National Signing Day 2011: Where Are the Top 50 Recruits Headed?

National Signing Day is just a few short days ahead, and that marks the cap to this year's recruiting cycle. A class full of talented prep stars will finally have the opportunity to sign their national letters of intent and officially end their recruitment.

While we still eagerly await the announcements of a slew of uncommitted players, most schools are putting the finishing touches on their recruiting classes. Fax machines will be going off all day on Wednesday and phone lines will be burning up.

Let's give a rundown on where the top 50 recruits in the country are headed.

No. 50: Nickolas Brassell, WR

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Alabama and Ole Miss

Brassell is a receiver out of South Panola high school in Mississippi. He's 6'0", 175 pounds and a sheer playmaker. He also is a great return man and will surely impact the special teams phase of his college team. Ole Miss is the favorite, yet Alabama has come on strong as of late.

No. 49: Quandre Diggs, CB

Commit: Texas

Diggs is a headed to Austin to play cornerback for new Texas DC Manny Diaz. He's 5'10", 190 pounds and has great hips, instincts and mirror ability on the perimeter. His athletic ability, quickness and recovery speed should allow the new Longhorns defensive scheme to employ multiple coverages.

No. 48: Xzavier Dickson, DE/LB/TE

Commit: Alabama

Dickson could easily develop into a great H-Back or move to tight end—he could also be a stand-up outside linebacker or a weakside defensive end. He's 6'3" and 240 pounds, with great play speed, athleticism and instincts. The Tide will give him his first crack at the JACK stand-up rusher spot and put him in a traditional hand-down position in sub packages.

No. 47: Damian Swann, DB

Commit: Georgia

There was some speculation as to if Swann would remain committed to UGA after announcing his pledge during the Army All-American game; yet it looks like he indeed will stay a Dawg. Swann could easily end up at receiver as he could defensive back, as the 6'0", 175-pounder is special with the ball in his hands. No matter where he ends up, his elite athletic talent will let him become a star in Athens.

No. 46: Greg Townsend, DE

Commit: USC

Townsend chose USC over TCU earlier this month, and the Bevery Hills (CA) defensive end product will stay home to hunt Pac-12 quarterbacks. Many felt he was just a product of playing against inferior competition, but the 6'4", 245-pounder revved up his motor and overall game to impress all week during the Under Armour game practices.

No. 45: Lamar Dawson, LB

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Kentucky, USC, Tennessee, Oregon and Central Florida

Dawson is a big linebacker at 6'2" and 230 pounds who looks to be a rare future SAM-type linebacker. The strongside 'backer spot is hard to project and find, and this makes Dawson a hot product on the trail. He's big enough to jam tight ends on the line of scrimmage, shed blocks and play the run. He also is athletic enough to mirror and carry tight ends underneath and up the seams.

No. 44: Anthony Chickillo, DE

Commit: Miami

So far, Al Golden's biggest recruiting coup has been keeping Chickillo committed to play in Coral Gables. Florida and Florida State were rumored potential destinations for Chickillo as he waited for The U to hire a new coach. But the 6'3", 230-pound defensive end has decided to remain a Cane and surely made Miami proud with a great Under Armour game. 

No. 43: Odell Beckham Jr., WR

Commit: LSU

Beckham is a 5'10", 170-pound player who defines the term "RAC receiver." You just have to get him the ball any way you can, and let him do his thing on the field. Smoke screens, Wildcat, slants, reverses are all great ways. He's great in space and uses his agility, quickness, speed and instincts to make plays.

No. 42: Jeoffrey Pagan, DE

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Georgia, Alabama and Clemson

Pagan tore his ACL early in his senior season but has remained a prime recruit all year. The 6'4", 275-pound defensive lineman can play tackle or end. He committed to Clemson earlier this month, but shortly after, Pagan de-committed from the Tigers and is looking at Alabama and Georgia. Georgia seems to be the favorite at the moment.

No. 41: Michael Bennett, DT/OL

Committ: Ohio State

Bennett played in the defensive trenches primarily in high school in Ohio, yet Jim Tressel envisions him as a center/guard on the offensive front as a Buckeye. Bennett has good strength, short-area quickness and agility to excel on either front. He fires out of his stance and gets after it every snap.

No. 40: Mike Blakely, RB

Commit: Florida

Blakely is bound for Gainesville as the 5'9", 195-pounder will be a Gator. He's not the biggest or strongest in the backfield, but Blakely makes up for it with great speed, quickness, burst and vision. He jumps on top of linebackers in alleys and skates to the second level with ease. A decisive runner, Blakely also can factor as a receiver and returner.

No. 39: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE

Commit: Washington

Seferian-Jenkins is a 6'7", 250-pound tight end who will likely develop into a complete tight end in Seattle for UW. He has the size and athleticism to impact the passing game with his speed and large strike zone. Seferian-Jenkisn also has the size and girth to develop into a sound blocker in the running game. He likely will become what former Husky receiver Jeremy Stevens should have become, minus the off-the-field problems.

No. 38: Brent Calloway, RB/LB

Calloway: Auburn

Calloway de-committed from Alabama in exchange for Auburn at the start of this year, citing reasons of wanting to play running back instead of linebacker. Auburn will allow him to tote the rock for the Tigers, and Calloway will get his shot to prove he's a runner and not tackler. The 6'1", 210-pound Calloway is still looked at as a better linebacker prospect at this point, though.

No. 37: Marcus Roberson, DB

Commit: Texas Tech

Roberson is the nephew of Texas Tech cornerbacks coach Otis Mounds, which certainly was a factor in his decision to pledge to the Red Raiders. Many feel he may not end up in Lubbock, as Georgia and Auburn are still recruiting him hard. The 6'1", 180-pound defensive back is a future back-end star wherever he lands.

No. 36: Devon Blackmon, WR

Commit: Oregon

Blackmon will line up as a receiver in Eugene and should be a speed terror in the Pac-12. He showed off his juice by blowing by Under Armour game defensive backs all night. At 6'0", 180 pounds, Blackmon will also get a shot as a return man as well. Chip Kelly will love finding ways to utilize Blackmon in his fast-break spread offense.

No. 35: Marqise Lee, DB

Commit: Undecided

Considering: USC, Miami, Cal and Oregon

Lee is considered a Trojan lean, but Miami is on the case hard along with Oregon and Cal. At 6'1" and nearly 190 pounds, Lee originally thought his future was as a hoops player. He's only played football for a short time, but is already a premier safety prospect due to natural instincts, smarts, speed and range. His potential has no ceiling in sight at the moment.

No. 34: Braxton Miller, QB

Commit: Ohio State

Miller has been preordained to be a Buckeye since birth. He's a legend in Ohio and has been compared to former Buckeye QB Troy Smith and NFL star Donovan McNabb. At 6'2" and about 185 pounds, Miller can beat you from the pocket or with his legs. He could find himself playing an important role in the Ohio State offense at the start of the season with Terrelle Pryor having to sit out the first five games.

No. 33: Nick O'Leary, TE

Commit: Florida State

O'Leary chose the 'Noles over the likes of LSU, Alabama, Miami and Wisconsin. The stud tight end has a large strike zone, speed, catch-in-a-crowd ability and is a dangerous RAC player. O'Leary is a bully with the ball in his hands and tries to punish tacklers for even thinking they can stop him. FSU needs him to develop into a great recruiter before a tight end, as right now, his teammate Jacoby Brisset is looking elsewhere.

No. 32: Malcolm Mitchell, DB

Commit: Georgia

Mitchell is a huge pick-up for the Dawgs as the 6'1", 185-pounder can play both safety and cover corner. A great athlete, Mitchell also has the length and mirror ability to man up on receivers and range to patrol the back end of a secondary at safety.

No. 31: Steve Edmond, LB

Commit: Texas

Edmond can play all three linebacker spots in the 4-3 but looks like he will begin right in the middle as  MIKE 'backer in Austin. Manny Diaz will surely find ways to put Edmond, 6'3", 225 pounds, in positions to make play after play. Edmond is also a solid blitzer who can also rush off the edge a bit as well. He looks like an early impact player for Texas.

