9 Recruits Coaches Will Trust Most with the Game on the Line

Clutch play is something a player has or doesn't. You can't develop it or coach it; a player either has the knack for making a big play late in the game or he doesn't. It's not bad if the player doesn't have it—a lot of great players aren't clutch guys.

Yet, the ones that are are the ones who you want in the game in the fourth quarter with the ball. Coaches need to be able to trust players to feel comfortable putting them in football games late.

This following read will look at nine players that I think have a clutch gene and will be trusted in college late in games to be asked to make critical clutch plays.

9. Kevin Olsen, QB

Olsen has good moxie and poise, which bodes well for the 6'3", 190-pound Miami commit.

He makes good decisions and is the type of QB who may remind the folks in Coral Gables a little of Ken Dorsey with his play.

Al Golden is going to be able to trust Olsen to go make great throws late in games from correct reads, accurate passes and a cool and calm on-field demeanor.

8. Robert Foster, WR

Foster is just too explosive, fast, sudden and elusive with the football to not be counted to make a play late in games. I'll even add that statement to him as a return man.

When the Ravens needed a big play late in games, a few years ago when I was with the Giants, we noticed that Baltimore would send Ed Reed out to return punts.

Foster could do the same thing at Alabama—if he hasn't already made a big play from the WR position during a clutch part of the game. 

7. Dontre Wilson, RB/WR

The 5'10", 176-pound Oregon recruit is the next De'Anthony Thomas for the Ducks. Wilson is lightning quick and elusive to slip tackles and make big plays.

Speed wears down defenses over the course of games, and Wilson has the speed to deliver that final late blow. He should be counted on as a clutch player in Eugene as a runner and receiver, along with returning too. 

6. Kohl Stewart, QB

Stewart has the mobility to scramble, elude rushers and a good enough arm to pitch balls downfield to keep his offense alive. 

The 6'2" 195-pounder is headed to Texas A&M, and who better to learn how to play with the game on the line from than Johnny Manziel? Stewart is an accurate passer and sees the field well.

You can trust him to make right reads and make the correct types of throws to execute late-minute drives.

5. Alvin Kamara, RB

Kamara will be able to be on the field when the game is on the line because his array of skills. If you need a speed back to make a long run, he can do it.

If you want to use him in the passing game, Kamara can help that way too. If you need a back that can run you to a win by running in between the tackles to notch a first down, Kamara can do that too.

In fact, if you want make sure that your QB will be protected and need a back that pick up the blitz on third down in the fourth quarter, Kamara can do that too.

4. Antonio Conner, S

Conner is a safety and that may seem odd to have him on a list like this, but he deserves to be on it.

The Mississippi native is a great athlete and can be counted on in the clutch to do something from his back end position to make a big play.

Whether it's sending him on a blitz to get a crucial sack or trusting him to roam the deep middle to make a clutch interception, Conner has the ability to execute the task. 

3. Kelvin Taylor, RB

Taylor is remarkably productive and doesn't fumble. He's a trustworthy back that a team can give the ball to late and he can run them to wins.

The 5'11", 216-pounder is going to Florida and will be the back on the field in clutch situations in no time. Taylor also has the hands to make plays in the passing game, which could become a needed weapon when the game is on the line. 

2. Su'a Cravens, S

Cravens, like Conner, is a safety that can do just about everything.

The 6'1", 205-pounder is super-instinctive and the key is just trust him even if you don't know what he's up to, because most of the time Cravens is right.

Whether you see him walk up and crash to make a sack, suspecting a reverse and making a great open-field tackle or coming out of nowhere to pick off a pass, Cravens can do a lot with the game on the line. 

1. Max Browne, QB

Browne sees the whole field well, reads coverages properly, plays with solid poise and makes fine decisions.

He'll check down when he has to, but he'll challenge on the second and third levels to make plays.

He also has good pocket presence and just enough mobility to stay alive from rushers. He can see well thanks to being 6'5", and will earn Lane Kiffin's trust to be a guy that wins games late rather than managing them.

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He 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 and writing specific recruiting and scouting content articles for Student Sports Football (formerly 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.