CFB Recruiting: Predictions for the Top 25 Uncommitted Prospects

As we get ready for the first week of the 2010 college football season, the recruiting world takes a step back and sits on the back burner for most players and fans, but that doesn't mean there isn't a ton of uncommitted talent still out there waiting to be plucked from the bunch. 

Of the top 50 prospects, 20 remain uncommitted and while most of them have their favorites, there are a few that will claim the field is wide open. 

But we'll take it a little bit further and break down the situation for the top 25 uncommitted 5-star recruits of the 2011 class. 

And of course, one man's humble predictions will be included. 

25. Ishaq Williams, DE

One of the top defensive ends of the 2011 recruiting class, 5-star recruit Ishaq Williams is an athletic freak with the potential to be a superb outside linebacker or strong safety on top of his skill along the defensive line.

He's long and rangy, runs a deceptively fast 4.7-second 40-yard dash, and is one of the most intense players you'll ever come across.

This guy doesn't just have a great motor; he's out for blood on every single play and won't stop until he makes something happen. That's the kind of aggression you love to see on the defensive side of the ball.

Williams has made visits to Notre Dame, Alabama, Pitt, Syracuse, Penn State, Maryland, and most recently Rutgers. He doesn't plan on committing until January, but will cut his list to five to seven schools in the next few weeks.

Expect the Crimson Tide to be on that list. Williams seemed very impressed with the business-like approach of the players and coaches, and if anyone can sway a prospect, it's Nick Saban. 

Prediction: Alabama

24. Colt Lyerla, ATH

Lyerla plays both tight end and outside linebacker in high school, but his future looks like it'll be on the defensive side of the ball.

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. 

It's 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. 

The news on Lyerla has been quiet the last couple months beyond refuting that his final three choices were USC, Miami, and Oregon.

He's previously listed Oregon State, Oklahoma, and UCLA as other options in the mix.

We'd be lying if we said we weren't taking a shot in the dark with this one because, frankly, Lyerla hasn't given much of an inclination to this point, but while he says distance is no issue, this Oregon boy seems destined to stay near home.

Prediction: Oregon

23. Anthony Wallace, LB

Wallace is a perfect fit at middle linebacker. He's got the prototypical size that's ideal for the position and a great natural frame. 

He's a very smart player who can cover both the run and the pass extremely well, but his coverage skills are really what stand out.

Right now, his technique is raw, but when he drops back, the instincts are incredible. 

Watching him get free in pursuit is like watching a predator hunt. He zones in on the ball-carrier and just attacks him.

Wallace is one of those players that is always around the ball. Once he gets bigger, he might end up being the best linebacker from the class. 

He's probably going to wait until NSD to commit, but right now Miami, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are the favorites.

He's had a lot of good things to say about all three schools, but when it came to Miami he seemed to brighten up the most. Wallace just loved his visit to Coral Gables.

Prediction: Miami

22. Travis Hughes, LB

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's 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 LSU.

Prediction: North Carolina

21. Viliami Moala, DT

The 6'4" and 340-lb defensive tackle is by far the biggest of the elite prospects at his position.

Moala can play as a run-stuffing, penetrating defensive tackle or clog up the middle with a constant double-team as a nose tackle. It all depends where he plays. 

Even at his size, Moala is very quick off the ball and can make plays in the backfield and on the edges. That's really the key to his game; he's not just a space eater there to take on blockers. 

Moala can make things happen and is one of the rare nose tackle prospects that also has the ability to completely control the action in the middle of the trenches. 

He won't list his favorites at the moment, but fellow defensive tackle, close friend and Cal commitment Mustafa Jalil has been intensely recruiting Moala to join him with the Golden Bears.

Prediction: Cal

20. Nick O'Leary, TE

O'Leary might be the best tight end in the 2011 class. He's a receiver and lineman mixed into one body.

He has the all-around skills to be an immediate force on the football field. O'Leary is an elite blocker, has a great set of hands, moves downfield well, and runs crisp routes.

There really aren't any issues you can find with his game besides his height. Listed at a generous 6'4", O'Leary doesn't have prototypical size for the position.

If he were three inches taller he might have been a unanimous choice for No. 1 at his position.

The Florida native is down to Miami and FSU and both schools bring a lot to the table, but O'Leary knows how the Hurricanes use tight ends and even more so, how they get them to the NFL.

Prediction: Miami

19. Mike Blakely, RB

Blakely might be on the small side, but he makes up for it with an elusive style of rushing and great cutback ability.

He's a 4-star running back, but he's also a serious receiving threat out of the backfield and has great hands that open up the passing game a lot, with constant dump-offs and fade routes that are difficult to contain.

He needs to get stronger and learn to block better, but besides those concerns, there aren't many holes in his game.

Players with the type of natural ability like Blakely tend to find a way to overcome their physical limitations and do big things. That makes him a 5-star guy to me.

His top choices are Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and USC, but the Gators, Tigers, and Gamecocks hold the edge. 

Florida missed out on one of their top running back prospects, they won't miss out on the other.

Prediction: Florida

18. Gregory Robinson, OT

Robinson was one of the top performers at the U.S. Army All-American Combine. At 6'5" and 296 pounds, he's a big and physical player with a lot of upside.

He's a workout warrior that really impresses with his strength and agility, though his technique as a blocker is still a bit raw. He often struggles to stay low and doesn't adjust his feet very well.

Robinson relies on his natural ability right now, but that won't cut it in college. If he can learn to balance himself better and slide his feet against speed rushers, there won't be much stopping him from being an elite tackle.

It's coming down to Auburn and LSU, but of the two SEC rivals Robinson seems to be favoring Auburn. This is a tight race though, so take the prediction with a grain of salt. 

Prediction: Auburn

17. Savon Huggins, RB

There's no one from the 2011 class who can juke quite like Savon Huggins. He has such a broad array of moves that you really never know what he's going to do on any given play.

When you watch him play, you immediately think Barry Sanders. He's got the vision, the balance, the change-of-direction ability, and simply the unwillingness to go down.

He's got such a good low center of gravity and body control that most defenders struggle to get a clean hit on him.

Once he learns to block better and participate in the passing game, he'll be a compete back.

With offers from all over the country, Huggins has narrowed his choices down to Rutgers, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Notre Dame, Miami, Wisconsin, and Penn State. 

He's in contact almost every day with coaches from Pitt though and lights up when he talks about the school.

Prediction: Pitt

16. Sammy Watkins, WR

Sammy Watkins is one of the best prospects from the state of Florida and a game-breaker at the receiver 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 red zone threat to this point in his career and that's a bit troubling.

His top two choices are Miami and Clemson and while he hasn't quite called them his finalists, most experts believe this is a two-horse race. 

Watkins is digging the vibe at Clemson and seems excited about the possibility of playing alongside Mike Bellamy and Charone Peake.

Prediction: Clemson

15. Greg Townsend, DE

Townsend has the athleticism and size to play anywhere from linebacker to defensive tackle on the next level.

He's got great instincts and strength, but his body control and balance are what stand out the most when you watch him play.

Not many prospects his size are able to maneuver around blockers and contort their body without losing footing or balance. Townsend just squeezes past his opponent and sets himself up to make a play.

At this point, his technique is raw and more polished collegiate tackles won't have much trouble handling him. But the potential is there and the ceiling is sky-high for him.

Of all the schools that have offered Townsend, his focus is on USC, Washington, Oregon, TCU, Miami, and Alabama.

He's been in love with the USC coaching staff for months though, and most have considered him a Trojan-lean bound for So-Cal. 

Prediction: USC

14. Jermauria Rasco, DE

Rasco has improved tremendously every year, and that's something to take note of when looking at a prospect. He's an elite defensive end with a very high ceiling, and he's only getting better as he ages.

He's got great instincts and discipline, but his technique and movements are still on the raw side.

If he can learn to add some weapons to his arsenal and get off the ball quicker, he could end up being the best defensive end in the class.

For someone with so much to work on, seeing how fast he's able to disengage from his blockers and engage ball-carriers is eyebrow raising.

The schools recruiting him the hardest are Texas, LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, and UCLA.

This Louisiana native has always said he wouldn't count out the Tigers, and there's a feeling here he won't be able to resist staying at home for his college ball.

Prediction: LSU

13. Jay Rome, TE

Jay Rome is the No. 1 ranked tight end recruit in the country and has been linked to over a dozen programs to date.

An extremely athletic tight end with NFL potential, Rome has all the intangibles to be very successful wherever he ends up playing.

