College Football Recruiting: Comparing Some 2012 Recruits To Some 2011 Recruits

One of the first things I learned working in NFL scouting departments was that to give people an idea of what a player is like, that the bet thing to do is to compare that player to another player the scouting director, general manager, position coach, head coach or in this case audience is more familiar with. It really helps, as we scouts have to paint a picture of a player with words, to say "he's similar to this guy" or "picture this guy with better..." and so forth.

So I decided to take a few stud recruits from the 2012 class that, while well known, are still getting introduced to general audience for this recruiting cycle and compare them to some of 2011's recruits that we are familiar with. This should be fun to write, and even better to read. Player comparisons always spark up good talk and I'm sure this will be the same.

Let's go!

10. Shaq Thompson, DS

Thompson is a 5-star defensive back prospect that can easily be a top level running back recruit as well. At 6'1" and 185 pounds, he has the skills that translate best to safety, yet he can play some corner as well. Like 2011 Florida signee, Marcus Roberson.

I compare Thompson to Roberson because both are better safety prospects, who stand 6'1", yet both can play the boundary corner spot for you.

The difference between the two is it seems Thompson is fine at being a safety, where his range and hitting ability can be a terror to an offense, while Roberson maintains corner is his most natural spot.

 So when you think of Shaq Thompson, picture a player similar to Marcus Roberson.

9. John Theus, OT

Theus may be the top overall player in Florida, and is one of the best recruits already in the 2012 class. A 5-star offensive tackle, Theus is 6'6", 295 pounds and is a sheer worker.

He reminds me most of Christian Westerman, the 5-star OT headed to Auburn. Westerman is regarded as the best drive blocker in the 2011 class, and Theus is up there among 2012 trench players.

Both players have an ability to finish in the run game and can maul targets every snap. Both of them have solid foot quickness and good mirror ability, and both probably are better right tackle prospects. I'm a fan of both linemen, and think they compare well to one another.

8. Landon Collins, DS/LB

Collins is a super instinctive defender that stands 5'11" and 200 pounds. If this was a college player comparison list, then the first player to come to mind would be Oklahoma's Tony Jefferson.

Yet, for the 2011 recruits, I would compare him to Florida State recruit Karlos Williams. Williams, of course, is bigger at 6'2" and 210 pounds, but both he and Collins are talented strong safety types that could each find themselves at outside linebacker in college.

Each has shown the versatility to play as an extra linebacker against the run inside the box and stalk ball carriers inside alleys. Then both have the athleticism to roam around on the back end and make plays on balls in the passing game.

Think of Landon Collins as a slightly smaller, but equally talented version of Karlos Williams.

7. Noah Spence, DE

Already, Spence is labled as the best pure pass rusher in the 2012 class. At 6'5" and 245 pounds, he can do it all as an edge player. He's very athletic, not just in his rush, but Spence has excellent range against the run and can track down ball carriers from anywhere.

That's why I think of him as the 2012 version of Georgia recruit Ray Drew. Both are tall, long defensive ends with good strength and outstanding athletic ability.

Drew can rush the passer with a quick first step, stay clean from blockers and burst finish. I almost think Spence may be even better, if you believe that. He just explodes at the snap and jumps linemen every snap. Both players will be among the top pass rushers in college football in the near future.

6. Gunner Kiel, QB

I'm starting to really like Kiel the more I watch him. I think he'll soon need to work on his mechanics and drops from center, as he is in shotgun almost exclusively for his high school team's offense. Yet the 6'4", 220 pounder is a pure passer that can make every throw and is solid with accuracy.

I thought long and hard about comparing Kiel to Jeff Driskel, but ultimately I think Kiel lacks Driskel's mobility and athleticism. So I think USC signee Max Wittek is the better comparison.

Both players have similar size as they each stand in the 6'4", 215-220 pound range and have great arms. Both won't wow you as runners, but will sit back in the pocket and throw darts on a defense all night long with solid accuracy, field vision and the ability to attack all areas of the field.

5. Andrus Peat, OT

Peat right now is the top offensive line recruit for the 2012 class, but boy are there some other special linemen nipping on his heels. 6'7" and 280 pounds, Peat has great technique, showing natural knee bend, patience, mixed sets and solid hand placement. I think his pass blocking is his best asset, but he's no slouch as a run blocker.

I liken him to Alabama recruit Cyrus Koaundjio, as the two have staunch potential as franchise left tackles.

Koaundjio needs some seasoning as a slide and mirror player, but you can easily see the potential there when you watch him. He's ahead as a run blocker, but in a year I expect his pass protection to surpass his drive block skills. He even gave Jadeveon Clowney some great battles at the Under Armour workouts.

When you see Andrus Peat's name, picture Cyrus Koaundjio for a comparison.

4. Eddie Goldman, DT

Goldman is another recruit that is topped out at his position though has another recruit gaining steam. As Goldman has the top spot for 2012 among defensive tackles, Ellis McCarthy is right on him. 6'5" and more than 305 pounds, Goldman has special ability.

I think he is easily this year's version of Anthony Johnson, the DT recruit already enrolled at LSU.

Both players have great athletic ability for big men, but also are very strong their feet. Goldman may be best suited as either a zero technique/nose tackle but also can play the three technique/under tackle role extremely well too.

Johnson is the same type of player and each jump snaps, toss blockers around making a big mess in the middle for a defense.

3. Mario Edwards, DE

Edwards, to me, is the most complete defensive end in the country. I'm a fan of strong side players a bit more and Edwards certainly has strong side defensive end potential. 6'4" and in the 270 pound range, Edwards will be like having an extra defensive tackle on the line in college.

Do I think Edwards is as good or will be as hyped as South Carolina recruit Jadeveon Clowney? No. But they are very similar players.

Clowney is a potential strong side end in a 4-3, like Edwards is. Yet Clowney is a 6'6 and only 250 pounds, as compared to the 6'4", 275 pound Edwards. Yet each has great range vs. run, athletic ability, pass rushing ability, quickness to close on passers and ball carriers and strength to shed blocks.

It's hard to find strong side ends, but these two fit the bill.

2. Johnathan Gray, RB

Gray is the total package at running back and has the top spot on my 2012 board. At 5'11" and 195 pounds, he has every trait that you look for in a recruit on the high school level. Speed, run strength, vision, elusiveness, home run ability, balance, awareness, instincts, and more.

I don't think Gray is the "big back" type that Malcolm Brown is, though Brown has some wiggle. So I liken Gray to this year's Isaiah Crowell, headed for Georgia.

Both backs have great quickness, vision and run instincts, and can factor as a receiver out the backfield. The game comes naturally to them, with each having similar body types in the 5'11", 200 pound range. You can see their patience, vision, speed, explosiveness, balance and even tackle breaking ability on tape.

Think Isaiah Crowell as we go through 2012 with John Gray.

1. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

I've mentioned a few times in the past that I find Green-Beckham as a cross between Calvin Johnson and Plaxico Burress, yet there is a certain 2011 recruit he reminds me of: Kelvin Benjamin, who signed with Florida State.

With both, you get a 6'6" receiver that is long, with a huge catch radius and a nightmare in the red zone.They don't move like stick figures and have some separation quickness in the their cuts. I think Green-Beckham could explode off the line better, but it seems like he's excellent after the catch.

Benjamin has great leaping ability and high points balls well. Each receiver has the tools that project them as great No.1 receivers for an offense.