Play Him or Redshirt Him: Decisions for Top 50 Signees in Class of 2015
The faxes are in. The ink is dry. College football’s 2015 recruiting cycle is over. With players across the nation signed to national letters of intent and committed to their programs of choice, recruiting followers have moved on to 2016.
But for college football coaches and fans of on-the-field action, the fun is just getting started. Numerous 2015 players have already enrolled in college and will go through spring practice with their new teams, and many more will follow early this summer. We’ve moved on from “Where will he sign?” to “Will he play?” That’s what this feature is all about. We’ve taken the top 50 recruits of 2015, per 247Sports, and examined their chances of immediate playing time this fall.
Will they redshirt? Will they star immediately? We’ll see. Team depth charts and needs, as well as the player’s overall ability, were all considered for this feature. Rankings throughout the feature are per 247Sports’ composite ranks.
50. Texas Tech DT Breiden Fehoko
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Suggesting Texas Tech needed defensive help in 2014 was a massive understatement. The Red Raiders had one of college football’s worst defenses, allowing 41.3 points per game, which ranks No. 126 nationally. They needed upgrades, and coach Kliff Kingsbury got one in defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko.
The big Honolulu native stands 6’3”, 290 pounds, and he has the ability to clog the run and play immediately for the Red Raiders. Given Tech’s woeful defensive state, it’d be a big upset if Fehoko wasn’t on the field this fall in Lubbock.
49. Southern California LB John Houston
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As Steve Sarkisian begins his second year at Southern California, the Trojans are emerging from the malaise that sometimes hangs over a program following NCAA sanctions and scholarship losses. A 9-4 debut capped with a Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska raises expectations, and USC will be a strong preseason pick for the College Football Playoff.
But the Trojans need bodies on defense, particularly in the front seven. That’s why the 2015 recruiting class was so important. USC met its needs with a talented linebacker class, and John Houston was a key part of it.
Houston stands 6’3”, 211 pounds and is considered one of the nation’s top outside linebacker prospects, with great ability to play in space, react quickly and tackle well. He stands an excellent chance to see the field this fall for the Trojan defense.
48. Tennessee WR Preston Williams
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Tennessee has an impressive wide receiver group with the likes of senior Pig Howard, junior Marquez North, sophomore Josh Malone and others. While wideout wasn’t a main concern of Butch Jones’ staff, they were happy to add Preston Williams to the mix.
Williams stands 6’4”, 191 pounds and has excellent downfield playmaking ability, with the capability to win battles and go up for balls against opposing cornerbacks. However, Tennessee’s wide receiver depth and the fact that he is recovering from a knee injury suffered late in his senior season mean it’d probably be smarter for him to redshirt and learn this fall.
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47. Georgia LB Roquan Smith
4 of 50Roquan Smith is one of the more unique cases in recent memory in college football recruiting. After feeling misled by UCLA’s coaching staff over defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s decision to take a job with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, the talented linebacker reopened his recruitment and decided to sign with Georgia.
Here’s the thing: Smith didn’t sign a national letter of intent. He only signed a financial aid agreement, keeping him from being bound solely to UGA in case other developments occurred. It’s a groundbreaking situation, but the Bulldogs were willing to agree to it given his talent. Scott Michaux of The Augusta Chronicle says Smith might become a trendsetter.
Smith is a very versatile player who could easily fit in at safety and is an excellent hitter. He’ll give defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt another special tool to play with and will be an immediate factor for the Bulldogs front seven this fall.
46. LSU TB Derrius Guice
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Was there a more natural fit for LSU than Derrius Guice? The Baton Rouge native is a powerful back who stands 5’10”, 213 pounds, with excellent explosiveness, tackle-breaking ability and vision.
He leads one of the nation’s strongest tailback recruiting classes and joins a backfield that already includes standout and 2015 Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette. But Fournette can’t carry the ball 40 times a game, and Guice is a perfect candidate to spell him and wear down defenses as well. Expect him to get plenty of action in 2015.
