2016 Early Enrollees Expected to Make a Splash in Spring Practice
For some incoming freshmen, college football season starts now.
Those who enrolled early have already (in most cases) joined the program and are undergoing winter workouts. Workouts will turn to spring practice in March and April, giving fresh-out-of-high school players a chance to compete for starting jobs.
Some of those players will make stronger cases than others. That's what this list hopes to target. It's not just the highest-ranked early enrollees such as Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson; it's the highest-ranked early enrollees expected to compete to start immediately.
That, after all, is the splash most of these teams are hoping for.
OTs Charles Baldwin/Jonah Williams, Alabama
1 of 8
Who They Are
Jonah Williams (6'5", 296 lbs)
No. 17 Overall Player, No. 2 Offensive Tackle
Charles Baldwin (6'5", 315 lbs)
No. 2 Overall JUCO Player, No. 1 JUCO Offensive Tackle
What They Are
Jonah Williams is a 5-star tackle. He's not so imposing on paper, and his name is underhyped because he avoided the 24/7 camp tour, but all he does on tape is dominate. Charles Baldwin, meanwhile, is the cycle's best offensive JUCO player. He's bigger and older than Williams and will not be overwhelmed by SEC muscle.
Why They'll Splash
Five-star freshman tackles make an impact. Look at Laremy Tunsil. Look at Mitch Hyatt. Look at Alabama's Cameron Robinson. The Tide need a right tackle opposite Robinson, and Williams has the pedigree to win the job. But the same might be said of Baldwin, who could benefit from Nick Saban's stance on JUCO players.
"When we recruit a junior college guy, we usually need them to play," Saban said on national signing day, per the Tuscaloosa News' Cecil Hurt.
Expect one or both to play early.
DE Oluwole Betiku, USC
2 of 8
Who He Is
Oluwole Betiku (6'3", 250 lbs)
No. 16 Overall Player, No. 1 Weak-Side Defensive End
What He Is
A raw but high-upside pass-rusher with a perfect defensive end frame. Oluwole Betiku has only been playing football for two years—per Scout.com's Greg Biggins, he could barely get into a stance in 2014—but has developed on a ridiculous learning curve to become a 5-star prospect. The Nigerian export could do for football what Africans such as Dikembe Mutombo did for basketball. He has the talent to become an ambassador.
Why He'll Splash
Despite his raw technique, Betiku is ready to make plays at this level. His size, speed and burst remind one of Texas A&M's Myles Garrett. That doesn't mean he'll be Myles Garett, but USC loses its top four defensive linemen (by tackles), and no player will benefit more from spending spring camp around college coaches.
WR Donnie Corley, Michigan State
3 of 8
Who He Is
Donnie Corley (6'2 ½", 184 lbs)
No. 107 Overall Player, No. 15 Wide Receiver
What He Is
An all-around polished receiver and one of the best skill players Mark Dantonio has ever signed. Donnie Corley led Detroit Martin Luther King to a state title with a wild Hail Mary catch against Lowell and then won MLive Media Group's Michigan High School Football Player of the Year Award and committed to Michigan State at the U.S. Army All-America Bowl. In short, he's the type of player who, five years ago, would have committed to Ohio State, Notre Dame or Michigan.
Why He'll Splash
Sparty has a big hole at receiver. Aaron Burbridge and Macgarrett Kings Jr. depart from last year, leaving R.J. Shelton and Felton Davis III as the two best remaining options. It didn't take long for running back LJ Scott, last year's top recruit, to become a star in MSU's backfield. Corley has similar talent, even more opportunity and the benefit of enrolling for spring ball.
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WR Kyle Davis, Auburn
4 of 8
Who He Is
Kyle Davis (6'1 ½", 218 lbs)
No. 72 Overall Player, No. 9 Wide Receiver
What He Is
A polished wide receiver with a college-ready game. Kyle Davis has a big frame and plays possession football, making tough catches in traffic, high-pointing 50-50 throws and sealing the edge on running plays (a big deal in Gus Malzahn's offense). He's not a burner but doesn't need to be. Think of him more like a poor man's Laquon Treadwell.
