College Football Recruiting: Predictions for The Top 35 Uncommitted Recruits

National Signing Day is two weeks away and the end to the 2011 college football recruiting season is at hand. 

At this point in the game, the talent level on the open market has become rather shallow outside of the blue chips that have been waiting to the last minute all along. 

We've got the latest on the top 35 uncommitted prospects, as well as some predictions as to where everyone is headed when this is all over. 

35. Mickey Johnson, DT

If there's one thing that stands out about Johnson, it's his strength.

Pound for pound, he might be one of the strongest prospects in the 2011 class at any position. 

Right now he relies more on his physical tools than technique, but when he gets low and creates leverage, the battle is almost always won. 

Johnson will be making his college decision on January 28 between LSU, Arkansas and Tennessee.

The Tigers are recruiting him the hardest, though.

Prediction: LSU

34. Christian Heyward, DT

Heyward is a really quick, 275-pound defensive tackle who explodes into his blockers from the moment the ball is snapped, but he's also agile enough to get around contact if necessary. 

A two-way player and two-sport athlete, Heyward also starts at tight end and stars for his high school basketball team. 

Heyward is down to USC, Oregon and San Diego State. At this point it looks like it's going to come down to the Trojans and Ducks. 

Prediction: Oregon

33. Troy Niklas, OT

Niklas is an intriguing prospect who could have a future at offensive tackle, tight end or defensive end at the next level.

He'll need to bulk up and a redshirt year certainly seems like a strong possibility.

But Niklas has a great natural frame and a huge wingspan. 

Niklas has narrowed his choices to Stanford, USC and Notre Dame, and this one is a tight race.

The local pipeline to USC has historically been strong, though. 

Prediction: USC

32. Dexter Staley, OLB

Staley could have a legitimate future on either side of the field.

He plays both middle linebacker and running back in high school, but scouts see him as a defender at the next level. 

Though he played more of an offensive role than a defensive role in 2009, Staley has great instincts and reads an offense about as well as anyone. 

Staley was looking at Florida until Urban Meyer left, but he's been under the radar. It looks like East Carolina could swoop in here. 

Prediction: East Carolina

31. Phillip Dukes, DT

Dukes has great size for a defensive tackle at 6'3" and 295 pounds, but he has the versatility to play both end and tackle.

That's his role at the high school level and he's got a good enough skill set at either position to do the same in college. 

Dukes is looking heavily at Clemson and Alabama, but it looks like the Tide's class is filling up and might not have room.

Prediction: Clemson

30. Cyrus Hobbi, OG

Hobbi is one of the top offensive guards in the country and has the versatility to play every interior line position.

He's athletic, has great size at 6'3", 285 pounds and has a great initial burst. 

Some scouts see him as a center. But based on his ability to pull and reach the second and third level of contact guard, he might be better suited for his skill set. 

Nebraska was looking like the team to beat for awhile, but now it's down to Arizona State, USC and UCLA. Gut feeling says the Trojans get their man. 

Prediction: USC

29. Jacoby Brissett, QB

At 6'5" and 225 pounds, Brissett's got elite size and is one of the most athletic prospects in the country.

Brissett runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and has incredible arm strength to add to that. 

He's raw, but the potential is there. Once he figures out how to read defenses better, be a more consistent and accurate passer and play more disciplined, the sky is limit. 

Brissett and teammate Nick O'Leary aren't quite a package deal, but it's looking like they're headed the same direction—toward Tallahassee.

Prediction: Florida State

28. Todd Peat, DT

Peat is like a hurricane in the middle of the trenches and has a knack for causing havoc from whistle to whistle.

He's got great hand movement and has great burst off the ball. If you had to point out an issue with his game, it would be a disturbing injury history that has a lot to do with his style of play.

Oregon State is pushing strong, but Arizona State and Stanford are his top two choices.

Prediction: Arizona State

27. Branden Jackson, OLB

Jackson has played primarily at middle linebacker in high school, but most scouts see him as an outside linebacker at the next level. 

He's a very athletic prospect with great lateral movement skills and quickness. It's a perfect mix for the outside, be it setting the edge in run support, dropping back in coverage or rushing the passer. 

Jackson is looking at Texas Tech, Oregon, Iowa and Michigan State. The Red Raiders are looking like the team to beat at this point. 

Prediction: Texas Tech

26. Bishop Sankey, RB

One of the top prospects from the state of Washington, Sankey is a speedster who gets to the edge and turns the sideline into a 100-meter dash.