45. Notre Dame QB Brandon Wimbush
6 of 50There’s no question that Brandon Wimbush was a huge pickup for Notre Dame. The Jersey City, New Jersey, native was originally committed to Penn State, but he decommitted in October following an official visit to Notre Dame, pledging with the Fighting Irish instead. Wimbush is one of the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback prospects, with excellent intangibles, elusiveness and footwork.
But the Irish do have a potentially crowded quarterback depth chart ahead of him, with Everett Golson and Malik Zaire battling for the starting role.
Since Wimbush won’t arrive until summer, unless something changes via transfer, expect him to redshirt and develop this fall.
44. Alabama S Deionte Thompson
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When Landon Collins declared for the NFL draft, the All-American left a big void in Alabama’s secondary. The junior safety was the best player on the Crimson Tide defense, and it’ll be tough to match his production.
Tide fans hope Deionte Thompson can try. Thompson, an Orange, Texas, native, is the next great Tide safety. He stands 6’2”, 181 pounds and has already enrolled at Alabama to go through spring practice with the Tide defense.
He has excellent playmaking and ball skills as well as instincts. While in high school, he played on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and safety, but he will concentrate solely on defense at Alabama. He’ll find a way to contribute early this fall for Kirby Smart’s defense.
43. Ole Miss WR Damarkus Lodge
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There’s little question that Ole Miss has wide receiver talent on its roster, led by Laquon Treadwell, who is making a successful rehab from the broken ankle that ended his 2014 season early.
But whoever the Rebels wind up picking as Bo Wallace’s successor received a big boost on national signing day when Texas standout Damarkus Lodge signed with Ole Miss. Lodge stands 6’2”, 190 pounds and has the ability to play early this fall. He is a great route-runner, has excellent hands and can leap and go up for balls in traffic. Expect him to make an immediate impact on the Rebels offense.
42. Auburn TB Kerryon Johnson
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Alabama has plenty of talent within its borders, so it was an impressive score for Auburn to secure the services of the state’s Mr. Football, Madison athlete Kerryon Johnson. Johnson has excellent speed, athleticism and explosiveness, but his most important tool is his versatility.
He could play either tailback or safety and excel at both positions, but he appears set to start his career in Auburn’s backfield. The Tigers will be led next fall by standout transfer Jovon Robinson, but Johnson has the ability to be a change-of-pace back and get on the field early—somewhere.
41. Southern California LB Porter Gustin
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Thanks to graduation and NFL draft losses, Southern California needed to restock its front seven in the class of 2015. It got a huge pickup in Salem, Utah, linebacker/defensive end Porter Gustin.
Gustin stands 6’5” and 245 pounds and is an impressive, productive specimen. He had 152 tackles as a high school senior and chose USC over Ohio State, Arizona State and Notre Dame. He is very quick to react, has good pursuit skills and athleticism as well as tackling skills. Expect him to see significant time early as a freshman.
40. Florida State TB Jacques Patrick
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Last season, Florida State’s running game improved as freshman Dalvin Cook found his legs in the college game, particularly in the second half of the season. Cook is a burner, capable of scoring on any play, but he could use a complement in the Seminole backfield.
That complement is Jacques Patrick. Patrick, one of the nation’s top five tailback recruits, stands 6’1”, 230 pounds and brings power and speed. He rushed for 2,153 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior and is a durable back who’ll fill the void left behind by graduated senior Karlos Williams.
He is already enrolled at FSU and will go through spring practice. Expect Patrick to contribute as a great change-of-pace back, the yin to Cook’s yang this fall.
39. Southern California TB Ronald Jones II
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Southern California has a strong tradition of tailbacks, from O.J. Simpson through Charles White and Marcus Allen and Reggie Bush. So it’s no surprise that the Trojans are able to continually land elite ball-carriers to continue that legacy. The latest? Texas tailback Ronald Jones II.
Jones stands 6’0”, 185 pounds and put up some truly eye-popping numbers at McKinney (Texas) North High School, rushing for 2,486 yards and 39 touchdowns as a junior and 2,009 yards and 28 scores as a senior.
He has excellent vision, explosiveness and change-of-direction skills, and with Buck Allen heading to the NFL, there is opportunity in the USC backfield. Expect Jones to find a way to contribute to the Trojans offense this fall.
38. Baylor QB Jarrett Stidham
13 of 50Under Art Briles’ watch, Baylor has become known for its strong quarterback tradition. Robert Griffin III started the fun by winning the Heisman Trophy, and Bryce Petty was impressive following in his footsteps, leading the Bears just short of the College Football Playoff in 2014.
With Petty gone, there’s opportunity in Baylor’s offense, and a quarterback from Briles’ old stomping grounds of Stephenville, Texas, hopes he’s next.
Jarrett Stidham is rated as one of the top dual-threat quarterback in the nation, and he has enrolled early to get a shot at the open job. However, he has tough competition ahead. Junior Seth Russell excelled as Petty’s understudy last fall, and Chris Johnson was also highly regarded when he arrived on campus.
Stidham will get an opportunity, but expect Russell to win the job and Stidham, a talented pocket passer who can also run, to redshirt and learn in 2015.
37. LSU OG Maea Teuhema
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LSU already had a strong ground game with standout tailback Leonard Fournette, and the Tigers offensive line got even stronger when the nation’s No. 1 guard, Maea Teuhema, signed with Les Miles’ staff. Teuhema has excellent “punch” and is a solid run-blocker who stands 6’4”, 340 pounds, a ready-made prospect already.
And here’s the thing: LSU can afford to develop him further before he hits the field. The Tigers return starters at left guard (Vadal Alexander) and center/right guard (Ethan Pocic) and also have reserves in Garrett Brumfield (one of the nation’s top guard prospects in 2014), Jonah Austin and Andy Dodd. So Teuhema is a luxury. He can afford to redshirt, get ready and join the mix even stronger in 2016.
36. Tennessee DE Kyle Phillips
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In 2014, Tennessee enjoyed a youth movement, making its first bowl in four seasons while playing 23 freshmen. One of the most impressive was freshman defensive end Derek Barnett, who consistently terrorized offensive tackles across the SEC.
This winter, Butch Jones added to the defensive line depth in a big way, signing in-state defensive end Kyle Phillips, one of the nation’s top defensive end prospects. Phillips stands 6’4”, 250 pounds and has already enrolled at Tennessee. He has excellent athleticism, closing speed and pursuit speed, and he could make a significant impact this fall with early playing time.
35. Southern California LB Osa Masina
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While Southern California has excellent potential this fall, the Trojans are still emerging from NCAA sanctions. That has affected their depth, and some of the biggest questions surround their front seven, where there were heavy graduation losses, particularly at linebacker.
There is opportunity for younger players to come in and play immediately. That is why Osa Masina is important. The Utah linebacker is a very productive player who has excellent instincts, pursuit skills, athleticism and tackling abilities, and he could play very early while learning behind older players.
34. Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard
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Last fall, Raekwon McMillan set an impressive path for freshman defenders to follow—come in as a highly touted recruit, earn some playing time, find your way and help win a national championship. Justin Hilliard hopes to follow the blueprint that McMillan laid out this fall. The 5-star recruit picked Ohio State and could contribute early in 2015.
He stands 6’0” and 225, has excellent athleticism and is great in space and as a pursuit linebacker. Hilliard also has solid quickness, movement and tackling skills. Expect him to find a role on the Buckeyes’ talented defense and work his way into a more comfortable, productive position.
33. Texas A&M QB Kyler Murray
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One of the most hotly contested recruitments came over standout Texas dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray. Originally committed to Texas A&M, Murray flirted with rival Texas late in the process before ultimately reaffirming his commitment to the Aggies and Kevin Sumlin. Both programs badly wanted the 5’10”, 180-pound dynamo to be the future of their offense.
Murray has excellent arm strength, pocket presence, footwork and accuracy, and he’ll be a special quarterback. But unless Kyle Allen falters or is injured, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take a redshirt year this fall and mature behind Allen, then challenge him next spring.
32. UCLA RB Soso Jamabo
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Sometimes, the rich get richer. UCLA has a talented backfield led by junior Paul Perkins, who led the Pac-12 in rushing last fall. And the Bruins got even better on national signing day when Texas tailback Soso Jamabo picked UCLA over Texas and Charlie Strong.
Jamabo, the nation's No. 2 tailback prospect, stands 6’2”, 210 pounds and has excellent speed, power, vision and ability to break tackles. He could fit in as either a tailback or wide receiver this fall, but expect him to find a role on the field for an offense that’ll be breaking in a new quarterback following Brett Hundley’s departure to the NFL.
31. Alabama RB Damien Harris
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Alabama’s standout tailbacks have followed a consistent path in their college careers: Sign, learn under a talented mentor, gain the spotlight and leave early. It has worked well for the likes of Mark Ingram and T.J. Yeldon, and Derrick Henry appears to be next on that career arc. Could Damien Harris follow in their shoes?
Harris is powerfully built at 5’11”, 205 pounds, and he would be perfectly positioned to fill an understudy role this fall. He rushed for 6,717 yards and 111 yards in his high school career and has excellent speed, power and vision. It’d be a surprise if he didn’t see some real playing time in 2015.
30. Alabama CB Minkah Fitzpatrick
21 of 50New Jersey doesn’t seem like a typical recruiting ground for the SEC, but when you’re Alabama, you can recruit anywhere with the best nationally. That explains how the Crimson Tide went into Jersey and plucked standout cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, one of the nation’s top 30 overall recruits.
Fitzpatrick stands 6’1”, 198 pounds, giving him the size to compete with bigger wide receivers. He also has excellent instincts and ball skills. Will he play early at Alabama? Good question.
There is an opening at cornerback, but Eddie Jackson and talented returnees Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey are already on campus, and fellow signee Kendall Sheffield will also compete for time. It wouldn’t be stunning to see Fitzpatrick play or sit this fall, depending on how quickly he adjusts.
29. Alabama DT Daron Payne
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Defensive tackle is not an easy spot for a player to earn early playing time as a true freshman, especially in the SEC. Battles in the trenches require physically developed players who aren’t afraid of contact and know how to handle themselves in the heat of battle.
This fall, it appears Alabama defensive tackle Daron Payne fits that mold. He stands 6’2”, 325 pounds and bench-presses more than 400 pounds. He has excellent strength at the point of attack as well as explosiveness, good hands and a good first step. Expect him to make an immediate contribution on the Crimson Tide defensive line.
28. Georgia WR Terry Godwin
23 of 50When Terry Godwin was considering other options late in the recruiting process, plenty of Georgia fans were nervous, and with good reason. Godwin, who stands 6’0”, 168 pounds, is a bit slight of frame but has game-changing athletic skills.
He runs routes very well and is a home run hitter of a receiver, capable of scoring whenever he touches the ball as a receiver or kick returner. He has the opportunity to play early and often in 2015. Georgia’s top two receivers have graduated, meaning playing time will be available. It’s up to Godwin to take advantage of it.
27. LSU WR Tyron Johnson
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LSU has issues at quarterback, but if the Tigers can find a solid starter, their passing game will really take off. Les Miles’ staff has assembled an impressive, talented group at wide receiver, and New Orleans native Tyron Johnson is only the latest piece.
Johnson stands 6’1”, 191 pounds and is a speedy, polished player. He has excellent hands, agility and route-running skills, and while LSU has a solid group already, Johnson has the skills to avoid a redshirt and contribute immediately as a big-play wideout.
26. Southern California OG Chuma Edoga
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One of the most interesting pieces of Southern California’s standout class of 2015 was offensive guard Chuma Edoga. Edoga, a smart guard who stands 6’3”, 280 pounds, has excellent football sense and is an athletic pulling guard.
He chose USC over multiple SEC offers but gives the Trojans’ line, which struggled at times last fall, a major boost. Edoga has already enrolled at USC, will go through spring practice and could emerge as a starter this fall. He’ll certainly have an impact.
25. Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk
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Texas A&M has no problem attracting talented wide receivers to its Air Raid-style offense. The Aggies enter this spring with a group of impressive wideouts in Josh Reynolds, Speedy Noil and Ricky Seals-Jones, among others.
But like Jello, there’s always room for more, which explains the arrival of Christian Kirk. Kirk stands 5’10”, 191 pounds and has excellent speed, change-of-direction and agility skills. He has enrolled early at A&M and will go through spring practice with the Aggies. Expect him to carve out a role as a slot receiver this fall.
24. Clemson DT Christian Wilkins
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Clemson had the nation’s top overall defense last fall, and one of the biggest reasons why was a talented, veteran defensive line. Now, virtually all of that line is gone, with the only two-deep returnees defensive end Shaq Lawson and defensive tackle D.J. Reader. The Tigers need players to step in and make an instant impact, which is why Christian Wilkins’ signing was so important.
Wilkins, a Suffield, Connecticut, native, stands 6’4”, 290 pounds and has an ACC-ready body. He is regarded as one of the nation’s top defensive tackle prospects, and he surprised many when he picked Clemson over Penn State and Stanford. He’ll play immediately, potentially start and have a major impact as a freshman this fall.
23. Southern California DT Rasheem Green
28 of 50Southern California closed strong with the Class of 2015, and one of the biggest prizes on national signing day was defensive tackle Rasheem Green. Regarded as one of the nation’s top 25 overall prospects, Green stands 6’5”, 275 pounds and picked USC over Alabama and Oregon.
He has excellent athleticism, speed and effort at the point of attack, and he is incredibly tough to stop in the trenches. For a USC line that suffered major losses, he’ll be a huge piece this fall.
22. Clemson OT Mitch Hyatt
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On national signing day 2014, Clemson got a huge boost for its 2015 class when Atlanta-area offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt committed to the Tigers. The Clemson legacy (his uncle played on the 1981 national title team) gives Clemson’s line a major talent infusion.
Beyond senior Isaiah Battle, Clemson is thin at offensive tackle, and Hyatt looks like the next great tackle. He has excellent quickness, foot speed and pass-blocking skills and is also a solid run-blocker. While a redshirt isn’t out of the question, don’t be surprised if he contributes in a reserve role this fall.
21. Alabama QB Blake Barnett
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Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban have no problem attracting talented quarterbacks to Tuscaloosa. All Kiffin has to do is tout his track record and show highlights from the 2014 season, when he infused the Crimson Tide’s offense with a passing mentality.
It attracted California quarterback Blake Barnett, who enrolled at Alabama in January. Barnett stands 6’4”, 200 pounds and is considered the nation’s No. 2 pro-style quarterback. He has excellent feet, pocket presence and escapability. But Alabama has a crowded quarterback depth chart, led by Florida State transfer Jake Coker.
Barnett will compete this spring, but it’d be a surprise to see him on the field this fall. Expect him to redshirt.
20. Alabama CB Kendall Sheffield
31 of 50For Texas A&M, Kendall Sheffield was the one who got away in the Class of 2015. The Missouri City, Texas, native, who stands 6’0”, 181 pounds, made the hurt deeper by signing with SEC West foe Alabama.
Sheffield has excellent speed, quickness and change-of-direction and has the size to compete with opposing receivers. He does enter a potentially crowded situation at Alabama. Eddie Jackson and talented returnees Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey are already on campus, and fellow signee Minkah Fitzpatrick will also compete for time.
If Sheffield asserts himself, he could avoid a redshirt or even start. If not, it wouldn’t be stunning to see him sit down and develop for a season with the depth around him.
19. Florida State WR George Campbell
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While Jameis Winston garnered plenty of headlines in Tallahassee the past two seasons, Florida State wouldn’t have thrived without his top target, Rashad Greene. Greene was the most productive receiver in FSU history, and his graduation leaves the Seminole offense seeking weapons.
Enter George Campbell.
The Florida native is one of the nation's top wide receiver prospects, stands 6’3” and 184 pounds and has the ability to be an immediate force in FSU’s passing game. He has excellent speed, athleticism and explosiveness and is capable of taking the top off of an opposing defense. He’ll get the opportunity to do so in Doak Campbell Stadium this fall.
18. Clemson WR Deon Cain
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In recent years, Clemson has become known as “Wide Receiver U.” The Tigers have sent talented receivers like Jacoby Ford, DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins into the NFL, and current stars like Mike Williams and Artavis Scott are poised to join them next.
That said, Clemson has opportunity in its wide receiver corps due to attrition and graduation. That is where Deon Cain comes in. The Tampa native stands 6’1” and 194 pounds, and while he spent his high school career as a quarterback, he was recruited as a wide receiver. Cain has great ball skills and solid change-of-direction ability, and he figures to be an immediate factor in the Tigers offense.
17. UCLA DE Keisean Lucier-South
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Part of UCLA’s recent success has been built around a defense that has talented, versatile players. The Bruins scored with that formula again in the Class of 2015, signing defensive end Keisean Lucier-South. He stands 6’5” and 215 pounds and has excellent speed, quickness and a great first step.
The Bruins have plenty of defensive returnees, but a player of Lucier-South's talent isn’t signed to sit. Expect him to begin in at least a situational role as he works his way into college life.
16. Oregon DE Canton Kaumatule
35 of 50Oregon got perhaps its best player ever from Hawaii in Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota, and the Ducks haven’t been afraid to revisit those fertile recruiting grounds. They hope to get similar impact from defensive end Canton Kaumatule, rated as the nation’s No. 16 overall prospect.
Kaumatule is huge for a defensive end at 6’7’, 290 pounds, and he also played offensive tackle in high school. He has excellent athleticism, physicality and pursuit skills and is great at the point of attack. Expect him to contribute early for the Oregon defense this fall. With that frame, he could even work in as a defensive tackle.
15. Florida State CB Tarvarus McFadden
36 of 50With the departures of Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams to the NFL draft, Florida State has major opportunity to play and play early in its defensive backfield. The Seminoles restocked the corner position with the 2015 signing class, and one of the best products in Jimbo Fisher’s shopping cart is cornerback Tarvarus McFadden.
The Florida native stands 6’2”, 198 pounds and has the skills to succeed early in the ACC. He has good instincts, playmaking and ball skills, and he should find immediate time with the Seminole defense. In fact, it’d be a real surprise if he didn’t find the field this fall early on.
14. Texas A&M DT Daylon Mack
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Under Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M’s biggest Achilles' heel has been its defense. The Aggies have had no problem scoring on teams, but they haven’t been able to stop anyone. That’s why new defensive coordinator John Chavis, one of the nation’s finest defensive minds, is in town. He needs building blocks, and while several are already on campus, he got an impressive one when the Aggies signed defensive tackle Daylon Mack.
Mack is a massive block at 6’1”, 330 pounds, the true immovable object. He does excellent work at the point of attack with his hands and has great strength, athleticism and a solid first step. Mack will fit into the Aggies defensive line rotation immediately and will rack up snaps and, A&M hopes, results, this fall.
13. Missouri DT Terry Beckner, Jr.
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Terry Beckner Jr. had his choice of programs on signing day. The East St. Louis, Illinois, defensive tackle had the likes of Auburn, Florida State and Ohio State as finalists, but he chose to stay close to home, venturing just across the Mississippi River.
It was a huge win for Missouri, as coach Gary Pinkel told ESPN.com's Greg Ostendorf.
"This is a place where he can achieve his goals," Pinkel said. "He can be the greatest defensive lineman he can be. He can win, he can help us win championships and maybe help take us where we've never been before. I think he's got phenomenal ability, and we're obviously very pleased that's he decided to come to Missouri."
He stands 6’4”, 293 pounds and has excellent quickness and skills at the point of attack. He is a constant presence in opponents’ backfields, making 117 tackles as a high school senior. Missouri lost a pair of experienced defensive tackles in Matt Hoch and Lucas Vincent, so Beckner is a sure bet to play and play often this fall in the trenches for the Tigers.
12. UCLA QB Josh Rosen
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Jim Mora Jr. has built a power in Westwood. UCLA has scored back-to-back 10-win seasons, and while the Bruins bring back a bevy of starters in 2015, one of the biggest holes is at quarterback, as junior Brett Hundley declared for the NFL draft.
