By: CJ Clayborne
By now you probably have a good idea of who has signed with your team and the top classes in the country. The fact remains that national signing day is a whirlwind affair where the big-time schools fight for Rivals/ESPN 5-star prospects. Some will be in the NFL in three years and some 2 and 3 stars will shock many and be stars at the next level. In a nutshell, what makes National Signing Day so beautiful is the organized chaos surrounding unproven commodities and the stories surrounding them. From Alex Collin’s saga with his mother running off with his letter of intent all the way to Washington where Daeshon Hall flipped to Texas A&M.
Anything can happen from Alabama signing the best linebacker in the country with an Auburn logo as big as Texas emblazoned on his forearm to Ole Miss signing the class of a lifetime but still hurting because a prized longtime commit Elijah Daniel signed with Auburn instead. It was important that Ole Miss snag a bookend a player opposite of #1 overall recruit, Robert Nkemdiche, to keep the pressure off of him. Chris Jones who signed with Mississippi State or Daniel would have been a nasty combination in years to come. With that being said, for every Willie Williams (Miami) and Ben Olsen (UCLA) there is a Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) or Patrick Willis (Ole Miss) that will develop from a kid with only one or two offers to become 1st or 2nd round draft pick but definite impact player.
For all the hoopla every first week in February there is no way to tell who will blossom into the stars of the future. Well outside of Alabama, which has such a stiff lock and key on college football it is a shame, the dominance on the field and on the recruiting trail is some the likes of which we have never seen.
Three players in particular stick out to me as future stars in this class.
Mike Mitchell, LB Ohio State – The fastest LB in this class and it isn’t even close clocking in at 4.39 at 6’4 225. This is the type of LB that allows you to stay in your base defense at all times because not only is he fast but he has great fluidity in his hips in adapting to coverage. Mitchell also is a beast downhill. Signing a player like Mitchell with all of these spread offenses running wild is something that will be a game changer for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes.
Stacy Coley, WR Miami – I’m very familiar with Coley. When I say this kid is “unpressable” and nasty as a Hall of Fame Hooker in and out of his breaks…bruh! It’s a shame how fluid he is. Coley is beyond gifted and a great pickup for the Canes who, stole him away from FSU. Coley is an Amari Cooper clone with better footwork. Time will tell if can have the impact that Cooper has had at Alabama.
Reuben Foster, LB Alabama – The linebacker your mother warned you about tattoo and all. Foster is the best natural hitter since maybe Sean Taylor IMO. Foster will knock the dust off the back of your TV every chance he gets. Playing inside in that Alabama defense I don’t think you can keep him off the field for very long. no disrespect to UCLA but when Foster shows up to the party it sounds like BOOM plain and simple.