ESPN300: Analyzing How Top Committed Recruits Fit with Their Teams
A significant number of ESPN300 high school football recruits have made firm commitments to their respective colleges of choice.
While the top three prospects are still weighing their options, the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-ranked players in the class of 2015 have decided. Defensive tackle Trenton Thompson chose Georgia, while dynamic defensive end Josh Sweat will take his talents to Tallahassee and play for Florida State.
LSU appears to have added to a long line of exceptional defensive backs by landing Kevin Toliver II.
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Below is a closer look at how the incoming freshman phenoms figure to fit in with their teams and how feasible it is to expect an immediate impact from each 5-star stud.
Trenton Thompson, DT, Georgia
The pride of Westover Comprehensive High School in Albany, Georgia, is an in-state product who will make his new home in Athens as an athletic force of nature in the trenches.
A unique Bulldogs defense relies on a lot of athleticism and versatility on its front seven, but many of its biggest men from the 2014 campaign are departing. Defensive tackles Mike Thornton and Toby Johnson are seniors, and the same goes for Ray Drew.
That creates quite an opportunity for Thompson to vie for early playing time. The following footage should offer an idea of what Thompson will bring to Georgia's program:
Rivals' Anthony Dasher documented the mindset Thompson seems to have as he prepares to make the transition to SEC football:
USA Today named Thompson its high school Defensive Player of the Year. Jim Halley reports that Thompson, despite having two or three blockers on him on any given play, racked up 84 tackles this year.
Thompson is the type of player who will likely require double-teams even as a true freshman playing against the best competition the NCAA has to offer.
On his 247Sports profile, he's listed at 6'4", 292 pounds and has perfect 10 ratings in explosiveness and first step attributes. Thompson also has a nine out of 10 rating in motor, strength and point of attack, so he knows how to harness his physical tools into on-field production.
A special player that Bulldogs fans will be pulling for in the years to come, Thompson has the upside to eventually become an NFL player if he stays his current, promising course.
Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State
In discussions about rosters loaded with pro-caliber talent, the SEC probably comes to mind as the most populous. However, the Florida State Seminoles have plenty of those types of standouts, and that can result in a lot of annual turnover.
The most recent national champions lost 59-20 to Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Thursday. With the possibility of losing both Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards Jr. to the 2015 NFL draft, FSU needs someone to fill the void fast.
Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beast Post noted how Sweat's commitment bolstered the perception of the Seminoles' incoming class:
A 6'5", 240-pound freak of nature is one way to describe how gifted the Oscar Frommel Smith High School (Chesapeake, Virginia) star is. ESPN Insider's scouting report (subscription required) lists Sweat's 40-yard dash at 4.46 seconds.
Talk about blazing speed off the edge. Sweat has a ridiculous ceiling as a college pass-rusher, and had a whopping 22 sacks as a junior, per 247Sports.
Unfortunately, a dislocated kneecap and torn ACL that Sweat underwent surgery for in October could cost him his true freshman campaign. There is a chance he recovers in time to contribute, though.
The Seminoles could also lose cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby to the pros, intensifying the need for a viable defensive front to make up for what should be an inexperienced secondary in 2015.
As long as Sweat can add a little bit more bulk to defend the run, he should develop into a tremendous player.
Should Florida State retain the likes of Edwards or others, it will only ease Sweat's transition and decrease the pressure to play him. It's key to ensure Sweat is healthy enough before he embarks on a quest to be a difference-maker in Tallahassee.
Kevin Toliver II, CB, LSU
First-round NFL draft picks such as Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne and Eric Reid have recently occupied LSU's defensive backfield. Jalen Collins may be the latest in light of his declaring for the 2015 draft on Thursday, per his announcement on Instagram.
Quite a rich lineage for Toliver to live up to, but he has the skills to be up for the task.
Rivals recruiting expert Mike Farrell believes in Toliver after witnessing him in action recently:
The biggest advantage Toliver has is his tremendous length. The Trinity Christian Academy star in Jacksonville, Florida, sports a wiry 6'2" frame and can play both zone and man coverage.
If he packs on enough muscle, there's a chance Toliver could ultimately be deployed as a safety in Baton Rouge. For a team that is often loaded with blue-chippers, it all depends on how the Tigers draw up their schemes moving forward.
This quote from Ross Dellenger of The Advocate summarizes one notable, recent development at LSU:
In quite a surprising move, longtime LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis bolted town to try to turn around the Texas A&M Aggies' struggling unit.
That suddenly leaves the Tigers on the hunt for a successor who will be hard-pressed to live up to Chavis' strong record.
How that impacts Toliver remains to be seen. From a pure personnel standpoint, Collins' departure leaves an opening that Toliver can exploit. Talented CB Rashard Robinson is indefinitely suspended, while Tre'Davious White doesn't have the same height Toliver does to match up well with bigger receivers.
That Toliver is enrolling early despite Chavis leaving shows he's truly dedicated to playing for the Tigers. That has to make coach Les Miles feel better about perhaps his most prized player in the 2015 class.
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