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Former St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) star Joey Bosa was the first defensive player off the board Thursday night.
Former St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) star Joey Bosa was the first defensive player off the board Thursday night.Credit: 247Sports

Remembering Every 1st-Round 2016 NFL Draft Pick as a Recruit

Tyler DonohueApr 29, 2016

Dreams became reality Thursday night for 31 athletes selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. Just a few years after searching for collegiate scholarship offers, these standouts secured a substantial professional payday. 

These former college stars must now prove themselves all over again at the sport's most competitive level, and each player enters the league with a unique background story. Some were identified as "can't-miss" prospects early in their high school careers and have grown accustomed to a national spotlight, while others were largely overlooked by college coaches before developing into top-tier NFL targets.

We took a look back at each first-round draft pick's recruitment for a brief overview of how much attention each received in high school.

1. Los Angeles Rams: QB Jared Goff

1 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Marin Catholic (Greenbrae, California)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 15 pro-style quarterback; No. 218 overall (4-star prospect)

Jared Goff's athletic path was preceded by his father, Jerry Goff, who attended Cal and played for three Major League Baseball organizations. His opportunity to follow those footsteps arrived in 2012 when the Golden Bears extended an offer during a junior-day visit.

“It was my first offer—which obviously meant a lot, because they took a risk with it—and that meant a lot," he told Rivals in 2012. "It just seems to be the perfect fit for me, and everything about it—from the offense to the academics to everything they do there—just seems to be perfect for me."

The in-state standout didn't wait long to pull the trigger on a verbal pledge, committing to Cal just a month later (March 2012). Goff, who also held scholarship offers from Boise State and Washington State, threw for 3,692 yards and 40 touchdowns as a high school senior.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: QB Carson Wentz

2 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2011

High School: Century (Bismarck, North Dakota)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: Unranked

Carson Wentz is the rare example of an athlete who failed to secure a single FBS scholarship opportunity in high school but ultimately rose to prominence on draft day. He stayed on home turf in college at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State, leading the team to national championships in his two seasons as starting quarterback.

Wentz totaled 1,838 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior at Bismarck, according to Chris Johnson of Sports Illustrated. Despite his size and athleticism, he remained largely off the recruiting radar, and some industry leaders didn't even create an online prospect profile for him.

3. San Diego Chargers: DE Joey Bosa

3 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 4 strong-side defensive end; No. 37 overall (4-star prospect)

Joey Bosa served as the anchor up front for a dominant defensive unit at Sunshine State powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas. He wreaked havoc inside and disrupted the passing pocket from various positions, picking up 120 tackles and 21 sacks as an upperclassman.

Alabama, Florida and Notre Dame were among the marquee programs that extended scholarship offers before the end of his junior year. Bosa elected to attend Ohio State following a visit to Columbus for the 2012 spring game. His younger brother, 5-star defensive end Nick Bosa, will be a Buckeyes freshman this fall.

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4. Dallas Cowboys: RB Ezekiel Elliott

4 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: John Burroughs (St. Louis, Missouri)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 5 all-purpose back; No. 69 overall (4-star prospect)

Ezekiel Elliott, a former high school state champion track athlete, established himself as an Ohio State legend after erupting for 246 yards and four touchdowns against Oregon in the national championship game. However, his college football vision didn't initially center on Columbus.

"I went to the [Missouri] spring game every year. I went to regular-season games," Elliott told the Kansas City Star in January. "Mizzou was the team I followed my whole life. It was my dream school."

His father, Stacy Elliott, played linebacker at Missouri, but schools such as Arkansas, Iowa and Nebraska offered before the Tigers. The standout St. Louis playmaker, who collected 3,955 rushing yards and 84 offensive scores as an upperclassman, committed to the Buckeyes on April Fools' Day of 2012.

"Coach [Urban] Meyer set the standard for all coaches," Stacy told Bleacher Report's Damon Sayles. "If you wanted Ezekiel Elliott, the head coach had to show it, and Coach Meyer was after him. He got who he wanted."

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: DB Jalen Ramsey

5 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tennessee)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 2 cornerback; No. 15 overall (5-star prospect)

Jalen Ramsey is among the most freakish recruits you'll find from the first half of this decade. He was an absolute superstar on both the track and field scene and football landscape in Tennessee, commanding extensive attention from college coaching staffs.

Former USC head coach Lane Kiffin secured his verbal commitment but ultimately lost it when Ramsey flipped that pledge to Florida State one day shy of national signing day. The Trojans' decision to dismiss defensive backs coach Marvin Sanders a month earlier played a pivotal factor.