No. 30: Aaron Lynch, DE

Commit: Notre Dame

Lynch has gone back and forth between Notre and Florida State and has settled on Notre Dame. He's scheduled to be an early enrollee in South Bend and will get his 6'5", 260-pound frame learning the Irish 3-4 scheme immediately. An athletic upfield type player, Lynch may need some adjustment time to learn the nuances of the Golden Domers' defense but should develop into a solid player in his tenure.

No. 29: Colt Lyerla, ATH

Commit: Oregon

Lyerla chose to stay home and be a Duck over offers from USC, Oregon State, Cal and a host of other big-time programs. He's listed as an athlete, but stands 6'5" and weighs 225 pounds. He can play outside linebacker, defensive end, tight end, H-Back or even fullback. Lyerla is an athletic specimen who should factor on special teams in Eugene from day one. Right now, it looks like he's scheduled to play strongside linebacker for Oregon.

No. 28: Mike Bellamy, RB

Commit: Clemson

Bellamy is one of the fastest players in the country. A 5'10", 185-pound running back, he's electric with the ball in his hands. Clemson fans will definitely be excited as Bellamy has the potential to rival what Buffalo Bills running back CJ Spiller did for the Tigers. Bellamy can factor as a runner, receiver or return man and is a threat to score any given time on any given play.

No. 27: Stephon Tuitt, DE

Commit: Notre Dame

There must be something about playing defensive end for Notre Dame, as like Aaron Lynch, Tuitt has also flip-flopped with Notre Dame. He was pledged to the Irish, then backed out and committed to Georgia Tech, and many felt that was it. Then Tuitt re-committed back to play in South Bend. He gives the Irish a super-talented defensive end trio coming in next year with Lynch and Ishaq Williams.

No. 26: Stephone Anthony, LB

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Clemson, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and North Carolina State

Anthony is one of the top linebackers in the country. At 6'3" and 225 pounds, Anthony has the athleticism, hips and instincts to excel as a coverage linebacker who can play all three downs. He can track the run with physicality and instincts then be left on the field in nickel and dime packages to factor against the pass.

No. 25: Jarvis Landry, WR

Commit: LSU

Landry will surely continue the tradition of solid receivers to come out of LSU, such as Dwayne Bowe, Josh Reed and Terrance Tolliver among an array of other talented receivers who called the Bayou home. At 5'11" and 180 pounds, Landry has great release quickness, eats up cushion in a hurry and gets even with corners with ease. He has solid hands and playmaking ability and should help Steve Kragthorpe look good as an offensive coordinator for LSU.

No. 24: Kris Frost, WR/LB

Commit: Auburn

Frost aspires to play receiver but may be a better linebacker. At 6'3" and 210 pounds, Frost is among the best athletes in country for his size and moves well around the field wherever he plays. He has great size and hands for a receiver and good instincts and range as an outside linebacker. Auburn fans have debated amongst themselves where Frost should play for the Tigers, but wherever he ends up, he should be a star.

No. 23: CJ Johnson, LB

Commit: Ole Miss

Johnson was solid to Mississippi State, but when Manny Diaz bolted for Texas, he opened up, hit it off with Houston Nutt and opted for Ole Miss. At 6'3" and 225 pounds, Johnson is an elite linebacker with speed, range, size, quickness, shed/escape ability, instincts and vision to ball carriers. He can play the middle of both flanks and stay on the field all three downs.

No. 22: Christian Westerman, OL

Commit: Auburn

Westerman was a longtime commit to Texas but started to look elsewhere during the fall and eventually settled on Auburn recently. He also looked at USC but never took a trip to Los Angeles. At 6'5" and 290 pounds, Westerman can play right tackle or kick inside to guard. He's a nasty run blocker who can move defenders off their mark and is the best finisher in the country as a blocker.

