Top 25 College Football Recruits to Watch in 2016

Now that the book has officially closed on the 2015 class, most coaches have already begun their quest in building relationships with top prospects in the 2016 cycle.

A handful of rising seniors have already established themselves as elite prospects before their final seasons on the prep level. 

Some have already committed, while others have piled up offers from top programs around the country. 

The players on this list either offer a ton of potential for growth or have become dominant on the prep level, catching the attention of numerous powerhouses. 

Which recruits should fans around the nation be paying close attention to during the spring and summer?

25. Brandon Burton

Serra High School in Gardena, California, is no stranger to producing big-time recruits, especially at the receiver position. 

Former standouts such as USC’s Marqise Lee and Robert Woods and Colorado’s Paul Richardson are among the stud pass-catchers who are Serra alumni.

Next up from the pipeline is 4-star receiver Brandon Burton.

The 6’2”, 195-pounder already has offers from Arizona State, Florida, Florida State, Miami, UCLA and USC, among others.

24. Javon Kinlaw

When it comes to ceilings, no prospect in the 2016 class can measure up to 4-star offensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.

As Barton Simmons of 247Sports notes, the 6’7”, 285-pounder plays defensive end for Goose Creek (S.C.) High School, but his future may lie at the offensive tackle position.

Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State and South Carolina are among the early offers for the No. 2 prospect from the Palmetto State.

Kinlaw’s frame and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect to monitor throughout the spring and summer months.

23. Deontay Anderson

One of the top standouts from the state of Texas is 5-star Deontay Anderson.

The 6’1”, 192-pounder is the nation’s No. 2 safety prospect in the 2016 cycle, and he’s already compiled a lengthy offer list. 

Alabama, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M are among the early schools who have offered and are in contention for his services.

Over the last two seasons, Anderson has recorded 129 tackles, 16 pass breakups and four interceptions.

22. Ed Oliver

Much like the 2015 class, there appears to be depth in the 2016 crop of interior defensive linemen.

Texas standout Ed Oliver is another prospect who has established himself as a disruptive force.

The 6’2”, 285-pounder, whose older brother Marcus is an offensive lineman at Houston, recorded 84 tackles and seven sacks as a junior.

Alabama, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M make up the early list of contenders that are vying for Oliver’s commitment.

21. KJ Costello

The 2015 quarterback class from the state of California was a loaded group, and the 2016 class has a few other players who are ready to establish themselves as elite signal-callers. 

Among that group is 4-star passer KJ Costello, who rates as the nation’s No. 39 prospect overall and the fourth-best pro-style passer in the 2016 cycle. 

The 6’4”, 213-pounder has offers from Alabama, Florida, Stanford, Texas A&M and USC, among others.

With his skill set and potential, Costello has a chance to earn a 5-star rating if he performs well on the spring and summer camp circuit.

20. Demetris Robertson

Last July, Alabama picked up one of its first commitments for the 2016 cycle when 4-star athlete Demetris Robertson pledged to the Crimson Tide.

The 6’1”, 165-pound standout from Savannah, Georgia, projects as a wide receiver at the next level. 

He’s an explosive playmaker who is a threat to take it the distance any time he touches the ball. 

Florida State and Georgia are among the pack of schools that are hoping to lure him away from Tuscaloosa.

19. Derrick Brown

Trent Thompson headlined a deep class in Georgia for 2015, but the 2016 defensive tackle class in the Peach State has the potential to be a special group.

Among the interior defensive linemen who are worth watching is 4-star Derrick Brown.

The 6’4”, 309-pounder has piled up more than 20 offers, with Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and Texas among the powers who have already tendered him. 

The Tide and the Bulldogs are the early schools to watch in Brown’s recruitment.

18. Issac Nauta

Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State Seminoles will have a huge hole to fill as tight end Nick O’Leary heads off to the NFL.

However, his eventual replacement may be at least a year away from landing in Tallahassee.

Isaac Nauta, a 4-star tight end and the nation’s top prospect at his position in the 2016 cycle, committed to FSU in December. 

