Early Predictions for Top 25 Uncommitted Recruits in Class of 2015
While many 2015 recruits are still researching schools and formulating relationships with coaches, it's not too early to make some predictions.
Several elite prospects have already committed, with other high-end recruits being candidates to pull the trigger at anytime.
UCLA has a great chance beat out a few of its Pac-12 rivals for a 5-star quarterback, while Texas A&M looks good for a 5-star cornerback. Plus, Florida looks poised to land another elite offensive tackle.
25. Josh Sweat, DE
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Josh Sweat is a 5-star defensive end from Virginia who is 6'5" and 230 pounds. He belongs on the weak side, as he is an athletic defender who lacks great strength to battle blockers snap after snap.
However, Sweat has solid quickness to get upfield, plus he has great range. Playing outside linebacker is not out of the question, as he flashes some ability to drop into the flats in zone coverage.
Florida State and Georgia are in the hunt, per 247Sports, but Sweat will stay home and sign with Virginia Tech.
24. Jarrett Stidham, QB
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At 6'3.5" and 190 pounds, Jarrett Stidham is a 5-star quarterback with above-average size to see over the rush from the pocket. However, he's not the most polished and mechanically sound passer in the country.
What Stidham does have is great arm strength and athleticism. He flashes explosiveness in his drops, plus he can jolt upfield after wiggling around rushers. If a quarterbacks coach can harness the Texan's skills, Stidham could be a gem in a few years.
Texas Tech, Oregon, Baylor and Alabama are among several schools he likes, says 247Sports. Look for Stidham to be a Red Raider.
23. Jashon Cornell, DE
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A 5-star defensive end, Jashon Cornell has a chance to play right away as a true freshman in college. The 6'4", 260-pounder has good athleticism and quickness, plus he's no slouch at the point of attack.
Cornell has solid awareness on the edge, plus he has the ability to rush over guards as a defensive tackle on third downs. From Minnesota, Cornell has schools such as Florida, Michigan and Michigan State in the mix, according to 247Sports.
However, keep a close eye on Notre Dame.
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22. Jeffery Holland, OLB
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While it's still early in terms of evaluating many 2015 prospects, 5-star prospect Jeffery Holland may have the best vision of any linebacker in the nation.
At 6'2" and 230 pounds, the Jacksonville native has great instincts and the ability to not get fooled by misdirection. Once Holland sees where the play is going, he uses his tremendous speed to drive and close hard on the ball.
He'll ultimately end up at Florida when it's all said and done.
21. Byron Cowart, DE
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Byron Cowart is a 5-star defensive end from Florida who could be on track to grow into a defensive tackle. At 6'4" and 250 pounds, Cowart has great strength and solid hand quickness.
He can press blocks off of him at the point of attack before shedding to free himself up. Cowart will rush the passer with adequate quickness, but his value comes in the run-defending department.
His core schools are Auburn, Oregon and Florida, according to 247Sports, with the Gators being the prediction.
20. Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB
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From New Jersey, Minkah Fitzpatrick is a 5-star cornerback who doesn't show much tightness in his hips when turning and running with receivers. His speed appears to be average for his position, but he makes up for it with great instincts.
Fitzpatrick, who is 6'0" and 185 pounds, also has good ball skills and range. He seems wide open at the moment, as Alabama, Florida State, Miami and Michigan are among his top schools, per 247Sports.
It's anybody's guess right now with him, but Alabama landing him wouldn't be a surprise.
19. Damarkus Lodge, WR
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A 5-star receiver from Texas, Damarkus Lodge has solid speed and athleticism on the perimeter. He possesses great ball skills and looks to be a "natural plucker" of the football.
Lodge flashes subtle explosiveness at times, plus he has solid run-after-catch ability. Baylor and Texas A&M are his top suitors right now, says 247Sports.
Lodge will be a Bear.
18. Justin Hilliard, LB
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Much will be made about 5-star linebacker Justin Hilliard and his ability to play the run. However, don't sleep on him in coverage.
The 6'2", 225-pound Ohio native is a solid athlete who looks comfortable buzzing and dropping in space. Hilliard has good toughness at the point of attack, plus he uses his solid speed to expand his range.
Look for him to sign with Ohio State or Michigan.
17. Jalin Barnett, OG
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A massive offensive lineman at 6'4" and 315 pounds, 5-star blocker Jalin Barnett can play tackle or guard. Yet, he fits best in the interior, as that is where his great strength is most effective.
Barnett, who is from Oklahoma, has adequate quickness at the snap to roll into defensive linemen. He can move his feet some to slide and mirror in pass protection, plus he plays to his size at the point of attack.
If Barnett doesn't stay in state and sign with Oklahoma, then it'll likely be Alabama.
16. Terry Beckner Jr., DE
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At 6'4" and 268 pounds, Terry Beckner Jr. is a big defensive end who has tremendous athleticism. He's raw, but the 5-star Illinois native has the speed and strength to take over games.
Beckner can get out of his stance in a hurry to attack the pocket before using solid closing quickness to finish plays. He needs to use his hands better as a run defender, but there are glimpses of natural strength shown by him.
Schools such as LSU, USC, Missouri and Ohio State are in on him, according to 247Sports. A great trip to Los Angeles at some point could help the Trojans, but the Buckeyes will win him over.
15. John Houston, LB
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Although he weighs only 205 pounds, 5-star linebacker John Houston can play with anybody in the country. He plays in Los Angeles, where he is a feared defender.
Houston, who is 6'3", has excellent instincts, vision and short-area quickness to attack the line of scrimmage versus running plays. He can give chase to running backs sideline-to-sideline, plus he has the athleticism to cover running backs and tight ends well on passing plays.
It would be fairly surprising if he didn't ultimately end up at USC.
14. Damien Harris, RB
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A talented 5-star running back, Damien Harris is the best player in Kentucky for 2015. At 5'11" and 205 pounds, he displays good quickness to get to the edges of the box, but Harris also has good power.
He was committed to Michigan, but he backed off his pledge to Big Blue earlier this year. However, the Wolverines still look good, with Ohio State also in the mix, per 247Sports.
Harris will re-commit to Michigan soon enough.
13. Rasheem Green, DT
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At 6'5" and 275 pounds, Rasheem Green is a 5-star defensive tackle with good athleticism in the trenches. Green has easy movement skills in short areas, including when surging to finish on running backs.
He displays solid awareness and strength, but he'll get more powerful when he starts to play with better leverage. The Los Angeles native likes Florida, USC, Washington and UCLA the most right now, according to 247Sports.
With Green's Serra High School being a Trojan pipeline, he'll follow suit and end up in Troy.
12. Tim Settle, DT
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With his power and quickness, 5-star defensive tackle Tim Settle can be simply dominant at times. He's nearly 6'4" and 305 pounds, plus he flashes good athleticism and movement skills for a player his size.
Settle, who is from Virginia, has a chance to be college-ready before he gets to campus. He can play on the nose or work as a gap-penetrator.
Alabama, Virginia and Ohio State are in the mix, per 247Sports. The Buckeyes will convince him to head to Columbus.
11. Shy Tuttle, DT
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Shy Tuttle is a 5-star defensive tackle who can fit in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. He shows enough quickness at the snap to shoot inside gaps, but he has the strength to two-gap in the trenches.
The North Carolina native is 6'2" and 314 pounds, and he shows solid hustle and agility in pursuit. North Carolina will do all it can to keep him home.
10. Malik Jefferson, OLB
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If 5-star linebacker Malik Jefferson gets in a college scheme with a few big defensive linemen to protect him from oncoming offensive linemen, he has a chance to set some tackles records.
At 6'3" and 215 pounds, the Texas native has outstanding speed, quickness and range on the defensive flanks. He's a classic "chase guy," as he is at his best when sifting and weaving around blockers across the box to running backs.
Jefferson has deceptive strength, plus he can hold his own in coverage. Texas A&M will sign him.
