*Disclaimer – kids these days can’t commit to diddly-poo. These are projections as of the release of this article, so if/when one of these fellas jumps ship for another school, don’t yell at me.
1. Zachariah Branch (WR)
a. Projected College – USC
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Addison is likely to leave which would leave a big gap in a pass heavy offense. Look for Branch to come in early and make a very early impact.
2. Jurrion Dickey (WR)
a. Projected College – Oregon
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Dont’e Thornton has announced that he will enter the transfer portal which will pave a smoother path for Dickey to get playing time early and often. Look for Dickey to early enroll and start.
3. Duce Robinson (TE)
a. Projected College – USC *not committed
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Duce Robinson will more than likely commit to USC, early enroll, and make an immediate impact in the passing game. If he starts, which I think he will, it will majorly be on passing downs as it is very hard for freshman tight ends to get acclimated to the blocking game in college.
4. Rueben Owens (RB)
a. Projected College – Louisville
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Rueben Owens is a HUGE recruit for Satterfield and company. Look for him to early enroll and start for the Cardinals.
5. Brandon Inniss (WR)
a. Projected College – Ohio St.
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Add Brandon Inniss to the massive list of big time WR recruits for the Buckeyes in the past decade. With the potential of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming leaving for the NFL, the competition for 2 of the 3 traditional starting WR roles (Marvin Harrison Jr. has his spot locked next year) will be wide open.
6. Hykeem Williams (WR)
a. Projected College – Florida St.
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
The Seminoles WR core looks to be scary next year with the massive, incumbent starter in 6’7” 235lb WR Johnny Wilson coming back, look for the 6’3” Hykeem Williams to come in early and start for this basketball-esque lineup.
7. Justice Haynes (RB)
a. Projected College – Alabama
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
The Alabama backfield looks to be thin with Heisman candidate Jahmyr Gibbs leaving for the draft. I believe Haynes will come in early but will be a depth piece for the Crimson Tide. *Note, I am NOT copy and pasting this blurb for the next RB that happens to also be a Crimson Tide commit.
8. Richard Young (RB)
a. Projected College – Alabama
b. Early Enroll? – No
c. Start? – No
Two top QB’s committed to Alabama, well add RB to that trend too. I believe that Young early enrolls and spends a lot of time hanging out with fellow commit Richard Young and learning the Alabama playbook and college life.
9. Johntay Cook II (WR)
a. Projected College – Texas
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Steve Sarkisian just came out and said that he needs more out of his WR group. The best way to get more, is to add talent. Look for Johntay Cook II to come in early and start alongside Xavier Worthy.
10. Shelton Sampson Jr. (WR)
a. Projected College – LSU
b. Early Enroll? – No
c. Start? – No
Kayshon Boutte should be headed to the NFL draft this year, so the LSU WR room is wide open for starting jobs. Look for Sampson to come in and do just that.
11. Makai Lemon (WR *Ath)
a. Projected College – USC
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
I had to make a couple of predictions for Makai Lemon – the first being his position. With where he is going, I believe he is going to play receiver. Now in terms of coming in early or starting? I believe Lemon comes in early and earns a starting job as a returner while providing depth at WR.
12. Jalen Hale (WR)
Again, Kayshon Boutee is out, and I believe, like Sampson, Hale come in early and fights for a starting job…and wins one. It also doesn’t hurt that Hale and Sampson are a part of Brian Kelly’s first recruiting class.
a. Projected College – Alabama
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
13. Noah Rogers (WR)
a. Projected College – Ohio St.
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Another big Oho St recruit. Like Inniss, I believe Rogers will come in early to fight for the spot left by Smith-Njigba, but I think Inniss wins that job.
14. Cedric Baxter Jr. (RB)
a. Projected College – Texas
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Cedric Baxter has a great chance to earn the starting job at Texas with Heisman candidate almost for sure leaving for the NFL Draft. I think Baxter will come in early and possibly start, but not eat the whole wheel of cheese…Anchorman reference? Not funny? Ok.
15. Jalen Brown (WR)
a. Projected College – Alabama
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
One of the biggest issues with Alabama this year is inconsistent WR play. Brown is a hyper talented WR who will come in early, and I believe push to a starting position.
16. Jaquaize Pettaway (WR)
a. Projected College – Oklahoma
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Pettaway is a part of Brent Venables true first Oklahoma recruiting class. Pettaway is the type of player that can boost an offense so look for him to come in early and start right away.
17. Carnell Tate (WR)
a. Projected College – Ohio St.
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Another Ohio St. receiver? Is this a joke? I think Carnell will also early enroll, but will be depth piece for this deep Ohio St. WR room.
18. Jeremiyah Love (RB *Ath)
a. Projected College – Notre Dame
b. Early Enroll? – No
c. Start? – No
I believe Love was offered as a RB for Notre Dame. Love will have some work to do to get into this Notre Dame RB lineup. I believe he take his time, enrolls in the summer, and provides depth at RB for the Irish.
19. Dalton Brooks (RB * Ath)
a. Projected College – Texas A&M
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Just like Love above (you like them rhymes!?) Brooks was offered by the Aggies to play RB. I think Brooks, unlike Love, enrolls early and serves as a rotational back.
20. Ryan Niblett (WR)
a. Projected College – Texas
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Niblett comes in with fellow WR Johntay Cook II to help bolster this Texas WR core that has severely under performed (or is it Quinn Ewers who has underperformed?) Regardless, I think Niblett enrolls early and provides depth at the position.
21. Deandre Moore Jr. (WR)
a. Projected College – Louisville
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Deandre Moore is a highly touted and highly talented WR. Louisville has a talented roster, but not enough talent to keep Moore off the field.
22. Malachi Coleman (WR *Ath)
a. Projected College – Oregon *not committed, decommitted from Nebraska 1 Dec 22
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
A late decommitment so close to early signing day makes me want to shy away from predicting an early enrollment, but if he’s going to early enroll, he’ll commit and sign on the same day. I believe Coleman goes to Oregon early and gets himself on the field early and often.
23. Aidan Mizell (WR)
a. Projected College –Florida
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – Yes
Florida has a WR in the portal, so I think that switches Mizell from a borderline early enrollee to a guy who can get in early and earn a starting job. Look for Napier to welcome Mizell to Gainesville with open arms in December.
24. Pearce Spurlin (TE)
a. Projected College – Georgia
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Brock Bowers has one more year of eligibility so unless you only run a two TE set, no one will take Bowers job. Look for Spurlin to enroll early for depth and to gain experience to be the guy in 2024.
25. Jelani Thurman (TE)
a. Projected College – Ohio St.
b. Early Enroll? – Yes
c. Start? – No
Coming from high school to college is very hard for most guys – especially people who have to block. Playing TE calls for you to block and run routes so look for Thurman to come in early, but only see the field on passing downs as I don’t think his blocking will be refined enough to be an every down starter.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article – I hope you enjoyed it. You should definitely use this guide to tell me and my colleagues how wrong I was after the early signing period of December 21 – 23!
The Walk-On Redshirts 