College Football Recruiting 2013: 10 Future Program Pillars

USC has one in Matt Barkley. Georgia has one in Aaron Murray. Dont'a Hightower and Mark Barron fit the bill to the T.

Mike Martin and David Molk were the most recent faces of the Michigan program, and Tim Tebow may be the greatest one of all time. 

I call it the "Program Pillar." A great player you can build a program around, and who is also a great leader admired by teammates. Simply a cornerstone player for your program.

Here are 10 future program pillars from the 2013 class.

10. Brice Ramsey, QB

Ramsey is solid in his Georgia commitment and is in the natural leadership role at quarterback. 

He could contend for the starting job as a true freshman after Aaron Murray leaves.

Ramsey has a good arm, has been pretty cemented in his pledge, and could develop not only into a great QB in Athens, but the face of the program going forward.

9. Adam Breneman, TE

Penn State has been through some obvious rocky times the past several months and a new coach is now in Happy Valley in Bill O'Brien.

Last year's recruiting class was basically a wash as O'Brien was trying win a Super Bowl in New England, build a staff and smooth over a jaded fanbase. 

However, this year, O'Brien landed the nation's best TE prospect in Adam Breneman. Look for the 5-star Breneman to develop into a staple player and help recruit others to join him at PSU.

8. Kelvin Taylor, RB

Keven Taylor already knows what it means to be a Gator; his father Fred was a star in Gainesville in the '90s.

Taylor has been a productive RB in the state of Florida, as he passed Emmit Smith last year for the all time state mark at 9,968 yards.

With the knowledge that he's following in his father's footsteps, look for the uber-productive Taylor to become a pillar for Will Muschamp's tenure in Gainesville. 

7. Dashon Hunt, CB

Dashon Hunt is a gritty CB from SoCal that stands 5'9" but plays like he's 6'3". He's tough, physical, athletic and can play RB as well as CB.

Hunt is very passionate about his commitment to UCLA and the Bruins program. I think he's a magnet for talent and will be a recruiting host for all four years in Westwood.

With his instincts, athleticism, speed and passion for UCLA football, Hunt is the type of player Jim Mora (a DB coach at heart) could hang his hat on as he tries to resurrect the Bruins.

6. Matthew Alviti, QB

Matthew Alviti is barely 6'0"  and 170 pounds. You look at him on the hoof and you're not impressed because he doesn't "look" like a QB.

Yet this guy is the epitome of a gamer and field general. He's in command of his offense and makes the plays needed for his team to win.

The 4-star signal-caller from Illinois is great leader and I can foresee him becoming a pillar player for the Northwestern Wildcats. 

5. Robert Nkemdiche, DL

One thing that isn't stressed enough about Robert Nkemdiche is his competitiveness. This guy plays intense and competes with ferocious tenacity.

You'll never have to worry about his effort level because Nkemdiche brings it every game and every snap. Aside from being Scout.com's No. 1 overall prospect and perhaps the most talented prospect in the modern recruiting era, he's a player others will follow.

Wherever Nkemdiche ends up, he will become a cornerstone.

4. Max Browne, QB

USC could be getting their next Matt Barkley in Browne, as the latter is on track to enroll early at USC next winter.

At 6'5", 215 pounds, Browne has tacked on the stuff USC QBs are made out of.

He's a great prospect who understands that being a quarterback requires an insane work ethic.

3. Kevin Olsen, QB

Kevin Olsen reminds me of a QB that you can just trust. He's not going to turn the ball over, will play within his means, knows when to take a shot and when to throw it away.

The 6'3", 197-pounder has great field awareness, a good feel for the game and is a football junkie. 

I think he's a QB to build around, as you know what you're getting with him.

2. Reuben Foster, LB

Foster is a LB you that you build your defense around. He has the potential to be for Nick Saban and Alabama what Patrick Willis is to the 49ers.

A toolsy player with All-American potential, Foster could even fill the same role as Dont'a Hightower when he gets to Tuscaloosa.

1. Shane Morris, QB

I have Shane Morris No. 1 not just because he shows the the makings of a program pillar, but also because he has to be one.

If Morris leaves Ann Arbor and we think he's a bust, then Michigan football will likely be set back a couple years. Morris has to deliver for Big Blue and he seems to have the moxie, size, leadership and talent to do so.

Brady Hoke and Al Borges are banking on him.

Edwin Weathersby has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena League. He spent a year evaluating prep prospects & writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (now ESPN Rise-HS). A syndicated scout and writer, he's also contributed to WeAreSC.com, GatorBait.net and Diamonds in the Rough Inc., a College Football and NFL Draft magazine.