College Football Recruiting 2013: 5 Recruits Who Would've Been No. 1 Last Year

You ever read, watch or hear about a player in a current recruiting cycle who is No. 1 at his position and wonder if he'd been at the same spot in the previous year?

I know I'm not the only one who compares current players to past players out there. For this read, I'm going to give you five recruits from the 2013 class who are better than the top prospect at their position from the 2012 class.

Here are five 2013 recruits who would have been No. 1 their position in 2012, too. 

5. Laremy Tunsil, OT

Top 2012 Prospect: D.J. Humphries and Andrus Peat

This is a tough one here, because Peat is just a complete OT prospect who will be ready to play by the middle of his freshman season at Stanford.

Humphries has a huge ceiling and is in line to start at Florida this year, perhaps at LT. 

Yet Tunsil's potential, combined with marked improvement in the strength department at a couple camps and combines this spring, has really elevated his stock.

This wouldn't have been a slam-dunk pick, but Tunsil would have been in the thick of the discussion for a number of OL honors in 2012. 

4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB

Top 2012 Prospect: Brian Poole

I really liked Poole last year and I think he's going to be a complete corner at Florida. In fact, Poole is even more complete a prospect coming into Florida than Marcus Roberson was in 2011.

However, Hargreaves' instincts and awareness are off the charts. The 5'10", 180-pounder may not be as thick or strong as Poole, but he's uber-instinctive and heady in coverage.

Hargreaves is the top cover corner in 2013 and likely would have been at the same spot if this was 2012 recruiting. 

3. Max Browne, QB

To 2012 Prospect: Gunner Kiel (Pro-Style QB)

I grade Browne out higher than Kiel. Kiel is probably a better athlete and has better mobility, but Browne has a quicker release and a little stronger arm than Kiel.

Browne just has everything needed to be a successful QB, as he's 6'5", 210 pounds, has excellent mechanics, sees the field well, has a great feel for the game, works through his progressions, anticipates throws, has good delivery quickness and great arm strength.

2. Robert Nkemdiche, DE

Top 2012 Prospect: Mario Edwards

Nkemdiche is the best DE prospect ever. He's better than Edwards and he's better than Jadeveon Clowney. 

In any year, Nkemdiche would have been not only the No. 1 DE prospect, but the No. 1 overall recruit. He's a 6'5" monster that weighs almost 280 pounds and is just athletically blessed. 

This is a no-brainer pick. 

1. Reuben Foster, LB

Top 2012 Prospect: Reggie Ragland

Ironically, Foster and Ragland will be teammates in college at Alabama, but Foster is better than Ragland, as Foster may be the greatest LB prospect we've seen in modern recruiting.

Foster is a bit more athletic than  Ragland, is more agile and plays a bit better and more fluid in space. Whereas Ragland has the tools to be a classic big, physical 3-4 ILB, Foster can do that and a slew of other things.

Foster would be No. 1 at LB in any class.