He has tremendous blocking skills and can line up at receiver or tight end.

If Rome can improve his strength, he'll have the potential to be one of the biggest impact freshman in the country in 2011.

He has a ton of offers on the table, but it looks like it's going to come down to Georgia and Alabama at the end of the day, though Clemson can't be counted out just yet.

It's a tight race between these two schools, but Rome wants to play with quarterback Christian LeMay, a Georgia commit.

With LeMay in his ear, it'll be hard for him to say no.

Prediction: Georgia

12. Ray Drew, DE

Ray Drew is not just a high school football star who's one of the best pure pass rushers in the country, he's also a licensed minister.

That speaks volumes about this young man's character.

Drew isn't the type of player you need to worry about causing problems off the field. He's a hard worker, a vocal player, and a natural leader.

He'll step in from day one and grind it out at 100 percent from the the minute the whistle is blown until the end of the day.

 He has a knack for getting to the quarterback and has a great skill set of power and finesse moves.

There's no official word from Drew as of now, but many feel that Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, and Georgia are the schools he's looking at the hardest. 

The wild card in this mix is Miami, they've been gunning for Drew like no other school in the country. 

Prediction: Miami

11. Kasen Williams, WR

Kasen Williams is ranked as the top receiver in the nation by Scout. He's a big, strong receiver who runs very good routes and creates great separation down-field by overpowering and out-maneuvering defenders.

He's also so strong at the line of scrimmage that it's nearly impossible to jam him; when it's attempted, he usually makes the defender pay big-time.

Because of his size and strength, he is one of the hardest players to take down and when he gets loose in open space, he's a threat to take it to the house every time.

Add in his pass-catching ability and you're looking at a polished elite prospect.

Williams recently narrowed his list of suitors to five finalists: Notre Dame, Florida, LSU, Cal, and Washington.

Considering he's from Washington and both his parents are Huskies, you have to give the edge to the hometown team.

Prediction: Washington

10. Stephone Anthony, OLB

Stephone Anthony is a natural pass-rusher with a knack for causing turnovers.

There aren't many players who can make the ball come loose more often than this kid. 

When he gets his hands on someone, there's a chance he'll make something happen any given play.

He plays with great instincts and is very athletic, attacking the ball with purpose and precision, and shedding blockers with impressive strength.

Anthony has the smarts and the skill to get on the field right away and will likely do that wherever he ends up. If he isn't starting as a freshman, expect him to be a special teams demon.

He plans on making his commitment at the Under-Armour All-American Game and favors, in order, Florida, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Clemson, NC State, and Georgia. While the Hokies have recently made a push, Anthony has favored the Gators right from the get-go.

Prediction: Florida

9. Doran Grant, DB

Grant is the best cornerback prospect in the country, rated No. 1 by Rivals and No. 2 by Scout. Considering his smallish frame, the rankings say a whole lot about the talent this kid brings to the table.

Grant is probably better than advertised and definitely fits the bill at a generous 5'10" and 175 lbs.

He's lightning-fast, tests off the charts athletically, tackles with a lot of power, and has a great nose for the ball.

The Ohio native has been heavily recruited by schools from all over the country and plans to narrow his list down to about five schools before his season starts. 

Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and USC are all in the mix, but Grant plans on waiting until after the season or the Under Armour All-American Game in January.

Prediction: Ohio State

8. George Farmer, WR

He has the speed to get past pretty much anyone and the size to ward off stronger defenders without much effort.

Farmer has an ideal combination of skills and natural ability, but needs to fine tune his game some.

He'll make the spectacular catch, but then drop an easy one. Some scouts question his level of concentration and desire to go all out on every play; that's troubling. If he can improve on his consistency though, Farmer has the goods to be a special talent.

Farmer's top five choices are USC, Oregon, Alabama, Miami, and Florida, but he's about as close to a Trojans lock as they come. 

Prediction: USC

7. Curtis Grant, LB

Grant plays like a professional, which is very impressive for someone his age.

He can play both inside and outside, reads plays and reacts very fast, and can cover a whole bunch of ground as quickly as any linebacker prospect out there.

There are very few players who can defend the field from sideline to sideline as well as Grant can.

At 6'2", 234 lbs, he has the size to play a number of positions. But because of his ability to get in the backfield, as well as cover, he's best suited to be an outside linebacker.

