2014 Recruits Who Must Bulk Up Before Their Freshman Season Starts

Now that the 2014 recruiting cycle is in the books, the real work begins for coaches and recruits. Each player in every recruiting class has spoken to their position coach and received instructions and expectations for their arrival on campus.

While some recruits are already enrolled in college, others will be charged with doing things on their own. Among the tasks for many prospects is to hit the weight room hard, as they must get stronger and bulk up to be prepared for the start of their freshman season.

A few receivers need to get stronger to escape jams at the line of scrimmage, while an offensive tackle needs to add some weight. Also, a trio of defensive ends are on this list.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals and 247Sports.

Traevohn Wrench, RB

Credit: 247Sports

School: Kansas

A talented 4-star running back, Traevohn Wrench has good speed, quickness and strength. He's talented enough to make an impact at Kansas this fall, but he's going to need to add strength and mass to his 6'0", 180-pound frame.

Bulking up in the weight room will help Wrench break more tackles, as well as give him the ability to carry defenders for extra yards after contact.

Lorenzo Featherston, DE

Credit: 247Sports

School: Florida State

It would be a surprise if 4-star defensive end Lorenzo Featherston saw the field for Florida State this season, but he still needs to bulk up.

Most players who redshirt spend their time on the scout team, and at 6'7" and 220 pounds, Featherston lacks the girth and strength to give the Seminoles' offensive line a solid look in practice. The North Carolina native needs to live in the weight room all spring and summer.

Dalton Schultz, TE

Credit: 247Sports

School: Stanford

As far as strength goes, 4-star tight end Dalton Schultz is fine in that department. He's a dominating run-blocker as an in-line tight end who has the power and toughness to handle defensive ends and linebackers.

The only issue is that the 6'5" Schultz only weighs 215 pounds. There are receivers in college who are bigger than him right now, so bulking up and adding 15 pounds or so before he gets to The Farm is a good idea.

Damian Prince, OT

Credit: 247Sports

School: Maryland

At 6'5" and 295 pounds, 5-star offensive tackle Damian Prince is actually undersized a bit by college standards. In this day and age of the 300-pound offensive lineman, Prince needs to bulk up.

Part of his motivation to bulk up for Maryland is that he has a chance to play as a true freshman for the Terrapins. Plus, with Maryland moving into the Big Ten, its blockers will need to be stronger and more physical.

Drake Harris, WR

Credit: 247Sports

School: Michigan

To escape press coverage, receivers have to either be extremely quick and agile to wiggle around it, or strong enough to power through it. Well, 4-star receiver Drake Harris has good speed, but he isn't overly explosive.

So it would be wise for the 6'4", 180-pounder to bulk up before his freshman season at Michigan. Harris is viewed as the Wolverines' future No. 1 receiver, but he won't be able to become that if he's constantly being stymied at the line. 

Christian Miller, OLB/DE

Credit: 247Sports

School: Alabama

Although he is 6'4" and 222 pounds, Christian Miller has a frame that needs more physical development. Miller has solid strength, but the 4-star pass-rusher still needs to bulk up and add more mass to his body.

Bulking up and getting stronger would help Miller set the edge with more power and force at the point of attack. He's a future star who just needs to get bigger.

Bryce Dixon, TE

Credit: 247Sports

School: USC

Bryce Dixon is a 4-star tight end who plays more like a big receiver. He has a chance to catch a couple of passes for USC this fall, but he could be a liability as a blocker.

Dixon, who is 6'4" and 220 pounds, lacks the mass and strength to hold his own versus college defenders at the point of attack. He likely needs to add 10-15 pounds before this fall, with another 10-15 after that being necessary as his career in Troy moves forward. 

KD Cannon, WR

Credit: 247Sports

School: Baylor

While he has excellent speed and quickness, 5-star receiver KD Cannon simply cannot show up at Baylor weighing 162 pounds.

The 6'0" Texas native likely will gain several pounds with natural physical growth, but he needs to invest some serious time in the weight room. Gaining strength will only help Cannon become a better player, and it should also help his balance when running after the catch. 

Lorenzo Carter, DE

Credit: 247Sports

School: Georgia

A 5-star defensive end, Lorenzo Carter is an athletic marvel who is 6'5" and 232 pounds. He has a long and lean frame that needs more strength and mass.

Carter could potentially add 30-40 more pounds to his frame in Athens while becoming stronger at the point of attack. He should become best friends with the Bulldogs' strength and conditioning coaches.  

Georgia head coach Mark Richt told Gentry Estes of Dawgs247 about Carter in February 2013.

 "Really, he's not nearly as thick as Jordan Jenkins," Richt said. 

Marlon Humphrey, CB

Credit: 247Sports

School: Alabama

While 5-star cornerback Marlon Humphrey is effective in zone and off-man coverage, his 6'1", 175-pound frame needs to get stronger. The reason is because Humphrey struggles some in press-man coverage due to him not having a strong jam to reroute receivers at the line.

With his long arms and athleticism, Humphrey has the potential to develop into a disruptive press-corner at Alabama. 

Bulking up will help turn that potential into reality. 

2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map

Don't forget to keep using the 2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map to locate the best recruits in the 2014 class!

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 and Cleveland Browns.