College Football 2011: Freshman All-American Picks and Busts

With the summer rapidly approaching, that must mean one thing: Yeah, you guessed it, freshman are getting ready to report to their programs in preparation for summer camp! Though there have been a good amount of mid-year enrollees, recruiting classes will finally be on campus full-time and football activity will start.

With that said, we thought we'd take a revisit to the 2011 recruiting class and make some projections for the Freshman All-American team this year. Some recruits have been left off this list due to the depth charts at their programs, while others make the list because they crack the line up.

Come check it out. 

CB: Marcus Roberson

Signed with: Florida

I have Roberson here as a corner since he is convinced to stay on the perimeter and not wind up at safety. With his ball skills and range potential, many say Roberson would make an excellent free safety.

He's 6'1", 175 pounds, and I think he will be able to hold his own in Gainesville as a boundary corner if he stays there. He has Charles Woodson-like potential due to his ability to play corner, safety and the nickel spot.

CB: Stefan McClure

Signed with: California

5'11", 170 pounds, McClure has the skill set of a typical Pac-12 CB. Athletic with quick feet, I think McClure can crack this list, as Cal will be going to a more man to man type of defense this year, and in the pass happy Pac-12, nickel packages are prevalent.

He could come to camp, learn the nickel spot fairly quickly and become a staple member of the Berkley back end as a freshman.

DS: Gerrod Holliman

Signed with: Louisville

Holliman will hop north from Florida to the Blue Grass state, as he will suit up for Louisville. Known to be a great leader on the field, Holliman has a solid chance to make a few starts for the Cardinals.

I expect him to develop into a very good free safety type, as Holliman has solid instincts, route recognition, ball skills and athletic ability. 

DS: Erique Florence

Signed with: Auburn

Florence is a 6'2", 180-pound free safety prospect. I really think he's going to be a good one for Auburn once he learns the backend calls to line everyone up. Auburn will be young this year, and Florence may not be the opening day starter, but could see time in spots.

Florence has great ball skills and straight-line speed. He needs to improve the transition out of his backpedal, as he can a bit straight-linish at times, but his range and high point ability are excellent. 

LB: Lamar Dawson

Signed with: USC

Dawson has a great chance to see early playing time in Troy at the strong side linebacker spot. He can plug the run on the line of scrimmage over tight ends, anchor down, shed and make plays. At 6'2", 230 pounds, he's already a big linebacker.

SAM linebackers are also charged with covering tight ends in most schemes in coverages, and Dawson has the speed and athletic ability to do so.

LB: Tony Steward

Signed with: Clemson

There is debate of what linebacker spot Steward will play for the Tigers, as he can actually fit well in all three positions, but for this list, we'll put him smack dab in the middle.

Steward's instincts are off the charts, which is why I think he will see the field this year for the Tigers. At worst, he becomes a solid special teams player.

He has speed to jump running backs in all alleys, and he can play sideline to sideline. He can factor in coverage due to great athletic ability on a 6'2", 220-pound frame.

LB: CJ Johnson

Signed with: Ole Miss

6'3", 235 pounds now, Johnson has the size of a college player already. He's instinctive, big and fast, which all equate to a recruit that is ready to play. I'm not saying Johnson will start from day one, but I have to imagine as the season wears on, his playing time will increase.

Not much is expected out of the Rebels this year, but Johnson could give Houston Nutt an early glimpse of why he is expected to be the best Mississippi LB since Patrick Willis.

DE: Jadeveon Clowney

Signed with: South Carolina

Clowney is the top overall recruit and is a 6'6", 250-pound defensive end that I believe will be the next Michael Strahan, Julius Peppers or Mario Williams. I expect him to be in the 270 range by the time he becomes a first-round pick.

He can play the strongside because he's extremely strong, explodes at the point of attack and can anchor against tight ends. On passing downs is when Clowney can pin his ears back and go. He can convert speed to power with ease, has a good pass rush plan and a burst to finish.

DT: Viliami Moala

Signed with: Cal

If I were to change my front to a 30 look, Moala still would play the NT spot. In this 4-3 alignment type list, he'd play the one technique and clog the middle. Despite standing 6'2", 330 pounds, he has great quickness and a motor that doesn't stop.

I really think he's an underrated player could develop into a Haloti Ngata type of player in Berkley. He's that good.

DT: Anthony Johnson

Signed with: LSU

Johnson is another player who could fit in a 3-4 defense. At 6'4", 300 pounds, he has strength to hold up at the point. He has tremendous snap quickness, quick hands and can push the pocket from the inside. He's another player down the road I expect to be in the NFL.

Besides, you don't get a nickname like "Freak" for anything.

DE: Aaron Lynch

Signed with: Notre Dame

Lynch is making a transition to the Irish 30 front, but the position he will specifically play is still very, very similar to a 4-3 DE. Lynch is a very solid athlete, stands 6'6", 245 pounds and has solid first step quickness.

He is expected to see time as a true freshman for the Irish and should be a solid sub rusher for the early parts of the season as he continues to learn the nuances of the Golden Domers' 3-4 defense.

LT: La'El Collns

Signed with: LSU

6'5", 285 pounds, Collins has solid knee bend, natural and easy movement to slide and mirror and the athleticism to adjust and recover as a pass protector. LSU loses Joe Barksdale this year, and Steve Kragthorpe needs an athletic left tackle. 

Problem solved.

Though its tough to start on the offensive front in the SEC, Collins has the athletic to do so as he gets stronger. He should be just good enough as a true freshman to hold up vs. the run as well.

LG: Greg Robinson

Signed with: Auburn

I have Robinson as a left guard due to his projected move inside but athleticism to play on the left side of the line. He plays with a good deal of bend at the knees, moves well in short areas and can get up field on the second level while keeping his balance to hit moving targets.

He adjusts well on the move, explodes at the point of attack and will move SEC defenders off their marks at Auburn for years

OC: Reese Dismukes

Signed with: Auburn

Dismukes fits the nasty, lunch-pail type of player needed in the pivot. He's 6'4", 290 pounds, has a great football IQ, can call and set protections and looks for work when he's uncovered.

Once he learns all the line calls, protections and adjustments at Auburn, I expect him to develop into a solid center. It could take a bit of time, but he's a worker who loves the game, plays with fire and holds his own against stronger defensive linemen.

RG: Alex Mitchell

Signed with: Washington State

Mitchell is under the radar, but I think he will end as one of the best offensive linemen in this year's class. He's a 6'2", 310 pound phone booth mauler who erases targets in a short area, which right guards are supposed to do. He can hold his own in the pass protection, but his play strength is vastly superior to most.

He may be the best drive blocker in this year's class, and I think he will end up as an All Pac-12 right guard.

RT: Antonio Richardson

Signed with: Tennessee

Although Richardson has the ability to play left tackle and guard, I think he will end up at right tackle in Knoxville. A great prospect for the offensive front at 6'6"and 310 pounds, Richardson has the athletic ability for his size to stay on the front edges.

He's a better run blocker than pass protector, which is why I foresee a move to right tackle and not left. But he moves defenders off their marks, can block in space and will be a pass pro guy on the right side.

TE: Jace Amaro

Signed with: Texas Tech

Amaro is expected to catch a couple balls in Lubbock this season, and his skill set will warrant increased playing time in the Red Raiders' offense as the season goes forward. 6'5", 240 pounds, he shows good athletic ability, can work up the hashes and seams and solid separation quickness from LB's underneath.

Expect Amaro to get plenty of playing time as a true freshman and to display soft hands and natural receiving ability. 

WR; George Farmer

Signed with: USC

Kyle Prater has not been healthy, Brice Butler is gone, Markeith Ambles is routinely in the coaches' dog house and Robert Woods seems to be the only consistent Trojan WR.

