National Signing Day 2011: Bold Predictions for the Top 25 Recruits

Now that National Signing Day has come and gone, and we know where just about most of the top 25 players are headed, except two, it's time to make some predictions.

We're not talking just normal predictions, we're talking BOLD predictions on their futures and what we think could happen if things fall a certain way.

Let's break out our crystal ball, light candles and make some predictions on the top 25 recruits! 

25. Christian Westerman, OT

Westerman is headed to Auburn and joins an incoming class that consists of Reese Dismukes, Greg Robinson and maybe even Cyrus Kouandjio in the long run.

We predict that Westerman will see time early on inside at guard to get used to the speed in the SEC, and then he will become an All-SEC right tackle before he leaves Auburn. 

Westerman is such a great technician in pass protection and a dominant run blocker that we don't see anyway this doesn't happen.

24. Jarvis Landry, WR

Landry signed with LSU after being a longtime commitment to the Tigers.

He's an excellent athlete and is electric after the catch. 5'11", 180 pounds, Landry can flat out fly. That is why we predict he will become the nation's best return man before he leaves the Bayou.

His speed, elusiveness and open field quickness will be dynamite on the punt return and kickoff return units for Les Miles.

23. Kris Frost, LB/WR

Frost signed with Auburn yesterday.

He's a dynamic athlete who has linebacker written all over him, yet seems determined to play receiver for the Tigers. He's a 6'3", 210 pounder with leaping ability, size, good speed and solid hands.

We predict Frost will prove doubters wrong and become a great receiver at Auburn and perhaps warrant All-SEC honors in his career on the offensive perimeter.

22. CJ Johnson, LB

Johnson made his flip flop official yesterday and signed with Ole Miss over Mississippi State.

Johnson is a big at 6'3" and around 230 pounds, but can move like a WILL linebacker in a SAM linebacker's body. He's also a great outdoorsman who loves to hunt and fish.

We predict that he will become the first dual sport star to be an NFL linebacker and professional fisher as well.

21. Ishaq Williams, DE

Williams will join Ben Councell, Stephen Tuitt and Aaron Lynch as a defensive line quartet headed to Notre Dame.

While the later three will surely add a spark to the Irish defensive trenches, the 6'5", 230 pound Williams will likely move back to stand up outside linebacker in the Notre Dame's 3-4 defense.

That is why we predict Williams will become an All-American outside linebacker and the biggest star of the incoming quartet for the Irish.

20. Dee Hart, RB

Hart is already enrolled at Alabama, taking classes after switching from Michigan to the Crimson Tide at the start of the year.

Hart is a 5'8", 190 pound running back who compares to a cross between Eric Metcalf and Noel Devine. He has tremendous run instincts, quickness and break away speed but runs with a little punch for a smaller back.

We predict that Hart will be even more productive for Alabama than Devine was during his career at West Virginia.

19. Tim Jernigan, DT

"Tim Magic", as he is called by most of his family, chose to head to Florida State over the likes of Florida, LSU and Tennessee.

He's almost a legend at Columbia HS in Florida, as he is a great role model and person. Oh, right, not to forget the 6'2", 275 pound defensive tackle is one of the very most initially explosive defensive linemen in the country.

With his combine on field talents and rock star status off the field in the Sunshine State, we predict Jernigan will become the Florida State version of Tim Tebow.

18. Brandon Williams, RB

Williams is headed for Norman to be a Sooner, which is not that big of a surprise for Texas high school recruits these days.

Williams is 6'1", 190 pounds. Every time he touches the ball, he is a homerun threat at running back. He can factor in the running game, passing game and should be a good kickoff returner as well.

While we don't think he's Adrian Peterson, we do predict that Williams will be more productive in his career at OU than DeMarco Murray was.

17. Trey Metoyer, WR

Metoyer made his Oklahoma commitment official when he signed to play for Bob Stoops on NSD.

6'2" and 185 pounds, Metoyer is regarded as an elite receiver prospect in this year's crop. He's a playmaker who has great deep speed, quickness in and out of his breaks and a large strike zone.

