College Football Recruiting 2011: The Super 7 Sleeper Recruits to Watch Out For

There are always solid players in a recruiting class that for some reason don't get the hype of 4- and 5-star recruits.

Other times, a player simply gets overlooked by bigger programs. Years down the road we all look back and wonder, "Why was he rated so low?" or "Where the heck did this guy come from?"

One aspect that's always missed is the notion that these players are young.

Emphasis on young.

They are still maturing physically, learning the game, and will only get better. Then there is the aspect of getting good college coaching, which is essential to a player's development.

Here are seven players considered "sleepers" right now, whom I feel will make an impact in college football in time.

7. Zack Shaw, LB, Indiana

We always see these players in Big Ten country go to these Midwestern schools and become solid starters and productive players. Shaw, a 6'3", 220-pound linebacker, is going to be just like that.

He's headed to Indiana and will be a tackling machine for the Hoosier football team.

He can play all three spots in 4-3 defense, and could find himself smack dab in the middle at MIKE. He has solid instincts, and sideline-to-sideline ability.

Years from now, when you're watching Indiana play Ohio State on ESPN and you notice a linebacker holding his own against the Buckeyes, it'll likely be Shaw.

6. Dondi Kirby, DB, Illinois

Kirby tore his ACL and missed all of his senior campaign, but remained a recruit that colleges in the Midwest knew about under the radar. He chose to head to Illinois over schools such as Ohio State and Iowa.

At 6'2", 180 pounds, Kirby is a solid safety prospect that plays very physically against the run. He has solid range and speed to get off the hashes on the back end.

Once he rehabs his knee and strengthens it back 100 percent, he should be back on track into developing into a solid starting Big Ten safety.

Ron Zook may have a gotten a big-time sleeper here.

5. Michael Bercovici, QB, Arizona State

I went and watched Bercovici play in person last season and I was thoroughly impressed with him. I even spoke at length with him after the game and came away impressed with his football knowledge and poise.

He's a 6'2", 210-pound QB whom I believe will be a starting-caliber signal-caller in the Pac-12 in the future.

He ran an offense at Taft (CA) that is a hybrid West Coast/spread scheme and was asked to hit receivers in windows and make correct reads. He has a very strong arm and can make plays with his feet.

I'd be shocked if he doesn't start at some point in his career at Arizona State.

4. Brian Bobek, OL, Ohio State

While we gave Reese Dismukes the top honors among centers, I always kept an eye on Bobek as a sleeper type even though he's headed to Columbus. He has the ability to factor as a guard or in the pivot inside at 6'2", 280 pounds.

He's just athletic enough to get angles on targets, be used on pulls and traps and is aware enough to call and set protections.

Bobek is a tough, blue-collar type of lineman who will not clock out early on you to hurt the offense.

I really think he can grow into a solid starter or swing lineman role at Ohio State.

3. Curt Maggitt, OLB, Tennessee

Maggitt is headed to Tennessee. I know the Vols don't sign "sleeper" players, but I think years from now he may be a player that we look back and say, "He was better than we thought coming out of high school."

The knock on Maggitt is his weight—he's a 6'3", 195-pound linebacker.

But what makes him a sleeper candidate is his explosiveness off the edge. He can burst out, bend and close to finish in the pocket as well as anyone in the country.

Once he starts to add weight and fill out, he will become a star on Rocky Top.

Maggitt likes to hunt and fish in his spare time when he's not hunting for QBs.

2. Alex Mitchell, OG, Washington State

Mitchell is a future All-Pac-12 offensive guard in my opinion. At 6'2", 310 pounds, he's one the strongest players in the country and just mauls people in the interior offensive front.

He's a classic right guard prospect that you run behind early and often.

He demolishes his targets, explodes at the point and drives his feet to finish. Mitchell has excellent grab strength as a pass protector, and having him inside in a short area can mask his lack of ability to consistently mirror in space.

He's surely a great a lineman that I'm pretty surprised didn't gain more attention.

Paul Wulff got a steal here to come to Washington State.

1. Devin Lucien, WR, UCLA

Lucien is also another player I saw in person and spoke to after the game. He reminds me of former UCLA receiver and former White Sox outfielder Jerry Owens.

At 6'2", 190 pounds, Lucien has a tall and long fame and deceptive deep speed, and his ball skills are tremendous.

He snatches everything thrown his way, plucks balls away from his frame, high-points in crowds and has great footwork around sidelines and in the end zone. I fully expect him to grow into one of the better receivers in the Pac-12.

He's headed to UCLA, and the Bruins have a future connection with Lucien and incoming QB Brett Hundley.