CFB Recruiting 2013: Alternative Positions for the Top 25 Overall Recruits

Today we're going to just have some fun. We pigeonhole these recruits into one position all the time and forget to realize that they are 17-18 year old players, with youth, energy and athleticism.

Meaning, they can easily physically and athletically develop into something else and play a different position in college. So keeping that in mind, I'm going to pick an alternative position for each top 25 recruit in this class.

Come on inside and see where else these elite prospects can be deployed on the field. 

25. Christian Hackenberg, QB

Hackenberg hails from Virginia and already is a 6'4", 215-pound QB prospect. Committed to Penn State, Hackenburg has great size already and has shown he's willing to look the gun in the barrel.

To me, that speaks that he has good physical toughness. If the whole QB thing doesn't work out, with Hackenburg's size and toughness, I think he could be a solid OLB prospect.

From tossing the rock to crushing ball carriers? Think about it Nittany Lion fans.

24. Tim Williams, DE

Williams is a 6'4", 230-pound DE prospect from Louisiana. He's very explosive off the line, has great athleticism and has good length.

Should this pass rushing thing break down on Williams, I think he could become a great WR or TE. He'll need to learn how to run routes, but he's too athletic and explosive not to become a successful pass catcher.

He could become a Brandon Marshall-type of WR.

23. Adam Breneman, TE

I feel extremely horrible for Breneman, as he has suffered a torn ACL and will not play his senior season this year. I know he will rehab hard and be ready to go as a freshman for Penn State.

If he doesn't want to continue at TE (which would be tough because he's got great hands), Breneman could become a solid DE prospect.

He has solid quickness at the snap, is already 6'5", 230-pounds and has the length to stay clean out of an OL's body. 

22. Max Redfield, FS

This may be the easiest pick on this list, as Redfield is a 6'2", 200-pound FS prospect from Southern California.

His speed, ball skills, range and playmaking ability would also make him a freaky good WR in college.

In fact, based on how he played WR this spring on offense for his 7-on-7 team, don't be shocked to see him catch passes in college instead of intercepting them.

21. Ryan Burns, QB

Burns hails from Virginia and is committed to Stanford. He's a 6'5", 220-pound QB that has great size, solid delivery quickness, can put the ball in tight spots and has good field vision.

He won't wow anyone with blazing speed, but Burns is no snail. If for some reason he can't cut the mustard at signal caller on the Farm, I think David Shaw could move him to TE.

There, he could still use his mind in reading coverages and beating defenses.

20. Matthew Thomas, OLB

At 6'3" and right around 210-pounds, Thomas is an excellent OLB prospect from Miami. He can play Sam or Will in a 4-3 or rush end in a 3-4.

Thomas has a great surge off the line, excellent range, speed and ball vision. To me, with his size, all of those traits could translate well to the WR position in college.

Thomas could be a menace to press off the line and would use good speed to skate around the field.

19. Shane Morris, QB

Morris is a 6'3", 190-pound QB prospect from Michigan that is locked in to join the Wolverines next year. 

He has deceptive strength, moxie, sets up quickly and is a good athlete. I think, should the southpaw for some reason not work out at QB, he could be a good safety prospect.

Morris has good speed, plays instinctively and his moxie would help him get used to contact.

18. Cam Burrows, CB/S

Burrows is already a 6'2 195-pound DB that will get a first crack at corner. He can also play safety and work well there for a secondary.

Burrows has great speed on the flanks and at 6'2", 195-pounds, you should already be thinking that his alternative spot should be WR.

An Ohio State commit, Urban Meyer could choose to get creative with Burrows' athleticism, size and speed and deploy him on offense at times.

17. Jaylon Smith, OLB

Smith is a Hoosier State native that stands in the 6'3", 225-pound range. He's great in coverage and also has great speed.

He can play all three downs in any defensive scheme as his athleticism and instincts allow him to factor as a pass defender.

Should he not play OLB at Notre Dame, his size, speed and athleticism could make him a good "big back" in South Bend.

16. Dee Liner, DT/DE

Liner is a 6'4", 270-pound DL that can just overwhelm with quickness. An Alabama native, Liner is committed to Auburn.

His first step quickness is impressive and he can shoot gaps and penetrate with ease. He can play DE on the strong side and hold his anchor vs. the run.

Liner is quick enough to drop a couple pounds and also become a good TE prospect, but I also think he could be a very good OL too.

15. Ty Isaac, RB

A 6'2", 220-pound RB from Illinois, Isaac has great speed, elusiveness and vision. He plays with good instincts and runs with deceptive pop.

His frame and athleticism could see him also play WR, H-Back, OLB or SS. I like him as a WR, as I've seen flash potential to run great routes and catch balls with his hands.

He's committed to USC. 

14. Kendall Fuller, CB

Fuller is so athletic that he could play anywhere. He's 6'0", 185-pounds and his first position is CB, but he could play an array of other spots and still be fine.

You could flip Fuller over to WR, where his speed would make him dangerous. Or tack on some more pounds to his frame and let him tote the rock.