At 5'11" and 190 pounds, he needs to bulk up to have a chance to be a threat between the tackles, but in open space he's deadly.

Sankey also has some pretty impressive cut-back skills and has shown the ability to break some tackles.

Sankey has been a Washington State soft-verbal commitment for quite some time, but we're making an exception here. He's been very active in his recruitment and rival Washington is calling.

Prediction: Washington

25. Lamar Dawson, MLB

At 6'3" and 230 pounds, Dawson has ideal size for a middle linebacker, but it's his work ethic, aggressiveness, discipline and speed that really makes him an eye-popping talent. 

If he were better against the pass, Dawson would be right up there with the elite linebackers of the 2011 class.

Dawson has been all over the place in his recruitment and plans on waiting until National Signing Day to make his decision.

There's a lot of teams still in this one, but we'll go with a surprise.

Prediction: Central Florida

24. Deion Barnes, DE

Barnes is a rangy and raw end at 6'4" and 225 pounds, and at the high school level he relies too heavily on his superior natural ability to get things done.

But he's also got about as high a ceiling as any defensive end in the class.

He moves so well and is so fast off the ball you have to take notice; with proper coaching, he could be a beast. 

This one isn't final yet, but it's been Georgia's fight to lose.

Prediction: Georgia

23. C.J. Johnson, MLB

With some prospects, the label of inside and outside doesn't quite fit, but with him there's no question.

Johnson is a middle linebacker.

He plays well between the tackles and can hunt down a ball-carrier along the sidelines about as well as anyone.

Johnson, who originally committed to Mississippi State, de-committed and brought Ole Miss into the mix as well.

Right now he's split between the two, and they're who it's going to come down to. 

Prediction: Ole Miss

22. Antonio Richardson, OT

Antonio Richardson—ranked as the fourth best offensive tackle by Rivals and No. 12 by Scout—is right up there with Greg Robinson as one of the few elite tackles still uncommitted.

At 6'5" and 310 pounds, he's the No. 1 prospect from the state of Tennessee and a player everyone in the SEC is trying to get their hands on. 

Richardson cut Notre Dame from his list earlier this month and is now down to LSU, Georgia, Miami, Tennessee, Auburn and USC. It's really anyone's race right now.

Prediction: Auburn

21. Malcolm Mitchell, CB

Mitchell is one of the most intriguing prospects at the position in the 2011 class.

He's an elite athlete who moves really well and has ideal size at 6'1" and 190 pounds. 

But Mitchell is still very raw and needs a lot of practice reps to fine-tune his skills before he can make an impact. 

Mitchell is down to Alabama and Georgia, but this one could go either way. He's been very high on Alabama for months, though. 

Prediction: Alabama

20. Marquise Wright, DT

Marquise Wright fits into the debatable category as he's ranked as the No. 4 defensive tackle on Rivals and 62nd overall in the country.

But he drops all the way to No. 16 at his position on Scout, outside of the top 100 overall prospects.

Truth is, he's somewhere in between. And at 6'3" and 265 pounds, he probably needs a year to bulk up.

Wright originally committed to Pitt, but decommitted after Dave Wannstedt resigned. Now it looks like Rutgers is closing in on him.

Prediction: Rutgers

19. Darius Jennings, WR

At 5'11" and 175 pounds, 4-star receiver Jennings 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 very fast in space.

He can be a force in the Wildcat as he's got experience running the system in high school.

Jennings is down to Ohio State, Virginia and Wake Forest. While he claims the race is even, he's always happy to talk about the Cavaliers. 

Prediction: Virginia  

18. Nickolas Brassell, WR

Brassell is a high-energy, competitive wideout who can get deep in a hurry every play of the game.

He goes hard no matter what the situation and when he's hot, he's one of the best playmakers in the country. 

The problem is he tends to play out of control and needs to refine his route-running skills to be more than just a deep-ball threat.

If he can figure that out and play with more consistency, Brassell has the chance to be potent force on the next level. 

At this point it looks like it's down to Ole Miss and Alabama, but with the Tide already holding several high-profile commitments at the position, it'll be hard to head that way. 

Prediction: Ole Miss

17. Marqise Lee, S

Lee projects as a wide receiver, safety or cornerback. While we see him as a safety, it wouldn't be surprising to see him turn into a dangerous receiver. 

If you get the ball in his hands in the open field, he's a threat to take it to the house.