“That’s who I really had the connection with,” Ramsey told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “I felt they really didn’t give coach Sanders a chance. We were going to be his first recruiting class. We were going to be in his system.”

He starred all over the field as a senior at Brentwood Academy, tallying 49 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, 676 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches.

6. Baltimore Ravens: OT Ronnie Stanley

6 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 13 offensive tackle; No. 127 overall (4-star prospect)

Ronnie Stanley helped set the tone up front for a Bishop Gorman program that continues to produce several top-tier recruits each year and has now won seven straight state titles. Standing 6'6", 285 pounds in high school, Stanley attracted attention from schools such as Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida State and Oregon.

His decision came down to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Arkansas, according to Frank Vitovitch of UHND.com. After spending time at each option, Stanley selected the Fighting Irish in December 2011, shortly after an official visit to South Bend.

7. San Francisco 49ers: DE DeForest Buckner

7 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Punahou (Honolulu)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 15 weak-side defensive end; No. 228 overall (4-star prospect)

Oregon added DeForest Buckner to its 2012 recruiting class approximately one month before national signing day. He announced intentions to play for the Ducks during action at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.

Buckner was a prized prospect among Pac-12 programs, carrying offers from Arizona, Cal, UCLA and Washington. He secured 73 tackles as a high school senior while maintaining a double-digit scoring average on the basketball court, according to GoDucks.com.

8. Tennessee Titans: OT Jack Conklin

8 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Plainwell (Plainwell, Michigan)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: Unranked

Jack Conklin joins Philadelphia Eagles draft pick Carson Wentz as a top-10 selection who didn't register a blip on the radar when it came to composite recruiting rankings. Despite a senior-year frame that hovered around 6'6", 298 pounds and family ties to Michigan (where his father was a walk-on tackle), he received only one scholarship offer for football—from Wayne State (valued at $2,000 per semester, according to Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press).

“I was extremely frustrated with why I wasn’t being recruited,” Conklin told Rexrode. “I had a faster 40 time than most of those other guys. I’d see these Rivals things and see these guys (on video) and say, ‘I’m as big as them and on film I’m doing the same thing.’ Luckily, Michigan State found me—I couldn’t be happier.”

The Spartans opened the door for him to walk on with the program and earn a scholarship, which he obviously did en route to claiming All-American honors.

9. Chicago Bears: LB Leonard Floyd

9 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Dodge County (Eastman, Georgia)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 15 outside linebacker; No. 143 overall (4-star prospect)

Leonard Floyd's journey to stardom with the Georgia Bulldogs featured some bumps in the road, as he failed to qualify for enrollment out of high school. After spending the 2012 season at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, he again pledged to Georgia and this time made his way to Athens.

Floyd erupted as a nationally coveted recruit in 2010, tallying 81 tackles—14 for loss—and six sacks during that dominant junior campaign. His collection of scholarship offers in high school included Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State.

10. New York Giants: DB Eli Apple

10 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Eastern (Voorhees, New Jersey)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 5 cornerback; No. 48 overall (4-star prospect)

Eli Apple was an early member of Ohio State's celebrated 2013 recruiting class, which produced three top-10 NFL draft picks Thursday evening. He pledged to the Buckeyes almost one year before national signing day, announcing intentions to play in Columbus midway through his junior year.

Though Apple earned all-state honors in high school as a defensive back, his impact extended to offense. He added 43 receptions for 841 yards at wide receiver, per MaxPreps, flashing the speed and dynamic athleticism that also warranted offers from Michigan, Miami, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DB Vernon Hargreaves

11 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Wharton (Tampa, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 cornerback; No. 3 overall (5-star prospect)

Vernon Hargreaves was the second former 5-star recruit off the draft board Thursday night, and few athletes enjoyed as much attention as he received during a whirlwind 2013 cycle. Considered one of America's premier high school defenders, he exploded with 110 tackles, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a senior in 2012, according to the Florida Gators team website.

His prep career concluded with defensive MVP honors in the Under Armour All-America Game, in which he picked off a pass and made five tackles. Hargreaves committed to Florida during the summer before his senior season, choosing the Gators over fellow contenders such as Clemson, Miami and Notre Dame.

12. New Orleans Saints: DT Sheldon Rankins

12 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Eastside (Covington, Georgia)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 41 strong-side defensive end; No. 745 overall (3-star prospect)

Former Louisville head coach Charlie Strong did an excellent job of maximizing his roster with 3-star prospects who outperformed their billing as recruits. Though his emergence as a top draft prospect occurred under current Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino, count Sheldon Rankins among those recruiting successes. 

Rankins, who claimed scholarships from Auburn, Nebraska, North Carolina and Illinois, among others, committed to the Cardinals one week before national signing day. He recorded 50 tackles—17 for loss—and nine sacks as a high school senior.

13. Miami Dolphins: OT Laremy Tunsil

13 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Columbia (Lake City, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 offensive tackle; No. 4 overall (5-star prospect)

Three years before he became front and center on draft night for all the wrong reasonsLaremy Tunsil was considered the country's premier high school offensive lineman. The events leading up to his commitment were stunning, since most people expected him to land at Alabama or Georgia during the final stretch.

Just a week shy of national signing day, Tunsil told Derek Tyson of ESPN.com that he was "confused" about his choice following a trip to Ole Miss. He picked up a Rebels hat during his nationally televised commitment ceremony, capping off one of the wildest SEC recruiting showdowns in recent cycles.

14. Oakland Raiders: DB Karl Joseph

14 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Edgewater (Orlando, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 30 safety; No. 518 overall (3-star prospect)

West Virginia beat out a crowded field for Karl Joseph's commitment late in the process. The standout defensive back pledged to the Mountaineers shortly after his December visit to campus, spurning opportunities at Tennessee, Cincinnati and nearby UCF.

His recruitment was a mixed bag when it comes to current Power Five programs, with the Volunteers and Mountaineers serving as the only primary contenders that now carry the distinction. Joseph, a two-time Orlando Sentinel Defensive Player of the Year, secured 126 total tackles as a high school senior, according to the West Virginia team website.

15. Cleveland Browns: WR Corey Coleman

15 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Pearce (Richardson, Texas)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 11 athlete; No. 152 overall (4-star prospect)

Corey Coleman committed to Baylor three months before his senior season, giving Bears head coach Art Briles one of the Lone Star State's speediest prospects. He became a coveted commodity the fall before, catching 67 passes for 997 yards and scoring 24 offensive touchdowns, according to John Werner of the Waco Tribune.

His recruitment also included intrigue about his abilities as a defensive back and kick returner, leading him to the "athlete" label.

“I like to play any position that will help the team,” Coleman told Werner following his pledge.

Baylor beat out offers from Oklahoma State, Cal and West Virginia.

16. Detroit Lions: OT Taylor Decker

16 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Butler (Vandalia, Ohio)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 19 offensive tackle; No. 164 overall (4-star prospect)

Notre Dame landed a commitment from Taylor Decker nearly one year before national signing day, but the pact wouldn't last, leaving Fighting Irish fans to wonder what life would have been like with him and fellow first-round pick Ronnie Stanley sharing the same offensive line. He decommitted from Notre Dame in January 2012, opening the door for Ohio State to swoop in for the in-state standout.

The Buckeyes secured a pledge from Decker weeks shy of signing day following a campus visit in Columbus. A three-year starter at Butler, he also held scholarship offers from Michigan, Louisville, Wisconsin and Boston College.

17. Atlanta Falcons: DB Keanu Neal

17 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: South Sumter (Bushnell, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 13 safety; No. 109 overall (4-star prospect)

Keanu Neal didn't need much time to consider his Florida Gators offer, pledging to the program just days after receiving the scholarship. He committed in February 2012, capitalizing on a junior-day visit in Gainesville.

The fall before Florida extended an offer, Neal wreaked havoc as a junior with 148 tackles and three forced fumbles. Florida beat out local contenders such as UCF and USF, along with Duke, Kentucky and South Carolina.

"He's a dream come true for a football coach," South Sumter head coach Inman Sherman told Derek Tyson of ESPN.com in 2012. "His teammates love him, his teachers love him and obviously we love him. Not to make anyone mad at our school, but probably the best product we've been able to produce from our school."

18. Indianapolis Colts: OC Ryan Kelly

18 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2011

High School: Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 3 center; No. 236 overall (4-star prospect)

Alabama head coach Nick Saban has signed more celebrated offensive linemen during his tenure in Tuscaloosa, but Ryan Kelly proved national recruiting fanfare isn't a necessary requirement to thrive with the Crimson Tide. Known for his versatility across the offensive front, he dealt with a torn ACL during his senior season.

Several squads targeted Kelly at West Chester, where he earned an invitation to the Under Armour All-America Game. His offer sheet included Michigan, Florida State and Tennessee.

19. Buffalo Bills: DE Shaq Lawson

19 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: D.W. Daniel (Central, South Carolina)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 22 weak-side defensive end; No. 344 overall (4-star prospect)

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney converted several successful recruiting pickups into pieces for a national title contender, with in-state standout Shaq Lawson among them. The Tigers landed his verbal pledge in March 2011, setting the stage for a strong cycle.

Lawson elected to play at Clemson after weighing offers from Maryland, East Carolina and Tennessee. He commanded increased attention in the aftermath of a junior campaign that included 100 tackles and 13 sacks, according to MaxPreps.

20. New York Jets: LB Darron Lee

20 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: New Albany (New Albany, Ohio)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 42 athlete; No. 633 overall (3-star prospect)

Darron Lee may have been slightly lost in the shuffle when Ohio State announced its star-studded 2013 recruiting class, but he proved to be among the best players of the pack and far exceeded his 3-star rating. The Buckeyes came away impressed by the versatile playmaker, who also played quarterback in high school, after he attended a camp in Columbus after his junior year. An offer arrived soon after.

"I think I've done everything I could in my power to receive an offer," he told Buckeye Nation (via ESPN.com) after the camp.

The local standout pounced quickly, committing to the Buckeyes in June 2012 without much hesitation. Ohio State enhanced an offer list that was largely limited on Power Five options, with Boston College, Duke and Purdue among programs in the mix beforehand.

21. Houston Texans: WR Will Fuller

21 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Roman Catholic (Philadelphia)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 41 wide receiver; No. 277 overall (4-star prospect)

Will Fuller found an ideal landing spot at Notre Dame but nearly ended up in Happy Valley. Penn State initially secured his commitment, capturing a key in-state target, but he switched that pledge to the Fighting Irish before his final season of high school football.

Fuller, who also held offers from Rutgers, Boston College and nearby Temple, burst onto the scene early as a high school star. He pulled in 85 receptions for 1,408 yards and 19 touchdowns combined as a sophomore and junior.

22. Washington Redskins: WR Josh Doctson

22 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2011

High School: Mansfield Legacy (Mansfield, Texas)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 171 wide receiver; No. 1,401 overall (3-star prospect)

Though he built his reputation as a dynamic downfield playmaker at TCU, Josh Doctson jumped into college football with Wyoming. In retrospect, it seems just about every coaching staff in Texas overlooked him as his high school career came to a close.

“You’d like to (recruit him), but you just…he wasn’t overly fast at the time, and there’s a lot of people who can run in Texas,” Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson told Dan Wolken of USA Today. “Nobody else was recruiting him either.”

Doctson, whose mother was a TCU employee during his youth, returned home after spending the 2011 season at Wyoming, where he caught 35 passes as a freshman. Arriving initially as a walk-on, he would go on to accrue nearly 2,800 receiving yards in three years as a Horned Frog.

23. Minnesota Vikings: WR Laquon Treadwell

23 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Crete-Monee (Crete, Illinois)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 wide receiver; No. 14 overall (5-star prospect)

Laquon Treadwell attracted collegiate attention from every corner of the country as a scintillating high school standout, collecting dozens of scholarship offers by the end of his recruitment. He announced a commitment to Ole Miss just three weeks before national signing day following serious pushes from both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

"I wanted to be a part of something special, the program is on the rise with the new coaching staff," Treadwell said at his announcement, according to Gabriel Baumgaertner of Sports Illustrated. "Coach Freeze stresses love and is a very positive man. I want to be a part of returning Rebel nation to glory."

His high school career was nothing short of spectacular. Treadwell racked up 214 receptions during his final three seasons, resulting in 3,626 yards and 45 scores.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: DB William Jackson III

24 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Wheatley (Houston)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 173 athlete; No. 2,206 overall (2-star athlete)

Houston found a hometown diamond-in-the-rough with William Jackson III, who was a two-time all-district selection at Wheatley. He made an impact on both sides of the ball as a high school athlete, averaging almost 18 yards per reception as a senior and picking off six passes as an upperclassman.

Aside from the Cougars, Jackson didn't claim any other FBS offers as national signing day approached, according to 247Sports. 

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: DB Artie Burns

25 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Northwestern (Miami)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 12 safety; No. 96 overall (4-star prospect)

Artie Burns was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Northwestern high school, where he also turned heads for his hurdling on the track. An Olympic-caliber competitor in that event, he shifted his focus to football in the fall and quickly became a coveted recruit.