If the 6'2", 200-pound Farmer can overcome his occasional concentration lapses, then he should become a standout at receiver for USC this year. Farmer has NFL caliber talent and should be heavily influenced by his good friend and former high school teammate in Woods

He has 4.3 speed, is ultra-competitive, dazzled at the Army Game workouts and has the strength and athleticism to make play after play.

WR: Sammy Watkins

Signed with: Clemson

I have Watkins down as a quicker-than-fast athlete. Rather than knocking his speed, that just speaks volumes about his quickness.

He builds up fast in his release off the line and can beat defenders deep once he gets his tires moving at the top of his route. He can turn a bubble or smoke screen into a touchdown with a 6'1", 190 pound frame.

I expect him to develop into a Jacoby Ford-like playmaker at Clemson.

RB: Malcolm Brown

Signed with: Texas

Brown is a 6'0" 220-pound running back, a beast with the ball. He has been favorably compared to Ricky Williams and Cedric Benson en route to Austin. He has great run strength to push piles, vision, instincts and is dangerous in the red zone as he revs up his motor to score.

Down the road, I don't think we'll be talking about him as a player who flamed out.

RB: Isaiah Crowell

Signed with: Georgia

I read an article on ESPN and learned that some fans are even voting for Crowell as both biggest SEC impact player and SEC offensive Player of the Year for 2011. Those are pretty steep expectations for a true freshman.

But even Mark Richt is expecting a lot from the 5'11", 200 pound Crowell. Rich has made subtle indications that Crowell could be the opening day starter vs. Boise State. He has very good athleticism, explosiveness, balance, vision and run instincts.

QB: Braxton Miller

Signed with: Ohio State

The Celebrity. The Freshman Phenom. Mr. Ohio. Braxton Miller is viewed as the future of Ohio State football and has been practicing with the squad this spring. 6'2", 190 pounds, Miller has a dazzling skill set and could be the opening day starter for the Buckeyes.

I think even when Terrelle Pryor comes back, Ohio State will still find ways to get Miller on the field like Florida did with Tim Tebow during his freshman year with Chris Leak. Miller won't be a goal line threat like Tebow, but certain packages and snaps still may fit into the game plan to get his feet wet. 

Key Defensive Recruits Left off

DS - Karlos Williams, Florida State

I love Williams and think he could be the best player from this class down the road, but the FSU secondary is loaded and the strength of the defense.

DS - HaSean Clinton Dix, Alabama

Saban's scheme is very complex, and Haha will need to spend this season learning more than playing.

CB - Malcolm Mitchell, Georgia

Will play WR in Athens.

OLB - Ishaq Williams, Notre Dame & Ray Drew, Georgia

I think both will see time this year, but it's a tough transition from 4-3 end to 3-4 OLB, as they will need to learn how to function as coverage defenders and also defensive shifts based on formations and motions.

Key Offensive Recruits Left off

LT - Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

Kouandjio has NFL ability, but he will need to hone his pass protection skills. With the depth chart of Barrett Jones, Tyler Love and even his brother Arie in front of him, a redshirt year to work on his pass protection footwork would be a wise move.

OG - Aundrey Walker, USC

Walker, to me, is a boom or bust recruit. He could be a dominant guard or see his weight become too big and flame out.

TE - Jay Rome, Georgia

Rome will also play in the NFL one day, but I think Orson Charles will become more of a prime target in the passing game, taking away potential balls for Rome.

WR - Trey Metoyer, Oklahoma

Could have easily made the list, but Watkins may surprise people quicker. Both should make a mark this year.

RB - Savon Huggins, Rutgers

Also could have easily made the list and will start some games for Rutgers. Just think Brown and especially Crowell could have bigger overall impacts.

QB - Jeff Driskel, Florida

Driskel has Heisman and first round potential. I just think that John Brantley finally has a solid season and keeps Driskel on the sidelines most of the year, while Braxton Miller gets more consistent playing time.