive edges, has the mean streak and toughness to play guard and, if you season him up on snapping, can man the pivot.

Or you can flip him to defense and let him play strong side defensive end. If that doesn't work out, tack on some more weight and kick him inside as a try-hard defensive tackle.

Heck, the Texas commit is even athletic enough to play Will or Sam linebacker. If all else fails, make him a blocking full back.

"

Get my drift as to why he's on this list now?

7. Joey Bosa, Defense

Bosa is a big DL at 6'5" and about 265 pounds.

He's long and has some thickness to his frame already. Bosa plays DT right now for St. Thomas Aquinas, but he can also play DE.

The Ohio State University could very well be getting themselves a swing DL in Bosa, as he could flip-flop between both DE and DT in college. 

6. O.J. Howard, ATH

Howard is just an athletic football player who you can do a lot with. He's 6'5", 225 pounds and has a blank canvas of athleticism, speed, agility, leaping ability and more.

Most view Howard as an up-and-coming TE prospect, but I think he's athletic and fast enough to play WR, or you can flip on defense and play him as a standup OLB in a 3-4 defense or as a 4-3 DE.

He is committed to Alabama. 

5. Kenny Bigelow, Defense

Bigelow could very well be listed as an ATH this cycle because the 6'3", 285-pounder is a super-athlete. He can play DT, DE, TE or even LB.

Bigelow has lined up all over the place in high school, yet he figures to play DT at USC. However, even within that, he could also kick outside and play DE for the Trojans' defense. 

4. Matthew Thomas, Defense

They may have to invent a position all for Thomas when he gets to college. At 6'4", 210 pounds, he can play OLB or DE on defense, but he's at his best getting upfield.

Even if he goes to a 4-3 defensive-oriented team, he can still play the Sam spot standing up on the line like the Broncos do with Von Miller. 

Thomas can play DE with his hand down is sub-packages or OLB.

3. Ricky Seals-Jones, Offense

Seals-Jones plays QB and safety right now in high school, yet he'll move to the flanks in college. The 6'5", 220-pounder is a top-notch WR prospect who could see himself grow into a TE.

Texas likely will see him first as a WR, but if Seals-Jones continues to fill out, he could see himself become a TE in Austin. 

2. Robert Nkemdiche, Defense

To be honest, if Nkediche wanted to, he could be an elite RB or TE prospect, as he's that athletic and effective.

At 6'5", 270 pounds, he's a beast of a DE who has the strength to easily play DT in college. Yet Nkemdiche is a super-athlete who can easily play OLB at 270 pounds.

There's a chance that a college could outsmart themselves in Nkemdiche's development as a player, because he can do so many things for a team. 

1. Su'a Cravens, ATH

At 6'1", 205 pounds, Cravens has excellent athletic talent on the football field. It's not out of the question to see him play either RB, WR, OLB, S or CB in college.

He shows easy agility, smooth movement, instincts, playmaking ability and speed at an array of positions right now. He may be best suited for the safety spot, but Cravens can play a ton of positions.

In fact, I wouldn't be shocked to see him start his college career at one spot and end it at another.