He'll learn from Ryan Broyles, who tied the Sooner touchdown receptions record last season in his freshman season. We predict he will break Broyles' record for touchdowns in a season before he leaves Norman.

16. Anthony Johnson, DT

Johnson is a member of "The Fam", the group of LSU commits and current players who look out for one another is all aspects of life. He signed with the Tigers on NSD.

Johnson is highly regarded by ESPNU and was their second overall prospect for sometime in the process. He's a 6'4", 300 pound DT who has an equal amount of supreme strength and quickness. He should be a starter early in his career in Baton Rouge.

We predict that Johnson will be a Freshman All-American and surpass Glen Dorsey in the all the time great Tiger defensive lineman conversations before he becomes a first round NFL Draft pick.

15. Jeff Driskel, QB

Driskel is already enrolled as mid-year player at Florida for new head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

Let's face it. Football is a quarterback driven sport and game. You need a good one to win. Driskel is a good one and will be a great one down the road at Florida. There's nothing we see Driskel can't do on the field as he has a great arm, solid accuracy, good field vision, pocket presence and can gain yards with his legs.

Driskel will be great, and again, QB's get a premium in all awards, including the big one. That's why we are predicting Driskel will win the Heisman Trophy within before he's done as a Gator.

14. Sammy Watkins, WR

Watkins is headed to Clemson with fellow Tiger commit Charone Peake.

6'1" and 190 pounds, Watkins is a quicker than fast athlete with great elusiveness in the open field with the ball in his hands. He eats up cushion quickly, has great hands, and is a sharp cutter in his routes. He reminds me a bit of Antonio Bryant.

That's why I predict that Watkins will win the Biletnikoff award as the nation's top receiver in either his junior or senior year with Clemson.

13. Isaiah Crowell, RB

Crowell signed with Georgia over Alabama yesterday and brought a Bulldog puppy to show his true support for UGA. Gabe Wright and Kirk Herbstreit didn't like it, but many others did.

5'11", 210 pounds with game breaking speed and quickness, Crowell will be asked to make an impact in Athens immediately. Running back is the easiest position to transition to from high school to college and college to the NFL.

Mark Richt has already said Crowell could start the Dawgs' first game of the 2011 season. We predict he will and will rush for 1000 yards as a true freshman.

12. James Wilder, Jr., RB/LB/ATH

Wilder is headed to Florida State and was one the Seminole commits trying to help lure other recruits to Tallahassee.

He's a 6'2", 220 pound flat out football playin' jessie. Wilder has unbelievable play strength and is impossible to bring down one on one as a runner and brings the wood as a linebacker. He wants to tote the rock at FSU and will get his wish.

That's why predict that Wilder will have a better career as a running back than former No.1 overall recruit Lorenzo Booker had at FSU.

11. Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, DB

Ha-Ha (no I'm not laughing) is headed to Alabama, firming up his Crimson Tide pledge, as some felt he may opt for LSU.

Clinton-Dix is a 6'2", 190 pound safety who can play both deep middle spots on the back end. He has the speed and quickness to get off the hashes, ball skills to pick throws and also the coverage skills to man up. He also is effective and willing to sniff around in the box and make plays against the run.

We predict Clinton-Dix will become better than Mark Barron at Alabama and become a higher pick in the Draft than Kareem Jackson.

10. Ray Drew, DE

Dew chose to sign with Georgia over the likes of Clemson, Auburn, LSU and Miami.

6'5", 245 pounds, Drew has college ready size right now. He's stout against the run and can anchor vs. tight ends to hold the line. Drew also is an athletic specimen who can rush the passer with a great first step to jump on top of offensive linemen.

Drew will make the transition to stand up outside linebacker in UGA's 3-4 scheme, but we predict in his true freshman season, he will become the Bulldogs top sub package rusher and be a Freshman All-American.

9. La'El Collins, OT

Collins had been subject of rumors that he was wavering in his pledge, but assured LSU he was going nowhere when he faxed in his LOI Wednesday morning.