Why He'll Splash
Auburn loses its top two receivers, Ricardo Louis and Melvin Ray, from last year's disappointing pass offense. This spring will be all about the quarterback battle among Sean White, Jeremy Johnson and John Franklin III, and Davis could emerge as a safety net for all three. He's exactly what a QB competing to start loves to have: a receiver who's always open.
QB Jacob Eason, Georgia
5 of 8
Who He Is
Jacob Eason (6'5 ½", 208 lbs)
No. 5 Overall Player, No. 2 Pro-Style Quarterback
What He Is
A Matthew Stafford lookalike with NFL size and arm strength. Jacob Eason is still learning how to harness his tools, but his best reps contain throws no teenager should make. As a senior at Lake Stevens High School in Washington, he threw for 3,500 yards and 43 touchdowns.
Why He'll Splash
Georgia is in serious need of a quarterback. Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey do not look like the answer, and this offense can't afford to waste (what will likely be) Nick Chubb's final season. Eason has the arm to run both pro-style and spread schemes, which is perfect under new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. Chaney's past includes success running both systems, so he can tailor the offense to wherever Eason shows the most promise.
QB Jerod Evans, Virginia Tech
6 of 8Who He Is
Jerod Evans (6'4", 225 lbs)
No. 7 Overall JUCO Player, No. 1 JUCO Quarterback
What He Is
A true dual-threat passer and the highest-rated JUCO quarterback since 2011 (Zach Mettenberger). Jerod Evans played his freshman year at Air Force in 2012 but tore his ACL and decided against joining the military. So he transferred to Trinity Valley Community College, where after two years head coach Brad Smiley called him "the closest this league has had since that guy came out of here and went to Auburn," in reference to former JUCO quarterback Cam Newton, per the Roanoke Times' Andy Bitter.
Why He'll Splash
Head coach Justin Fuente understands how to mold a quarterback. He turned 6'7" project Paxton Lynch into a first-round NFL draft prospect, which presumably played a big role in Evans' signing with the Hokies. Virginia Tech's pass offense has been a mess, but last year's top three receivers were sophomores and should all return and play well under Fuente. Evans has the talent and maturity to become the missing piece.
DT Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
7 of 8
Who He Is
Dexter Lawrence (6'4", 327 lbs)
No. 2 Overall Player, No. 2 Defensive Tackle
What He Is
A nose tackle who moves like someone 30 pounds lighter. That's what makes Dexter Lawrence special. He can plug two gaps and push the line against the run but also shoot through the line and chase quarterbacks against the pass. If not for Rashan Gary, one of the best recruits we've seen this decade, Lawrence would have been the No. 1 overall player in the country. He fits the profile of that type of prospect.
Why He'll Splash
For the second consecutive season, the Clemson defense needs reinforcements. It loses D.J. Reader, Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, so there are snaps to be had along the line. Last year's 5-star tackle, Christian Wilkins, stepped in early to become a contributor. Lawrence and he will make life hard for ACC offenses.
ILB Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (FL)
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Who He Is
Shaquille Quarterman (6'¼", 233 lbs)
No. 109 Overall Player, No. 5 Inside Linebacker
What He Is
A throwback to the 2000s Miami linebacker. Sure, it's too early to call him Jon Beason or Jonathan Vilma, but Shaquille Quarterman arrives in South Beach with a college-ready frame and downhill instincts. Even Denzel Perryman, who thrived for the Canes despite boasting a smaller frame (5'11", 240 lbs), made his biggest impact laying the lumber. Quarterman has the profile to join them on the list of great Miami linebackers.
Why He'll Splash
Apart from all the reasons above, Quarterman also has an open(ish) road to playing time. Seniors Raphael Kirby and Tyriq McCord depart, leaving holes to fill along Miami's linebacker unit. He might not start on the inside in Week 1, but Quarterman's early arrival is bad news for last year's rotational linebackers. If he picks up Manny Diaz's defense quickly, he's too good to spend next year on the sideline.
Note: All recruiting rankings and measurables via 247Sports' composite ratings. All high school stats via Max Preps.
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