But his instincts and ball skills make him a potential difference-maker at the next level. 

Lee is looking at Miami, Cal, USC and Oregon, and the Hurricanes are looking like the strongest team in this one.

Prediction: Miami

16. Marcus Roberson, CB

Roberson is ranked as the No. 2 cornerback on Rivals and the No. 13 safety on Scout.

He plays with exceptional confidence and has really great closing speed and range. 

That's why some scouts see him as an elite safety, but Roberson insists that he wants to play cornerback.

He could be a real force in the right system based on his size advantage and aggressiveness. 

Roberson is looking hard at Auburn and Florida, and with Mike Blakely driving him towards the Gators, it'll be hard to say no.

Prediction: Florida

15. Gabe Wright, DT

Wright's technique is raw, but he's very athletic and quick at the point of attack.

He hits his man hard and drives, but doesn't stay low and has poor hand movement. 

If he can polish up his skills and learn to disengage blockers better, Wright could be one of the best defensive tackles in the class.

Auburn, Clemson and Tennessee are all vying for position, but at the end of the day Alabama has just set the bar too high. 

Prediction: Alabama

14. Erique Florence, S

A top five safety in the 2011 class, Florence is a very instinctual player who can really put a licking on a ball-carrier.

He's got solid form when tackling and often angles himself for the big hit, which is probably the most noticeable part of his game.

Florence always finds himself around the ball. When it's in the air near him, he's trying to make a play on it every time.

Alabama, Auburn and USC are the three to beat in this one, but the gut says Tigers when this is done.

Prediction: Auburn

13. Stefan McClure, CB

McClure might not have the speed to be effective at cornerback at the next level and could wind up making a switch to safety.

But he's got such great timing and positioning to make up for it that it wouldn't be surprising to see him overcome the odds.

There might not be anyone better at making a play once the ball is in the air. 

McClure is wide open at this time and looking at a long list of schools that includes UCLA, Cal, Boise State, Colorado, Oregon State and Washington. Name out of the hat...

Prediction: UCLA

12. 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.

At this point it's Florida, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech and Clemson.

Florida has been the leader for months though and that isn't going to change with Will Muschamp at the helm instead of Urban Meyer. 

Prediction: Florida

11. 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.

He is still looking at a long list of schools, but it is essentially Florida State vs. Miami. With Jacoby Brissett in the equation as well, the Seminoles should win. 

Prediction: Florida State

10. Ray Drew, DE

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.

Drew will wait until Signing Day to make his decision, and right now the field is lead by Clemson, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Alabama.

Al Golden has been hot on his trail since taking over in South Florida and that could be a huge difference-maker.

Prediction: Miami

9. 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.

It's been a two-horse race between Notre Dame and Rutgers for months, and while Auburn, USC and North Carolina are still in the mix, it's a long shot.

Prediction: Notre Dame

8. 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.

Rasco trimmed his list to LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State and Florida, but Texas is still in it as well.

We have the feeling he stays at home, though. 

Prediction: LSU

7. 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.

Rome hasn't quite narrowed things, but it's down to Georgia and Alabama. The Bulldogs are really just waiting for the call at this point. 

Prediction: Georgia

6. Curtis Grant, OLB

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.

Ohio State and Florida are the teams to beat here. While Grant was a Florida-lean before Urban Meyer's departure, his visit to Buckeye country has had things leaning that way ever since. 

Prediction: Ohio State

5. Tony Steward, OLB

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.

Steward's top three choices are Florida State, Clemson and UCLA, but the Bruins are more of a token selection than anything. At the end of the day, Steward is staying in Florida.

Prediction: Florida State

4. Tim Jernigan, DT

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.

It's looking like LSU, Alabama and Florida State. Based on the way Jernigan has talked about these schools, it really could be anyone at this point. 

Prediction: Alabama

3. Isaiah Crowell, RB

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.

Crowell has narrowed his choices to Alabama and Georgia. Not only have the Bulldogs held the edge for awhile now, but with the addition of Dee Hart to the Tide, he's got to be leaning toward Athens even more. 

Prediction: Georgia 

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.

Kouandjio's top two choices have been Alabama and USC all along. Iowa, Auburn and New Mexico are still in the equation, but he's following his brother with the Tide.

Prediction: Alabama

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.

The top prospect in the country can go anywhere he wants, but it's been South Carolina versus Alabama for months.

This one is close, but he's an in-state lean and the Gamecocks are calling. 

Prediction: South Carolina