Or keep him on defense and make him a dominating safety. Fuller can simply do it all on the field.

13. Robert Foster, WR

Foster can really explode off the line, as the Keystone State native is a 6'2", 190-pound player with speed and play making ability.

Some question Foster's hands and consistency, which could be the only obstacle he has to overcome to become a great college WR.

However, should they derail his hopes of catching touchdowns on Saturdays, you can make Foster a great DB and allow his speed and range to shore up your secondary and allow him to return picks and punts.

12. Eli Woodard, CB

Woodard plays the game in a controlled, positional, instinctive and heady way. The New Jersey native is 6'0", 185-pounds and could be a prime time corner or safety at Ohio State.

If that falls through, I think he could be a great WR. He could be a precise route runner, quick out of his breaks and a reliable pass catching option.

Woodard is going to be successful no matter where he plays.

11. Antonio Conner, S

Conner is a 6'2", 200-pound player that can get it done both ways.

He relishes contact, has great speed and is instinctive with great vision to locate the ball each snap.

If he doesn't end up as a great safety somewhere inside the SEC, look for Conner to become a great RB. He's elusive, has great awareness and can use speed to gain big chunks in yards while running tough.

10. Tyrone Swoopes, QB

Swoopes started his career wanting to be a RB but when he started approaching the high schools ranks, he was told his future was actually as a QB.

From Texas, Swoopes is 6'4", 220-pounder with excellent play speed, athleticism and is just a natural play maker. I can see Swoopes playing WR if he doesn't pan out as a QB at Texas.

9. Montravius Adams, DT

Adams is a 6'3", 290-pound DT from Georgia that has class three-technique, one-gapping ability. He's quick off the ball and when he plays with leverage, he's almost unblockable.

With his hand quickness, snap quickness, agility, toughness, strength and athleticism Adams could be a great OG prospect.

He would have natural second level ability, be able to pull and trap with ease and would be productive in space vs. rushers.

8. Max Browne, QB

Browne is a QB. Period. He's 6'5", 215-pounds and his football skill set is at QB and QB only.

However, just for the sake of the theme of this read, I'll go ahead and still pick an alternative position for him. It was tough, but I think I found it.

If Browne isn't getting it done as a passer, he could work on his speed and use his frame and smarts to be a solid possession receiver.

7. Ricky Seals-Jones, WR

Some question whether Seals-Jones is a TE that plays WR or a WR stuck in a TE's body.

He's from Texas and stands 6'5", 215-pounds. Seals-Jones has great athletic ability, speed, quickness and great ball skills.

I think he could also become a tall FS, where his ball skills, range and speed would allow him roam and pick balls off on the back end.

6. Su'a Cravens, DB

Cravens is almost basically a bigger version of Kendall Fuller, as he goes 6'1", 200-pounds. 

Cravens likely is the most versatile player in the country among elite recruits, as he can effectively play FS, OLB, SS, RB, CB and WR.

So picking an alternative position for the USC commit is easy, as wherever he starts off at, if it doesn't work out there, he has four or five other options.

5. Kenny Bigelow, DL

Bigelow has been seen lined up all over the field, from DT to LB to even RB. He's gotten him to 6'3", 297-pounds this spring and is very quick off the ball and physical at the point of attack.

His best position is as a three-technique DT, yet we have to pick an alternative position for him.

He could play on OL, but I'll go out of the box here and say that Bigelow, with his athleticism, could drop some weight and become a great full back.

4. Vernon Hargreaves III, CB

Hargreaves is a 5'11", 185-pound CB prospect from the Tampa area in Florida. He has good speed, quickness and excellent technique.

Hargreaves plays with good awareness and smarts, showing he's a true student of the game.

If he doesn't catch on as a CB, with his speed and quickness, Hargreaves could easily be a RB and factor as a perimeter-oriented runner.

3. Laremy Tunsil, OT

Naturally, when you see a player is an OL, you would think his other position would be DL. Yet, for Tunsil, his 6'6", 295-pound frame has shown way too much easy movement to be an alternative DL.

Tunsil is still learning the nuances of the OT position, but has LT athleticism. Yet, that athleticism could also be effective as a big TE, where Tunsil could drop a few pounds and catch passes.

He's agile, quick and athletic enough to make the move, no doubt.

2. Reuben Foster, LB

A 6'2", 245-pound monster, Foster is a stud LB prospect that should be a great LB in college. However, the bust monster is a possibility for every player, including Foster.

I've seen this guy make plays with the football in his hands. I've seen him play RB and play it well.

If he can't be all he can be at linebacker, you can move Foster to running back and let him be a terror as a physical, downhill attack-style runner.

1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE

Nkemdiche is a 6'4", 270-pound beast that is committed to Clemson. He's a very good athlete and has excellent strength and power.

He's excellent with strength, competitiveness and tenacity while at the point of attack. Sure, if he can't make it as a DE, he can be a very good DT. Also, we know he can be a 3-4 OLB.

However, for this read, Nkemdiche could alternatively be a Brandon Jacobs-type of RB or even a great TE if defense doesn't work out.

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.