Play Him or Redshirt Him Decisions for Top 50 Signees in Class of 2016
Each year, fans across the nation obsess about national signing day. Where are the top recruits signing? How is my team’s signing class coming together? Will it keep its best recruits and flip some key players from its rivals? All of that excitement culminates on the first Wednesday of February, when recruits send in their signed letters of intent, but the process is only beginning.
The next step starts when signees report to campus. Some early enrollees are already with their new teams, working out and getting ready to go through spring practice. Others will arrive this summer and adjust to their new homes during preseason drills. It leads to an important question: Will they play or redshirt? For some players, it’s not much of a question either way. For others, the decision to sit or get immediate developmental time can be difficult.
Here’s a look at the decisions facing the nation’s top 50 recruits, per 247Sports. Calls were made based on a player’s talent as well as his new team’s depth chart and the need for him to play early on. Agree or disagree? Tell us in the comments!
50. Baylor OG Patrick Hudson
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Baylor’s high-powered offense is fueled by skill players such as Corey Coleman and Shock Linwood, but the Bears attack doesn’t go anywhere without a strong offensive line. That’s a big concern for the Bears and Art Briles entering 2016. Four of five offensive line starters graduated, leaving center Kyle Fuller as the only returning starter.
In other words, the line might as well put out a card that says, "Help Wanted." That’s good news for guys such as Patrick Hudson. One of the nation’s top guard prospects, Hudson stands 6’5”, 325 pounds. He can play either guard or tackle, and he chose Baylor over Texas and Texas A&M.
Given the Bears’ current offensive line situation, it’d be a big surprise if Hudson weren’t in the mix somewhere on the line in 2016.
49. Auburn DT Antwuan Jackson
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New Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele hopes to give the Tigers defense some stability. That stability could start on the defensive line. He inherits a strong defensive line with end Carl Lawson and returning starting defensive tackles Montravius Adams and Dontavius Russell, bolstered by a strong defensive tackle recruiting class.
That class includes Antwuan Jackson. Jackson has a stout build at 6’2”, 305 pounds, and is one of the nation’s top defensive tackle prospects. He chose Auburn over Ohio State, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, and he will be a key prize for an already solid line.
Jackson has great quickness, athleticism and a good motor. He’ll fit in nicely on the line and the defensive tackle rotation this fall.
48. Florida State QB Malik Henry
3 of 50Last fall, Florida State showed how much it missed Jameis Winston. With the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 NFL draft pick beginning his pro career in Tampa, a pair of quarterbacks battled to establish themselves as the Seminoles starter. Neither Everett Golson nor Sean Maguire really grabbed that role despite combining for 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Golson is gone, but Maguire returns for one final season in the FSU offense. He’ll be pushed by backup JJ Cosentino, who threw for 10 passes last season, as well as Deondre Francois, who redshirted last fall.
Also in the mix will be Malik Henry, who has already enrolled in Tallahassee and will go through spring practice with his new teammates. Henry will push to play this fall, but the dual-threat quarterback faces a crowded field. Remember that Jimbo Fisher redshirted Winston before he took the field in 2013. He won’t be afraid to do the same for Henry unless he shows that he’s the clear top quarterback in camp.
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47. LSU CB Saivion Smith
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LSU has a strong tradition in its secondary, and new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda walks into an excellent situation with the Tigers’ current defensive backfield. Junior Tre’Davious White turned down the NFL to return for his senior season, and fellow starter Kevin Toliver II is a sophomore who showed some very good things as a freshman.
LSU signed a strong defensive back class that includes cornerback Saivion Smith, who has great size for a corner at 6’1”, 175 pounds. Smith has great instincts, quickness, change of direction, speed and ball skills.
However, the Tigers’ crowded secondary means Smith might have to wait his turn for playing time. It might be smart for him to develop, unless he shows significantly better skills in spring and preseason practice.
46. Stanford QB KJ Costello
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It’ll be a little unusual around Stanford’s locker room this fall. It feels like Kevin Hogan has been the Cardinal quarterback forever, but he has finally graduated following a stellar career that saw Stanford win three Pac-12 titles in four years. David Shaw must find a replacement for Hogan who can lead the offense and feed Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey.
The quarterback of the future? It could be KJ Costello. Costello stands 6’4”, 213 pounds and has great arm strength, delivery and intangibles. However, he has several players ahead of him in the pecking order, with Ryan Burns and Keller Chryst, who served as Hogan’s backups last fall, around in 2016.
It might be tough for Costello to overtake those two immediately, and it wouldn’t be too shocking to see him take a redshirt season and learn in 2016.
45. Florida CB Chauncey Gardner
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Defense played a huge role in Florida’s 10-4 SEC East title season in 2015, and one of the biggest cornerstones of that unit was cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III. Hargreaves is a lockdown cornerback, capable of taking the opposition’s best receiver and trailing him all game long.
