Comparing Every 5-Star Recruit's Skill Set to NFL Players
The 5-star recruits in the 2014 class all have exceptional talent and skill sets. They are the elite prospects who receive the most attention on the recruiting trail, and have drawn the most comparisons to NFL players.
Player comparisons are always interesting to make, as they give people a more familiar picture of a player they may not know much about. However, they key aspect to a comparison is that it is as accurate as possible, as making a poor comparison is a disservice to both players.
Each 5-star recruit deserves an accurate NFL player comparison, and that is what they will receive.
Kc McDermott, OT
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Kc McDermott is a 5-star offensive tackle who can play on the left or right side. He' 6'6", and has a 285-pound frame that should be more than 300 pounds before he arrives at Miami.
McDermott has good quickness out of his stance, plays tough at the point of attack and shows above-average strength. He can slide, mirror and adjust in space to protect quarterbacks, and will bury a rusher to end a play if he can.
McDermott can roll his hips on contact to move a defender off their mark in the running game, and shows he is capable of getting to the second level.
His style of play compares well to San Francisco 49ers left tackle Joe Staley.
KD Cannon, WR
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At 6'0" and 162 pounds, KD Cannon is not the most physically imposing receiver in the country. However, he is a savvy route-runner with excellent speed.
Cannon, who is committed to Baylor, can launch off the line, eat up cushion and sharply cut at junctions to separate from cornerbacks. He has displays a knack for settling in holes to exploit coverages. Cannon has good hands, tracks the ball well and does a great job of adjusting to different types of throws.
With his athleticism, separation quickness and speed, the 5-star Cannon compares to Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown.
Racean Thomas, RB
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Hailing from Alabama, Racean Thomas is a 5-star running back who has a compact frame, but runs with great quickness and speed. At 5'11" and nearly 200 pounds, Thomas shows an excellent burst through holes.
He has adequate vision, instincts and awareness with the ball. Thomas can also jump to the edges, elude defenders in space and has good strength.
However, what separates him from other backs is his ability to catch the football. Thomas can be a great weapon in the passing game, be used as a receiver and commands a defensive back in coverage.
He is a similar player to New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen.
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Clifton Garrett, LB
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Clifton Garrett is one of the most physical prospects in recent memory on the recruiting trail. The Illinois native loves contact, mixes it up with anyone and plays like a giant at the point of attack.
Garrett, a 5-star linebacker, is 6'2" and 228 pounds. He quickly reads plays, explodes to fill holes and takes on blockers with strength and force. Garrett can strike, shed and make a thump on the ball to deliver pain to an offensive player.
He is a solid athlete who has some growing to do on third downs, but has the potential to be a great player in college. NaVorro Bowman is an NFL player Garrett closely resembles.
Gerald Willis, DL
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At 6'3" and 275 pounds, Gerald Willis has spent most of his career at defensive end. However, he will likely kick inside to the 3-technique defensive tackle position in college.
Willis, a New Orleans native, is tough in the trenches. He flashes impressive quickness at the snap, can penetrate gaps and makes plays in the backfield. Willis has solid strength at the point of attack, and can pursue the ball laterally with great short-area quickness.
He stirs up a lot of memories of Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton.
Keller Chryst, QB
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Keller Chryst has perhaps the best mechanics of any quarterback prospect in the country. He has been taught well, as his father, Geep, coaches quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers. Also, Chryst's uncle, Paul, is the head coach at Pitt.
At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Chryst has great size to see over the rush. He is calm and poised in his drops, surveys the field and possesses the arm strength to deliver strikes to targets with velocity. The 5-star passer has an over-the-top delivery, and can pitch with touch and accuracy.
Chryst's arm, accuracy and nimble feet in the pocket are reminiscent of St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.
Jalen Hurd, RB
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At 6'3" and 220 pounds, Jalen Hurd looks like a power-back on the hoof. He's a tall, upright runner with a a frame that has solid thickness.
However, Hurd is a running back whose style is based on speed, quickness and athleticism. The 5-star prospect shows good vision, has the patience to let his blocks develop and has a terrific burst to scoot to the second level.
Hurd also has great hands, can work on the perimeter and also can dance a bit in space. His big-back size, but speed-oriented running style will remind people of Green Bay Packers running back James Starks.