Nauta is the complete package as a blocker and pass-catching option who poses an instant mismatch against linebackers and defensive backs.

17. Willie Allen

Credit: 247Sports

John Curtis (Louisiana) High School is another prep powerhouse that has sent its share of players to the college level. 

The latest standout to emerge from the Patriots program is 4-star offensive tackle Willie Allen.

The 6’8”, 300-pounder has the potential to be a dominant left tackle prospect at the next level.

Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia and LSU are among Allen’s early offers.

16. Breland Brandt

UCLA brought in one of the top pass-rushers in the 2015 class in defensive end Keisean Lucier-South.

In landing an early pledge from 2016 5-star defensive end Breland Brandt, the Bruins could give Lucier-South a future running mate.

The 6’4”, 220-pounder is the nation’s second-best weak-side defensive end in the 2016 class.

He has the type of size and length to cause problems for offensive linemen who try to keep him from coming off the edge.

15. Shea Patterson

Another passer who is still on the market that college coaches are eagerly pursuing is 5-star Louisiana native Shea Patterson.

The 6’2”, 195-pounder has thrown for more than 5,000 yards and 72 touchdowns over the last two years.

Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and USC are among the early group of schools in contention for the No. 2 prospect from the Pelican State.

Given that he has yet to make a commitment, Patterson figures to command a ton of attention from coaches and fans alike over the next few months.

14. Ben Davis

At 6’4”, 225 pounds, Ben Davis is a versatile linebacker who can make plays against the run and the pass. 

As John Talty of AL.com notes, Davis’ father Wayne was a former standout at the University of Alabama.

The younger Davis is the nation’s fourth-best outside linebacker in the 2016 class.

With his size and athleticism, he has a chance to emerge as one of the premier defenders in the 2016 cycle.

13. Ben Cleveland

At 6’7”, 322 pounds, Ben Cleveland has a frame that fits what coaches are looking for in a prototypical left tackle prospect.

The Peach State native will stay close to home and play his college football in Athens with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Cleveland had an impressive showing on the camp circuit prior to his junior season, as noted by Barton Simmons of 247Sports.

Given how physically advanced he is in comparison to most prep linemen, Cleveland enters his senior season as a man among boys.

12. Nick Bosa

Two years ago, Urban Meyer went down to South Florida and landed a stud defensive end named Joey Bosa.

The head coach figures to be a fixture at St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida) High School as he pursues Joey’s younger brother, Nick Bosa.

The 6’3”, 250-pounder had a monster junior campaign, registering 56 tackles, including 29.5 for loss, and five sacks.

The Buckeyes are the heavy favorite to land the younger Bosa.

11. Dexter Lawrence

According to Ryan Bartow of 247Sports, 5-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had more than 30 offers prior to the end of his junior season. 

Clemson—who was the first school to offer him—Florida and LSU are among the early schools catching his attention.

However, the 6’5”, 310-pounder is sure to be one of the most 2016 class’ most coveted recruits.

Lawrence checks in as the nation’s No. 14 prospect overall in the 2016 cycle.

10. Jacob Eason

A few West Coast quarterbacks from the 2015 class signed with SEC schools, and 5-star Washington state native Jacob Eason will look to continue that trend.

The 6’5”, 205-pounder, whose father Tony played quarterback for Notre Dame and in the NFL, has already committed to the University of Georgia.

Eason threw for 2,941 yards and 23 touchdowns during his junior season.

If he can build on those numbers, Eason has a chance to elevate himself in the discussion as the top overall player in the 2016 class.

9. Edwin Alexander

When it comes to penetrating defensive tackles who live in opponents' backfields, 5-star Louisiana defensive tackle Edwin Alexander is in a category of his own.

The 6’2”, 310-pounder tallied 64.5 tackles as a junior—including 29 for loss—and 11.5 sacks.

Florida, Florida State, LSU and Miami are among the powers that have already offered him.

Considering his production and physicality in the trenches, Alexander is another player who figures to draw more attention in the coming months.

8. Julian Rochester

Like Brown, 5-star defensive tackle Julian Rochester has spent the last year making a name for himself in the metro Atlanta area.