"As exciting as a race is, it's also exciting to line up against a top receiver in a one-on-one situation and see who's the best on the field," Burns told Corey Long of ESPN.com before his senior season. 

Miami secured his commitment in July 2012, beating out a group of potential suitors including Florida State, Louisville and LSU. He initially pledged to Alabama but backed off his verbal commitment that spring before joining the Hurricanes class.

26. Denver Broncos: QB Paxton Lynch

26 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Trinity Christian Academy (Deltona, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 84 pro-style quarterback; No. 1,908 overall (2-star prospect)

Prior to a late offer from Memphis, Paxton Lynch's lone collegiate opportunity was a partial scholarship from Florida Tech, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. He attempted to impress local programs such as Miami, USF and UCF, but nothing came to fruition and a knee injury cost him the final stretch of his senior season.

"Once he got hurt everybody backed off," Allen Johnson, Lynch's prep coach, told Wiltfong.

Former Tigers coach Justin Fuente saw enough flashes of greatness to extend an offer in late January and welcomed the quarterback to campus for an official visit. Despite a last-second push from UCF, Memphis sealed the deal on national signing day.

27. Green Bay Packers: DT Kenny Clark

27 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Wilmer Amina Carter (Rialto, California)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 22 defensive tackle; No. 266 overall (4-star prospect)

Kenny Clark collected more than a dozen scholarship offers before the end of his junior year, setting the stage for a busy summer that culminated in his commitment to UCLA. His choice came down to a pair of Pac-12 programs, per Greg Biggins of Scout.com, with the Bruins edging out Washington following a visit to Seattle.

Clark, who also carried offers from Cal, Miami, Arizona State and Nebraska, manhandled opponents throughout his high school career. He tallied 102 tackles and 19.5 sacks as an upperclassman at Carter, according to the UCLA team website.

28. San Francisco 49ers: OG Joshua Garnett

28 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Puyallup (Puyallup, Washington)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 2 guard; No. 38 overall (4-star prospect)

Stanford prevailed in a nationwide pursuit of dominant Northwest lineman Joshua Garnett, who pledged to the Cardinal shortly before national signing day. A recruitment that featured more than 20 offers ultimately came down to Stanford, Notre Dame and Michigan.

A three-time all-state selection at Puyallup, Garnett followed in the athletic footsteps of his father. Scott Garnett spent time in the NFL with Buffalo, Denver, San Diego and San Francisco. 

29. Arizona Cardinals: DT Robert Nkemdiche

29 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2013

High School: Grayson (Loganville, Georgia)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 strong-side defensive end; No. 1 overall (5-star prospect)

Robert Nkemdiche, the lone top-ranked recruit selected Thursday night, was the third member of Ole Miss' 2013 recruiting class to land in the first round. Signs have pointed toward an NFL opportunity since the early stages of his high school career, which included a junior campaign that will be difficult for any elite prospect to duplicate (93 tackles—36 for loss—and 19 sacks).

With his older brother, Denzel Nkemdiche, already on the Rebels roster, he also elected to compete in Oxford. His commitment announcement occurred on national signing day, with fellow finalists Florida and LSU left out of the mix.

"I feel like it's the right place for me," Nkemdiche said afterward, according to ESPN.com. "I feel like they can do special things, and they're on the rise."

30. Carolina Panthers: DT Vernon Butler

30 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: North Pike (Summit, Mississippi)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 96 strong-side defensive end; No. 1,827 overall (2-star prospect)

Vernon Butler is yet another first-round NFL draft pick who flew under the radar in regard to recruiting rankings as a high school athlete. Despite a productive prep career, he netted a limited group of scholarship offers.

Louisiana Tech landed his commitment less than one month before national signing day, beating out schools such as Louisiana-Lafayette and Southern Miss. Butler bulldozed his way into offensive backfields at North Pike, compiling 223 tackles and 19 sacks as an upperclassman, according to the Louisiana Tech team website.

31. Seattle Seahawks: OG Germain Ifedi

31 of 31

Recruiting Class: 2012

High School: Westside (Houston)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 13 offensive guard; No. 260 overall (4-star prospect)

Germain Ifedi is another member of this list who elected to change course during his recruitment. He committed to Missouri but flipped that pledge to Texas A&M in October 2011 and would make his way to College Station the following year.

Among the most physically imposing linemen in his class, Ifedi also held offers from Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Baylor. He piled up 96 pancakes in the trenches as a high school senior, according to the Aggies team website.

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

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