The Top 10 College Football Recruits Who Will Change Positions

The transition from high school to college can be a drastic one for a football player. While some of the top prospects take their skill-set straight to the next level, many are forced to re-work their games and adjust their styles of play. 

For some, this can be as simple as technique. For others, it can be a switch from middle linebacker to outside linebacker, safety to corner, flanker to slot, or running back to fullback. 

In some cases, the switch can be more drastic. 

A prospect can go from a high school quarterback to a college wide receiver, a defensive end to a safety, a running back to a linebacker, and so on. 

Here are the top 10 recruits from the 2011 class that are prime candidates to change positions in college. 

10. Darius Jennings: Quarterback to Wide Receiver

Commitment: Uncommitted

Jennings was a high school quarterback, but he's being recruited as a wide receiver by every school to make an offer to him. He's shown off his hands in camps and seven on seven's, and is one of the most dynamic runners in space that I've seen in a long time.

At 5'11" and 175 lbs, the four-star receiver isn't a traditional speedster, but he moves incredibly fast in traffic. He's got a short stride and has a really good first burst off the line of scrimmage.

He can change gears about as fast as anyone, and those short, choppy steps let him accelerate. He can be a force in the Wildcat, as he has experience running the system in high school.

He'd be an ideal slot receiver, but needs to bulk up some before he can make an impact on the next level. 

Jennings lists his top 10 as: UCLA, Ohio State, Boston College, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.

When you watch the video, you'll understand why this QB is included. If you're an Iowa fan, be excited, because the Hawkeyes' are very much in the mix to land him.

9. Damian Swann: Quarterback/Receiver/Safety to Cornerback

Commitment: Uncommitted 

Swann is a very athletic prospect with the potential to play either cornerback or safety in college. But his skill-set at receiver is also intriguing.

He'll be the starting quarterback of his high school team for his senior season, after lining up at receiver and free safety as a junior, but most experts see him as a corner on the next level due to his unique combination of size and speed. At 6'0" and 175 lbs, he presents an ideal candidate to match up against bigger receivers. 

He's got a great set of hands and has a knack for making big plays, but his man-to-man coverage skills are still a little raw.

Swann plays off of his instincts and athleticism right now, but when he gets to the next level, he'll need to rework his technique and learn to play more disciplined. The tools are all there, though. 

It looks like Swann is going to make his final choice between Alabama and Georgia.

8.Colt Lyerla: Jack of All Trades to Outside Linebacker

Commitment: Uncommitted

Lyerla plays both tight end and outside linebacker in high school, as well as some quarterback, running back, defensive end, and safety.

But his future looks like it'll be at outside linebacker. He's very athletic and displays some of the most fluid movements of any defender his size in the country. 

At 6'5" and 225 lbs, he moves like a wide receiver, with the hitting ability and aggressive tendencies of a linebacker. 

Its a near-perfect combination of attributes for an outside linebacker who can either rush the passer or drop back in to cover, depending on the down. 

There's a reason he's earned a five-star grade. Not many athletes out there offer his type of versatility on defense. 

It wouldn't be surprising to see him lineup as a tight end on occasion as well, and even drop back to safety. With Lyerla, he can really do it all at the next level. 

7. Travis Hughes: Linebacker to Running Back

Commitment: Uncommitted

Hughes is ranked as the fifth best middle linebacker by Scout and seventh by Rivals. That's where most schools are recruiting him to play, but there's still a distinct possibility that he could play on the offensive side of the ball. 

He's one of the rare prospects that has legit ability on both sides of the ball and very well may end up as a running back in college. 

Hughes initial burst off the line of scrimmage, and breakaway speed will help him excel regardless of where he plays. He's aggressive, hits hard, and craves contact. 

It's difficult to judge where Hughes is at, considering he recently said that he would love an offer from Miami, but lists North Carolina as a slight favorite at the moment. The other schools in the mix are Clemson, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and of course, LSU. 

It wouldn't be surprising at all to see this highly-coveted linebacker make the transition to college running back for any of these programs. 

6. Jalen Grimble: Defensive End to Nose Tackle

Commitment: USC

Grimble is a 5-star defensive end ranked No. 5 at his position by Scout and No. 11 by Rivals. He's got the size, strength, and athleticism to be a defensive tackle in a 4-3 or a defensive end in 3-4, but it remains to be seen how the coaches at USC plan to use him. 

