2016 College Football Recruits Who Could Start Right Away

Each year, college football coaches look for recruits who can fit their schemes and be major impacts within the program. In many cases, coaches want these athletes to excel sooner than later.

There are many coaches nationally who won't look for excuses to play their best athletes. If that means a freshman outshines a senior in practices, so be it. The 2016 recruiting class has a handful of athletes who are capable of making an upperclassman a permanent backup.

Of course, it all depends on how fast a player adapts to a program, but here are 10 2016 athletes who not only could see playing time in college but also could be put into starting roles as freshmen. All names are listed in alphabetical order.

DT Derrick Brown

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Buford, Georgia (Lanier)

Size: 6'4", 305 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 5 overall (No. 2 DT)

Many coaches will say that football games are won in the trenches, and when it comes to "the trenches," winning teams have dominant offensive and defensive linemen. Derrick Brown has the potential to be one of the dominant tackles of the SEC. Georgia is a favorite to sign him in February.

Brown has a few SEC schools high on his list, including Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. He has made unofficial visits to all four schools, as well as Ole Miss and Mississippi State, this month. Georgia holds a proximity advantage, as it is roughly an hour away from his home.

QB Jacob Eason

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Lake Stevens, Washington (Lake Stevens)

Size: 6'5", 205 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 4 overall (No. 1 pro-style QB)

Committed to Georgia

There is no reason to think Jacob Eason can't go to Georgia and get immediate playing time. He's that good. As the nation's top-ranked quarterback, regardless of being a pro-style or dual-threat quarterback, Eason is the kind of athlete who can be a key cog in Georgia's offense of the future.

Eason is a solid Georgia commit; in fact, it's been questioned if he is the school's next Matthew Stafford. In three high school seasons, he's thrown 59 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions, including only three as a junior. He's also completed better than 62 percent of his passes for his high school career, including better than 68 percent as a junior.

QB Malik Henry

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)

Size: 6'3", 180 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 9 overall (No. 2 pro-style QB)

Committed to Florida State

With Jameis Winston gone, many feel the quarterback position at Florida State is wide open for the taking. Malik Henry is good enough to come in as a freshman and lead the offense. Running the show at IMG Academy is great practice for the big time, as the program is well-known around the country.

Henry committed to Florida State in November, choosing the Seminoles over Ohio State, UCLA and Notre Dame, among others. Since committing, Henry has drawn comparisons to Winston, as both are two-sport athletes in football and baseball. Can Henry lead Florida State to a national title a la Winston?

DT Rashan Gary

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Paramus, New Jersey (Paramus Catholic)

Size: 6'4", 290 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 1 overall

There's a reason why Rashan Gary is the top-ranked player in the country. He has great strength, a ton of football IQ and ridiculous speed for a player his size. As he inches closer to 30 reported offers, Gary is an athlete who can go anywhere in the country and see immediate playing time.

Most recently, Gary has visited Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina and Ohio State. Those programs are potential landing spots, but Alabama and Michigan are two schools considered to be front-runners. Look for Gary to continue taking his time with the process.

LB Keion Joyner

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Havelock, North Carolina (Havelock)

Size: 6'3", 200 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 7 overall (No. 2 OLB)

Keion Joyner is an athlete balancing more than 15 reported offers—and rightfully so. As the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina, Joyner is a strong, fast athlete good enough to play outside linebacker or safety in the right system. In fact, it's his versatility that may get him minutes as a freshman.

Joyner is a linebacker who could not only find himself in a starting role early but also stumble into all-conference honors, depending on where he attends school. LSU, Florida State and Auburn are schools he's interested in, but he also has North Carolina, Texas A&M and East Carolina high. If he stays closer to home, don't be surprised if he's one of the names talked about very soon.

OT Greg Little

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Allen, Texas (Allen)

Size: 6'5 ½,", 305 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 2 overall (No. 1 OT)

Committed to Texas A&M

As good as Greg Little has been, there are some who have said he was college-ready not only as a junior but also as a sophomore. When it comes to technique, Little is among the best tackles, regardless of age, and Texas A&M is excited about having him committed.

The Aggies are now doing all they can to keep him as a member of their 2016 recruiting class. Considered a soft commit, Little is planning on taking several visits during the summer. Among the schools that interest him are UCLA, USC, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and LSU. Little, however, is the first to reiterate that while he's a soft Texas A&M commit, he's still a commit, and the Aggies are the team to beat.

DE Shavar Manuel

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)

Size: 6'5", 262 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 3 overall (No. 1 SDE)

If there's such a thing as a streamlined big man, Shavar Manuel is your guy. A good-looking prospect, Manuel has the size and tenacity that you want in every pledge. He also has the drive and determination to see early playing time. Wherever he plays college ball, he will look to challenge whoever is considered the top dog at the defensive end position.

Manuel has more than 15 reported offers, and according to his 247Sports Crystal Ball, Florida State is trending heavily. He's made a couple of trips to Tallahassee this year. While the Seminoles are considered favorites, don't count out Alabama, LSU and Miami as potential landing spots.

CB Saivion Smith

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Bradenton, Florida (IMG Academy)

Size: 6'1", 175 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 8 overall (No. 1 CB)

Committed to LSU

The term "shutdown cornerback" often times is overused in recruiting, as there are very few athletes who can consistently contain wide receivers on an island. Saivion Smith reminds many of a taller version of Florida's Vernon Hargreaves III, as he masters his position and makes it a priority to keep all receivers at bay.

Even ranked as the nation's top cornerback, Smith plays each down with a chip on his shoulder, almost as if he has something to prove. He committed to play for LSU on Feb. 24, and the Tigers are looking forward to adding another stud to their version of DBU.

RB Kareem Walker

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Wayne, New Jersey (De Paul Catholic)

Size: 6'1", 210 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 10 overall (No. 1 RB)

Committed to Ohio State

Size, speed, field vision and acceleration are four characteristics every good running back should have. Kareem Walker possesses those traits and then some. His lower-body strength makes him an instant candidate to not only see playing time as a freshman but potentially steal away an upperclassman's starting duties.

Walker is committed to Ohio State, which means there will be tons of competition in the backfield when he arrives. The Buckeyes have three running backs committed in the 2016 class. Assuming he stays committed to head coach Urban Meyer, look for Walker to not only show himself worthy as the top back in the class but also challenge for the starting position—a potentially interesting scenario if Ezekiel Elliott chooses not to enter the NFL draft in 2016.

LB Lyndell Wilson

Credit: 247Sports

Hometown (school): Montgomery, Alabama (Carver)

Size: 6'2", 220 lbs

247Sports composite ranking: No. 6 overall (No. 1 OLB)

When your nickname is "Mack," you must perform as such. Lyndell Wilson doesn't disappoint on the football field. Wilson gives a coach everything he wants in an outside linebacker. He's quick off the snap, fast enough to line up against receivers and solid enough laterally to be a consistent playmaker during running situations.

Wilson, additionally, has the size and a nose for the football to be an inside linebacker if necessary. He should see playing time early, but choosing the right school is his issue for now. He has Alabama and Auburn high on his list, but he's also been on a recent visit to Florida State.

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles