College Football Recruiting 2012: The 15 Most Athletic and Natural-Born Recruits

Watching film on players is a fun task to do, yet what makes things better for evaluators like myself is seeing a player that is athletic and explosive. Something about players with these traits jumps up out at us on tape.

For this read, I'm going to give you the 15 very most athletic, explosive and natural-playing prospects in the country. Athleticism is not only in skill position players as I have a couple linemen on this list as well.

Come see who I find to be the very most naturally athletic and explosive players in the nation.

15. Durron Neal, WR

The thing about Neal is he plays the same position and is in the same state as Dorial Green-Beckham. Yet Neal is no slouch himself.

At 6'0", 185 pounds, he has good speed, quickness and runs solid routes. He shows an ability to attack the football at its highest point and seems to always find a way to get more yards out of a catch than he should.

Neal committed to Oklahoma last week.

14. Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE/OLB

At 6'4", 220 pounds, Odenigbo is as a raw a prospect as there may be in the country. He's only played football for just a few years, but watch his tape and you see a ceiling that is as high as Mount Everest.

He's super athletic, quick and explodes off the ball. He plays very, very fast and has amazing range. If he can find a program that has a great pass-rushing coach and get stronger, he may have a long playing future ahead of him.

13. Jessamen Dunker, OT

Dunker may possess the highest ceiling of any offensive line prospect in the nation for 2012. At 6'6", 310 pounds, he is a former hoops player who has only played football for a limited amount of time.

His film shows a super-athletic future left tackle who can mirror quick rushers and match power in the run game. With coaching, Dunker could become an All-American player and perhaps a high-round draft pick.

Florida will be charged with bringing him along.

12. Jordan Jenkins, DE

At 6'3", 245 pounds, Jenkins may be able to come in as a true freshman and make an impact as a sub rusher from Day 1; he's that athletically gifted. You watch him on tape and you see a burst and ability to beat blockers at the snap.

He can bend well off the edge and close on the QB in a flash. He plays the run well and just needs to get seasoned. Keep an eye on him.

Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Auburn are his top six.

11. Ronald Darby, CB

Darby is a 5'11", 175-pound corner prospect who could find himself playing running back in college. He's a special athlete who can wow you on tape. He has very good foot quickness, which is why he projects well to corner.

He shows solid instincts in coverage, comes out of his backpedal well and can close in a hurry. Darby also can return punts and kicks very, very well, too.

Darby, whose alias is "Nitro" is headed to play for Notre Dame.

10. Noah Spence, DE

Spence is the top pure pass-rusher in the country and easily has the quickest first two steps in America. He flies off the ball and gets after the QB with tenacity, passion and sheer speed.

At 6'4", 245 pounds, he has been compared to Dwight Freeney, although he is a bit longer and taller than the 6'1" Freeney.

Spence, at the moment, still seems to be taking the process all in, as he gets a new offer almost every day.

9. Chris Casher, DE/OLB

Casher is viewed by many as perhaps the most athletic and pure prospect in Alabama. At 6'4", 240 pounds, he is a sheer specimen that can do anything on the football field.

He shows great quickness, agility, balance, explosiveness and excellent play speed. He's also a very heady, instinctive and smart player who doubles some as a WR on offense.

Casher is a Florida State pledge.

8. Eddie Williams, DS

Williams is an elite free safety prospect that is 6'4", 205 pounds. Some list him as an ATH because he is that versatile, showing an ability to factor at a plethora of positions.

DS, WR and OLB are all spots that you could see Williams play in college, but free safety is his best spot. He's instinctive in coverage, quick to recognize routes and he can pluck interceptions out of the air with ease.

Alabama has him locked up.

7. Stefon Diggs, WR/RB/DB/RS

Diggs is a player that can factor as a receiver or safety. I could move him onto the ATH board or DS board, but in the end, he is simply too good with the ball in his hands not to play on offense in my opinion.

At 6'1", 190 pounds, he is a quicker-than-fast athlete, but he does have tremendous speed. His RAC ability is amazing, and he is likely tops in this category in the country for 2012. Diggs can shake, bake and clean the dishes routinely.

6. Arik Armstead, DE/OT

At 6'8", 280 pounds, Armstead has been talked as the top prospect in the country. He makes this list because to see a man that big move around that well is clearly remarkable.

He can play defensive end, defensive tackle and also shows the feet and balance to play left tackle.

The brother of current USC defensive end Armond Armstead, Arik is a mammoth who isn't just a big man; he's an excellent athlete as well.

He is solid to USC, where he will begin as a strong-side defensive end.

5. Kwon Alexander, OLB

At 6'2", 210 pounds, Alexander is a fantastic linebacker prospect. He has tremendous play speed and range and will be a three-down defender in college.

He projects well at WILL, but I think he can also play SAM in a 4-3 scheme due to his ability to carry tight ends around the field in coverage.

One of the top prospects in Alabama bar none, Alexander claims no favorite at the moment.

4. D.J. Humphries, OT

The natural comparison for Humphries' game seems to be Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, and rightfully so.

At 6'6", 270 pounds, Humphries is a left tackle through and through and is likely the best athlete in the trenches in the country.

He has a top list that consists of Florida—the huge favorite—South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn. A decision could come at anytime.

3. Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

I have Green-Beckham as the top player in the country on my board, as do many other talent evaluators.

At 6'6", 220 pounds, the only knock I have on him right now is his release quickness off the line.

Other than that, Green-Beckham has the hands, separation quickness, catch-in-crowd ability and playmaking talent to become a dominant receiver in college.

2. Marvin Bracy, WR

Bracy may actually be the fastest player in the country. At 5'9", 165 pounds, he has been clocked at nearly 10-flat in the 100.

His biggest strength is obviously his speed and explosiveness, as he is extremely quick and sudden. Yet Bracy is a player that just needs the ball, whether it be on returns, quick screens or reverses and sparks will fly.

1. Nelson Agholor, ATH

There is talk that Agholor may be the most athletic player in Florida this year, and his tape does nothing to dispel that notion. At 6'2", 180 pounds, he makes play after play all night long. 

He can factor as a safety, receiver, running back or corner. Talk is his best spot may be safety, but you can't count him out as a receiver. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands, but then again, he could be an All-American safety. Decisions, decisions.