National Signing Day 2015: Under-the-Radar Commitments to Watch

There are only so many 5-star prospects to go around on national signing day, and not every team can be Alabama. Plenty of teams across the country will rely on under-the-radar commitments to deliver over the course of the next four years.

Look no further than the NFL’s best players to find examples of recruits who outperformed their rankings.

MVP Aaron Rodgers went to junior college before attending California, while J.J. Watt was a 2-star prospect who gave up a potential scholarship at Central Michigan to walk on at Wisconsin. The rest is history for both superstars.

So who will be the hidden gems from the class of 2015? Read on for a couple of them.

Tristan Nickelson, Texas

Credit: 247Sports

Tristan Nickelson is a 2-star prospect and the No. 29 offensive tackle in the country, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, but his ceiling is very high because of his physical ability alone. He is a monster of a player at 6’8.5” and 319 pounds and should be able to physically overwhelm opponents right away.

Nickelson is a junior college prospect, so he already has some experience beyond the high school level. That should help him find a role at Texas rather quickly.

Nickelson commented on his recruitment, via Jeff Howe of 247Sports:

"

Texas is a school I grew up cheering for and always dreamed about going to. I wasn't exactly sure it was going to go down with them, so when they offered it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn't pass up. They told me they need help [at offensive line] and that I was one of the guys they want to bring in. They brought be down [after the game] to meet with Coach Strong and that's when they made everything official.

"

Chuck Carlton of The Dallas Morning News noted that Texas “desperately needed depth and experience” on an offensive line that simply couldn’t handle the top defenses the Longhorns faced this season. That should be music to Nickelson’s ears if he hopes to play right away because he fills a glaring need.

Nickelson enrolled in the spring, so he is already picking up critical experience with his future teammates. It’s all about the ceiling with Nickelson, which is much higher than it would be for most 2-star players based on his size, and the more experience he picks up before the season, the higher it goes.

It is impossible to talk about Nickelson without mentioning that size, which will help him steamroll opposing defensive linemen and create running lanes for Longhorns backs and playmakers. Texas was a disaster at times on offense last season, and the line will be the core of any rebuilding efforts on that side of the ball.

Landing a player like Nickelson is a good place to start.

Ugo Amadi, Oregon 

Ugo Amadi is a 3-star prospect and the No. 39 cornerback in the country, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. Jen Beyrle of The Oregonian pointed out that Oregon landed Amadi over some SEC competition:

Amadi checks in at 5’10” and 180 pounds, so he doesn’t exactly bring prototypical size to the table. However, his best trait is his athleticism, which helps him cover ground quickly and close on receivers while the ball is in the air. That instinctive ability will help Amadi keep receivers in check in the Pac-12 as quickly as next season.

Perhaps more importantly considering his choice to play for the Ducks, Amadi has the versatility to play a number of positions.

He mixed it up as a Wildcat quarterback, wide receiver and kick returner at the high school level, and that athleticism will help him fit right in at Oregon. After all, you would be hard-pressed to find a roster with more speed from top to bottom than this one.

The ceiling on Amadi is higher than it is for a number of 3-star players because there is an opportunity to step in right away and play for a team that was one win away from a national championship. Cornerbacks Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Troy Hill are both gone, and there is a giant need at the position for the Ducks. 

Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity, and Oregon represents exactly that. Now Amadi has to come through on that chance.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek