Here are our rankings and scouting reports of the 25 best freshmen in the nation in 2011:
Sammy Watkins WR6-1 180Key stats: 77 rec | 1,153 yds | 11 TDs | 15.0 avg
Analysis: The game seems to come easily to Watkins, who is remarkably well-developed for a freshman. He is physical and shows the ability to break tackles after the catch, and he is also a smooth athlete with good top-end speed. Watkins will occasionally fight the ball on some shorter pitch-catch opportunities, but overall his hands are strong and he shows the ability to make difficult catches in traffic -- and does a great job of tracking the deep ball. He's missed nearly two full games due to injury, so offseason flexibility and weight training will be important, but his production is outstanding for a first-year player.
Jadeveon Clowney DE6-6 254Key stats: 33 tackles | 6.0 sacks | 2 FF
Analysis: Clowney will continue to get bigger and stronger, but he already looks like a grown man in pads, has an outstanding frame and is well-proportioned for his age. He's not an elite speed rusher but shows the versatility to rush off the edge as well as inside. Clowney shows good closing burst to the ball carrier and can hit like a truck, and while he is still learning how to use his hands and needs to play with more consistent gap discipline, Clowney has the physical tools to develop into a high draft pick two or three years from now. He is already highly productive in the SEC.
Aaron Lynch DE6-6 265Key stats: 28 tackles | 4.0 sacks | 5 TFLs
Analysis: Lynch's first step, power, hands and range all stand out on film. He is explosive for his size and can apply pressure off the edge when he lines up at defensive end. He plays with above-average pad level and has enough lower-body strength to make him tough to move off the ball when lined up inside. That's impressive considering Lynch is listed at 265 pounds. He's also an effective hand fighter with good upper-body strength who can get off blocks and track down the ball carrier whether he's defending the run or rushing the passer.
Isaiah Crowell RB5-11 215Key stats: 847 rush yds | 4.7 avg | 6 total TDs
Analysis: Crowell shows quick feet and the ability to stop and start quickly, and his patience and feel for running lanes is impressive for such a young back. He lacks elite top-end speed but has burst through the hole and can bounce inside runs to the sideline once he hits the second level. Crowell also runs hard and with good balance, but he'll need to get stronger to break more tackles in the future. He also flashes natural hands in the passing game and can develop into a big-time weapon in the passing game, but his instincts and experience are not yet up to par in that area. Finally, Crowell gets in good position as a blocker but needs to get stronger and more aggressive.
De'Anthony Thomas RB5-9 160Key stats: 440 rush yds | 8.3 avg | 571 rec yds | 13.6 ypc | 16 total TDs
Analysis: Thomas is a versatile weapon who can contribute as a receiver, runner and return specialist, and his suddenness and wiggle in space really jump out on tape. He's both quick and fast, and his route-running and ball skills are developing quickly. Thomas lacks the polished running skills (patience, vision) of current Ducks star LaMichael James, but has a bigger frame and better top-end speed. He appears to be in line to carry the offense next season.
Marqise Lee WR6-1 190Key stats: 73 rec | 1,143 yds | 15.7 ypc | 12 total TDs
Analysis: Lee was recruited to play safety but wanted a shot at receiver, and coach Lane Kiffin will never regret giving Lee the green light to run some routes during summer camp. Lee is a big-time vertical threat who can flat-out fly, and also shows the ability to get in and out of breaks in a hurry. His route-running skills are a work in progress, but Lee made strides during his freshman year, playing through an injury and peaking late in the season, something unusual for a first-year player.
Braxton Miller QB6-3 210 Key stats: 997 pass yds | 133.6 efficiency | 695 rush yds | 18 total TDs | 4 INTs
Analysis: Miller showcased his dual-threat ability as a freshman. He has a big, sturdy frame and still has room to add necessary bulk/muscle. Miller also shows good arm strength (as seen on his 54-yard TD strike against Michigan) and he's a more sudden athlete than former Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor. The sky appears to be the limit for Miller, who has the ideal physical skill set to excel in the spread system of new coach Urban Meyer. We're also told that Miller has a strong work ethic, leadership potential and good mental and physical toughness.
Malcolm Mitchell WR6-1 184Key stats: 38 rec | 614 yds | 16.2 ypc | 4 TDs
Analysis: A tall, lean player with confidence and big-time talent, Mitchell shows great body control and can climb the ladder in jump-ball situations. He is a bit robotic in his routes at times, but he's a playmaker who should become more savvy with experience and already knows how to adjust to the football. He excels on back-shoulder fades and comeback routes, and he gets upfield quickly after the catch. He did have a key drop in the SEC title game loss to LSU, but with an offseason of strength and conditioning work Mitchell will be even more dangerous in 2012.