The standout from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, recorded 116 tackles as a junior—including 25 for loss and 12 sacks. 

The 6’6”, 300-pounder was a first-team all-state selection and has early offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia, among others.

If he continues to dominate this fall, his stock—and his offer list—should continue to grow.

7. Nate Craig-Myers

The Tampa area has produced its share of dynamic skill players in recent years, with a trio of 2015 standouts in 5-star receiver Deon Cain (Clemson), 5-star receiver George Campbell and 4-star all-purpose back Ray Ray McCloud III (Clemson) among the headliners of the most recent class.

The next man up is 2016 5-star receiver Nate Craig-Myers.

The 6’2”, 205-pounder is currently rated as the nation’s top receiver prospect. 

While he’s committed to Auburn, Craig-Myers has schools such as Florida State and LSU aggressively pursuing him in hopes of flipping the talented Sunshine State pass-catcher.

6. Malik Henry

Few coaches in the country can match Florida State's Jimbo Fisher's reputation for developing quarterbacks. 

Fisher landed a major pledge when 5-star passer Malik Henry committed to FSU in November.

The 6’3”, 180-pounder is also a major baseball prospect, similar to outgoing ‘Noles quarterback Jameis Winston.

With his offseason transfer to IMG Academy, fans across the country will be interested to see if Henry can continue to flash the same arm strength and accuracy against top competition in the Sunshine State that made him an elite prospect in California.

5. Kareem Walker

Ohio State had plenty of reasons to celebrate after defeating Oregon for the national title. 

One of them was the fact that Meyer and his staff landed a commitment from 5-star running back Kareem Walker during halftime of the game.

The 6’1”, 210-pounder is the nation’s top-rated running back in the 2016 class.

Given his explosiveness and ability to run between the tackles, Walker is a touted rusher whom the Buckeyes will have to aggressively recruit to fend off other potential suitors.

4. Shavar Manuel

The 2015 class was loaded with pass-rushers, and the 2016 class appears to have a handful of players who will attract the same type of attention.

Topping that list is 5-star defensive end Shavar Manuel.

At 6’5”, 262 pounds, Manuel possesses the strength to set the edge against the run and the athleticism to give tackles fits in pass-rushing situations. 

Given that he’s transferred to prep powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, people will be paying attention to see how he adjusts.

3. Saivion Smith

While IMG Academy will welcome some high-profile transfers this fall, the Ascenders’ alpha dog a year ago was 5-star corner Saivion Smith. 

The 6’2”, 180-pounder blew up after a junior season that saw him score six non-offensive touchdowns and record five interceptions.

Smith has more than 20 offers, with powers such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Florida State among the schools heavily interested in the nation’s top corner. 

After his breakout junior season, observers across the country will be interested to see what Smith has in store for his final campaign on the prep level.

2. Gregory Little

Last year, 5-star quarterback Kyler Murray was the main attraction at Allen (Texas) High School.

This year, it will be the man who protected his blind side in 5-star offensive tackle Gregory Little. 

Like Murray, Little is committed to Texas A&M, but recent offers from Alabama and Ohio State could warrant the 6’5”, 282-pounder to look around to be sure of his pledge.

Regardless, Little is one of the more athletic linemen to emerge in recent classes, which makes him a name to watch moving forward.

1. Rashan Gary

Despite being a junior, it’s safe to say that 2016 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary made quite an impression going against the nation’s top rising seniors last summer at The Opening.

According to Charles Power of BamaOnline (via Corey Dowlar of 247Sports), Gary more than held his own at the event featuring the nation’s elite prospects.

“Granted, this is before pads and one-on-ones, but 2016 defensive tackle Rashan Gary might be the best defensive tackle prospect in the nation, regardless of class, in my opinion,” Power said. “(He) ran a 4.74 yesterday and (is) the most physically impressive defensive tackle here to me.”

With that type of endorsement in tow, the 6’4”, 285-pound New Jersey native has a strong case to be considered the top overall prospect in the 2016 cycle.

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

Follow @SanjayKirpalani