College Football Recruiting 2011:10 Recruits Who May Switch Positions

Let's a take a look back at the 2011 class and at a few recruits that could be in store for a position switch. The 2011 class had some great talents and players who excelled in traditional positions. Yet there are some who we see at a different position than the we originally thought they were being recruited for.

Sometimes coaches see a player being a better fit in a scheme at a different position, or a player checks in bigger or smaller or faster or stronger than originally thought, or an injury occurs and forces a recruit to be moved. However it happens, a position change is always possible when making the jump from high school ball to the college ranks.

Here are 10 player who may switch positions.

10. Colt Lyerla, ATH: Oregon

Lyerla played an array of positions in high school, thus was listed as a jumbo ATH. He's 6'5", 225 pounds and is as versatile as they come.

He tests off the charts, athletically, for his size and was seen playing running back, defensive end, tight end and linebacker in his high school career in Oregon.

He likely projects as a SAM/Strong side linebacker in Eugene as he is tough enough to hold his own against the run, yet athletic enough to carry tight ends around on coverage and even factor as a blitzer/rusher off the edges.

Lyerla also should be an instant impact player on the kick coverage units.

9. Junior Pomee, WR: USC

Pomee was a one time UCLA commit who switched to the Trojans. 6'3" 240 pounds, he played receiver for his high school squad out in Moreno Valley, CA.

Pomee will make the switch from receiver to tight end in Los Angeles. He has very good hands, concentration and ball skills and his size will warrant the move. Pomee is simply too big for receiver and will only add more bulk in college.

Look for him to become a solid tight end at USC that is afforded the chance be used as a move guy in flex formations, rather than just as a traditional in-line tight end.

8. Mike Bennett, DT: Ohio State

Early in his recruitment it looked like Bennett was en route to being a great college defensive tackle. Yet now it looks like he will become an offensive guard in Columbus.

Bennett even started at guard in the Army All-American game and played well until suffering an injury. Yet, the 6'3", 280 pounder has the strength, toughness and athleticism to develop into an All Big Ten guard.

Bennett understands how to play with leverage and use his hands in his days as a defensive tackle which will only help him make the transition to guard for the Buckeyes.

7. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE: Washington

6'7", 250 pounds, Seferian-Jenkins was among the top prospects in the Pacific Northwest and nationally in the country. He played tight end in high school and showed excellent hands and a huge strike zone in the passing game.

But his size and athleticism may project him to move down into the fronts as en excellent offensive tackle prospect. There's many times where you get a big tight end and move him to tackle. Miami did it with Eric Winston and Baylor with Jason Smith.

Steve Sarkisian and the UW offensive staff will have to project how big Seferian-Jenkins will be in a few years and offensive tackle looks like a real possibility.

6. Ishaq Williams, DE: Notre Dame

Williams picked the Irish over Penn State and Syracuse and the 6'6", 230 pound defensive end is a tremendous athletically gifted pass rusher.

With Notre Dame having more of a 30 front defense, Williams likely will make the position switch to stand up outside linebacker. His 230 pound frame is a bit light to hold up in a 30 front, but he's athletic enough to put his hand up and still crash down off the edges.

I think this will be a natural fit for Williams and I would not be shocked to see become an All-American defensive player by the time he leaves South Bend.

5. Kris Frost, ATH: Auburn

Frost is one of the most athletic players, pound for pound in the 2011 class. He stands 6'3", 210 pounds and has very easy movement all around the field.

Many say he wants to be a receiver for the Tigers, but his best spot in college is outside linebacker.

Frost has very good instincts, play speed and range to become an All-SEC defender. He lacks the hands and ball skills to consistently factor as a receiver.

He split time at both spots in high school, and also dabbled in a little safety play as well. He'll need to make the full time and committed switch to linebacker to fully harness his tremendous potential.

4. Ray Drew, DE: Georgia

Drew is an uber-athletic 6'5", 245 pound specimen who lined up at defensive end in his high school days. He'll likely make the same switch as Ishaq Williams in moving to stand up outside linebacker, as Todd Grantham has switched the Dawgs to a 3-4 defense.

When I worked in the Browns' scouting department a few years, Grantham was the defensive coordinator. He's a very intelligent coach who looks to get the best out of his players in exploiting them in matchups against the offense.

He'll do the same with Drew, moving him around and even letting him put his hand down in sub packages.

3. Lawrence Thomas, LB: Michigan State

Thomas is a 6'4", 235 pound physical force on the field and his first position is linebacker.

Thomas plays to his size at the point of attack, is a thumper as a tackler and has solid speed and range to track perimeter runs. He's pretty instinctive and could be a good SAM or MIKE type second level defender.

Yet, Thomas also has very long arms and soft hands that could make him an excellent tight end. He has the ball skills and speed to attack the seams and is athletic enough to run solid routes.

Thomas also can become a fullback or a defensive end as well. With so much versatility to his skill set, it will interesting to see where the Spartans put Thomas at on the field.

2. Brent Calloway, RB/LB: Alabama

The Calloway recruitment ended with the one time Alabama then Auburn commit flipping back to Alabama on the National Signing Day.

Hailed as the best player in Alabama, the 6'1", 210 pound Calloway played mostly running back in high school, but was recruited as a linebacker. While he feels he is best suited as a runner, Alabama will make him a linebacker. Where in their 3-4 scheme? I'm not sure. Likely as an inside guy since Calloway is seen more as an instinctive tackler, than a rush end/pass rusher type at this point.

Wherever the Tide lines him, it surely will be a linebacker position where his instincts can let him pull the plug and play freely.

If that doesn't work out, he can always go back to being a running back right?

1. Karlos Williams, SS: Florida State

I hate to put Williams on this list because I'm really personally hoping he is left at safety, but at 6'2", 210 pounds already before even entering college, Williams may grow too big for the spot and be moved down to outside linebacker.

Williams has great instincts, ball skills, quickness and is a big hitter form his safety position. He proved in the UA game that he can be left to hold down a deep half while still being great against the run.

Yet what will happen when he's a sophomore, two years into FSU's strength program and perhaps weighing 230 pounds? Will this weight be too much to leave him at safety? Will it hinder his speed on the back end?

Maybe. Maybe not and I hope not, but Williams' development physically and on the field is one of the key story lines I'm looking forward to seeing unfold with the 2011 class as they move forward.