Under the Radar 2013 Recruits Who Can Help Their Team Immediately

Every year there are recruits or first-year transfers that step in as freshmen and make major impacts.

This year will be no different.

A number of players may be ranked as average but have the potential to be immediate stars in the right situation. 

There are teams from every conference that are looking for that special talent that can take over a position unexpectedly.

Only a few teams actually find them. 

These 10 recruits are the names to watch this fall. Each of their teams need breakout players at their respective positions, and these guys have enough potential to burst onto the national stage in 2013. 

Dontea Ayres: Rutgers Scarlet Knights, RB

Dontea Ayres is the prototypical power runner that has succeeded at Rutgers over the past few seasons. While not rated by any major rating groups, he will be an instant impact player for the Scarlet Knights. 

There are two rising junior RBs on the Rutgers roster, but Ayres will bring a third dimension to the field. He is solid out of the backfield as a receiver and is a compact bruiser that runs with a great lean. 

Look for Ayres to work his way onto the field in the first few games. The Knights are talented in the backfield already, but his style of play and burst at the point of attack will be tough to keep off the field. 

Denzell Evans: Arkansas Razorbacks, RB

While the Arkansas Razorbacks wait patiently to see how the Alex Collins' LOI circus plays out, fans can rest knowing that they landed a stud under-the-radar prospect for the Razorback backfield. 

Denzell Evans is rated as the No. 72 overall running back in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, but he is very underrated. 

Evans will remind Arkansas fans of the pre-injury Knile Davis. He is a tall and lengthy runner that has great agility for his 6’0” frame. He lacks top end speed but has a strong initial burst that helps him hit the second level faster than expected. 

This is a player that could perform early for the Bielema offense. In Arkansas, backs are needed, and he will quietly walk in and help fill the void this fall. 

Ra-Zhan Howard: Purdue Boilermakers, DT

Purdue D-line star Kawann Short has finished his career in West Lafayette, and the Boilermakers are looking for an instant impact body to center their defensive line. 

Ra-Zhan Howard is a player that could fill that void this fall. This guy has an unbelievable motor and, aware of his height, keeps his pad level low. He uses his hands very well at the point of attack and shows a progressive plan when attacking the offensive line. 

The Boilermakers will need stop the run this fall, and Howard will be a part of that game plan immediately. 

Ra-Zhan Howard is the No. 4 prep defensive tackle prospect in the 2013 class.

Jonathan Cook: Alabama Crimson Tide, CB

The Alabama Crimson Tide are loaded with talent heading into the 2013 season, but there are a number of players departing from their secondary, opening opportunities for roster players and incoming freshmen alike. 

Jonathan Cook is one of the player that hopes to step in and make a name for himself this fall. 

Nick Saban has played freshmen before and he never shies away from putting the best talent on the field.

Cook is everything that Saban looks for in a corner. He is lengthy at 6’0” and is a vicious hitter. 

Cook is solid in run support and covers well in both man and zone schemes. His talent will be showcased by Alabama early next fall. He may not be a household name, but his efforts will help this team push for another title. 

The 247Sports Composite Rankings have Cook as the No. 37 cornerback in the country. 

Nickolas Brassell: Ole Miss Rebels, ATH

Nickolas Brassell is a familiar name for Ole Miss fans. He was an explosive freshman for the team in 2011, but was forced off the team due to academics heading into 2012. 

Brassell jumped to a JUCO for a year and has since re-signed with the Rebels. He is ready to be a star in 2013. 

He will be able to serve the team in a number of roles, be it returner, receiver or cornerback. This is a very talented player for the Rebels and is a solid transfer that knows the landscape in the SEC. 

This is a rare situation, but it is one that screams immediate playing time and impact for the Rebels. 

Brassell is the No. 1 JUCO athlete and the No. 5 overall JUCO player on the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

Quantavius Leslie: LSU Tigers, WR

The Tigers are looking for more targets in the passing game to help bring along Zach Mettenberger, and Quantavius Leslie is a player that can help the Tigers expand their passing game. 

Leslie is a rangy prospect—6’4”, 195-pounds—and is a crisp route runner. He is not a tackle buster but has the ability to make arm tacklers miss. 

There are a number of talented prospects already on roster at receiver for LSU, but few have stepped up and become playmakers in the past few seasons. Leslie is game ready and will come in ready to compete for starting time. 

247Sports Composite Rankings place Leslie as the No. 5 JUCO wide receiver in the country. 

Javess Blue: Kentucky Wildcats, WR

The Kentucky Wildcats are hurting for playmakers, but this class is loaded with hidden gems.

One of them is Javess Blue at receiver. 

The Wildcats have some talent at quarterback, but there is virtually no playmaking ability on the outside for the offense. With Blue walking in as a JUCO transfer, he understands the college game and will be able to contribute immediately. 

This is the type of player that Mark Stoops can build an explosive offense around over the next few seasons. 

Blue is rated as the No. 11 JUCO receiver and the No. 49 overall JUCO player in the country. 

Tanner McEvoy: Wisconsin Badgers, QB

The Wisconsin Badgers struggled to put together a respectable quarterback performance last season, which led to the signing of JUCO star Tanner McEvoy. 

McEvoy is a huge dual-threat quarterback prospect, standing at 6’6”, 200 pounds. 

This is not a player that is walking into the Badgers program looking to be developed, he is looking to start. There is going to be a competition this summer at quarterback, and it would be no surprise to see this signal-caller rise as the starter for Wisconsin in 2013. 

McEvoy is the No. 1 JUCO dual-threat quarterback according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

Jahmere Irvin-Sills: Mississippi State Bulldogs, ATH

Jahmere Irvin-Sills is an athletic defensive back prospect that is extremely underrated for his position. He will walk into the Bulldogs program at 5’10”, 172-pounds, with the frame to add a lot of bulk. 

Irvin-Sills is an aggressive corner that loves to hit.

He is a ball hawk that has very fluid hips, making him a very good corner in man coverage. He understands zone schemes and has elite quickness when closing on the ball. He fits the Bulldogs game plan for secondary players well.

Mississippi State lost some key defenders after 2012 and need a player like Irvin-Sills to come in and make waves in the secondary. 

Irvin-Sills is the No. 39 athlete and the No. 600 overall player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

Matt Alviti: Northwestern Wildcats, QB

Matt Alviti is an overlooked quarterback prospect that landed in the Northwestern 2013 signing class.

Alviti is a dangerous dual-threat, ranked as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 222 overall player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

While the Wildcats are set at quarterback for 2013 with Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian sharing time, Alviti could help fill in as the wildcat quarterback for Colter. 

It would be wise to get Alviti some playing time, as he will be the assumed option-read starter for 2014. He also is just too talented to keep on the sideline. 

Expect him to be worked into the fold early and help this program continue its unconventional climb through the Big Ten. 

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