No. 21: Ishaq Williams, DE

Commit: Notre Dame

Williams may be the best incoming defensive prospect for Notre Dame's recruiting class, which includes Stephen Tuitt and Aaron Lynch. At 6'5" and 230 pounds, Williams likely will move to outside linebacker in South Bend, where his length, athleticism and first step quickness will allow him to excel early and often. He chose Notre Dame over Penn State and Syracuse.

No. 20: Dee Hart, RB

Commit: Alabama

Hart is a 5'8", 190-pound stick of dynamite on the field and has already enrolled at Alabama. He lit up the Army game, averaging around seven yards a carry against some of the nation's best defenders. He can be used as a receiver, running back or returner and score touchdowns in a variety of ways. He should be a hit in Tuscaloosa for years to come.

No. 19: Tim Jernigan, DT

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Florida State, LSU, Alabama, Florida and Tennessee

Jenrigan is a 6'2", 275-pound force in the defensive trenches who can power through an offensive lineman or blow by them at the snap. He's so athletically gifted for a defensive lineman that he may even play strongside end in college. He's down to a final list of the above mentioned five schools and will announce on National Signing Day.

No. 18: Brandon Williams, RB

Commit: Oklahoma

At 6'1" and 190 pounds, Williams has a chance to step in right away and help fill DeMarco Murray's shoes in Norman. Williams can do it all as a running back, and once he develops his pass protection and blitz pick-up skills, he will be a complete running back for the Sooners. He possesses great speed, quickness and home run ability.

No. 17: Trey Metoyer, WR

Commit: Oklahoma

Metoyer is a 6'2", 185-pound receiver who should learn well from returning Sooner receiver Ryan Broyles. Metoyer has the size, hands, concentration, catch radius, leaping ability and speed to terrorize a secondary. He will make a ton of grabs for the Sooners and should develop into an outstanding route runner on the perimeter.

No. 16: Anthony Johnson, DT

Commit: LSU

Johnson is the best defensive tackle prospect in the country. At 6'4" and 300 pounds, Johnson is a big man who can do little-man things. He's super quick at the snap, can penetrate gaps and use his speed to finish plays. Yet he also can use his size to impose his will and strength to collapse a pocket up the middle. A Glen Dorsey-type career is nearly a given in Baton Rouge for Johnson.

No. 15: Jeff Driskel, QB

Commit: Florida

Driskel gets our nod as the top QB prospect in the country and this year's class. He's 6'4" and 225 pounds and has a cannon arm, solid accuracy and mobility. Driskel is also a good baseball prospect as well. There's nothing Driskel can't do physically on the field, and Charlie Weis should develop him into an elite QB in Gainesville.

No. 14: Sammy Watkins, WR

Commit: Clemson

Watkins is a dynamic receiver who stands 6'1" and 180 pounds. He's among the fastest players in the country and eats up cushion faster than any receiver in this year's class. He can take a smoke screen and turn it into a big gain due to his playmaking ability. He has solid hands, and once he hones down the art of precise route running, he will be terrific.

No. 13: Isaiah Crowell, RB

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Georgia and Alabama

A game breaker, Crowell is one the very elite running backs in the country. At 5'11", 210 pounds, Crowell has excellent speed, vision, burst, quickness and quick-cut ability. He hasn't had to carry the load, but his legs are bigger and stronger than you think, which allows him to start to break tackles more and more in college. He has a chance to develop into one the best running backs to ever come out of talent hot-bed Georgia.

No. 12: James Wilder, Jr., RB/LB/ATH

Commit: Florida State

Wilder is pound for pound one the strongest and most athletic players in the country, regardless of position. He's physically gifted and could be a great running back or outside linebacker. Cut and chiseled, Wilder has speed, quickness, agility and play instincts to do what he wants on the field. He compares favorably to former Seminole and current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims.

No. 11: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, DB

Commit: Auburn

At 6'2" and 190 pounds, Clinton-Dix is one of the top safeties in the country. He has the speed and range cover the deep third of the field and instincts to read routes and make interceptions. He can give quaterbacks fits because he's not easily baited and looked off in the passing game. He also has the athleticism to be used as a man defender on slot receivers, where he can use his size to shut down middle-working receivers. 