Hargreaves declared for the NFL draft, however, leaving Florida in search of a starting corner. Jalen Tabor will be the Gators’ top corner, but Hargreaves’ departure—along with Brian Poole’s graduation—leaves a big hole opposite him.
Chauncey Gardner figures to have a great opportunity to fill that void. Gardner has great size for a corner at 6’0”, 194 pounds and has already enrolled at Florida. He excelled as a cornerback and wide receiver in high school but will focus exclusively on defense in college. It would be a stunner if he weren’t on the field this fall.
44. Ohio State RB Demario McCall
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Ohio State was hit hard by the NFL draft. Ten Buckeyes declared for the draft, one short of the record set three years ago by LSU. Urban Meyer’s staff has holes all over the roster ready to be filled by a talented incoming class. One of the biggest is at tailback, where Ezekiel Elliott leaves a highly productive legacy behind.
In-state product Demario McCall stands just 5’9”, 171 pounds but boasts great vision, speed, explosiveness and change of direction. He figures to make an immediate impact on the Ohio State offense. Curtis Samuel (132 yards, one touchdown) is the top returning tailback, so there is opportunity.
Expect McCall to be able to see the field quickly and use his speed and athleticism to put his stamp on the Buckeyes attack.
43. Auburn WR Nate Craig-Myers
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Auburn’s hurry-up, no-huddle offense moves fast and scores a lot of points. But to do so, the Tigers need a strong group of receivers. Coming off a 7-6 season, that’s a huge priority for Gus Malzahn and Co. Auburn graduated its top two receivers in Ricardo Louis and Melvin Ray, and the top returning receiver, Jason Smith, had 13 receptions for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Signing talented players such as Nate Craig-Myers was crucial. Myers stands 6’2”, 205 pounds and has excellent speed, hands, ball skills and the ability to make big things happen after the catch. Auburn’s thin wide receiver depth chart means players such as him will have big chances for playing time this fall. Expect him to take advantage of it and work with whoever emerges under center.
42. Florida State C Baveon Johnson
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Florida State fought through some instability on the offensive line to forge a 10-3 record in 2015. Three players, led by Alec Eberle, took significant snaps at center. That could be significant for Baveon Johnson. The FSU signee is the nation’s top center prospect, standing 6’3”, 310 pounds.
Johnson picked Florida State over Alabama and figures to be a significant part of FSU’s offensive line future. FSU returns three young centers ahead of him, but if he can pick up the offense quickly, 2016 could be his time to shine on the offensive line.
41. Penn State DE Shane Simmons
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Last fall, Penn State had one of the nation’s best defensive ends in Carl Nassib. Nassib came out of obscurity as a former walk-on end to lead the nation in sacks and carved out an NFL future for himself. The Nittany Lions’ next great defensive end will arrive on campus with significantly more hype.
Defensive end Shane Simmons is a cornerstone of James Franklin’s 2016 class. He stands 6’4”, 221 pounds and has great athleticism, speed and a strong first step at the line of scrimmage. Nassib’s graduation leaves a void on the Lions defensive line, and while Penn State has other young defensive ends, there’s certainly a chance for Simmons to capitalize and play as a true freshman.
40. Texas S Brandon Jones
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For Charlie Strong, the time is now at Texas. An 11-14 record in two seasons as Longhorns head coach just isn’t acceptable for rabid Texas fans and boosters, and the pressure is on for Strong to win quickly. That means improving the talent level is important, which makes Brandon Jones’ arrival key.
Jones was one of the nation’s top defensive back prospects, and his selection of Texas over rival Texas A&M was a major boost for the class of 2016. Jones is a good playmaker with good closing speed, instincts and ball skills. He should find early playing time in Austin.
Texas returns both starting safeties, but Jones will find his way into the playing rotation this fall. He’s too talented to keep off the field for very long.
39. Michigan OT Ben Bredeson
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Jim Harbaugh is building something big in Ann Arbor. In his first season at Michigan, Harbaugh led a previously 5-7 team to a 10-3 record. The Wolverines need talented linemen to run their pro-style offense, which is why Ben Bredeson’s signature was important. The highest-ranked member of the 2016 signing class is a very versatile player.
Bredeson can play either tackle position and both guard slots, and could start his Michigan career as a guard. Michigan will return its entire guard two-deep in 2016, with starters Ben Braden and Kyle Kalis. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bredeson redshirt, get even stronger and push for a starting role in 2017.
38. Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown
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A.J. Brown isn’t afraid to make waves. The talented receiver grew up in Starkville, Mississippi, just minutes from Mississippi State’s campus. Becoming a Bulldog is a natural for those in Starkville but not for Brown.
Brown was recruited by MSU, but he spurned the Bulldogs in favor of signing with archrival Ole Miss. That surely didn’t sit well in Starkville, but Brown, who stands 6’1”, 220 pounds, probably doesn’t care. He has an excellent opportunity in Oxford. Laquon Treadwell’s departure to the NFL leaves a major opening in the Ole Miss offense.
For a productive receiver such as Brown, that’s attractive. He had 83 receptions for 1,371 yards and 13 touchdowns as a Starkville High School senior. He can be a real difference-maker catching passes from Chad Kelly in 2016.
37. Stanford TE Kaden Smith
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Last fall, Stanford saw tailback Christian McCaffrey steal headlines with his Heisman runner-up performance, but the Cardinal often employ talented tight ends in their offense. That’s why the signing of Kaden Smith is so important. Tight ends such as Smith can block well, but they can also catch passes and make an offensive impact.
The Flower Mound, Texas, native stands 6’5”, 235 pounds, and had 57 receptions for 917 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. He has the size and pass-catching ability to make a difference in the Stanford offense. While Stanford returns its top two tight ends from a year ago, if Smith picks up the offense, he could find his way to the field in short order.
36. Baylor WR Devin Duvernay
15 of 50Baylor’s high-powered offense is the envy of teams across the nation. Over the past few years, quarterbacks such as Robert Griffin III, Bryce Petty and Seth Russell have thrown passes to fleet, explosive receivers who have lit up scoreboards across the nation.
Right now, though, Baylor needs to reload. Corey Coleman bolted for the NFL after scoring 20 touchdowns, and No. 3 receiver Jay Lee graduated. KD Cannon returns, but beyond him, no returning Bears receiver had more than 11 receptions in 2015. There’s incredible opportunity for fast, talented receivers to play right away.
That’s good news for Devin Duvernay. Duvernay, who stands 5’11”, 185 pounds, has great speed, hands, agility and change of direction. He chose Baylor over a host of suitors that included Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. He made 62 receptions for 1,142 yards and 16 touchdowns as a high school senior, and he should get the chance to put up big numbers in the Big 12 this fall, too.
35. Alabama RB B.J. Emmons
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Alabama has a tradition of strong running back play under Nick Saban’s watch. Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry (who rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns) is only the latest Crimson Tide tailback to make the leap to the NFL, following the likes of T.J. Yeldon, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy and Mark Ingram. Henry’s departure, along with the graduation of Kenyan Drake, leaves a void in the Tide backfield.
Bo Scarborough is set to take the lead role, but there’s room for more, as Saban loves to employ two-back sets. That’s good news for B.J. Emmons. The 5’10”, 232-pounder is one of the nation’s top tailback prospects. Emmons rushed for 2,417 yards and 36 touchdowns as a high school senior. If he can duplicate any of that sort of productivity in Tuscaloosa, the Tide will be set for years. Expect him to get carries this fall.
34. Southern California WR Tyler Vaughns
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Making an impact on the Southern California offense isn’t easy. The Trojans are trying to find a quarterback this spring and summer following Cody Kessler’s graduation, but the eventual winner will throw to a very talented group of receivers led by JuJu Schuster-Smith and do-everything athlete Adoree’ Jackson.
Contributing as a freshman isn’t easy, but Tyler Vaughns has the skills to do it. One of the nation’s top wide receiver prospects, Vaughns is 6’1”, 177 pounds and is very polished, with great hands, route running and ball skills. He has the early polish to break through a crowded field of receivers and find his way onto the field early on in Clay Helton’s first full season as head coach.
33. Florida WR Tyrie Cleveland
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Florida had a very solid debut season under Jim McElwain’s watch, but the Gators ended it feeling a bit hollow. The offense was never the same following Will Grier’s midseason NCAA suspension for a positive test for performance enhancing drugs, and the season wrapped with a three-game losing streak that featured blowout losses to Florida State and Michigan.
McElwain needs to find a quarterback, but he also needs more reliable offensive punch at wide receiver. Antonio Callaway and Brandon Powell are talented, but the Gators need more depth. They need players such as Tyrie Cleveland. The Houston native stands 6’2”, 189 pounds, and Florida was fortunate to get him. He was originally committed to Houston and Tom Herman but changed his commitment on national signing day.
Cleveland was also recruited by Arkansas, Texas A&M and TCU, and is a prize of the 2016 recruiting class. He had a combined 2,023 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns in his final two seasons of high school, and if he can keep up that productivity at the college level, he’ll be a gem for whoever lines up under center.
32. Ohio State DE Jonathon Cooper
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Few programs have ever been hit as hard by the NFL draft as Ohio State was this season. When the smoke cleared from draft declarations, nine Buckeyes left early for the NFL. As mentioned, that’s one shy of the record of 10, set by LSU in 2013. That leaves lots of holes in the Buckeyes’ two-deep but also plenty of opportunity for incoming players.
Star defensive end Joey Bosa is one of the key departures, and while Ohio State actually has a solid group of returnees behind Bosa, the door is open for players such as Jonathon Cooper to see early time. A Columbus, Ohio, native, Cooper stands 6’2”, 235 pounds and has been committed to OSU for over two years. He has already enrolled with the Buckeyes, which will also give him a leg up on early playing time.
31. Florida State OT Landon Dickerson
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One of the biggest challenges facing Florida State last fall was a new offensive line. The Seminoles had their ups and downs in a 10-3 season but should be improved in 2016 while bringing back their entire O-Line two-deep.
That’s good for Jimbo Fisher, but it could make it tougher for new arrivals to crack the playing rotation. Offensive tackle Landon Dickerson is one of the nation’s top tackle prospects. He stands 6’5”, 300 pounds and picked the Seminoles over Auburn and Virginia Tech.
Dickerson has versatility and can play either tackle or guard, and is an intelligent player. But Florida State’s returning depth could mean he sits and learns for a season behind more experienced Seminoles.
30. Auburn DE Marlon Davidson
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The Auburn defense has been in flux recently. Kevin Steele is the Tigers’ third defensive coordinator in as many seasons, following Will Muschamp’s one-year stopover between head coaching jobs at Florida and South Carolina. Steele inherits a talented defense that is in need of even more talent to compete consistently in the SEC West.
The signing of Montgomery, Alabama, defensive end Marlon Davidson will help. Davidson has great quickness, athleticism and pursuit speed, and has solid size at 6’4”, 260 pounds. Carl Lawson is returning for his senior season, but Cassanova McKinzy’s graduation leaves a spot in the starting lineup. It’s easy to see Davidson finding a spot in the rotation with his pass-rush skills and potentially in the starting lineup. He won’t be sitting this fall.
29. Clemson RB Tavien Feaster
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Under Chad Morris and now-co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott, Clemson has become known as Wide Receiver U. Tajh Boyd and Deshaun Watson have given the offense a high-flying reputation, but it’s also grounded with a strong run game. Watson rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2015, and Wayne Gallman was one of the ACC’s top tailbacks with a punishing style.
Clemson is looking for the next generation of its ground game, and the Tigers think they’ve found it in Tavien Feaster. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native has excellent speed, power and vision in a 5’11”, 196-pound frame and was highly sought after, eventually picking Clemson over Tennessee.
Gallman is returning along with power back Tyshon Dye, but Feaster is the back of the future (and perhaps the present). Gallman will carry the load again this season, but Feaster will see the field for plenty of carries without question. He’ll be fun for Tigers fans to watch this fall.
28. Penn State OG Michal Menet
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If you watched Penn State the last two seasons, you probably felt for Christian Hackenberg. A porous offensive line left Hackenberg constantly scrambling for his life, and his departure to the NFL felt like an escape as much as a promotion. It’s too late to help Hackenberg, but help is on the way to Happy Valley.
Michal Menet was a key piece of the Nittany Lions’ 2016 recruiting class. He stands 6’5”, 273 pounds and has excellent positional flexibility. Menet played both guard and tackle as a high school senior and could fit in at any position in the line. That’s great news for James Franklin, who can plug him in anywhere, giving some much-needed versatility to the offensive line. He’ll see time on the field this fall.
27. Notre Dame OT Tommy Kraemer
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Notre Dame enters spring practice with an important dilemma. Who will play quarterback: DeShone Kizer or Malik Zaire, who is returning from injury? That battle will grab reporters’ attention, but an even more important position might be the man who’ll protect the eventual starter’s blind side.
Standout tackle Ronnie Stanley has graduated and is off to the NFL, leaving a big hole on the left side of the line. Hunter Bivin could step forward, but the signing of offensive tackle Tommy Kraemer is crucial. Kraemer stands 6’5”, 309 pounds and chose Notre Dame over Ohio State. He’s a great pass- and run-blocker and also has very good feet.
Notre Dame’s overall lack of tackle depth means it’s likely that Kraemer will see time at one of two tackle spots in his first season on campus.
26. Florida DE Antonneous Clayton
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Jim McElwain had an excellent first season at Florida’s helm. The Gators finished 10-4 and won the SEC East, and did so with a very talented defense. Of course, McElwain needs more talent to keep his defense strong, which is why players such as Vienna, Georgia, defensive end Antonneous Clayton are so important.
Clayton is one of the nation’s top rush end prospects and a natural replacement for graduated end Jonathan Bullard. Clayton is a bit thin at 6’3”, 218 pounds but has great speed and pass-rush skills. He picked Florida over Auburn and Florida State, and will make an immediate impact rushing off the end for Geoff Collins’ defense.