Grant has nearly 30 offers on the table, most notably from Alabama, Florida, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Virginia.

He won't list any favorites yet, but of the group, Florida, Alabama, USC, and Virginia stand out the most. He's been real quiet when it comes to his decision so consider this prediction the name out of the hat. 

Prediction: Florida

6. Aaron Green, RB

Aaron Green is the complete package when it comes to running backs. He runs with purpose, can make the first man miss, gets downfield in a hurry, and breaks tackles with surprising speed.

He's undersized at 5'11", 185 lbs, so he needs to bulk up or he just won't stay in one piece at the next level, but that's about all there is not to like about this kid.

There might not be anyone in the country who can change direction quite as fast as he can. Defenders are regularly left staring at the dust.

Green has narrowed down his choices to Texas, Nebraska, FSU, and Cal. With Texas receiving a commitment from Malcolm Brown and FSU bringing James Wilder aboard, it seems like the only options left are Nebraska and Cal. 

Nebraska all the way. 

Prediction: Nebraska

5. Tim Jernigan, DT

At 6'2", 275 lbs, Jernigan is an athletic big man who moves extremely well for his size and can get into the backfield in a hurry.

He's a disruptive force who recorded 131 tackles, including 27 for loss as a junior and commands a constant double-team.

He has all the tools to become an elite college defensive lineman. He's strong, stays low to the ground, drives with his legs, and has a relentless motor.

On top of that, he has a solid array of power and finesse moves to shed blocks and penetrate the line of scrimmage.

Jernigan is a monster in pursuit and never gives up on a play, even if it means chasing a ball carrier 20-30 yards downfield.

His favorites are Florida, Florida State, LSU, Alabama, and Michigan, but he's "in no rush" to make a decision.

It would appear the Florida schools have the best shot at landing the in-state prize, though it wouldn't be too surprising to see him head to any of these schools. 

Prediction: Florida

4. Isaiah Crowell, RB

There's nothing to dislike about Crowell's game.

He has great breakaway speed, is very elusive, has top-of-the-line instincts, makes lightning-fast cuts, doesn't hesitate, and can break tackles with the best of them.

Seems too good to be true, right?

Crowell has played with a talented stable of rushers his entire high school career behind a very good offensive line. He's never carried the load himself and there are serious questions about his ability to do so.

So why not a pairing with Trent Richardson in Alabama's backfield? 

Crowell's top two choices are Alabama and Georgia, and it looks like his personal relationship with Richardson is pulling him toward the Tide.

Prediction: Alabama

3. Tony Steward, LB

At 6'2" and 225 pounds, Steward is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the country.

The kid is built like a body builder, with hardly an ounce of fat. He's incredibly strong and is one of the most athletic prospects in the country at any position, let alone linebacker.

Based on the way he's built, and his natural ability to sniff out the football, Steward is likely to make a big impact as a freshman.

What's most impressive about his game is his ability to get out in open space and cover a ton of ground in pass protection.

His top two choices are FSU and Clemson and it seems like the two flip-flop every time he does an interview. His recent visit to Clemson really got his juices flowing, though. 

Prediction: Clemson

2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

At 6'6", 322 pounds, Kouandjio is one of the most athletic big men in the country.

He has a huge wingspan and at times appears to move as swiftly as someone half his size.

When it comes to natural ability as a blocker, Kouandjio has top-end balance and moves his feet as swiftly as any high school player I've ever seen.

He does a great job staying low to the ground and using his tree trunk-like arms to manhandle defenders.

Kouandijo is polished and as ready to compete at the college level as anyone in the 2011 class.

He's not rushing into his decision to pick a school, but recently cut his list down to 11 top choices: Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Miami, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia, and USC.

Of all the schools on his list, no one is going after him as hard as the Trojans, and it's clear they truly covet his skills quite unlike anyone else.

Prediction: USC

1. JaDeveon Clowney, DE

At 6'5", 225 pounds, 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 down wide receivers 20 yards down the field.

He's one of those players who just always ends up in the thick of things, jarring balls loose, knocking quarterbacks on their backs, 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, but Clowney doesn't expect to make his choice until he's had all of his official visits.

South Carolina might have the home state bonus, but Alabama's 3-4 defense is perfect for him.

Prediction: Alabama