There will be an open competition for the job this spring, and one of the main competitors will be Bellflower, California, freshman Josh Rosen. Rosen stands 6’4” and 205 and is rated as the top pro-style quarterback prospect in America. He has excellent intangibles and a great arm, and he could easily play this fall.
He is an early enrollee and will compete against Asantii Woolard in spring practice. If he’s the top guy, the Bruins won’t hesitate to roll with Rosen early in 2015.
11. Alabama WR Calvin Ridley
40 of 50Last fall, Lane Kiffin served as a breath of fresh air for Alabama’s offense. The Crimson Tide’s new offensive coordinator opened up the offense with quarterback Blake Sims, who threw for over 2,800 yards for the SEC champions. Amari Cooper won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver.
As 2015 begins, Kiffin must restock the Tide passing game. Cooper has gone to the NFL, while fellow wideouts DeAndrew White and Christion Jones have graduated.
Enter Calvin Ridley.
The Pompano Beach, Florida, native stands 6’0”, 170 pounds and is the nation’s top wide receiver prospect. He has excellent speed, hands and agility and is capable of making big plays at any moment. While he might not start this fall, Ridley will play for Kiffin and Nick Saban early and often in 2015.
10. Texas LB Malik Jefferson
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Texas’ first season under Charlie Strong wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty. The Longhorns finished 6-7 following a Texas Bowl blowout at the hands of Arkansas. It was ugly for fans, but for recruits, it was like a flashing neon light saying, “Play Here, Play Now.”
Malik Jefferson saw the light. The Mesquite, Texas, “Will” linebacker signed early with Texas and enrolled at UT in mid-January. He has excellent quickness, pursuit skills and tackling skills (he had 83 tackles and 12 sacks as a high school senior) and will make an immediate impact. He should start for the Longhorns defense and will give it a serious talent infusion as the nation’s No. 10 overall recruit.
9. Florida State DE Josh Sweat
42 of 50Florida State and Jimbo Fisher have reached the point in their program where they don’t rebuild. They reload. Don’t believe us? Just look at the Seminoles’ 2015 recruiting class, regarded as one of the nation’s best. FSU met its needs and also anticipated replacements for NFL draft departures.
One of the biggest pieces was Virginia defensive end Josh Sweat, considered the nation’s No. 9 overall prospect. Sweat stands 6’5”, 240 pounds and was incredibly productive, piling up 22 sacks as a senior. He has excellent athleticism and skills at the point of attack.
While Mario Edwards Jr.'s departure will hurt, Sweat has the potential to step in and play right away. He is already enrolled at Florida State and will go through spring practice, which should only make his transition easier.
8. LSU CB Kevin Tolliver II
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Even with the departure of John Chavis for Texas A&M, LSU should have another strong defense in 2015. The Tigers will work in a few new pieces, and one of them is Jacksonville, Florida, defensive back Kevin Tolliver II. At 6’2”, 185 pounds, Tolliver has excellent size for a cornerback, and he also has great speed, quickness, change of direction and ball skills.
Tolliver has already enrolled at LSU and will go through spring practice with the Tigers. He has the potential to step in and play right away, if not start. It’d be a surprise if he wasn’t on the field in Death Valley this fall for Les Miles’ crew.
7. Florida DE CeCe Jefferson
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Every year, at least one highly touted prospect makes waves that travel beyond national signing day. This season, CeCe Jefferson was that prospect. The nation’s No. 7 overall prospect, a talented pass-rushing defensive end, signed with Florida, but he couldn’t get his father to sign a national letter of intent.
The Jefferson family had concerns over defensive line coach Terrell Williams’ departure to rival Miami, but after well-regarded Chris Rumph was hired, Jefferson faxed in his letter. Florida is glad he did. He brings excellent pass-rush skills and could be an immediate replacement for departed end Dante Fowler Jr. You’ll see Jefferson on the field this fall, and for the Gators, he’ll be worth the wait.
6. Tennessee DT Kahlil McKenzie
45 of 50Tennessee enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2014, making the TaxSlayer Bowl while playing 23 freshmen and putting a bow on the year by blasting Iowa. A month later, Volunteers coach Butch Jones signed an excellent recruiting class full of impact players. One of the biggest (in many senses) is defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie.
