College Football Recruiting 2011: The 10 Recruits Who Need To Redshirt

It's kind of funny these days, as many observers and fans think that when a recruit redshirts it means the recruit isn't good or they automatically label him a bust. There are many factors that lead to a recruit redshirting: the depth chart, the playbook, adjusting to college life, academic focus and just making sure a player is properly developed.

But we as fans and a society are a "show me now" bunch and we're quick to judge a recruit. In the 2011 class, there is a plethora of talented studs who will lead college football into the next decade, no doubt. But not getting ahead ourselves, there are some who need to redshirt for any of the aforementioned reasons.

Here are 10 players who will be stars but need to redshirt in 2011.

10. Jarvis Landry, WR: LSU

Landry is a 5'11" speedster headed to Baton Rouge to wreak havoc on SEC secondaries. He has tremendous deep speed and separation quickness out of his breaks to get open.

But he only weighs 170 pounds and lacks the strength to get off press coverage. The SEC and college corners are strong and physical in press-man, and Landry could struggle getting off the line as a true freshman. A redshirt year to add strength and weight, and to watch and learn how to release off the line against press would serve him well.

Once he adds strength to his frame he has a load of potential to become a go-to receiver for the Tigers in the coming years.

9. Troy Niklas, OT: Notre Dame

Niklas used a mathematical and scientific formula to help him determine if USC or Notre Dame was the school for him to attend, and the formula told him to head to South Bend.

At 6'6", 245 pounds, he could see time at either offensive tackle or defensive end. Yet right now, he's just too light in the pants to get out on the field against college players in the trenches. Niklas lacks the strength to hold up blockers at 3-4 end and the girth to move defenders as a tackle. College rushers would force him to catch every down as a pass protector and he'd get walked back in the pocket.

He should take his true freshman year to hit the weight room, add some bulk and strength to make sure he's ready to hit the collegiate ranks.

8. Brent Calloway, LB: Alabama

Calloway reverted back to his original pledge of Alabama after de-committing for Auburn in early January. The 6'1", 210-pounder feels his best spot in college is running back, but Alabama will make him a linebacker.

His skill set doesn't really bode well for the rush-end spots on the outside of Alabama's 3-4 scheme, and he may be too light right now to hold in the inside, where I think he will eventually settle in. Another interesting aspect to Calloway is the fact that he barely played any linebacker this past year in high school, so his timing and comfort level may be a bit off right now for the spot.

Why not take a year to redshirt, learn the complex Saban defense, get your instincts back as a linebacker and be ready to roll as a redshirt freshman?

7. Jermauria Rasco, DE: LSU

There is no denying Rasco's prowess and skill level. He's a 6'3", 227-pound defensive end prospect that will get after your passer like he owes Rasco money. He's quick off the ball and has great play range. Rasco can bend off the edge, crash down and chase ball carriers.

But he's only 227 pounds and headed into the SEC, a physical conference at all spots, especially in the trenches. Rasco could be poised to move to outside linebacker, but if he wants to stay at defensive end, he needs to add some girth in his pants to anchor against the run.

If not, Rasco is looking at a career in Baton Rouge only as a situational pass rusher.

6. Victor Blackwell, WR: USC

Blackwell has been productive in every year he's played at Mater Dei, catching passes from Matt Barkley as a sophomore. The 6'0", 190-pound receiver has great straight-line speed and natural receiving skills for the position that will make a him a great player one day.

But he comes into a depth chart at USC that has a wealth of talent that makes USC a bit ashamed of themselves. Kyle Prater, Robert Woods, Brice Butler, Markeith Ambles, Devon Flournoy, Brandon Carswell and incoming five-star recruit George Farmer, the top receiving prospect in the 2011 class, are all Trojans.

Blackwell would be best served to redshirt and make sure he's separated in eligibility from the pack to ensure he gets the opportunities he deserves down the road.

5. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE: Washington

Seferian-Jenkins is a big player at 6'7", 250 pounds, and has the hands and strike zone to snatch everything within his zip code from the air. But word is Washington will look to make Seferian-Jenkins an offensive tackle.

He certainly has athleticism for the left tackle spot. Sometimes used on the line as an extra blocker in high school, Seferian-Jenkins was a rare tight end who could be left one-on-one without tackle help, displaying slide and mirror ability like a linemen.

But surely he can't play left tackle at 250 pounds, which is why a redshirt year to add strength and weight will serve him best. But I think he has All-Pac-12 potential down the road as left tackle prospect.

4. Christian Heyward, DT: USC

Heyward will make the trip up the 405 from San Diego to Los Angeles to be a Trojan. At 6'2", 269 pounds, he has the tools and snap-quickness to become a great three-technique gap-penetrating defensive tackle. Heyward can menace the pocket from the middle as a pass rusher and slip blocks with quickness to chase ball-carriers.

But he's light in the pants for a trench player and lacks the girth and strength to anchor against the run. At this point, Heyward would get mauled by double teams and struggle to shed powerful guards. He needs to add strength and about 15-20 pounds of mass to get on the field and needs to continue adding on as his career moves on after that.

He has the talent to be a difference maker for USC, but he's not ready to challenge offensive fronts right now.

3. Jeff Pagan, DT: Alabama

Alabama finally won the Pagan sweepstakes after Florida and Clemson thought they had him in their fold each at separate times. Pagan entered high school as a budding receiver, but grew into a 6'4", 275 pound defensive tackle. He tore his ACL and missed his senior season.

Another year of rehab and strengthening the knee is recommended for Pagan and a redshirt year would be best. He will be making the transition to learning how to play in a 30-front as opposed to his 40-front DE/DT role.

He could be best served to redshirt, strengthen his knee and dig into the defensive playbook to be poised to factor for the Tide as a redshirt freshman defensive lineman.

2. Marqise Lee: DB/ATH: USC

Lee came into high school thinking he would get a scholarship as a basketball player but left high school as one of top football players in the country. At 6'1", 190 pounds, Lee has the skill set to make a dynamic safety or great receiver.

But he has only played football for just a few seasons and will need a learning curve in college, especially if USC leaves him at safety. He will need to learn how to set up the back end as a deep middle defender, route recognition and how to disguise coverages against Pac-12 QBs.

He will be one of the best players in USC's 2011 recruiting class when it's all said and done, but a redshirt year would only help ensure that notion.

1. Lateek Townsend, LB: Clemson

Townsend shocked many by picking Clemson over South Carolina in early January in one of the funniest moments in live recruiting decision history.

He's uber-instinctive, athletic and has outstanding play speed in pursuit and chase situations. But Townsend carries only 197 pounds on his 6'2" frame and will not always be able to beat linemen with speed to slip their blocks and avoid traffic to chase around ball-carriers. He needs to add weight and strength to hold his own and play bigger at the point of attack.

I think he'll be a great linebacker and imagining him with Tony Steward and Stephone Anthony in a few years is scary, but a redshirt year to add some girth is best for him right now.