2017 College Football Recruits Who Could Start Right Away
Expectations vary among college football recruits, with the vast majority viewed by coaching staffs as long-term investments who could impact a squad following a few years of seasoning on practice fields. Others arrive on campus counted on to make an immediate impact just months after graduating from high school.
True freshmen such as UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk and Alabama cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick were among former 5-star prospects who made their presence known on college campuses last season. The stage is again set for newly enrolled athletes to seize a spotlight this fall, and excitement is already swirling around several members of the 2017 recruiting class.
Still looking ahead to highly anticipated senior campaigns, these recruits have the skill set and physical makeup to quickly move up college depth charts next year. Here's a glimpse at 10 high school standouts who could emerge as collegiate starters as freshmen.
5-Star RB Najee Harris
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High School: Antioch (Antioch, California)
Size: 6'2", 220 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 running back; No. 1 overall
Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama on April 18, 2015
Najee Harris is widely considered the most compelling prospect at his position since No. 1 overall 2014 recruit Leonard Fournette, who will enter his junior season at LSU surrounded by Heisman Trophy hype. Like the Tigers star, this West Coast playmaker possesses an elite blend of burst and size that makes him seem like a man among boys in high school action.
Antioch has fed the ball to Harris in great volume during his career, culminating in a 2015 playoff defeat in which he turned 39 carries into 390 yards and six touchdowns, according to MaxPreps. During the past two falls, Harris registered 514 rushing attempts for 5,007 yards (9.7 per touch) and 59 scores, and he's an impressive receiver when called upon in the passing game.
Alabama, loaded with young talent in the offensive backfield, including top-ranked 2015 running back recruit Damien Harris, wouldn't seem like the most likely spot for a true freshman to surge into a starting role. But head coach Nick Saban won't shy away from Harris if he shows early signs of bell-cow capability. Until he arrives in Tuscaloosa, expect schools such as UCLA, USC and Ohio State to target a commitment flip.
5-Star DT Marvin Wilson
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High School: Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)
Size: 6'4", 329 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 defensive tackle; No. 3 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M
This ferocious Lone Star State lineman may be the best overall prospect in the trenches this cycle, evidenced by dominant efforts in camp showcases and mighty performances at Episcopal. He burst onto the scene as an underclassman, recording 103 total tackles—34 for loss—and 19 sacks during his freshman and sophomore campaigns.
“I think Marvin Wilson has a chance to be the first pick in the NFL draft," Episcopal head coach Doug Smith told EJ Holland of 247Sports. "He has that drive. ... He knows what it takes and he has what it takes."
Texas and Texas A&M stand out among in-state options, but it could be a tough task to keep him home, as Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Ole Miss and Ohio State are just a few programs ardently pursuing his pledge. Wilson, an incredibly quick athlete for a young man of his physical stature, displays the strength and technique to wreak havoc at the heart of a collegiate defensive front right away.
5-Star OT Foster Sarell
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High School: Graham Kapowsin (Graham, Washington)
Size: 6'6", 320 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 2 offensive tackle; No. 7 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Notre Dame, Oregon, Stanford, USC and Washington
Foster Sarell found himself front and center among the West Coast's most coveted recruits in 2013 when scholarship offers began to roll in freshman year. Already a mammoth athlete at that stage, he possessed a level of coordination and athleticism that often eludes young, large linemen.
"He is the best player I have ever coached," his freshman season head coach, Eric Kurle, told MaxPreps in 2013. "I have coached 12 Division I players, four being linemen, and he is better than them as a ninth-grader."
Sarell maintained his development during the next two seasons, solidifying a spot in the conversation of No. 1 overall offensive lineman in the 2017 class. Given his experience and college-ready frame, he has the makings of a first-year starter at tackle and is likely to battle for that spot in the Pac-12.
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4-Star DE Robert Beal
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High School: Norcross (Norcross, Georgia)
Size: 6'3 ½", 230 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 3 weak-side defensive end; No. 36 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas
Throughout our assessment of top 2017 prospects for B/R's CFB Future 100 series, no defensive end graded better than Robert Beal. He exhibits elite-level speed that projects favorably in an edge-rushing role that would require him to attack opponents from a stand-up position.
Beal is well-suited for a "Buck"-style linebacker role, which would charge him with the task of perimeter containment. His balance as a defender should immediately appeal to whichever defensive coordinator ultimately acquires a commitment, with a particular emphasis on explosiveness against rushing efforts.
He initially pledged to Notre Dame during his junior season but backed off that decision in February, presenting a pivotal signing day prize for other staffs to explore. Beal secured 59 tackles and five sacks in 2015, according to Gwinnett Prep Sports.
5-Star WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
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High School: Cass Technical (Detroit, Michigan)
Size: 6'2", 192 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 wide receiver; No. 5 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State
Aside from his exciting attributes as a wide receiver, Donovan Peoples-Jones is simply a physical freak who could probably dominate on the playground in just about any sport. He has few contemporaries in this cycle from a physical standpoint, earning the 2015 Nike Football Ratings national championship (based on combine-like drills).
Peoples-Jones can disrupt defensive game plans in a variety of ways, burning opponents deep, across the middle and bursting for big gains off short passes. Smaller speed-based cornerbacks struggle to contend with his length, while larger defenders often fall a stride or two behind as he surges downfield.
