NAHSTE
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With the new NFL rookie salary structure, more players are declaring early for the draft so they can get the clock running counting toward their first big payday sooner. As a result, big time programs are relying on frosh players to making an immediate impact more than ever. With the cycle this accelerated, we're in the age of "3 and out" being the norm. There's a good chance most of the guys in this list will populate the OOBL, Aso and Hasselmocks in the near future, but this is mainly about guys that have an inside lane to playing time right away.
Top spot is kind of obvi, so let's get to it...
1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss
6'5, 280 lbs. Loganville, GA
The old guys who cover the HS beat in Georgia swear this is the best athlete the state has produced since Hershel Walker. Fortunately for the Rebels, the home state power never had a chance this time, thanks in part to the sparse interest Mark Richt showed in Robert's brother Denzel the previous year. Together the two brothers represent the face of renewed optimism in Oxford. Through his first few days in fall camp, little bro was already making viral-ready highlights (see below). He's drawing comparisons to Jadeveon Clowney, but he's more of a Mario Williams type of physical freak than a replica of the Clowneyraptor.
2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State (RS)
6'4, 227 lbs. Hueytown, AL
First 'Noles QB who was not a. shitty, b. genuinely dislikable or c. both since about 1993. I am really excited to see what he can do in his first season on the job. I don't think he's quite going to be able to win a national title right away, but he should at least be able to restore some magic to Doak and vindicate the years (and years) of "FSU IS BACK!" pre-season hype that the program has failed to deliver on for so long.
(I reserve the right to rescind this positive assessment after any multi-interception losses to Wake or NC State)
3. Derrick Green, RB, Michigan
5'11 220 lbs. Richmond, VA
As I've said before, the running back position is all about the tangibles. With Green we know exactly what we're going to get and we're going to get it right away. He's big, strong and fast, and he'll get plenty of carries as the feature back in Ann Arbor.
4. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
5'11 185 lbs. Tampa, FL
Projected to start right away in Will Muschamp's defense, combines elite physical attributes with the innate ball skills and instincts that allow the athleticism to play up in games.
5. Ricky Seals-Jones, WR, Texas A&M
6'5 225 lbs. Sealy, TX
Quick - think of all the times last season that Ryan Swope bailed Johnny Manziel out of a broken play. Okay, now imagine that same scenario but with an even taller, even more explosive, even more unfair matchup advantage on the receiving end. That's RSJ. He provides Mr. Football with yet another monstrous target, and it's totally not even fair.
6. OJ Howard, TE, Alabama
6'6 237 lbs. Prattville, AL
Considering Bama lost their top two tight ends from last year to graduation and they feature two-TE sets heavily, while also considering how freakishly huge and athletic and skilled as Howard is…
7. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
6'3 215 lbs. Fork Union, VA
Like the rest of you, I'm intrigued to see what Bill O'Brien can get out of the Penn State offense with an actual quarterback after seeing the miracle job he performed coaxing a positive performance out of that ginger with moxie (and nothing else) Matt McGloin. No longer having to squeeze water out of a stone in the passing game, we should see Penn State continue to keep pace in the Big Ten pecking order despite the obstacles. If Hack is just okay, they'll be fine. if Hack is even better than "just okay," well, let's just say we're a few weeks away from Woy starting a thread seeking instructions on cutting his workout t-shirts like this:
8. Su'a Cravens, S, USC
6'1 215 lbs. Murrieta, CA
The consensus number 1 safety prospect in last year's class according to Rivals, Scout, 247 and ESPN, Cravens enrolled early at USC and was on campus in time for spring practice. He's a supersized athlete but he should have enough fluidity and closing speed to stay at safety long term. He's been fighting for a starting role in the secondary and will get plenty of looks either way.
9. Ishmael Adams, CB, UCLA (RS)
5'8 190 lbs. Woodland Hills, CA
Adams took a medical redshirt last season after appearing in two games, and the 9-month rehab after shoulder surgery kept him out for most of spring practice too. Even with the injury setback, he's projected to start in a UCLA unit that is is replacing all four starters and desperate for playmakers.
10. Ethan Pocic, OL, LSU
6'7 301 lbs. Lemont, IL
Gets the nod over Laremy Tunsil, the slightly higher rated recruit according to the services, because he'll have a more immediate opportunity to fill in on the LSU line in the wake of 5th-year senior Josh Williford sustaining a career ending concussion in fall practice. Though he's a prototypical left tackle, the staff has been working him at guard and center since he enrolled early in spring in the hopes of having him serve as the 6th man on the line. He'll probably kick out to tackle next year, but in the meantime it wouldn't be a shocker to see him win the starting center gig by midseason.
Honorable Mention
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Thomas Tyner, RB, Oregon
Trevor Knight, QB, Oklahoma
Montravius Adams, DE, Auburn
Top spot is kind of obvi, so let's get to it...
1. Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss
6'5, 280 lbs. Loganville, GA
The old guys who cover the HS beat in Georgia swear this is the best athlete the state has produced since Hershel Walker. Fortunately for the Rebels, the home state power never had a chance this time, thanks in part to the sparse interest Mark Richt showed in Robert's brother Denzel the previous year. Together the two brothers represent the face of renewed optimism in Oxford. Through his first few days in fall camp, little bro was already making viral-ready highlights (see below). He's drawing comparisons to Jadeveon Clowney, but he's more of a Mario Williams type of physical freak than a replica of the Clowneyraptor.
2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State (RS)
6'4, 227 lbs. Hueytown, AL
First 'Noles QB who was not a. shitty, b. genuinely dislikable or c. both since about 1993. I am really excited to see what he can do in his first season on the job. I don't think he's quite going to be able to win a national title right away, but he should at least be able to restore some magic to Doak and vindicate the years (and years) of "FSU IS BACK!" pre-season hype that the program has failed to deliver on for so long.
(I reserve the right to rescind this positive assessment after any multi-interception losses to Wake or NC State)
3. Derrick Green, RB, Michigan
5'11 220 lbs. Richmond, VA
As I've said before, the running back position is all about the tangibles. With Green we know exactly what we're going to get and we're going to get it right away. He's big, strong and fast, and he'll get plenty of carries as the feature back in Ann Arbor.
4. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
5'11 185 lbs. Tampa, FL
Projected to start right away in Will Muschamp's defense, combines elite physical attributes with the innate ball skills and instincts that allow the athleticism to play up in games.
5. Ricky Seals-Jones, WR, Texas A&M
6'5 225 lbs. Sealy, TX
Quick - think of all the times last season that Ryan Swope bailed Johnny Manziel out of a broken play. Okay, now imagine that same scenario but with an even taller, even more explosive, even more unfair matchup advantage on the receiving end. That's RSJ. He provides Mr. Football with yet another monstrous target, and it's totally not even fair.
6. OJ Howard, TE, Alabama
6'6 237 lbs. Prattville, AL
Considering Bama lost their top two tight ends from last year to graduation and they feature two-TE sets heavily, while also considering how freakishly huge and athletic and skilled as Howard is…
7. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
6'3 215 lbs. Fork Union, VA
Like the rest of you, I'm intrigued to see what Bill O'Brien can get out of the Penn State offense with an actual quarterback after seeing the miracle job he performed coaxing a positive performance out of that ginger with moxie (and nothing else) Matt McGloin. No longer having to squeeze water out of a stone in the passing game, we should see Penn State continue to keep pace in the Big Ten pecking order despite the obstacles. If Hack is just okay, they'll be fine. if Hack is even better than "just okay," well, let's just say we're a few weeks away from Woy starting a thread seeking instructions on cutting his workout t-shirts like this:
8. Su'a Cravens, S, USC
6'1 215 lbs. Murrieta, CA
The consensus number 1 safety prospect in last year's class according to Rivals, Scout, 247 and ESPN, Cravens enrolled early at USC and was on campus in time for spring practice. He's a supersized athlete but he should have enough fluidity and closing speed to stay at safety long term. He's been fighting for a starting role in the secondary and will get plenty of looks either way.
9. Ishmael Adams, CB, UCLA (RS)
5'8 190 lbs. Woodland Hills, CA
Adams took a medical redshirt last season after appearing in two games, and the 9-month rehab after shoulder surgery kept him out for most of spring practice too. Even with the injury setback, he's projected to start in a UCLA unit that is is replacing all four starters and desperate for playmakers.
10. Ethan Pocic, OL, LSU
6'7 301 lbs. Lemont, IL
Gets the nod over Laremy Tunsil, the slightly higher rated recruit according to the services, because he'll have a more immediate opportunity to fill in on the LSU line in the wake of 5th-year senior Josh Williford sustaining a career ending concussion in fall practice. Though he's a prototypical left tackle, the staff has been working him at guard and center since he enrolled early in spring in the hopes of having him serve as the 6th man on the line. He'll probably kick out to tackle next year, but in the meantime it wouldn't be a shocker to see him win the starting center gig by midseason.
Honorable Mention
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Thomas Tyner, RB, Oregon
Trevor Knight, QB, Oklahoma
Montravius Adams, DE, Auburn
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