Will Grier, QB
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Will Grier is a 5-star quarterback from North Carolina who is committed to Florida. He has a sleek frame at 6'3" and 180 pounds, but he possesses great growth potential.
Grier works almost exclusively out of shotgun, where he uses solid footwork, field vision and anticipation skills to shred defenses. He exhibits good arm strength, but he doesn't have a cannon. However, Grier is an accurate pitcher who has excellent delivery quickness, can make great reads and fit balls into windows.
The future Gator also displays impressive mobility, as he can attack the edges on sprints, boots and roll-outs. Grier also flashes the ability to be used as a designed runner.
Grier's above-average arm strength, accuracy and good athleticism make him a similar quarterback to Alex Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Damien Mama, OG
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Damien Mama is a 5-star offensive lineman who has played tackle for most of his career. However, the 6'4", 370-pound southern California prospect likely will move to guard in college.
Mama looks massive on the hoof, and plays to his listed size. Yet, the big man also displays deceptive quickness and has light feet in short-areas. Mama is mauler on running plays, as he can burst out of his stance, punch his target with his heavy hands and roll his hips through contact.
He has the strength and power to sustain and finish blocks. Mama also can slide and mirror as a pass-protector, showing the ability to dance in space and he has excellent strength to anchor.
A good comparison for him is San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati.
Laurence Jones, S
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Laurence Jones is a 6'2", 214 pound safety who looks like a linebacker. The 5-star prospect is from Louisiana, and shows natural skills in the secondary.
Jones has great instincts, vision and awareness from the high-end of the defense. He has terrific speed, range and roam around to be a menace in the passing game. Jones can read a quarterback's eyes and shoulders, play with a good feel for routes and has great quickness in transition.
He shows good ball skills to make plays on balls, and Jones will assist in the box versus running plays when he can.
A young and healthy Kenny Phillips is a player Jones compares to, especially during the former's days with the New York Giants.
Joe Mixon, RB
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At 6'2" and 195 pounds, Joe Mixon has a long frame for a running back. He can run a bit upright due to his height, but flashes the ability to lower his pads in traffic.
Mixon, who is from northern California, has excellent straight-line speed. He flashes adequate agility, but is better when he is going north. Mixon displays solid vision, can exploit over-pursuing linebackers and has good quickness. The 5-star recruit also has solid strength, evidenced by his ability to break a tackle or two.
Yet, his best attribute as a player is his ability to catch the football. Mixon has natural receiving skills, can pluck passes with his hands and looks comfortable running routes. His size, running skills and ability to impact the passing game compare favorably to Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.
Speedy Noil, ATH
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Although he played quarterback for most of his high school career, Speedy Noil is going to be an offensive luxury player in college.
His main position will be receiver, but look for the New Orleans native to be also be used as a running back, wildcat quarterback and even as a returner.
At 5'10.5" and 176 pounds, the 5-star recruit has amazing speed, quickness and elusiveness with the ball. He just needs the football in his hands, and he can take care of the rest. Noil has exceptional explosiveness and athleticism, can be lethal in the slot and is dangerous after the catch.
He is projected to be a similar player to Tavon Austin of the St. Louis Rams.
Jamal Adams, S
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Jamal Adams is one of the most complete football players in the 2014 recruiting class. He has a chance to make an impact as a true freshman, and not only contribute, but be a difference-maker.
Adams, a 6'0", 199-pounder from Texas, has awesome speed and instincts. He recognizes plays quickly, explodes to the ball and makes a ton of plays. He can patrol the third level of the field, mirror quarterbacks and sprint out of his backpedal to undercut passing lanes.
Adams also has no issues rolling into the box before the snap, reading his keys and shooting to the ball to make tackles versus running plays.
Adams may be the next Eric Berry, a great safety who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kyle Allen, QB
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A Texas A&M commit, 5-star quarterback Kyle Allen may be the replacement for Johnny Manziel in College Station. Allen may not have as much arm strength as some other quarterbacks in this class, but he gets enough velocity on his balls to make all the throws.