6'5", 290 pounds, Collins is an excellent athlete for the position of left tackle. He would fit right in in a zone type blocking scheme since he is so nimble and light on his feet. Collins has the ability to slide and mirror on an island and recover and adjust to inside moves off the edge.

We predict he will be better than Joe Barksdale at LSU.

8. Curtis Grant, LB

Grant came down to Florida and Ohio State and chose the Buckeyes oer the Gators. North Carolina and hometown Virginia were also considered.

6'3" and 225 pounds, Grant is one the top linebackers in the country. He moves well but plays the run with force, strength and power. He could play all three spots in a 4-3 scheme at Ohio State.

We predict Grant will become the next James Laurinitas, and AJ Hawk is not only the top linebacker on the Buckeye defense, but also the defensive leader.

7. Tony Steward, LB

Steward shocked almost everyone by signing with Clemson, over the heavy favorite of Florida State, who was Steward's childhood favorite.

6'2", and 225 pounds, Steward has the best instincts of any defender in high school football. Combine that frame and those instincts with elite athletic ability for a second level defender, and you have Steward.

That's why we are predicting that Steward will win the Butkus award as the nation's top linebacker in college football before becoming a top 15 NFL Draft pick.

6. DeAnthony Thomas, ATH

Thomas broke the hearts of many Trojan fans by pulling a switch on NSD and signing with Oregon.

He has played everywhere from running back, cornerback, safety, receiver and returner for Crenshaw High School. 5'9, and 160 pounds, many feel that Thomas' best spot will be cornerback.

We predict that Thomas will become a running back in Eugne and be an All-Pac-12 utility player, factoring as a runner, receiver, returner and wildcat player.

5. Malcolm Brown, RB

Brown has been solid to Texas since the start and surprised no one when he signed with the Longhorns yesterday.

He's a 6'0", 220 pound man with the football who totes the rock with strength, power, vision, and great speed. He has a burst for a big man, and can skate through holes to get up on the second level. Once he learns how to increase his catch radius, he will be the nation's most complete runner.

Aside from winning the Doak Walker award as the top running back in the country, we predict Brian Harsin will give Brown enough touches to pass Cedric Benson on the Longhorn all time rushing yards list.

4. Karlos Williams, DB

Williams signed with Florida State Seminoles and is one of the headliners of perhaps the top overall recruiting class in the country this year.

He's 6'2" and 210 pounds and plays strong safety. Let the debate begin. Some see Williams growing into an outside linebacker, but if he can keep his weight down and speed up, we think he'll be a great big safety. He proved in the UA game he has range and ball skills, and we all know how much of a hitter he is.

That's why we predict that Williams will become at Florida State to what Troy Polamalu is with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

3. George Farmer, WR

Some felt that Farmer might have been looking elsewhere from USC but his father, George Sr., told reporters on Sunday night that his son was solid to Troy.

Many feel the 6'2", 200 pound Farmer is the top receiver prospect in America. While he may not be as natural as Robert Woods, Farmer bigger and more physically imposing than the Freshman All-American Woods.

We predict that Woods, who has been timed at 4.38 in the 40, will become what Whitney Lewis was supposed to become at USC, which is a dominant, game changing All-American receiver and first round Draft pick in three years.

2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Koaundjio "announced" he was going to Auburn, but he still hasn't signed his LOI. Auburn, Alabama and Iowa are all under consideration.

The 6'7", 325 pound OT will be great wherever he goes. He has great feet, balance, and athleticism to develop into an elite pass protector. He's already a great run blocker and will continue to be so in college.

We predict Cyrus Kouandjio will win an Outland Trophy award during his Junior season in college. He's going to be that good in three years.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE

Clowney has not decided where to sign yet, and South Carolina, Alabama and Clemson round out his final schools.

There are those who say Clowney is the best high school talent to enter college football in years. 6'6", 250 pounds, Clowney will grow into a 270 pound nightmare before he leaves school.

Clowney will be the No.1 overall pick in three, yes three, years in the NFL Draft and become a better player than Julius Peppers.