College Football Recruiting 2011: Video Highlights of the Top 25 Recruits

As we've progressed through the high school football season, our rankings of the top prospects have shifted as we've had the opportunity to see the development of this year's recruiting crop.

We'll be releasing an updated top 50 prospects list next week. In the meantime, enjoy this little preview of our top 25 with video highlights. 

25. Brandon Williams, RB

Commitment: Oklahoma 

Williams is a great all-around running back who contributes not only in the running game, but also as a legitimate weapon in the passing game.

He doesn't have elite size or speed, but makes up with it with a gamer's mentality and playing style.

The biggest question about his game is his ability to break tackles, as right now he often goes down on first contact.

24. Sammy Watkins, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

Sammy Watkins is one of the best prospects from the state of Florida and a gamebreaker 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 with his size and catching ability, he hasn't been much of a red-zone threat to this point in his career. That's a bit troubling.

23. Doran Grant, CB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Grant is the best cornerback prospect in the country, rated No. 1 by Rivals and No. 2 by Scout.

He's even better than advertised, and definitely fits the bill at a generous 5'10" and 175 pounds.

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

22. Anthony Johnson, DT

Commitment: Louisiana State

Johnson is a big, physical, bull-rushing defensive tackle that prefers to plow straight through his opponent rather than try to get around them.

He's definitely on the raw side, and doesn't have a wide array of moves; which is why he relies so much on his strength. The tools are there for a devastating anchor for LSU's line in a couple years.

But he needs to polish off his skills first.

21. Jay Rome, TE

Commitment: Uncommitted

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 has the potential to be one of the biggest impact freshman in the country in 2011.

You can view highlights of Rome here. 

20. Brent Calloway, LB

Commitment: Alabama

Calloway is a player that won't wow you in drills or in the weight room. 

But the game film speaks for itself. 

Some guys are just gamers. He's one of those guys.

He plays defensive end in high school, but he's better suited as a linebacker in college.

Calloway is a versatile athlete, a high-energy guy who led his team to a state championship last season by dominating quarterbacks and bulldozing defenses to the tune of over 1,400 yards rushing last season.

19. Steve Edmond, LB

Commitment: Texas

Edmond dominates all over the field.

At his size, 6'3", 225 pounds, he can play inside or outside linebacker and potentially could bulk up a bit to play end. There are very few prospects as physically-ready as Edmond and probably no one in the nation who can tackle with as much consistency.

He reminds me a lot of Sergio Kindle when he rushes the passer, but he's a better tackler in open space and brings more to the table in run support. 

A guy who tackles as well as Edmond has middle linebacker written all over him.

18. Christian Westerman, OT

Commitment: Texas

At 6'5", 285 pounds, Westerman is projected as either a guard or right tackle at the next level.

But the fact that he never played left tackle in high school probably means it just doesn't suit his skill-set.

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

17. Trey Metoyer, WR

Commitment: Oklahoma

Trey Metoyer is one of the highest-rated receivers of the 2011 class.

He's rated top-five at his position by both Scout and Rivals, and presents a great combination of size and speed.

He doesn't have the breakaway speed of a George Farmer. But he still runs a 4.5-second 40 and has enough quickness to break loose for a big play if you let him get into space.

At 6'2" and 185 pounds, he needs to put some weight on his frame. But he's already a very strong athlete who uses his strength to avoid getting jammed at the line and to ward off defenders downfield and create separation.

16. George Farmer, WR

Commitment: Uncommitted

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.

15. Braxton Miller, QB

Commitment: Ohio State

Miller is an idea dual-threat quarterback who possesses great quickness, elusive ability, and a powerful arm that really puts a lot of pressure on defenses.

He runs a 4.47-second 40-yard dash and can change direction on a dime.

There are very few prospects capable of dominating a defense the way he does. Miller doesn't force plays, but rather lets his opponent choose how they're going to play him and then take advantage of whatever they offer.

If you crowd the line of scrimmage, he'll throw over you all night. If you give him space to run, he'll burn you for a quick 15 without any hesitation.

14. Mike Bellamy, RB

Commitment: Clemson

Bellamy is considered to be one of the top prospects of the 2011 class.

He's a top-five running back on pretty much every list that matters, and is one of the fastest prospects in the state of Florida, clocking in at 4.3 seconds on his 40-time.

He's a playmaker who will light up scoreboards and burns defenders regularly. Bellamy is incredibly elusive and has tremendous balance and body control.

13. Lawrence Thomas, LB

Commitment: Michigan State

At 6'3" and 236 pounds, 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.

12. Curtis Grant, LB

Commitment: Uncommitted

Grant 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.

At 6'2", 234 pounds, he has the size to play a number of positions. There are very few prospects who can cover the field from sideline to sideline as well as he can.

But because of his ability to get in the backfield, as well as cover, he's best suited to be an outside linebacker.

You can view highlights of Grant here. 

11. HaSean Clinton-Dix, S

Commitment: Alabama

Clinton-Dix is an elite prospect who really has an ideal skill set for a safety.

There's almost nothing about his game not to like, except for some minor footwork issues.

He's very physical and has great natural instincts, which lead to a lot of big hits and turnovers. His coverage skills are about as good as any defensive prospect in the class, but he's also very good in run support as well.

10. Isaiah Crowell, RB

Commitment: Uncommitted

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.

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 ever be able to.

9. Aaron Green, RB

Commitment: Nebraksa

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 pounds, 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.

8. James Wilder, ATH

Commitment: Florida State

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.

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.

7. Tony Steward, LB

Commitment: Uncommitted

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

6. La'El Collins, OT

Commitment: Louisiana State

At 6'5", 285 pounds, Collins is 15-20 pounds away from being an off-the-charts prospect at left tackle.

His strength, athleticism and blocking skill is about as good as anyone's in the class.

From a physical standpoint, he's an imposing specimen who can knock back a defender a full yard with a single push.

Collins excels at both pass-blocking and run support, and does a great job of getting to the second level. He also has that bit of nasty you like to see in offensive linemen.

Not to mention great character and a motor that runs hard every single play.

(Collins is the massive left tackle in the video; you can't miss him)

5. De'Anthony Thomas, ATH

Commitment: USC

This one might be a little bit of a cheat, because Thomas' future is at cornerback first and running back second.

At 5'9" and 170 pounds, he might not have the size to hold up as a running back on the college level. But he definitely has the skill-set to be a force. 

He's a legitimate five-star prospect on either side of the field. Thomas' vision, speed, elusiveness, balance and surprising power make him one of the most dangerous rushers in the country.

It wouldn't be surprising at all to see him play both ways on the next level. 

4. Malcolm Brown, RB

Commitment: Texas

Brown is the premier rusher of the class and a near-ideal prospect for the position.

He's a powerful rusher that will put his shoulder down and punish defenders, wearing them down as the game goes on.

He won't wow you with his speed. But as a downhill rusher he's about as impressive as they come.

Brown explodes into defenders, has great vision, subtle but quick movements, and breaks tackles at an eye-popping rate.

3. Tim Jernigan, DT

Commitment: Uncommitted

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

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.

2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Commitment: Uncommitted

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

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE

Commitment: Uncommitted

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 ballcarriers 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.