The Arizona native is 6'2.5", and weighs 185 pounds. Allen has solid mechanics, knows how to use his legs and the ground to generate force on his throws and displays tremendous anticipation skills. He is a smart quarterback who makes good pre-snap reads, can adjust to coverages and has a knack for throwing his receivers open.
Allen, who is an accurate passer, also has deceptive mobility and running ability. He's a cross between Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons, and Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Solomon Thomas, DL
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Solomon Thomas is a 5-star defensive end from Texas who could be moved to defensive tackle during his college career. He is 6'3", weighs 256 pounds and has a muscular frame.
Thomas has adequate first-step quickness to attack blockers at the snap. However, he also has the strength to work as a read-and-react player. The Texan can stand up blockers on the edges, use his power to play strong at the point of attack and can shed to make stops.
Thomas also flashes some upside as a rusher, as he is capable of converting speed to power. Do not be surprised if he becomes a great 3-4 defensive end.
A great comparison for him is Tyson Jackson of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dalvin Cook, RB
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Dalvin Cook is one of the fastest players in the country. He's a 5-star running back from Miami who is committed to Florida.
Cook, who is 5'11" and 190 pounds, has solid instincts and vision behind the line of scrimmage. Yet, it's his speed, quickness, explosiveness and elusiveness that make him a special prospect. He has the ability to blow through creases, burst upfield and easily dance around defenders.
Cook is dangerous in space, can turn the corner on defenses due to his speed and is a consistent big-play threat.
With more reps, his vision will improve and make him a similar running back to LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jalen Tabor, CB
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A tall cornerback at 6'1", Jalen Tabor is a 5-star cover man from Washington D.C. with great skills in press-coverage. The 180-pounder has long arms, quick hands and loves to get his mitts on receivers at the line.
Tabor has good short-area quickness to mirror opponents on the perimeter, and can pin receivers into the sideline while running with them downfield. He has the traits of an excellent boundary-cornerback, as Tabor also has no issues coming off the perimeter to support the run.
The big, physical press-corner closely resembles Seattle Seahawks defensive back Brandon Browner.
Ermon Lane, WR
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A Florida commit, 5-star receiver Ermon Lane is one of the top players in the country. He is a quicker-than-fast athlete who has excellent ball skills.
Lane, who is 6'3" and 193 pounds, has good quickness when releasing off the line. He has a sudden first-step, and shows above-average speed when running routes. Lane can cut sharply to separate from cornerbacks, and has a large catch-radius to haul in passes.
His top trait is his ability to catch in crowds, as Lane routinely displays strong hands and impressive concentration.
His size, better quickness than pure speed, athleticism and strong hands will remind people of Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Myles Garrett, DE
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If this was a contest to decide which recruit has the most chiseled body, Myles Garrett would win by a large margin. He's a 6'4", 240-pound 5-star defensive end with great athletic ability.
Garrett is capable of shooting off the line, attacking an offensive tackle with explosiveness and bending around the pocket to get to the quarterback. He's not a one-trick pony, as Garrett also displays great strength.
He can stack blocks to set the edge versus running plays, is tough at the point of attack and has excellent speed to pursue the football. DeMarcus Ware of the Dallas Cowboys is good comparison for Garrett.
Sony Michel, RB
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Georgia is getting a great running back in Sony Michel. The Florida native is a 5-star prospect who has just about every tool a running back needs to be successful.
Michel is 5'11", 205 pounds and has fantastic vision. He's an instinctive runner blessed with tremendous agility, can skate to and through holes and has good speed. Michel can read front-seven alignments, has a good feel for the flow of defenses and shows great elusiveness.
He also has solid strength, runs well behind his pads and flashes impressive receiving skills in the passing game. Michel is on track to develop into a similar player to C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills.
John Smith, ATH
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At 6'1" and 200 pounds, John Smith is a 5-star athlete who plays in southern California. Has explosive athleticism, but also shows deceptive strength.
Smith, who can play receiver on offense and safety on defense, has great speed and agility. He possesses loose hips, is light on his feet and sees the entire field well. He has good hands, accelerates when he thinks he can get his hands on the ball and is dangerous after the catch.
Based on how Smith plays the receiver position, he looks awfully similar to Washington Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon.
Malachi Dupre, WR
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Although he has limited production, Malachi Dupre is a 5-star receiver with huge upside. At nearly 6'3" and 190 pounds, he's a long-limbed athlete who shows great build-up speed.
