CFB Future 100: Top 5 Athletes in Class of 2016
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Damon Sayles, Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 100 players in the 247Sports composite rankings and provided in-depth analysis on each young athlete. Bleacher Report will run a position-by-position breakdown series of the best college football recruits in the class of 2016. Here we present the Top Athletes.
Other Positions
With the spring and summer camp circuit set to begin, there will be some movement among players in the 2016 class.
A handful of talented recruits have gained the interest of top colleges, despite the fact that they have yet to settle on a true position heading into their senior seasons.
For example, 4-star standout and current Alabama commitment Demetris Robertson has the tools to excel as a receiver or defensive back at the next level.
The latest batch of Bleacher Report’s CFB Future 100 series will focus on athletes, projecting them at the position we believe they will play at on the college level and scoring them on their ability to develop when they focus on one spot full time.
How does the 2015 group of athletes measure up, and where will these standouts line up at the college level?
All analysis provided by B/R National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani.
5. 4-Star Trevon Diggs, Wide Receiver
1 of 5Height/Weight: 6’0”, 180 lbs
High School: The Avalon School, Rockville, Maryland
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 ATH, No. 87 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Considering Penn State, Florida and Maryland
Recruiting fans will remember the name Stefon Diggs, who was a 5-star recruit in the 2012 class.
Four years later, his little brother, Trevon Diggs, is another talented athlete who could line up at receiver or defensive back. However, as Jakob Engelke of InsideMDSports details, Trevon prefers to have the ball in his hands.
Maryland is among the schools after Trevon, but schools such as Auburn, Florida and Florida State are among his most recent offers.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Like his brother, Diggs is a very smooth and fluid athlete. As a receiver, he always seems to make the first tackler miss in space. He’s got a great short-area quickness. He’s also got great ball skills. I really like him as a safety too, so it would be interesting to see which colleges prefer him on offense versus those who want him on the other side of the ball.
4. 4-Star Ahmir Mitchell, Wide Receiver
2 of 5Height/Weight: 6’2”, 190 lbs
High School: Cedar Creek High, Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 ATH, No. 85 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Considering Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Rutgers
Ahmir Mitchell’s most recent offers came late last season, as Penn State, Virginia Tech, Michigan State and South Carolina pulled the trigger on the talented athlete from the Garden State.
Mitchell has the size and athleticism to play receiver or defensive back at the next level.
According to Ryan Bartow of 247Sports, Mitchell’s preference is to play receiver in college, but he’s open to a move to defense.
“Most colleges say receiver and they know more than I do,” Mitchell told Bartow. “I was kind of leaning towards receiver. My options aren’t set.”
Bleacher Report Analysis
Mitchell is an impressive prospect with great agility for a receiver at his size. He’s tough to bring down in the open field, and he’s physical enough to go over the middle and make tough catches. He’s still raw and doesn’t run precise routes, but the tools are there for him to learn those techniques in college.
Overall, he’s an intriguing talent who has the potential to develop into a stud pass-catcher because of his size and elusiveness in space.
3. 4-Star Marquez Callaway, Corner
3 of 5Height/Weight: 6’2”, 170 lbs
High School: Warner Robins High, Warner Robins, Georgia
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 ATH, No. 54 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Considering Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Michigan State
Last May, Marquez Callaway picked up his first two offers from SEC heavyweights Georgia and Alabama, according to Kipp Adams of 247Sports.
As Adams notes, he’s an all-around athlete who stars on the hardwood in addition to playing both ways on the gridiron.
Michigan State, Notre Dame and South Carolina make up his most recent offers.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Callaway’s receiving background is evident in how he attacks the ball in the air when he’s playing defense. He will also come up and deliver a blow as a hitter. He’s got great range, and his length makes it tough for receivers to separate from him. He has intriguing potential as a receiver, but corner seems to be where his ceiling is highest in the long term.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
2. 4-Star Scott Bracey, Wide Receiver
4 of 5Height/Weight: 6’3”, 195 lbs
High School: Benedictine High, Richmond, Virginia
247Sports Ranking: No. 2 ATH, No. 44 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Duke on July 25, 2014
Scott Bracey had offers from powers such as Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State before he committed to Duke last summer.
He was the prep teammate of current Clemson signee and 4-star defensive end Clelin Ferrell.
As noted by Adam Rowe of BlueDevilLair, Bracey wasn’t settled on the position he will play at the next level at the time of his pledge to the Blue Devils.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Bracey’s most likely fit at the next level is at receiver. He’s a big-bodied target who can make tough catches in traffic. He’s tough to defend because of the physicality he brings to the position, often overpowering smaller and lighter corners. He also catches the ball with his hands and shows the leaping ability to make him a dangerous threat in the red zone.
1. 4-Star Demetris Robertson, Wide Receiver
5 of 5Height/Weight: 6’1”, 165 lbs
High School: Savannah Christian Prep, Savannah, Georgia
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 ATH, No. 36 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Alabama on July 15, 2014
Demetris Robertson is an explosive talent who committed to Alabama in July.
However, Florida State and Georgia lead the pack of schools who are still pursuing the speedy Peach State product heavily.
Robertson rates as the fourth-best prospect from the state of Georgia in the 2016 cycle.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Robertson is a dynamic playmaker in the open field. He’s shifty in space and handles contact better than most skill players his size normally do. As a receiver, most of his work comes on short passes that he turns into big plays. That means he will have to adjust his game and improve as a route-runner. However, given his potential as a deep threat and his impact as a returner on special teams, Robertson is one of the more talented receiving options in the 2016 class.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
