College Football Recruiting 2012: Which Recruits Have the Highest Upside?

We always use the words "potential," "high ceiling," "blank canvas" and "upside" in player evaluations. Well, I'm going to give you a couple recruits who have all that and more.

These players are recruits who, with some college seasoning, coaching and physical maturity combined with their size, athleticism and skill set, could develop into studs. Big-time studs.

Here are a couple recruits who have ceilings as high as the atmosphere.

Mario Edwards, DE

ESPNU ranks Edwards as the top overall recruit in the country, as the huge DE prospect stands 6'4" and weighs nearly 270 pounds.

He has a DT's frame but the athletic ability of a linebacker, and moves around freely and easily for such a big edge defender.

You take his size and athleticism and combine that with the projected strength he should develop in a college strength and conditioning program, and you realize that he may become a monster at Florida State.

He could play both DE spots in a 40 front and kick inside to DT in sub-packages.

Jordan Jenkins, DE

They call him "The Freak." Yes, because Jenkins is freakishly gifted as an athlete, and I expect big things from the 6'3", 250-pounder.

He's so athletic that he could be a DPR-type guy for a defense as a true freshman. As he gains more strength to anchor versus blockers on the edge or set the edge as a standup 3-4 OLB, he should be an All-SEC-caliber player wherever he goes.

Freakish athletic ability + size + college coaching = great player.

Kwon Alexander, OLB

Alexander is a 6'2", 210-pound OLB who can play with the range of a lion on the field. He can get to any place on the field and maneuver around any OL coming onto his level to block him.

He's extremely fast, quick, agile and instinctive. Once he puts on some extra weight and gets coached-up on how to properly man-up on TEs and RBs in coverage, he could be a complete defensive player.

He's that talented.

Jessamen Dunker, OT

Dunker is very similar to Humphries, but he's bigger at 6'6" and 315 pounds. In fact, Dunker is a former hoops player who made the transition to the football field.

He's a superb athlete for a big man, but he is very raw. Boy, once he gets coached-up on how to play with proper technique, you could be looking at a first-round pick.

Someone that big and that athletic almost has no chance of being a bust should he commit himself and learn better technique.

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR

I think everyone would say a 6'6", 220-pound WR with 4.3 40-yard dash speed, natural receiving skills, length, quick feet, explosiveness, leaping ability, competitiveness, a large strike zone and catch-in-crowd ability as a high schooler has upside.

Green-Beckham has that and more.

I fully expect him to become a No. 1 receiver for his college offense by his sophomore year, and he could be a three-and-out player. 

D.J. Humphries, OT

Humphries is easily the best athlete among all trench recruits in the country. He's a 6'6", 270-pound LT prospect who moves like a small forward playing basketball.

Quick feet, mirror ability, adjust ability, agility and balance are all some of his skill sets. Once he tacks on some more weight and refines his game on how to mix sets and play with consistent leverage, he should be in the NFL.

He's like a cross between Tyron Smith and D'Brickashaw Ferguson.

Nelson Agholor, ATH

I have no knocks whatsoever on this guy's athletic ability. 

That's what makes his ceiling so high, because he's so athletically gifted that he could play an array of spots.

6'1", 180 pounds, he has the speed and hips to be an excellent corner, but also shows solid coverage instincts and range to be a safety. Not to mention good hands and playmaking ability to be a dominant WR.

He has a huge amount of upside.

Jameis Winston, QB

I think Winston has Heismain potential. Seriously.

He's is a 6'4", 190-pound QB with a huge upside. I love his ceiling because he has all the tools to be a successful starter in college.

I think that once a full time QB coach gets a hold of him, refines his climbs, setups and overall footwork, his accuracy will skyrocket. He already has great size, great arm strength, field vision and play-making ability to go along with dual-threat skills.

He could have a big time future in front of him at Florida State should he stick with football over baseball.