Chaz Green OT6-5 306Key stats: 8 games played | 8 games started
Analysis: Green possesses a thick, massive frame along with natural strength. Once in position he flashes the ability to get movement as an inline blocker in the running game, and he's an above-average athlete who packs a powerful punch in pass sets. Green needs to become more patient, and has room for improvement in terms of instincts and awareness, but he has all the tools to develop into an upper-echelon prospect as he gains experience and grows into his body.
Odell Beckham WR5-11 183Key stats: 36 rec | 437 yds | 12.1 ypc | 2 TDs
Analysis: Beckham's size is just average and he didn't show breakaway speed on film, but a combination of above-average hands, ability to produce after the catch and toughness lands him on this list. Though he dropped a bullet on a quick-hitter in the Tennessee game, Beckham extends his arms and plucks the ball out of the air more often than not. After the catch, he can make the first defender miss and uses his off-arm well to keep pursuing defenders from getting to his legs while running. Finally, he's an effective blocker who's not afraid to mix it up in the running game.
Giovani Bernard RB5-10 205Key stats: 1,222 rush yds | 5.4 avg | 326 rec yds | 8.4 ypc | 14 total TDs
Analysis: Bernard is an efficient runner who doesn't leave many yards on the field, and his production is no fluke. He forces defenders to fight through or run around his blocks, and his ability to shake defenders in the hole makes him that much tougher to defend. In addition, he catches the ball well and shows good vision on screens. Bernard isn't a downhill runner who can carry defenders for extra yards or push the pile in short-yardage situations, and he doesn't have breakaway speed, but his potential is evident.
Teddy Bridgewater QB6-3 205Key stats: 1,855 pass yds | 136.1 efficiency | 15 total TDs | 9 INTs
Analysis: Bridgewater locks on to his primary receiver a little too much at this point, but his ability to check down should improve with added experience. His ability to improvise when the play starts to break down is his greatest strength. He is able to buy time with his feet and he has the arm strength to zip the ball downfield when he rolls out. There's also a lot to like about how well he played in the Cardinals' 38-35 upset win over No. 23 West Virginia in Morgantown.
Hayes Pullard OLB6-1 225 Key stats: 77 tackles | 45 solo | 4.0 sacks
Analysis: Pullard is undersized and will give ground at times when offensive linemen are able to get their hands on him, but his ability to locate and get to the ball quickly makes it tougher to reach him. He's at his best chasing the run because he can pursue sideline-to-sideline and is a strong open-field tackler. Meanwhile, his quick-twitch athletic ability stood out in man coverage and he showed good range in zone. His hands could be more active when rushing the passer, but he closes well when he gets a clear path to the quarterback.
Anthony Johnson DT6-3 310 Key stats: 12 tackles | 6 solo | 1.0 sack
Analysis: Johnson needs to play with more consistent pad level and is still developing in terms of finding and reacting to the play. However, he is on this list because he has a very high ceiling. He is physically mature beyond his years and possesses a well-proportioned frame, shows natural brute strength and flashes exceptional power to shock and control blockers. He has the size and tools to become a versatile and dominate one- or two-gap defensive tackle.
A. Seferian-Jenkins TE6-6 258Key stats: 36 rec | 479 yds | 13.3 ypc | 6 TDs
Analysis: Austin Seferian-Jenkins has an exceptional combination of size and athleticism for the position, with top-end speed to stretch the deep seams and long arms that provide him a wide catching radius. He also has the body and control and leaping ability to be a dangerous red zone threat if flexed out in a one-on-one situation. While he needs to get stronger and play with more consistent pad level as an inline blocker, he has the size and agility to be effective covering up defenders. Overall, Seferian-Jenkins has all the tools to eventually become one of the most complete tight ends in the nation.
Timmy Jernigan DT6-3 297Key stats: 27 tackles | 13 solo | 2.5 sacks
Analysis: Jernigan lacks elite size and needs some time in the weight room to improve his overall strength, but he is already a quick and disruptive one-gap defensive tackle. He plays with good pad level and flashes quick hands in combat, and also moves well laterally and flashes a wide range to work down the line and make plays outside the tackle box as a run defender. In addition, Jernigan is a relentless pass rusher who has the quickness to win one-on-one battles on the inside.
A.J. Johnson OLB6-3 245Key stats: 80 tackles | 37 solo | 1 FF
Analysis: Johnson is a tough between-the-tackles run stuffer who uses his hands to keep blockers from getting to his frame. He shows above-average discipline and rarely is caught out of position. While he's an average athlete and is exposed in space on occasion, he's a strong wrap-up tackler who doesn't let ball-carriers slip though his grasp once he's latched on. Johnson is fluid and strong enough to match up with most tight ends in man coverage, and he also has above-average awareness in zone coverage.
Quandre Diggs CB5-10 192Key stats: 45 tackles | 31 solo | 1 FF | 3 INTs
Analysis: Diggs' aggressiveness can get him into trouble, and he almost broke his ankles trying to recover from a double move in the Kansas State game earlier this year. He also needs to improve his footwork, and he allows too much separation for a player with his natural ability, but his aggressive nature can lead to big plays and he closes well when the ball is in the air. Finally, Diggs has the fluidity, speed and upper-body strength to develop into an excellent press corner.
Tyler Lockett WR5-11 170Key stats: 18 rec | 246 yds | 13.7 yds | 5 total TDs
Analysis: Lockett missed the final three games of the season with a lacerated kidney and he isn't expected to return to the field until the spring -- and Kansas State will miss his big-play ability both after the catch and on kickoff returns in its bowl matchup with Arkansas. Lockett is quick enough to separate from man coverage and a shifty open-field runner who can make defenders miss in space. He also has good vision and patience, in addition to his above-average burst in the return game. The two biggest areas he needs to improve are running crisp routes and catching the ball more cleanly.
Malcolm Brown RB6-0 215Key stats: 707 rush yds | 4.4 avg | 5 TDs
Analysis: Brown possesses a nice combination of power and top-end speed. He is a north-and-south runner who wastes little time in the backfield and does an above-average job of utilizing blocks between the tackles. In addition, Brown displays good balance and looks to finish his runs. While he lacks elite lateral agility, he displays good body control as a runner and shows the ability to make defenders miss in the open field.
Dion Bailey OLB6-1 200Key stats: 80 tackles | 47 solo | 2.0 sacks | 1 FF | 2 INTs
Analysis: Bailey moved from safety to linebacker in the spring, and due to a lack of size he struggled to hold his ground when teams ran at him. He has toughness, though, flashing a violent punch and not backing down from much bigger blockers. There's also a lot to like about his range and ability to chase the run. Still, he's at his best on passing downs when he can match up in man coverage and cover ground in zone. He closes quickly when he gets a clear path to the quarterback as a pass-rusher.
Rashad Greene WR6-1 175Key stats: 33 rec | 497 yds | 15.1 avg | 6 TDs
Analysis: It's no surprise that Greene was the Seminoles' leading receiver this season. He is a smooth athlete who tempos his routes well and has above-average suddenness to separate from man coverage. Greene also flashes the top-end speed to stretch the field vertically and has the body control and hands to make the tough catch look easy. He will need to get stronger as a route-runner, especially working against press coverage, but Greene's is a name to know moving forward.
Bradley Roby CB5-11 185 Key stats: 41 tackles | 31 solo | 1 FF | 3 INT
Analysis: Roby is a quick-twitched athlete who flashes effective short-area quickness and awareness in zone coverage. He also displays an extra gear to recover and has above-average ball skills. He does need to get stronger and become more aggressive and physical, especially when aligned in press coverage. He also has room for improvement in terms of instincts and route recognition in man coverage. Roby's best football is in front of him, though, and he has excellent potential.
Lyle McCombs RB5-8 172Key stats: 1,151 rush yds | 4.2 avg | 19 rec | 172 rec yds | 9.1 ypc | 8 total TDs
Analysis: McCombs is an undersized back with a nice combination of quickness and elusiveness as a runner. He flashes exceptional lateral agility to make defenders miss in a confined area and has the acceleration to squeeze through tight creases. He also shows above-average hands as a pass catcher. However, he could use a couple of offseason programs to add bulk to his frame to improve his marginal balance and power.
Kenny Hilliard RB5-11 240Key stats: 320 rush yds | 5.6 avg | 9 total TDs
Analysis: Hilliard is a bruiser who came on late in the season. While he lacks elite top-end speed and elusiveness, he does have nimble feet and runs with upper-echelon power and balance. Hilliard consistently shows the ability to absorb hits, stay on his feet and churn out hidden yardage. He is effective in short-yardage situations and can be a nightmare to bring down when he gains a head of steam in the open field. -Todd Mcshay
