National Signing Day is now past, along with the drama, endless analysis, and guesswork as to where all the big names would land. Now that the dust has settled somewhat, it’s time to take a look at some key recruits who will likely have an impact on their respective teams sooner rather than later by the time late August comes around, in less than six short months.
Byron Cowart – DE – Auburn – The Tigers were sorely lacking in the pass rush category last year, a big reason as to why they failed to stay among the top teams in the conference. The arrival of Will Muschamp as the new defensive coordinator was enough to sway Cowart, the No.1 prospect in the country, to come be a Tiger. He will provide an immediate upgrade to the defensive line, even as a freshman in a conference such as the SEC. Cowart’s 6-foot-4, 260 pound frame is already college-suited, and his time in the team’s strength and conditioning program this summer and early fall will only improve his already freakish strength and agility. Cowart will probably begin the season as a key backup, seeing several snaps as a key part of the rotation. He will likely find his way into the starting position by the time conference play begins on Sept. 19th against LSU.
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Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas – The Longhorns lost four senior linebackers from last year’s 6-7 team, so the arrival of the five-star, No.1 OLB in the country comes at the perfect time for Texas. Jefferson is an early enrollee, so he will have the added benefit of participating in upcoming spring practices. Defense is head coach Charlie Strong’s calling card, and the Longhorns were the No.2 team in the Big 12 in points allowed last season in spite of a lackluster offense often putting them in bad field position. Having Jefferson’s strength and maturity at his disposal this fall should ease Strong’s concerns about his new defensive unit continuing the trend they established in 2014.
Kahlil McKenzie – DT – Tennessee – McKenzie’s massive 6-foot-3, 354 pound body will fill a huge need for the Volunteers defensive line that was ranked ninth in the SEC in rush defense last season. McKenzie is actually rather quick for his size, possessing a 5.02 40-yard-dash time, and will likely improve each week in pass rushing along with his line-stuffing ability. He is the son of Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, and has undoubtedly received plenty of advice and knowledge from his dad, which explains his high football IQ.
Plus, how often do you come across a 350+ lb. defensive tackle that can do this:
http://instagram.com/p/xnESWfJ4Zp
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Calvin Ridley – WR – Alabama – The Crimson Tide lost 63 percent of their receptions from last year with the departures of DeAndrew White, Christion Jones, and of course, Amari Cooper. Luckily for Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban, in comes the nation’s top receiver to the rescue. At 6 ft. and 180 pounds, he definitely has some bulking up to do in the offseason, which should only improve his abilities as an agile ball-hawking receiver who can go up and get virtually any pass thrown to him within 10 yards. Ridley also possesses great acceleration off the line, and superior body control while in the air, making him the complete package of a wide receiver. He can also return kicks, and will likely be called upon to do so in 2015.
Jarrett Stidham – QB – Baylor – Bryce Petty is gone, and Stidham is likely to be the one to fill his shoes. Stidham is categorized as a duel-threat quarterback, but that is certainly not due to a lacking ability to rely heavily on his arm. He stands tall and loose in the pocket, and is quick to drop back, buying him a crucial bit of extra time to survey the field before making a throw. Stidham often avoids pressure simply by making his mind up on his throw extremely quickly, well before the rush can get to him. Should things go awry, he can then turn to his legs to escape trouble, turning a broken play into big gains with regularity. Stidham could definitely stand to add a few pounds to his current mark of 190, but that shouldn’t be a problem for the Bear’s training staff. Should a freshman Steidham make it onto the field as expected, he will be in a position to break many of Petty’s recently established school records.