Some believe that the 6'4" and 255-lb prospect might be best suited to bulk up even more and grow into a nose tackle.

There aren't many big men better in pursuit, especially on the backside, and even fewer with the kind of motor he possesses. But his strength and athleticism could be an ideal skill-set for double-teams clogging up the middle.

Grimble mostly uses brute force to overpower his opponents and will drive an offensive lineman into the backfield and blow up a play as quickly as anyone in the 2011 class.

His technique is still raw and there's work to be done, but the potential is very high with this kid. He could be a tremendous nose. 

5. Sammy Watkins: Wide Receiver to Safety

Commitment: Uncommitted

Sammy Watkins is one of the best prospects from the state of Florida and a game-breaker at the receiver position.

But he also displays great skills as a defensive back, and plays with the type of aggressive style you like to see from the safety position.

He's the complete package in terms of size and speed, and a dangerous weapon in the return game as well. He's a threat to take it the distance on any play and has that sixth gear you look for in elite prospects.

The only knock on Watkins is that for someone of his size and catching ability, he hasn't been much of a redzone threat to this point in his career, and that's a bit troubling.

That might mean a permanent switch to the defensive side could be down the line for Watkins, and he could thrive in that role. 

He's got a ton of offers on the table at the moment but the favorites are Miami and Clemson at the moment. 

4. Christian Westerman: Offensive Tackle to Offensive Guard

Commitment: Texas

At 6'5" and 285 lbs, Westerman is one of the best high school offensive tackles in the country, but he's projected as either a guard or right tackle at the next level.

He's a very strong blocker and has some of the best footwork of any lineman in the 2011 class.

But the fact that he never played left tackle in high school probably means it just doesn't suit his skill-set, and that's why a lot of scouts eventually see him moving inside to guard.

He overpowers defenders with quick hits and a very low stance, but the way he's able to move suggests that he'd be very successful as a pulling guard.

This guy could open up a highway on counters.

3. Lawrence Thomas: Linebacker to Defensive End or Safety

Commitment: Michigan State

At 6'3" and 236 lbs, Thomas presents a unique prospect with the size and speed to play a variety of positions. He can play defensive end, linebacker, safety, and even receiver.

He's projected as a defender on the next level, mostly because it would be a shame to let his ball hawking and punishing tacking go to waste.

Look for him to find a home as an outside linebacker who can drop into coverage or cause havoc in the backfield, depending on the down.

Some believe that he would be best served to bulk up and eventually put a hand in the dirt as a strongside defensive end, or even permanently move into centerfield as a free safety. 

Thomas just might be the best linebacker of the 2011 class and has the chance to be the next Greg Jones for the Spartans; that is, unless they move him to another position.

2. James Wilder: Defensive End to Outside Linebacker

Commitment: FSU

James Wilder has off the charts strength and, pound for pound, is probably the strongest prospect in the country.

He's a two-way player who projects as a running back, linebacker, or defensive end.

He's a leader on and off the field and plays hard every down.

Wilder seems best suited to play defense. He's a ball hawk with great instincts, and could do a lot of damage as a pass rushing outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid—but he insists he wants to play running back.

The coaches at FSU appear willing to let him have a go at it. He's got the talent to be a special player as a big power back, but if things don't work out, he's a prime candidate to move back to defense. 

It wouldn't be surprising to see Wilder finish his college career as an outside linebacker. 

1. Jadeveon Clowney: Defensive End to Outside Linebacker

Commitment: Uncommitted 

At 6'5", 225 lbs, Clowney is an athletic freak and a playmaker in every sense of the word.

He gets into the backfield in a hurry, has great natural pass-rushing instincts, and can chase down ball-carriers with his tremendous speed.

No matter where the ball goes, or where Clowney lines up, he can make something happen. There's game film of him chasing wide receivers twenty yards down the field.

He's one of those players that just always ends up in the thick of things, jarring balls loose, knocking quarterbacks on their back, scooping up a fumble, and generally causing about as much trouble as you can ask from a defender.

His top two choices are Alabama and South Carolina, and the thought here is that he will end up with the Crimson Tide and make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker.