Power Ranking the Top 2016 JUCO Recruits

While many colleges are scouring the country in search of the nation’s top rising high school seniors, a handful of stud recruits have already emerged on the JUCO circuit.

There are a few benefits that cause programs to consider adding talent from the JUCO ranks.

For starters, those players have been able to mature physically and mentally at a level above the prep ranks.

In turn, most prospects hit the college level and are able to make a smoother transition.

Which JUCO recruits have already gained interest from major programs early in the 2016 cycle? 

Recruits listed in alphabetical order.

Charles Baldwin

One school that has mined the JUCO ranks with great success in recent years is Alabama.

Nick Saban and his staff are one of seven schools that have already offered JUCO offensive lineman Charles Baldwin. 

The 6’5”, 305-pounder was admittedly giddy over his offer from the Tide earlier this month, according to BamaOnLine’s Shane Youngblood.

“I wouldn’t say I am narrowing things down right now, but it’s Alabama,” Baldwin told Youngblood. “They will definitely be in my top three. I like the fact that they send so many guys to the league and the history behind the program. I actually grew up a fan of Alabama and the Sooners. I grew up watching them on T.V.” 

Arizona State, Miami, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Virginia Tech are among the other schools that have already offered Baldwin.

Garrett Bolles

Garrett Bolles may have committed to BYU last November, but he’s added a string of high-profile offers since his pledge to the Cougars.

In the last week alone, the 4-star offensive lineman from Snow College in Utah has picked up offers from Oregon, Auburn, Arizona State and Florida State.

While nothing has changed with his commitment status, the recent interest in the 6’5”, 290-pounder seems to verify that the Cougars may have discovered a diamond in the rough when they landed Bolles.

Bolles rates as the No. 2 JUCO prospect overall in the 2016 class.

Tommy Champion

The nation’s top JUCO prospect in the 2016 cycle is 4-star offensive lineman Tommy Champion.

As noted by Paul Jones of Bulldawgs247, Champion was initially a 2015 recruit before being reclassified into the 2016 cycle—a move that was made with the goal of helping him get a jump-start on his academics.

The 6’5”, 290-pounder is committed to Mississippi State but had offers from Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis and Ole Miss dating back to his prep career.

Champion has the type of size, strength and athleticism to become an instant contributor in the trenches at the next level.

Christian Hill

At 6’6”, 265 pounds, Christian Hill is a physical specimen who would fit right in on a college roster next fall.

However, as Justin Hopkins of DuckTerritory notes, Hill’s path to becoming a 4-star prospect has been anything but routine.

While he’s still a relative newcomer to the game, Hill has picked up offers from the likes of Arizona State, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington.

Given his measurables and his ceiling, Hill has the chance to become a national recruit by the time summer ends.

David Luafatasaga

The most recent pledge in an Ole Miss class that ranks No. 2 in the 2016 cycle was perhaps the most surprising commitment coach Hugh Freeze has received.

4-star JUCO linebacker David Luafatasaga earned an Ole Miss offer and committed in mid-February, according to David Johnson of Rebels247. 

Originally a native of Hawaii, the 6’3”, 225-pounder tallied 66 tackles, including two sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles, during his freshman season at Arizona Western College.

Luafatasaga is a versatile prospect who could play inside or outside linebacker, or even some snaps at defensive end at the next level.

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

Follow @SanjayKirpalani