These players from 2019 recruiting class should be feeling pressure

Going into this season, a number of players considered among the best in the 2019 recruiting class seem all but certain to turn pro after the season. Among those on that path are Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal.

But not all the top recruits in that class have hit it big on the field — at least not yet. Here’s a look at 10 consensus top-100 players in the 2019 recruiting class who still have a lot to prove going into their third season of college football (the players are listed alphabetically).

Illinois WR Marquez Beason

Particulars: 4-star recruit and national top-100 prospect from Duncanville (Texas) High

The buzz: A rare (extremely rare) top-100 signee for the Illini, Beason was a corner in his first two seasons in Champaign (he didn’t play in 2019 because of a knee injury) and started twice last season. He switched to receiver during the spring for new coach Bret Bielema and looks to have a realistic chance to start for an offense that needs a massive upgrade in the passing game. The Illini desperately need some guys on the outside to step up: Only one returning wide receiver had more than eight receptions last season — and he had 11.

TCU WR Marcel Brooks

Particulars: 5-star recruit and national top-35 prospect from Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus as a linebacker

The buzz: Brooks signed with LSU as one of the top three outside ’backers in the 2019 recruiting class; he played in 11 games that season, making eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. Brooks, who is from the Dallas area, left for TCU after his freshman season to be closer to home. But he saw scant time for the Horned Frogs last season, appearing in six games (mostly on special teams) and making two tackles (both came in the opening game). He also played receiver in high school and switched positions during bowl prep. He has good size (6-2, 205) and speed, and new coordinator Doug Meacham will be looking for ways to rev up what has been a mediocre passing attack. But TCU returns its four leading receivers from last season.

Wisconsin OT Logan Brown

Particulars: 5-star recruit and national top-20 prospect from Grand Rapids (Mich.) East Kentwood

The buzz: Brown was considered the fourth-best offensive tackle in the class; the three ahead of him — Alabama’s Evan Neal, Tennessee’s Darnell Wright and Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green — are either established stars who seem set to go pro after the season (Green and Neal) or a soon-to-be-three-year starter who also could turn pro early (Wright). Brown, meanwhile, has played in seven games with nary a start. This season is his opportunity: Badgers LT Cole Van Lanen, a first-team All-Big Ten pick, has graduated. Depending on what happens at left tackle, time on the right side could be available, too.

Florida State CB Akeem Dent

Particulars: 4-star recruit and national top-50 prospect from West Palm Beach (Fla.) Palm Beach Central

The buzz: He started five games at safety as a true freshman and five at corner last season. Dent actually played better as a freshman than he did as a sophomore, when he was bothered by a lingering foot injury. Given that FSU brought in three transfers in the secondary, it’s not a given that Dent starts this fall. FSU signed three corners in the 2021 class and is going heavy into the secondary for the ’22 class, too, so Dent may find himself bypassed if he doesn’t step up this season.

Memphis OL Devontae Dobbs

Particulars: 4-star prospect and national top-60 prospect from Belleville (Mich.) High

The buzz: Dobbs was the consensus top guard in the class and signed with Michigan State out of high school. He played in four games for the Spartans, with one start, as a tackle in 2019, then didn’t see any action last season with a new staff. Memphis is looking for three new starters up front, and if Dobbs can’t win a starting job this fall, presumably at one of the tackle spots, that bodes ill.

LSU RB John Emery Jr.

Particulars: 5-star recruit and national top-15 prospect from Destrehan (La.) High

The buzz: The highly touted Emery was a third-stringer as a freshman and a second-teamer last season. He has rushed for 497 yards against SEC opponents, but 342 of those have come in three games: two contests against Vanderbilt and one against South Carolina. Five-star backs are supposed to produce more. Emery heads into camp behind classmate Tyrion Davis-Price on the depth chart.

Oklahoma WR Jadon Haselwood

Particulars: 5-star prospect and national top-five prospect from Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove

The buzz: Haselwood was the consensus top wide receiver in the 2019 recruiting class, but hasn’t come close to matching the hype. He has three catches in 16 career games; he did miss six games last season with an injury. The Sooners use a lot of three-receiver sets (OU also uses an H-back) and return just one starting receiver. But barring a strong camp, Haselwood seems destined to be a reserve. Plus, OU brought in Arkansas transfer Mike Woods, which might (or might not) be evidence that Sooners coaches aren’t all that sold on their depth.

Florida LB Ty’ron Hopper

Particulars: 4-star recruit and national top-100 prospect from Roswell (Ga.) High

The buzz: Hopper has 17 tackles in 15 career games for the Gators. He was listed at 197 pounds when he signed, and his lack of bulk was an issue in his first two seasons at UF. Hooper now is listed at 228. Florida needs vast defensive improvement this season, and if he can’t force his way into more playing time this season, that won’t be a good sign.

Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith

Particulars: 5-star prospect and the consensus top player in the class from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

The buzz: Smith certainly hasn’t been a bust. But he also hasn’t produced nearly as much as expected from a No. 1 recruit, with 40 tackles and five sacks in 24 career games. The thought was that the undersized Smith (he’s 6-3 and 235 pounds, the same size he was listed at as a senior; “listed” is the key word there) would be an elite pass rusher, but that hasn’t happened. Georgia is loaded up front, and Smith — who has made one career start — seems likely to be a backup this fall.

USC DT Ishmael Sopsher

Particulars: 4-star recruit, consensus national top-50 prospect from Amite (La.) High

The buzz: Sopsher signed with Alabama before transferring to USC in December; he entered the transfer portal in October after having played in one game for the Tide, against Western Carolina in 2019. The Trojans are rebuilding up front, with the top two nose tackles for this season gone (one to injury, one to transfer), and there is ample opportunity for playing time. Sopsher missed spring drills after having surgery on a leg injury, though, and that gave us pause when putting him on this list. He did individual drills on the opening day of camp for the Trojans. If healthy, Sopsher needs to do some damage.

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(Top photo of Jadon Haselwood: Brian Bahr/Getty Images)