The Calfornia native stands 6’3”, 354 pounds and possesses excellent strength, a great motor and excellent skills at the point of attack, allowing him to make an impact in opponents’ backfields. He also has potential to make an immediate impact on the Vols’ defensive line. Tennessee needs help at defensive tackle, and the mountainous McKenzie fills a major need. Expect him to do so early on this fall.
5. Florida State S Derwin James
46 of 50One of the biggest focuses of Florida State’s class of 2015 was getting an impact safety. With Derwin James’ signature, coach Jimbo Fisher did exactly that. James has excellent physicality and can cover receivers with well-rounded skills.
At 6’2”, 201 pounds, James has solid size for a safety as well. He has enrolled early at Florida State and will go through spring practice with his new teammates. He’s rated as the nation’s No. 5 player and the top overall safety recruit. James is getting up to speed quickly, and it would be a real surprise if he wasn’t on the field in some capacity this fall for the Seminole defense.
4. Southern California CB Iman Marshall
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Southern California had an excellent haul in Steve Sarkisian’s first full recruiting class, and the unquestioned gem was Long Beach, California, cornerback Iman Marshall. Rated as the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect, Marshall has excellent speed and change of direction and also has a nose for the ball.
At 6’1”, 190 pounds, he also has excellent size for a cornerback, which helps him in coverage, too. Following Josh Shaw’s departure, USC has an opening in its starting lineup, although standout athlete Adoree’ Jackson could fill that role. Regardless, the Trojans will have room for growth in their secondary, and Marshall figures to play early and often for a team that could contend for the College Football Playoff this fall.
3. Auburn DE Byron Cowart
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Byron Cowart provided some of the national signing day’s best drama. After the nation’s top defensive end and No. 3 overall recruit picked Auburn over Florida, the Sunshine State native made the Tigers sweat a little before finally sending in his signed national letter of intent. For Auburn, he was worth the wait.
Cowart is an impact player for an Auburn defense who managed only 21 sacks in 13 games in 2014 but will be looking for improvement under new defensive coordinator (and former Florida coach) Will Muschamp.
Cowart stands 6’4”, 250 pounds and has excellent speed, hand skills and pursuit skills that will make him a fixture in SEC offensive backfields almost immediately.
While Auburn has some established depth at defensive end, led by sophomore Carl Lawson, returning from a torn ACL, the Tigers are thin inside, and players could shift to defensive tackle. Regardless, Cowart is a lock to see the field this fall and likely pick up multiple sacks as he learns his way.
2. Florida OT Martez Ivey
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When Jim McElwain took over at Florida, the Gators’ 2015 recruiting class was in dire straits, thanks to the Will Muschamp's lame-duck status and eventual departure.
And while McElwain didn’t land every recruit he wanted, he made a big splash when Apopka offensive tackle Martez Ivey chose the Gators on national signing day. Ivey is rated as the nation’s top offensive lineman and the No. 2 overall prospect.
He is a key addition to a line that lost tackle D.J. Humphries early to the NFL. At 6’5”, 275 pounds, Ivey has a solid frame but still has plenty of room to put on weight and develop. He has excellent athleticism, quickness and foot speed and is well-rounded in both pass and run blocking. Offensive linemen don’t always contribute early, but Ivey will be a major part of a rebuilding offense in 2015.
1. Georgia DT Trent Thompson
50 of 50Georgia led throughout for defensive tackle Trent Thompson’s signature, but it was still a huge win when the Albany, Georgia, native put pen to paper for the Bulldogs. Thompson is ranked as the top overall prospect in the class of 2015 by 247Sports, and he has excellent explosiveness off the ball and good strength and hand quickness.
He was coveted by programs across the South and across the nation. Thompson figures to step in and play an immediate role for the Bulldogs’ defensive line. At 6’2”, 313 pounds, he’ll fill a big hole as a run-stuffer who can also get after quarterbacks and could eventually fill a starting role as a freshman. So, yes, he’ll play this fall.
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