No. 10: Ray Drew, DE

Commit: Georgia

Drew announced for Athens late last week, but told people he had known for months he was destined to play for the Dawgs. An athletic specimen, Drew stands 6'5" and 245 pounds with a great first step, excellent quickness and a burst to close out on quarterbacks. He will fit in UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's 3-4 scheme at outside linebacker.

No. 9: La'El Collins, OT

Commit: LSU

At 6'5" and 290 pounds, Collins is one of the elite left tackle prospects in this year's class. He has the foot quickness, adjust ability, recovery quickness and agility to mirror any pass rusher in the country at left tackle. He also can get up to the second level and make blocks on linebackers and in space. He should be a standout at LSU.

No. 8: Curtis Grant, LB

Commit: Undecided

Considering: North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio State and Clemson

Grant is another elite linebacker prospect in what may be the most talent-rich position in this year's class. He's the top player in Virginia and can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 type scheme on defense. He's physical against the run and jumps on top of running backs by filling run alleys with quickness and tenacity. Grant also has the speed and rage to pursue plays sideline to sideline.

No. 7: Tony Steward, LB

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Florida State and Clemson

Steward is the most athletic linebacker in the country and stands 6'2" and weighs 225 pounds. He can play the MIKE, WILL or SAM spot in a 4-3 and still cover running backs and tight ends very well. He has the best instincts for any defensive player in the country. Clemson and Florida State are the last two standing.

No. 6: DeAnthony Thomas, ATH

Commit: USC

Thomas is a do-it-all player who has played running back, cornerback, safety, receiver, quarterback and returner in high school. USC likes him as a corner, and the 5'9", 170-pounder is a prime-time athlete and one of the fastest players in the country. He needs some seasoning as a corner, but should become one of the top cover men to ever don the Cardinal and Gold.

No. 5: Malcolm Brown, RB

Commit: Texas

A 6'0", 220-pound man-child with the football, Malcolm Brown is the best running back in the country. He will compare favorably to Ricky Williams and Cedric Benson in Austin. His size, speed, vision, quickness and strength will make him an instant hit at Texas. He must continue to develop his hands, but Brown should become a special runner in college.

No. 4: Karlos Williams, DB

Commit: Florida State

Williams is a defensive back with linebacker size at 6'2" and a stout 210 pounds. He was the best player in the field at Under Armour game and will be a dynamic strong safety at Florida State. Williams has great ball skills and instincts and is a ferocious hitter. He plays the pass well and is a monster in the box. He also has a desire to prove Nick Saban wrong about Florida State.

No. 3: George Farmer, WR

Commit: USC

Farmer hails as the top receiver in the country, and the 6'2", 200-pounder is headed to hometown USC. He's a playmaker at receiver who could easily be a top safety prospect if he chose. Farmer has good hands, great speed, strength and leaping ability. He has a good chance to impact the Trojans' talented wide receiver depth chart as a true freshman.

No. 2: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Commit: Undecided

Considering: Alabama, Auburn, Iowa and New Mexico

Kouandjio is the offensive lineman n the country and the big man certainly doesn't lack size at 6'7", 325 pounds. He's an excellent athlete at his size with great feet, agility, balance and recover ability. He can mirror on an island at left tackle with ease. He's a sound run blocker with a great first step out of his stance and leg drive, and he looks to finish at all times.

No.1: Jadeveon Clowney, DE

Commit: Undecided

Considering: South Carolina, Alabama, LSU, Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina

Clowney is the top recruit and player in the country. The big defensive end stands around 6'6" and 250 pounds and has tremendous athleticism. Clowney has a burst at the snap to blow by blockers, a great pass rush plan/arsenal and speed to close. He's also very strong and stout against the run to anchor on the edge, shed and make plays on ball carriers. He won't let his decision be known as to where he'll be playing in college until around his birthday on Valentine's Day.