College Football Players Turning Heads During 2018 Spring Practice
March Madness has captured most of the sports world's attention for the last several weeks, but a number of college football players have still managed to make positive headlines.
Although spring practice is only in its opening stages around the country, coaches and teammates are already showering early standouts with plenty of praise.
The list includes a handful of returning players, while three others are true freshmen who enrolled for the current semester. Unsurprisingly, two of them were 5-star prospects in the 2018 class.
Inclusion is not intended to suggest the players are destined for a leading role this fall, but it certainly doesn't hurt to be featured.
Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR, USC
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Josh Imatorbhebhe took a redshirt in 2016 before scarcely playing as a redshirt freshman. At least on the practice field, though, the former 4-star recruit is more comfortable than ever.
According to Alexa Palermo of the school's official site, head coach Clay Helton said Imatorbhebhe has a better grasp of the playbook and it's improved the wideout's on-field confidence.
"You can see him reacting so much faster which tells me that he is really ingrained into assignments," Helton said. "His natural ability and explosiveness is off the charts."
Imatorbhebhe managed two catches for 11 yards last season but has a tremendous opportunity to crack the two-deep in 2018.
Jonathan Garvin, DE, Miami
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Miami must replace Chad Thomas and Trent Harris from its 12th-ranked defense, but Jonathan Garvin is ready for a starting spot.
"The guy's just a freak of nature," fellow D-end Joe Jackson told Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post. "Speed. Strength. Power. He's very consistent. He's got the work ethic. He's probably the fastest person I've seen develop in college football."
Coming from Jackson, who recorded 23 tackles for loss with 15 sacks through his first two seasons, that's considerable praise.
Garvin played limited snaps behind the deep unit in 2017, but he still notched a pair of strip-sacks in consecutive games against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. He recovered both fumbles, too.
D.J. Matthews, WR, Florida State
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Florida State has only held a couple of spring practices, but D.J. Matthews only needed one workout to drop a few jaws.
Warchant passed along a video of the rising sophomore electrifying the practice field with a side-step and spin past two defenders during a punt return drill. The shifty receiver also stood out during the seven-on-seven portion, per Curt Weiler of the Tallahassee Democrat:
"Matthews ... played predominantly in the slot and showed his athleticism, agility and elusiveness in space."
Given that leading returning target Nyqwan Murray is sidelined for the spring with a torn meniscus, Matthews will be expected to lead a young and—until reinforcements arrive this summer—thin receiving corps.
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Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
4 of 8The No. 5 overall prospect in the 2018 class, Micah Parsons arrived at Penn State with enormous hype and even greater expectations.
Although he starred as a defensive end in high school, the Nittany Lions are shifting the 6'3", 241-pounder to middle linebacker. He'll compete with Jake Cooper, Jan Johnson and Jarvis Miller.
Per Land of 10's Tyler Donohue, Penn State coach James Franklin believes Parsons is physically ready:
"You talk about a guy who has the body type, the strength and quickness—I think he has a chance. Since he showed up on campus, he's done a really good job."
Even if he doesn't win a starting position, Parsons is highly likely to contribute as a freshman.
Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
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The last time the college football world saw DeVonta Smith, he was catching the game-winning touchdown for Alabama during overtime of the national championship win over Georgia.
He's a cornerback now?
Well, not so fast. Alex Byington of the Montgomery Advertiser shared Nick Saban's explanation for Smith's work at defensive back:
"He can play corner but that's not our plan for him. Look, we don't have enough guys in the secondary right now, we recruited some good players and we're hopeful they'll come on in the fall, but they're not here in the spring."
Though the position switch isn't actually a switch, it's a testament to Smith's ability and versatility that Saban and Co. believe he is capable of playing on both sides of the ball.
Nate Craig-Myers, WR, Auburn
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Though he was already an important player, Nate Craig-Myers could be headed for even greater responsibility in 2018.
According to Justin Ferguson of SEC Country, the junior wideout feels he's earned the coaching staff's trust because offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has called more downfield passes this spring.
That seems like a fair assessment, given what head coach Gus Malzahn said about Craig-Myers, per Ferguson:
"Nate is a guy that [wide receivers coach Kodi Burns] is asking a lot more of to take that next step, and he's really responding. You can just sense, this is his third year in the offense, and he just knows it and reacts."
Craig-Myers, who has stood out as a blocker, caught 16 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
7 of 8Kelly Bryant is the likely starter in 2018, but Trevor Lawrence won't be making that a simple decision for the coaching staff.
"Just great poise, confidence, awareness. He's got a great ability to process and learn quickly," head coach Dabo Swinney said, per Matt Connolly of the State. "And those are things that you really don't know until you start coaching a guy, but he's not overwhelmed and he's competing. It's been great."
Additionally, co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott said Lawrence's arm is "as advertised," according to Hannah Rogerson of TigerNet.
Lawrence will attempt to leap Hunter Johnson on the depth chart before either serving as Bryant's backup or supplanting the incumbent.
Brendan Radley-Hiles, CB, Oklahoma
8 of 8The three-time defending Big 12 champions are reloading in the secondary, and Brendan Radley-Hiles could be part of the transition.
Per John Shinn of DieHards, defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks said "Bookie" has lived up to expectations since enrolling early:
"He's everything that I thought he would be. He's not polished right now, but he's very instinctive and athletic. The kid can play nickel, you can bounce him out to cornerback. The kid is just a football player. He has a high football IQ."
That versatility should help Radley-Hiles earn immediate snaps, no matter if it's at corner, nickel or even safety.
All recruiting information via 247Sports. Stats from NCAA.com, cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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