9. Torrance Gibson, QB
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A 5-star left-handed dual-threat quarterback, Torrance Gibson can also play receiver for a team. He's a 6'4", 200-pound Florida native who just makes plays.
Gibson has good athleticism and speed with the ball, plus he has above-average arm strength. He can pitch with accuracy, as well as make good throws on the run.
His top schools are Ohio State and Miami, says 247Sports. The chance to play in an offense that suits his strengths well will lead him to Columbus.
8. Daron Payne, DT
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A 6'2", 316-pound defensive tackle with great ball-location skills, 5-star prospect Daron Payne can get the job done in the trenches.
The Alabama native has excellent strength and power, which allows him to anchor and make messes in the middle with ease. He can also get under the pads of offensive linemen and walk them deep into the pocket.
Payne is Alabama's to lose.
7. George Campbell, WR/ATH
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George Campbell is a 5-star athlete from Florida whose main position is receiver. He has great speed and explosiveness in his 6'3", 184-pound frame.
Campbell needs to improve on some nuances of the position, but his athleticism and ability to make plays with the ball in his hands cannot be taught.
The former Michigan commit has the Wolverines in a group that also features Clemson, Florida and Florida State, says 247Sports. This is a tough one to call, but the Gators are the pick.
6. Iman Marshall, CB
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At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Iman Marshall is one of the better cornerback prospects in recent history. He not only has fantastic size, but the California native is also an instinctive defender with great athleticism.
Marshall has a smooth backpedal on the perimeter, and he doesn't waste steps when coming out of transition. He has the length and ball skills to make plays, plus he should ultimately improve his ability to support the run.
Marshall will have a ton of suitors, but he'll sign with USC when it's all said and done.
5. Kendall Sheffield, CB
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Armed with quick feet and explosive transition quickness, 5-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield is a stud. He's not going to impress many people with his physicality, but the Texan has solid toughness and strength.
Sheffield, who is 5'11" and 180 pounds, can anticipate and mirror in off-man coverage due to his loose hips. He also has the speed to carry and run deep with receivers on the perimeter.
Texas A&M will bring him to College Station.
4. CeCe Jefferson, DE
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CeCe Jefferson is a 5-star recruit who is a similar player to Auburn defensive end Carl Lawson. Both players are not very tall at 6'2", and they weigh around 250 pounds.
However, like Lawson, Jefferson is an explosive player off the edge who also has good strength. He has slightly better ball-location ability than Lawson did at this stage, plus he has a good motor.
Jefferson could wind up anywhere, so this prediction will change several times. Yet, Florida is the pick—for now.
3. Martez Ivey, OT
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Martez Ivey is a 6'6", 280-pound offensive lineman who fits best at tackle. He rarely allows defensive lineman to jump on top of him at the snap, plus he has the athleticism to slide and mirror as a pass-protecter.
Iver, who is from Florida, has to improve his strength and ability to stay under control in space. However, he has big upside, which will be fulfilled at Florida.
2. Josh Rosen, QB
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A 5-star quarterback with great physical tools, Josh Rosen is going to be a hot commodity on the recruiting trail.
The California native is 6'4" and 205 pounds and has excellent arm strength. Rosen also can deliver accurate strikes with touch to all levels of the field, plus he's not exactly a bad athlete. UCLA will land him soon enough.
"The St. John Bosco standout said his trip over to Westwood went great, he has a strong relationship with coach Jim Mora and UCLA is looking good at this point," Adam Gorney of Rivals.com (subscription required) wrote about Rosen on Feb. 14.
1. Trent Thompson, DT
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From Georgia, Trent Thompson is a 5-star defensive tackle who is a future menace to college offensive linemen. The 6'4", 292-pounder has great strength and power, but he also can use quickness to get around blocks.
Thompson has solid ball-location skills, and he can chase running backs in pursuit. He'll push the pocket as a pass-rusher before using a good short-area burst to close on the quarterback.
Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, Auburn and Alabama are in the mix, per 247Sports. Thompson could land anywhere, but he'll stay home and sign with UGA.
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