His offer list is loaded with college football's premier programs, where playing time is typically difficult to earn as a true freshman, but Peoples-Jones is capable of claiming starting duties and potentially a No. 1 target role by the conclusion of his first season on campus. He recorded 68 receptions as a junior, resulting in 1,161 yards and 18 touchdowns, according to David Goricki of the Detroit News.
5-Star QB Tate Martell
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High School: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Size: 5'10 ½", 203 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 dual-threat quarterback; No. 30 overall
Recruitment Status: Committed to Texas A&M on August 20, 2015
Tate Martell may not possess prototypical size at quarterback, but he is unquestionably one of America's most scintillating high school playmakers. After starting his career in Southern California, he's spent the past two seasons at national powerhouse Bishop Gorman and hasn't suffered a loss.
Often compared to former Aggies star and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel because of stature and elite improvisational skills outside the pocket, Martell committed to Texas A&M before the start of his junior season.
During a conversation with Bleacher Report at The Opening's Los Angeles regional, he acknowledged there's a strong sense the starting job could be his in 2017 following the transfers of former 5-star passers Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray from College Station.
Senior Trevor Knight is expected to start behind center this season, setting the stage for Martell to stake his claim to the role upon his arrival if he sticks with this commitment despite upcoming visits elsewhere. Since heading to Bishop Gorman, he's tallied 5,145 passing yards, 1,037 rushing yards and 86 total touchdowns with just eight interceptions.
5-Star LB Dylan Moses
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High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
Size: 6'2", 220 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 outside linebacker; No. 2 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Alabama, LSU, Texas, UCLA and USC
Dylan Moses landed on the national radar as a can't-miss prospect in middle school, carrying a collection of scholarship offers into his first varsity game. Touted early as a uniquely elite athlete, he's backed up the hype with a highly productive high school career, which will wrap up at Sunshine State powerhouse IMG Academy following his transfer from the University Lab School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).
LSU landed a verbal pledge from Moses midway through a freshman season that featured 176 tackles, per Gerry Hamilton of ESPN, but the coveted recruit opted to re-open things last August. The Tigers remain in the mix but have serious competition from alternative universities, most notably SEC rival Alabama and Texas, where former 5-star linebacker Malik Jefferson made a major impact last fall as a true freshman.
Moses makes the case to majorly contribute in college at a variety of linebacker spots or running back, and he took reps on both sides of the ball during The Opening in 2015. Wherever he lands on the field, it's difficult to imagine him spending much time on the sidelines following one of the most high-profile recruitments college football has seen.
4-Star RB D'Andre Swift
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High School: St. Joseph's (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Size: 5'9", 204 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 all-purpose back; No. 32 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State and Penn State
D'Andre Swift carries a last name that's perfectly suitable to his impact on games, as the Philly playmaker is a threat to turn any carry or reception into a long-distance touchdown. He brings a combination of straight-line speed and open-field elusiveness that leaves defenders in his dust throughout matchups.
It's also important to note Swift is far more than just a burner. He's an exceptional pass-catcher who could certainly carve out a role in the slot during his college career, and there's a level of toughness to his rushing approach that suggests Swift could handle a high volume of handoffs further into his physical development within a collegiate training system.
This versatility gives him a strong shot to challenge for early playing time with a strong initial training camp. That starting role could be earned at multiple positions depending on which program signs Swift.
4-Star OG Jack Anderson
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High School: Frisco (Frisco, Texas)
Size: 6'5", 300 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1 guard; No. 38 overall
Recruitment Status: Committed to Texas Tech on Oct. 5, 2015
Jack Anderson, a rare two-time invite to The Opening national finals, is among the most brutal interior offensive linemen recruits we've scouted in recent years. He routinely buries opponents 10 yards downfield, paving a path for teammates in the run game.
His continued physical maturation makes him an even more powerful enforcer up front, and he's athletic enough to cut off pass-rushers at the point of attack. Anderson, who chose the Red Raiders over offers from Texas A&M, UCLA, Oklahoma and several others, embraces his physicality by bringing a mental edge into matchups.
"I do my best to make sure people don't want to line up across from me," he told B/R. "I play mean and physical. That style of play intimidates people and wears them down during a game. It's a style of play I'm proud of."
5-Star WR Tyjon Lindsey
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High School: Centennial (Corona, California)
Size: 5'8 ½", 180 lbs
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 5 wide receiver; No. 22 overall
Recruitment Status: Contenders include Auburn, Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas A&M and USC
Tyjon Lindsey is undoubtedly the most diminutive athlete among this cycle's 5-star receivers, but he is package-ready for the challenges of thriving in a collegiate offensive attack. The Southern California standout runs routes with extreme precision, putting opponents on skates as he maneuvers downfield with excellent shiftiness and speed.
His hands are a proven commodity, as Lindsey often plucks difficult, contested passes during camp drills and served as a primary weapon for one of the country's most explosive offenses. Prior to his transfer to Centennial, he caught 79 passes for 2,001 yards and 29 touchdowns during a pair of undefeated seasons at Las Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorrman, per MaxPreps.
Former teammate and close friend Martell, the aforementioned 5-star Texas A&M quarterback commit, may ultimately draw him to College Station. However Martell may still land elsewhere, with Ohio State and USC serving as possible common interests between the two.
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