2016 Prospects Who Are Already Better Than 2015 Prospects

While the 2015 class has six months left until national signing day, coaches across the country are already turning their attention to 2016 prospects.

The 2016 class has a few headliners who have already grabbed the attention of fans, analysts and colleges alike.

There are even a few positions where players have emerged as comparable talents to their counterparts in the 2015 class.

Which players in the 2016 class can potentially make that claim?

*Players listed in alphabetical order

Nate Craig

Similar to 2015 top receiver prospect Calvin Ridley, rising junior Nate Craig has made his name by turning in dominant performances on the summer camp circuit.

However, at 6’2”, 205 pounds, Craig has similar attributes that compare favorably to current Auburn star receiver Sammie Coates, as noted by Keith Niebuhr of AuburnUndercover (subscription required).

After making an early commitment to Gus Malzahn, Craig will get the chance to follow in Coates’ footsteps.

What makes Craig special is that he has the size to play physical and the speed and agility to make defenders miss when he touches the ball. On the prep level, the Tampa, Florida, native is simply a man among boys. 

Tavien Feaster

There’s not much Tavien Feaster didn’t do for Spartanburg (S.C.) High School last season as a sophomore.

According to MaxPreps, the 6’0”, 192-pounder rushed for 1,429 yards and 15 touchdowns while also snaring 44 passes for 723 yards and another 12 scores as a receiver. 

As noted by BamaOnline’s Charles Power, Feaster is also a track standout, having won state titles in the 100-meter dash (10.59 seconds) and 200-meter dash (21.29 seconds). 

Feaster’s ability to be a gamebreaker at running back and as a receiver is part of what separates him from other top backs who are currently on the prep level.

Rashan Gary

Rashan Gary was one of the few juniors invited to The Opening over the summer, and he didn’t take long in grabbing the attention of his elder peers at the nation’s premier showcase for top prep talent.

Mitch Hyatt is a 5-star offensive tackle in the 2015 class who was among the players tasked to go against the 6’4”, 290-pound Gary in linemen drills.

"He's way above his level when compared to other players at that age," Hyatt told B/R’s Tyler Donohue. "He's going to be fun to watch in the future because he has everything a defensive lineman needs to be dominant at the next level." 

Endorsements such as Hyatt’s are just a small part of the reason why he’s been rated as the nation’s top defensive tackle in the 2016 class, and why he already holds more than 20 offers from powers such as Alabama, Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan, among others.

Malik Henry

Despite UCLA holding a commitment from 2015’s top-rated quarterback, Josh Rosen, the nation’s top passer in 2016 and fellow California native Malik Henry has the Bruins as one of his four finalists.

"I think Josh is a great quarterback, but I'm never going to shy away from competition," Henry told Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation earlier this summer. "If you don't compete I don't think you should play football. Josh is a great quarterback for UCLA. But coach Mazzone is recruiting me really hard right now and we have a great relationship." 

Similar to reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, Henry also doubles as a standout on the diamond and hopes to play both sports in college.

If he’s anything like Winston on the gridiron, college football needs to get ready for Henry to take the nation by storm sooner than later.

Gregory Little

Allen High School in the metro Dallas area is no stranger to producing big-time prospects, with 5-star dual-threat quarterback and Texas A&M commitment Kyler Murray representing AHS in the 2015 class.

However, the player who protects Murray’s blind side—junior offensive tackle Gregory Little—has been tabbed as a 5-star prospect and the nation’s top overall player in the 2016 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Little—who is also committed to Texas A&M—is comparable to top 2015 tackle prospect Martez Ivey, except he’s 12 pounds heavier. 

As Jeff Tarpley of 247Sports details (subscription required), Little has many of the same characteristics of past and present Aggie greats at left tackle, such as Luke Joeckel, Jake Matthews and Cedric Ogbuehi.

Kareem Walker

Leonard Fournette took the country by storm in 2014, but the 2015 running back class lacked the same type of franchise-caliber rusher.

Kareem Walker may not reach Fournette’s status on the hype scale, but the 5-star New Jersey product already claims more than 20 offers from schools such as Alabama, Florida State, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State, among others.

The 6’1”, 210-pounder rushed for 1,164 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging more than 10 yards per carry as a sophomore last season. 

It’s that type of explosiveness that makes Walker perhaps the most coveted prep running back in the country, regardless of class.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani