2015 Recruits Who Could Star in Next Year's College Football Playoff

Ohio State was crowned College Football Playoff champion a couple of weeks ago. As the No. 4 seed, it knocked out No. 1 Alabama and then toppled No. 2 Oregon, giving justification of why a tournament was needed for FBS play.

Oregon took down the then-defending champion Florida State in the semifinal round. And while all this went on, a TCU team that went from No. 3 to No. 6 in the final CFP rankings—even with a 55-3 season-finale win over Iowa State supporting its claim to be in the top four—watched helplessly, as it was the team on the outside looking in.

TCU took out its frustration on Ole Miss the day before the start of the tournament.

The playoff had its positives and negatives, but you can't say it didn't provide weekly drama. You also can't say it didn't give fans the players they wanted to see.

From the yearly household names like Jameis Winston, Amari Cooper and Marcus Mariota to the late risers like Cardale Jones and Ezekiel Elliott, the tournament did its job in providing entertainment to the masses.

Next year's playoff bracket will have a new batch of talented players, and some of the major contributors could come from the Class of 2015. Here are five players who could go from "freshman" to "leader" and help their team make the College Football Playoff.

5-Star WR Calvin Ridley

Player: WR Calvin Ridley

Hometown: Pompano Beach, Florida (Monarch)

National position rank: No. 1

Status: Committed to Alabama

Alabama, as long as Nick Saban is coaching, will always be considered a team to watch for the playoffs. With Amari Cooper declaring for the NFL draft, the Crimson Tide will have a spot open for a playmaking receiver.

Calvin Ridley fits the bill.

He is an athletic pass-catching option who is a lot faster than he appears. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and makes some of the toughest catches look easy.

Take the above video, for example. That one-handed grab at The Opening is one of the many things he can do on a regular basis.

At 6'1" and 169 pounds, Ridley is a streamlined receiver who has the ability to shift gears almost effortlessly. Barring injury or any unexpected setbacks, Ridley will be a problem for SEC defenders.

4-Star DE Jashon Cornell

Player: DE Jashon Cornell

Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota (Cretin Derham Hall)

National position rank: No. 7

Status: Early enrollee at Ohio State

Looking at the defending champs on defense, there aren't a lot of holes. The majority of the unit consisted of young players who played like grown men when the lights shined brightest.

Jashon Cornell can be that same type of player, and with Steve Miller finishing his college career, there is opportunity for the 6'4', 260-pound early enrollee to earn immediate playing time.

Cornell plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has tons of quickness for a guy his size, and his lateral movement will frustrate opposing offenses. Additionally, he's a player who is only going to get faster and strong—a scary sight for an offensive lineman.

Urban Meyer will be looking for a playmaker at that vacant defensive end spot. Cornell could be the answer for the next three or four years.

5-Star DE Byron Cowart

Player: DE Byron Cowart

Hometown: Seffner, Florida (Armwood)

National position rank: No. 1

Status: Uncommitted

Auburn and Florida are the teams to watch for the nation's top-ranked 2015 defensive end. If Florida lands Byron Cowart, the future of the Gators defense will be set. If Auburn lands him, he could be a part of a team playing in the big tournament next season.

Cowart's tenacity, power and overall versatility make him a scary matchup for offensive linemen. Regardless where he ends up, he has the talent to see an extensive amount of playing time as a freshman.

His contributions at Auburn—if he chooses the Tigers over the Gators—could be exactly what new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp wants. Auburn is expected to be physical on defense, and Cowart is good enough to eventually raise that bar.

The big question: Will he leave his home state or play roughly two hours north of Interstate 75?

4-Star CB Deshawn Raymond

Player: CB Deshawn Raymond

Hometown: Metairie, Louisiana (East Jefferson)

National position rank: No. 27

Status: Early enrollee at TCU

With Kevin White preparing for a shot in the NFL, TCU is looking for a cornerback who can get the job done early and often. What makes Deshawn Raymond an option is his hunger to get better. He knows he's a sleeper, and that fuels him.

At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Raymond is a big defensive back who, if necessary, also can line up at safety. He is one of those defenders who plays instinctively, and he often makes the right decision.

TCU likes playing boundary corners (short side of the field) and field corners (wide side of the field). Because of his athleticism and physical nature, Raymond can be effective at either spot. He also likes to tackle, which makes him a candidate for playing safety if there is a need.

Don't be surprised if TCU plays the 2015 season on a mission. In fact, look for the defense to be in a similar zone as the one Ole Miss saw in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. And look for Raymond to be just as motivated to help the defense secure victories.

4-Star DB Deionte Thompson

Player: S Deionte Thompson

Hometown: Orange, Texas (West Orange-Stark)

National position rank: No. 2

Status: Early enrollee at Alabama

The one thing Alabama does better than most schools is reload. Landon Collins and Nick Perry both have aspirations of being high selections in the upcoming NFL draft, which means the starting safety position is wide open.

Deionte Thompson has been committed to Alabama since February 2013. He is an early enrollee ready to learn as much about Nick Saban's defense as possible in an effort to be the quality safety Collins and Perry were for the Crimson Tide.

At 6'2" and 181 pounds, Thompson plays with awareness and likes to defend the pass. He should be able to break up a few passes with his wiry frame, and because of his background seeing time at receiver in high school, he could be a threat to record a handful of interceptions.

What's best about Thompson is his upside. As good as he is, he will get better, and that could equate into major responsibility for an Alabama team in search of a leader at safety.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst with Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon on Twitter: @DamonSayles.