Dupre can release off the line with adequate burst, has the strength to fight through press-coverage and shows deceptive quickness at junctions. He can lower his pads better to separate, but he flashes the ability to quickly cut to escape from defenders.
Dupre has good hands, and his long arms help expand his catch-radius. After the catch, the big receiver can rumble upfield, and shows he can run with power.
The Louisiana native can be compared to Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Raekwon McMillan, LB
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Raekwon McMillan is a 5-star linebacker who plays a violent style of football. He is a big, tough and rugged defender who has great vision and instincts in the box.
McMillan, a Georgia native, is 6'2" and 242 pounds. He possesses great anticipation skills, reads his keys and reacts quickly versus running plays. The big 'backer has explosive short-area quickness, plays like a giant at the point of attack and can strike blockers, shed and be a thumper when tackling.
McMillan shows good speed to sift through trash, keeps his eyes on the ball and has solid range. He's got some work to do in coverage, but flashes the athleticism to develop into an adequate defender versus passing plays.
Curtis Lofton of the New Orleans Saints is player McMillan compares to.
Damian Prince, OT
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Big left tackles are always in demand, so Damian Prince finds himself coveted on the recruiting trail. At 6'6" and 300 pounds, he has great athleticism, quickness and agility.
Prince, who hails from Maryland, gets the job done by jumping on top of defensive linemen, quickly getting in good position and using his size to shield them from getting around him. He's not the strongest or most physical blocker in the country, but flashes good power.
Prince has the ability to dance with rushers in space, mirrors well and can slide to stop inside moves. He also is capable of reaching linebackers on the second level and hitting moving targets.
The 5-star recruit compares favorably to D'Brickashaw Ferguson of the New York Jets.
Tony Brown, CB
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Just because Tony Brown is the top press-corner in the country does not mean he can't play off-man or zone. He just shows great strength, quick hands and toughness to jam and re-route receivers at the line.
Brown, who is 6'0" and 188 pounds, also is blessed with terrific speed. He plays like a blur, has loose hips to sit off his man and react in space with excellent plant-and-drive quickness. The Texan has great range, instincts and awareness in zone coverage, and can also plays free safety, strong safety and nickel corner.
Brown is a tremendously gifted athletic who supports the run like an outside linebacker. He also could become an excellent returner on special teams.
The 5-star cornerback compares to Arizona Cardinals cover man Patrick Peterson.
Andrew Brown, DT
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An explosive defensive tackle, Andrew Brown is one of the best defensive players Virginia has landed in school history. He is 6'4", and likely weighs more than his listed weight of 282 pounds.
Brown can burst off the ball at the snap, play big at the point of attack and use his mitts to shed blockers to make plays. He has good athleticism and short-area quickness in pursuit, and also displays a great surge to finish plays.
The 5-star defensive tackle can shoot through gaps, or play stout and make a mess in the middle. He's a warrior in the trenches who has the ability to dominate at the line of scrimmage.
Brown's explosiveness and strength at the defensive tackle position are reminiscent of Ndamukong Suh of the Detroit Lions.
Adoree' Jackson, CB/ATH
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Originally from Illinois, Adoree' Jackson is a 5-star prospect who plays in Southern California. He's probably the most gifted athlete on this list, and could be an Olympic long jumper in a few years.
Jackson stands nearly 5'10", and weighs 182 pounds. However, he plays like he's 6'2" at the cornerback position. With his impressive competitiveness and wiry strength, Jackson fights bigger receivers through the whistle.
He has loose hips, quick feet and fantastic speed to carry his man all over the field. Jackson does need to improve his technique and fundamentals, but he's a naturally instinctive player with a high ceiling. He's so dangerous with the ball that he could warrant a look as a receiver.
His size, hips, short-area quickness and exceptional athletic ability make him a similar cornerback to Janoris Jenkins of the St. Louis Rams.
Quin Blanding, S
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He may not be the fastest defensive back in the country, but 5-star recruit Quin Blanding grades out well in all areas at the safety position. The Virginia commit is 6'2", 200 pounds and possesses outstanding instincts.