25. Oklahoma LB Caleb Kelly
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Oklahoma enjoyed a special 2015 season. The Sooners made an impressive run through the Big 12, winning the league title and making the College Football Playoff. But as a 38-17 Orange Bowl loss to Clemson showed, the Sooners still have work to do keeping up with high-powered offenses.
The NFL and graduation departures of linebackers Dominique Alexander and Frank Shannon only exacerbate that problem. That’s why Caleb Kelly’s arrival is so important. Kelly, a Fresno, California, native, is one of Oklahoma’s most important signees. Kelly stands 6’3”, 215 pounds and was one of the nation’s most highly recruited linebackers.
He picked Oklahoma over Oregon and Notre Dame, among others, and has great lateral movement and athleticism while playing well in space. Kelly is in line to see immediate playing time while improving the Sooners linebacker corps.
24. Ole Miss DT Benito Jones
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For three seasons, Ole Miss got the most out of former top overall recruit Robert Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche was a scary force on the Rebels defensive line, making a difference with every snap he played. He was a star, and it was no surprise when he declared for the NFL draft following his junior season.
That left coach Hugh Freeze with a dilemma. How would he fill Nkemdiche’s spot? Benito Jones will have the first crack. Jones has great quickness, speed and strength at the point of attack, and has a solid body at 6’2’, 285 pounds. He’ll be a natural choice to replace Nkemdiche as a difference-maker on the Rebels line. He has already enrolled at Ole Miss and will go through spring practice with the Rebels.
23. LSU DT Rashard Lawrence
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What would LSU be without monstrous defensive linemen? No matter the defensive coordinator, the Tigers roll out a dominant, nasty defensive line seemingly every season. LSU reloads with great defensive tackles on a consistent basis, and Rashard Lawrence is the latest example.
The in-state product stands 6’3”, 305 pounds and picked the Tigers over Ohio State and Alabama, among others. He has a nonstop motor and great athleticism, quickness and explosiveness, the kind of player who can give opposing offensive linemen nightmares.
LSU has a solid returning defensive tackle rotation, but Lawrence is the type of player who can crack it quickly and make an impact as a freshman. Expect him to do so.
22. Southern California CB Jack Jones
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Southern California has one of the nation’s top all-around players on its roster in Adoree’ Jackson. Jackson does a little bit of everything and all of it well. He starts at cornerback, catches passes as a receiver and returns punts and kicks as an explosive return threat. He’s the kind of player anyone would want to have on their roster.
So why not have two? Jackson is a junior, but the Trojans signed the next-best all-around threat in Long Beach, California, cornerback Jack Jones. Jones is a talented cornerback but also played receiver, returned kicks and punts and even punted himself. He averaged 134 all-purpose yards per game as a senior at Long Beach Poly, an impressive feat.
Jones was a key talent for new coach Clay Helton to keep home, and while he might not have a starting spot early on, don’t expect him to sit. Players with Jones’ varied talents find their way to the field quickly.
21. LSU CB Kristian Fulton
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LSU has built its program by dominating in-state recruiting, and 2016 was no different. Les Miles and his staff put together a stellar class full of great Louisiana players, and the best is cornerback Kristian Fulton. The Metairie native is one of the nation’s top defensive prospects with great size for a defensive back at 6’0”, 177 pounds.
He chose LSU over Florida, Arkansas and Alabama, among others, and has shown that he has great ball skills after making six interceptions as a high school senior.
Fulton has great instincts, change of direction and quickness, and new LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is surely excited to have him. The Tigers have a stacked secondary led by cornerback Tre’Davious White, who turned down a potential first-round selection to play his senior season, so it might not be easy for Fulton to see the field. He could fight for some playing time, but it wouldn’t be altogether stunning to see him redshirt this fall.
20. Penn State RB Miles Sanders
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In two seasons, James Franklin hasn’t gotten Penn State’s program humming like he’d have probably hoped. The Nittany Lions are 14-12, and are still recovering from the penalties incurred by the ugly Jerry Sandusky scandal.
The signing of Miles Sanders, however, is a sign that the Lions are headed in the right direction. The Pittsburgh native is considered the nation’s top overall running back prospect, and is a speedy, talented, productive back. He stands 5’11”, 199 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.
While Penn State will return sophomore Saquon Barkley, who rushed for 1,076 yards as a freshman, Sanders will quickly carve out a role for himself in the offense. He’s far too good to sit for any length of time and will make a good running game even better.
19. Mississippi State DE Jeffery Simmons
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In the Magnolia State, battles for top talent can get intense. The recent improvements made by Mississippi State and Ole Miss give high-profile in-state talent excellent choices, and it can be tough for players to pick between the two.
That’s why Jeffery Simmons meant so much to Mississippi State. On a day when key players in the Bulldogs’ backyard went to Ole Miss, Simmons chose the Bulldogs. The 6’3”, 277-pound defensive end is one of the nation’s top 20 overall players and a pass-rushing force.
