10 JUCO Transfers Who Will Be Instant Starters in 2015

JUCO recruits are older than high school seniors—sometimes by two or three years—and often have the physical maturity to contribute in their first year at a program.

This year's class of JUCO prospects features 20 4-star recruits, each of whom is expected to play and play well next season. The same can be said for many of the 3-star JUCO transfers below them.

The list that follows measured talent against opportunity. No matter a player's pedigree, he is no safe bet to start if there's a proven guy ahead of him. Tennessee commit Alvin Kamara, for example, is the No. 2 JUCO prospect in the country. He will earn his share of reps next season, but he plays a position (running back) Tennessee doesn't need. Jalen Hurd will be the starter there regardless.

The players on this list do not have such a roadblock in front of them. They all placed toward the top of the national JUCO rankings, and they all enter winnable depth-chart battles.

Sound off below and let us know whom you would add.

CB Tony Bridges, Ole Miss

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 7       JUCO CB Rank: 1

Primary Competition

• Tee Shepard (Jr.)
• Kendarius Webster (So.)

Ole Miss loses Senquez Golson from the starting lineup and continues to try Mike Hilton at new positions. Hilton will stay at corner if he's needed, but even if he's not, there are spots to be won. Tony Bridges is the No. 1 JUCO cornerback in the country and sports an ideal frame for the position (6'2", 185 lbs). Golson and Hilton are both 5'9", so Bridges brings something new to the Land Sharks.

RB Chris Carson, Oklahoma State

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 23       RB Rank: 4

Primary Competition:

• Rennie Childs (Jr.)
• Raymond Taylor (Sr.)
• Sione Palelei (RS-Fr.)

Chris Carson flipped from Georgia, where he would have been stuck behind Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and Keith Marshall, to Oklahoma State, where he'll compete to start Week 1. The Cowboys lose Desmond Roland (graduation) and Tyreek Hill (dismissal) from last year's backfield and watched the star of their recruiting class (Ronald Jones II) flip to USC. Carson is a 6'1", 200-pound downhill runner who can match some of Roland's production between the tackles.

ILB Davon Durant, Arizona State

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 6       ILB Rank: 1

Primary Competition

• Antonio Longino (Sr.)
• Edmond Boateng (So.)
• Jaason Lewis (Fr.)

Arizona State failed to replace Carl Bradford last season, scrapping the position he excelled at, "Devilbacker," in favor of a more traditional front. But the nation's top JUCO linebacker, Davon Durant, is a good choice to restore the position. Durant (6'2", 240 lbs) has the same frame as Bradford (6'1", 243 lbs) along with the rare blend of size and speed one needs to play an end/linebacker hybrid.

DE Devonte Fields, Louisville

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JUCO Rank: 5       JUCO DE Rank: 2

Primary Competition

• Johnny Richardson (So.)
• Trevon Young (Sr.)

Devonte Fields was a shell of himself in junior college, but a return to the FBS level could mean a return to his previous form. His previous form includes a 10-sack, 18.5-tackle for loss season as a freshman in 2012, after which he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Things didn't work out at TCU, where Fields struggled with myriad off-field problems, but Louisville provides a rare second chance. If he keeps out of trouble, he came to the perfect place.

WR Donald Gray, Mississippi State

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 8       JUCO WR Rank: 1

Primary Competition

• Gabe Myles (So.)
• Jamoral Graham (So.) 

Donald Gray is a dead ringer for Jameon Lewis, Dak Prescott's former favorite target. De'Runnya Wilson and Fred Ross will start on the outside, but Gray (5'9", 185 lbs) projects well in the slot, where his shiftiness makes him hard to check. Lewis caught 64 passes for 923 yards and five touchdowns in his last healthy season (2013), which is a lofty but not unrealistic prediction for Gray.

DE Marquavius Lewis, South Carolina

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 3       DE Rank: 1

Primary Competition

• Gerald Dixon (Jr.)
• Darius English (Jr.)
• Dante Sawyer (JUCO)
• Mason Harris (Sr.)

South Carolina got nothing from its defensive ends last season, falling on its face after losing Chaz Sutton and Jadeveon Clowney. Fortunately, it landed commitments from Marquavius Lewis and Dante Sawyer, the Nos. 1 and 3 respective JUCO defensive ends. Both might start next season, especially Lewis, whom Chris Low of ESPN.com said "could end up being one of the top impact newcomers in the SEC."

CB Justin Martin, Tennessee

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 11       CB Rank: 2

Primary Competition

• Emmanuel Moseley (So.)
• Malik Foreman (Jr.)
• Rashaan Gaulden (So.)
• Evan Berry (So.)

Assuming his commitment holds, Justin Martin is a strong candidate to start opposite Cam Sutton. Texas A&M is pushing hard, but Martin said he is "still solid to Tennessee" after a January trip to College Station, per Barton Simmons of 247Sports. The Vols do not lack options, but none have the size (6'2", 190 lbs), length and upside of Martin.

OT Paris Palmer, Penn State

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 12       JUCO OT Rank: 2

Primary Competition

• Brendan Mahon (So.)
• Noah Beh (RS-Fr.)
• Brendan Brosnan (RS-Fr.)
• Chance Sorrell (RS-Fr.)
• Chasz Wright (RS-Fr.)

The loss of left tackle Donovan Smith, who declared early for the NFL draft, leaves a gaping hole on an already weak line. Andrew Nelson could slide over from right tackle, but either way there's a spot in the starting lineup for 6'8" Paris Palmer, who flipped from South Carolina to Penn State in December and enrolled in January. The added time with OL coach Herb Hand should help Palmer, who is raw but has limitless potential, make his FBS transition by August.

OT Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 9       JUCO OT Rank: 1

Primary Competition

• Cole Carter (Jr.)
• Damien Robinson (Sr.)
• Jocquell Johnson (Jr.)
• Rufus Warren (Sr.)

Mississippi State loses its three most experienced blockers: center Dillon Day, guard Ben Beckwith and tackle Blaine Clausell. Clausell was a four-year starter whose experience cannot be replicated, but Martinas Rankin, the No. 1 JUCO tackle in the country, has an even higher ceiling. Rankin has good size (6'5", 300 lbs) and strength and should improve under the guidance of John Hevesy.

RB Jovon Robinson, Auburn

Credit: 247Sports

JUCO Rank: 1       JUCO RB Rank: 1

Primary Competition

• Roc Thomas (So.)
• Kerryon Johnson (Fr.)
• Peyton Barber (So.)

Jovon Robinson is the No. 1 JUCO player in the country—the same distinction D'haquille Williams earned last cycle. Of the four top-ranked JUCO players before Williams, Bruce Irvin and Cordarrelle Patterson became first-round NFL draft picks, and Tank Carradine went in the top 40. Basically, Robinson follows accomplished footsteps and joins a backfield that loses Cameron Artis-Payne. There is competition for carries, but Robinson (5'11", 225 lbs) is a downright monster.

Note: All recruiting info refers to the 247Sports composite rankings.