Blanding is a focused player who has a quick backpedal, recognizes plays quickly and is a pain for quarterbacks to look off on deep passing plays. He shows good athleticism, can close quickly due to great driving quickness out of transition and has good range.
Blanding communicates on the third level, can set and re-set coverages before the snap and fills the alleys versus running plays. He's a taller version of Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas.
Lorenzo Carter, DE
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Lorenzo Carter is a 6'5", 232-pound defensive end from Georgia. He makes rare plays due to possessing incredible athleticism on the edges.
The 5-star defensive end can surge upfield at the snap, use his long arms to keep blockers away from his body and use his impressive explosiveness to get to the ball. Carter looks like a spider coming at you when rushing, as his length and quickness are among the best in the country.
However, Carter also flashes some strength to anchor and set the edge versus running plays. He can shed, get clean and chase with fantastic speed in pursuit. This is a player who can also play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.
Carter's tall frame, solid strength and great athletic ability closely resembles New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.
Marlon Humphrey, CB
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Marlon Humphrey is a 5-star cornerback from Alabama who has wonderful instincts and awareness. He is tall for a cornerback at 6'1", but the 175-pounder has the ability to sink his hips and stay square in his backpedal.
Humphrey loves to play off-man and zone coverage, as he has great route-recognition skills. He doesn't panic when trailing a receiver, has smooth speed and great short-area quickness. He flashes some press-man ability due to his long arms, yet his intelligence and savvy work better with cushion.
Humphrey looks a lot like Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkparick on the field.
Da'Shawn Hand, DE
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Hailing from Virginia, 5-star Da'Shawn Hand is one of the most college-ready players in the country. He's a versatile player who can play defensive end, defensive tackle and also outside linebacker/rush-end in a 3-4 scheme.
Hand, who is 6'4" and 254 pounds, has good first-step quickness to immediately surge upfield. He isn't as explosive as a few other defensive ends in this class, but Hand isn't far behind. With his athleticism and ability to use his hands, Hand gets great pressure on the quarterback.
He's tough at the point of attack, as he can quickly read running plays and hold his ground. Hand has a chance to become a complete player early in his college career.
A good comparison for him is Brian Orakpo of the Washington Redskins.
Jabrill Peppers, CB/ATH
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The comparison for 5-star defensive back/athlete Jabrill Peppers is not because of the Michigan connection, but more because the New Jersey has a lot of similarities to a young Charles Woodson.
When Woodson played for the Green Bay Packers (he's now back with the Raiders), he played several positions on defense. He lined up at cornerback, free safety, strong safety, outside linebacker and also covered receivers in the slot.
At 6'1" and 205 pounds, Peppers is capable of playing that type of role for Big Blue's defense in 2014. He has fantastic athleticism, good speed and shows solid strength. However, his instincts are what separate him from other cornerbacks, as Peppers has a natural feel for the game.
Just like Woodson.
Leonard Fournette, RB
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Leonard Fournette is a 6'1" running back who weighs almost 230 pounds. He is from Louisiana, and is a 5-star recruit who may be the best prospect at his position in the last 5-10 years.
Fournette has outstanding vision and instincts. He makes good decisions, and exhibits a great burst to and through holes. He's a big, strong and powerful runner who can challenge defenders at the point of attack, push piles with power and break tackles.
Fournette has good agility, flashes some quickness with his feet and has the speed to sprint through the second and third levels of a defense for big gains. He's also capable of catching passes like a receiver, as he can be a weapon on third downs.
Fournette looks like a young Steven Jackson, who now plays for the Atlanta Falcons.
Cameron Robinson, LT
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An Alabama commit, Cameron Robinson is a 5-star offensive lineman who has the potential to be a franchise left tackle. He stands 6'5", weighs 330 pounds and has great athletic ability for a player of his size.
Robinson, who is from Louisiana, can launch back out of his stance to quickly set up to protect quarterbacks. He flashes solid technique, can mirror rushers in space and has the quickness to slide inside to stop interior moves.
Robinson has solid strength, can perform several blocks on running plays and can reach up to linebackers.
The dancing bear has bends naturally at the knees, and compares favorably to Trent Williams of the Washington Redskins.
2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map
35 of 35Don't forget to use the 2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map to locate and track the top recruits in the country!
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