As a senior at Noxubee High School, he had 105 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. Those are impressive numbers, and while MSU will return its defensive end rotation, it’s hard to see how someone so productive sits this fall. Simmons will play and make an impact for the Bulldogs.
18. Arkansas DE McTelvin Agim
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In the last two years, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has built hope with the Razorbacks faithful. Arkansas has overcome slow starts for two consecutive winning seasons, both capped with a bowl win over Big 12 teams (Texas and Kansas State). Arkansas is a program on the rise, and Bielema’s staff has recruited well.
Maybe it’s appropriate that the Hogs’ best class-of-2016 recruit came from Hope, Arkansas. Defensive end McTelvin Agim is one of the nation’s top 20 overall recruits and stands 6’2”, 268 pounds. He picked the Hogs over Oklahoma and has already enrolled at Arkansas to attend spring practice with his future teammates.
Arkansas brings back its entire two-deep at defensive end, but the pass-rush skills that Agim brings can’t be ignored. Expect him to crack the rotation and make a good defense even better in 2016.
17. Alabama OT Jonah Williams
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Alabama and Nick Saban have a simple philosophy for building national title-caliber teams: Win in the trenches. That has been the case for all of the Crimson Tide’s best teams, and it was again this fall. Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Derrick Henry dominated behind an excellent offensive line that consistently opened big holes for him.
The Tide recruited well on the line again in 2016. Folsom, California, offensive tackle Jonah Williams is one of the nation’s top offensive line recruits. He has a college-ready body at 6’5”, 296 pounds as well. He chose ‘Bama over Auburn, Miami, Georgia, Michigan, Miami and Cal, among many others. He’s a natural fit for the Tide’s offensive philosophy.
However, Alabama might not have an immediate need at offensive tackle. Cam Robinson returns as one of the nation’s best offensive tackles and offensive linemen. And while there is a vacancy at right tackle, fellow signee Charles Baldwin is well-equipped to fill it this fall. Williams could play immediately, but Alabama’s plans will likely have him developing with a redshirt season.
16. Southern California DE Oluwole Betiku
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Southern California made the most out of a tough 2015 season that featured the midseason departure of coach Steve Sarkisian. The Trojans rebounded under interim coach Clay Helton, winning the Pac-12 South and earning Helton the role full time. However, there were some defensive issues, as defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox was not retained by Helton.
The Trojans need better pass rush, and Oluwole Betiku can provide it. One of the nation’s top rush end prospects, Betiku rolled up 70 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 17 sacks as a high school senior. He chose USC over Texas A&M and Notre Dame, and at 6’3”, 240 pounds, he has the size to make an immediate impact. USC has a defensive end opening following Greg Townsend Jr.’s graduation, and Betiku could fit into the rotation quickly in 2016.
15. Alabama LB Lyndell Wilson
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Alabama wins games with its defense. That’s Nick Saban’s specialty, and even with defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s departure to become Georgia’s head coach, don’t expect the Crimson Tide’s defensive front to take much of a dip in 2016.
That’s because the Tide continually reload with talent. Lyndell Wilson is a perfect example. One of the nation’s top linebackers, Wilson, a Montgomery, Alabama, native, has excellent size at 6’2”, 220 pounds. He could have landed anywhere but chose Alabama over Auburn and Georgia, among a host of offers.
Wilson is an excellent tackler, with great pursuit and quickness skills, as well as an athletic frame with great lateral movement. And he has opportunity at Alabama. The Tide graduated three senior linebacker starters in Denzell Duvall, Dillon Lee and Reggie Ragland. The door is open for Wilson to play early. Expect him to kick it down and get on the field this fall.
14. WR Demetris Robertson Jr.
37 of 50Demetris Robertson Jr. has clear talent. The Savannah, Georgia, native has an impressive offer list led by Alabama, Notre Dame, Georgia, Stanford and Cal. He’s the top receiver prospect in the class of 2016.
Robertson has great athleticism, explosiveness, change of direction, versatility and ball skills, as well as excellent speed. However, he has taken an unconventional tact in his recruitment. Nearly a month after signing day, Robertson still hasn’t made a choice. He visited Alabama on Feb. 26, but there is no clear timetable for his decision. He has obvious skills, but without knowing his landing spot, it’s tough to make a call on whether he’ll play this fall or redshirt.
13. Georgia ATH Mecole Hardman Jr.
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Mecole Hardman Jr. is not the biggest player on the field, but the Elberton, Georgia, native packs a big punch. Hardman measures up at just 5’10”, 169 pounds but has special versatility. He is rated as the nation’s top athlete and has been clocked running the 40-yard dash at 4.42 seconds.
His versatile talent (he could fit in as a wide receiver or cornerback) earned him a host of offers, and he chose to stay in Georgia, picking Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs over Florida State, Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee. The Bulldogs have more opportunities at wide receiver than cornerback with Malcolm Mitchell’s graduation, but Hardman could potentially follow the Adoree’ Jackson model and contribute on both sides of the ball. It’s clear that he won’t be kept off the field for long this fall.
12. Georgia TE Isaac Nauta
39 of 50Kirby Smart needed to make an early splash as Georgia’s new head coach. It’s fair to say that he did so with Isaac Nauta. Nauta, the nation’s top tight end prospect, is an immediate tight end upgrade for the Bulldogs offense.
He stands 6’3”, 244 pounds and has excellent hands, great catching ability and solid route-running skills. He picked Georgia over Alabama, Florida State and Michigan, among others, and the Buford, Georgia, native’s pledge is a sign that the Dawgs won’t be outworked for key in-state prospects. He’ll begin contributing immediately this fall.
11. UCLA LB Mique Juarez
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During coach Jim Mora Jr.’s tenure, UCLA has put together an impressive group of NFL-ready linebackers. Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are excelling for the Minnesota Vikings, and two-way player Myles Jack is ready to join the duo in this spring’s NFL draft. With those players all gone, however, the Bruins need to replenish their star power.
That’s where Mique Juarez enters the picture. Juarez, a Torrance, California, native, is one of the top linebackers in the class of 2016. He stands 6’1”, 231 pounds and has great speed and productivity. He chose UCLA over Alabama, Oklahoma and Ole Miss, among others.
It’s clear that he can make an immediate impact. Starter Aaron Wallace and backup Kenny Orjioke have both graduated, leaving a clear void at outside linebacker. Assuming Juarez picks up UCLA’s defensive system quickly enough, he’ll make his presence felt on the field this fall.
10. Alabama LB Ben Davis
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Alabama was never certain for Ben Davis but always a natural fit. The son of former Alabama player Wayne Davis grew up in Gordo, Alabama, just a few miles from Tuscaloosa, but considered all of his options during his recruitment.
The talented 6’3”, 240-pound linebacker looked hard at LSU, Auburn and Georgia, among others, but picked the Crimson Tide on signing day. It was a coup for Nick Saban’s staff, and a good fit as well.
Alabama lost starting linebackers Reggie Ragland and Dillon Lee to graduation, and while Rashaan Evans, among others, will step forward, Davis is an obvious candidate for early playing time. He has excellent movement and quickness, and he can play in space well. He’ll get the opportunity to begin carving out his own legacy almost immediately.
9. Auburn DT Derrick Brown
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Auburn had a very disappointing 7-6 record in 2015, but the Tigers and new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele received a big boost on national signing day. Buford, Georgia, defensive tackle Derrick Brown chose the Tigers over home-state Georgia, giving the defensive line a talent infusion.
Brown stands 6’3”, 317 pounds and has great athleticism, explosiveness and movement at the point of attack. While Montravius Adams and Dontavius Russell will return as starters this fall, there’s clearly room for Brown to get time and bolster the defensive tackle rotation. Steele will get him plenty of work in 2016 with the hope of stepping into an even larger role in 2017.
8. Ohio State DE Nick Bosa
43 of 50Ohio State was rocked by NFL draft departures, and one of the most obvious was defensive end Joey Bosa. A strong pass-rush force, Joey was a handful for every offensive tackle he lined up across. It’ll be difficult for the Buckeyes to absorb. Well, at least until Nick Bosa arrives on campus.
That’s right. Urban Meyer’s staff signed Joey’s little brother. Well, “little” is a relative term, given that Nick stands 6’4”, 265 pounds. He has excellent point-of-attack skills, quickness, pursuit and first step.
Nick could definitely fit in his big brother’s old role at defensive end. It’ll be like Joey never left Columbus. The only losers are Big Ten offensive tackles.
7. Florida State CB Levonta Taylor
44 of 50Under Jimbo Fisher’s watch, Florida State has reasserted itself as a national power, with a national title and three ACC championships. The Seminoles can recruit regionally and nationally, and a player such as Levonta Taylor is an excellent example.
Normally, the 5’10”, 170-pound cornerback would have been a prime target for Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech teams. Virginia Beach is prime Hokies recruiting territory. But the Hokies’ slippage allowed Florida State to swoop in and grab Taylor.
Taylor is the nation’s top cornerback recruit. He has excellent speed, quickness, change-of-direction and recovery skills. He chose FSU over Virginia, and it was a wise move. Jalen Ramsey’s departure to the NFL leaves an opening at cornerback, and the Seminoles also have a spot at “Star,” their version of nickelback. Taylor could easily fit in at either role in 2016. He’ll play immediately.
6. Houston DT Ed Oliver
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If you want an example of what Tom Herman has done at Houston in just one season, look no further than the class of 2016. Herman took an underachieving program and fashioned a 13-1 record capped with a Peach Bowl win over Florida State, and the momentum clearly carried over into recruiting.
How else do you explain Ed Oliver? The 6’2”, 277-pound defensive tackle had his choice of offers but signed with the Cougars over LSU and Texas. That’s a huge get for an American Athletic Conference program and a feather in Herman’s cap.
Houston has a vacancy on the defensive line following Tomme Mark’s graduation. Oliver will challenge for immediate time at defensive tackle and potentially start alongside B.J. Singleton. He’s that talented.
5. Georgia QB Jacob Eason
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Kirby Smart has yet to coach a game as Georgia’s new head coach, but he already has his first victory: securing the signature of quarterback Jacob Eason on a national letter of intent. When Mark Richt was fired as UGA coach, there was reason for concern regarding his top recruit, one of the nation’s top five overall.
The son of former NFL quarterback Tony Eason had his choice of impressive offers as a recruit; he stands 6’5”, 208 pounds. He chose the Bulldogs over Florida and stuck with Georgia following Richt’s departure.
Eason has excellent arm strength, pocket presence, accuracy, intangibles and delivery. He has already enrolled at Georgia and will go through spring practice with the Bulldogs. While Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey are ahead of him in the pecking order, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Eason played well enough to pass them and play as a true freshman this fall.
Per Jason Butt of the Telegraph, Eason will be one of three quarterbacks competing for the job, as Smart noted in an interview with 680 The Fan.
"Everybody’s expectation is he’s going to start, he’s going to be the savior," Smart said. "We got two quarterbacks on our team competing for a job. He’s the third guy coming in to compete for the job."
4. Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson
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Ole Miss and Hugh Freeze secured one of the nation’s best classes this season by snagging two of the top four overall recruits. One of the biggest prizes is Louisiana native Shea Patterson, who originally committed to LSU but backed off to commit to and sign with the Rebels.
Patterson stands 6’1”, 192 pounds and is the top quarterback recruit in the class of 2016. He has great pass accuracy and delivery, quickness and pocket presence.
There is little question that Patterson is the Rebels’ quarterback of the future. But Chad Kelly is clearly the quarterback of the present. Barring a major upset, Patterson will take a year to learn Freeze’s system and develop behind Kelly.
3. Ole Miss OT Gregory Little
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Say this about Hugh Freeze: He knows how to recruit to a position of need. The Rebels have a big need at left tackle in 2016. Star junior Laremy Tunsil declared for the NFL draft and could be the top overall pick, winding up in Nashville protecting Marcus Mariota’s blind side. Freeze needs someone to keep watch over Chad Kelly’s blind side this fall, though.
Enter Gregory Little. The nation’s top offensive line recruit is a perfect fit in Oxford. Little stands 6’5”, 305 pounds and picked the Rebels over Alabama and Texas A&M. Smart move. He is a great pass-blocker with excellent feet and is also a solid run-blocker. It would be a surprise if Little didn’t start from day one protecting Kelly and shoring up a potent offensive attack.
2. Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence
49 of 50Clemson has developed a strong tradition of quality defensive linemen, thanks to veteran defensive line coach Dan Brooks’ presence on its staff. Vic Beasley, Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd are only the latest products to roll through Tigertown, and the assembly line isn’t stopping yet.
Dexter Lawrence could be the next great Clemson defensive lineman. Lawrence stands 6’4”, 327 pounds and has excellent power and athleticism for a man of his size. He chose Clemson over Florida, Florida State and N.C. State, among others. He is explosive and has a great first step and solid hands. Plus, he’s stepping into a position of need.
Clemson will return only one starting defensive lineman in sophomore defensive tackle Christian Wilkins this fall. While returnees Carlos Watkins and Scott Pagano will challenge for time, there’s no question that Lawrence will play and potentially start in 2016.
1. Michigan DT Rashan Gary
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Rashan Gary is the consensus top recruit in the class of 2016—and with good reason. The Paramus, New Jersey, defensive tackle stands 6’5”, 293 pounds and is the total package. He has exceptional explosiveness off the ball, is very difficult for opposing offensive linemen to contain, and has excellent athleticism, size and strength. He had 55 tackles and 13.5 sacks as a high school senior.
Gary has a polished game already and possesses incredible power. It’s easy to see why he was coveted by a who’s who of college powers before narrowing his list to Michigan and Clemson and eventually picking the Wolverines.
Jim Harbaugh and Co. scored a major win when Gary signed with them. He’s an upgrade for an already good defense. Quite simply, this is the kind of player you expect to see shaking Roger Goodell’s hand in three years. You don’t redshirt someone such as Gary. He’ll see plenty of action this fall.
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